//------------------------------// // Questions of the Future // Story: Time and Masks // by Hopeful_Ink_Hoof //------------------------------// "Thank you for coming," Twinkleshine said, giving her friends a hug. "No problem," Wind Tunnel said with a smile. "Sure," Dinky added, "You only graduate from school once after all." "I still appreciate it," the graduating mare continued. "I'm going to miss you two. I have to get going though. My family is waiting for me so we can go out and celebrate." She gave them a wave and headed off toward her family waiting nearby. The two friends waved back as she headed off. "Hey, Wind?" Dinky asked. "Are you doing anything tomorrow?" "Just working on some ideas I have," the pegasus responded. "Why?" "Could you come by? I have some ideas I could use your smithing skills with... and maybe your engineering skills as well." "Sure. I think I can make the time." "Great. I'll see you tomorrow then. I got to get going." She gave one last wave to her friend and headed off. The young mare left the auditorium and made her way outside. There was a chariot waiting with several guards attached as well as surrounding it. She smiled at the guards as she passed. They gave no acknowledgement of the unicorn, but did not try to stop her either. Dinky stepped onto the chariot and waited. Princess Celestia emerged from the auditorium not much later. She moved away from the crowd of ponies who had been following her, slipping past the guards and making her way to the chariot. Once the princess had boarded, the pegasus guards took flight, lifting the two riders up above the city. They rode in silence as they rose and flew over Canterlot. Dinky looked out over the edge, watching the tops of the building pass as they floated above it all. "Is there something on your mind, my student?" the princess asked. "You have been unusually quiet today." "After this summer," Dinky said slowly, "I begin my last year of school. The problem is that once I graduate, I don't know what I'm going to do next." "From your orders of armor-grade leather as well as purple and black fabric, I thought you had decided already." Dinky looked up at the princess, eyes going wide. The unicorns ears dropped and the color of her face changed from a pale lavender to a bright red. "You... you know about that?" Celestia smiled, saying nothing. "Well... okay, yes. But that doesn't really help. I mean putting on a costume and running around..." She sighed and rubbed her head. "Saying it out loud makes it sound even stupider than just thinking it. Anyway, even if it would mean my helping ponies in trouble, it isn't really something I can make a living with. My cutie mark doesn't help, because it's tied to my ability to use time magic. Can't make a living with that either." "You are a bright young mare," Celestia stated. "I am confident that you shall think of a way to achieve your goals. I would suggest that you enjoy your summer vacation in the meantime, but it seems that you are planning to be quite busy." "Right," Dinky straightened up, squaring her shoulders. "Full time guard training from start to finish five days a week, starting the day after tomorrow." The two continued in silence, although with a better mood than before. They continued to watch the city beneath them as they flew by, quickly making their way back to the castle. The guards circled around as it came in for a landing. With ease the group set down in the with in the fenced in garden. The two passengers quickly disembarked, leaving the guards to dismount and return to their duties. Dinky walked slowly for a while as she moved through the garden. She looked at the flowers as they grew, her nose twitching slightly to take in the scents. It was a very nice place to be and relax. A thought occurred to her that she had not really just enjoyed the garden in a while. As she got older, she was driving herself more and more toward something. The only exception was when she was out with her friends. Although that actually had become less often, she realized. The young mare continued her way to the castle and up to her room. Beside her desk were bolts of fabric in purple and black as well as a large amount of dark leather. Strewn across the top of the desk were scissors, thread, leather punchers and sheets of paper with numerous drawings. There was also a letter. Curious, Dinky picked the letter up and opened it. She began to smile as she read, realizing it was from Ruby. After the week of camping over spring break and some time apart, the two talked and wrote. Although there was quite some distance between them, the unicorns had decided to try and have a relationship. So the two had begun writing to each other, sharing what had happened from time to time and planning for later. This particular letter stated that Ruby would be coming to visit next weekend. The idea of seeing her... girlfriend? Were they at that stage? Or were they still just friends? Maybe friends with possibilities of a relationship? Long distant romantic hopeful would be accurate, but very boring to say and hear. Well, whatever they were, the idea of seeing each other next weekend was exciting. There was no mail tomorrow, so there was no rush to write back. She was going to get help from Wind Tunnel for some of her ideas, but other than that there was nothing going on. That meant there would be plenty of time for her to come up with plans for Ruby's visit. In the meantime, there were other matters to deal with. Setting the letter aside, she picked up the needle and worked to thread it. Once threaded and ready, the mare began to sew.