Chapter 6 - The Bonding
by Prince Johnathan of Jupiter

~~BGM Choice: Theme from Labyrinth~~

BEFORE READING, PLEASE NOTE THE DISCLAIMER: I am not a religious fanatic, but I am an atheist, and if you are offended by references that God does not exist, or references of other Gods, then I apologize. I respect all religions, as long as they are not pushed upon me. As for the character of Johnathan Logan, I can only say how I perceive how he feels. Now that that is out of the way, enjoy.

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Sean stands in the assigned waiting area, as the moons near their alignment. Sean wears a white shirt and pants, looking like he's going to be baptized or something.

"I feel like I'm going to church." He says to Sir Ashton.
"Why? Do they wear clothing like this where you're from?"
Sean chuckles. "We have to wear our best for Sunday masses, 'cause I haven't been to church in years."
"Why not?" Sir Ashton looks puzzled "You have a chief deity, don't you?"
Sean shakes his head. "Others do, but I am not a big believer in a Supreme Being in the universe."
Sir Ashton sits down, trying to understand. "Then what do you believed placed your people on Earth?"

Sean shrugs "I dunno. Many people on my planet believe in God, in one form or another, but when they try to force that belief down my throat, I ask 'Who made God, since He says everything needed to be created. And who created that which created God?' I guess I am just able to accept there is no definite answer."

Sir Ashton thinks about this. "How many religions are on your planet?"
Sean chuckles "As many as hairs on the head of Princess Serena, and claims that they are the One True religion as long as each strand."
Sir Ashton winces "And she has those long tails of hers."
Sean nods "Exactly."

~^~^~^~^~^~^~In another area~^~^~^~^~^~^~

Lita looks nervous in her white princess gown. "I feel so wrong out of my green gown."
Her mother looks to her. "I had to wear one when I bonded your father. It's for purity of the bonded ones."
Lita sighs. "How do you know I will make a good fiancée to him?"
Queen Kimberly smiles "Because you are such a caring person. He loves you very much, I can tell."

Lita looks at her mother "What if he must leave to serve elsewhere?" She keeps quiet on the fact Sean's from another time.

Queen Kimberly looks to Lita. "The bond will guarantee that he will return to you some how. Even if you never know it. Nor will he. If you are separated, he will sacrifice much to get back to you."

Lita looks nervous. "What if he dies before he finds me?"
"I doubt it. He looks like a strong, fine young man. He almost reminds me of your father."
Lita sits down. "What about the Evacuation Plan? Queen Serenity plans to send us to the future if Beryl attacks the Moon Palace. Will we lose all connections we have now?"
Queen Kimberly shakes her head no. "The spirit is what is being Bonded, not the bodies. IF you're sent to the future, then your spirit will retain the Bond, and Johnathan will still be drawn to find you."
Lita starts to cry. "What if I forget him? What if I never remember?"

The queen goes over and hugs her daughter. "Do not fear. Once this is over, even if you lose all memory, if you see him again you will slowly begin to remember him, exactly as how you first met him."

A guard comes in. "Your Highnesses, the 16th moon has moved toward the alignment."

The queen looks to her child. "You're lucky, Lita. To be bonded on the Lunar Alignment will make your bond greater than even mine and your fathers."

Lita stands, straightening her dress, her face calm but a seriousness about it, and she speaks, "I'm Ready."

~^~^~^~^~^~^~At the Temple of Jupiter~^~^~^~^~^~^~

The sound of lightning cracks over the open air temple. On one end of a corridor to it, Sean stands waiting. In the other, Lita takes her place.

A deep voice calls out "Let the Bonded Ones come forth!"

Slowly, each taking calculated steps, they move toward a table with a single bowl of water and a Priestess standing on one side of the table, able to stand between Sean and Lita.

"Princess Lita, Prince Johnathan, you have come here before the Moons of Jupiter to Bond yourselves to each other. Is your love pure?"

Sean speaks "My love for her is as pure as the water on this table."
Lita speaks next "My love for him is as pure as the white of my gown."
The Priestess speaks again, "Place your fingers into the water, and then place them tip to tip above the water."

Slowly, they dip their fingers into the water, a slight glow about them, and lightning flashes more. They place their fingers tip to tip, just as the 16 moons of Jupiter align themselves. As they do, it looks like the moons themselves shoot a long lightning bolt at the tips of Sean and Lita's fingers, sending a slight jolt through them. Sean's eyes go wide with the power surging through them, traveling between him to her and back. Then, as quickly as it began, the moons cease their alignment, and the lightning ends, and the glow ceases on the fingers of Sean and Lita. Suddenly, Sean gains a Lightning Bolt sign glowing on his forehead, and on Lita's is the Sign of Jupiter.

There is an eerie silence, and then the Priestess speaks.
"The Bonding has ended. Now you two belong to each other until the day you die."