I felt a harsh white light soak my eyelids and groaned. As I started to open my eyes, there was a robotic voice speaking.
"Wake up." The metallic voice commanded. "Get up, you have some testing to attend to."
I blinked several times to get used to the light and slowly sat up. Everything was white, almost like a hospital. The walls, the ceiling, even the icy floor tiles I was sitting on. I noticed the mirror and stood up, staring at it. I carefully walked over to it and had a short staring contest with my reflection. I had a dark teal coat with light green eyes. My mane was long, dark red with a yellow streak going through it. I turned so I could see my cutie mark and tail. My mark was of some red jello, and my tail was short, starting with dark yellow and blending until it was dark red at the end.
Jello? I thought. Is that my name?
As I started to ponder this, the voice cut in again.
"Are you done being vain? Stop and get on with it, Test Subject 4."
It sounded irritated, yet unchanged at the same time. Also, it sounded female, so I decided then that Voice was female.
"Stop standing around, foal." Voice ordered. "And stat testing."
I glanced around quickly. The only thing that was recognizable was the mirror. I started to ask, but Voice cut in.
"Walk straight. You'll know when to stop."
I did what she said, doubting that I would even get anywhere.
After what felt like hours, I nearly ran into a pedestal. It looked empty, but before I could wonder anything, Voice came on abruptly.
"Good. Now just be a good little filly and stay there."
Before long, a hissing emanated from the pedestal, and I watched as some strange device rose up from inside the pedestal. I picked it up, curious as to what it did.
"Put it on." Voice said.
I put the device on my left foreleg and just looked at it. It seemed to fit perfectly.
"Now walk through the door." Rang the mare's voice.
Door? What door? I wondered, looking up. I saw a dark grey door loom beyond the pedestal. I stepped around it, trotting towards the door. As I approached, the door slid upwards with a hiss. I quickly ran through, hoping there was something other than white nothingness.
There wasn't much difference. The walls and floors were a light grey, being made of metal instead of tile. The door shut behind me, but it didn't shake me out of my disappointment. I snapped back to reality when Voice spoke.
"Don't dawdle in self-pity right now. This is the testing room." She stated.
A small pony suddenly appeared in the middle of the room. She was pale grey with a white mane and tail. Her eyes were a bright pink, and her cutie mark was a pink heart.
"This is the 'Companion Filly', Subject 4." Voice said. "It is there to help you. If it says anything, just ignore it."
The Companion waved 'hi', and I waved back. I trotted over to her, just glad to finally see somepony. Before I could introduce myself, Voice interrupted.
"The device you are wearing lets you pick up anything. It can also form portals, but that option will kill you. For now, use the Companion Filly to get out of this room."
I raised my left foreleg and tapped the device with my right hoof. It stated humming, and I pointed it at the Filly. Experimentally, I raised my foreleg a little. The Filly came right off the ground! I spied a button on the far side of the room. I walked over there, amazed that the Filly was both floating and moving where I walked. Once the Filly was over the button, I tapped the device again. The Filly dropped onto the button, and the door next to it opened. I walked through the door. I turned to look back at the Filly, but she was gone. I wanted to go back and look for her, but the door closed in my face.
"Don't worry, Companion Filly is fine." Voice soothed, answering my unspoken questions.
For several hours, I followed every instruction Voice gave, completed every test, became used to the device. There was something I was feeling inside. Something that was telling me I did this before. But that's silly, I just got into this place several hours ago. There's no way I could have done these tests before. Voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Well, well Test Subject 4. You've completed all these tests. This one is the last one."
I cheered inside my head. All these tests must be for something. I thought. I mean, why else would Voice guide me through this? I looked at the challenge laid before me. On the left side of the room was a raised floor section at least four ponies high. On top was another Companion Filly, who waved hello. The right side was the same as the left, but with stairs leading up to it. In the middle was a square platform that hung down from the ceiling. It looked like it could barely fit a young filly, let alone a pony the size of Companion Filly. On that platform was a large wooden box, about one pony high and one pony wide.
'
"Now get that box off that platform and put the Companion Filly on it." Voice commanded.
Sounds easy enough I thought, climbing up the stairs on the right. I stared at the box, wondering how I would get it off that platform. I pointed my device at it and tapped it, hoping that would work. The device beeped and it read "Out of range" across it. I pointed the device at the Companion Filly this time and tapped it, hoping it would work. It didn't beep, and I slowly lifted the Filly up. I thought maybe I could use the Filly to push the box off and get her on the platform at the same time. My leg shook, both from fear I would drop Companion and from fatigue. As my device started to softly beep, it broke my concentration. I panicked, throwing the poor Companion Filly upwards. The Filly must've realized what had happened, as she started flailing helplessly as she was launched skyward. I bit my lip, believing that this was the end of Companion Filly.
The Filly hit the box head first, sending the box flying towards the wall above my head. I ducked out of instinct, the box shattering against the wall. It briefly rained wood splinters and pieces on my back. I slowly took my hooves off my eyes and fearfully looked towards the platform, planning for the worst. I breathed a sigh of relief as my eyes met Companion's. Companion stood up shakily, looking relieved that she was still alive. The door came open with an irritating squeal. In my excitement, I rushed down the stairs and through the door. I expected some sort of celebration of my achievements. I was met with a cold reception of off-white walls and beige tiles.
"Congratulations!" Voice cheered, her voice echoing.
I saw a murky window at eye level next to me and peered in. I saw a murky shadow of somepony staring right at me.
"Wait a minute! I know you!" I shouted, instantly recognizing her through the muted color of the glass.
"Yes," Sighed the mare. "but I'm afraid this is goodbye."
The shape moved a small box to eye level and pressed something on it.
"Wait-goodbye?!" I questioned, wildly looking about the room.
Some sort of bluish gas came out of everywhere. I held my breath and made a break for the open door. Before I could reach it, the door slammed down on my hopes with a screech. I banged against the door frantically as the gas closed in. I couldn't hold my breath any longer. I took in a mouthful of gas as I gasped. The room started swaying from side to side as strange ponies walked towards me ominously.
I felt a harsh white light soak my eyelids and groaned. As I started to open my eyes, there was a robotic voice speaking.
"Wake up." The metallic voice commanded. "Get up, you have some testing to attend to."
