Spike woke up to Twilight's voice addressing him.

"Spike." She grabbed his leg and shook him. "Spike! Get up, you're going to be late."

Ugh, why is her voice so annoying in the morning. Spike opened his eyes and met the glare of his lilac friend.

"Twilight." He mumbled through the covers. "What time is it?"

She looked up at the clock on the wall. "Almost ten." Spike groaned at her answer.

"Five more minutes." he rolled over to face the wall.

His eyes slowly closed and he started drifting back to sleep. There was a weight lifted from his body and the flutter from a cool breeze forced his eyes back open. Twilight, so help me...

"Spike, we don't have time for this nonsense." She dropped the blankets that she ripped of Spike's bed. "You have to get ready for your departure."

He rose from his bed and stared angrily at her. "Yeah, in two hours!"

She frowned at him. "Get ready Spike, we'll leave at eleven fifty."

With that she left him alone in his room and walked downstairs. Man, I'm glad I'll be getting some money flowing... Houses in Manehattan aren't cheap. Spike climbed off the bed and made his way to his closet. He threw on some cargo pants, a black hoodie, and a pair of boots. Then he brushed his teeth and headed downstairs.

Spike entered the kitchen to find his purple companion reading a book and drinking a mug of coffee. She lowered the book looked at him.

"Breakfast is on the counter." She pointed at the scrambled eggs sitting in a frying pan.

"Thanks, Twi." He got a plate and a fork out of the cabinets.

Spike served up what he wanted and sat down at the table. He put a fork-full in his mouth, then shifted his eyes to Twilight. As he chewed, he read the cover of the book. Military Training: Special Forces. Hmph, I didn't know they make books about that. He got Twilight's attention by speaking.

"So, whacha readin'?"

She look up from her book again. "Oh, I'm just getting a better understanding of what you're going to be going through." She narrowed her eyes and shot him a smug grin. "And let's just say that you're not going to like boot camp."

Spike raised an eyebrow. "Well, I already know I'm not going to like it, but what else you got?"

She kept her smile on. "They have wake up call at five o'clock... Everyday."

He dropped his fork along with his jaw. "I'm not going to make it."

Twilight giggled at his reaction. "Now Spike, not with that attitude. I'm sure you'll get used to it."

"Yea, thanks Twi." He said sarcastically. He picked up his fork and continued eating. "So, what else is in that book?"

Twilight talked more about what they do in boot camp to Spike while he ate his eggs. She told them about the exercises, discipline, and combat training they taught. Spike finished his meal and started asking questions of his own. Twilight kept her eye on the clock, she needed to give Spike time to pack up and finish getting ready.

"Okay, that's enough." Twilight stopped her teachings. "It's eleven o'clock, go pack up."

Spike looked at the clock too. "Alright, I'll be down soon."

He put his dishes in the sink and walked upstairs to his room. He grabbed a backpack and started filling it with his stuff that he thinks he would need. He searched his room for necessities. While he put on the backpack, he put a watch on his wrist and quickly fixed his hair. Spike was all ready to go now, he looked at his watch. 11:43 He walked downstairs and called for Twilight.

"Are you ready, Twi!?"

"Yea, are you?!" She yelled back.

"Yep! Let's get going!"

"Okay, okay." Twilight appeared in the hallway. "Let's go."

Rarity walked through town, thinking to herself. What Spike did, or almost did, was on her mind ever since he left yesterday. She just couldn't let him confess his love for her like that. She couldn't tell him that she didn't feel the same way, it would crush him. Yes, she has thought about the possibility of dating little Spikey Wikey, but she just can't see it working out.

She continued to think until she arrived at the train station. She wanted to get there a little early to apologize for her behavior yesterday, she really wasn't in any position to silence Spike like that. She walked onto the docking area and imminently saw her friends waiting on a bench.

"Rarity! Hey RARITY!" Pinkie shouted out to her. Rarity approached her friends. "Did you hear? Spike is joining the military! Isn't that exciting?"

"Yes Pinkie, very." Rarity noticed that neither Twilight nor Spike were here.

"Well, howdy Rarity." Applejack tilted her hat in welcome. "Ah recken your here ta see Spike off?"

Rarity nodded. "Indeed, he hasn't arrived yet?"

"Nope. Him n' Twilight haven't even showed up yet." AJ answered.

Rarity took a seat and waited with her friends. She looked up at the train station's clock and signed.

11:55

Spike and Twilight walked together in silence. He didn't feel like talking anyways, his mind was busy thinking about what the future held for him. His thoughts drifted from subject to subject; Rarity, boot camp, Twilight. All the buzz in his head was making him nervous. Worrying passed the time well, though. When Spike finally shook out of it, the train station was already in sight. He looked down at his wrist.

"Come on, Twi." Spike picked up his pace. "It's almost noon. We have to make sure I'm signed in."

Twilight kept walking. "Calm down Spike, we're on time."

"I know, I just want more time to give you guys a proper goodbye."

Twilight nodded at him and started jogging  to keep up to the drake's long strides. They rounded a corner of the station and saw four old friends waiting on a bench. The fifth made a beeline towards Spike and glued to his chest. Her pink hair was deflated from the curly structure it had before.

"Please don't go Spike." She sobbed into his torso. "Who will I throw 'Happy Birthday, Spike' parties for?"

"Pinkie..." Spike lifted her head up to face his. He gave a comforting smile. "You're only going to miss one."

Pinkie calmed down and smiled back.

"Now, you all wait here." Spike addressed the group of mares. "I've got to check in with the conductor."

Spike left the group of friends and cut through the station. Spike saw a stallion wearing Royal Guard armor and holding a clipboard in one hand. He was wearing a different style of the armor, he definitely wasn't just part of the Guard. The armor he had on was silver with a deep black outlining. Spike approached the man.

"Uhh, is this the train going to Special Forces boot camp?"

"Yes it is." He looked up from the clipboard and eyed Spike. "Name?"

"Spike, Spike the dragon." Spike said weakly.

"Ah, here you are, recruit." He made a check with his quill. "Alright, you're all ready to go. You have ten minutes to say your farewells."

Spike returned to his group and frowned. Apple Jack noticed right away.

Ten more minutes.

The relegation zone... I saw this coming from the start. Next Chapter: Chapter 6: Departure Estimated time remaining: 5 Minutes