I'm sure I heard something. Twilight levitated her headset off. It had almost sounded as if someone was calling her name. Then again, it was difficult to tell for certain with the the game going on.
"Guys," she put her headset back on. "Going AFK for a few. Someone might be calling me."
"Seriously?!" A cry of disapproval came through the voice chat. "We're down five to one. Just tell whoever it is to get lost, okay?"
Twilight sighed. At least she had managed to get her teammates to tone down their language, and it had only taken a few dozen spells. The first time she had joined a game she had used close to a hundred.
"Just play a round without me, I'll be right back." Twilight put the headset on top of the game console and went towards the door. Originally, she had planned to pamper herself today to eight full hours of PvP bliss to unwind after a long week of inter-realm relations. Instead, she was subjected to incessant interruptions, including Rainbow and Fluttershy's shenanigans.
So much for getting a high score. Twilight opened the door and peered into the hotel hallway. There was no one to be seen. The only sounds she could hear were an argument on the floor below, the hum of an elevator, and—
"Twilight!" a faint squeak was heard.
Twilight stopped. Her ears twisted around, seeking the source of noise.
"Twilight!" another squeak came, just as quiet as the first.
Oh, no! Twilight's face turned pale. The sound, or rather “attempted yell", was coming from one specific room—the one next door… which belonged to Fluttershy. Without a moment's thought, the alicorn cast a teleportation spell.
"Fluttershy?" Twilight asked the instant she popped in the hotel room. "Is everything alright? Are you..." Her words trailed off as her mind tried to grasp the absurdity of the situation before her.
On the floor, inside a particularly large cardboard box, were Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy just as stuck as she had left them half an hour ago. The only difference was that this time Rainbow Dash was sound asleep, using Fluttershy as a pillow. The yellow pegasus seemed to be taking it surprisingly well, everything considered.
"Twilight," Fluttershy whispered, ears drooped as she attempted to remain as still as possible. "Help, please."
"I, err, huh, wha?" Twilight tried to articulate. Must not laugh. She swished her tail several times and clenched her jaw.
"Rainbow said we could take a few more minutes getting out, then a few more and a few more," Fluttershy began explaining. "I didn't want to disturb her because I thought she was thinking, but then she fell asleep. Can you help us get out? I don't want to wake her up and I really don't want to tear the box. The hotel owner would be so upset if I did. And the box is nice, so I don't want to damage it."
"Of course, Fluttershy." Twilight shook her head. Typical Shy. This is what I missed tournament practice for? At least it didn't turn out to be something serious. "I'll take care of it. Hang on."
If I stay up all night, maybe I'll get enough practice to be somewhat in shape by tomorrow. Twilight's horn flashed bright purple. A ball of white energy emerged from the tip and hit the box, engulfing it in incandescent light. The smell of ozone filled the room, then with a sudden pop the light disappeared, along with the box . Only Fluttershy remained lying on the floor, wings and legs trembling.
"There you go," Twilight said with a confident smile. And just in time! Now I can get back to my game!
"T-Twilight," Fluttershy stuttered. "T-the—"
"Nothing to worry about." Twilight shook her mane. "Since you were so attached to the box, I combined my teleportation spell with a few other spells, not only transporting it safely to Equestria, but also reducing it in size. That way it will remain safely tucked away in your cottage until you get back."
"B-b-but Rainbow Dash—"
"Yes, yes." Twilight nodded. "When you and Rainbow Dash get back you'll be able to play with the box to your heart’s content. Knowing her I'd say that—"
"Twilight!" Fluttershy shouted. The reaction was startling enough to make Twilight’s ears perk up.
Slowly, Twilight turned around. Fluttershy was back on her hooves now, her entire body shivering as if she'd fallen in a lake during Winter Wrap Up. Tears had gathered in the corners of her eyes.
"Rainbow Dash was inside the box!" Fluttershy said, lips trembling. "And now she's gone!"
No. Twilight felt her stomach bundle up. She looked around, carefully inspecting every inch of the room, in the hope that she'd find some trace of Rainbow Dash. Maybe she's just asleep somewhere? she thought, though she knew she was lying to herself. The spell had been cast in such a way as to shrink and teleport. However, thanks to her stupid obsession with computer games, she had completely forgotten to account for a living pony—one of her best friends at that—being inside. There was no telling where Rainbow Dash had ended up, nor what had happened to her. Had she shrunk in size? In age? Was she lost forever?
"There's nothing to worry about." Twilight forced the words out of her mouth, trying to appear calm. Fluttershy was terrified enough without adding Twilight-panic to the mix. "You know Rainbow. She'll probably wake up in a few hours then fly here and start complaining. Or someone will find her before that and let us know." Please someone find her! Please someone find her! "Really, it's alright."
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, a moderately-sized box with a Rainbow Dash filly inside popped into existence. It remained there, sitting on the cracked concrete, until the most unlikely of people passed by, ignored it, then returned. Curious, he stared at the box—contents included—and bumped the side with his foot, inadvertently waking Rainbow Dash. The filly yawned, stretched, rubbed her was with her foreleg, then looked up.
“H-hi there,” the man said, as the semi-wake filly stared at him. “Uh, what are you doing out here?”