Breakfast on the homestead was never anything terribly fancy, with the dishes typically filling but devoid of flavor. Some options included cornbread, toasted oats, oatmeal, and maybe some fruit if they were lucky. If the stars aligned, they could even enjoy some fresh vegetables from the garden. Today, however, was different.

Little Chart sat at the family table alone, indulging in the last of the pastries Bright Mac had gifted him, chewing them slowly and savoring every moment of the sweet tastes they had to offer. They’d be even more heavenly with some milk to wash them down. The colt felt a pang of longing as he finished off the last of them.

Just as he was swallowing the last bite, there was a soft clatter, and he turned to see his father entering the room. He trotted up to Little Chart and patted him on the head, sitting beside him.

He dared a tail swish, swallowing his last bite of food. "Hi, Dad." He glanced away and back. "How can I help?" His forelegs shivered as he rubbed his hooves together. "Since I'm not gonna be at school, I want to help."

Hewn Oak suppressed a sigh, feeling the nervous energy radiating off him. He thought for a moment before offering his son a smile. “Why don’t you go give your mother some company? I don’t think she’ll have enough strength to get out of bed today, and I bet she’d love to see you.”

“Yeah, you got it!” Little Chart wiped his mouth off and hurried to the master bedroom, seeing his mom in almost the same position she was in yesterday. He approached, carefully taking one of her hooves in his. “Hi, Mom. I’m sorry I wasn’t here yesterday. Did Dad tell you what happened?”

"No," her voice was thin, quiet. "It's good to see you." She reached up with her other hoof and patted his head. Her face looked as though it were carved from stone.

Little Chart groaned, desperately wishing not to go through another crying fest like he had last night. "I, um, it's…" He couldn't complete a sentence, struggling to form a thought. "Want some water?" He felt stupid even as those words came out. "Anything?"

Rosewood frowned slightly, picking up on her child’s distress. “I’m sorry, baby. I know you did the best you could.” She opened her eyes a little more, her rosey red irises locking on her son’s bright blues. “Did you get to meet your new little brother and sister yet?”

"I saw them last night; they’re beautiful, both of them.” He felt his tears threatening to return, the pit of failure and despair making itself known. Little Chart was no stranger to hunger, but this was a far worse emptiness. It didn’t want him to eat, it just ate at him, and he didn’t have the slightest clue how to fill it.

"Why don't you go meet them properly? I bet they're awake by now." Rosewood suggested, patting his shoulder and letting her hoof fall back to the bed.

Little Chart started to turn away, but something pulled him back. "Can I help?" Could he? He felt particularly unhelpful lately. "Do you want anything?"

Rosewood’s frown deepened, seeing the look in her son’s eye. With all the strength she could muster, she pushed herself into a sitting position, scooping Little Chart up and holding him against her barrel. "We still love you, sweetie. I’m sorry if we put too much pressure on you."

Little Chart didn’t bother trying to break free, his mother was still much stronger than he was, even if she was tired. He felt her gently stroking his back like his father had, carefully scooching over to lean against the headboard. “Where do we go from here, Mom?" He watched her close her eyes and let the headboard support their weight, trying to save what little energy she had.

She hummed in thought. "There’s always trying to get another chance next year, but until then, we’ll have to be careful with our food. Remember, it’s not just us, our neighbors are in the same position we are. Hopefully, by next year, we’ll be able to grow a good harvest."

"Assuming Lord Rampart and his goons give us enough scraps once they're done pocketing the bits..." he muttered, just saying that name left a bitter taste in his mouth. "I know I failed my test, but I'll find a way to make up for it, Mom. I promise."

Rosewood cracked her eyes and looked at her son’s face. "Little Chart, don't let them hear you say that," she warned. "Rampart isn't once to take such things with grace."

Before Little Chart to could respond, Rosewood couldn’t help but smirk, a playfulness creeping into her voice as she gripped him a little tighter. “And sweetie, you may not be our youngest anymore, but you are still a foal. I know you want to help us, but it’s not healthy to rush growing up, because when you’re grown, I won’t be able to do this.”

Little Chart barely had time to register her words before her free hoof started to tickle his ribs, causing him to erupt with laughter. He pushed against her barrel trying to get away, but it was a futile effort.

After what seemed like an eternity of tickles and laughter, Rosewood finally showed him mercy, planting a kiss on his forehead. “Now there’s that smiling face I missed. Feeling any better sweetie?”

He nodded, enjoying her embrace more before she set him back down. “Now, how about you go help your father with the twins?

Little Chart paused, almost asking again if she wanted anything before remembering what happened the last time. He decided that leaving and getting the task done was a better option. "Yes, Mom." The pit in his stomach didn’t feel like it was eating away at him at the moment. It was still there, but much shallower. A bother he could let fade into the background.

He kept his smile as he headed back to his kitchen, giggling as he saw his father trying to wrangle the twins and set up a high chair all at the same time.

“You’re just in time. Mind keeping an eye on them for a moment?” Hewn Oak asked, finally getting the wooden high chair unfolded properly.

“Sure thing, Dad!” Little Chart quickly crossed the room and picked up his little brother, an involuntary grunt escaping him. “You’re a big colt, aren’t you?” He asked, carefully sitting him down on the floor beside his twin and sat across from them.

“Earth ponies usually are.” Hewn Oak chimed from the counter as he started preparing a bottle. “He has thicker bones and denser muscles than her, he’s almost twice as heavy. After he was born, your sister was much easier.”

Little Chart gave a surprised whistle, looking back and forth from one foal to the next. No longer swaddled in cloth he could get a good view of them both.

The colt already had a larger frame than his sister. His coat was a perfect match for Cornwood’s namesake golden grain, paired with a mane and tail the same color as the soil it grew in. As for the youngest, her colors were inverted, but both shared their mother’s beautiful red eyes.

“They both look like you and Mom.” He instantly groaned, regretting such an obvious statement, but it got a laugh out of his dad.

“I should hope so.” He walked across the kitchen, a bottle of formula in his hoof as he picked the little colt up. “Keep watching your sister for me.”

Hewn Oak looked at the highchair before he ended up deciding against it, sitting at his spot on the table and offering the bottle which the newborn foal eagerly began to drink from. “I’ll have to make another high chair before these two start eating solid food, and definitely get another bottle before that. After we get these two fed, I think it’s time we decided on some names.”

Little Chart listened to his father’s musings, but he was more focused on making funny faces, enjoying hearing the happy giggles and coos the young pegasus gave in return. His smile turned into a mischievous smirk as he used his magic to gently tug at her wing, watching her look around in confusion.

“If she’s a pegasus, she can help with watering the crops, right?” He asked, glancing at his father.

"Yes. She'll be a true blessing to our village once she's old enough, but that's going to be a few years away." Hewn Oak affirmed.

As soon as he’d said that, a bolt of inspiration struck. “Rainshower…” he whispered to himself. “Hey Dad, I think I have a name for her. How about Rainshower?”

Hewn Oak stared at his daughter in thought, lightly brushing the back of her mane with his hoof. After a moment, he nodded and gave a soft smile. "Rainshower." He nodded his approval, reaching to give Little Chart a gentle mussing across his mane. "You look better. Feel better?"

Little Chart turned away. "A little." He shook himself, putting on a small smile for the sake of his new little sister. "Just... still thinking."

"It's alright." He gently turned him to face his sibling. "Mind her. Foals are curious creatures, and they'll wander off if you aren't paying attention." He chuckled with old thoughts. "Just like you would, and will, even today."

Little Chart forced his ears up as he kept his gaze on Rainshower.

“I don’t squirm, Dad, at least not unless somepony tickles me.” He smiled despite himself, trying to keep the attention of his siblings as his father set the still-unnamed colt down and prepared another bottle. He’d settled on playing a game of peekaboo, getting a giggle out of both of them each time. A few minutes later Hewn Oak returned with a fresh bottle and scooped up Rainshower, repeating the feeding process for her.

That left Little Chart able to focus all his attention on his little brother. As the two played his mind began to wander, imagining what he’d accomplish. While their sister could bring rain, he had every confidence this foal would be able to pull the plow and later the thresher and wagon just like their father. He grinned, an idea coming to him.

“Hey, Dad, I think I’ve got a name for the colt!”

“Whoa, slow down there, son, I think your mother would like to have some input on the name for at least one of her foals.” Hewn Oak cautioned, putting Rainshower over his shoulder and gently patting her back until she gave a light urp!

“But it’s a good name!” Little Chart protested. “At least let me share it.”

“Oh, alright, what is it?” Hewn Oak asked.

“Golden Husker.” Little Chart offered with no small amount of pride.

“I like it, but let’s go see what your mother thinks. Here, trade me,” he said as he gently handed Rainshower to him and picked up the little colt, the two making their way back to the master bedroom.

They both quietly entered the room, seeing Rosewood was still awake and propped up against the headboard.

She looked over at her husband, son, and the new arrivals they carried. "How are they?"

Little Chart gently bounced the little infant in his arms. "They're happy, mom." He nudged Golden with his nose. "Aren't you?"

Rosewood cracked a small smile at the sight, humming to herself. She tapped her chin as she stared at her daughter, taking a moment before a wide grin crossed her face.

"So. Do we have names for these two?" Rosewood asked.

Little Chart piped up. "I came up with Rainshower 'cause she's gonna help with it!" He pressed his cheek to the little filly. "She'll be a great weather pony!"

Rosewood smiled proudly. “I couldn’t have thought of a more fitting name myself. Now we just need a name for him,” she said, looking at the foal Hewn Oak carried.

“I had an idea for him, too!” Little Chart said before his father could get a word out. “He’s already big and strong; he’ll probably grow up strong enough to pull the plow and thresher like Dad and the other stallions. His coat’s also the same color as corn… so how about Golden Husker?”

“You’re good at this, sweetie. I think those names are perfect. What do you think, dear?”

Hewn Oak smiled, nodding in approval. “I couldn’t agree more. Now, after I have some breakfast, I’m going to work to finish the furniture for their room. Can I trust you to look after your mom and siblings while I do that?”

“Yeah, Dad, you can count on me!” Little Chart declared, smiling. The last twenty-four hours had been an emotional roller coaster, but things were starting to look up. As he looked at his little siblings- the ones he’d proudly say he’d been the one to name- his head filled with all sorts of ideas for games they could play and activities they could do together. He’d have to keep an eye on Rosewood until she got her strength back, but he was looking forward to all of it. “So, who’s ready to play?”

Author's Note

Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay. Been dealing with a freak snowstorm and the ultra cold temperatures it brought with it. Thankfully, we never lost power but I'm just trying to keep my toes from freezing these days.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Things may finally be looking up for our favorite green unicorn! (Excluding Lyra )