The six of them had gathered at Twilight's, like they agreed to.
"What?! Twilight, you look great! Especially with that alicorn body of yours and you look amazing for having two foals!"
It was just another day. When was it not?
"How is Claire by the way? She's all grown up and out of the house now isn't she?"
They were just talking. That was it.
"They really are perfect for each other. I wouldn't be surprised if they get married right when both of them are the appropriate age."
It had been a while since they were able to settle down and just talk.
"Ah don't think she thinks that. That girl is way too focused on her training."
But a talk was all this really was.
"Pfft, don't laugh. I'm not kidding. I can tell he's got his eyes on all of your guys's daughters specifically."
There was nothing to worry about, and even some things to laugh about.
"Girls! We're getting so OLD!"
The reminder they were aging wasn't funny. There was something about Rarity's tone, however, that made them laugh.
"I'm sorry, did I say something funny?"
Fluttershy rubbed her eye. "No. It was just how you said it."
Applejack stifled a giggle. "I don't like being reminded that I'll have to stop working one day, but just hearin' that screechy, "We're gettin' so OLD!" somehow made it funny."
Rarity raised an eyebrow, then leaned towards her orange friend. "Fun-nay?"
"Yeah, yeah. Enough of that."
Dash was just enjoying the show. "Hey, Pinks! If you want another kid, you're gonna want them soon!"
"Uh, heh. Yeah. I-I guess I should, heh."
Fluttershy put a hoof to her chin. "If we-"
"Pinkie?" Twilight cut her off, her smile gone. "Is something wrong? You seem-"
"NOTHING!" The other five leaned away from her outburst. "Er, I mean, it's nothing. I'll be fine." The rest just stared. "Really!"
"... O... kay. Anyway, as I was saying, if we had another child, what would we name them?"
Fluttershy's friends looked at her for a moment before thinking. Applejack rubbed the back of her head. Rarity put her hoof to her chin. Twilight covered her mouth with her wing. Rainbow rested her head on her hooves. Pinkie looked down.
Fluttershy shrunk down behind her mane, which wasn't as effective as it was when she first met them since it's much shorter. "I'm sorry. I was just thinking of Rainbow's joke, and-"
"If I had another child." Twilight cut her off again, which actually made Fluttershy relax a bit. "I would name a colt... Star Trot, or something like that. And a filly... Starry Dreams!"
Rarity smiled. "Those sound nice."
Fluttershy lit up. "I really like Starry Dreams."
Dash scoffed. "Leave it to Princess Twilight to find the perfect name."
AJ glanced at Dash. "I'm a bit iffy on Star Trot." She turned back to Twilight smiling. "But I really like Starry Dreams."
"Hah! S-Starry Dreams! T-that's a v-very nice name! Haha!"
This time, they all noticed it.
"Uh, Pinks? You alright?"
"Hah! I-I'm fine! I j-just find t-the name i-i-ironic! Hah!"
The girls shared a confused look. "Er, how is it ironic?"
"Don't you mean fitting?"
Pinkie's clearly fake smile started to fade, and she looked like she could go crazy at any moment. "Haha! Ironic! F-fitting! Same difference! Hahaha!"
"Pinkie..."
Pinkie's smile was entirely gone, and she was on the verge of tears. "I-I have to go!" Pinkie stood up and took off, but only made it halfway to the door before Twilight grabbed her with her magic. "NO! LET ME GO! LET ME GO!"
The rest of the girls got up and stepped near Twilight as she pulled the struggling pink mare back towards her. She held her front legs out and wrapped them around Pinkie as soon as she was close enough, prompting the others to hold her as well.
"NO! LET ME GO! LET... Let me... let..." She broke down crying. "I-I'm sorry. I can't... I-I c-c-can't..."
"It's alright, Pinkie. It's alright."
"I'm sorry, Pinkie. I didn't mean to stir up bad memories."
"I-I, it's alright, Fluttershy. You didn't know."
The six of the sat there for a bit. Holding each other. Not saying a thing.
The five friends watched as Pinkie trotted away from the castle, in stark contrast to her usual bouncing. They silently agreed to keep quiet about what was bothering her while she was around, but now that she's gone...
Rarity leaned in towards her friends. "What do you think happened?"
Twilight glared at her, her ears laid down.. "She lost someone close."
Rarity's eyes went wide with horror. "Do you think she killed them?"
Fluttershy put her hoof over her mouth, terrified by what Rarity said. "Maybe it was an accident?
Dash seemed distant. "Miscarriage, maybe?"
Rarity tried something less morbid. "Did someone betray her?"
AJ went a lighter route. "Think it was her granny's name?"
An idea struck Fluttershy. "Maybe Candy knows?"
Twilight's ears perked up and her eyes went wide for a moment. She quickly turned her face into one of scorn. "Let's drop it for now."
The other four were shocked. "What? Aren't you curious?"
"I am, but it's getting late. You can talk to your kids about it, but I know I don't want Star involved." With that, Twilight turned around and went back into her castle, leaving her friends outside. The four of them shared a glance, then nodded and headed home.
