Tempest was grateful that she seemed to pass infancy more rapidly than ponies normally did. As much fun as it was being babied, having the adult knowledge that it was because those doing so perceived her as a pet rather than a person took most of the fun out of it. On the other side, the pampering of the Minions felt more like worship than coddling, which had its own negative connotation in her mind as she recalled the mistakes of her past life. As such, the first of her teeth coming in - and thus the shift to solid food - was a welcome change for her.
While there wasn't a taste difference since her 'baby mash' was made of the fruits and vegetables that went into Gru's new 'jams, jellies, and preserves' business - his idea of going legit and gainful employment for the minions - it was incredibly satisfying to be able to sink her teeth into things now that she had them, instead of being forced to mash things around in her mouth before swallowing. It left her with a feeling of accomplishment the first time she snatched a mouthful of fruit from the flesh of the produce and chewed it up herself...followed by a feeling of consternation that she saw that as an accomplishment, and of embarrassment when the Minions started making much of her over it.
The other plus side to this was that she got her own dishes to eat from on her own, instead of being hand-fed. At first they were going to be set down on the floor for her since Kyle was scared enough of her to not try and fight over the food, but Tempest had put her hoof down adamantly about it. When the bowls were set down on the floor, she'd shot a glance at the nearest Minion. Three of them then showed up with a chair, a stool, and a stack of books. In moments, a stairway of books had been set up for her up to the chair, with the stool set in the chair seat so that she was at table level when sitting on the stool. She'd quickly waved a hoof when the fourth Minion had rushed in carrying a red curtain with the intent of laying it down on the makeshift staircase for her, and he instead placed the bowls on the table for her. She'd then clambered up, taken her seat, and dug in.
She'd paused when she'd noticed silence around the table. Looking up, she'd noticed that the girls and Gru were all staring at her, looking somewhat flabbergasted. She'd tilted her head and smiled, as though there was absolutely nothing wrong with what was going on. Edith had chuckled at her antics, while Margo had struggled to suppress a smirk. Gru had grinned outright...until Agnes had shoved her face into her own plate to mimic Tempest's eating habits. "Use silverware at the table," Gru firmly chided both of them.
While Agnes had obeyed, Tempest had simply given Gru a look. Without breaking eye contact, she'd leaned forward and picked up a spoon in her teeth, and scooped up a spoonful of her food. She then continued to stare at him, demonstrating the absurdity of his instructions.
"You can use your aura," Gru pointed out, gesturing to her horn. "I've seen you make things float around."
Tempest had ignited her horn, trying to put as little magic through as possible...and her spoon had gone ricocheting around the kitchen, missing people and breakables by millimeters or because Minions were in place with baking pans to deflect it. It eventually embedded itself in Kyle's bowl just as he was moving to take a bite. The poor hound fled yelping.
Gru had relented, but that was another struggle Tempest was still dealing with. The crystal horn replacement gave her the focus for actual spellwork as opposed to the uncontrolled discharges she'd made use of while serving the Storm King, it also acted as an amplifier for any energy projected through it. For larger workings like lifting heavy objects, that made things easier on her as she was able to do so with less power, but smaller tasks proved next to impossible with her magic, especially if it required fine control. If several of the Minions were present to redirect the excess magic, that worked for part of a larger working...but something as simple as manipulating a utensil continued to prove beyond her no matter what she tried.
Still, sitting at the table was accepted, and made Tempest quite happy. It made it feel like they were really a family. All that was left was for them to see she wasn't a pet. She hoped she would manage soon. Today breakfast was shaped pancakes, one of Papa's specialties...and she was going to try and request one. Even if all that came out was baby babble, Bob was there to try and translate...with Pictionary, if nothing else.
"So what shapes does everyone want?" Papa asked everyone playfully.
"I want a book!" Margo declared happily.
"A rocketship!" Edith insisted firmly.
"A unicorn!" Agnes predictably demanded.
Papa chuckled, then playfully turned to Tempest. "And what would you like, Fizzie?" he asked in a sing-song voice, plainly not expecting an answer.
"Gu-cake!" Tempest managed to say, pointing her hoof at him.
Papa blinked in surprise. "...you can talk?"
"She talked!" Agnes squealed excitedly.
"No...way..." Edith gasped out.
"That's..." Margo began, plainly confused.
"Gu-cake!" Tempest repeated firmly, pointing at him again.
Blinking, he managed a chuckle. "Well, if it's what the little lady wants..." With a wide grin, he sauntered off to the kitchen.
Tempest managed a smile as the girls got over their shock and started making much of her. With words out, she could tell now she was going to be treated as a young sister - if of odd shape - rather than a pet. Well, Margo and Edith would be treating her differently. There was no telling how Agnes would be.
But the real treat for her was when the pancakes were brought out. The girls each got the shapes they requested, but Tempest's was perfectly round...with the shapes of the girls in chocolate, Gru and herself in raspberries, and a long slice of banana with bits of marshmallow cream and a pair of chocolate chips for eyes representing Bob. It filled her with such warmth to see that acceptance in solid form that she almost didn't want to eat it.
...almost. Thank goodness Bob had a camera, both for the pancake and for the what would surely later in life be embarrassing pictures of her eagerly devouring it.