I’m with the theory that Celestia pulled the strings in the lives of all six so that they’d be able to wield the Elements. She’d been preparing for that night for a thousand years.

Maybe Celestia’s just not the slayer she used to be.

I’m still sticking with Celestia knowing what was going to happen anyways. She already knew the outcome when she sent Twilight to live in Ponyville, after all.

Dunno about Celestia being able to beat Chrysalis. You even said once upon a time that if friendship is magic, love is power.
 
I can see Celestia not challenging her sister or Discord for that reason, though. The only pony Nightmare Moon would have wanted to harm would have been her sister, she wasn’t violent towards ponykind at all. She wanted to prove she was a better ruler.
 
And Discord, well, I dunno.

In fact, I’m sure that’s why she didn’t openly challenge Discord or Nightmare Moon. What happens when gods fight? Maps have to be redrawn. Civilizations end.

Superior love magic or not, you’d think Celestia could roll with the punches a little better. She went down like dry grass beneath the blade.
 
I still point an accusing finger at the Worf Effect. There was no logic behind her defeat except to prove Chrysalis was a badass.
 
Even so, I’m sure Celestia could have won, but only with an overwhelming amount of force that would undoubtedly cause more harm than help. Sometimes it’s better to just take one for the team. Who knows? Maybe if Celestia did the smart thing and, you know, dodged, that love laser might have brought the castel down.
 
Oh well. Celestia will have her day, at some point. Maybe.

If friendship is magic, love is atomic fission, and Chrysalis was sucking on it for who knows how long. That’s how she beat celestia.

I don’t think she lost due to fear of collateral damage. It was made clear that even Chrysalis didn’t think she’d be able to stand up to Celestia, and was surprised when she succeeded. It was the whole love thing. There are certain elements in the ponyverse that are more powerful than the alicorns and other high beings etc. Cadence/Shining’s love was more powerful than Celestia in the same way that the Elements of Harmony were more powerful than Nightmare Moon and Discord.

Looks like someponies number is about to come up in Suguarcube Corner again. LOL

That’s what I ultimately think. She didn’t create a nuclear reaction and vaporize Chrysalis because… uh… Huge amounts of collateral damage. Although the question remains, why didn’t she just teleport them both to the moon? Oh well, everypony makes mistakes.
 
That, or not getting any sleep for a thousand years has taken a severe toll on Celestia’s body, and she is about as sturdy as a dead leaf.

Yeah, imagine if I was burned to ashes.  
That would suck for any ruler.

Got to hold back when the masses are present, you can’t be a princess with all your subjects turned to ashes.

I agree Jack. When she stood up for everyone to protect them I got goosebumps, of course they went away 10 seconds later and I was left with a look of :I but still.

Look, I don’t even care that she lost. The moment when she said “I can protect my subjects, from you” gave me shivers.

Tirek’s Nine Hells hath no fury like the wrath of an alicorn demi-goddess.