Those That Bond Together, Stay Together

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

Do not own any rights to any characters. Ever. Damn.

Chapter 8

Rainbow Dash kept her forelegs wrapped around Soarin' as she pondered over what her life mates had just told her. She didn't like to think that if Soarin' had not pulled both Spitfire and himself out of the water then she would never have met her two bonded. She felt Soarin' squeeze her gently which made her look up into her stallion's face.

'It's okay, Baby," Soarin' comforted sensing the filly's distress, "Both Spitfire and I were fine and we finally bonded. It had felt so good to feel Beautiful through our bond. Her being there with me really gave me the strength to want to heal."

"Were you sick with pneumonia a long time?" Rainbow Dash asked with large, concerned eyes.

"He was sick for a while," Spitfire answered as she came up to snuggle Soarin' on the opposite side of the rainbow-maned mare, "I had my hands full with keeping him in bed after he started feeling better. Biggest pain-in-the-tail you could ever meet when it comes to staying in bed."

"Hey!" Soarin' protested as Rainbow Dash began to giggle, "I'm not that bad."

"Yes, you are, Big Guy," Spitfire chuckled out before turning to Rainbow Dash, "I had to bribe him with kisses and pie. If he didn't stay in bed then he got neither. Worked like a charm."

"Meany-pants," Soarin' grumbled under his breath as the two mares shook in laugher.

"So that's the story of how you two got together?" Rainbow Dash asked after catching her breath.

"Not entirely," Soarin answered as Spitfire blushed red again, "There is more to this tale."

Flashback

Spitfire watched over her life mate as he slept peacefully. These last two weeks had been a real rollercoaster ride. Soarin' had been very ill and his fever wouldn't break at first. Spitfire had been worried sick, but the doctors had finally resorted to placing the stallion in a lukewarm tub of water. The water had cooled Soarin's overheated body and finally the fever broke, much to Spitfire's relief. Soon after, the antibiotics had started working on the infection in Soarin's lungs and he was able to breathe without needing the oxygen mask.

Before long, Soarin' was feeling much better and it had been a battle to keep him in bed. He had whined that he was "bored" and felt "fine," but Spitfire was having none of it and kept a close eye on Soarin' to make sure he followed his doctor's advice. Wing Glider had figured out during her son's colt-hood that her son would do what was asked if one of her pies were concerned. It was Spitfire who upped the ante by also denying kisses if Soarin' didn't listen. It was like a magical spell. Soarin' really loved his life mate's kisses and pie.

A small noise brought Spitfire back to the present and made her aware that Soarin' was waking. She looked over and noticed his eyes flutter open. She adored her life mate's large, green eyes.

"Hey, Sleepy Head," Spitfire greeted tenderly, "Did you have a good nap?"

"Yes," Soarin' agreed as he yawned and then sat up brightly to lean against his pillows, "I took my nap. Where is my reward? You promised me a reward."

"Did I?" Spitfire teased.

"Yes, you did," Soarin' insisted with one of his trademark grins on his face, "I want my kiss! Please? I did as you asked."

"You did do as I asked," Spitfire agreed as she hopped up on the bed beside the ecstatic stallion, "I guess you do deserve a kiss."

Soarin' eagerly pulled his life mate against him and kissed her deep enough to make her hooves feel like they were curling up. Spitfire hadn't really kissed anypony else before Soarin', but she knew a good kiss and her stallion always gave good kisses. Spitfire eagerly kissed back and this might have turned into quite a make-out session if a small knock at the door hadn't interrupted the two.

"Don't answer," Soarin' insisted wanting to continue the kissing, "Maybe whoever is there will go away."

"Soarin'!" Spitfire admonished with a chuckle as she hopped back off of the bed, "You can't do that. It's probably somepony who wants to visit you. Don't be rude."

"Okay. Okay," Soarin' grumbled as he ran a hoof through his sleep-mussed mane to neaten up his appearance, "Let the interloper in."

Spitfire swatted playfully at the stallion and went to the door to answer it. She was surprised to see that it was Captain Thundercloud. The large stallion's wing was set in a cast at his side, but he was walking around just fine.

"May I come in?" Captain Thundercloud politely asked.

"Of course," Spitfire answered as she led him over to a chair next to Soarin's bed.

"Hi, Captain," Soarin' cheerfully greeted as Spitfire went around the other side of his bed and had a seat, "How are you?"

"I'm fine, but how are you?" Thundercloud asked looking over the stallion with a critical eye.

"I'm good," Soarin chirped, "But nopony will believe me and let me out of this bed. I hate it in the hospital. I only survive because Spitfire is with me."

"I'm glad to hear that," Captain Thundercloud chortled, "You will listen to your doctor and life mate. That is an order, Son."

"Sir, yes, sir," Soarin' snapped out with a salute before looking perplexed, "How did you know that Spitfire and I are life mates? We haven't told anypony yet…well, except for our parents."

"I did work with your parents, Young Stallion. I know what a Pegasus Crystal is," Thundercloud said with a smile as he pointed at the fiery-gold crystal around Soarin's neck, "It doesn't take a genius to know who your bonded must be since Spitfire hasn't left your room once since you were admitted. Plus, a little, blue birdie that looks just like you has been bragging none stop about your bonding. You got yourself a great mare."

"She is the best," Soarin' glowed as his life mate blushed bright red, "I'm so glad you came to visit. When can you return to The Wonderbolts? The doctor said that I can be released in a couple of days. I can't wait to fly again"

"That is what I came to speak with you about," Captain Thundercloud said seriously.

"What? You are going to be able to fly again, right?" Spitfire asked in concern.

"Oh, yes. My wing will be able to support me in flight once it's healed," Thundercloud assured, "I have Soarin to thank for saving my life so that my wing could be repaired. I cannot express to you my gratitude, but I wouldn't have liked to survive if that meant at the price of your life. What you did was very risky, but thank you. I want you two to be the first on the team to know, it's just…well…this whole ordeal had made me aware that it is time for me to retire."

"What?" Soarin' and Spitfire chorused together.

"Stop. Hear me out," the stallion urged, "I have been a Wonderbolt my entire adult life and a captain for over half of that time. It has been an honor, but every pony reaches a point when it is time to hang up the uniform. I know now that it is time for me to turn over the reins to the next generation."

"You can't," Spitfire begged, "The Wonderbolts will never be the same without you. You are the backbone of the team."

"You are wrong…" Captain Thundercloud corrected, "…you and Soarin' have become the backbone of the team."

Spitfire and Soarin' turned and looked at one another in disbelief. They were both speechless in shock.

"You two haven't noticed that the team survived only thanks to the both of your quick thinking. Your teammates have been turning to the two of you for guidance since you joined the performing squadron," Thundercloud explained with great pride, "You two are a perfect team. I had already made the recommendation for the two of you to take over as co-captains about a week ago. The orders were approved this morning."

"Oh, my goodness," Soarin' gasped as Spitfire sank back into her chair in astonishment.

"Congratulations," Captain Thundercloud praised as he stood to leave, "You deserve your new rank. Do me proud."

"Sir, yes, sir!" Soarin' and Spitfire snapped out as they saluted and stood at attention; well, Spitfire stood at attention and Soarin' sat up straighter in his bed.

"At ease," Thundercloud ordered with a smile, "We will do an official command-passing ceremony once everything settles down. I'll see you two later."

Soarin' and Spitfire said there goodbyes and then sat in silence together once they were alone again.

"Wow," Soarin' finally breathed.

"'Wow,' is right. I knew that Captain Thundercloud would retire one day, but not this soon," Spitfire added before looking up with excited eyes at her life mate, "Captains. We are co-captains of The Wonderbolts. I can't believe it! What an honor?"

"I agree," Soarin' murmured before turning suggestive eyes in Spitfire's direction, "Can we celebrate with a kiss?"

"Soarin'," Spitfire choked out, "I can't believe you!"

"Kisses are a good way to celebrate," Soarin' defended beginning to pout, "Kissy-kissy."

Spitfire howled in laughter. Soarin' grinned and beckoned her over. The mare blushed so red that her golden coat looked orange as she crawled up beside him. She really did love Soarin's kisses. It was hard to stop at just kissing since the bond wanted the final physical aspect between the life mates to be completed.

"I can't get out of this hospital fast enough," Soarin' groaned out.

"Oh…um…yes," Spitfire babbled nervously.

"You're nervous," Soarin' accused gently, "Why?"

"Well, I…I haven't been with a stallion before," Spitfire admitted.

"I haven't either," Soarin' teased having to duck as Spitfire swiped a hoof in his direction before turning serious, "You will be my first as well. We will just let things happen naturally. No worries."

Two days later, Soarin' was finally released from the hospital. The two life mates rented a vacation home together to relax for a few days before returning to their Wonderbolt careers. The first evening Soarin' was able to show his life mate what real bonding meant and judging by her exuberance, Spitfire was not complaining at all. Their first night together was more than both of them could have imagined and it was perfect. They were meant for one another. There was no question.

Once Soarin' was completely recuperated, he and Spitfire returned to The Wonderbolts' headquarters. The whole team greeted the two warmly and threw a "Welcome Back-Glad You Are Better-Thank you for Saving All of Us-Congratulations on Your Co-Captain Titles" party. Captain Thundercloud was also there and he had already let the team know about his retirement, but it was Spitfire who explained the bonding between her and Soarin' to the team. None of the other Wonderbolts were surprised about what a bonding was except for Ice Wind, Rapidfire, and Lightning Streak. The three Cadets had not been around when Soarin's parents had bonded.

"Congratulations," Ice Wind gushed once it was explained to the three what a "bonding" was, "I guess this means that I am losing my roommate."

"Oh, no!" Lightning Streak groaned out as he pointed at Rapidfire, "Soarin'! How could you leave me with this?"

"Sorry, Lightning," Soarin' apologized as Spitfire cuddled close to the side of her life mate, "Spitfire and I will be moving into shared quarters."

"Hey! I'm not that bad," Rapidfire defended, "You should feel lucky that I'm your roomy. But I'd move out on having a great roommate like me to if I had a pretty mare like Spitfire to…"

Nopony saw Soarin' move, but suddenly he was face-to-face with Rapidfire.

"A mare to what?" Soarin' growled as the bonded stallion in him awoke and he pawed at the ground, "What exactly are you insinuating about my life mate?"

"Nothing," Rapidfire squeaked, "I wasn't insinuating anything. Spitfire is really pretty, glad you found her. That's all I'm saying. Nothing else. Promise. Don't hurt me!"

"Calm down, Big Guy," Spitfire soothed as the rest of The Wonderbolts looked on with wide eyes, "Rapidfire was just being his same old pig-stallion self. Let it go."

"Watch your mouth!" Soarin' snapped as Spitfire pushed him away, "I'm watching you! You will be respectful to my life mate! You got that?"

Spitfire was able to calm Soarin' by leading him to the party food. There was pie especially brought in for the stallion. The golden mare watched fondly as her life mate tucked in before she overheard an interesting conversation.

"You need to watch your behavior and your mouth around Spitfire," Captain Thundercloud explained to the three Cadets as the rest of The Wonderbolts listened in knowingly, "A bonded stallion in protective mode is dangerous. His father was one protective stallion and it looks like Soarin' might be a whole lot worse. I wouldn't get on his bad side if I were you."

"Bucking straight," Soarin' whispered into Spitfire's ear, making her jump, "Nopony better ever disrespect or touch my life mate."

"Oh, yeah?" Spitfire asked, "Well, nopony better ever disrespect or touch you. I won't stand for it."

"Is that right?" Soarin questioned with a smile.

"That's right," Spitfire agreed, "Nopony will ever take you away from me."

"Nope," Soarin cooed as he leaned down to steal a kiss from his life mate, "Because you're stuck with me now. I'm here to stay."

To be continued…