Spike's legs moved very fast, so fast that you could mistake them for spinning wheels. You could tell he was in a hurry, especially since he managed to run head-to-head with Scootaloo scooting on her scooter, not at its top speed but still very fast.
"Hiya Spike? What'cha up to? You look like you're in a hurry." said Scootaloo, a bit of a surprise on her face but not that much of it.
"Oh, I'm just on my way to Rarity's to ask her out on a date." said Spike, not moving his eyes from the space before him.
"That's nice I guess. I'm off to buy a present for Apple Bloom. She seemed quite sad lately." said Scootaloo, sounding a little sad.
"A present? Oh, I'm stupid! If I'm going to ask Rarity out on a date I need something to give her." said Spike, before throwing a quick "See you later Scootaloo!" and taking a right turn.
"Good luck with asking Rarity out!" shouted Scootaloo after him, then suddenly stopping with an expression of realisation, she looked at the cloud of dust behind Spike. "Wait... what? Asking Rarity out on a date? REALLY!?" she shouted, but the dragon was way too far to hear her. Guess I'll tell Sweetie Bell. She'll want to know. thought the young pegasus filly before putting her speed back on to get the present for Apple Bloom.
The small bell of Sugarcube Corner rang a soft note as Spike entered through the front door. The Cakes were clearly visible in the background, chasing after the flying Pound Cake while also trying to stop Pumpkin Cake from getting things off the shelves with her magic and trying to consume them. It was chaos.
At the counter stood Pinkie Pie, the famous party-pony of Ponyville, spinning in circles on a spinning stool while covered in flour. Spike cleared his eyes to make sure he was seeing properly, and he was. The scene seemed like a disaster.
"Hi Spike! Uhh, I mean, Welcome to Sugarcube Corner, Spike! What is it that you need?" asked Pinkie Pie as she saw him, speaking in her usual hyperactive tone. It must've come from the large quantities of sugar that she consumed.
"Hi Pinkie Pie. I need something leftover from Hearts and Hooves Day. I'm going to ask Rarity out on a date today!" said Spike, sounding very happy.
Suddenly, everything stopped. Pinkie Pie's jaw dropped to the ground while she gave out a loud gasp. Mrs. Cake stood there, looking at Spike with huge eyes while Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake were running around her hooves. Mr. Cake looked at Spike with a large grin, then as if out of nowhere, he appeared right beside the dragon.
"You have come to the right place Spike! I don't mean to brag but I'm an expert at winning the heart of a lady." he said, grinning. "You see..." spoke the stallion, his speech turning into singing,
♫If you want to gain young Rarity's love,
then buy something just for heeeeer!
Let it be a giant heart, or a dove,
you must show her that you really caaaaare!
How about a chocolate crown,
or a shining candy sapphire?
Make sure that it won't make her frown,
and ignite your love's great fire!
Make sure you know your love's heart well
though on that topic I won't dwell.
I'll leave you to your own devices,
but how about Heart Pie? 2 slices!
Make sure it's something grand and amazing
Baked with pure love (and flour self-raising)
Though I think I've got the thing for you,
a huge love heart that you both can cheeeeeeeeeeeeew!♫
Another one of many famous Ponyville musical numbers. Quite impressive, actually. Spike waited through the entire song, and walked after Mr. Cake after he opened a store room - a long, cold corridor of many chocolate products. Mr. Cake sung about each one as they passed it, but Spike already saw it - at the end of the corridor was a beautiful heart-shaped ruby case, and inside it, a large chocolate heart.
"What about that one?" asked Spike pointing at the ruby. Despite the freezing temperature, a few beads of sweat appeared on Mr. Cake's head.
"Spike, here we store everything by price. The cheapest products are near the entrance while the most expensive ones are at the very end. The Ruby Heart Deluxe is worth around... 2000 bits. I'm sorry..." said Mr. Cake, a small frown on his face. After all, he couldn't expect a baby dragon to own that much money. "You can always have something cheaper."
For a second, Spike thought Oh well... I guess I'll have to get her something else, but his new courage kicked in, and at the same time, an idea sparked in his mind.
From his pockets he produced lots of jewels, which he hoped to have as snacks, and put them before Mr. Cake, "There. Emeralds and Sapphires. They alone are worth around 1500 bits." after that, he pulled out a batch of coins from another one of his pockets, "And here is 500 bits. Can I have the Ruby Heart Deluxe now?" asked Spike.
Mr. Cake looked at the gems and coins. He knew how much the dragon loved eating sapphire and that it was a great sacrifice he was making, and he himself admired that, "Well... I guess we could accept that payment. Go get the Ruby Heart while I gather up the co-" said Mr. Cake, but didn't get to finish before Spike dashed towards the Ruby Heart, took it and rushed out of the storage room, dropping a quick "Thank You." beside Mr. Cake.
The baker sighed and started gathering up coins, "I remember when I fell in love with Cup Cake..." he said to himself, a smile appearing on his face.
Spike ran out of the storage room, and was met by Pinkie the moment he came out.
"Well Spike? What did you- Oh no! Twitchy tail! TWITCHY TAIL! Where is my hat!?" shouted Pinkie, going into a gallop before she could complete her question for the dragon. Looking around, he saw nothing that could fall, until he spotted Pound Cake with a tired expression on his face. Suddenly the young pegasus stopped flapping his wings from exhaustion and started falling.
Pinkie gasped. Mrs. Cake gasped. Spike quickly threw the Ruby Heart to Pinkie. Pinkie caught it. Mrs. Cake nearly fainted. Spike jumped into the air, caught Pound Cake in mid-air, landed on the counter, walked up to Pinkie Pie and, without noticing her awestruck expression, exchanged the sleeping pegasus for the chocolate-filled gem and headed to the door.
Of course, before he even reached it, he was stopped by Mrs. Cake with tears in her eyes.
"Spike... You saved my baby... You're a hero!" she said, making Spike feel slightly uneasy. He wasn't used to praises as a hero, more like a book-fetcher.
"It was nothing, really." he said politely and tried stepping to the side to reach the door, but Mrs. Cake stopped him again.
"Oh but it wasn't nothing, it was everything! I just don't know what to say but thank you, thank you!" she said, then looked at Ruby Heart Deluxe, "You bought that!? How wonderful! For saving my little Pound Cake, you can have that for free! I'll have Carrot Cake give you back your bits right away."
Spike smiled, feeling a little embarrassed "I really need to be going to Rarity's now, Mrs. Cake..." he said, and she looked at him, then nodded.
"Of course, of course... Thank you once again. Now go along, you don't want to be late to your love. Just know that the money will be waiting." she said, stepping aside and letting the dragon pass.
Spike smiled to her even brighter and left the shop before she changed her mind. I gotta focus now. Nothing can stand on my way to Rarity's Boutique. he thought, and once again sprinted, weighed down by his awesome gift.