The Chaos Theory

Entropy sat up from his spot on the hard tiled roof, breathing hard as the last of the sun’s rays descended upon him. 'How long have I been here?’ He asked himself once he caught his breath, watching the brilliant orange orb slowly dip down past the horizon. ‘Jeez, that's the first thing I ask? Not the whole freaky dream and whatnot? Man I need to get my priorities straight’ With a sigh, he charged up a teleport spell and vanished with a bright flash, appearing in the Canterlot archives. Grabbing a book at random, he sat on the nearest chair and crossed his legs on the table, ignoring the fact that he teleported without so much as breaking a sweat.

“Man I feel weird today.” Entropy rubbed at his chest, feeling the remaining magic from his spell dissipate. “Wait, that's right! What the hell!?” Quickly realising what had happened he scrambled from the desk and onto his two feet, he quick checked himself for any wounds. “Huh? Wha- but I just teleported, shouldn't I be in pain….or...something?”

Humming to himself, he decided to test his magic. Focusing on the book that had fallen to the ground, his matrix flared as magic pooled into the spell and, with a flash, the book teleported back onto the table opened on a random page. He gasped as he did another. Nothing. No pain in his chest, no feeling of being torn open, just the feeling of drained magic, which quickly refilled as it drew in the magic around Entropy.

“Woah…” Was all he could say. “Okay, so I'm what, fixed now? Man, more questions than answers right now, huh?” He asked rhetorically, knowing full well that he'd probably never get his answers. “Oh man, I gotta show Sunset. But where is she?” Thinking for a moment, Entropy glanced at a nearby clock. “Hmm, considering the time of day, I'd say she's on her way home; heh, mom's teachings sure do go on for a while.” Snickering to himself as he shoved the book back in its place in the bookshelf, he watched the twilight sky grow darker and darker from the window on the far wall when suddenly an idea leaped into his mind. “Oooh, I'm so gonna get into trouble for this.”

With a dark smile creeping onto his face, he took off towards the window and with a gesture from his hand, the panels flung open. Boosting his speed with magic, he quickly closed in on the open window, smiling at the still-warm air and planting a foot onto the base of the frame, launching himself out of the castle. He sailed through the air as his clothes whipped around his body, catching the wind. The whole of Canterlot was lit up in a brilliant darkish purple light, accompanied by the bright street lights and the soft orange light from buildings.

“WOOOO-HOOOO! HA HA!” His heart pounded, adrenaline surging as he ‘flew’, gliding over the gates of the castle before he began to lose altitude. A few ponies looked up to the sky as his shout reached their ears, but quickly went back to what they were doing as they could barely see anything. Smiling to himself, he used levitation to keep himself afloat, his new-found freedom with his magic spurring him on. A short 'fizz’ drew his attention as the aura around him flickered and buzzed.

“Uh-oh.” In the blink of an eye, the aura failed and he began to fall towards the stoney ground and this time, unlike the dream, he didn't have long to go before he hit the ground. Panic quickly set in as he tried and failed to power up the spell again and again, but ultimately failed, his mind unfocused. “I shoulda had back up plan!” His scream was cut short as he suddenly stopped, his nose only a millimeter away from being squished as his whole body was consumed in Sunsets magic.

“Are you bucking crazy!?” Sunset yelled, dropping Entropy as she stomped over to him. He landed with an ‘oof’, dazed as his head collided with the stoney ground. “You moron! What in Tartarus made you jump out of the Celestia damned window!?” The ponies that had gathered quickly dispersed from the cold, angry face the Sunset was giving Entropy, deciding to live rather than face Sunset. His collar became enveloped by her magic, pulling him towards her, their foreheads pressed tightly against one another, glaring straight into his soul. “Well!?”

“W-w-well, m-my magic felt different so I thought it test it a little?” This was obviously not the correct answer.

“Test it a little? Test it a little!? You jumped out of the castle!” Sunset raised a hoof, ready to clonk him over the head when suddenly he made a squeak and teleported a few feet away from her, landing on his butt. Shocked into silence, Sunset stared at her friend, before rushing over, checking him over, forgetting his reckless behaviour. “You idiot! What do you think you're-, what?” She asked herself, her magical checks showing no danger. “But- I, when you, what?”

“That's what I was about to tell you. The 'Limiter’ is gone. I teleported from the roof to the library without any problems. Nothin at all.”

“But, the last time you teleported something you nearly died! How come it’s different? Why's the 'Limiter’ gone?” She paused, double checking his matrix, staggering back from the strength it had. “And why has it gotten so strong all of a sudden?”

“How the hell should I know, Sunny? I just know that it happened.” Sunsets eyebrows furrowed, but otherwise ignored his choice of words, she always does when he says random stuff like 'hell’. He decided it would be better to not tell her about the dream. He didn't know why, he just didn't, like it was an unspoken law. “But I really want to test out my magic now, wanna come?” He sprung from his spot on the ground, stars glimmering in his eyes.

“As much as I'd want to I've got...friends to see. Yeah, that's right! We're gonna hang out and do stuff. Mare stuff. Stuff you wouldn't understand, so yeah. See ya!” She quickly made her way to get away, but was stopped by Entropy.

“Sunny, you and I both know you don't have friends. Mostly from your lack of trying. What are you really gonna do?” She flinched, having been caught in her lie before sighing.

“Fine, I'm going to go and study for the next semester test for Celestia’s school. Besides, I don't need any friends, I've got magic. Anything else is nothing compared to that.”

“Jeez that was harsh, considering I'm right here! You two-toned harlot! Haven't you learned anything from mom? Friendship is magic, after all. You can study anytime at all, just take a break and socialise, it’ll be good for you!”

“Hmph, I've got better thing to do that to socialise and have friends, Entropy! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to re-re-read advanced transmutation. Good day to you!” She vanished with a pop, leaving Entropy alone on the streets.

“Damn him!” Sunset shouted, slamming her door behind her with such force that it shook the dust that had collected on it's frame onto the ground. “Who does he think he is?! Telling me what's good for me. He doesn't know a thing about what's good for me. Doesn't he get it? I don't need friends. I don't want them. The only one that I do want is him! Him and power is all that I need in life. I deserve magic.”

She pulled a book about transmutation and sat down on a pillow with it, trying and failing to read it. “Still, I'm proud he can finally use magic properly.” She sighed out, closing the book and setting it aside, staring at the ceiling. “He's such a fool. Doesn't he know friends only weigh you down? It's better to have no friends, and yet I'm stuck with him as one. Heh, what kind of hypocrite am I?”

'Am I wrong?’ She thought to herself, glancing at the black sky before her eyes narrowed, focused and cold. 'No, power is the only thing that matters in this world, nothing else. I'll become god-like, unstoppable.’ She flicked her gaze to a poster of her mentor, a dark ominous smile crossed her face.

‘Able to rival Celestia herself.’

Entropy sighed as he sat on his balcony railing, kicking his legs back and forth through the gaps. Staring at the mare in the moon, his thoughts running a mile per second, questioning Sunset. '...Besides, I don't need any friends, I've got magic.’ Her words repeated in his head as he raised a hand up to his face, surrounding it in his magic, watching it flicker and fizz in and out of existence.

“Magic is nothing with your friends, Sunny. Who's gonna lift you up when you fall? Who's gonna support you when times are tough? Nopony is gonna like you if all you care about is power.” Arcs of magic danced along his open palm, crackling like an open fire. It felt weird to him. There were now times were he could use magic without fail, then there were times were it would stop working when he was in the middle of something. “Somethin’ ain't right. I don't know anymore.”

He teleported into his room near the entrance, noting that he expended more magic than he needed, causing a burn mark in the shape of a circle to engrave itself into the floor. 'Hmm, I can definitely still use magic, even if I did overcharge it.’ He thought while pulling a book from the bookshelf, cleaning the mark with another spell. The book quickly floated over and rested on his open hands. 'I can still levitate stuff as well. Maybe it was because of my weight that the spell failed?’ Using a newly-learned spell, Entropy quadrupled the weight of the book, roughly about the same weight of an earth pony. Grunting from the mental strain, he found that he could still lift it, if only at a slower pace. He held it in place for half an hour while he practiced other types of magic, but at no point did the spell fail and drop the book.

“Huh, this is so strange. Maybe I should bring it up with mom?” He looked towards his window, noting how high the moon was in the sky. “Maybe not, she must be asleep by now.” A shiver crawled down his spine, the cold, mountain air flowing through the small gaps between the window. Hugging his arms, he strolled towards the fireplace in the far wall, blowing the dust from its mantle and placing fresh wooden logs in the firepit. “Jeez, I always forget about this thing.” With a snap of his fingers, something he often did with fire magic, the logs lit themselves in a brilliant orange blaze before he knelt beside it. He raised his hands to the flame, enjoying the warmth.

Pulling over a few pillows and blankets, Entropy laid down beside the fire, watching the flames dance and lick at the stone frame, in a hypnotic trance. His worries and thoughts were pushed to the back of his head, locked in a cage with its key thrown away. For now, at least. He yawned as he heard three taps from his door.

“It's open!” He curled up on the floor, a blanket lazily draped over his body. He didn't say a word as the door opened and somepony trotted in, pausing for a second before humming and curling around him, draping a long feathery wing around him. “Hey, I thought you'd be asleep, mom.”

“I should be, but I can't fall asleep. To be honest I've gotten used to you sleeping beside me when you were younger, it's kinda hard to fall asleep without somepony there.” Celestia spoke in a soft, mothering voice, also caught in a trance by the flame. “Speaking of, mister, Shouldn't you be in bed?” Celestia said with a giggle, poking his stomach, smiling as he laughed softly.

“Yeah, but I have a lot on my mind at the moment.”

“Ha! Try living for thousands of years, then come to me about problems.” The two shared a laugh before quieting, simply enjoying one another's warmth and company. “But in all seriousness, what's troubling you, my child?”

“Well other than my magic acting weird, I'm worried about Sunny, who is also acting weird. And don't even get me started on my strange dreams. One second it's a life I've never had and the next it's the most strange and the most random thing ever.” Entropy sighed, snuggling against her fur, finding it harder to keep his eyes open. “I don't know what's happening to me, and i doubt the people reading this chapter do either…”

“I wish I knew how to help you. If only Lulu was here.” She said absent mindedly, as she rested her chin on his head. “Wait, ‘of this chapter’? What do you-” Her words trailed off as she listened to the soft gentle snore of her son, ignoring his choice of words and instead listening to the sound of his heartbeat.

Entropy once again found himself in the body of Asger, sitting on a concrete ledge overlooking a small park-like area, with a large willow tree in the center. He sighed in bliss as he smelled and tasted the fresh cucumber slices in his sandwich, going well with the peppered ham slices. His legs thumped the brick wall beneath him, the child in him laughing with glee. Normally at this time, he'd be in class, however it was a free period before lunch so he decided to have it now, rather than later. It wasn't long until he was joined by his friend.

“Shouldn't you be in class, Justin?” Asger said, his bored voice making Justin smile.

“Yep.” Was all Asger got

“Of course.” Asger sighed, shaking his head as he offered his other sandwich, which Justin quickly snapped up. “You'd better be glad I ain't the class rep. Otherwise I'd report your ass.”

“Report what? That it’s ungodly tight?” He said with a full mouth, wiping the cucumber juices from his mouth

“Pfft, you wish.” The two shared a laugh as they turned their attention to the sky, following the cotton balls of clouds as they slowly drifted away. Entropy noted that the two enjoyed each other's company, content to stay silent as the the bell rang, indicating the start of the lunch period. He watched as the area was quickly filled with people of all types, however, for whatever reason Entropy couldn't explain, their faces seemed to blank. No features or wrinkles, just blank slates. This didn't seem to bother Asger, in fact, he waved to a few as they left the building.

“So, what's your plans for tomorrow?” Justin asked, chucking the crusts into his mouth.

“Haven't got a clue. Mom needs some help working out the finances, but other than that? Fuck all.” Asger laid back onto the tiled floor, staring straight at a patch of cloudless sky, letting his mind wander. “What about you?”

Justin shrugged, laying next to him as he took out his phone, opening the music section and dragging his finger up the enormous list. “Well, I've got work at the local mechanic but other than that, nothing.”

“Wait, you still listen to Eminem? Jeez, 2008 called and they want their edgy music back.”

“You can talk, mister Skillet!” Justin snapped, jokingly. “Besides, it's not like you don't listen to him.”

“Alright, that's fair.” Was all he said as Justin tapped a song title, soft music playing shortly after. Asger waved his foot to the music, humming along to it. “I am such a fool to keep on chasing after nothing great..” He sung, the warm sun casting its beams on his face. Justin laughed as he listened to his friend singing along, following him shortly after.

Soon after, however, the bell rung again, signalling the students to return to the building. Asger let out a defeated sigh as he sat up, popping his back. “Jeez, has it been forty five minutes already?”

“Fraid so. Man I'm not looking forward to the math test…” Justin trailed off, slinging his bag over his shoulder as he picked up his phone.

“Dude, don't worry. You're gonna ace this.” Asger gave a reassuring pat to the back. “Besides, it ain't exam term yet.” Slinging his own bag on, he made a move towards the door, his friend following shortly after.”

“Ugh, don't remind me dude.” A tired, blank expression crossed his face, as if in a complete catatonic state.

“Hey, come on. Get rid of that expression. Tell you what, we'll stop by your favourite food place, my tre-” Asger didn't get to finish his sentence before being roughly turned to face his friend, the vice-like grip on his shoulders preventing him from even shifting.

“You meeeeaaaaan it?!” Justin's face was replaced with a hyperactive child’s, his eyes lighting up with stars in them. Letting out a long sigh, Asger nodded with a sincere smile.

“I'm probably gonna regret it, considering how much you can eat, fatass, but yeah. And I'll pay for it.”

“Haha! Yes! Free food! Hahahahaha!” He began to dance on the spot, still clinging to Asger’s shoulders. “Ooh I wonder what i should get. Ramen with spicy pork? Pizza? Burgers!? Oooh the endless possibilities!” He sprung from his spot and ran down the steps, vanishing from Asger’s vision. He shook his head, closing his eyes for a brief amount of time, letting out a puff of air.

“Today's gonna be looooooooooong.” Asger smirked as he popped a joint in his neck, sighing in bliss from the strange relief.

……

“Now Sunset Shimmer.. For your final test, you shall need to wow us. Give us the best you got.” One of the three examiners droned, finishing the previous pony’s test score with a flick of his quill. His cold purple eyes glanced over to a pony by the stairs, sitting on his haunches and staring into oblivion as his burnt fur continued to spew smoke.

“We're looking forward to seeing if you can top your “synchronized dancing cats” piece from last semester. That was a dazzler!” A cream-coloured mare said, tucking a lock of her brunette mane back into her bun, adjusting her wire frame glasses, her bright blue eyes staring intently at the young orange mare.

“As Princess Celestia’s own pupil, we expect big, big things today!” A lemon-coloured mare said gleefully, tucking her quill into the clipboards holder.

“Well you'll certainly see that.” Sunset said smugly, levitating a few seeds out of her pouch, strutting towards a dirt filled pot that sat upon a wooden podium, with an occasional glance towards the orange bleachers. With an effortless whistle, Sunset dug the seeds into the dirt.

“Oh! Looks like she's going to do a growth spell...classic! But is it enough?” The stallion said in wonder, his eyes widening.

“Let's hope it turns out better than Juniper Berry's attempt.” The three examiners openly cringed with a horrid shudder as the three glanced over the young stallion currently screaming his head off.

“GAH! Get off me!” Juniper shouted as as he struggled against bonsai tree-turned monster, its branches creaking and leaves rustling in unbridled rage, struggling to scratch and bite at the blue-coloured stallion.

With a smirk, Sunset struck the pot with her magic, filling the seeds with raw magic. The pot shuddered and wobbled before shattering, sending chunks of flying across the room. Massive roots shot out, covering as much ground as it could. Five small stems sprouted from the earth's surface growing in height at a tremendous speed, thickening and melding together to form a single tough stem. The giant plant burst through the roof of the school, rapidly wrapping its vines around the closest buildings, cracking and shattering multiple glass windows. Chunks of the ceiling clattered and shattered against the floor, thankfully missing everypony in the building. The fresh forest mint green-painted walls caved in on themselves, falling apart as they were impaled by the roots.

“I see somepony passed their mid-term.” Celestia said with a smile as she walked past the school, sneaking off towards her favourite bakery.

“Bravo! Wonderful!” The ponies cheered, stamping their hooves against the floor, avoiding getting the shards stuck in the frogs of their hooves. A banner smacked one of the examiners as it fell, its string snapped. He collapsed into the ground with a comical thud, stars swirling around his head.

“Thank you, thank you! It was nothing!” Sunset bowed, soaking in the euphoric praises. 'Oooh, yeah. I could certainly get used to this.’ Sunset thought, a devilish smilecreeping onto her face.

Later that day, Sunset found herself sitting alone in the park, ignoring the common rabble around her and plowing through her book collection like there was no tomorrow. Several groups of ponies chatted amongst each other, laughing and playing. In the corner of her eye she could see the new guard Shining Armor playing with a young filly, to what she could only assume was his sister, beside the pool with Princess Cadance. An odd sight, one would guess. Sunset was soon approached by a group of unicorns who were in her class and were, to Sunset, a little too eager. One had a two-toned white-and-blue mane and tail with a soft blue coat and an hourglass as her cutie mark, known as Colgate. Another unicorn had a pink mane and tail with a white coat, three pale blue stars were imprinted onto her flank, known as Pale Marble.

“Sunset Shimmer! That vine you made was amazing!” Colgate said, hopping from one hoof to another I'm glee.

“Really exquisite!” Pale Marble said, smacking Colgate upside the head to calm her down.

“Would you like to come have lunch with us?” A mint green unicorn mare said as she trotted up to the three, her eyes a light golden colour. Her cutie mark was that of a golden lyre, and her name was Lyra, yet another mare in her class.

“Hmpf, I have better things to do than socialise. I'm going to re-read “Advanced Elemental Magical Practices” and then practice for my advanced summoning spells exam. What are you studying for? Nothing, that's what.” Sunset scoffed, annoyed that her studying was disturbed as she walked the road to the castle.

“Well she wasn't very nice.”

“She's right full if herself, that's what!”

“Her loss, I'm awesome!”

The group of unicorns bickered back and forth to each other, so upset with the arrogance that Sunset displayed that they didn't notice the prince pop into existence behind them.

“Hiya guys!” He said with a smile as he gestured to them. The lot of them screamed at such a volume that it actually sent ripples through the nearby pond, almost popping Entropy's ear drums. “Jeez guys! Watch the ears!”

“Where'd you come from!” The mint green mare screamed, practically knocking Entropy into his butt.

“I teleported! I need to get my magic under control and this is the only way! Please stop yelling Lyra!” The mare gave a sheepish smile, chuckling nervously.

“Hehe, sorry.” Entropy sighed, shaking his head as he looked towards the whole group.

“So, as I asked, what's goin on?” He asked, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
The group huffed and glared in the direction that Sunset left.

“It's Sunset! She is such a-a-a,” Colgate, the one who had the hourglass cutie mark, if Entropy remembered correctly, rolled her hoof the air, searching for a word. “Entitled ninny! That's the word I'm looking for!”

“Wait, what? What's wrong with her? I know she's a little to focused on her studies, but she's never really thought that she was better than you guys.” The group deadpanned.

“Oh pah-lease,” Colgate over pronounced, giving him an unconvinced look. “I mean, you're around her twenty-four seven! You must've noticed her snobbing everypony any chance she gets! The only time she even acknowledges us is when she's with you.”

Entropy stared to the side, seemingly lost in thought. ‘Are they right? I mean, I know she has some problems with friends, and she has been acting strange lately, but she isn't that bad. Is she?’ Entropy glanced to the road leading to the castle.

'I really, really need to talk to sunset about this.’