Category: TV Show » Power Rangers
Author: Twix3780
Language: English
Rated: Fiction T
Genre: Fantasy/Family
Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers.
Author's Note: Welcome to the final book in Phase One - Wedding Surprises - takes place roughly three months after the end of The Hellhound's Demon. I hope you enjoy.
Vida let out an aggravated sigh as she slammed the phone back down on the hook.
"Careful, that phone's going to sue for domestic abuse charges if you're not careful," said Kali, letting herself into the house.
It was the morning of Chip and Vida's wedding, and while the actual ceremony didn't start from another five hours, she had promised Vida she would get there early to make sure everything was going ahead as schedule.
"Sorry," said Vida, rubbing her face. "I'm just stressing."
"Why?" Kali asked. "All you should be doing is resting. I'm the wedding planner, and I've got everything under control."
"But you're also pregnant," said Vida. "I thought I would help lessen the load."
Kali narrowed her eyes. "I mean this in the nicest way possible," she said. "But, did I ask you too?"
"No, but -"
"No buts," said Kali. "I am a month pregnant. The baby isn't even a baby yet, plus, both of us are protected by the Hellhound. I'm not going to miscarry just because I have a few extra jobs. So, you sit your cute butt down, and stop stressing!"
Vida huffed and flopped into a nearby chair. "I suddenly feel very sorry for Nick," she said. "If you're like this now, imagine what you'll be like when your mood swing starts."
"Nick is used to my mood swings," said Kali. "Now, do you want to tell me why you were slamming the phone down?"
Vida sighed. "The company were ordered my cake from," she said. "They can't deliver it this afternoon because they're understaffed."
"What?" Kali asked, blinking quickly. "Oh no. Not a chance! They promised me it would be there before the ceremony, and I swear to God, if they think they can just pull out now…" she picked up the receiver and dialled the cake maker.
Vida winced as she listened to Kali rant as the phone rung and rung. Finally, someone answered.
"Briarwood Cakes for All Occasions," said a cheery female voice. Vida almost felt sorry for her. "You're speaking with Caitlin; how can I help?"
"I'm ringing on behalf of an order I placed three months ago," said Kali. "Vida and Chip Thorn. Three tier wedding cake in pink with yellow flowered frosting."
"We've already spoken to the bride about the cake," said Caitlin. "We're understaffed and therefore unable to deliver the cake today. Is tomorrow okay?"
"If you deliver it tomorrow then we won't be needing it," said Kali. "The wedding is this afternoon!"
"Oh. Well, miss, I'm sorry, but -"
"No, buts!" Kali snapped. "I made these reservations months ago. If that cake's not at the Wedding Venue before 3pm, there is going to be hell to pay."
"Yes, but Miss, I can't -"
"Three this afternoon," said Kali, "and no later. You hear me?" She put the phone down and turned to Vida.
"Yikes, and to think that temper is going to get worse in the upcoming months," said Vida, biting her lip.
Kali sighed. "Okay, maybe you have a point about Nick," she said, laughing lightly. "But, now that the cake is dealt with. How about a relaxing shower to cleanse your mind?" She held up three kinds of potions she had picked up from Root core.
Vida beamed and, taking Kali's offered hand, followed her upstairs.
~X~
The rest of the day passed in a whirl. At 1:45pm, Kali, the rest of the Bridesmaids and the Bride arrived at Cedar Grove where the wedding was being held. A great archway had been erected at the entrance to the Grove, and pink and yellow flowers had been woven through the green leaves in intricate patterns.
Passing under the leaves, the Bridal shower gazed around at the grove. It had been decorated with rows and rows of white chairs that were situated either side of a pink carpet that led from where they stood to the alter, behind which was a second archway with the same pink and yellow flowers woven throughout it.
Udonna and Eithne stood beside the alter, checking over something and whispering to themselves. They looked up as the bridal shower approached.
"Oh, Vida, today is going to be magical!" said Eithne, stepping down and taking the young mystic's face between her hands. She kissed her forehead and smiled. "We're just adding a few last-minute things to the schedule."
"What are you all doing here?" Udonna asked.
"Prep," said Kali. "The wedding is in an hour. We're getting ready here."
"Oh. That's what the big tent is for," said Eithne.
Kali nodded. "You're both welcome to join us if you've finished," she said.
"Thank you, Kali, but I'm needed back at Root core," said Udonna. "But, I will be here waiting for you, Vida, when the time is ready."
Vida smiled. "Thank you, Udonna. I couldn't think of anyone better than you to marry me and Chip," she said.
"It is my honour, child," said Udonna. She, too, cupped Vida's face and kissed her forehead. She then smiled at the bridesmaids and disappeared in a flourish of snow.
Eithne turned to her daughter. "I would be happy to join you," she said.
"Great. I could use the extra set of hands," said Kali, beaming.
Squeezing her daughter in a side hug, Eithne followed the bridal party into the big white tent on the edge of the grove. Inside were different rooms where each of the bridesmaids could get dress, and a separate one for Vida. Even though her bridesmaids had seen her dress during the initial shopping spree in Ocean Bluff, Kali had insisted that she be away from the chaos that was about to ensue, to remain relaxed before the ceremony.
"I'll be right in," said Kali, ushering Vida into her room.
"Take your time," said Vida, as the door closed behind her.
Kali entered the room where the others were sitting. "Right, well, there are separate rooms fully stocked and ready for you all," she said. "There are beauticians on standby, if you want to use them, or you can do your own hair and makeup, it's your choice. Your dresses, which have been made to fit you specifically, are in each room, and your names should be on the doors. If they aren't, get me, and we'll sort it out."
The bridesmaids nodded and hurried off to find their rooms.
"Where do you need me?" Eithne asked.
"Can you help me with Vida?" Kali asked.
Eithne nodded and the pair entered the bride's changing room.
"Let's make you the belle of the ball," said Kali, taking Vida's hands and pulling her up. She twirled Vida around, stopping her in front of the full-length mirror and rested her chin on her shoulder. "Penny for your thoughts?"
Vida shook her head, resting it against Kali's. "Only, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for," she said. "I can't thank you enough for doing this. Even through your term as a Jungle Fury Ranger, and now your pregnancy."
"Hey, I may be pregnant, but that doesn't mean I can't be a force to be reckoned with," said Kali, smiling.
Vida and Eithne laughed.
"But, seriously, it's going to take more than a baby to wipe me out," said Kali.
"Well, considering a 10,000-year-old Dragon wasn't strong enough," said Vida.
"Dai Shi didn't stand a chance," said Kali, squeezing Vida. "Now, you ready?"
Vida took a deep breath and nodded. "Let's do this," she said.
Kali and Eithne grinned.
"Behind the screen you go," said Eithne.
Vida laughed and disappeared behind the room divider.
~X~
With Vida prepped and already to go, Kali ducked out to check on the others. She found LeeLee and Claire finishing in their rooms, while Maddie was having her hair and make-up touched up. All four women were dressed in their plain, soft pastel pink gowns, while their bouquets of pink and yellow flowers sat delicately in stands near the doors.
"Hey, Kali, can I talk to you for a minute?" Lorna asked, as Kali stuck her head around the third door. She was standing in front of the full-length mirror, with her plush dressing gown wrapped around her and her bridesmaid gown laying on the bed.
Kali cocked her head as she stepped inside and closed the door. "Everything okay?" she asked. "Do you need help getting into you dress?"
"Yes," said Lorna. "Are you sure you gave my exact details to the seamstress?"
"Yeah, why, is everything okay?" Kali asked, confused.
Lorna shrugged. "I just tried the dress on, and it doesn't fit," she said. "Is there a chance they made a mistake?"
"I don't think so," said Kali. "If you remember, I had you all try the dresses on once I had them back, just in case anything needed to be altered."
Lorna nodded, remembering. "Then, I don't know what it is," she said. "It could be muscle toning from my training at the Academy. Or I could be bloated due to nerves?"
"Let's try again," said Kali picking up the dress. She slid her arms into the it and curled the skirt up over her arms.
Lorna dropped her gown, standing before Kali in only her underwear and blushing furiously.
"Hey, it's nothing I haven't seen before," said Kali. "I have what you have."
Lorna nodded, numbly, but avoided Kali's gaze as she pulled the dress on over her head. It flowed down over her shoulders, chest, hips and legs, and everything seemed normal until Kali tried to do the back up and the zipper caught midway.
"Huh," Kali murmured, tugging as hard as she could without breaking.
"See what I mean?" Lorna asked.
In the reflection, Kali watched as Lorna smoothed the front of the dress, her hands brushing lightly over the top of the skirt as it bunched around her belly.
"On the off chance that this makes things even more awkward and uncomfortable," said Kali, her head cocking to the side as her brow furrowed. "But… do fairies get periods?"
On cue, Lorna blushed crimson.
"Look, I get them, Maddie, LeeLee, Claire, and Vida get them," said Kali. "It's a natural thing for most women. I am not asking you this to embarrass you, I have legit concerns about something."
Lorna took a deep breath, but the blush did not fade. "Yes," she said. "We get periods. It's not as frequent as humans. We get them, maybe, twice every two months."
"Not as frequent as humans but just as bad," said Kali, her eyes wide. "Humans, and Elves, it would seem, get them once a month. You get two in one. Nope. I'm glad I'm not a Fairy."
Lorna laughed. "Why do you ask, anyway?" she asked.
"Have you had a period this month?" Kali asked. "Or are you due one?"
"I was supposed to have had the two of them last month," said Lorna. "I assumed I missed it because of my training. Wait, why?"
Kali hesitated. "I had the implant to stop my periods," she explained. "And, during my time as a Ninja Ranger and the two years in between, it stopped working during my Jungle Fury days, it's how I became pregnant. I'm not going to ask you when the last time was you and Xander had sex, because even I don't want to know that. But… is there a chance that you could be -?"
"Pregnant?" Lorna squeaked; her eyes wide. "I don't… I mean, how could… I -" she cut off, her breathing coming in fast gasps.
"Okay, easy, it's okay," said Kali, helping Lorna into a nearby chair. "Just breathe, you're okay. Mom!"
The door opened and Eithne rushed inside, followed closely by Maddie, LeeLee, and Claire.
"What happened?" Eithne asked, kneeling beside Lorna.
"Is she okay?" Maddie asked.
Kali looked up. "She'll be fine. Go finish getting ready," she said. "The ceremony starts soon."
Hesitantly, the three girls backed out of the room, leaving Eithne and Kali alone with Lorna.
"What happened?" Eithne asked.
"Her dress didn't fit," said Kali. "I had a theory, so I started asking questions, and then she had a panic attack."
Lorna took deep breaths, tears in her eyes. "I'm okay," she whispered. "I'm okay."
"You are not okay," said Kali, her hand on Lorna's shoulder. "If I had known this would bring on a panic attack, I wouldn't have asked."
"You had too," said Lorna, shaking her head. "I just didn't think -"
"What questions?" Eithne asked.
Kali met Lorna's gaze. The latter nodded and Kali sighed. "We think she might be pregnant," she said. "But we can't be sure. I'd suggest a pregnancy test, but would they work on a fairy?"
"No," said Eithne. "But, I know of a way. I used it when I was pregnant with you." She looked at Kali, then returned her attention to Lorna. "It's up to you, though."
"What is it?" Lorna asked.
"A pregnancy potion and spell," said Eithne. "The potion is harmless. You drink it, wait five minutes, and then say the spell. If you're pregnant, a cool glow, kind of like an aura, will surround you, but if you're not, then you just expel the potion from your system the next time you go to the bathroom."
Lorna gnawed at her lower lip. "What about the ceremony?" she asked.
"I can use magic to alter your dress," said Kali. "Don't worry about that."
"Okay," said Lorna. She met Eithne's gaze. "I'll do it."
Eithne nodded, squeezed Lorna's hand, and straightened up. "I'll be back before the ceremony starts," she told Kali. "You best finish up here and then get dressed yourself."
"I will," said Kali.
Eithne left the room and Kali met Lorna's gaze. "Let's get you sorted," she said, helping her stand and leading her back over to the mirror.
~X~
With less than ten minutes before the ceremony started, Eithne returned. She was fully dressed in her dress and carrying a hand purse under her arm. She opened it and plucked out a small vial of clear liquid and a single piece of paper, which she handed to Kali.
"We didn't have the exact potion, but this one will work just as well," said Ethine. "However, the only people who will see this glow is the mother to be and the person who casts the spell."
"You say that like we haven't got time to wait for the effects," said Kali. In the space of time it had taken her mother to return, she too had dressed in her Maid of Honour outfit. It was a simple pale pink dress, just like the other bridesmaids, except hers was off the shoulder.
"We don't," said Eithne, shaking her head. "Like I said, this one isn't the same as the one I took. It has a delayed reaction of about twenty minutes."
"So, you're saying, if I am pregnant, I'll start glowing during the ceremony?" Lorna asked.
"Yes."
"Won't that draw away from the main attractions?" Lorna asked. She didn't want to ruin Vida and Chip's big day by glowing during the ceremony, and having people question why.
Eithne shook her head. "You won't. Remember what I said. The only people who will see are the mother to be and the spell caster. That could be either myself, or Kali."
Lorna swallowed and looked down at the vial in her hand. "Couldn't we do this after the ceremony?" she asked. "Kali already fixed my dress."
"We can. But you'll be constantly thinking about it if you wait," said Kali. "You won't be able to focus, and I know you don't want anything to go wrong. Right?"
Lorna nodded. "Okay. I'll do it now," she said, uncorking the vial.
"Who do you want to perform the spell?" Kali asked.
"Will you?"
Kali nodded. "Of course," she took the slip of paper from her mother and reached into her purse for her mystic morpher. "Does it have a code?"
Eithne shook her head. "Just point and say the spell," said.
"Okay."
Outside, music started to play, and Kali recognised it as the one Chip and Vida had chosen to indicate to guests that they were to take their seats.
"I'll go make sure everything is going smoothly," said Eithne.
"Can you get Maddie, LeeLee, and Claire into positions." Kali asked. "Oh, and Aiden. Vida chose him as ring bearer."
Eithne nodded and left the tent.
Kali turned back to Lorna. "Ready?" she asked.
"As I'll ever be," said Lorna, taking a deep breath. She lifted the vial to her lips, hesitated, and then downed the contents in one.
Pointing her Mystic Morpher at Lorna, Kali looked at the paper and said: "Embarazo Revelar." The tip of the wand glowed black and then dimmed, before disappearing.
"Did it work?" Lorna asked, her brow furrowed.
Kali shrugged and met her friend's gaze. "I guess we'll find out," she said. "Come on. The ceremony's started. We need to take our positions before Vida starts her walk down the aisle."
Lorna nodded, grabbed her bouquet, and headed out of the room with Kali. The pair reached the procession just as Maddie followed LeeLee and Claire out into the grove.
"What's going on?" Vida asked, standing out of sight of the crowd. She was dressed in her dream wedding dress that had been purchased months in advance, and white fairy light jewels sparkling in her dark hair. Her bouquet was created with pink and yellow flowers, which signified her and Chip's ranger colours.
Kali shook her head as she smoothed out her dress, she turned to Lorna and nodded, noticing how Maddie had reached the end of the aisle. "Go, I'll meet you at the bottom," she said.
"Good luck," said Lorna, hurrying off.
"Is everything okay? You look frazzled," said Vida.
"Don't worry about us," said Kali, reassuringly. "Worry about what you're going to do when Chip gets tongued tied after seeing you."
"You think?" Vida asked, smiling.
"If I was marrying you, I'd cry," said Kali. "You look amazing! Now, see you at the bottom." She stationed herself at the opening to the grove, held her head high and her bouquet squarely in front of her, as she started her walk down the aisle.
As Kali reached her spot beside the others, and opposite Nick, the music changed and everyone in attendance turned to watch Vida. She had opted to escort herself down the aisle, since neither of her parents had approved of her wedding in the middle of nowhere, they also didn't like that Kali had told them straight about backing off and leaving their daughter decide what she wanted in life.
It was a surprise they had even turned up. But, there they sat, in the first row on the left-hand side, watching their daughter approach the man she would soon spend the rest of her life with.
~X~
The ceremony progressed.
When Udonna reached the vows, Chip turned to Vida and held her hands firmly in his. He hadn't revealed to anyone that he had written his own vows, and by the time he had finished them, most of the wedding party and the guests were crying.
"Who knew Chip could be so heart-warming," LeeLee whispered to Kali.
Kali nodded in agreement. She knew, from experience, that Chip was childlike and carefree, but he also knew how to be stubborn and trustworthy, and loyal to a fault. One thing she wasn't sure about, until now, was how big his heart truly was; he loved his friends dearly, everyone knew that, but his love for Vida was astronomical, and it clearly showed in his vows.
Vida dabbed at her eyes. "I don't know if I can top that," she admitted, earning light laughter from those present. "Chip, I have known you forever, and I never guessed we would end up here. I loved you as a friend, and I will continue to love you as my husband. From now until the end."
Kali glanced at LeeLee as she choked back her tears. She smiled and reached over, squeezing the blonde in a one-armed hug.
LeeLee returned the gesture.
On LeeLee's other side stood Maddie and Claire, both of whom were dabbing at their tears, and trying to prevent their makeup from running.
Lorna stood at the end of the line. Her own eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she met Kali's gaze from the corner of her eye. She looked down at herself, a flicker of unsureity sweeping across her face.
Udonna asked for the rings, and Aiden stepped forward, holding up two silver bands. He offered them both to Udonna, who tapped his nose with her finger as he returned to stand in front of Nick.
Kali smiled and winked at him as he looked up at her.
Nick squeezed Aiden's shoulders and nodded at Kali, as she met his gaze. Aiden was becoming everything to them, even though she was carrying their own child.
"Chip, is there something you would like to say?" Udonna asked.
Chip nodded, picked up Vida's ring and slid it onto her finger. "I give you this ring to wear as a symbol of my enduring love, my eternal faith, and my undying devotion," he said.
"Vida, is there something you would like to say?" Udonna repeated.
Mirroring Chip's actions, Vida picked up his ring and slid it onto his finger. "Let this ring be a symbol of my promises to you and a reminder of my devotion to you," she said.
"You may now kiss your bride."
As Chip leaned forward, capturing Vida's lips in a kiss, Kali noticed a faint glow coming from her left. She looked around, her gaze widening ever so slightly as she met Lorna's gaze.
The glow was like a halo, encircling the young fire fairy from head to toe. The potion and spell had worked.
Chip and Vida may have now been husband and wife, but in nine months, Lorna and Xander would be parents.
END OF BOOK EIGHT!
PHASE ONE COMPLETE!
Here marks the end of Phase One of the Hellhound Universe.
It has been one hell of a ride (pun intended). I hope you've all enjoyed reading as much as I have enjoyed writing, and I can't wait for you all to see what I have planned for Phase Two.
Thank you all so much for the resounding support you have offered me since the start of this tale, and I hope the rest lives up to your expectations. You're reviews, favourites, alerts, bookmarks, kudos, and everything in between has kept me going.
Continue to stay safe, my lovelies, and I'll see you all when I kick off Phase Two with Samurai: the Dark Side of the Moon
Love you all!
~Twix