Line #59 WebAnimation/MyLittlePortal


1	[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/my_little_portal_poster_by_christiancerda-d5ae7u5_2249.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:250:It's OK, lads. You can like the cute test subjects and AIs.]]
3	->''[[TheCakeIsALie The cupcake is a lie.]]''
4
5	''My Little Portal'' is a fanmade animated web series created by Christian David Cerda. It is a crossover between the animated TV series ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' and the video game ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}''.
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7	A grave mishap with the Equestria Laboratories scientific research facility's newest artificial intelligence, [=DISCoRD=], forces Princess Celestia to relocate the facility to the moon. Celestia's faithful student Twilight Sparkle is more than happy to go to the new Celestia Laboratories to help put things in order--and then she wakes up from cryogenic sleep at the lunar facility ten years later with no memory of who she is or why she's there.
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9	[=DISCoRD=] has now overrun Celestia Laboratories, and the original AI, [=CELesTIA=], needs Twilight's help to restore order. Armed only with her wits, magic, and a Hoofheld Portal Device, Twilight navigates the facility alongside mechanized versions of her forgotten friends to find the Elements of Harmony and stop [=DISCoRD=]. As they overcome [=DISCoRD=]'s obstacle-ridden "test" chambers, they will discover what exactly happened at the facility--and to themselves--over the last ten years.
10
11	The first episode was released on July 6, 2012. There are currently ten episodes in total. The series so far can be viewed [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuUUN65Dt62WoeIRbROGHpMRNgWC-05BC here]].
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13	This series has been featured on Blog/EquestriaDaily and [[http://kotaku.com/5938272/unlikely-fan-fiction-crossover-presents-my-little-portal Kotaku]].
14	----
15	!!This series provides examples of:
16	* AbandonedLaboratory: Celestia Laboratories, the Equestrian equivalent of Aperture Science.
17	* AfterTheEnd: [[spoiler:Much of the series takes place ten years after the "Fall of Canterlot", as the characters discover.]]
18	* AndIMustScream: Despite anesthetics, Rainbow Dash is fully conscious during her ''very'' painful cybernetic transformation.
19	* AndShowItToYou: In episode 5, this is the fate of [[spoiler:Shining Armor]].
20	* ArmCannon: DASH-E's cybernetic foreleg can turn into a Portal Gun.
21	* ArtEvolution: In just three episodes released over a period of six months, several characters have undergone redesigns ranging from ''drastic'' ([[http://th05.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2012/214/b/f/discord_comparison_by_christiancerda-d59m1yd.jpg DISCoRD]], [[http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/216/3/4/celestia_comparison_by_christiancerda-d59uo68.png CELesTIA]], [[http://th09.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2013/017/b/6/trixie_old_and_new_by_christiancerda-d5rqxpe.png Trixie]]) to subtle ([[http://th02.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2012/356/5/6/improvement__by_christiancerda-d5ov496.png Twilight]], [[http://th07.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2012/241/2/7/pinkie_2_0_by_christiancerda-d5cwldy.jpg Pinkie]][[note]][[http://th09.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2012/245/c/a/pinkie_core_by_christiancerda-d5dc4u0.png her current look lacks the Aperture logo in the center of her eye]][[/note]]). In [=DISCoRD=]'s case, there's an in-universe explanation for his new look[[note]]It's the result of taking off the "skin" from the first episode[[/note]], but for the rest...
22	* BigBad: [=DISCoRD=] takes over Equestria, and later Celestia, Laboratories once his AI goes haywire. [[spoiler:It's later revealed that the changelings, and thus Queen Chrysalis, are responsible for his rampage--but then there's TheReveal that King Sombra is influencing Chrysalis' actions]].
23	* BigGood: [=CELesTIA=].
24	* BloodierAndGorier: Episode 5, thanks to [[spoiler:the flashback to the fall of Canterlot. Fluttershy is nearly eviscerated, changelings]] are smashed and blown up all over the place, [[spoiler:Chrysalis ''rips out Shining Armor's heart'' and ''snaps off Twilight's wings'' with '''visible bones''', Twilight accidentally '''''gores Celestia to death with her horn''''']]... it earns its foreboding ContentWarning.
25	* BoobyTrap: True to ''Portal'' form, [=DISCoRD=]'s test chambers are set up like this, from [[EnergyWeapon deadly frickin' lasers]] to [[SmashingHallwayTrapsOfDoom giant crushers]].
26	* CerebusSyndrome: ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' [[JustForFun/XMeetsY meets]] ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}''? It's bound to be silly fun... for a few episodes, before we find out [[spoiler:Canterlot was sacked by the changelings and Twilight is being trained to go back down and lead LaResistance]].
27	* ColdOpening: Episode 2 and onwards have been doing this. See MeanwhileInTheFuture below.
28	* CompanionCube: {{Averted\|Trope}}; Fluttershy is a fully sentient ''Portal'' Companion Cube who can speak and even move a little.
29	* ContentWarnings: One is usually given before each episode to inform the viewer about potential disturbing scenes.
30	** PlayedForLaughs at the start of episode 4, where the usual warning appears before an follow-up reveals the only distasteful thing is Trixie.
31	* {{Crossover}}: ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' [[JustForFun/XMeetsY meets]] ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}''.
32	* CruelAndUnusualDeath: Episode 5 is ''full'' of this. [[spoiler:Fluttershy has her spine ripped out and is left to bleed out, Shining Armor has his heart ripped out, Celestia is brutally impaled, Luna is torn apart by Changelings, etc.]]
33	* CyberneticsWillEatYourSoul: Rainbow Dash's conversion removes much of who she was.
34	* DarkIsEvil: [=DISCoRD=], especially his design from episode 2 onward.
35	* DecoyProtagonist: Rainbow Dash (a test subject) and Dr. Whooves (a lab researcher) are set up as the protagonists in the first episode. Then RD gets [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomped]] off-screen by [=DISCoRD=] before the Doctor gets [=CELesTIA=] and LUNA to shut him down, and the focus shifts to Twilight for the rest of the series. Though considering the [[SpoilerOpening opening]], this is hardly surprising. [[spoiler: Also, that's not Twilight!]]
36	* DemonicPossession: [[spoiler:Seems to be the case with Queen Chrysalis, who is shown to be possessed by King Sombra in episode 5, altering her appearance and making her immensely more powerful at the expense of constantly [[HearingVoices hearing his voice]] motivating (or reprimanding) her actions]].
37	* EvenEvilHasStandards: [[spoiler:King Sombra possessing Queen Chrysalis keeps calling her out on failing PragmaticVillainy forever, but it all falls on deaf ears]].
38	* EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor: [=DISCoRD=], Type 2.
39	-->'''[=DISCoRD=]''': I think you're really going to love the next test chamber. It really is quite funny.\
40	'''Rarity''': You call giant crushers funny?!\
41	'''[=DISCoRD=]''': Well, no, not really. Not unless they crush you. Then it's ''hilarious''.
42	%%* EvilSoundsRaspy: All of the male changelings have horrifying voices.
43	* EyeScream: Rainbow Dash's right eye is replaced with a mechanical one during her transformation into a cyborg. For some reason, both appear robotic when she closes her helmet.
44	* {{Expy}}: This being based loosely on ''Portal'', this is to be expected:
45	** Twilight is this story's version of Chell.
46	** The Pinkie Core is SelfDemonstrating/{{Wheatley}}.
47	** DASH-E and A-JACK are Atlas and P-Body, respectively.
48	** [=DISCoRD=], [=CELesTIA=], and LUNA each represent a different facet of [=GLaDOS=].
49	** Dr. Whooves is one to [[VideoGame/HalfLife Gordon Freeman]] and the ratman.
50	** Cranky Doodle Donkey is a Cave Johnson-type character.
51	* FaceHeelTurn: The CMC have been turned into turrets that want to kill Twilight and Trixie, simply to earn their cutie marks as turrets. [[BondVillainStupidity They screw up the chance before they even get to take one shot at them by fighting over who shoots them first]], [[GoldfishPoopGang resulting in their decision to follow the gang until they're killed]].
52	* FireAndBrimstoneHell: Tartarus is shown in the begging of episode 5 as a volcanic wasteland.
53	* FunWithAcronyms:
54	** [=DISCoRD=] = '''D'''igitally '''I'''ntrinsic '''S'''ystem '''C'''ontrivance '''o'''f '''R'''obotic '''D'''issonance
55	** [=CELesTIA=] = '''C'''ombat '''E'''ffective '''L'''inear '''e'''quation '''s'''ystem '''T'''echnical '''I'''nfrastructure '''A'''utomation
56	** LUNA = '''L'''unar '''U'''tility '''N'''avigation '''A'''utomation
57	** DASH-E = '''D'''irect '''A'''ssault '''S'''entry '''H'''onorguard - '''E'''radication Class
58	** SPIKE = '''S'''upportive '''P'''rocessing '''I'''nnovation '''K'''ilobyte '''E'''ntity
59	* GoneHorriblyWrong: The activation of Equestria Laboratories' newest AI ([=DISCoRD=]) results in the incapacitation of two bearers of the Elements of Harmony, and will ultimately lead to "unforeseen consequences". [[spoiler:It turns out that this was not an accident, but sabotage]].
60	* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:In episode 5, one of the changelings, Christalia, becomes disillusioned with the war and helps evacuate the city in the form of a pony before she is caught by her own kind]].
61	* HowWeGotHere: Episode 5 is this for the entire series. Being a prequel, there are many {{Foregone Conclusion}}s that had to happen to lead into the current events.
62	* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: In episode 5, Twilight uses her horn to inflict this on [[spoiler:Princess Celestia, who Queen Chrysalis disguised as herself]].
63	* KickThemWhileTheyAreDown: [[spoiler:Queen Chrysalis tore off Twilight's wings while she was grieving over the death of Princess Celestia, who she'd just killed by accident]].
64	* LaserGuidedAmnesia: Twilight and her friends only remember bits and pieces of their lives before they awake at Celestia Laboratories ten years after the incident at Equestria Laboratories. In Rainbow Dash's case, her memory is wiped shortly after her resurrection as a cyborg to keep her from going on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge against the doctors who did this to her.
65	* LastOfHisKind: [[spoiler:Twilight and Trixie appear to be the only ponies left; everyone else died during "The Fall of Canterlot".]]
66	* LeaveTheCameraRunning: Much like ''WebAnimation/DoubleRainboom'', there is a frequent tendency to linger on static shots, even in the middle of action sequences.
67	* LightIsGood: [=CELesTIA=], though Trixie begs to differ.
68	* MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: [=DISCoRD=] goes on a rampage not because of a malfunction, but because his AI was tampered with.
69	* TheManBehindTheMan: Episode 4 suggests the changelings, and by extension Queen Chrysalis, are responsible for [=DISCoRD=]'s rampage.
70	* MeanwhileInTheFuture: Each ColdOpen from episode 2 onward sheds light on what happened at Equestria Laboratories ten years ago.
71	* MechaMooks: The DASH-E sentry robots, which are modeled after Rainbow Dash.
72	* TheMole: In episode 4, Dr. Brown confides with Dr. Whooves that a changeling spy has been discovered within the facility. [[spoiler:As episode 5 suggests, Brown ''is'' the spy]].
73	* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate: Dr. Brown goes to [[WeCanRebuildHim some extreme lengths]] to save Rainbow Dash from death.
74	* MyDeathIsJustTheBeginning: More like a ten-year deactivation (not that it makes much difference to him), but [=DISCoRD=] has this conversation with Dr. Whooves before it happens:
75	-->'''[=DISCoRD=]''': You cannot stop what I have set in motion. Even if you shut me down here, you will have to prepare.\
76	'''Dr. Whooves''': Prepare? For what?\
77	'''[=DISCoRD=]''': [[VideoGame/HalfLife Unforeseen consequences]].
78	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Twilight's reaction in episode 5 when she is tricked into [[spoiler:killing Princess Celestia by Queen Chrysalis]].
79	* MythologyGag: [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E1PrincessTwilightSparklePart1 Zecora's memory potion]] shows up in episode 5, allowing Twilight to catch up on [[spoiler:the fall of Canterlot]].
80	* NiceJobBreakingItHero:
81	** The Pinkie Core accidentally bumps into the BigRedButton labeled "Do Not Press" that reactivates [=DISCoRD=] after his ten-year-long stasis.
82	** [[spoiler:During the changeling invasion in the past, Twilight tried to help Celestia against Chrysalis when, unbeknownst to her, Celestia was about to finish off Chrysalis anyway. Chrysalis sensed her arrival and switched her own and Celestia's appearances, and Twilight unwittingly stabbed Celestia to death.]]
83	* NotHisSled: Though having shades of the plot to ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}'', this story stands entirely on its own.
84	* PowerLimiter: [=DISCoRD=] expressly forbids Twilight from using her magic to teleport her way through the test chambers on the basis that he will make the tests even harder if she does.
85	* QuestForIdentity: WordOfGod says the story is about the main characters finding out who they are and why they're at Celestia Laboratories.
86	* RedEyesTakeWarning:
87	** [=DISCoRD=], more so with his redesign.
88	** Corrupt robots in episode 7.
89	* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: {{Defied\|Trope}}; the doctors at Equestria Laboratories wipe Rainbow Dash's memory after turning her into a cyborg for the express purpose of saving their own hides from a vengeful robot pony.
90	* ShadowDiscretionShot: [[spoiler:Chrysalis's murder of Shining Armor]].
91	* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Christalia is notable for being the only female changeling besides the Queen. [[spoiler:She is the only one who opposes the invasion and is clearly not on the side of evil]].
92	* ShipTease: A couple of cases during the flashback in episode 5:
93	** [[spoiler:When the DASH-E units cause snow over Canterlot, Applejack gives Rarity her hat and they both blush.]]
94	** Twilight and Luna share a couple of oddly drawn-out and tender moments of embrace, once when [[spoiler:Luna catches Twilight after Chrysalis throws her out of a castle window]], and again later when [[spoiler:Luna insists on holding off the changeling army while Twilight and her friends fly away]].
95	* ShoutOut:
96	** Dr. Whooves dons a [[VideoGame/HalfLife HEV Suit]] in episode 1.
97	** [=DISCoRD=] says that there will be "unforeseen consequences" when he's shut down. These are the recurring ArcWords of the ''Half-Life'' series.
98	** The doctor operating on Rainbow Dash in episode 2 bears a suspicious resemblance to [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 a certain medic]].
99	** Fluttershy hides in a box labeled "The Orange". [[StealthPun Get it?]][[note]][[DontExplainTheJoke It's Valve's "The Orange Box".]][[/note]] (WordOfGod states that's a ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' reference, though.)
100	** When Twilight imagines herself getting crushed by spikes, she goes out in a Franchise/MegaMan-style explosion.
101	** Trixie's attempts to keep the CMC and Spike out of the control room becomes a full reference to ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys''.
102	* TemptingFate: Right before activating [=DISCoRD=] for the first time:
103	-->'''Dr. Brown''': I just don't think we're ready to launch the system. We still have to run tests on it.\
104	'''Dr. Whooves''': I know, but Cranky says we need it running as soon as possible. Besides, [[WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong what could go wrong?]]
105	* SnowMeansDeath: The [[spoiler:violent invasion of Canterlot]] is accompanied by a brutal snowstorm. By the end, everything is covered in snow.
106	* StealthPun: In episode 5, when Twilight asks where are the sentries, the next shot is of Flash Sentry.
107	* ThousandYardStare: Twilight sports one towards the end of the flashback in episode 5 after [[spoiler:losing her brother, mentor (at her own hooves), and wings]].
108	* TimeSkip: The first episode is set apart from the rest of the series by ten years; the first scene of each episode after that is a flashback meant to bridge the gap between the first two episodes.
109	* UniquenessValue: SPIKE is the only robot model of his kind.
110	* WeCanRebuildHim: Rainbow Dash is rebuilt as a cyborg after getting mauled by [=DISCoRD=].
111	* WeHaveReserves: Queen Chrysalis is perfectly fine with leaving her wounded soldiers to die during the Fall of Canterlot. [[PragmaticVillainy Sombra makes it clear he thinks this is stupid.]]
112	* WhamEpisode: Episode 5, starting after Twilight drinks a memory potion. [[spoiler:It details the fall of Canterlot mentioned under WhamLine]].
113	** Episode 8: Twilight's flashback ends but... [[spoiler: She's not Twilight. She's Christalia in Twi's form. The last place the real Twi is seen on the timeline is waking up in Celestia labs before the time skip]]
114	* WhamLine: From episode 4:
115	-->'''Twilight''': Pinkie, do you have any information on this place's history?\
116	'''Pinkie''': Of course! [[spoiler:But only up until the Fall of Canterlot]].
117	* WhatHaveIBecome: Rainbow Dash's response becoming DASH-E, in the episode 3 ColdOpening.
118	* WhatTheHellHero: Rainbow Dash thinks the idea of basing an AI on [[MadGod Discord]] is nothing short of evil.
119	* YouHaveFailedMe: In Episode 5, the famous [[TropeNamer Trope Naming]] scene from ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' is quoted almost directly when Chrysalis kills a general who failed to stop the DASH-E sentries. This is followed by YouAreInCommandNow to the next in rank, as well a posthumous apology acceptance similar to the one Captain Needa received.
120	* YouShallNotPass: [[spoiler:Luna attempted to hold off the changeling army while Twilight and friends fled after the fall of Canterlot, though it didn't stop their shuttle from getting blasted.]]

Context WebAnimation / MyLittlePortal