//------------------------------//
// The Package 
// Story: The Package 
// by Phoebe Fireworks 
//------------------------------//

“Clear left.”

“Clear right.”

“Move up!” whispered the leader.

The three shadows moved down the sides of the dimly lit hallway at a brisk pace, their steps and whispers barely louder than the breeze rustling the ornate drapes and tapestries.

“Entryway on the left, ten meters ahead. Stack up.”

With a few glances and hoof signals, the team moved to position in front of the unassuming wooden door. They all knew the objective, and that they had to remain undetected. The stakes were simply too high.

“Alright, keep it simple,” the leader whispered. “Secure the package and move to extraction. In and out. Thunder, you take point. Midnight, you’ve got our six.”

A pair of nods confirmed his orders. Casting a sound-dampening bubble, the leader picked the door’s lock, and they all slipped inside.

The room was dark, lit only by the soft moonlight shining through the windows. It was just barely enough to see by as the trio made their way across the clean tiled floor, weaving in between boxes and counters.

Their objective lay at the far end of the room, in a sealed cooling unit. Another quick spell dealt with that lock, and they gently pried the door to reveal the container they had been sent to retrieve.

With a slow and practiced motion, the leader carefully removed the container from the cooling unit and placed it in the specially-designed hard shell case Thunder had strapped to his back.

“Alright, package is secure. Let’s get out of here, Chief,” Thunder whispered nervously as he wiped the sweat from his brow.

“Don’t need to tell me twice. Keep your heads on a swivel and move.”

With a quickened pace, the trio slipped back out the door and down the hallway, hoping to be well away before anyone noticed their infiltration.

However, Murphy had different plans that evening. A barrage of frantic shouts filled the room they had just left, and blindingly bright lights filled the hallway not a moment later.

The trio quickly split apart and took cover between the pillars on each side of the hall while their eyes adjusted.

Chief had never been one for pessimism, but he knew there was no easy way out of this one. If he didn’t decide quickly, countless lives would be in danger. There was only one thing he could do.

“Alright, new plan,” Chief said from his side. “I’ll lead them down to the end of this wing, while you two wait for them to pass. Climb out the window into the garden, and then make a break for the extraction point. Phoenix Team should be there any minute now. They can brief you on delivering the package.”

Thunder adjusted his pack, careful not to rattle the contents. “What about you, Chief?”

“You know the stakes, Thunder. We can’t fail. I know what I signed on for,” Chief sighed. “It’s been an honour.”

With a shared look and curt nods, Chief took off down the hall, loudly stomping to attract the attention of the mob of ponies that surged after him. Behind them, the two remaining stallions held their breaths, watching silently.

When the last of them had rounded the corner at the end of the hall, Thunder and Midnight carefully opened the closest window, climbed onto the ledge, and took the short leap to the garden below.

They landed with a muffled THUD, and broke into a gallop as they raced through the hedges and trees. Once they reached the far end of the garden, a sleek black chariot pulled by two pegasi swooped down from behind one of the castle’s spires and set down in a small croquet field. Another pegasus waited in the chariot, frantically motioning them over. “One, two, where’s your third?”

“He bought us time,” Midnight huffed. “Now let’s get out of here!”

No sooner had they jumped aboard than the chariot took off at breakneck speed, weaving low through the buildings of Canterlot to escape. “Welcome aboard, gents!” the chariot pegasus said gleefully. “My name is Jumper, and I’ll be your flight attendant. Can I get you some pretzels?”

“Where are we headed?” Thunder shouted over the sound of the wind whipping by.

Jumper’s grin fell right off as he motioned back towards the castle. “Level Nine, Tower One, Canterlot Castle. Command moved the drop point right before we took off. But we have to weave around a bit first, to break line of sight. Hang on!”

All three of them gripped the sides of the chariot tightly as they raced towards the edge of the city at what was very likely an unsafe speed. In an exceptionally risky maneuver, they dove underneath the city to loop around, barely missing the massive supports built into the mountain.

“Alright, so if the drop zone has changed, where are we bringing this thing now?”  Midnight asked, glancing over at Jumper. “It had better be worth it.”

“Oh, it is. Enough that you’ll be bringing it directly to Command. And by Command, I mean Princess Celestia herself.”

Before either of the pair could react, the lead pegasi pulled into a nearly vertical climb, taking only seconds to pass street level and reach the tallest tower of Canterlot Castle, finally coming to a stop next to a balcony near the top.

“This is your stop, gents! Thanks for flying Phoenix Air!” Jumper called as Midnight and Thunder hopped down onto the balcony. They made their way inside the tower’s ornate balcony doors, unsure of what to expect.

Once inside, they found an elaborate study, filled with books and scrolls of all sorts. Looking to the other side of the circular room, they noticed a large desk covered in paperwork, and no less than Princess Celestia herself sitting behind it.

“Your Majesty!” Thunder called out as they bowed, drawing her attention. “Javelin Team, reporting mission complete.”

“Excellent work. The package has been secured?”

“Yes, Princess!” They nodded in unison. Thunder gingerly removed the container from his case, and placed it on the desk. The princess eyed it over for a moment, checking for any damage.

“And what of Chief?” She asked, not looking up. “I notice you’re a pony short.”

Thunder cast a quick glance to Midnight before gazing down at the floor. “He didn’t make it, Your Highness. He drew their attention to give us the chance to escape.”

“A noble end for a brave soul,” Celestia said in a more somber tone. “I shall ensure his sacrifice was not in vain.”

“But you two have earned some rest,” she continued. “Return to your barracks for the night, and I shall ensure you have three solid days of leave starting tomorrow, on the condition that you not speak of this mission to anypony.”

“Understood, Princess!” The pair saluted, made an abrupt about-face, and proceeded out the main doors to Celestia’s study, and down the staircase to the Royal Guard barracks.

Celestia, meanwhile, gazed at the container for a moment before finally opening it. The sight that greeted her proved that it was all worth it, and that the nation of Equestria would continue to run in harmony for some time to come.

It was her favourite kind of cake. Red velvet, of course. And the kitchen staff had gone to extraordinary lengths to try and hide it. But she was better.

Now, some in the castle would inevitably disagree with the mission, as with any military action. They might call it unnecessary, heavy-hoofed, a ‘misuse of special forces’, or ‘a completely over-the-top way of cheating on the Royal Diet.’

But they didn’t have cake.