“We just don’t know what’s wrong with her. She’s not walking, talking…not even spitting fire. She’s only just started eating solid gems when most whelps start earlier. This isn’t how dragons are supposed to develop,” Ember shook her head in worry.
 
”Or changelings,” Spike added. “The little ones in Thorax’s hive are crawling around and playing as soon as they hatch. Pupa hasn’t done any of that, at least not when the others did.”
 
”And Emerald developed normally despite being the same type of hybrid, so it can‘t be a magic imbalance from changelings and dragons mixing,” Twilight Sparkle pondered to herself as she looked towards the little changedragon snuggled up in her father’s arms. “It just doesn’t add up.”
 
Ember looked towards her husband and daughter as well. ”Thorax has been a huge help for her. He just doesn’t give up, even when she’s not making any progress. More persistent than we have been,” She sighed. “I just hope she’s not a lost cause…”
 
%%%%%%%%%%
 
Thorax couldn’t keep himself from smiling every time he held Pupa in his arms. She wasn’t what anypony expected her to be, but he didn’t care. Worrying about her 24/7 wasn’t going to help; he had a better solution.
 
“Look at that big bright smile!”
 
He cooed lovingly as he booped his daughters snout with his own. He used his hooves to lift her up, bouncing her up and down to try and get her to have some fun.
 
Pupa giggled gleefully and spoke some gibberish in mandible clicks as her Papa tickled her belly.
 
She was such a happy little girl, always curious about the world around her. If only she could get around on her own. At the very least, if only she could communicate herself to her family. Thorax would love to hear what she had to say, to know what she was thinking.
 
He raised his eyebrows as a lightbulb went off in his head, his gaze looking over to his husband, wife, and sister-in-law before back to his daughter. He sat Pupa down on the ground and held her face in his hooves, resting his forehead against hers.
 
“I want you to concentrate REALLY hard for me, okay? Can you do that?”
 
Pupa didn’t respond except for going quiet and looking up at Thorax. But somehow, he could tell that she was listening.
 
He took a deep breath and let his expression fall into a soft, warm smile. “You’re doing great already! Now…who am I?”
 
Thorax scooted back a bit, making sure he showed her nothing but encouragement and support. He was patient and didn’t wear his frustration on his sleeve.
 
Pupa stretched her arms out at Thorax and made a noise that was a mix of cooing and mandible clicks. No words, but she was clearly trying to say something.
 
Thorax gently pushed her arms away and shook his head, pointing to his mouth.
 
“Use your words Pupa, I believe in you. I know that it’s awfully hard, but you can do it!”
 
He wasn’t keen on giving up by a long shot, he would be firm and persistent.
 
“P…p…” Pupa scrunched up her face as she tried to form her mouth around the word.
 
“Pa…pa?”
 
Thorax gasped out in shock. He’d always had faith in her, but hearing her do it was different. He began to choke back tears as he scooped her up in his arms and rushed her over to the others.
 
“Again, Pupa, again! Who’s that? And that? And that?” He began pointing at the pony and dragons before them.
 
“Ma-ma!” Pupa giggled in response to her Papa’s enthusiasm. “Da-da! Ti-ti!”
 
“Pupa!” The dragons and alicorn quickly took notice and crouched down to her level.
 
“She’s talking!”
 
“How did this happen?”
 
Thorax nuzzled into Ember’s neck to wipe his tears away as he gently patted his daughter’s head. His expression glowed with pride.
 
“Quite simple really, I just encouraged her. I was patient.”