After this painful training, Shadow was allowed to leave from there straight back to the frontier with others he did not know, he was eager to see his friend and daughter. The sun was beginning to set. Shadow lived in a cottage by the Everfree Forest, where it was quiet and relaxing. The breeze that came from the forest cooled down the warm air. He saw Dawn sitting on a hill, just basking in the evening sun, he joined her.

"Dawn, it's nice to see a familiar face again."

"Hello father. How was your day."

"I'm tired but, I won't have to go back for two more days."

"We get to spend some time with each other then."

"Of course."

"Hopefully, we can contact Luna and Celestia soon too."

"I'm sure they will contact us first."

"Speaking of contact, where's Excaelum(ex-say-lum)?"

"I don't know. Haven't seen him for a couple of weeks."

"He's probably busy."

They both saw something emerging from the thickness of the Everfree Forest. It was Excaelum. He was a dragon, fairly large about 18 feet tall, 35 feet in length, and with a wingspan of 60 feet. Even though he was too big for the cottage, he had a separate compartment connected to the cottage so, he was still able to chat with his 2 friends. His scales were gray outlined with black, his eyes were a light blue. He had 6 limbs: 2 legs, 2 arms, and wings. He blew flames of blue, the color of his father's flames, Dragaitas(dra-guy-tis). His skull shape and head crest also looked like his father's, triangular and sharp. He had a back and tail covered in spikes. It looked like he was exhausted.

Shadow asked Excaelum,"Where have you been?"

"Shadow. I've been searching for something. How have you two been?"

"Well, I've been lonely because of you and my dad is tired."

"I'm sorry Dawn. I will try to be here more often."

Shadow said to the both of them,"Don't worry to much about her, she can take care of herself." Shadow paused, then continued,"The sun feels nice, doesn't it?"

"Yes it does. It feels like we won't be able to do this for a long time though." replied Excaelum.

"Why do you say that?" asked Dawn.

"This is just something you can't do everyday." the dragon answered.

"It won't be special if we did." Shadow added.

The three sat on the hill, the sun was set, and the frontier's lanterns started to be lit. At night was cool by the cottage due to the neighboring trees absorbing the heat. Excaelum's compartment was by the fireplace so, he can light the firewood, his flames also gave off a blue light. When the dragon wasn't there Dawn or Shadow would light the chandelier and lamps that gave off a normal light. Tonight the lamps and chandelier were lit and Dawn went to her room upstairs.

"Shadow, how were you today?"

"Fine, Excaelum. Thanks for asking."

"I've been occupied lately."

"Doing what?"

"Looking for something very important to me."

"If it's important, I won't ask. Do you think the princesses know that we're here?"

"I can go pay them a visit."

Shadow chuckled,"Ha, the first time they saw you they almost jumped out of their skins."

"What I recall was Celestia pushing her sister to me as tribute not to eat her."

"And I'm guessing they were surprised when they saw me walking up to you and telling them that you're not going to eat them."

Dawn came down the stairs and continued the reminiscing,"And when they saw me behind you."

"That was a fun day." said Shadow.

"Yeah, except for that time Celestia kept on trying to use her stun spell on Excaelum." Dawn added.

Excaelum had a grin on his face,"I still hate her for that. All those spells gave me were headaches."

"I'm sure she's sorry for that and now I think she got over her fear of dragon." said Shadow.

"That was over 50 years ago." Dawn said trying to convince Excaelum that she didn't mean it.

Excaelum replied,"I don't care about that anymore, now that I think about."

"I remember the first time we met you, Excaelum." Dawn said as she walked over to the kitchen to find something to eat."You didn't like us at first, though because of your father you started to."

"I think your dad would've killed us if he didn't." added Shadow.

"Well, aren't you two immortal?"

"Yes. From aging, disease, and unnatural causes so, everything." It seemed Shadow was not saying something, something important.

"Then how do you explain Dawn."

Shadow hesitated for a moment then answered,"Oh her, her age accelerated to that age for some reason." It sounded like he was trying to hide something. Dawn heard their conversation but didn't care and continued her business in the kitchen.

It was getting late. They blew out the lights and turned in. In the morning, Shadow went downstairs to greet Excaelum. He was gone.

Shadow said to himself aloud,"I don't understand that dragon sometimes." He rummaged through the basket of fruit but, they were all rotten so he threw them out and went to the town market. There were a couple hundred others living but, the frontier hasn't been given a name yet due to no leaders to do so.

It was a normal day, ponies commuting, joking around, fillies heading to school. Parents buying the weeks dinner and deserts. The stands available sold fruits, grains, pastries, nuts, vegetables, home decors, flowers, and clothing. There were stores but, they were being fixed and designed so the store owners decided to continue selling things outside. Shadow stopped by the fruits, grains, and vegetables bought a bag from each stand and continued home. When he opened the door he saw that Dawn had just come downstairs. He went to the kitchen and placed the bags on the counter.

"I thought you were supposed to be at school."

"I don't need anymore knowledge than I already have."

"It wouldn't hurt to get a little more."

"Well, I learned from both the princesses and Dragaitas. And you have to admit they are the most smartest and wisest teachers out there."

"Garren was also a smart and wise teacher. I miss him. He was like a father to me."

"I hate that place." Dawn said as if she was angry.

"What place?"

"Fallen Star. I hope we never have to return to that damned island."

"I hate that place too. We lost many friends there."

"At least we have a chance to make new ones."

"Remember our promise at the cliff. How we promised that we were not going to get any friends or get ourselves attached to anyone else."

"Yeah, why?"

"I broke that promise."

"I did to. As long as they don't suffer the way our friends did at Fallen Star, I won't mind getting a few friends friends."

"I made 2 so far. You?

"Just one."

"Maybe we can meet your friend after school is out."

They waited until 3:00 PM when the schools were dismissed.

"Her name is Flake and she's very nice so don't scare her. I know you have the tendency to scare ponies with your serious tone and look."

"I'll try."

They waited for Flake at the front of the school.

"Hey Flake. How was school?" greeted Dawn.

"Good." Flake looked at Shadow,"Who's that?"

"My dad. I thought it'd be nice for you two to meet."

"Hello, my name is Flake."

"It's nice to meet you." Shadow said with a deep firm voice.

"DAD!!"

Shadow's voice went back to normal,"I'm sorry but, I couldn't resist."

"Okay. Ummmm.... well I have to go now. Bye."

"Bye Flake." Dawn looked at her dad with a stern face,"I told you not to do that."

"Sorry. Old habits die hard."

They went back home where Excaelum was in his compartment sleeping.

"Is that all he does when he's here?"

"I guess."

"I'm sorry daughter but, I have to leave now to the barracks. Please say 'bye' to him when he wakes."

"Okay. When will you be back?"

"Tomorrow after we go to Dry Ocean."

"Alright then bye." Dawn went up to her room.

Excaelum woke up as Shadow opened the door, "I'll be off to." He said.

"See you tomorrow then."

"Take care, my friend."

Excaelum didn't leave for a while though.

Dawn was in her room opening a few old books.

"What chapter was I on? Ah, Chapter 7 - Advanced Spells. To be read. DO NOT ATTEMPT." Dawn ignored the chapter's warning,"I'm still going to do these spells. Let's see, this spell is used to create a ring of objects orbit the caster fast enough to cut through the strongest rock and to use the winds of the objects to hover. Seems simple enough, don't know why it says 'DO NOT ATTEMPT' and they show you how to do it. It just makes you want to do it."

Dawn shut her eyes. She started to lift the nearby shelves and books. They dropped.

"Let's try again. This isn't that advanced, I could do this in my sleep. Well, here I go again." She said aloud to herself.

This time the objects came up more violently and and dropped with a loud thud. Dawn's eyes opened and they started to glow. The room was ever more violently as her mane, tail, and cutie mark started to glow. A beam of light shot out of her horn and it ripped of hole in the ceiling. The beam continued to for 3 more seconds. Something crashed down next to Dawn. The beam began to fade and Dawn fell and with her blurred vision she saw a figure of another pony.

It said,"Dawn, can you hear me? Dawn? DAWN?!!"

Dawn fell on the floor then blacked out. The one who entered the room was examining the destruction of the young fillies magic. Broken pieces of roof and shelves painted the ground.