"What's wrong, sugar-cube?" The group shifted their attention to Spike and waited for a response.

"I have ten more minutes with you guys." His shoulders slumped solemnly and he looked at the ground.

The six fiends saw the hurt hidden in his body language and closed in on the drake for a hug. Spike felt a warmth surround him, cheering him up. He looked up at the familiar faces that have always been there for him before. He felt safe in their arms, knowing that they would always support him.

"We're going to miss you, Spike." Fluttershy said in a soothing tone.

The group hummed in approval. It was Spike's turn to cry. He was leaving the only home he knew, a home that contained the best friends he could ask for. He reached out to the mares and tightened their hug.

"I'll miss you girls more." He whispered to them. "But I have to do this, I have to go. I'm going to learn how to protect you, and I'm going to return better than you guys could ever imagine. I'm going to make you proud."

"The Forces recruit train is now boarding." An amplified voice rang out.

Spike let go of the mares turned to his train. there was a line in front of the stallion with the clipboard. He nodded to the new recruits one by one and they boarded the train. Spike took a step back from the group and looked at their saddened faces. he didn't want to leave them like this.

"Good luck to ya, Spike." Apple Jack said, wiping her eyes.

"I be back soon." Spike turned away from them again and started making his way to the train.

"Spikey, wait!" He stopped and faced Rarity. She quickly leaned up and kissed his cheek while slipping a piece of paper into the pocket of his sweater. She pulled away from him and smiled. "Please return soon."

Spike's mind was swirling, he received pecks from Rarity in the past for helping her out, but this kiss had more weight to it that heated Spike to his core. He grabbed Rarity and pulled her into a hug.

"I will." he whispered.

He stepped back looked at her. She wiped at her face with the back of her hand, leaving black streaks in her fur. She smiled through her tears and stared back at him.

"Goodbye Spike." Rarity turned away from him and made her way back to the group of friends.

Spike continued his way to the train, still in a stupor. He lined up with the other passengers outside of the train's entrance.  The man with the clipboard watched as the last of the enlisted recruits stepped on the train. He signaled and then nodded at the engineer and boarded the cabin, closing the tram's doors behind him. The train hissed and let a cloud of smoke rise from it's engine. Spike found his way to an open seat and sat down with his backpack on his lap. He looked out the widow to see six of the closest friends he had waving a final "goodbye". He smiled and waved back.

The train shuttered and started to inch forward, gaining speed slowly. Spike stared at his friends until he couldn't see them anymore, hopefully imprinting their faces in his mind. It will be a while before he gets a chance to see them again.

Once Spike was out of sight, Twilight broke down and crumbled to her knees. Trying to hold onto her emotions while her number one assistant left her proved too much for her to handle. Fluttershy was the first to join Twilight on the ground to comfort her, the other soon followed.

After awhile they got Twilight to her feet an on her way home. The group split up when they reached main street. Fluttershy offered to walk Twilight home. Twilight refused, she would rather be alone right now. Twilight silently parted from the group and teleported to the library. She went straight to her bathroom and turned only the cold water on in her shower. She locked the door and stepped inside. The chilled water ran over her mane but didn't ease her worried thoughts.

Rarity felt bad for Twilight, seeing Spike finally leave the nest must have been hard on her. Rarity made her way to the boutique and closed up shop for the day. She went to the kitchen and made herself a late lunch, only to realize that she wasn't hungry. She sighed and looked down at the meal, her mind still focusing on Spike.

How am I suppose to last a year without the little cutie around?

Spike kept staring outside with his hand supporting his head. Once the train maintained a constant speed, the man with the clipboard stood up in the front of the cabin.

"Good afternoon recruits," the train car went silent,"I am your Recruit Division Commander. The train will arrive at base in an hour."

One of the passengers rose his hand. "When's lunch?"

The rest of the passengers look at the stallion and frowned, some giggled.

"Ha! Since you all are new here I'll let that one slide. You will all be served lunch at the barracks, after you talk to the Chief  Petty Officer of course. Oh and next time," the Commander leaned down into the stallion's face. "You do not speak unless spoken to, recruit."

The stallion sunk into his seat and nodded.

"Now that we understand, please enjoy the last hour of your civilian life." The Commander went back to his seat and the noise picked back up in the train car.

Spike went back to looking out the window. His hand found their way into the hoodie's pockets. Spike was surprised when his hands brushed up against a thin piece of paper. He pulled it out and held it in the light. He smiled and read the wording to himself.

Return safely, Spikey.

Underneath it was a bright red lip mark. Spike flipped the paper over and grinned.

There's all these secrets that I can't keep

Like in my heart there's that hotel suite and you lived there so long,

It's kinda strange now you're gone...