Spike looked down at the small purple suitcase that lay open on his bedspread. When he'd first bought the thing, it had been because it was the same colour as his scales; now, however, he was focused on what lay inside. His eyes scanned the contents—his toothbrush and cup were wrapped in the soft fabric of his pajamas and blanket, taking up nearly the entirety of the small suitcase. Spike looked up at his beside table, whereupon sat a lamp, an alarm clock, and a photo in a frame. He stepped forward and picked up the frame in a claw to get a closer look at the photo.

The scene was the Apple Family farm, and Spike had been with Twilight and their friends on a picnic back a few years before. The sun was setting in the background over one of the mid-field hills, and Spike and his pony friends were all splayed out across a red-and-white checkered blanket, looking up at whomever had been taking the photo. It had been Granny Smith, he remembered. To the right, on the side of the hill, three excited-looking fillies were captured mid-stride, obviously running around in some fashion. Spike sighed.

Then, the dragon walked back over to the suitcase and, pulling back his blanket from the side, set the frame in snugly against the suitcase's edge. With that, he swung the lid over the contents and zipped up the suitcase before taking the handle in his claws and lifting it from the bed. Without a second glance, Spike walked out of his room with the suitcase in tow, latching the door securely behind him.

"You have your ticket, Spike?" Twilight asked. She had walked him down to the train station where they had met Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Sassy Saddles. Surprisingly enough, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon showed up too. All seven of them stood on the side of the platform closest to the station building, and they were all looking at Spike.

"Yep, I do," Spike said. He held it up in the crisp morning air and waved it around a little, making a swoosh sound as the paper cut through the air.

"Great! Well, you have a good time, now, you hear?" Twilight stepped forward and wrapped her scaly friend in a big hug.

"And don't forget to give Rarity all our love!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed as Twilight let go of Spike. "We miss her so so so so much!"

"You should tell her to come visit sometime," Fluttershy suggested quietly. "That would be... nice."

"Don't worry, I will," Spike assured her.

"Oh, and can you ask her if she wants to hang out next month?" Rainbow Dash asked. "There's a Wonderbolts derby in Canterlot I was hoping to go to, and maybe she and I could... y'know, catch up." She adjusted her front hooves nervously.

"Of course, of course," Spike said, filing a mental note.

"Oh, and Applejack told me to say goodbye to you and she hopes you have a good trip and all that jazz," Rainbow added. "She's sorry she couldn't be here but she's got... well, you know, the harvest or whatever."

Spike nodded. "I understand." He looked at the ponies before him and then up at the clock which read five minutes to nine. Five minutes until he needed to be on the train. "Er... anything else?"

"I have a few forms for Ms. Rarity that I cannot send by mail... could you please take them?" Sassy Saddles politely asked.

"Sure thing," Spike said with a nod and he unzipped the top of the suitcase as Sassy Saddles levitated the folded pieces of paper into the thin slot on the suitcase. As Spike zipped it up, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon stepped forward.

"Hey, Spike?" Diamond Tiara asked. Her tone was cautious, and quiet. She glanced over her shoulder, but Twilight and the others had already devolved into their own conversation about something or other.

Spike looked up. "Oh, hey guys. What's up?"

"We were wondering... I mean, I know we don't know you that much and you probably still have a grudge against us or whatever, but... oh, I don't know..."

"Nah, you guys are cool," Spike said. "You guys are friends of the CMCs, so that means you're friends with me."

Diamond Tiara smiled, but it was Silver Spoon who spoke. "What DT meant to ask... we were wondering if maybe you could tell Sweetie Belle that we said hi, and that we miss her and want to know how she's doing. We sent her a letter—"

"A few letters," Diamond Tiara interrupted.

Silver Spoon sighed. "Okay, we sent her like ten letters. But we waited a few weeks between each one, honest! She just hasn't replied to any of them."

Spike raised an eyebrow. "Really? Rarity's replied to my letters, and everyone else's... you sure that you got the right address? Did you check and make sure that they didn't get sent back to your houses?"

"We did," Diamond Tiara replied. "And they didn't."

"Weird..." Spike tilted his head, confused. "Well, I'll see what's up and then I'll tell you when I get back."

"Thank you so much!" Silver Spoon gave him a hoofbump and then, when Spike reached out to give one to Diamond Tiara, the pink filly pulled him into a hug.

"Have a good trip!" And, with that, she let him go and both of the fillies scampered off, away from the platform and out of sight. Spike looked after them in amazement.

"They've really changed, haven't they?" Fluttershy's voice startled Spike, who turned around to see the mare standing right next to him, while Twilight was still talking magic or something to Sassy Saddles and Rainbow and Pinkie were having a friendly argument.

"Yep... they're like the complete opposite of how they were when I first met them."

Fluttershy glanced toward the train. "You ready to go, Spike?"

The dragon in question patted his suitcase. "I've got everything I need in this little purple box."

"That's good, but I mean... are you prepared to talk to Rarity? And Sweetie Belle? And to meet with Celestia?"

Spike gulped. "I sure hope so. It's been... a long time. But I think it'll be good."

Fluttershy smiled and nuzzled him on the cheek. "I'm glad. Have a good trip, Spike." And, right after she spoke, the train whistle sounded throughout the platform.

"All aboard for the nine o'clock train to Canterlot!" the conductor yelled.

"Guess that's my cue," Spike said, looking back at his friends. "Goodbye, everyone!"

Once had heard their final "Goodbye, Spike!" and seen them wave, he walked onto the train, showing his ticket to the conductor as he walked through the open doors. He was just in time, too; right as he stepped past the conductor, the window-laden doors swung shut behind him and not a moment later the train lurched forward.

"Better get to your seat, son," the conductor said, clapping Spike on the back as he passed on his way to the front. Spike shrugged and turned down the aisle, looking out upon the available seats before choosing an open one with a window seat, which he immediately scooted over to. The view outside was that of the grassy outskirts of Ponyville, disappearing behind them at a quicker and quicker rate. Then, Spike glanced around in the train car.

There weren't very many ponies seated in the car, but Spike liked that. Less of a chance he'd run into somepony he knew, so more time for him to collect his thoughts and figure out exactly what in Tartarus he was going to say to Celestia.

Slumping back in his seat, Spike put his legs up so that his feet were against the back of the next seat. Then, he closed his eyes and listened to the rhythmic pumping of the pistons that pushed the train further and further towards his destination.