Taboo

Taboo

By FromTheMoon

Chapter 1: Disturbance

Knocking. Yes definitely knocking come from the library's front door down stairs. Twilight tossed and turned in her bed as the loud pounding from below not only grew louder but quickened as well. Slowly she opened one of her eyes and stared out her bedroom window to see that it was still pitch black outside save for the light coming from Luna's moon. Turning over to the clock sitting firmly on her nightstand she levitated the small mechanical device over to her, noticing what time it was she slowly ran a hoof down the side of her face. One in the morning? Seriously? You'd think that ponies would have the common courtesy to wait until the the sun rises at least to visit the library. I'm all for encouraging reading but even I have my limits! Twilight put the clock back on the nightstand before pulling the covers up over her head.

She closed her eyes and waited for sleep to take her once again. The knocking continued to get louder and more frequent with no sign of stopping. Probably just another pony wanting to take a look at the adult section downstairs without anyone in town knowing. They'll probably give up and go home soon enough. Placing a pillow over her head Twilight willed herself to return to a rather interesting dream she had been having. Some more time passed and the knocking continued showing no signs of letting up.

"Hey Twi', you gonna go see who it is or what? Unlike you some of us are actually used to sleeping at night."

"Just try to ignore it and go back to sleep Spike. I'm sure whoever it is will give up and be on their way."

Spike mumbled something inaudible before burying his head deeper in his basket. The increased volume of the knocking caused the little dragon to poke his head out again. "Sure doesn't seem that way to me. Wouldn't it be easier to just go downstairs and tell them to come back in the morning?"

Twilight really didn't want to leave the warmth of the her bed. She could of easily just told her number one assistant to do it for her. Realizing that wouldn't really be fair she grumbled and rubbed her groggy eyes before getting up from her cozy mattress. It's hard enough falling asleep with this wings but now I have to deal with this little disturbance. Why is the life of a Princess/Librarian never easy?

Slowly making her way downstairs Twilight reached the front door of the library. Casting a purple glow on the door handle she unlocked it and poked her drowsy head outside. "Sir or madam, the library is closed at these hours so please come back again when we are open. If you'r here for the adult section then I'll tell you what I tell everypony else, try wearing a hood or a cloak or a..."

"...Fluttershy?" Twilight instantly became fully awake when she noticed her canary colored friend standing in front of her. "What are you doing here at this hour of the...Fluttershy, are you okay?" Despite the darkness Twilight could see what she thought were tears streaming down the side of Fluttershy's face.

"Twilight...it's...it's just...just..." The timid pegasus broke down sobbing on the door step. Without thinking Twilight quickly ushered her friend into the warmth of the library. She helped Fluttershy into the kitchen sitting her down in a chair. It was only when Twilight lit a candle that she realized to her horror that the pegasus was tracking blood. She noticed the red liquid dripping from both of Flutterhy's front hooves.

"Fluttershy are you okay!? What happened!? How come you're..."

"It's not from me."

"What?"

"The blood isn't from me."

"Fluttershy please speak up! You're really starting to worry me here! What happened to you!?"

Before Fluttershy could answer a familiar voice came from the door way. "Twilight who was the door? It sounded like you were talking to Fluttershy. Also what's this red stuff on the floor? It sorta looks like..." Spike's eyes went wide when he saw Twilight tending to her injured friend. "Twilight, what's going on?" The dragons voice was noticeably shacking. His gaze fell on the pair of bloody hooves. "Twilight..."

"Spike go back upstairs now and come don't come back down until I tell you to!"

"But..."

"SPIKE! Go back upstairs now and don't come back down until I say it's alright! Don't worry, everything is going to be fine. Please, just go back upstairs for me, " Twilight said in an almost pleading voice.

Doing as he was told Spike slowly backed out of the kitchen but not before taking one last look at Fluttershy. With Spike out of the room and out of thought for the time being Twilight turned her attention back towards her friend. Taking in a deep breath to calm herself she gathered up the strength to address the situation at hoof. "Now Fluttershy, please, how did this happen to you? Was it an accident? Did somepony hurt you? Was it one of your animal friends?"

"...my animal friends? They're...I left him...I left him!" Without warning Fluttershy leapt from the chair she had been sitting on knocking Twilight over. The pegasus ran towards the front door of the library but before she could make it outside she found herself covered in a purplish glow lifted off the ground. Try as she might she could not break herself free from the magical grip of her friend.

"Fluttershy where do you think you're going?" Twilight made her way over and closed the library door shut making sure to lock it. "You're hurt! You can't just go running around! We have to take you to the hospital you need medical attention!"

"IT'S NOT MY BLOOD!" Fluttershy screamed at the top of her lungs practically startling Twilight. Fresh tears not affected by the magical grasp dotted the libraries floor. "Just please let me go Twilight...please...I have to get to him."

Why's Fluttershy acting like this? Sure she can be extremely sensitive sometimes but...this...this is different. Also the blood. Twilight looked around her library floor which was covered in bloody hoofprints leading to the kitchen. If it's not from her then who's blood is it? She lowered her weeping friend to the ground and put her in a tight embrace to in an attempt to calm her down. "Fluttershy," Twilight said softly, "What happened?"

Twilight felt more tears fall onto her coat. "I woke up and I heard...something...I don't know what it was but it came from outside. When I went outside I...I..." More sobbing.

"It's okay Fluttershy, just take a deep breath. I'm here for you, you're safe now."

Wiping away the tears from her eyes Fluttershy took a deep breath. "I sorry...I just can't explain it. Maybe it'll be easier if I just showed you."

Show me? "Sure, just let me tell Spike what's going on and then we'll get going."