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1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/a_trusted_friend_in_science_and_ponies_5144.png]]
2[[caption-width-right:350:She's still alive.]]
3
4''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/109545/a-trusted-friend-in-science-and-ponies A Trusted Friend in Science and Ponies]]'' is a FanSequel to ''FanFic/BetterLivingThroughScienceAndPonies'' written by Tropers/{{Rethkir}}. Like its predecessor, it is a {{crossover}} fic between ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' and ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}''.
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6It is an ongoing fic, first written two years after the publication of the original in response to its SequelHook and lack of a sequel. The story takes place following the events of the original, continuing the StoryArc. Picking up where the original left off, it is a longer and more in-depth tale that chronicles [=GLaDOS=]'s plan to rebuild Aperture Science and the emotional turmoil it causes for Chell and her friends in Ponyville.
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8Spoilers for ''FanFic/BetterLivingThroughScienceAndPonies'' will be unmarked.
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10After saving Equestria from [=GLaDOS=]'s evil, Chell is finally able to live the life she never had... until [=GLaDOS=] sets in motion her plan to rebuild Aperture Science. It's only a matter of time before the experiments begin again, and only Chell will be able to stop her.
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12!! Tropes that appear in this story:
13* AlliterativeTitle: The title of Chapter 3 is "The Practical Purpose of Portals."
14* AntiMagic: Again, the magic-restricting cones. Emancipation grills are shown to also block the use of magic through them.
15* ArcWords: The phrase "still alive" is said a lot early on.
16* AscendedFanon: As of chapter 20, ''VideoGame/PortalPrelude'' is considered canon to this story.
17%%* TheAtoner: [[spoiler:Wheatley]]%%ZCE
18* BadDreams:
19** [=GLaDOS=], of all characters, has one in chapter 10.
20** Chell has her own in chapter 13.
21%%* BroughtDownToNormal: [[spoiler:Princess Celestia.]]%%ZCE
22%%* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler:Chell, I Am Your Mother]]%%ZCE
23* ComedicSociopathy: The way [=GLaDOS=] disregards the Diamond Dogs can be quite humorous.
24* ComplexityAddiction: [=GLaDOS=]' plan is a lot more complicated than it probably needs to be.
25* ContinuityNod: It's filled to the brim with them, both for ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' and for ''FanFic/BetterLivingThroughScienceAndPonies''.
26** Ditzy calls [=GLaDOS=] a monkey wrench in chapter 9.
27** Many of [=GLaDOS=] lines are references to things she said in ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' or '' VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}''.
28** When [=GLaDOS=] first speaks to Chell, she mentions that it felt like she was ignoring her in the ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' games, which is, according to WordOfGod, the real reason why she [[HeroicMime never talked]].
29** When [=GLaDOS=] escapes from the facility, she is described as flying like an eagle… piloting a blimp.
30** When she first contacts Rarity, she describes herself as having a medical degree… in fashion… from [[AC:insert [[FantasyCounterpartCulture French counterpart nation]] here.]]
31** [=GLaDOS=] repeats many of the insults she used on the Mane 6 before.
32** [=GLaDOS=] sings a new version of Still Alive in the first chapter.
33* CoolAndUnusualPunishment: [=GLaDOS=] punishes Rover by [[spoiler:forcing him to listen to a repeating audio recording of Rarity whining for the rest of his life.]] Her punishment of the other two Diamond Dogs is genuinely terrifying, although Rover considers his punishment to be worse.
34* CurbStompBattle: [[spoiler:[=GLaDOS=] doesn't even try to win the fight against Chell and her friends in chapter 20.]]
35* {{Crossover}}: With ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'', ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', and [[spoiler:''VideoGame/HalfLife''.]]
36* DarkerAndEdgier: Very much so compared to the prequel. The tone of this sequel is far darker and heavyhearted than the original.
37* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: Some of [=GLaDOS=]' dialog is this way for humor.
38* TheDeterminator: No points for guessing that Chell fits this bill, but she takes it to the extreme in chapter 20 [[spoiler:during her fight with [=GLaDOS=], when she refuses to give up even after she's been defeated.]]
39* DramaticIrony: Used in the beginning when the ponies are unaware that [=GLaDOS=] is still alive.
40* EnemyEatsYourLunch: [=GLaDOS=] steals a cake that Pinkie Pie made [[spoiler:and eats it]].
41* EvilCounterpart: [=GLaDOS=] is this to Celestia, since they look very similar and love cake. They are also {{foil}}s to each other.
42%%* FanSequel
43* FireWaterJuxtaposition: [[spoiler:Fluttershy's sacrifice takes place in a forest fire, as it begins to rain.]]
44* {{Foil}}: Celestia and [=GLaDOS=] are foils to each other, as they share a similar appearance and both love cake, but have very different personalities.
45* ForcedToWatch: [=GLaDOS=]'s plans to to make Chell watch [[spoiler:the destruction of Equestria and her friends.]]
46* {{Foreshadow}}: There's a healthy amount throughout, but Chapter 6 takes the cake, no pun intended.
47* FreudianExcuse: This fic delves into the reason why [=GLaDOS=] changed after ''VideoGame/{{Portal2}}'', and generally attempts to cast [=GLaDOS=] in a sympathetic light, despite the terrible things she does throughout the story.
48* FrickinLaserBeams: [=GLaDOS=]'s laser canon becomes her signature weapon.
49* GhostMemory: [=GLaDOS=] obtains Caroline's memories early on. [[spoiler:You'd better believe it's a ChekhovsGun.]]
50* GreaterScopeVillain: [[spoiler:The Combine]] is this throughout the first half of the story, as [=GLaDOS=] drives the plot by attempting to [[spoiler:bring them to Equestria.]]
51* HeroicBSOD: Happens to Chell when she finds out that [=GLaDOS=] is still alive. Ditzy is able to pull her out of it.
52* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Fluttershy sacrifices herself to save some animals.]] (She doesn't quite die, though.)
53* KillTheCutie: Almost happens to [[spoiler:Fluttershy]]. The readers were not taking it well.
54* LateArrivalSpoiler: It's very hard to talk about this story without spoiling the ending of the original, considering that [=GLaDOS=] being NotQuiteDead was a TwistEnding.
55* LeaningOnTheFourthWall:
56** [=GLaDOS=] offers this gem: "Don’t give me one of your stupid pretentious ''friendship'' lessons. I’d watch a show for little girls if I wanted to hear that. I swear, I feel like I’m in one when I’m around you stupid, happy ponies."
57** And of course, there's Pinkie: "Oh, Rarity, you don't need to address me with expositional dialog explaining the characters, setting, and situation. That's what the narration's for."
58* LogicBomb: Pinkie Pie attempts one on [=GLaDOS=] involving OppositeDay. [[spoiler:It doesn't work.]]
59* MechanicalHorse: [=GLaDOS=] has adjusted very well to her new body.
60* MundaneUtility: Celestia and Chell agree the portal guns could easily fall into the wrong hands, and so limit their usage to creating an Equestria-wide transit system via the portals, keeping the guns locked up after.
61* NearDeathExperience: [[spoiler:Fluttershy has one in chapter 8.]]
62* PeoplePuppets:
63** [[spoiler:How [=GLaDOS=] brings Atlas and P-Body back.]]
64** She does this later with [[spoiler:Princess Celestia, except this time, [=GLaDOS=] is the puppeteer.]]
65* PillarOfLight: The [[spoiler:Anti-Mass Spectrometer]] produces a spectacular one whenever it is used.
66* PortalCut: Chell explains why this doesn't happen in chapter 3.
67* PortalNetwork: Utilized for transportation in Equestria during the TimeSkip.
68* [[PoweredByAForsakenChild Powered By A Forsaken Pony]]: Poor Twilight.
69* PrecisionFStrike: In chapter 20, courtesy of Chell.
70* {{Pyromaniac}}: [=GLaDOS=] loves burning things with that laser.
71* RecursiveFanfiction
72* SequelEscalation: It’s significantly longer than the original and has a more intricate plot, and all of Equestria is now at stake.
73* ShoutOut:
74** The [[spoiler:anti-mass spectrometer]] requires [[Film/BackToTheFuture 1.21 gigawatts]] of power.
75** Chell and Ditzy briefly meet [[Series/DoctorWho the Doctor]]. He calls Ditzy "Derpy" and mentions that they've been on adventures before, a reference to AudioPlay/DoctorWhoovesAndAssistant. He asks if there are any [[ZeppelinsFromAnotherWorld Zeppelins]] and mentions knocking four times.
76** The pegasi that Rainbow Dash selects to assist Fluttershy with the animal rescue are some of the main characters in ''FanFic/AceCombatTheEquestrianWar''.
77** Pinkie speculates using Chell's necklace to allow dogs to talk, a reference to ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}''.
78** [=GLaDOS=] attempts to activate Twilight's powerful magical state by saying [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender "yip-yip."]]
79*** Later, Celestia quotes Uncle Iroh.
80** [=GLaDOS=] places a [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Moon's Tear]] in the [[spoiler:anti-mass spectrometer.]]
81** The Space Core sings [[WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}} "Whalers on the Moon"]] and the Franchise/StarWars theme.
82** In chapter 20, [=GLaDOS=] plays the FinalBoss theme of ''VideoGame/PortalPrelude'' and references the game.
83* SkewedPriorities: [=GLaDOS=] is relieved that the giant snake eating Spot is not venomous because [[spoiler:she could only say IWarnedYou for giant snakes, not giant ''venomous'' snakes.]] Her priorities in general are pretty skewed.
84* TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody: [[spoiler:[=GLaDOS=] was corrupted again when after she came back in her old body at the end of ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}''.]]
85* TimeSkip: A few months pass during chapter 3.
86* TrailersAlwaysLie: [[spoiler:Chell in fact does not stop [=GLaDOS=], and in fact is instrumental in her evil plan succeeding.]]
87* {{Tsundere}}: [=GLaDOS=], big time. It becomes apparent during chapter 10, as her personality becomes more erratic and switches between mean and kind.
88* YouCantThwartStageOne: [[spoiler:Nopony is able to stop [=GLaDOS=] from bringing the Combine to Equestria.]]
89* YouHaveFailedMe: [=GLaDOS=] is not very forgiving to her Diamond Dog minions.

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