Unexpected

Please do not post my work on other sites. Plagiarizing is wrong.

I do not own any rights to any characters. Ever. Damn.

Chapter 8

"I have the best life mates in the world!" Soarin' wailed as he threw himself at the laughing Spitfire and Rainbow Dash during the group session with Dr. Speak Freely.

The therapist grinned and realized that she had been right about the Triad. The light-green mare had sensed from the beginning that Spitfire and her life mates were beyond close. The Triad had a connection that was giving the golden Pegasus the support and strength she needed to get over her depression.

Once Soarin' got himself back under control the three Pegasi sat back in their seats and the session continued.

"Spitfire, do you feel that Rainbow Dash blames you for hitting her?" Dr. Speak Freely asked.

"No," the golden Pegasus answered with a grin, "And I know where this question is leading. I cannot change the past. I can only change how I react to the present so as to improve my future. That incident is now in the past and out of my mind."

"Very good. It is wonderful to hear that you have been paying attention to me all these weeks," the therapist offered before turning to the stallion, "Soarin', do you blame Spitfire for hurting Rainbow Dash and getting depression?"

"Wha-what?" Soarin stuttered as his bonded stallion surged to the surface, "No! Nothing is Spitfire's fault! How dare you…"

"Hush!" Spitfire and Rainbow Dash ordered as they rushed over to soothe the stallion.

Dr. Speak Freely blinked and then had to mentally kick herself. Spitfire has told her many times about bonded stallions and the therapist had forgotten to choose her words more carefully. Soarin' settled and glared angrily at the light-green mare.

"Dr. Speak Freely, be more careful," Spitfire cautioned as she and Rainbow Dash sat back down, "Bonded stallions are very protective."

"I am so sorry," Dr. Speak Freely apologized to the stallion, "I worded that question badly. I only meant to show Spitfire that none of her life mates hold any animosity against her."

"Oh," Soarin' breathed as he calmed down and realized where the therapist was coming from, "I understand. Sorry for the way I reacted. In answer to your question, no. I don't hold anything against Spitfire in the least. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero."

"Good," the therapist affirmed, "What do you think Spitfire?"

"I think that my life mates understand that I am sorry and will not allow myself to react like that again in the future," the golden Pegasus began, "I can let all of the guilt and negative thoughts of that time in my life go now. It is time to move on."

"Do you want to move on?" Dr. Speak Freely inquired.

"More than anything," Spitfire intoned.

"Why is it important for you to move on from your outburst?" the therapist continued to push.

"Because I can't continue to dwell on the same incident," Spitfire explained in her own words, "There is no way to change what happened on that day so I have to accept my past and move on. I plan on making the best of my life from here on out. You made me realize that I have a lot of blessings in my life and a future to look forward to."

"I think it's time for you to tell your life mates about how you were feeling after the accident," the light-green mare asserted before frowning when she saw the golden Pegasus blanch, "Soarin' and Rainbow Dash need to hear this Spitfire. They won't judge you, you know that right?"

"Never. Baby and I would never judge you, Beautiful," Soarin' insisted as his youngest life mate looked on with pleading eyes, "Tell us, please."

"After the accident…" Spitfire started and then stopped to close her amber eyes and take a deep breath before turning to Soarin', "After the accident I felt like I was worthless. What good was I as a mare in a relationship when I couldn't even extend your family tree? I had dreamed of having foals with you one day. When that dream ended I…I just didn't understand how you and Rainbow Dash could even want me in the Triad anymore."

"Oh, Beautiful," Soarin' gasped as his heart went out to his golden life mate, "I've already told you that I love you for being you and not for what you can give me. You and I do not have to have foals to always be life mates. Rainbow Dash and I wouldn't know what to do without you. We love you completely and with all of our heart."

"Absolutely!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she pulled the Triad into a group hug, "The Triad means the three of us. We love you."

"I love you two very much," Spitfire crooned softly before sitting back up, "I still argue with this thought in my head though. I hate showing this side of myself. It feels so selfish when I know that there are other ponies in this world going through worse, but I wanted to be a mother one day."

"You can have one of my foals," Rainbow Dash innocently offered, "I…I mean, I never thought about being a mother before becoming a part of the Triad. My whole life I had simply worked at trying to be a Wonderbolt. When I am old enough we can raise my foals together. I'll need a level-headed mare to keep me in line, let alone a foal. I can be 'Momma' and you can be 'Mommy.'"

"Oh, Rainbow Dash," Spitfire sighed in adoration, "That is a wonderful thought."

"I am going to die," Soarin' croaked out making the three mares in the room look at the stallion in confusion and alarm, "That is the cutest, sweetest, most wonderful thing that I have ever heard. I still have the best life mates in the world!"

Dr. Speak Freely made a habit of never allowing her emotions to show during a session, but even the professional therapist couldn't help but giggle uncontrollably when she saw the stallion throw himself back at his two life mates.

"There, there, Big Guy," cooed Spitfire before she turned as best she could towards the therapist, "Sorry about this. Our Soarin' is a bit of a mush-pot."

"A bit?" Rainbow Dash teased still trapped in the stallion's hold before Soarin' got himself under control again and sat back down.

"So, what is your response to Rainbow Dash, Spitfire?" Dr. Speak Freely continued the session, "How does her offer make you feel?"

"I would love to be 'Mommy,'" the golden Pegasus admitted, "I have been so afraid that I would show weakness and have to leave Soarin' and Rainbow Dash someday. My Little One's offer makes me feel that I am still needed by my life mates."

"You bet," the cyan Pegasus announced as Soarin' nuzzled his golden life mate, "We don't ever want you to leave."

"Rainbow Dash's offer makes me very happy," Spitfire continued, but she ended up trailing off and looking out into space.

"I hear a 'but,'" the therapist said as she gently coaxed her patient to complete her thoughts.

"I will be the best 'Mommy' that I can be to Rainbow Dash's foals, but they will still be my Little One's foals," Spitfire continued as the mood turned sad, "I guess it is just a fact of life that I need to accept. I will never have a foal that is mine. My dream of a little filly with my mane and Soarin's eyes is over. It's…it's just hard."

"I am so sorry," Soarin' sadly stated as he held his forelegs out to his golden life mate who immediately darted into them, "It breaks my heart to see you so sad. I know the word 'sorry' can't fix this, but Rainbow Dash and I are here for you."

"I know that now," Spitfire sniffled as tears came to her eyes while an equally sniffling Rainbow Dash joined the hug, "Not having foals still hurts, but not as deep anymore. I think that my head and heart are reaching the same conclusion. Sometimes life is what it is and there is no changing it."

Dr. Speak Freely remained silent and allowed the Triad to grieve and support one another. This was a large break through for Spitfire. The mare was finally able to accept what had happened to her. Once the three Pegasi were ready, the therapist assisted the Triad to continue to go back and forth to discuss each other's feelings and the reactions to the feelings. The session had been very profound and enlightening; not only for the Triad, but also for the therapist. It was time to end the session.

"I am very proud of all three of you," Dr. Speak Freely commended, "Being truthful of how you are honestly feeling can be one of the hardest things to do in a pony's life. I think that Spitfire is nearly ready to go home."

"Really?" Rainbow Dash squealed, "When? When can she come home?"

"Hush, Baby," Soarin' chortled out as he placed a calming hoof on his bouncing life mate's shoulder, "Let the doctor talk."

"Oops! Sorry," the cyan Pegasus sheepishly offered.

"It is fine," the therapist reassured before turning to her patient, "Spitfire, I am allowing you to return to The Wonderbolts team. It has been a little over two months that you have been seeing me and in that time you have shown vast improvement. You are ready to start your duties again, but I would like to continue to see you everyday for the next two weeks. I also know that on the last day of the two weeks is your birthday. So, why don't we plan on you moving back home to celebrate your birthday with your life mates?"

"Yay!" Rainbow Dash cried as her two life mates smiled happily.

"I am so glad," Spitfire breathed.

"You and I will start seeing one another once a week after that," Dr. Speak Freely continued, "I would also like to start having a group session with the three of you once a month. Spitfire isn't cured yet, but she is well on her way thanks to her own initiative and the great support system she has. If you three can continue to talk openly with one another then I feel that Spitfire will be just fine with time."

Rainbow Dash surprised herself and the other three Pegasi when she threw her forelegs around the startled therapist.

"Thank you," the filly whispered, "Thank you so much."

"You are very welcome," Dr. Speak Freely answered as she exchanged fond looks with the filly's two life mates, "I will see you next month."

Soarin' gently pulled his blushing life mate off of the therapist before offering his own gratitude. The Triad left the office and hurried to Spitfire's quarters. The three sank onto the bed and looked at one another with wide eyes.

"Alright!" Rainbow Dash yelled finally breaking the silence as she stood on the bed and jumped up and down, "This is awesome! Spitfire's coming home! Spitfire's coming home!"

"Baby, you are going to fall and break a leg," Soarin' crabbed with a smile on his face before jumping up and joining his youngest life mate in bouncing.

Spitfire watched her two life mates happily. You could just feel the joy and relief that was pouring off of the two. Spitfire realized that it hadn't been just herself that had suffered after the accident. Soarin' and Rainbow Dash had suffered just as much. Spitfire frowned when she saw her youngest life mate's lips begin to tremble as she settled back down on the bed.

"Baby," Soarin' gasped as he sat down beside the filly, "What's wrong?"

"Spitfire's coming home!" Rainbow Dash wailed as she burst into tears, "I'm so happy."

"Oh, Little One," Spitfire cooed as she and Soarin' drew the filly into a group hug, "I am coming home."

The two Wonderbolts gently rocked their youngest life mate to calm her down. It wasn't until Rainbow Dash started snoring that Soarin' and Spitfire realized that she had fallen asleep. The group session had taken a large toll on all three of the Triad and the Pegasi were mentally exhausted. Soarin' and Spitfire tucked the filly under the covers and decided to join her in an impromptu nap.

Later that afternoon, Soarin' and Rainbow Dash bid their life mate goodbye and began to fly back towards Ponyville. The two Wonderbolts had been sworn to secrecy over the rainbow-maned mare's tears of happiness.

"Nobody can know that I cried," Rainbow Dash insisted, "I can't let my reputation get ruined by mushiness."

Soarin' and Spitfire had given their word that they would never tell about their youngest life mate's moment of weakness. Rainbow Dash was excited that Spitfire was sending a few things home in a saddle bag and the filly had insisted on carrying the bag home on her own. The stallion was having a lot of trouble keeping up with the wild mare.

"Baby, slow down," Soarin' laughed out as he put on a quick burst of speed to pull up beside the cyan Pegasus as they reached the edge of town, "What's got you in such a hurry?"

"I can't wait to tell my friends that Spitfire is coming home," Rainbow Dash gleefully explained, "Oh!"

Soarin' had to whip around and circle back to the stationery, hovering filly.

"What?" Soarin' asked curiously as he waved a hoof in front of the cyan Pegasus'

face to shake her out of whatever thoughts had stopped her in her tracks.

"A party," Rainbow Dash breathed before turning to face her life mate, "Let's throw Spitfire a surprise Birthday and Welcome Back party. That would be so cool!"

"Not a bad idea," Soarin' agreed as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Who would come?"

"The Wonderbolts and only our closest friends," Rainbow Dash suggested as the two Pegasi began to fly home again at a much more normal speed, "I know that Spitfire wouldn't like a bunch of fans fawning over her."

"I agree," Soarin' asserted, "You will have to cook spa-hay-ghetti."

"Absolutely," Rainbow Dash said, "I promised Spitfire that I would cook her favorite meal when she comes home and I always keep my promises."

"That's my Baby," Soarin' cooed as he reached over to muss her mane as she veered away from him.

"Stop that," Rainbow Dash giggled out and then spotted Pinkie Pie, "Soarin', can I catch up with you later? I'm going to go tell my friends the good news."

"Okay," Soarin' assented, "I'll see you tonight. Be safe."

Rainbow Dash waved goodbye to her life mate and zipped down to the waiting pink pony that had already spotted her.

"Dashie!" Pinkie Pie greeted, "Did you get to see Spitfire? Did your plan work out alright? You look really happy."

"I am happy," the cyan Pegasus offered, "Will you go get everypony else and meet me at Twilight's library? I've got some news."

"Okey-dokey-lokey! Twilight is at Fluttershy's right now so just let yourself into the library," the pink pony chirped as she sped off.

Rainbow Dash flew at her fastest speed towards the library and even threw some loopy-loops in for good measure. Unfortunately, the loops ended up causing the cyan Pegasus to crash through Twilight's open window and straight into a bookshelf. Rainbow Dash grunted when a bunch of books toppled on top of her.

"Typical," Rainbow Dash grumped as she pulled an open book off her face.

The filly froze at the words that greeted her in the book. What was this? Rainbow Dash quickly tucked the book inside of her bag as she heard her friends beginning to arrive.

To be continued…