//------------------------------// // Bonus: Christmas Log // Story: My Dear Shy // by Keeper-of-Harmony //------------------------------// "Father, look at the snow!" Fluttershy says, excitedly. Here I am standing on the threshold between the kitchen and living room, one hand in pocket and the other holding a fresh mug of joe, watching my dear Shy marveling the acres of the snow-covered hills through the living room window for nearly half an hour now. I pin my attention to the microwave's clock for a second. It's forty past five in the morning, a time I don't wake up to usually, but what with the blustering blizzard outside, I had a call from my boss and he told me everyone had several days off from work. The real reason why I'm even up this early is that of Fluttershy since she has been eager for this today when the television news forecasted snow yesterday. You should have seen it: she was jumping around and squealing with such excitement that she even woke me up so we could watch the snow fall together. Despite how much I fancied going back to bed, I just couldn't resist her heart-melting pout, no matter the numerous times she's done it before. You'd have to be heartless to say no to her pouting. I take a tentative sip of the hot coffee while Fluttershy continues peering out the window. I can see an awed expression on her face from the window's reflection. "It's so beautiful!" Fluttershy adds. "It sure is, my dear Shy," I agree somewhat. Sure, it is beautiful. But I already am looking at something beautiful, and that would be my daughter. Obviously, this isn't the first time she has seen the snow. I can still vividly remember that mix of curiosity and anxiety on her expression when she first discovered it. And this was back when she was seven years old. It was pretty cute how she approached it cautiously like as if it were alive; like it would snatch her up and eat her. When I had to explain to her about it, she can't get enough of it since. On every snowy winter, she would beg me to let her go outside with a buzz of her wings. The nostalgia has me chuckling while taking another sip of my coffee. My dear Shy swivels around upon hearing the chuckle. "What's funny, Father?" I smack my lips before answering, "Oh, just taking a trip down memory lane, Fluttershy." "What were you reminiscing, ...if you don't mind me asking?" "Oh, how you'd get very excited for the snow," I reply. "Including that time when you were terrified of it. Remember that?" I ask with a chuckle. My daughter quickly shifts back to the window. Aww, I think I can see her blushing in the window's reflection. "I... don't remember anything about that at all." I gulp down the last mouthful of coffee. "I think you do~" I tease, sauntering over to the pegasus. I set the empty mug on the coffee table along the way. "Is my wittle Fluttershy getting embarrassed?" "I am not!" Fluttershy denies, with a little ruffle of her wings. When she lies, the ruffling is a dead giveaway. "There's no shame admitting to having been scared of snow. Lots of children are scared of the silliest of things. I happen to know a guy at work who has a son that is afraid of mice. Can ya believe that?" "How could someone be afraid of them, though? Mice are very small, delicate, and they're afraid of us more than we are of them." "Beats me," I say with a shrug. "It's like I said, there are children who are scared of even the silliest of things." "But I am no longer a child, Father," Fluttershy says. "I don't get scared anymore..." There was a pause. "Um... Not by the snow, anyway." I walk up to Fluttershy, kneeling beside her, seeing that her cheeks still are blushing pink. "I'm only teasing ya, my dear Shy. I know you're an adult. You're no longer the timid filly who used to be afraid of her own shadow." I notice her blush fading. She then breathes out a sad sigh. My intuition tells me it's got to do with outside. "Still bummed that you can't go out, huh?" "Yes," Fluttershy replies. "But watching the snow fall is the next best thing." She moves closer to the window, tilting her head upward at the sky reflectively. "Father, I know you warned me about the people out there, but... I wish that one day, I could go with you out in public." Oh, so that is what is on her mind... "Fluttershy... I'm... not too sure it's a good idea. I mean, I've told you the possibilities-" "But maybe if we give it a chance, it could turn out different," Fluttershy reasons. "It has been fourteen years, Father. I want to see more of the world with you. I have seen the wondrousness of the world from watching television, and I very much would like to see them in person. Did you not say four years ago we shouldn't let our fears of what might happen be something we'll regret later?" I rub the side of my neck uneasily. "You have a keen memory, my dear Shy, and yes, I did say that. But surely you must understand that each person has a different reaction to certain situations, and I am unsure of what some of them will do if they see you walking with me. If something horrible ever happened to you, I wouldn't forgive myself and would live the rest of my life in regret. The thought of it alone is unbearable." Fluttershy turns to me, solemn. "Then it'd be my fault since it'd be my choice. I just would like you to take me on one of your errands for once. Who knows what'll happen; we won't know for certain how they'll react if we don't at least try." I don't respond to her right away. I really, really, had hoped I could have avoided this conversation for however long she remained here on Earth. Maybe she is getting lonely while I'm away? I probably could buy her another rabbit, but I don't think a new pet is going to change her mind. She seems very insistent on the matter. I can't bring myself to imagine that if I do bring her to town, some lowlife might abscond with her and that'll be the last I'll see her again. I also can't bring myself to say no to her. Why? Because I'd hate to see her cry, or give her a reason to hate me. I give out a defeated sigh. "I guess there's no point arguing over it," I say, running my fingers through her mane, feeling the luscious silkiness of it. "I am already regretting it, yet this is what you want, and I can't keep treating you like a baby anymore, either. With Christmas coming around the corner, who am I to deny you your Christmas wish?" Fluttershy's widened eyes sparkle as a big smile grows on her muzzle. "So you will?!" I hold up a finger with my other hand. "Only if we don't talk about this again, and only if you don't go wandering on your own. You must stay with me at all times. And we'll start it on New Year's Eve." "You promise?" My chest tightens. I know if I make this promise, I am to keep it. There'd be no going back on it. A ghost of a smile flits across my lips as I place a right hand on my chest. "I promise." The things I do for love... She jumps onto her hind legs to wrap her hooves around my neck, pulling me in for a hug. "Thank you so much, Father! Thank you so much!" Fluttershy says, happily. "It's no problem; anything to make you happy. So, what do you say we go bake some cookies for Santa Claus, huh?" Fluttershy shoots me a deadpan stare. "I kid! I kid!" I say, chuckling. Fluttershy then beams at me before giggling herself. "And after we bake the cookies we can decorate the Christmas tree." "Can I place the star on top of the tree?" Fluttershy pleads. I bring her close and kiss her forehead. "As always, my dear Shy," I reply.