Talk:Alicorns/@comment-11111343-20130701191226/@comment-10390252-20130702072312

Celestia explains why Starswirl never ascended at the end of Magical Mystery Cure: For all his power and academic brilliance, he didn't understand the full nature of the equine condition. Lacking friends and the open heart that needs meant that he was never able to allow the magic to change him the way Twilight could.

Ascention isn't just a physical and magical process; Celestia clearly implies it is also a spiritual and emotional process too.