THE FREAKING HELL IS HE DOING THERE?!
 
And yet they banned Iron?!
 
Me thinks there might have been, as we call it, a slight degradation of communique.

@Background Pony #82C1
 
@Ardashir  
The Rodrigo Duterte of MLP.

@Background Pony #82C1  
…I never thought of that. It’s very true. ‘Course, it might have helped if we’d gotten a hint of that back in the original story.

I just realized that if Longhorn is an important enough dignitary to be in attendance, Twilight’s inability to do anything to him make a lot more sense.
 
As for why an established criminal is in such a position, is that really the most outrageous thing?

@cheezedoodle  
Yep, that’s it.

@Ardashir  
Artist’s rendition of this scene

“Do Not Admit: Jim the Troll - Pest”
 
Poor Jim. He would love seeing all the pretty pone-ays and kitt-ays and bird-ays.

@Ardashir  
Note however that Chrysalis didn’t immediately recognize Thorax in disguise in “To Where and Back Again”, but only when the gleam of his eyes gave it away. Thorax clearly had reason to believe it would work to fool the others, at least long enough that Starlight could do something useful… like bashing the throne with a rock.

@Background Pony #D744  
Yeah I’d imagine Changelings can tell each other when shapeshifted. Otherwise you’d think there would be a lot of trouble in the swarm.

@Ardashir
 
Or
 

And with not admitting Queen Chrysalis – given she’s a changeling, if she was there, how would they know?
 
Maybe the ponies have developed ways to detect shapeshifted changelings?

@Dustcan  
Probably. This is a comic, after all. I’m more amused and surprised to see him there when I consider how poorly that arc went over.
 
And if he is a chief of state, maybe he gave himself amnesty?

Does anyone think the whole point of Longhorn being there was to pull a discontinuity nod, given Twilight is as pissed-off as any of us over being reminded of it?
 
Tellingly is that the first time that gets referenced is solely to provide fodder for dismissing it (Why would Longhorn show up, how could he be allowed if he really did his crimes (the changelings are at least repentant.)?).

Oh buck, Longhorn now has diplomatic immunity! Equestria is screwed!
 
Okay here’s a somewhat logical explanation for his presences: Nobody said only diplomates are allowed at the event. As seen in some later pages the diplomacy is only one part of gathering. There’s also a large festival going on. He’s just a normal visitor.
 
But isn’t he a criminal? Well… the only crime he was every convicted off was damaging a historical site. Considering how utterly horrible the Equestria laws in the comic are, he probably already served his sentences and is a free bull again.

I’m just concerned one of the Abyssinian delegates is going to spark a war by eating that breezie.

@Ardashir  
Wonder if she was named in the issue yet? Probably not.
 

@Ardashir
 
Honestly though I think this is more just Price having fun with the background as always than something serious.

Hmm, I wonder if the doe with Aspen is the Deer Queen.

@Dustcan  
Okay but I still wonder how Longhorn is even there. Who does he rule, after all? That gang of Cattle Rustlers? Maybe this world is like Old Ireland where everyone who owned their own bull was legally a king.

@PonyPon
 
@Ardashir
 
Iron Will’s apparently a salesman now.
 
Remember, Equestria is a culture where being evil is forgivable but being a jerk isn’t.

Aspen complaining about how he feels unwelcome (after his actions?) and one of the Abyssinians is trying to eat another of the delegates. I can see why these things are only held every few centuries. It probably takes that long for all the wars and blood feuds that break out at one to be settled.

Wait, wait, no Iron Will but they did let King Longhorn in?!? Hell, they might as well allow Rabia to pay a visit at this rate. They obviously got no standards to speak of.

@PonyPon  
Who the hell let that guy in?

Is the bat pony drinking not-blood or strawberry juice?