Chapter 5: Wonder

“Chasing round and round in circles, on purpose, looking for something…”

“You really going to try and fix that?”

Braeburn kicked the damaged wagon’s wheels. “Nah, this thing’s screwed.”

Daring rolled her eyes. “Then what are you going to do with it?”

“Dunno, tear it apart, probably.” He turned to a table filled with tools. “On second thought, Ah should wait for Mac to come back, make sure he doesn’t have any plans for this thing.”

Daring ran her hoof over the wagon’s side. “This thing looks like it’s been to Tartarus and back.”

Braeburn chuckled. “That it has. Why do you ask?”

The pegasus watched as he arranged the tools on the workbench, in an order that made sense to him but not to her. “Well, I can’t help but wonder how a sturdy wagon turns into… that.” She rested on top of a stack of crates.

“Long story.” The stallion spun one of the wheels, watching it go around and around. “Shame, really. We built this thing right here, in this very barn, and now we’re gonna take it down here.”

“Came full circle, huh?”

A rooster cawed in the distance, and Braeburn sighed. “Never liked circles much.”

Daring glanced at him. “Why’s that?”

“Dunno. A long time ago, I wondered what it was like to feel somethin’ like love. Ran around in circles for a long time there, on purpose. Ah was just tryin’ to learn somethin’. Soon Ah was still goin’ in circles, but no matter how hard Ah tried, Ah couldn’t get anythin’ to go anywhere. Not that Ah didn’t try, it’s just… Ah’m ramblin’. Sorry.”

With a thump, Daring landed behind him. “What do you think about love now?”

The pony sighed. “I still dunno. Maybe Ah’m learnin’ somethin’. Ain’t sure what, though.”

“Yeah, I feel like that too,” confessed Daring. “Sometimes, I think I’ve already found out, but just don’t want to believe it.” Braeburn pulled up a smaller crate to sit on, gesturing to the stool that sat near the workbench. “Thanks. Anyways, I still think about how things would be different if I actually tried to do what I’ve always wanted. But… I think I’m good now. Like I found whatever I was looking for.”

She shrugged, glancing at the wagon. “Oh well. Guess love’s not meant for everyone.”

Braeburn shrugged, following her eyes to the wagon. “Reckon not.”