Ponies never die.  
They’re just “Missing In Action”.

@northern haste  

 
nowhere to be seen or mentioned  

@Cyan Lightning  
All I was doing was expressing my thoughts on the matter, as you have; I am not forcing anything onto anyone. I will admit my wording might not have been the best. On the same coin, I believe you weren’t intentionally trying to be dismissive of others, but you could be a little clearer in your comments.
 
@Anonshy  
Fair enough.

@cloudkicker108
 
I just hope to not add more flame into this… But I guess here there might have been some misinterpretations between one to another in the intentionality of their posts. I guess Cyan might have interpreted that you were defending and putting above the opinion that you share with others, while I suppose you might have took simultaneously that he’s not accepting your opinion due of the way that he replied because it seemed at first glance the otherwise, maybe he didn’t use the best words.
 
Let’s just end everything here, it’s a bit tangled now…

@cloudkicker108  
Sigh, look I am tired of this conversation, okay. This just getting more and more complicated. And I honestly just want it let it go, alright, sorry if I am not showed some “basic respect” or whatever. If you wish to get some “basic respect” from me (if you want to, not forcing you) maybe consider use that phrases, because for me you feel like for lack of better word “forcing your own opinion on me”, and I usually very defensive when that happen.

@Cyan Lightning  
I’m not saying you have to go out of your way to understand every opinion; all I’m saying is that you shouldn’t be so dismissive of others and that you should at least show others basic respect. After all, people aren’t going to want to tolerate your perspective if you refuse to even hear out theirs.
 
Is it really such a big deal I didn’t use those specific words? That is how people with that view (including myself) actually feel on the subject. Just read the comments here.
 
If you no longer wish to discuss this and want to move on to other things, that’s perfectly fine by me.

@cloudkicker108  
I am not sure to be honest to respond. But I can ignore others opinion as much I want, does that make their opinion invalid? absolutely not, it just that I don’t care. Life is too short to pay attention to a lot others opinions.
 
Also the reason why I respond to you that is because the way you said your opinion like.
 
“And for them, bringing the Apple parents back to life would be the cowardly, uninspiring move.”
 
I might be a bit more forgiving if you use the “I think” phrase like
 
“And I think for them, bringing the Apple parents back to life would be the cowardly, uninspiring move.”
 
Anyway, we are out of topic now, if you wish to continue this conversation, PM me instead. I will reply if my mood said so.

@Cyan Lightning  
I never said you couldn’t have your own opinion. You are welcome to whatever interpretation you want. However, that does not give you the right to disregard the opinions of others.
 
@northern haste  
My thoughts exactly. The show itself pretty heavily implies the passing of the Apple parents.

@Beau Skunky  
Outside of not being said to be dead what evidence even is there to say that they’re still alive.  
In fact I can think they’ve been implying that are dead since season 3 the shooting stars in Apple Family Reunion quest says to be a reference to them also in that episode they said that every Pony was there but they will know what if you see on mentioned.  
And what Applejacks says in Crusaders of the Lost Mark doesn’t really make much sense if they’re still alive as well as some of the lines in the perfect pear

@cloudkicker108  
Sorry but no. I am not gonna keeping in my mind in that, I just don’t see as the way you see it. So what if I some how have an unpopular opinion. If they want to bring it and fine if you see it as “cowardly, uninspiring move.” Or whatever. But not me

@Beau Skunky  
Exactly.
 
@Cyan Lightning  
That’s fine if you feel that way. But keep in mind for many the episode did serve as the moment the show finally touched upon that particular range of topics, even if it didn’t go much further than gently scratching the surface. And for them, bringing the Apple parents back to life would be the cowardly, uninspiring move. Not to mention the episode itself gave off rather strong implications about their fate.

@Beau Skunky
 
@cloudkicker108  
Me personally. I don’t care that much if in the future they decide to brought his character alive. I don’t see it as “cop-out” or “cheapen that whole effect.” Because the main charm in that episode for me is their relationship and backstory not “potential as an outlet for FiM to address the topics death and loss”

@cloudkicker108  
Plus, it’d feel like “Oh nobody can die, ‘cause this is a kid’s/family show!”
 
Granted Sombra died on-screen, but the IDW comic series brought him back to life, which proved controversial.  
(Especially, changing him from a threatening, foreboding, creepy, subtle villain, to a typical villain with a sad backstory.)  
Not an IDW-Hater, but that did bug me…

@Beau Skunky  
Fully agreed. A large part of why the Apple parents garnered so much interest to begin with is because of their potential as an outlet for FiM to address the topics death and loss–even if only subtly. To suddenly reveal that they’re still alive would simply cheapen that whole effect.

As much as I like them, it’d feel like a cop-out at this point if they brought them back alive, or pulled the “they were never dead” cliché plot twist. I mean this is the only subtle dramatic character death they have in the show, and that would kinda take away from it.

@toonbat  
Well this is my other headcanon now.
 

 
Though I am not thinking as they’re dead, just changing into another life form. Maybe it have a chance to be cure even thought they’re already become tree.

@Scrounge  
Best explanation ever!!
 
And hey, we did just see the return of characters long thought dead. You never know.

@Scrounge  
Damn. They should be thankful Equestria doesn’t have the death penalty, then.

@toonbat  
Mine is now that they’re in jail for not selling non-alcoholic cider to Celestia, because somepony had to go to jail for what Celestia did while she was hammered, and it obviously wasn’t gonna be her.

My headcanon is that they’re in prison for trying to sell non-alcoholic cider to Celestia.

@Background Pony #3A53  
Maybe, but everyone will going to their own headcanon as long as they haven’t stated in the episode everyone can their own unique headcanon.

@Background Pony #3A53  
…Now I kinda want them to be alive so I can see that.

Considering how everyone talks about them throughout the episode, the only excuse for them still being alive is if they are both fighting armies of demons on other worlds.

@Scrounge  
Okay.
 
To be honest I am enjoy this kinda discussion, although not in the fun part. But rather just an adrenaline rush, I will keep going if I don’t have a lot of headache and not a lot of wasting time while we discuss.
 
Although I still have things to say. But I think we have long enough.

@CyanLightning  
If we take the presence or absence of background ponies at face value, mares clearly outnumber stallions (which I’ve been repeatedly scolded for believing) and there’s probably three or four Lyras out there. XD
 
But yeah, fair enough on the last part, I was just being stubborn because, well… Honestly, just insecurity mostly. I don’t like letting someone claim they proved they were right unless I’m actually convinced that I’m wrong. It’s childish and I should probably just stay out of things, but there you have it.