@darknessRising24  

@darknessRising24  

@ma3a  
Can’t tell if that makes it better or worse…

@darknessRising24  
actually she did smile in her usual exuberant look but grandpa gruff scowling at her quickly snuffed that out

@darknessRising24  
Grandpa Gruff is that much of a dick.

You know this really makes you think, how bad are things around this time of the holidays that even Gabby can’t bring herself to smile?

@Background Pony #66ED  
I feel you… Since william shatner played applejack’s grandpa on her mother’s side and shatner also played captain james T kirk from star trek i choose to believe that A.J’s parents are on an adventure among the stars aboard the U.S.S Enterprise

@Joseph Raszagal  
Yeah, Gallus doesn’t have a blood family but thankfully he has friends who can act as family for him.

Poor guy. It’s a good thing he’s got some good friends to pick him up when he’s feeling down.

@cheezedoodle  
Because it can come off as spam sometimes?
 
@SugarHoneyIceTea123  
Thanks for clarifying.

@cheezedoodle  
It’s also a reference to one of the most heartbreaking moments in television history from, ironically enough, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

@mjangelvortex  
Story in the comments is a thing, although for some reason some staff like to delete them.

@SugarHoneyIceTea123  
Why are you roleplaying with yourself in the comments?

@Background Pony #1E5A  
Just want you to know, this is your fault.  
Gallus reunites with his father only for his father to leave him again  
Gruff: …I’m sorry, Gallus.  
Gallus: Pff, y’know this actually works out better for me. The chickies are gonna be slimmin’ up this summer so…  
Gruff: Gallus, It’s alright to be angry.  
Gallus: …Wh-Why should I be angry? At least he actually said goodbye this time. I just wish I hadn’t wasted my money buying him some stupid present.  
Gruff: I’m sorry. If there was something I could…  
Gallus: You don’t have to do nothing, Gramps. I mean, it ain’t like I’m still 5 years old, asking my mom ‘when is Daddy coming home?’ Who needs him, right? He wasn’t there to teach me how to play dodgeball, but I learned. And I got pretty good, right?  
Gruff: Yeah, yeah you did.  
Gallus: Yeah! I got through my first date without him, I learned how to fly without him, I learned how to preen, how to fight, I had 14 GREAT birthday parties, he never even sent a single card! TO HELL WITH HIM!!!  
quiet sobbing  
Gallus: I didn’t need him then and I don’t need him now.  
Gruff: Gallus…  
Gallus: No! You know what, Gramps! I’m gonna get through school without him! I’m gonna get a great job without him! I’m gonna marry a beautiful honey and I’m gonna have a whole bunch of kids. And I’ll be a better father than he ever was, and I sure as hell don’t need him for that because what could he EVER teach me about HOW TO LOVE MY KIDS!!!  
Gruff: …  
Gallus: …How come he don’t want me, man?

@cheezedoodle  
I’m okay with this headcanon.

@Background Pony #1E5A  
Grampa Gruff’s Home for Orphaned Griffons?

@Background Pony #1E5A  
That’s sweet.

@Background Pony #1E5A  
That or he thought, ‘Hey, this way the ponies will take care of him. So then he’s their problem!’
 
I do prefer your idea.

So, grandpa Gruff not only was responsible for taking Gallus to the Friendship School, but he also likely paid the tuition, given Gallus is an orphan and would not have been able to pay it himself.
 
He threatened war when Gallus went missing, and given that Griffonstone has no ruling authority and by extension no organized military force, his army would likely have consisted of hired mercenaries, paid out of his own pocket.
 
Not only that, but Gruff also recalls the Idol of Boreas as the greatest thing to ever happen to Griffonstone, likely due to the unity and kinship it forged between griffons through the pride in their race and accomplishments.
 
What does this say about Gruff himself?  
Perhaps he’s simply an old gryphon with a heart of gold, that remembers fondly the days long past, when Gryphons would help and support each other. He met a young, unfortunate gryphon, homeless and alone, and while his outside was rough from the years of decline, he decided to help this gryphon, sending him to learn to bond and trust in others, and securing him a better life in Equestria, even going as far as to threaten the ruler when his charge goes missing.
 
Grandpa Gruff never showed it, but I bet that very Blue Moon Festival, Gruff looked out the window and saw Gallus, and vowed to help him.

@Background Pony #0608
 
Because they’re deceased.
 
But enough of the (terrible) joke about the malaprop, does Apple Bloom saying “Mom and Dad left us somethin’ to remember them by.” in The Perfect Pear sound like words meant to inspire ambiguity about their status?
 
Why would they be spoken of fondly in the sense of “used to be friends”, and why would the words “before they disappeared” never show up?
 
Why is it that not one writer since Lauren Faust (who said they’re dead) take any steps to imply they’re anything other than dead?
 
What other thing could two shooting stars symbolize?
 
I swear, this argument is on the same level as Flat Earthers.

@Meanlucario  
Not to mention when Applebloom got her cutie mark, Applejack said something like how their parents would be so proud of her. She used the past tense like they were, y’know, dead.

@Background Pony #0608  
Seeing that its been all but said both in the show and staff, including confirmation that the family reunion ep in season two or three’s shooting stars represented said parents. Besides, what evidence do you have that they aren’t dead?

@Meanlucario  
I’ve yet to see a single shred of evidence of Applejack’s parents being diseased.

@Background Pony #C72A  
I’d imagine that it’s like cleaning bird cages all day. :p

can you imagine the smell?  
:x