Not Quite Tangled Chapter 1

Chapter 1

A teenage girl ran up the fifty-fourth flight of stairs panting heavily with a gun like machine in her hands. She breathed a deep sigh of relief when she finally entered her room and dropped the gun on a small dresser next to a mirror. She glanced in the mirror and pouted a little, and adjusted her medium length black hair. Her frown deepened as her hair wouldn't rest the way she wanted it to on her shoulders. Taking a hair tie from the dresser, she simply tied her unruly hair into a pony tail and settled for that.

A cheerful chirp greeted her and she spun around happily to greet the noise. A small purple martin sat at her window still and looked at her, the feathers on it's chest barely moved as it breathed quickly as birds did. She ran to greet the animal and stopped before it, her smile growing even wider on her face. If the bird was able to smile, she guessed it would be smiling too. The purple martin leaned in and peaked the girl on the nose gently, earning a quiet giggle from her. It then began to look outside, then back to the girl. She frown and shook her head.

"You know I can't do that Mora! Who would finish the testing if I leave?" she whispered the last bits to the bird. Mora just sat there and looked at the girl. "It's not so bad in here Mora, at least I have all the things here to live."

The girl looked around her room, glancing at each of the many drawings that lined her room. She walked away from Mora and the window and picked up the gun like contraption. Adjusting it in her grip, she began to sing.

"Seven a.m., the usual morning lineup. Start the first test and avoid the water because it's green," she walked slowly toward the door to the stairway.

"Polish and wax the first chamber till the blood's gone. Test again, and by then it'll be seven-fifteen?" She sighed and began down the staircase.

"And so I'll read a book or maybe two or three? I'll pin up a new drawing to my gallery. I'll play with the portal gun and eat and basically, just wonder when will my life begin?" Her song grew to describe her normal daily routine.

"Then after lunch it's puzzles and tests and jumping. Fixing my boots, a bit of music like jazz" She smiled as she began to jog to her first test chamber.

"Some funnels and light bridges, feet are aching. Then I'll stretch, maybe rest, throw a cube, leave it as..."She finished the test in record time, her song continuing.

"And I'll re-read the books if I have time to spare. I'll post more pictures up, I'm sure there's room somewhere.." She left the chamber and began to run.

"And then I'll climb and climb and climb and climb the stairs.." She made sure her breathing stayed steady as she continued to sing.

"Stuck in the same place I've always been, and I'll keep wondering and wondering and wondering and wondering..." with a twirl around her room she sighed "When will my life begin?"

She looked back to the window, where Mora still sat. The bird titled it's head as the girl walked closer to the window. "Tomorrow night, the paper will appear, Just like it does on my birthday each year... What is it like? Out there where they blow?" She looked at the bird sadly, as she sat down. "Now that I'm older, GLaDOS might just let me go..." She finished her song with a sad sigh and patted the bird gently.

"Woow.. No matter how many times I look at this castle, I just can't get over how bloody massive it is," A young man said as he just stared up at the marble structure before him.

He swiped some of his auburn hair out of the front of his bright blue eyes to get an even better look at the castle. "Detective Wheatley, sir?" a guard questioned.

Wheatley looked over, his dimpled smiled fading and he coughed a bit in embarrassment. "Right right, I'm coming" he muttered, trying his best to sound professional.

He fallowed the guard into the castle and adjusted his tie as another attempt at looking more professional. He walked passed all the paintings of the old kind and queen and even a rushed half finished painting of the infant princess. More expensive works of art and glassware passed his vision before he came into the throne room. There sat the king, his hair wild and his face held a firm frown under his scruffy beard. His clothes were loose on his skinny body and Wheatley couldn't help but feel incredibly sorry for the king. He had suffered all his life with mental difficulty and those worsened at the incident that happened almost eighteen years ago.

Next to the king sat the throne that used to belong to the Queen, and on that seat was the crown that belonged to the missing princess. It's gems and gold sparkled in the faint light that the stain glass windows brought into the room. The king began to drum his fingers against the armrest of his chair with mild annoyance, obviously waiting for something. Nervously Wheatley began "Uhh.. Well, you see your majesty, I uh.."

The king stopped his drumming and just stared at Wheatley with a lifted brow. "I would be.. uh... credibly honored.. sir... s-sire! If you would l-let me... !" he finished with a rushed huff of breath and looked at the king with anxious eyes.

The tired eyes of the king looked down at him with sadness but a light smile traced his face and he waved his hand with approval. Wheatley smiled widely has guards pooled into the chamber and began handing the young detective folders and folders of information and Wheatley struggled to put all the paperwork into his bag in time. He bowed to the king and began his way out of the castle, calmly at first but after he was out of the king's sight, he broke out into a full sprint to his horse. "Rick! I got the job! I can't believe this! At first I was really really nervous and I couldn't believe my eyes when the king, the bloody KING! Of all people, he approved of my idea, he gave me all this paperwork for the case and he he, he thinks I can do it, Rick! RICK! HE THINKS I CAN DO IT!" He cheered as he hugged the face of the brown stallion.

The green eyed horse just nipped at Wheatley's chest, making the young man yelp. "Oh, right, right, don't like the hugging" he laughed nervously as he mounted his stead with slight difficulty and they began to charge off toward the forest. "This is a very big day, Rick! A very big day!"

"This is a very big day, Mora. Finally going to ask her," the girl said in an excited whisper to the little bird.

She hurriedly began to stuff her tape and pins back into their box and shoved them into her dresser. "Today's the day.." she smiled brightly at the bird.

Suddenly a cold computerized voice yelled, "CHELL!"

Chell gasp and stumbled as she rushed to the portal gun on the other side of her room. "CHELL! Shoot me a portal!" the voice called in annoyance.

As Chell passed the bird, she whispered happily "It's time!" The bird flew away from her window silently. "Chell, the test results are not going to magically appear into my hands!" the voice snapped angrily.

Chell peaked out of the window and shot a portal next to the brunette women and then one on the clear wall in her room. The women walked through the portal quickly and took the device from Chell's hands, quickly pressing the reset button to clear the portals. "Oh, Chell. Why it takes you so long to do something that isn't even test related is beyond me.." the women scolded lightly.

"I'm sorry GLaDOS.." Chell said sadly. "If you are sorry, then I also do not understand why you have made no effort into correcting this problem!" GLaDOS sighed with more annoyance, walking away from the girl. "I'll try harder... but GLaDOS, I'm sure you know what tomorrow is.." as they walked passed the mirror, GLaDOS stopped and put her arm around Chell's shoulders.

"Chell, do you see what I see when I look into this mirror? I see an intelligent, skilled, and very successful women," with these remarks, something made Chell smile a little, even if she knew what was coming. "And then there is you. You have the potential to do all these things and yet you insist on being slow and lazy."

GLaDOS lifted her arm from Chell and began toward the door of the main operating room. "I know I know, but GLaDOS, I want to know if tomorrow.." Chell was cut off again as GLaDOS growled in frustration while staring at Chell's testing results. "Chell! These are the worst results ever! It even says your still singing when you test! You know I fixed the portal gun to work without those stupid songs. What have you been doing all day?"

Chell sighed and rubbed her temples. "I rearranged the drawings and..." once again she was cut off. "Those stupid, ugly little scribbles. Those aren't even art! If you want art to decorate the tower, I have told you many times that I would acquire real art."

"I like the drawings.." Chell mumbled softly. "But GLaDOS, please. I've been trying to say that tomorrow is my birthday and-"

"So? Birthdays are an annual thing, you really can't expect every birthday you have to be special. Trust me, you are going to have a lot more of them-" this time GLaDOS was cut off. "But GLaDOS, I really really want to see where all these pictures come from! Just think of it as a research trip and maybe there will be lots of science behind it and-"

"No" was GLaDOS' simple answer. Chell wouldn't settle for it though. "But look at these papers! These aren't like any other paper I've ever seen. Their not laminated and when the wind blows them they get carried away easier then normal paper. And yet their heavier then normal and when the light hits them, they sparkle a little. And their totally water proo-"

"Want part of no did your primitive brain not understand?" GLaDOS growled out. "But if only you took me.."

"There is no science to be done at looking at a bunch of pieces of paper being thrown in the air!" GLaDOS glared at the girl. "Why would you want to go outside, my Chell? Look at these, getting worse by the hour!" GLaDOS waved the papers in front of Chell's face before continuing.

"Still a little child, with no doubt. You know why you stay up in this tower" GLaDOS dropped the paper onto the floor and ignored Chell's protest of "I know but-"

"That's right, to get the science done, dear. Guess I always knew this day was coming, knew that soon you'd want to stop the tests. Maybe, not yet" Chell began her protest once again "But-" but GLaDOS' finger hushed her.

"Shh! Trust me, pet. GLaDOS knows best!" Rather eerily, all the lights then flickered out then came back on very dimly. "GLaDOS knows best, please do not look farther" Chell let out a yelp as she tripped in the dark, but was quick to regain her footing.

"It's a scary world out there. GLaDOS knows best! one way or another, something will kill you, I swear! Ruffians, thugs, Bushman's Poison, quicksand, cannibals and snakes... the plague!" Chell's faced paled at seeing GLaDOS with a cruel smirk on her face "N-no!"

With an evil laugh, GLaDOS continued "Yes! Also large bugs!" Chell hopped away from a large shadow with a gasp. "Men with pointy teeth, and these variables haven't been tested!" Chell let out a sigh of relief as GLaDOS patted her on the head. "GLaDOS' right here, GLaDOS will protect you. Child here's what I suggest, skip the drama, you're no llama.. GLaDOS knows best!"

Chell found herself suddenly lifted into the air and twirled around, but just as suddenly she was dropped. "GLaDOS knows best, trust me little lassy. On your own, you won't survive."

Chell found herself pushed in front of her mirror as GLaDOS began to point out her flaws. "Sloppy, oddlydressed, immature, clumsy! Please, they'll eat you up alive! Gullible, naïve, a horrible person"

Chell looked at her outfit for a moment, not understanding what was wrong with her tank top, jumpsuit, and long fall boots. She found herself frowning heavily at these statements. "Ditzy and honestly, well, vague. Plus, if I say, gettin' kinda chubby."

Chell's mouth fell open at that moment, and GLaDOS made a smooth recovery "I'm just saying 'cause I have to. GLaDOS understands, GLaDOS' here to help you. All I have is one request..."

GLaDOS placed her hands on Chell's shoulders and stared at her in the eyes. "Chell?" The girl looked up at the older women, her mouth closing. "Yea..?"

GLaDOS' soft expression hardened in an instant. "Don't ever ask to leave this tower again or else you will regret it." Chell's eyes fell to the ground as the lights of the room turned back to normal. "Yes, GLaDOS..."

GLaDOS began to walk away after handing the Portal Gun back to Chell. "Science must continue." Chell jogged up to GLaDOS' retreating silhouette, smiling. GLaDOS turned around and poked Chell on the nose, ever so gently. "Don't forget it, you'll regret it... GLaDOS knows best!"

And so Chell began her daily testing, still humming lightly as she completed her work. GLaDOS scolding her half heartedly whenever she heard a melody from the girl. She couldn't, for reasons beyond her comprehending, stop herself from smiling ever so softly at the girl while she hummed with her. After several hours of testing, GLaDOS finally allowed Chell to rest. That irritating warmth was in her chest again as she looked at the girl. Growling she went to the window and looked back to Chell. "I will return later, complete another 10 tests before I come back" she muttered before jumping down.

Chell ran to the window and watched as GLaDOS landing on her feet with the dust fling around her. GLaDOS looked back to the girl in the window, fighting back the smile as best she could. Chell waved at GLaDOS as she began to walk away.