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Ignatius, a dragon of impressive size and even more impressive sneezes (they sometimes caused small, localized rain showers), lived in a cozy cave at the foot of Mount Sparkle. Unlike other dragons who hoarded gold and jewels, Ignatius had a passion for pastries. Specifically, doughnuts. Glazed, jelly-filled, sprinkled – he loved them all.

His greatest challenge was resisting the temptation to fly to the nearest village bakery, "Ye Olde Doughnut Shoppe," and "borrow" their entire morning's batch. He was, after all, a dragon, and proper etiquette wasn't always his strong suit.

One sunny morning, the aroma of freshly baked doughnuts wafted up to his cave. Ignatius's tummy rumbled a thunderous rumble.

"Oh, the torment!" he groaned, fanning himself with a wing. His tiny, timid squirrel friend, Nutkin, chittered nervously.

Ignatius paced, his scales clinking. He tried distracting himself. He polished his favorite rock (it was a particularly shiny rock). He practiced blowing smoke rings (they were surprisingly elegant). Nothing worked. The doughnut smell was simply too strong.

Suddenly, a thought sparked in his fiery brain. Why "borrow" when he could… trade? He had something valuable. Not gold, but something even better, at least in the eyes of a baker: fire! He could perfectly toast bread, warm ovens, even caramelize sugar with a single, controlled puff of his fiery breath.

He carefully gathered a small pile of his favorite, perfectly smooth river stones. He wrote a polite (for a dragon) note:

"Greetings, Doughnut Master! I offer my services as a gentle oven-warmer in exchange for your delightful circular treats. Sincerely, Ignatius (the one who doesn't breathe fire on your roof… usually)."

With Nutkin perched on his shoulder for moral support, Ignatius flew, not towards the bakery, but to the field next to it. He landed gently, causing only a minor tremor. He carefully laid out his stones and his note.

The baker, a cheerful fellow named Baker Bob, peeked out, terrified, then saw the note. He cautiously approached. He read the note, then looked at the stones, then at the very large, very hopeful dragon. Baker Bob, being a clever man, realized the potential.

From that day on, Ignatius became the official "Doughnut Shoppe Oven Warmer," providing perfectly controlled blasts of warmth in exchange for a generous daily supply of doughnuts. He never "borrowed" again, and Baker Bob never had to worry about his oven being too cold.

And sometimes, if you passed by the bakery, you'd hear a contented sigh, followed by a quiet "burp" and the delightful scent of freshly baked doughnuts, a true testament to a dragon’s love for pastries.