My Little Portal: Testing is scientific advancement

Star Whistle glanced around the room she was in, after all of this she had only just realised how tired she was. She sat and closed her eyes for a moment and for a full second there was silence, however this was interrupted by the sound of Dark Cloud tapping keys

“I’ve decided to bring you to me” Began Dark Cloud “Don’t get to excited, you won’t be able to see my magnificent face” Star Whistle rolled her eyes. Of course Dark Cloud just had to make a comment which made him seem more powerful than her. A matter of seconds later the wall panels began to shift and form a passage

“Also, don’t think I won’t be testing you on the way. It’s not a straight walk here, but it’s not plain testing either” Explained Dark Cloud. There was silence for once, complete silence which was uninterrupted. Star Whistle smiled, she could think and relax. Something that she was unable to do since the beginning of this, and just when she was about to completely relax and think about what to do next she was interrupted

“This is far too boring” Sighed Dark Cloud “I’m more than likely going to regret this...” Star Whistle felt something in her neck loosen had he done what she thought he’d done?

“I’m going to allow you to speak, you see I’d rather make petty conversation with a moron rather than sit in complete silence while sitting still like a moron myself” Elaborated Dark Cloud “So ask me anything, anything at all...”

“Who is Freedom?” She asked nonchalantly, there was silence again and she could hear the sound of Dark Cloud sighing

“Anything except that” He stated with no apparent emotion

“Alright then... why turn to forcing ponies to test?” Star Whistle inquired

“I have my reasons...” Began Dark Cloud “And now let me ask you a question, have you ever been talked about behind your back?” Star Whistle took a moment to think

“Well once... but it wasn’t that bad...” Replied Star Whistle, slightly confused as to why he was asking this question

“Then you wouldn’t understand what it’s like to be mocked to the degree I was” revealed Dark Cloud “How it felt to lose friends in a matter of a millisecond”

“That’s not necessarily true” Replied Star Whistle “When I was a little filly I lost more than just friends” she closed her eyes again, thinking about how Dark Cloud would respond

“What did you lose?” Asked Dark Cloud, sounding genuinely interested

“It doesn’t matter...” Replied Star Whistle “I won’t ask any more questions” and everything fell into silence again, Dark Cloud wondering what in Equestria could have happened to Star Whistle and Star Whistle wondering what in Equestria could have happened to Dark Cloud. And in the vents above Star Whistle was Freedom, watching her every move and listening to every word spoken eagerly.

After a large walk down a seemingly never ending hallway she reached a test chamber, strangely set out as well.

Several buttons dotted around the room connected each to a various dispenser or turret, there was a track built into the wall and a sphere suspended above it. The exit was connected to a button at the end of the track, so in theory the sphere would press against the button opening the door.

However there was no wiring connecting the sphere to any other button or device in the room but there was a way to push the ball off of the suspension but it would require a staircase to be built.

“I’ll leave you testing, the generators have backups and there are several generators not hooked up to the grid yet. So in short; there is no way to fuse this test” Stated Dark Cloud in a distant tone

Star Whistle smiled, she could think during a test now instead of having abuse hurled at her by a cocky pony whom she had never met. So experimenting with the buttons she began to try and figure out the challenge laid ahead of her

Silently Star Whistle began to solve the puzzle, just the way she liked it. In silence, allowing herself a moment to appreciate her work she looked at the makeshift staircase which had been constructed from various cubes and boxes.  It didn’t look stable, if at all in any way shape or form safe. But she had gotten used to taking risks like this after the short time she had been in the facility. She hopped to the top box and began to push the sphere when Dark Cloud’s voice rang over the speakers again

“I’m back, I see you’ve made ample progress” Stated Dark Cloud. Star Whistle ignored him and continued to push the sphere from the suspended platform. It finally gave way sliding along the track to the button providing a satisfying ding to accompany the door opening. As she wandered down the next hallway Dark Cloud piped up again

“So you’re choosing to ignore me despite the fact you can talk” Began Dark Cloud, and yet again Star Whistle ignored him allowing herself to smile smugly as he said this. “Can you please just talk? As much as I hate you it’s boring watching somepony walk down a hallway for minutes on end and you, sadly, are the only one I can talk to right now” Still ignoring him Star Whistle reached the next test chamber, a sigh could be heard over the speakers

“I’ll be back” He uttered as all fell silent again. The chamber flashed with light and the surroundings changed. The chamber being surrounded by turrets and in the centre sat a shadowed figure

“What in Equestria is going on here?” Asked Star Whistle

“It is me again” Began a familiar voice

“Freedom?” Inquired Star Whistle “Back so soon?”

“I wanted to tell you something, something that couldn’t wait” Continued Freedom “Star Whistle, Dark Cloud is only calling you to him as he wants to kill you” Star Whistle didn’t feel he was lying, in fact she had expected to be told this sooner

“I could have guessed” Began Star Whistle “But you as well have an equal potential to kill me”

“And what in Equestria do you think I’m here for? Besides petty conversation with an un-intellectual individual such as yourself” Stated Freedom blandly “I don’t want anypony to be put what I’ve been put through, so I kill all the test subjects quickly and efficiently rather than letting Dark Cloud manipulate them” the turrets surrounding the room all whirred and the laser target lines all pointed towards Star Whistle. Her mind processed a million thoughts, mainly fear and thoughts of escape. But she knew even if she tried to move so much as a millimetre she would be killed instantly.

“Is there anything you want to say?” Demanded Freedom, he began to move from the shadows of where he sat, revealing a burnt and scarred hoof

“I... I don’t have anything to say...” Stuttered Star Whistle, she closed her eyes ready to embrace death. And then there was a number of bangs followed by the feeling of falling.

Authors note;

Sorry it's a late upload, was a tad busy yesterday. New chapter tomorrow though :D