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// Bonus: A Short Apology for a Small Problem 
// Story: Letters from an Irritated Princess 
// by Tired Old Man 
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Dear Flintspark,

I extend my greatest apologies on behalf of my student's actions on Sunflare's hallowed mating grounds. It was not, nor was it ever, my student's intent to embarrass you in front of your mate. And everyone else.

You see, earlier this morning she had asked an innocuous question about Spike and where baby dragons come from. I had attempted an explanation at the time, but my demonstration using various food items including a hay weenie, a doughnut, and a chicken egg somehow wasn't clear enough for her. Birds and bees during breakfast failed, so I tried something else: books.

Unfortunately, our library didn't carry any textbooks on dragons either. Turns out the researchers I had sent to the mating grounds for the express task of making such a book failed in their expedition. Your leader Sunflare told me they ended up in ridiculous compromising positions close to the dragons and were crushed, burned, or both, instead of observing from a safe distance like she warned them to. This is something I was certain my student would respect both in terms of the sanctity of the grounds and the intimacy of the matter as a whole of not getting in there for a close inspection upon our visit.

I was so very, very wrong, and greatly underestimated her inquisitive nature and dogged determination to search for answers, no matter the cost. It was foolish of me to not keep an eye on her the entire time despite my warning to keep close to me and Sunflare's warning to stay away--she's hard at following instructions, you see--or else I'd have known she would take the ruler out of her hair and measure your unmentionables on the spot.

Further, I sincerely apologize for Twilight pointing out the disproportionate size discrepancy--with a further comparison to a carrot from her lunch saddlebag--and for the ensuing roar of laughter that had come from every nearby dragon in the vicinity, including Sunflare. And my laughter. I really, really apologize for my laughter being the loudest.

I insist she did such a comparison for educational purposes only, and that what she drew in her sketchbook is a gross misinterpretation of the source material. It's a stick figure of a dragon with a nub I think is supposed to be an outie. It's quite misleading, and I apologize for this crude construction which will definitely not be used in any sort of textbook following this visit. Not in the slightest.

We'll be taking our leave as soon as Twilight studies other dragons from a good, long distance away. She'll clearly be able to see what she needs to that far away as opposed to her close-up with you. So I apologize once more for her ill-conceived measurements and you becoming the laughingstock of the grounds, so please do not burn my castle down in a bout of rage over this miniscule issue.

You will regret it.

Sincerely and apologetically,

Princess Celestia