It was almost like fate. The most beautiful princess in the land, well at least he thought so, was the very mare he was guarding tonight on her special day. Or well at least he was guarding her. His shift had technically ended a few hours ago, but with luck he'd be her chosen guard once the night was through.

"Mmmm," He murmured to himself as he walked down the hall to return his armor. His thoughts drifting back to her wiggling her rear at him from earlier. Was it really only a tease? Did she do that to every 'guard' that came into her chambers? No, that couldn't be it. He'd have heard something about that in the barracks. He may have only been here a week, but it was long enough to have heard quite a few rumors. None of them were of Snowdrift doing anything in the realm of 'sexual' like that. As far as any of the staff and guards knew, she was what you'd expect of a princess. Beautiful, graceful, witty, a nicely shaped rump he'd love to lay his hooves on-

He shook his head to clear his thoughts. He needed to focus if he was to have any chance of beating out the other suitors. Promised date or not, there would be a slew of stallions that could possibly woo her. He'd just have to do his best to be charming, respectful, and hope his gift was worthy enough to... to..

Gift! He hadn't gotten her a gift!

What was he going to do?! This was the DAY of her birthday! How could he have overlooked such a thing? This was horrible! Without a gift he'd at best be seen as inconsiderate, and at worst be thrown in a dungeon!

Okay so maybe not that one, but the others could see the act as an insult. Would her mother, THE Princess Luna accept such a stallion as her daughter's personal guard? One who couldn't even bring her a small gift on her birthday?

No, no he had to fix this. He had to get her something! Something that would show he was serious about being her chosen one!

Now... how in tartarus was he going to do that?

* * *

Without a clear plan in his mind, he wandered aimlessly through the many roads of Canterlot, glancing this way and that for an idea, any idea for a gift to get Snowdrift.

He saw lots of dresses, jewelry and other such trinkets, but none of them worked. That was certain to be what ninety percent of the other stallions would get her. He needed something different, something beautiful yet unique. Something that would blow all the other gifts away, and yet still be something he was certain she'd enjoy.

"Oh yeah piece of cake." He muttered to himself as he turned down yet another roadway. He'd known of Princess Snowdrift for years, but didn't KNOW her much at all. The most he knew about her, besides the obvious physical attributes, was what little he had seen of her room that morning. How was he suppose to find something that really spoke to her when he hardly knew the first thing about her? Ugh this was hopeless, he may as well just give... hold up what's that store?

If it wasn't for the sign he'd never have noticed it. Tucked away in a side street was an almost shield shaped sign with what appeared to be a potion over a line, and under that line was a pony. It had a single wooden door leading in, and a small window to the door's left. Peering in, he saw all sorts of strange piles of what could almost be considered junk.

In his experience, these shops always seemed to carry something odd yet wonderful to look at. This could be the perfect place to find something! Just as he was walking up to the door, her heard a loud crash come from inside followed by a feminine curse. Without thinking, he burst in.

"Is everypony okay? Do you need help?" He called, causing the poor mare inside to leap up in the air from surprise.

"D-don't startle the Great and Power Trixie like that!" The blue mare yelled, as she tried to smooth out her ruffled white mane.

Sand Gust blushed from embarrassment. "S-sorry I just heard a crash and well..."

"O-Oh yes, nothing to worry about. Trix- I mean this stupid shelf just fell over!" The mare said as she used her magic to stand a small display case back up. Sand Gust briefly noticed the glass that had once made up it's front doors was now all over the floor in pieces, several items that he presumed were once inside said display now laying in various places on the ground.

"Oh uh, do you need help cleaning up?" He was more worried about the mare cutting herself on the fallen glass then he was of why the thing had fallen over. Though he had a feeling it hadn't just 'fallen'.

"Oh um no no. Trixie has it!" She said using her magic to collect and deposit the strewn about glass into a nearby trash bin, along with a few papers and such. Sand Gust was a bit impressed she could manipulate that many tiny things all at once. Wait had she just thrown away a sign that said "Danger Not for Sale?"

"A-anyway, how can the Great and Powerful Trixie help you?" She said using her magic to place a few things that had fallen on the ground to various places in the shop. He couldn't help but notice nothing went back in the broken display case.

"Oh uh, I'm looking for a gift, but not just any gift. Like something that'd catch Princess Snowdrift's eye." He slapped a hoof over his mouth, a burn in his cheeks. How could he just blurt it out like that?

"Oh yes, Trixie heard about that." She said without much interest as she walked behind the counter. "A lot of stallions your age are trying to find a gift." With a sigh she plopped down on stool. "Trixie supposes some tickets to her show aren't GOOD enough to pass?"

"Uh, n-no! Those would be great actually!" He couldn't believe how much the mare's eyes lit up at hearing that.

"R-really? You mean it!?"

With a gulp he nodded his head, as the mare he was pretty sure was this 'Trixie' leapt toward him, two tickets in her mouth.

"For such a wise stallion colt, a special discount of only thirty bits for each ticket!" She was so happy she was nearly bouncing. Sand Gust meanwhile had to mask his shock. Sixty bits in total!? That was robbery! Damn it, he had the money but this could make getting Snowdrift's actual present difficult. What if he couldn't afford it after this?

He peered into the mare's eyes and winced inwardly. How could he turn her down now?

"O-Oh uh thank you!" He managed to muster as he lifted the cash out of his saddle bags and held them out. Before he knew it, the bits were gone, replaced by the tickets. Looking up he say his missing bits disappear into her mane. How did she do that? He could see by the tickets this show was a magic show. Perhaps it wouldn't be a complete waste of his money, but still this wouldn't wow anyone at the party.

"You are very welcome handsome!" She said with a wink, obviously trying to butter him up. Despite knowing this he still blushed. She wasn't bad looking though the age gap was way too much. Not that he'd say that out loud. "Is there anything else Trixie can help you with?"

"Y-yes, I uh, think these tickets will be great but I can't-" He saw the expression sour in her face and tried to switch tactics. "T-that is to say I think they are best given as a um... private gift! Yes, something I did for her and not because of the whole party thing tonight. Uh t-that being said though I still need a gift to publicly give her."

Trixie's face seemed to digest this for a moment before breaking into a smile. "Yes! Yes of course something like tickets to MY show are far to important to be used as some random item meant to 'look good' for those noble types."

Sand Gust nearly breathed an audible sigh of relief.

"Hmm sadly Trixie doesn't own this shop, she's only watching after it for a friend. So she doesn't know what he'd recommend." She shrugged. "Nevermind Trixie is sure it can't be that hard. Perhaps we can find you something that will by 'shiny' enough to please the crowd." She lit up her horn, possibly trying to cast a locator spell before she just glanced around and seemingly grabbed anything 'shiny' and placed it on the counter. Soon Sand Gust had three rather curious objects set before him.

"These should do nicely. Though Trixie remembers you can only have one 'presented' gift. Hmm well I'm any of them will be perfect." Then more quietly to herself. "Hopefully none were from that display... Trixie is sure they aren't... mostly"

Sand Gust didn't like that. What if one of these was from the display? Why would they be labeled as do not sell? He almost declined, till he realized the time. It was nearing late afternoon! He needed a gift NOW and still had to get ready. Damn, looks like he'd have to take the chance. At the very least, from looking at the items before him, he could easily say that any of them would certainly be unique.

The first item was a beautiful choker with a white heart shaped opal set in it's center. It'd certainly look good on Snowdrift, but was it too strong a gift? It's tag read: "Moonlight Love"

The second item was a beautifully carved hoof mirror painted light blue. It was oval in shape, with a the phases of the moon carved around the edge, bordering the glass of the mirror. An hourglass painted on it's back. "Phases of time" was it's tag.

Finally was what appeared to be a giant blue egg, except it's shell seemed to be made of crystal. Crystal that caused the light to swirl about inside of it, giving off an effect in the shell that Sand Gust could only describe as seeing something like the aurora borealis. "Snowbird" was it's tag.

"Trixie will give them to you for only one hundred bits each! Whichever one you choose!"

That was about all he had left after the 'tickets' So he could only get one, which meant he had to choose right now!

Author's Note

Discord here! So which one will our hero choose as his gift to the Princess?

It's time for you to decide! But I'll tell you what. Because I love chaos so much I'll let you in on a little secret you probably already figured out.

YEP all three have some sort of mysterious magical property to it. So regardless of your choice, we're sure to have a lot of fun!

https://strawpoll.com/455eh6wc