The Art of the Test

by jtylerg

The Strange Awakening

Where was I? Why was it so dark in there? The last thing I remembered was waking up and finding a strange pony standing over me. She was white with teal stripes, and a matching teal and black mane. Through the darkness of the night I could make out a mark on her flank. The mark of a strange blue oval. What could it possibly mean?

Looking up through the thick blackness I saw something marked on the wall in front of me. Something oddly familiar... Could it possibly be what I thought it was? Well, I mean, it would make sense... But that still doesn't explain what it all meant. My eyes adjusted and my speculations were confirmed, the marking was definitely the same as the mark on the mysterious mares flank.

It was the same blue oval, which still seemed unbelievably cryptic to me. What special talent could a blue oval possibly represent? Perhaps it was a zero? No, no... that doesn't make sense either. I stared long and hard at the symbol before I noticed a large name underneath it. That name was Aperture Laboratories.

Lights snapped on overhead, illuminating the cavernous room in which I stood. The entire area was empty and bare, except for a single pony who stood in front of me... The same pony which had taken me from Ponyville. Her dazzling Black and teal mane draped over her face, and she held a sinister yet joyous grin upon her face.

“You are wondering what my cutie mark means aren't you?” The eccentic pony asked in a flat, metallic voice which stunned me greatly. “Well wouldn't it be a shame to allow you to wonder so hopelessly? If you must know, I do indeed have a very special talent.”

“A talent for testing.”

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I continued to stare the madmare who stood before me. She seemed so calm, yet so threatening at the same time. It was mostly chilling voice in which she spoke that really made me worry. Her voice was laced with more steel than the walls around me. Never in my life had I heard a voice sound so... Robotic.

“I'm so GLaD you could make it... we have a lot of testing to do.”

“What do you mean 'testing'? I bet if Rainbow Dash was here she could put you in your place!” I yelled at her.

“You know, I have been many things... A giant program of artificial intelligence, a sweet assistant named Caroline, and even a potato... But you know what? Out of all of those things I really feel the most powerful as a pony.” She said flatly.

“Hey! What are you talking about? Do you know who you are talking to you... You crazy pony! I'm Scootaloo, and I'm stronger than you!” I screamed at her.

“Oh how it breaks my heart to see such deception in a filly as yourself... I didn't want to have to resort to this but I guess I have to. Such a shame really... Oh well, have fun with the neurotoxin.”

With those words she trotted away and left through a huge door, slamming it shut behind her. I rushed over toward the door and tried desperately to open it, but it was useless. The door was much to heavy for a filly like me to force open. I had no choice but to sit in the room, alone and helpless as I awaited my doom.

My head was spinning and my body was aching. The gas that filled the air had finally stated to get to me, and my vision was blacking out. My muscles were weak and unable to hold me any longer, causing me to fall pitifully to the cold, steel floor. This was then end, I thought, I will never see Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle again...

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I awoke trapped in a small glass chamber, accompanied by only a bed and toilet. Smooth, calming music filled the room as if trying to fill me with a false sense of security... But all it truly managed to do was irritate me even more. Where was it coming from?! Why wouldn't it stop?!

I noticed a small object under the bed, and upon further investigation realized that it was a radio. Kneeling down I pulled it out from underneath and grasped it between my hooves. In a sudden fit of rage I slammed it on the ground, trying my best to rid my brain of the infernal tune. It shattered, shooting sparks from the internal electronics. Oh thank goodness...

“Hello and welcome to the Aperture Science computer testing center. We hope your brief detention in the relaxation vault has been a pleasant one. Your specimen has been processed and we are now ready to begin the test proper. Before we start however, keep in mind that although fun and learning are the primary goals of all enrichment center activities... Serious injuries may occur. For your own safety, and the safety of others, please refrain from......”

The voice that echoed throughout the room cut out suddenly, leaving only broken gibberish. The person speaking over the intercom had been the pony I had met earlier, I could tell by the voice. I had no idea what was going on, and quite frankly I was scared. My thoughts were soon broken though as the voice came back over the intercom.

“The portal will open in 3...2....1”

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Suddenly, something orange had appeared on the wall in front of me. It seemed to be a window of some sort, bordered by a strange orange glow. Then again, it also seemed like the wall had just disintegrated before my very eyes. Whatever it was, it was my only way out of here.

Stepping through the strange opening I found myself on the opposite side of the room. Gasps of astonishment couldn't be contained as I stood in awe of what just happened. It was like I had teleported by simply stepping through that hole! Turning around, I saw a similar hole as the one in the glass room but instead it was blue. Strange.

Continuing to walk across the room I found myself in front of a door which slid open as if on command as I got near. This place was so cool! Still though... I had a bad feeling about it. Passing through the door I found myself in another room that had only one thing in it. A big red button.

This seemed simple enough, just press the button and the door would open. Ha, I thought to myself, this is gonna be a breeze! I strutted over to the button and stood on it, causing the door to the next room slide open. Well that was easy... I thought as I jumped off of the button and walked toward the door, ready to get out of there.

All of a sudden the door slammed shut, making me jump in surprise. Apparently just pressing the button wasn't enough, but as far as I could see there wasn't anything else in the room. Pacing around I came up with an idea. Maybe the button was just a distraction and there was another way out of here... I could always try to fly up to the ceiling and escape through an air conditioning duct, oh wait, I was an awful flier.

I almost didn't notice the shadow which had just engulfed me, getting bigger and bigger. Fast. I glanced upward and saw something falling right toward me! Using my quick reflexes I jumped out of the way, barely dodging the falling object and nearly escaping death. Examining the thing that fell I realized that it was a box of some sort, and that's when it clicked. This was what I needed to use.

It took me a while but I finally managed to push the box onto the button and you know what? The door stayed open! Pride filled me as I dashed through the door and into the next room, congratulating myself on a job well done. I hadn't noticed the slippery orange gel on the floor as I entered the next room, and my carelessness almost cost me everything.

The moment my hooves came in contact with the substance I began to slide faster and faster. Wind blew through my mane as I shot forward at what felt like supersonic speeds. Thinking back, I actually kind of enjoyed it. That was the only time I had ever managed to come anywhere near Rainbow's speeds.

The moment of fun was short lived though, as I soon find myself being shot up a ramp and across a huge chasm. I glanced down for a moment and realized that I was so high up that I couldn't even see the floor. Huge mistake. I freaked out, flailing my limbs around violently, trying to grab onto an invisible something.

Oh no, oh no, on no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oooooooohhhhh nnnnnnnnoooooooooo!
I wish I could fly! Oh no! Why cant I fly?!
It's all over... I'm helpless
These stupid wings are worthless..

Suddenly, I stopped feeling myself flying through the air. My eyes were shut tightly so I had no idea what was going on. Had I fallen down the pit and died? No, I felt perfectly alive....

Cautiously I opened my eyes, and what I saw caused a wave of relief to wash over me. I had made it to the other side safely! I must have not felt the impact of the landing in the heat of the moment. At least I was safe! Now I just had to be more careful...

“What you just experienced was the effects of specialty Aperture Science Propulsion Gel, designed to reduce friction, therefore causing any man... or pony... to speed up the moment they come in contact with it. Kind of like a sciency slip and slide!” The voice boomed throughout the room. “Now I think you have earned a break, please enter the next room where I have prepared a delicious cake for you.”

Comments

[AtomicAlton]

THE CAKE IS A LIE!!!!!!!

[MagicMissingno]

Pony Portal? Scoots seems like an odd choice but I'll roll with it.