Ok, here goes my foolishly optimistic theory on the season finale.
So, what at first was a rumor has been confirmed. Not many bronies are happy with this. In fact most of them are raging.
It is stupid at this point to consider that Twilight will simply refuse her destiny, that usually isn't the case in media when it comes to someone's destiny.
The reason people don't like this idea, is because from season 4 if they continue doing episodes normally with wings stapled on Twilight's back, it would ruin a lot of the show's charm and character development that Lauren Faust worked so hard to achieve. Overpowered, too much focus on a single character, you name it.
Now, what people are worried about, is not the finale itself, they worry about the future of the show. Most people would have been OK with this if this were a series finale rather than a season finale. That's when it hit me.
What if the show IS ending?
I know a lot of you are calling me stupid. With the popularity the show has gotten, how could they end it right now? and how is this optimistic? I'll explain later.
After having the show ending thought in mind, a lot of things started falling into place. A lot of the episodes in Season 3 rather than regular episodes they seemed like they were closing as many sub-plots as possible. Trixie and Discord reformed, Rainbow Dash joining the Wonderbolt Academy, and of course, Twilight becoming an alicorn. The fact that Season 3 only has 13 episodes only seems to make this possibility more likely.
Now, I've been thinking about the future of the show after it ends for quite a while. I even made a poll back in December: http://www.brohoof.c...-the-show-ends/ and what most bronies want (at least the bronies that are members of Brohoof) is the show to have a sequel or spiritual successor, with a new cast of characters. If this actually happens, when you put these two things together, it seems as if Season 3, rather than a fully fleshed out season, was just cleaning up to make way for the new series.
EXTREME SPECULATION TIMES!
We are getting into very vague territory, since I have no idea what DHX has in mind, or even if they ARE going to have a new setting for season 4. I've seen quite a few cartoons (and specially animes) that do this. And it's not insane to think DHX would take this route as well.
In this new series, it would take place a couple years after Season 3, seen in the perspective of already well known characters (like the Cutie Mark Crusaders) or a brand new set of characters. The Mane 6 will do supporting roles, Twilight as the ruler of Equestria, Rainbow Dash as leader of the Wonderbolts, etc.
Or the show will continue on as it is while it goes to shit and the fandom dies a slow and painful death.
What do you think? I have quite the imagination don't I?