//------------------------------// // Having a Molt Down Over a Breakout // Story: Letters from an Irritated Princess // by Tired Old Man //------------------------------// Dear Spike, Firstly, I wish to apologize for yelling at you profusely when you arrived with a report from Twilight. I did not expect a personal drop-off on my balcony probably just as much as you did not expect me to shout with glee over your new appendages! I also expect Luna did not expect you to slam into her tower, but when something this unexpected happens, one should expect almost anything! I also apologize again if things still sound loud in this letter. Philomena decided to start a preening session over my bed during the night, and my hearing has been shot to Tartarus all day! Even now a groggy sister of mine may be covering her ears as I attempt to address your new appearance, which looks amazing by the way! Oh, and because I’m curious, I asked Dragon Lord Ember about any written records of potential growing pains. After the first time you bloated to gargantuan proportions from what can now be labeled as a “greedy growth spurt”, I’m taking a liberty to prepare both you and ourselves for any other surprises! What I got was a stone tablet carved out with the words “Dragons Rule! Ponies Drool!” written on it. I have absolutely no idea if this is a sign she’s going through something, or this is a relic of rebellious mood swings! Either way, this is not a lot to go off of! Wait! She also wrote something else on the back! It says “Quickening,” whatever that is supposed to be! Well at least you know the name of it, so good luck dealing with those changes! Maybe ask Ember yourself or that other dragon that goes to your school, what’s the name… I want to say Colder! Beyond that, good luck with your upcoming development! I’ll have a traditional gift of a heavy metal collar ready for you when your next ascension comes! You’ll need to wear it at all times though. Don’t worry—you’ll get used to it! With Love, Princess Celestia Oh my goodness! Sunny, your face is broken out in zits! And why are you wearing half a pepperoni pizza?! A loony gave you a knife and rice?! That doesn’t answer my question, and besides, how many times have I told you not to accept things from strangers?! Just now? Oh. Well, now you know not to do it! Hey! Give me back my parchment! I need that for— Big Sis, I don’t think you can hear me. I said, “Moony gave me life advice!” She said my acne can be cured with greasy stuff, so I found pizza! Ooooh, okay. Wait, no no no! Moony gave you awful advice! You don’t fight grease with more grease! That makes it all kinds of worse! Sunny, listen. You’re me, kind of! Doing nothing is the best thing you’re good at. It may not always be the smartest decision to make, and it might not even be a choice you’ll willingly make! But when it happens, you are the undisputed queen of non-participation! So don’t touch your face with anything greasy or acidic, mild soap and water at most, and I promise you it will improve! If you can weather an acne storm, you can weather anything!