//------------------------------//
// Nopony is an Island 
// Story: What Changes May Come 
// by Bluegrass Brooke 
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A soft roaring sound, like a thousand waves crashing on the shore came from every direction. In the sparkling, dim light, thousands of multi-colored ribbons could be seen splashing and surging like a writhing blanket. Luna stood atop of them, smiling to herself. Each and every strand represented a single dream. This evening, the ribbon was especially beautiful, full of vibrant hues that tickled her hooves gently. 

As she walked across them, sparks leapt into the dark expanse above, settling to resemble her stars. Luna laughed, galloping down her makeshift road, and scattering up a wave of lights. Beautiful! There was nothing she loved more than the dreamscape. For it was here that all the hopes and dreams of all ponies gathered and mingled in a harmony to rival her sister's Elements. It was here she could make a difference.

Her romp opened up another road, and she took it, tossing her mane playfully. It was by far the most beautiful the scape had looked in months. The ribbons went out to meet her, sparkling brilliantly. Only the most pleasant dreams brought forth such colors. Eventually, she slowed, savoring the ribbons in detail. Then, she saw it and her heart sank.

Expertly, she separated the ribbons with a pass of her hoof. There, writhing like a snake under her hooves was a jet black ribbon. A nightmare to be sure, and a bad one. Luna started at the thickness of the strand, gritting her teeth. It was no colt or filly's dream. 

The dreamscape was a wonderful place, but Luna knew better than to trust it completely. Dreams were tricky, and not to be entered lightly. For, if she lost herself, it would be impossible to return again. The dreams of the young were abstract, and malleable. But adults, adults were a different story. Their dreams were real, and stubborn. It would be easy to forget herself there. Still, judging from the deep black of the ribbon, this pony needed her help. 

Taking a deep breath, she pressed her horn to the ribbon, feeling the familiar lurching sensation. Her body spun round and round, and an uncomfortable pressure squeezed the breath from her lungs. But she had learned long ago not to fight it, so she allowed the sensation to pass through her. Soon enough, she gained control of her body once more. 

To her surprise, the dream had not opened up in some flashy horror novel scene. Instead, it looked almost boring. She was standing in a moonlit room. It was the cleanest bedroom she had ever seen. The stark white walls, ordinary furniture, and lack of any decorations made it feel more like a hotel room. Walking around , she searched for any sign of the dreamer. 

The only unusual object she found as a long black box under the window sill. It really was quite strange, with small holes drilled in the sides. Luna was about to turn around, when a loud thump made her leap into the air. The thumping grew louder and louder, and Luna realized that it was coming from inside the box. Strange.

She perked her ears, listening to the sound. An animal? What pony keeps their pet in a box like this? From the rapid pounding, it was either scared or angry. 

"Let me out! I'll be good, I promise! I won't talk anymore. Please!"  

Luna actually sat on her haunches in shock. A pony? Her heart raced, "Hello?"

The young voice grew soft and pleading. "Let me out. I don't want to stay here anymore."

The alicorn looked for a latch, and found a heavy metallic lock. She tried blasting it with her magic, but it would not budge. Her eyes darted across the room for a tool, "Do not fear, I shall release you."

Instead of a response, there was the sound of heavy breathing. 

Luna strode to the bedroom door, but found that her hooves simply passed right though. Inwardly, she cursed her luck. The dreamer was subconsciously blocking her. She doubted he could even hear her speak.

The door swung open and an opulently dressed unicorn mare strode in. Her long mane shimmered in the moonlight as she strode to the box. A look of complete loathing stretched across her dainty features, "Storm, how long has Rory been in here?"

The harsh male voice from another room was as grating as sandpaper, "Not long enough."

She mare snorted, and started to walk away. Forgetting her position, Luna stood in front of her, ears pinned. "Why do you leave him there? Release him!"

Of course, the pony gave no response. Instead, she paused halfway across the room, considering. Her amber eyes rolled dramatically, and she turned back to the box. A light shone around her horn as she opened the lock. Her voice was low and highly irritated, "You will be quiet, Rory."

Luna cantered over to the box and stared in. What she gave her stomach a sickening lurch. There, lying inside the box was a filthy little, underweight colt. The interior of the box was so marred with scratches that no paint was left. Dried blood caked the walls, and the little colt's hooves. His green eyes shone with terror as the unicorn lifted him up with her magic and laid him on the carpet.

The poor colt looked too weak to stand, and only stared up at the mare. "Mother, I-"

"-I do not care, Rory." She closed the box with her magic, locking it again. "You have obviously irritated him again. I do not pity your stupidity." The mare glanced at the colt's shaking sides. She levitated a pitcher of water from the bedstand. "Drink."

The colt drained the entire pitcher in a few gulps. He smiled weakly at his mother, attempting to give her leg a hug. 

She recoiled, a look of utter disgust distorting her features. "Do not touch me Rory." The unicorn's tail swished irritably as she pointed to the bed. "You will go to bed, you will not make a sound, and you will not leave this room. Is that understood?"

"Yes."

Her eyebrow raised, "Yes?"

The pony looked down submissively, "Yes, Mother."

Luna stared open mouthed as the mare simply walked away from her colt. She cantered over to him, and attempted to shake him, "Wake up! This is but a dream! You are in control here." The pony did not look up. Very well, I will force you to see the light. Closing her eyes in concentration, Luna lit her horn. Releasing the magic all around her, the dream shattered like a thousand pieces of glass.  

The colt morphed into a lanky stallion with an equally bushy mane. He stared in shock, as though he were seeing Luna for the first time. His heart skipped a beat. The alicorn was every bit as beautiful as she had been described. "Princess Luna?"

Luna sighed in relief and nodded. All around them was a sea of black, a good sign. But, just as she opened her mouth to speak, the scene began to distort. Not yet! Try as she may, her magic could not fight the dream. She watched hopelessly as the stallion faded from view, "Don't go! Fight it!"

But, it was too late. Once more she felt herself dragged down, until she stood in an entirely new scene. This time, it was a darkened office. A strange haze hung over the place. It was smoke, and the room was full of it. Drifting through the door, she passed into a hallway. A flickering light at the end identified the source of the blaze.

The horrifying sight before her was what she would expect in a nightmare, but different. It was too solid, too vivid. Just as the previous scene, this was not a pure nightmare, it was a memory. Flames engulfed the room from all sides, licking the ceiling and dancing off of the walls. There in the center of the room was the dreamer, and another pony.

A unicorn lay buried under a pile of flaming timbers as the dreamer attempted to free him. Luna rushed over, once again attempting to shake him. But, just as before, her hooves passed right through him. He noticed me before, there is a chance. "Wake up. This is but a dream, it cannot hurt you. You must fight it!"

The pony continued, just as before without looking up. Luna gulped as the rushing sound from the fire intensified and flames shot towards them. The memory was escalating into a nightmare. This is bad. Luna gathered her magic once more, ready to break the illusion up. But this time, the nightmare fought back. Flames leaped into the air, nullifying the magic around her horn. She turned towards the dreamer, "Fight it. Don't let your fears control you."

Her words fell on deaf ears however, and soon the flames obscured the ponies. Then, a blood curdling scream echoed around the room. It was the most heart wrenching sound she had ever heard, chilling her to the bone. She tried desperately to reach him, but it was no use. So she stood there, listening to the awful noise growing louder and louder as flames engulfed him.

The flames now encircled her, morphing into twisted shadows. They began to wrench her away with the familiar sensation. Try as she may to resist, it was no use. The dream had thrown her out. She landed in the dreamscape with a thud. Below her, the ribbons continued to churn and dance as before.
The black ribbon began to fade, then vanish entirely. Luna stamped a hoof in frustration. He woke up. Getting to her hooves, she glanced around at the dreamscape, as beautiful as she had left it. And yet, she could not find the same joy in it. 

The scream played over and over again in her mind. A sickening feeling washed over her like a flood. Up until the very end, the entire mess had been a memory not a nightmare. The ponies in the beginning, they were no figment of his imagination. Luna gritted her teeth, disgusted that anypony could be so cruel. I will find them, and they will pay.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Cheese awoke, drenched in sweat and shaking like a leaf. The nightmare had felt so real, so uncontrollable. Now that he was back in Ponyville, he thought they would have stopped. Apparently, he was wrong. He took a deep swig from the water pitcher and wondered about the time. 

It was dark outside, and quiet. At least that was a good sign. His hooves seared with pain, and he curled up tighter on the quilt. The dream replayed itself over and over again. They had been familiar memories, but something was off. He could not shake the feeling that there was something important he should be remembering. Then, it hit him. Luna. Why would he dream about her? And what was she trying to tell him anyway?

A crazy thought played in his mind. Could Luna enter ponies' dreams? Surely the princess of the night had better things to worry about than trying to fix his messed up mind. Yawning, he turned over. Maybe he would double check with Twilight in the morning just to be sure. 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

All of the Elements of Harmony were gathered on the floor of the library for a meeting of utmost importance. Well, that was how they saw it. Scattered all over the floor were piles of fabric, diagrams scribbled on scraps, and sundry household objects.

Rarity cleared her throat, "Ladies, let's get started, shall we?"

"Wooohooo!" Pinkie leapt in the air, scattering confetti she acquired from Equestria knows where. 

A smirk stretched across Rainbow's face, "Operation cool costume is a go."

Applejack started shuffling through the nearest pile of fabric, "What in the hay are ya ramblin' 'bout now, Rainbow?"

"Urgh!" Rainbow held her hooves out in the air in exasperation. "Applejack! I was trying to make this cool, and you ruined it."

"Oh-" Applejack felt her face heat up, "-sorry 'bout that. Er-" She paused, trying to find the right words,"-let's get this here operation goin' then."

Rainbow moaned loudly, flopping to the floor, "I give up."

Fluttershy giggled, drawing out one of the sheets of paper and examining it. "Wow, Twilight. I love your costume. Who are you going to be?"

Twilight's hooves clapped together like a foal in the candy store. "A ghost librarian."

"Wow, that’s a good idea." Fluttershy flew over to Rarity, "Do you have your costume yet?"

"Oh I've got a few ideas." Rarity withdrew a stack of papers, all full of drawings, "But I simply can't decide which one to choose."

Soon they were all looking through Rarity's designs, laughing at and joking as they went. They were so preoccupied, that they did not notice the lank stallion walking into the library.

"Wow, there a party I don't know about?"

Pinkie whipped her head around, and screamed with delight, "Cheesie!" 

Cheese held out a bandaged hoof to stop the inevitable bone crushing hug. "Hey, dear."

Pinkie skidded to a halt a few centimeters from his muzzle. "Hey." She pressed her soft muzzle to his, and proceeded to kiss him a few more times. 
Rainbow made a gagging motion to the girls. Then, she stopped at seeing Cheese's strange appearance. Her eyes grew wide as saucers, and she nudged Applejack in the ribs, "Hey, what happened to him?"

Applejack snorted, "Like I know." 

Taking hold of the situation, Twilight gave a pointed cough. "Um, here for a visit, Cheese?"

"Huh?" Cheese pushed Pinkie gently away from his now red face, "Sorry. I wanted to talk to you actually."

"Me?"

"Yeah, I had some questions." Cheese limped over to them, Pinkie beside him. Taking an open space, he lay down next to the girls. His eyes darted over the scene of organized chaos, "What in Equestria are you doing?"

"We're making costumes for Nightmare Night, silly." Pinkie nudged him playfully in the ribs. 

"What's Nightmare Night?"

Pinkie gasped loudly, falling to the floor with a thud. "WHAT?"

Rainbow burst out into a fit of laughter, "You’re a party pony and you don't know?"

"No." He glanced at his marefriend who was still in a state of shock. "What is it, Pinkie?"

Pinkie sat up, clearing her throat, "Only the bestest fall holiday ever! Everypony goes out at night, dresses up in costumes, gets candy, plays games, and gets super scared."

"Huh?" Sometimes Pinkie's tangents were even too much for him to follow. "Dear, I have no idea what you're talking about."

Applejack sighed, "Let me explain it. It's a local holiday here in Ponyville. Everypony dresses up in costumes, kinda like them masquerade balls. The youngin's go 'round knocking on doors and the adults give them candy. We've got games an other stuff for the adults ta do. And-"

"-And" Rainbow interjected, face alight with excitement, "-we all have fun scaring each other."

It was the most ridiculous sounding holiday he had ever heard of. But, it did sound fun. Except for one thing. His voice came out harsh, "There's nothing fun about being scared, Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow huffed, "Yeah there is. Just ask Pinkie. She has a lot of fun being scared." 

Cheese turned to Pinkie, a look of utter disbelief on his face. "You can't be serious."

"Well, yeah. Sometimes it's fun to be scared." Pinkie avoided looking into Cheese's eyes, "But it's not the same kind of scared. It's more for fun."

"Fun?" Now he had heard enough. There was absolutely nothing relatively entertaining about being scared. The whole first half of his life had been nothing but fear. And to make a holiday where you would purposely get scared. It made no sense. He shot up, short tail bristling like a cat and green eyes flashing menacingly, "You may think it's fun to be scared, but I sure as hell don't!"

The library grew as silent as the grave. The five friends looked nervously between each other, but Pinkie stood up. Instead of screaming at him or forcing him down, she just gave him a gentle hug, "Let it go, Cheesie."

"I, I can't." His voice shook, "It keeps coming back over and over, Pinkie. I can't stop thinking about it."

Pinkie stroked his mane, speaking softly in his ear "Cheesie, nopony is an island. Let us help."

Cheese nodded, and lay back down beside Pinkie. He looked up at the others, and their confused expressions. "I didn't mean to snap. Just, I haven't had the best experience with being scared. You feel like hearing me out?"

All five of the girls nodded in agreement. Twilight smiled weakly at Cheese, "You can tell us. We're good listeners."

"Right." He took a long, deep breath, rubbing his bandages. "I don't know if all of you know this, but I didn't exactly have the easiest time growing up. My parents, they-" A knot settled in his throat, "-they abused me pretty bad. They're unicorns, and they think less of anypony who isn't one. So, when I was born, Father and Mother were disgusted. They never wanted an earth pony colt, but they were stuck with me."

Unicorns? Twilight remembered Cheese's irrational hatred of magic, and it all started to make sense.

Cheese continued, "At first they just ignored me. It was lonely, but all right. Then, after Mother found out she wouldn't have any more foals, things got worse." His body started to shake, and Pinkie placed a hoof on his shoulder. "I should have known things would get worse. Father took a fancy to beating me. Of course he always used his magic. Why would he bother to get his hooves dirty?"

Rainbow Dash gaped at him, "You're dad beat you with his magic?" The thought of anypony's dad beating them seemed ludicrous to her. After all, her own father always loved and encouraged her. "Why?"

Cheese's emerald eyes flashed coldly, "He didn't need a reason. That's just the kind of pony he is." 

Pinkie sighed, nodding in conformation. "It seems like everypony in Manehattan's scared of him."

"Yeah." He pawed the floor nervously, "Every day I would go home terrified, wondering if Father would be angry again. It did not matter what I did, something would always set him off. Then it was either his magic, or-" His voice grew quiet, "-the box."

"The box?" Applejack tried to imagine what so terrifying about a box.

Cheese nodded, now staring hard at the floorboards. "It was just a small black box with a few tiny holes in it for air. They would lock me in it with their magic for hours on end." The stallion's hooves shook violently, "-you can't imagine what it was like. Being trapped in that darkness, sometimes for days on end. Never knowing when or if you would be let out. I wouldn't wish that on anypony." 

Fluttershy gave a small squeak, hiding her face in her wings. 

Applejack felt her stomach lurch. "So that's why you're claustrophobic?"

Cheese gritted his teeth, "Yeah." A sense of guilt washed over him as he stared at Pinkie's scar. "If I weren't I would have been able to help Pinkie better."

Pinkie rested her head on his chest. "You couldn't help it, Cheesie."

He merely sighed, looking back up at the girls. "So, as soon as I could, I ran away and didn't think about returning. I came back to Manehattan to see that my parents were taken down for what they did. But, it didn't work out."

Pinkie grimaced, staring hard at Cheese's legs. 

"I worked with an attorney, Milo Colfax to try and prosecute them. We didn't have the evidence, so we had to make a deal." A look of utter revulsion stretched across his face, "I agreed not to prosecute Mother in return for taking Father down for his other crimes. It wasn't ideal, but what were we to do?"

The next bit made him sick to his stomach. "I was an idiot to think Father wouldn't try something. The night before the trial he made his move." Cheese shuddered, rubbing his hooves, "While we were asleep in the office, it was set on fire. I was in the back, but Milo…Milo was caught in the middle of it. When I found him, he was buried under a pile of burning timbers." He raised a hoof, "It was all I could do to free him. But, in the process, I burned my hooves down bad and Milo nearly died. He's still in a coma." Tears dripped down his muzzle, "It's all my fault! I nearly got him killed." 

"Cheesie-"

"-it's not your fault." Twilight strode over to Cheese, lifting his chin. "You did your best, there's nothing else to do."

Rainbow pumped a hoof in the air, "Yeah! It was that no good rotten dad of yours."

In a matter of seconds, he was in the center of a group hug. Applejack threw her hat on him, "See, you've got all of us behind ya."

Fluttershy nodded, "And if you're scared, you can come and talk to me. I'm a good listener."

Rainbow ruffled his mane, "And if you're angry, we can kick off some steam."

"You're not alone, Cheese." Rarity stamped her hoof, "Why, I'll do my utmost to protest that awful mother of yours. I've got some influence in the fashion world you know." 

Twilight looked around her library, "I'll do some research for you. There's got to be some way to prosecute them." 

An indescribable warmth filled his chest. The tears fell freely now, "Thanks girls…thanks."

They broke up, standing around him. Pinkie held out a hoof, "Silly stallion, we've got your back."

"Yeah. You're right." He stood weakly, smiling at them. "Sorry for worrying you." His attention turned to the mess around them. "So, you're making these costumes huh? You need some help?"

"You bet! Come and check them out, Cheesie." Pinkie trotted over to the papers, chattering away about all their ideas. 

Twilight stopped Cheese with her hoof. She lowered her voice to a whisper, "You wanted to ask me something?"

Cheese nodded, "Yeah, I had a pretty weird dream last night. I think I saw Luna in it. Does she have some kind of freaky dream walking powers or something?" 

"Well-" Come to think of it, she did not know much about Luna's abilities. She had been Celestia's student after all. "-Maybe? Sorry, I don't know much about it myself."

"That's fine, I just thought I'd ask." He pointed to the others who were now gathered around the designs, "-shall we?"

Twilight smiled back, "Let's."

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Tia! I must speak with you." Luna skidded into her sister's chambers, breathing heavily.

Celestia looked up from the bed, staring bleary eyed at her sister. "Is it time to raise the sun already?" 

"No sister." Luna cantered over to her sister, shaking her pointedly, "There is an issue that must be addressed."

"Right now?" Though she loved her sister dearly, the younger mare had a tendency to overreact to every little dilemma. But, it was always best to humor her. She sat up straight, "What troubles you?"

Sighing in relief, Luna took a step back. "I have just been in the dreamscape. There I met with a most troubled pony."

"That is what you do there, no?"

"You do not understand me, Tia." Luna leaned in close, "This was no colt whose dream I entered. He was troubled, not by fabricated nightmares, but by memories." Her expression grew troubled, "Tia, these memories, they were worse than most pony's nightmares."

Celestia rested a hoof on her sister's shoulders, "Lulu, I understand your frustration, but the past is in the past. We can do nothing to change that." 

"Sister! Listen to me."

Celestia felt an uncomfortable lurch in her stomach. Once again, she was about to ignore Luna when she needed her most. Never again. "Yes?"

"This pony. He was abused as a colt. Badly abused, Tia." Luna's voice quavered, "I could not stand to watch the child suffer, but I could do nothing." 

"Oh, Lulu." Celestia gave Luna a tight hug. Children had always held a dear place in her sister's heart. "There is nothing you could have done."

Luna stamped her hooves, "I thought you had eliminated such practices, Tia." 

Her eyes filled with sorrow, "One can never eliminate them entirely. That is the trouble with evil, it renews itself with each generation." 

The chamber resounded with Luna's voice, "I can't accept that! I shan't stand idly by, Tia."

"And neither shall I." Celestia started towards the door, "Together we will see justice done. We may not be able to change the world, but we can make a difference for this pony."

Relief washed over Luna's face, "Thank you, sister."