A Third Gem

    "So, to the castle?" Dash asked.

    "I suppose." Twilight said. All of them very nervous about something.

    "Y-yeah." Pinkie said, not even a hint a cheerfulness.

    "Let's go now." Applejack said, all of them blank.

    "Rarity, what's wrong with them?" Leaf asked once they were on the road.

    "I'm... not sure." Rarity said, "And it worries me."

    "Will it be alright?" Leaf asked, "And why are they like this now?"

    "It started after our conversation." Rarity said.

    "Which one?"

    "The one about Mom and Dad." Rarity sighed.

**********

"I'm sorry, your parents didn't make it."

"The burns from the fire were too severe, they died last night."

"Getting hit by a boulder is not an everyday occurrence, and they were already beyond saving."

"They've moved on."

YOUR PARENTS ARE DEAD, FLUTTERSHY. YOUR PARENTS ARE DEAD, RAINBOW DASH. YOUR PARENTS ARE DEAD, TWILIGHT. YOUR PARENTS ARE DEAD, PINKIE PIE. YOUR PARENTS ARE DEAD, APPLEJACK. YOUR PARENTS ARE DEAD, RARITY. ALL OF THEM!!

**********

    "It's nothing." Rarirty said, and continued down the path.