when a mare leaves

Spike had decided it was a good time to go to sleep, he had been waiting for Twilight to return home all night but the only one to go through the door all day was Starlight and she mostly just read quietly, showed Spike some new tricks she had learned then went to bed.

Spike yawned a little before getting up from his chair. “ I guess Twilight’s going to be late tonight” spike said to himself as he walked down the castle hallway to his room to get some sleep.

Spike woke from his slumber and walked down to Twilight’s room to wake her, he knocked on her door several times and waited but there was no answer, so he checked inside, there was no Twilight in the room, he checked the bathroom, the kitchen, he even asked starlight but there was no trace of the purple unicorn. “ where could she be?” the dragon asked himself before coming to a conclusion. “ hey Starlight, i'm gonna go to Sugar cube corner for a little while, be back later” Spike yelled as he walked out of the door. Spike figured he’d just ask his friends if they'd seen Twilight at all and why he was out, he would get a bite to eat.

The walk to Sugar cube corner wasn't long, but it gave Spike a couple minutes to think why he was so worried, and he couldn't think of an answer so just cleared his head as he walked into the building, not five seconds after he walked in he was greeted by an overly excited Pinkie Pie.

“Hi, how ya doing Spike? How’s Twilight? Where's Twilight? Why aren't you with Twilight? Well...i know you’re, your own dragon and you don’t need Twilight, but if you're not with Twilight anymore, you'd need a job” Pinkie stopped to gasp, spike didn't know if it was in excitement or just to catch her breath. “ are you here to get a job?”

Once Spike was sure that she was done talking he spoke up. “ well, i was going to ask you if you've seen Twilight but obviously you haven't, but i also wanted something to e-...e-...” spike again couldn't finish as he felt yet another scroll shooting up his throat. “ oh Celestia, not again” the dragon yelled as the rolled up paper came out of his mouth and he started opening it.

“Oh...pretty paper, what's it say?” Pinkie asked getting excited, a normal ponies neck would have gotten tired of looking up at spike so long but Pinkie isn't normal.

“It says...dear Spike, serious issues have arrived, me and my sister must speak with you and the others as quick as possible, please and thank you. Signed princess Celestia.” spike read from the paper.

“road trip” the pink pony yelled getting more excited. “ when do we leave?”

“I would assume we have to leave immediately, lets go get the others then get on a train” the dragon spoke as he and the pink pony went out the door.

By the time Spike and Pinkie gathered the rest of their group and got on the train, Luna’s moon was high in the air, spike had showed all five of the girls the letter he received and a little while later they had arrived in Canter lot and spoke with the princess.

“My loyal subjects, i'm sure you are very concerned about my letter, and i have the most unfortunate of news, Twilight Sparkle cast a spell on cadence that did in fact cure her, but the moment she finished the spell she...she disappeared, i wish not to speak of it any more then i have but it was only right to tell you, also Twilight was Spikes caretaker, now that she’s…” Celestia cleared her throat. “ she’s no longer able to live with spike, some pony would have live with him, i understand you all have your own busy lives, and i understand that spike is already 18. What i’m proposing is that each of you have spike stay in your own houses for a week each, if not...he will have to live in the dragon lands and like all the other dragons, he won't be permitted back in ponyville. Any questions?”

Nopony said a word due to disbelief, their friend, and basically Spike’s sister was gone.it was very quiet in the castle room until one of the guards trotted into the room.

“Your highness, the last train leaves in 15 minutes, if your guests are leaving they should get going soon” the guard spoke in a proud voice right before he left.

“If there are no questions, i think it's best you get going..i...i don't think i want any company right now” the princess ordered with sadness in her eyes.

Every pony walked out in silence, and got to the train station, still it was quiet, the whole ride home was silent, the only interactions between the group being sad eyed eye contact.