It was early in the morning, and Jardiniero's legendary garden was already abuzz with activity.

The entire family was gathered around a Macaraccoon house off in a corner of the garden, under the shade of several oak trees. Jardiniero was just about to become a Master Romancer for them, and he wanted his family to be there to see the final egg hatch.

Storkos stood proudly, her pudgy little hands on her hips and her chest puffed out. She had just recently starting delivering eggs, and she felt honored and helpful whenever she could help her father out! Jardiniero wasn't one who gave praise often, but whenever Storkos delivered an egg to his piñatas, he would thank her and kiss her on the forehead. Storkos couldn't help feeling like a hero!

Next to Storkos was her mother, who was smiling proudly and holding her youngest son, Sidos, in her arms. Sidos was only four, but he was very intelligent for his age. Despite his surprising IQ, he still had a tendency to cling to his beloved mommy.

Leafos was sitting pretzel-legged right next to the egg, sketching vigorously into her Journal. She had to make sure she got the patterns on the egg just right! The Journal was used as a reference guide for her father, after all!

The Great Jardiniero himself stood with his arms folded, looking at the wiggling egg intently. He was more than eager for it to hatch; he heard many a legend about special piñatas being born once their parents have had many offspring already! He knew there would be something unusual about the unborn Macaraccoon; he could feel it in his heart!

Finally, Jardiniero's oldest son was a small ways away from the rest of his family. He was leaning against a monkeynut tree. The expression on his dark blue mask was mostly blank, but he had a brow cocked with interest.

This was Stardos, who was thirteen years old at the time. He really didn't see what the big deal was. They had hatched six Macaraccoons in the last week and he thought that his father was getting his hopes up too high about this one being "special." The most "special" piñata that was ever born in their garden was a Buzzlegum with ears, which Jardiniero had promptly sold to the highest bidder.

Dad's probably hoping for a quick cash-in again…I already heard him talking about selling the other baby Macaraccoons… Stardos sighed and pushed a lock of his dark hair behind one ear. He never gets attached to his piñatas…he treats them like they're expendable!

Stardos had never gotten too attached to a piñata himself, though. Sure, Stardos enjoyed spending time with the piñatas in the garden, but he never found one in particular that he had gotten really attached to. That was probably because Jardiniero took most of the piñata care into his own hands, only taking his youngest son along for help.

Sidos had become a big deal when he managed to raise and romance two Shellybeans despite the fact that he was barely old enough to speak. Jardiniero figured he had another legend in the making on his hands, so he suddenly stopped training Stardos and took Sidos under his wing.

Needless to say, this made Stardos more than a little bitter, especially since Jardiniero had reduced him from being his protégé to mere grunt work. It seemed that all he heard his father say nowadays were things like:

"Stardos! Take these gooseberries to town and sell them!"

"Stardos! Chase off that Pretztail!"

"Stardos! Help Sidos pack up his Shellybeans!"

"Stardos, do this!"

"Stardos, do that!"

Stardos was pulled from his thoughts when Leafos gasped: "Oh my God, the egg is hatching!"

Everyone in the family moved closer to the egg, their eyes wide with interest. Stardos sighed and ambled over; he figured he might as well be there for the "big moment."

When the eggshell finally burst open, Jardiniero laughed triumphantly. There were two Macaraccoons in the egg! Twins were a rare occurrence no matter the species!

Mother bit her lip. "Honey…" She furrowed her brow and looked at her husband. "They look a little pale…"

"Nonsense, they…" Jardiniero halted mid-sentence. Both of the baby Macaraccoons were incredibly pale, and they were barely moving. One was on his back, flicking his tiny legs pathetically. The other was lying on his stomach, his eyes slowly closing. Both of them were making the most pathetic little squeaks that Jardiniero had ever heard in his life.

Storkos' proud demeanor completely crumbled away and tears pooled in her eyes. "Was…was it a bad egg?" she squeaked. "I'm so sorry, Dad! I-"

Jardiniero let out a mournful sigh. "It's not your fault, Storkos…" He crouched down next to the Macaraccoons; one had completely ceased moving already. The mother let out a cry and began frantically nudging and licking the baby in a vain attempt to revive it. "One's already gone. I'm sure the other one will soon follow…" He stood back up. "No use dwelling on this depressing scene. I'll take care of this."

Sidos buried his face into his mother's shoulder as she walked back towards the house. Leafos and Storkos looked at each other mournfully and walked off together to a corner of the garden. Stardos was the only one who remained behind with Jardiniero, his expression a mixture of shock and anger. He clenched his fists and walked toward his father.

"You're just going to let it die?" Stardos spat. "I can't believe you! One's still alive; we can still save it!" He reached for the baby piñata, but Jardiniero slapped his hands away. Hard. Stardos pulled his hands away, a look of annoyance on his mask. He was used to lashings from his father, both verbal and physical. Jardiniero was never too happy whenever someone wanted to go against his wishes.

"Don't be ridiculous, Stardos!" Jardiniero gave his son a firm glare. "It would be a waste of time! I barely have time to juggle all of my duties in this garden with all of my interviews, I don't have time to dote on an infirm Macaraccoon!"

"You don't," Stardos lunged forward and swept the Macaraccoon into his arms before his father could intervene. "But I do."

"Pfft!" Jardiniero snickered. "It would take a miracle to save that piñata. Last time I checked, you were certainly no miracle worker!"

Stardos ignored his father's comment and looked down at the tiny piñata in his arms. The Macaraccoon slowly blinked its big green eyes. Stardos felt a pang in his heart; the poor thing was much tinier than any other Macaraccoon he had seen, even for a baby! This was the most vulnerable, sick piñata he had ever set eyes on…he couldn't help feeling sorry for it.

"I might surprise you…" Stardos said, speaking to the Macaraccoon as much as he was speaking to his father.

"Well then…" Jardiniero gave his son a firm pat on the shoulder. "I have my doubts, but good luck."

Stardos gave his father a thin smile. It was no surprise that Jardiniero had little faith in him, but at least he wasn't trying to stop him from trying. "Thank you."

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"Come on, Magnar! Eat this! Please!"

Stardos was holding a blackberry up to the tiny piñata's mouth, but it turned its face away from it. Stardos let out a huge sigh. He had tried feeding Magnar every last kind of produce they grew in the garden! Vegetables, berries, fruits, even a small bottle of milk, but Magnar wouldn't so much as lick a single thing! Stardos was worried about him, but he was more than relieved that the little guy hadn't passed on yet…

In the past two and a half hours, Stardos had grown quite attached to the little guy. He was stubborn, despite his condition, and he would constantly give Stardos a look of irritated disbelief whenever he offered him yet another piece of food.

Heh, Stardos had smirked. We have the exact same demeanor…

He had named the Macaraccoon Magnar because it meant 'mighty.' He hoped in vain that having a name like that would influence the Macaraccooon's fate in some way, even if it was just wishful thinking at this point.

"What am I going to do with you?" Stardos lifted Magnar up to his face. "You better not die on me…I know I can help you!"

Magnar gave the nose of Stardos' mask a little lick.

"Oh dear God, you're the cutest thing I ever set eyes on…" Stardos couldn't help saying. He reddened under his mask and held Magnar close to his chest. Magnar started purring weakly and Stardos felt another twinge in his heart.

A loud yowl and a screechy squeak suddenly rang through the formerly peaceful garden air, yanking Stardos out of his Macaraccoon-induced bliss.

A wild Pretztail tackled a Bunnycomb, tearing the paper clean off its back and sending an explosion of candy flying in every direction.

"HEY!" Stardos jumped to his feet and tucked Magnar under one arm. "Get out of here!" He ran up to the Pretztail and kicked it hard. It ran off whimpering before it could so much as grab a single piece of Bunnycomb candy in its teeth.

"Damn it…" Stardos hissed. "I'm sorry, Magnar, did that scare you?" Stardos looked down at him in concern. The poor thing was shaking…

"Ugh, that was dumb of me…" Stardos shook his head. "This Bunnycomb's done for, too, I couldn't have saved it." He bent and picked up the Bunnycomb's life sweet, which was lying a small distance away from the piñata's remains. "The life candy came out and everything…"

Magnar suddenly made a squeaking sound and began bouncing under Stardos' arm.

"What is it?" Stardos knelt down and placed Magnar on top of his knees. "Are you all right?"

Magnar scampered over to the hand that Stardos was clenching the sweet in and began sniffing it. Much to Stardos' surprise, Magnar stuck out his little pink tongue and licked his hand.

"Do you…want the Bunnycomb candy?" Stardos opened his hand and Magnar immediately tore into the sweet. Stardos' mouth opened in shock. Magnar was actually eating!

Magnar leapt in the air when he was done eating and ran around in a circle, filled with the amount of energy that a young Macaraccoon should have. His color was even starting to look normal!

"You need…life sweets?" Stardos sounded absolutely delighted. "I can't believe it; I finally figured out what you need!" Stardos opened his arms. Magnar leapt right into them and nuzzled Stardos' chest.

"Getting them will be no easy task…" Stardos pondered as Magnar purred like a motor in his arms. "Hmm…there are a ton of piñatas in this garden…I'm sure Dad won't notice if any of the lower level ones go missing…" He smirked down at Magnar. "I'll gladly risk Dad getting mad at me…I just want you to be okay! From now on, you're my top priority!"

Magnar let out a happy little bark and smiled gratefully at Stardos.

"I'm so happy I made you healthy again…" Stardos said, hugging Magnar. He whispered into Magnar's fur; "Heh, maybe I should be a doctor one day!"