Sjogre 
@gasmaskangel
Switching to Twilight would be less of a change? It isn’t like Celestia has a time limit here either, not if she can spend centuries waiting for a prospective candidate.
Why not just spend a few decades setting up a ruling council of some sort? She’s got the time, and she could make sure that it’s done according to her specifications.
Also you claim that rule by immortal is the exception not the rule, even in Equestria, and I think you’re not quite thinking about the time line properly. 1.000 or more years isn’t a huge chunk of time on a geological scale, but it is almost incomprehensible on a historical scale
Important Thing One: Equestrian history books include plenty of references to mortal rulers. Important Thing Two: Nobody knew that Celestia’s rule extended for a thousand years until the start of the series, and it still might not be common knowledge. They know that she’s been around for centuries, but they don’t think that she’s always been the ruler. Having mortal rulers still seems normal to them, through study of their own history as well as other cultures.
What if the plan is to introduce a republic to ponies gradually over generations, she just hasn’t found the suitable candidate yet.
If they switch to a republic, that means that they don’t need a single candidate. Distribution of power means that she doesn’t have to worry about a single maniac taking the throne.
For the record, I think that if and when Celestia decides to step down, she’ll actually set up some sort of ruling council rather than just tossing the job to a single pony. She doesn’t care for the demands and I just can’t buy her willingly sticking someone else with a job that she herself dislikes.
Giving Twilight, or more likely, Spike, an option of a permanent government post is one thing, but that’s not the same as making them rule.
Not-Really-Related-Headcanon: Celestia had been trying to hatch Spike’s egg in hopes of having a friend that wouldn’t die of old age after a century. She only started using it as test for her school because all of her attempts failed and she hoped a fresh perspective would do the trick. Celestia thought that Twilight would be able to awaken the Elements because she gave her a potential long term friend.
A long term friend would, of course, acquire value as an advisor and confidante, and likely end up with considerable political power over the centuries.
Switching to Twilight would be less of a change? It isn’t like Celestia has a time limit here either, not if she can spend centuries waiting for a prospective candidate.
Why not just spend a few decades setting up a ruling council of some sort? She’s got the time, and she could make sure that it’s done according to her specifications.
Also you claim that rule by immortal is the exception not the rule, even in Equestria, and I think you’re not quite thinking about the time line properly. 1.000 or more years isn’t a huge chunk of time on a geological scale, but it is almost incomprehensible on a historical scale
Important Thing One: Equestrian history books include plenty of references to mortal rulers. Important Thing Two: Nobody knew that Celestia’s rule extended for a thousand years until the start of the series, and it still might not be common knowledge. They know that she’s been around for centuries, but they don’t think that she’s always been the ruler. Having mortal rulers still seems normal to them, through study of their own history as well as other cultures.
What if the plan is to introduce a republic to ponies gradually over generations, she just hasn’t found the suitable candidate yet.
If they switch to a republic, that means that they don’t need a single candidate. Distribution of power means that she doesn’t have to worry about a single maniac taking the throne.
For the record, I think that if and when Celestia decides to step down, she’ll actually set up some sort of ruling council rather than just tossing the job to a single pony. She doesn’t care for the demands and I just can’t buy her willingly sticking someone else with a job that she herself dislikes.
Giving Twilight, or more likely, Spike, an option of a permanent government post is one thing, but that’s not the same as making them rule.
Not-Really-Related-Headcanon: Celestia had been trying to hatch Spike’s egg in hopes of having a friend that wouldn’t die of old age after a century. She only started using it as test for her school because all of her attempts failed and she hoped a fresh perspective would do the trick. Celestia thought that Twilight would be able to awaken the Elements because she gave her a potential long term friend.
A long term friend would, of course, acquire value as an advisor and confidante, and likely end up with considerable political power over the centuries.
