Ya know what’s like 100% more fun than a depressing breakup story triggered by the death of a child? A happily married post-punk couple with enough curse words, anti-government rhetoric and love to fill a bathtub.
 
Dumbell and Gilda eloped at the end of their “high school” year in the name of rebelling against the power structures that ruled over their lives, mainly Dumbell’s super restrictive, conservative parents and Gilda’s Grandpa Gruff. The two are huge advocates for creature integration into pony society, so much so that they have a kid together. Though admittedly, the kid was not initially part of the plan, it totally worked for their message.
 
Halien is hatched to adoring and loving parents that teach him the alphabet and that distribution of power is arbitrary and an illusion. Ironically, Halien ends up becoming relatively preppy and eager to be the best athlete in the world, but his parents support him in their own cool way.
 
They’re a big, emotional, vocal, political family, but they’re very happy. And yes, that’s a candy cigarette. No smoking around the squirt!
 

 
So yeah, I’m dropping that siblicide story like a rock. Not only does it do anything for Halien’s character, it kinda makes griffins look pretty irresponsible and bad. Which entirely goes against the message I’m going for with all these stories.