Wow! I'm so happy with the response I've gotten for this fic! Okay, so here ya go with the next chapter. This fic will have two ceremonies. This is the first.
Once again, I'm going to give full kudos to my beta Mertmidnightangel for helping me smooth out some details and for her wonderful proofreading skills.
Okay, on with the chapter!
Saturday, October 17, 1997
Olive Garden
Angel Grove
Kimberly looked around the tables of the small party room that had been rented for the night by her husband. Because Rocky and Aisha had chosen to have a smaller intimate ceremony, a rehearsal dinner had been deemed unnecessary. They'd opted instead for a private dinner party with all of their family and friends.
But later that night, they would hold a Phadosian bonding ceremony. That was what she'd been waiting for. The moment their guests were gone, they'd head for a private campsite in the woods.
According to Dulcea, once the ceremony was complete, both Rocky and Aisha would be unable to be apart for any longer than 24 hours. The time after the ceremony would have been spent making love and cementing the bonds.
It had been discussed just between them and the soon to be newlyweds.
"I think we should wait to have our honey moon till after the wedding...the formal wedding." Rocky had stated in a firm voice.
Tommy nodded and then looked at Aisha. "And what do you think?"
"I don't want to wait...but if that's what Rocky wants...
"It's not about what he wants." Kimberly interrupted. "At least not completely. I'm taking my ceremonial duties extremely seriously. Rocky, you're about to make the vow to satisfy her every need to the best of your ability. That means every need. Not just food and money and a place to live. It includes all her needs. If she desires you and asks for it, you're bound by the vows to give her all she desires."
Rocky opened his mouth to protest.
Kimberly gave him an unwavering look. "I'm not in any way pressuring you, but I want you to give it serious thought. This is a solemn vow."
Aisha spoke up then. "I'm also about to make a vow to join with him and do the same for him. If he wants to wait for the formal wedding to go all the way then I'll wait."
Tommy had glanced at her. Neither of them had missed the look of longing that Aisha's gaze held as she looked at Rocky.
He'd smirked at her. And she easily understood what he was thinking. It was so easy to do it these days.
They wouldn't wait. Rocky would feel compelled the moment the ceremony was over...he'd not be able to stay away from her tent...or keep his hands off her. If she was a betting woman, she'd bet all her shopping money on it.
Just then she felt a tiny presence at her side. Terra had pulled herself up to her feet and was now babbling at her in words that sounded like English...but were far from distinct.
She grinned and pulled her daughter up into her lap. At the moment, her son was hanging out with his dad and Uncle Daybid.
"Mamma...sketti."
Kimberly grinned and kissed her daughter's cheek before cutting some of the sketti into toddler sized pieces.
Across the way Rocky stood with Aisha speaking to his parents. They were still blissfully unaware of his former 'hobby'.
Aisha however was thinking about her parents. She'd not found out till afterward that her parents had been accidentally mind wiped and had no memory of her...but somehow her Grandma, tough lady that she was, had sustained her memory and had sought her out once she was back on US soil again.
Billy, who had been watching out for any spark of memory from them had caught her grandma looking at her picture and speaking to it of how she wished she knew where she went.
Billy's heart had bled for her and he told her everything...and then brought her to Rocky's apartment where Aisha had been staying. It had been a very emotional reunion and well worth breaking the rules for it. That chat had not been a pleasant conversation, she'd been read the riot act and though Aisha was loathe to admit it, it hadn't taken much after that to make her cave in and own up to her secret.
She had sworn to them both that her grandchild's secret would be safe with her and that she'd 'keep it under her hat.'
"Yeah, Tommy made the arrangements already. Our honey moon suite is ready for us the moment we check in." Rocky was saying to his dad.
"What about your work?" his mom asked.
"The guys are taking over my class till we get back. I promise everything's handled. The world will survive without us for a week or two. He didn't miss Aisha's quiet chuckle. He squeezed her hand.
"Don't jinx anything Rocky. We don't need the end of the world to come while we're gone." She said giving him a look.
He grinned sheepishly at her before the dessert arrived.
Many hours later, as the final guest left, Tommy and Kim approached their comrades in full leader modes.
"Alright, you two. Say your goodbyes; it's only a little while till the bonding ceremony."
Rocky and Aisha shared a long soulful kiss and then reluctantly let themselves be led away to separate cars. Aisha would ride with Kimberly, Trini and the twins while Rocky would go with Tommy and Jason. Zack and Adam had gone ahead to set up the site.
Billy and Kat had taken it upon themselves to look after Grandma and see her safely home. But on the way to her senior living apartment, she spoke up from the backseat. "I know something other than the party is going on tonight."
Kat looked at her boyfriend. He sighed. "Yes, you're right. We're holding a private bonding ceremony. It's directly connected to the rangers...so we're doing the best we can to keep it a secret...from everyone."
Grandma nodded. "I'm already in the know, why keep it from me?"
Billy sighed. "I guess your right...if you really want to, I guess we can take you along...but it would mean having to keep more secrets. Can you do that?"
"I promise to take it with me to the grave."
Billy sighed and glanced at Kat. "Alright...you better let the Lord and Lady know."
As they arrived at the campsite Kim and Tommy separated to check on the soon to be bonded who were getting into the more primitive bonding clothes.
In the clearing, Zack and Adam gave the bonding area a good clean sweep. They checked to be sure the carpet they'd brought along was secured and then they set up the small table with the decanter filled with a very sweet wine.
Adam glanced at the goblet and wine. Their Sensei and boss had been very helpful when he'd volunteered to buy the wine...he was letting them borrow it. The decanter came from a home wares store at the mall. The goblet had been bought at the same place.
With everything ready, they both sat around the fire and stoked it to a decent size.
Finally, after another 20 minutes Tommy and Kim emerged from their respective tents. They came together and shared a heated kiss and then silently called forth their shared Ninjetti power. Then, clothed as the Lord and Lady of the skies, they called the rest of the rangers and, with an amused glance, Grandma towards the fire. The older woman gazed at them with interest but said nothing.
Tommy gave her a reverent look and then addressed their friends.
"Tonight we're performing a Phadosian bonding ritual. Dulcea called us in the dream realm to Phados and showed us the ceremony which we do tonight. In the old days there were more than enough of the Ninjetti warriors to do this the right way. However, tonight there are only two Ninjetti besides the rest of us. So, Adam, Billy, and Jason please come forth and grab up your torches."
Normally Jason would have made a snide comment about their ranking, but he had sensed the seriousness of what would happen this night and instead did as Tommy had requested and picked up his torch. It was 6 feet long including the tip which had an old cloth that had been drenched in lighter fluid wrapped around it.
When they had taken their places around the fire Kimberly spoke up. "As the Lady of the sky sharing in my husband's authority, I ask Trini, Tanya, and Kat to take their places alongside their men and thus complete this circle of love."
Under normal circumstances, Zack would have felt left out but when Tommy had explained to them the ritual, he'd volunteered to stand back. So now, he led Grandma to a flattened rock near the fire and helped her sit down on the quilt that covered the face of it. Now as Tommy and Kim spoke, he found himself just as mesmerized as Aisha's grandma.
When the circle was complete, Tommy picked up his own stick and lit the tip and used it to light Kimberly's torch. Then he spoke up again.
"In the ancient times, when the Ninjetti flourished, this was the bonding ritual performed that bound two warriors together for all eternity. And now, as I light the circle of torches, I ask all of you to clear your thoughts of any and all distraction and focus only on thoughts of love and warmth."
He gave everyone a moment and then walked slowly up to each of them and lit each one. Then when he'd completed the circuit stood once again by his wife's side.
"My Lady, go and bring forth the first bond mate." As Kimberly dipped her head and walked from the circle, Tommy continued. "This bonding circle is now infused with loving thoughts. It's a pure place to forge this new bond."
He looked at the fierce looking warrior that stood at the entrance to the circle. He stood bare chested, his only piece of clothing were loose fitting red shorts hidden behind a fine red wrap that rested on his hips. His right bicep sported a golden armband that bore an etched figure of a bear's claw on it. His eyes were sparkling with joy and anticipation as he gave a half bow to Tommy and entered the circle.
Tommy looked once more at Kimberly. "My lady, go and bring forth your charge. Her mate looks ready to rescue her himself."
Kimberly chuckled and walked towards the tent. Moments later, she led the other bond mate to the group. Kimberly stood at her husband's side as he addressed the beautiful warrior.
Aisha was dressed in a modified wrap around dress. Her hair out of itsbraids now flowed down in soft curls down her back. The circlet rested in her hair and she wore her grandmother's necklace around her neck.
Rocky's breath caught in his throat as he saw her give Kimberly a brief curtsey and then joined her mate inside the circle.
When this was accomplished, Tommy and Kimberly walked hand in hand into the circle. Tommy walked to the small table and poured a generous amount of the wine into the goblet and held it out to Rocky as he spoke the words of the oath. He looked at his friend."Rocky do you swear by the spirit of the mighty ape within you to take care of your mate, Aisha. Will you honorably and joyfully take on the mantel of protector, lover and provider through the harshest winter and fiercest storm? Will you in times of battle when the fight is hard and terrible fight alongside her and cover her?"
Rocky nodded. "Yes, by the spirit of the ape within me, I shall cover her and provide for her every need. I will never abandon her from this moment on...even when my spirit leaves the earth."
Tommy nodded in acknowledgment and handed the goblet over to Rocky who spoke the words of the wine offering to his mate.
"My lady, proud and mighty warrior, will you accept this goblet which I offer to you as my first act of service as your bonded?"
Aisha smiled at him and nodded, as she took a brief sip of the wine and handed it back to him. Once that was done, he handed the wine to Tommy who put it back onto the small table as Kimberly faced her best friend handing her a yellow bandanna.
"Aisha, do you swear by the spirit of the powerful bear within you to take care of your mate, Rocky? Will you accept the love he has for you and allow him to take care of you...stand with him through every opposition? When the battle rages on, will you fight beside him and when he's wounded soothe his spirit and care for his wounds?"
Aisha nodded. "Yes, by the spirit of the bear within me, I will accept his love and allow him to care for me. I will never abandon him from this moment on, even when my spirit leaves the earth."
Saying this she turned to Rocky who smiled at her. She looked bravely into his eyes and said, " My Lord, strong and brave, will you allow me to bind your wound as my first service to you as your mate?"
Rocky nodded and bared his arm which had been cut before the start of the ceremony. The very shallow wound wasn't even bleeding. Tommy had made sure of that when he preformed the act. Aisha looked into his eyes and then firmly bound the wound with her bandanna and tied it tightly, kissing the knot for good measure.
Kimberly nodded in acceptance. "We hear and accept your vows. Now, for the first time as mates, take hold of each other as I speak the blessing of the Ninjetti over you."
Rocky looked at Aisha and with barely a thought he wrapped her in his arms and she rested her head on his shoulder.
After handing her torch to Tommy, she took up her staff and walked around them in a slow circle.
"This is the blessing of the Ninjetti Warrior: May the power of the Ninjetti thrive in you always. May your love never falter and your passion never wane. May your children become mighty warriors worthy of their heritage. And may the wisdom of your animal spirits never leave you...even at the end of your days."
As she finished she lowered her staff which had been pointed towards them and gave each of them a kiss on the forehead before Tommy joined her again.
"We have heard your vows and affirm your bond. With the blessing of Dulcea the Master Warrior of the Planet Phados, we declare you bonded. You are free to kiss your mate.
Rocky grinned at Aisha and pulled her closer, pressing a heated kiss to her lips and she eagerly kissed him back. When they had parted again. Kimberly smirked at them. "You are free to leave the circle. Go with our blessing."
"Thank you sky lord and lady." Rocky answered before scooping Aisha up and walking at a fast pace out of the circle.
Tommy smirked as well and then addressed the circle. "You have all borne witness to the vows. As the Sky Lord, I dismiss you all." Saying this he plunged his torch into the water and once the flame was gone he set it on the ground. "Go in peace...we will see you all on Sunday."
Then he bowed to them all and stepped back with Kimberly as the others followed suit.
With the ceremony finished, they banished their Ninjetti attire and were once again in their street clothes.
That was when Grandma walked up to them on Zack's arm. "That was beautiful. I didn't know you held such authority."
Tommy grinned. "Thank you. I only hold such authority during the ceremony. Our mantles have been passed on to another team. I should have known we couldn't keep our identities a secret for long."
"I meant it when I said your secret is safe with me. I won't tell a soul. What will you do now?"
"We rented this campsite for the night. The newly bonded will stay here tonight. Tomorrow we'll head into town and do a final check on their honeymoon and get them packed...then we have a party. We won't separate them till early morning on Sunday. They're newly bonded so they can't be apart for more than 12 hours without going out of their minds. By that time, it'll be time for the ceremony."
"That sounds wonderful." Grandma said around a yawn. "Now if I can just get a ride back home, I'll see you all on Sunday." Hearing his cue, Billy walked up to her and offered his arm. Grandma smiled at him and allowed him to escort her to the car. Minutes later, they were gone.
With them gone, Tommy and Kim walked sleepily back to their tent and went inside. The twins were already asleep and soon their parents joined them.
So, what did you think of this chapter? Reviews are very much appreciated!