What more could Celestia lose? Have losses built or destroyed her?

[ManaMinori 4,149]

Every time I listen to "Lullaby for a Princess", I'm reminded of just how many ponies Celestia has lost over the course of Luna knows how many years. Likely, her parents (since we don't hear of any other alicorns other than Luna, Cadance, and Twilight), then her sister, due to her banishment, and having to live without her for a whole 1000 years. Then her student, Sunset Shimmer, due to Celestia's own fault and not pushing Sunny on the path to make friends, like she did with Twi, then her boyfriend, good King Sombra, and again, her 'sister' from AU world (see 'Reflections' arc in IDW comics). And while I'm sure all these losses have strengthened Celestia in some way, maybe in experience and preparedness for certain situations that come along in the future- how much do you think all these losses have hurt her? How much farther do you guys think she can be pushed and have something else taken away, before she just goes mental? (if she hasn't already). Her Kingdom and her subjects? Losing Twilight to dark magic, or some time leap spell gone awry and can't be fixed?

[Shark Woona 169]

Aye, this be a question I can answer. If the princess lost someone else to some tragic event, the possibility of her going mental is pretty high. Who wouldn't lose it after so many terrible things have happened to them? Aye, if not, she be a real MVP. But I be sure something bad will happen to where the whole kingdom will be in peril. It always happens lad. Ye be needing to trust me, I be a shark.

[1Bit 1,531]

I always thought that Celestia was holding a LOT in. She has faced so much tragedy in her time and the amount of emotions she must be holding inside can't help her at all. I also think aside from what you mentioned her failure to protect her subjects from Chrysalis in the S2 Finale can't have helped and probably shattered her resolve. It can't be good having the knowledge you can no longer protect your kingdom as you once did.

[Miles 2,514]

Oh boy...

Mind you, this is coming from a Luna guy...

Celestia hasn't been weakened by these losses.  In fact, they've made her stronger. 

But at the same time, ---disclaimer: a subject that could be spoken of on its own is about to be brought in here--- Twilight was alicornified for a reason. 

Celestia knew from the very beginning that Twilight was something special.  And it was only reaffirmed time and time again, as Twilight grew older.  Celestia foresaw that there was a necessity in crowning another royal, not because she, nor Luna or Cadence, were getting weaker, no... But because of three things. 

One: Potential.  Celestia and Luna (okay, and Cadence, too), have basically peaked (and remain so), in terms of furthering themselves in their abilities - in this sense, I mean, their power via magic... Twilight on the other hand was a seedling.  Everyday growing herself in power.  And her ceiling is unforeseeable, yet so far.  Celestia's premonition was based on this.  Based on the fact that Twilight's cutie mark and element is that of magic itself.  Twilight will become stronger (more powerful in magic) than each of the other royals.  Will.  Which means, Celestia had to crown her. 

Two: Need.  Celestia may not have been weakened by her losses, but ---and fair warning, this is another zinger--- she is becoming less able.  Not necessarily because of age, but just time in and of itself.  Now... I'm not saying her peak - her ceiling - has lowered.  And I'm also not saying she's becoming weaker.  But what I'm saying is, she knows that she cannot further her peak, and that no matter how hard she tries, a redline is a redline; she can only exert as much power (via magic) as her peak will allow her.  Looking at Luna, much the same is true for her.  So long as she is Luna, she remains under her own peak as well.  ---disclaimer, opinion: though I think Luna's peak is higher than Celestia's---... As for Cadence, she has a peak in sight, but probably hasn't reached hers just yet.  But, it's still in sight, and Celestia knows quantitatively how much further Cadence will be capable of.  This leads to reason three:

Three: Public Enemy.  Celestia may not have known for certain whether or not there foreseeably was to come villains whom in total over-rank the combined power of herself, Luna, and Cadence, but she did know it was something in question.  A great leader never is pridefully overcome by the sense of limitless power.  Celestia was/is progressive, and knows that the possibility of combat with someone who could indeed be the ultimatum of defeats of her reign with her sister and Cadence...

Possibility. 

And so, with these combined reasons, she knew what had to be done. 

Rather than from blind emotional attachment, and rather than the mindset of being a "critique of a show" like many seem to be...

I come from the standpoint of pure logic, possibility, potential, and even philosophy.

Whether or not Twilight was ready.  It didn't matter.  The truth is, failure to advance Twilight into a role that would allow her continued gaining of power (and still continuing gain of power) to become exponentially faster, could have caused the outcome of a very unfortunate happenstance.  That of Celestia intuitively having known, and being defeated, collectively ---Celestia, Luna, and Cadence, collectively being overthrown--- and in such a way that the question of "is it permanent or temporary" has but only the answer of being unknown. 

Twilight wasn't crowned because Celestia was weakened by losses.  She was crowned because Twilight is the chosen one.  Her ceiling... her peak of how much power she can potentially exert, is completely unforeseeable.

Whether or not it was too soon... didn't matter.  Possibility is reason enough in the mind of a great leader.  And to be so humble enough as to do the right thing... Celestia is... extraordinarily brilliant. 

What doesn't kill you doesn't make you weaker.  But it makes you smarter. 

Celestia's wisdom is vast.  And her strength remains intact. 

---

As to answer the latter implications of your questions...

I don't think we have to worry about Celestia losing anything of such high value anymore, including Twilight.

Because of Twilight.

---

We're only 4 (yeah, soon 5) seasons in.  There is plenty more to come.  We've only just begun. 

The potential is rising.

By any and all means necessary, friendship... is magic - and friendship... will be had...  by the power invested in Twilight, and in her team.

~ Miles

Who'd have thought, from such an AJ fan, and from such a country boy, that this kind of thinking would be instilled in him?

 

[Ryzu 984]

I feel her past losses made her stronger, I mean mine have made me into who I am and I lost every single person who was important to me in death or a cut connection due to location or a fight.

 

The most accurate description of how strong she is and how willing she is to protect her ponies that she cares so deeply about would probably what it's like in this comic which is a parody of one of the only Dr. Who episodes I've ever scene but definitely my favorite. This comic does a better more poetic job of this that the actual Dr. Who. I bet she would be willing to give up everything to save her ponies, and she already pretty much did letting twilight have her magic in the season finale, not knowing whether or not it would return ever but taking the risk anyways.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1frGZyFSCh4

[Prince Firemane 309]

One can only imagine how much Celestia has lost in well over a thousand years; countless ponies, the rise and fall of entire Kingdoms, etc. But I imagine that she and Luna don't have mates or foals for this reason, they would vastly outlive them. Cadance can't help but take a mate, she is the Princess of Lovers after all; and this very well may be a lesson that she learns the hard way one day.

[ArcheoPony 76]

I'm not going to take into account anything from that comic arc because it was a senseless, badly thought up mess that shat on her character.

 

She can take it, and she will last a long time, because she is strong. I doubt it's the emotional toll that will be that takes her down. Sure she's most likely suffering inside, and breaks down when no one, except maybe when those closest to her like Luna, are around. But these experiences are what made her the good leader that has kept their country afloat for one thousand years and earned her the wisdom she is known for.  The most important thing to Celestia above all else if the safety and future of her citizens. She was even willing to loose her only family to save them.

[Sunny Bucket 4]

I just don't know how Celestia can lose to almost everyone, like when, at anytime has she helped the Mane six defeat any of the foes or evil menaces, but then again, if they had Celestia win every battle, we would have no plot. But maybe In the series at some point at least be helpful with defeating the next horrible monster from a thousand years ago.