Chaos Shift

Chapter 4:

Mark of Chaos

Shift looked around the Library he was now standing in. Spike had answered the door and upon seeing his familiar face, after all Shift visited the library quite often, let him inside. Spike had the gone off to fetch Twilight who was in her basement experimenting on possible ways to create power that wasn't magic based. She had called it Electricity or something along those lines. Shift walked closer to one of the book selves that he knew had the book he was looking for. He had read a few of them before but now that he had actual reason to read the seriously he had to look over them again to see if he could find anything out about himself or Discord that he didn't already know. As he was looking through the book trying to find one in particular he heard the Familiar voice of Twilight Sparkle, the resident librarian.

"Hello again Shift, here to read up on some more Equestrian History?" She asked smiling before seeming to notice something that made her hesitate.

"Hi Twilight" said looking at Twilight with his own strange grin, "No history today, I'm looking for something a bit more specific". Shift finally noticed that Twilight was looking at him strangely, more specifically she was staring at his flank. He turned and saw what it was that she found so strange. He had gotten his Cutie Mark, and even though he hated it's name he was pretty happy to finally have one. The only problem was that he didn't really know what it was, it looked like 8 arrows spreading out from a central point.

Twilight suddenly began to move still in a trance like state from seeing his cutie mark. She was now, much to Shift's confusion, scanning the same shelf as he was mumbling something about ancient symbols. A few moments later she levitated a book away from the shelf and opened it skimming through the pages seemingly worried at what she might find.

"Um Twilight?" he asked the joy from finding out he had received his cutie mark was now starting to fade as he nervously watched the anxious librarians face. "Is something the matter?" he finally asked.

Twilight let out a gasp as she stopped at a certain page in the book she was looking through, upon closer inspection Shift recognized the book as 'Ancient Equestria: Volume III: Legends and Symbols' he had looked at the book himself before but found it to be quite boring. Twilight on the other hand looked to be very interested in the book in a seemingly bad way. "Shift, wait here I have a letter to write" and with that Twilight transported a quill, a bottle of ink, and some parchment from one of her desks.

Shift looked at the page to book was opened to. What he saw made the blood rush out of his face and a pit form in his stomach. The page was opened to one of the 'Stories of Chaos' that were featured in the book, and on the page was the same symbol that was his cutie mark. Without thinking shift took the book and ran towards the door. Twilight let out a shout of protest but Shift didn't hear it as he was already out the door, and with a teleportation spell that was stronger than he had ever before cast he found himself in his room the book at his feet. "But...how did?" he was confused, never had he been able to warp such a distance with the spell, but he shook his head and looked down at the book knowing full well that the information in the chapter would tell him more than Discord ever would.

Shift quickly turned the pages of the book, looking for the page that held the same symbol that was his cutie mark. Shift found the page and started to read it from the beginning.

Ponies born of Chaos

Those born of Chaos are believed to be the bringers of our doom. They look and act like ponies but each of them have powers way beyond those of even the strongest, smartest, or bravest of ponies. Research has proven that there are always four and only four children of chaos at any given time. As to why they are limited at four no one knows. Each of the four children wield a different power.

The first, Gaia, wields the power of the Earth. Gaia can manipulate the world around them, meaning he/she can control physics, and matter in any way they wish. Records show that Gaia is an earth pony with a cutie mark that usually retains a sphere of some sort.

The second, named Tartarus after the god of the dead, has the ability to manipulate the living and the dead. Contact with Tartarus is nearly fatal in all instances, if one was to recognize Tartarus from this books description avoid all eye contact with him/her for it is believed that he/she can gain control over your body by looking through your eyes. Tartarus has been describe over the centuries as a Pegasus usually adorned in a dark robe that keeps his face hidden from view. Of each of the Children Tartarus has been the one whose appearance has always been more or less the same. The reasons behind this are unknown.

Nyx, named for the Night, is the third Child. Not much is known about Nyx other than her strong connection to the Night. Research has found no clues to her appearance or powers she may or may not poses.

Last is Eros the being of Desire. Eros is believed to have the power to bend the hearts of ponies to his/her will. Eros is always described as a pony of great beauty that remains unrivaled among other ponies. The cutie mark most commonly seen with Eros is of a heart pierced by an arrow.

The symbol most commonly connected to these four is the Mark of Chaos shown below. Theories around the mark are wide spread and diverse, some claim that the Mark is another child while others claim it to be the source of their power. None of these theories have been proved although evidence has been gathered showing many of them to be possible.

Shift smiled as he finished the chapter. He couldn't have been happier, he had discovered he had four brothers and sisters, and that he wasn't alone. He also had some hints as to what they each looked like, except for Nyx. Looking back at the Paragraph about Nyx shift let out a sigh. Then he realized something odd about the paragraph. Looking at the other paragraphs he smirked, sire enough there was a clue about Nyx she was a she. The other three children seemed to either switch gender occasionally or their gender was unknown, Nyx however was clearly labeled a she in the paragraph about her. Shift also noted the book mentioned her connection to the night, instantly he thought of Princess Luna but he laughed the thought away. There was no way that one of the rulers of Equestria would be one of the four born from chaos right? Shift laughed at the thought and quickly put the book away. Giving a light chuckle he headed downstairs and to the kitchen to grab a snack. Looking outside he could see that it was already evening and soon the moon would be rising over the horizon. Shift continued into the kitchen and started to prepare a daffodil sandwich when he heard a loud banging at his door.

Sorry im so bad at keeping my promises about update time, in the end it might take me a few days to properly motivate myself on writing the next chapter. This one I wrote about 600 words of yesterday and then i wrote the rest in about an hour. Hopefully Ill be able to get the next chapter out faster than I did with this one.