Spike packed the picnic basket, wrapping the top with the blanket, so that a certain curious pony wouldn’t try and sneak a peek. He picked up the case containing the old portable phonograph player he’d borrowed from Sweetie Belle, who had been kind enough to lend it to him on the condition he only play good music on it.

With everything in claw, he made his way to Sugarcube Corner.

Pinkie was waiting out the front, she had dressed warm, as he had instructed her too. Once again she was wearing the cute cerulean and pale yellow striped scarf she’d worn on their first date. She sat on the front step grinning as he came into view.

“Spikey! You’re here, yay!” She bounded toward him, and wrapped her forearms around his neck in a powerful hug.

“Hey Pinkie,” Spike replied, attempting to balance the picnic basket and portable phonograph case. He put them down, and hugged Pinkie tight. She started to squirm in his arms, and he laughed as she tried to stick her nose in the picnic basket. “Nope, not yet. Our date is still a surprise. Do you promise to be good until we get there?”

“Mmmm,” Pinkie nuzzled his neck, causing his thoughts to slow.

“Pinkie, stop that!” He laughed. “Pinkie Pie promise me.”

“Awww, but I want to know,” she whispered into his ear, her breath warm on his cheek.

“While I could stay wrapped in your arms like this forever –” he turned, looking directly into her brilliant blue eyes “– we won’t be going on our date until you Pinkie Pie promise you’ll be good.”

“Okay Spikey,” she relented. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” The actions she mimed were difficult, but she managed even while pinned to Spikes chest.

He gave her a quick peck on the cheek before putting her down. “Good, now let us get going. The night awaits.”

Spike set the basket down beside the shore of the lake. Luna’s moon reflected brightly in the waters, and the stars above were particularly magnificent. It helped that his soon-to-be sister-in-law felt guilty about how her guards had treated him. That she controlled the night sky and had promised him a wonderful evening was just icing on the cake.

And that she had most certainly given them, though in Spike’s eyes, it paled in comparison to the beautiful mare sitting next to him.

“So now we’re here whats in the basket?” Pinkie Pie scrambled towards the basket. “Mmmm it smells gooooood.”

Spike managed to grab her by the tail before she got to the basket. Her strength always surprised him, but he managed to pull her back into his chest. “Sorry Pinkie, you can’t spoil the game–”

Pinkie drew in a sharp gasp. “Oooo, are we going to play Pin the Tail on the Pony?”

“Close,” Spike chuckled. He grabbed a small strip of cloth and gently tied it around her eyes. “There, can you see anything?”

When Pinkie shook her head, he sat her down on the blanket. “Good. Now, nopony knows sweets like Pinkie Pie, right?”

“Nopey dopey! I’m considered Ponyville’s confectionary connoisseur commander in chief.”

“Well, I have a selection of sweets and pastries here. I’m going to feed you one at a time, and you are going to tell me what each one is. If you guess them all, I will give you a reward. If you don’t, you’ll owe me a reward.”

Pinkie clapped her hooves excitedly. “Oh this is going to be so much fun Spikey you’re so amazing.”

Spike started with some easy ones. He pulled out a small shortbread biscuit, and put it into her open mouth. “Mmmm, that’s one of Sugar Forest’s shortbread biscuits.”

Next, he held a Red velvet cupcake for her, and watched as she gently took the small cake from his claws. Once again, she had guessed the delicacy. He went through the remaining foods from Sugarcube Corner: princess cakes, fruit flans, hazelnut torte, profiteroles, marzipan macarons, meringues, chocolate truffles and glazed fruit custard tarts. He sat rapt, as she smiled and giggled with excitement and anticipation of each treat.

Any time she was thirsty, he would help her sip a from a small flute of fruity champagne he’d brought along.

He moved on to the chocolates, Pinkie squealing with happiness as each new flavor hit her tongue: orange brandy; wintergreen; creamy hazelnut; butterscotch; and cinnamon. Pinkie particularly enjoyed the chilli flavoured chocolates.

“I have one more treat, Pinkie. But I warn you, it’s going to be a hard on to guess.”

Pinkie laughed, “I don’t think so. I know every sweet there is!”

“Okay, well, see if you can guess what this one is.” He leaned forward, and laid a very light, very gentle kiss on her lips.

Pinkie snorted with laughter as she fell back in surprise. “Hey, that’s not fair Spikey, tricking me like that.”

“I thought you knew every sweet, Pinkie,” he grinned as he helped her back to her hooves.

“Mmm.” Pinkie smiled. “Maybe I need another taste of that one. Then I might get it.” She moved toward the sound of his breathing, and leaned in for a deep kiss.

Spike shook with nervousness and anticipation. This kiss was a lot more passionate than the one he’d given to her. She slowly pushed her tongue between his mouth, but pulled back quickly when she met his very sharp teeth. Even though she pulled back, she did not stop kissing him passionately.

Spike had read about that kind of kissing. He’d read about it in one of Rarity’s terrible romance novels. He nervously pushed his tongue forward, and she met it with her own. She quickly pushed away, laughing.

“Did I do it wrong?” Spike worried. He wasn’t really sure what he was doing here, and Rarity’s books had never mentioned anything about the marefriend pushing away and laughing.

“Sorry Spikey. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just, ummm… dragon tongues are very different. ” Pinkie blushed a raspberry as deep as her mane. “It tickles.” She held a hoof to her mouth and stifled a giggle. “Okay, let’s try again, I promise I won’t laugh this time. Pinkie Promise.”

“Mmm, not quite yet… you didn’t guess every flavor.” He chuckled as he stood. Pinkie pulled her blind off. “So now, you owe me a reward.”

Pinkie Pie pawed at the blanket with her hoof, suddenly very sheepish and embarrassed. Spike adored the look on her face, pleased that he could make her so bashful. “W–what did you have in mind, Spikey?”

Spike opened the case with the old phonograph in it, and put on the record he had brought with him. Cranking the handle, he wound the gears up and put the needle down. Soft, romantic melodies came out of the small speaker.

Spike held his claw out to Pinkie. “Miss Pinkie Pie, would you do the honour of giving me this dance?”

Pinkie beamed as she put her hoof in his claw. “Aww, Spikey. I’d love to!”

He pulled her up close to his chest, and she nuzzled in close. Spike looked down into her blue eyes. “Pinkie, do you trust me?”

“Hmm?” Pinkie pulled her head away from his chest. “Sorry, you’re so warm. Of course I trust you Spike–”

“Good…” Spike grinned, pulling her in close, and locking his arms under hers. With a powerful beat of his wings, he lifted the two of them into the air.

“–Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee” Pinkie screamed as they rocketed into the air. “Spike, what are you doing?” She laughed as they flew, the ground spinning below them.

“Dancing,” Spike shouted over the rushing of the air. “Dragon style.” When Spike was convinced they were at sufficient enough altitude, he stopped their ascent. He slowed his wing beat, and they bobbed gently up and down with each stroke of his wings. “Do you hear that?”

Pinkie strained her ear, but she could make out the soft sound of the music playing below. She nodded, looking into Spike’s eyes. “I do.”

Spike smiled as he looked into her eyes, and sang.

“♪The stars are aglow and tonight how their light sets me dreaming,♫” he crooned in his deep, draconic voice. Pinkie giggled, and he shifted his weight and they spun in a circle.

“♪My love, do you know that your eyes are like stars brightly beaming?♫” Spike continued his dance in the sky. Swinging his tail behind him to turn, he was able to mimic a slow waltz. Pinkie laughed and smiled, looking into his eyes. He noticed how filled they were filled with joy.

Spinning so that his back was towards the moon, he crooned as her face lit with the pale soft glow. “♪I bring you and sing you a Moonlight Serenade.♫”

Swooping into a dive, they plummeted toward the lake below. With a quick flick of his tail, he righted them, and he hovered above the surface of the lake.

“♪Let us stray till break of day, in love's valley of dreams.♫” He sung, as the surface of the lake rippled from the beating of his wings. “♪Just you and I, a summer sky, a heavenly breeze kissing the trees.♫”

“♪So don’t let me–” Spike was cut off by the passionate kiss from his dance partner.

Spike coughed and spluttered, as the two of them resurfaced from the chilly lake. Pinkie was giggling as they tread the water. She swam toward him, shivering, and pulled herself in close.

“So” – she snorted out a laugh – “I guess I shouldn’t kiss my boyfriend while he’s flying?”

“No,” Spike agreed. “But he should be okay while swimming.”