Chapter 13

A hush falls over the crowd as Adrien and Nino, with the other groomsmen, step out in front of the rows of pews. The officiant stands at the center, nodding towards Adrien, who responds back with a silent nod as well.

Melodious music drifts in as the bridesmaids appear at the other end of the aisle. Alya leads the train of women, holding Manny in her arms as he shakes a small pillow which has the rings securely attached to it. The crowd has a collective 'aww' moment when they see the toddler ring bearer.

Once they get situated at the front, there's a moment of silence.

The guests rise to their feet and gaze expectantly up the aisle.

Adrien feels his heart trying to leap out of his chest, growing anxious in this short breadth of time.

Then, the first note of a wedding march rings out. Everyone's eyes are fixated as Marinette steps out onto the aisle with her father.

With all eyes on her, she glides in time to the music, her eyes only focused on Adrien.

When they lock eyes, Adrien feels everything, and everyone fall away, as if they're the only two people in the world. He feels a serenity wash over him. Nino tugs at Adrien's suit jacket when Adrien, a bit dazed, tries to step forward and meet Marinette halfway up the aisle. He blinks in realization of the situation, and sheepishly steps back in line. Nino shoots Alya a knowing look, and she smiles and rolls her eyes.

Marinette's father walks with her, arm in arm. He laughs silently, slightly squeezing her arm to remind her to breathe. Her eyes widen as she takes a breath, squeezing her dad's arm in thanks.

Tikki and Plagg watch from the rafters, out of sight of the guests.

"I never thought this day would come! It's finally happening!" Tikki squeaks excitedly, shaking Plagg.

Plagg scoffs, "Yeah, those hopeless idiots finally did it." He turns away from Tikki and quickly wipes a tear from his eye.

When Marinette reaches Adrien, he takes her hand and mouths "Wow", a slight smirk on his face. She turns her face to hide her blush as they position themselves before the officiant.

They motion for the guests to sit and the ceremony commences.

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the love that has blossomed between Adrien Agreste and Marinette Dupain-Cheng. A love that shows us that a partner can come from where we least expect it, and that time is one of the most important factors to finding true love."

They continue, "Love is a balancing act. A give and take, a push and pull, but always returning to center. Finding the one whose rhythm compliments yours, is like discovering a long-lost symphony that one the two of you can hear..."

Adrien and Marinette's hands stay linked between them throughout the ceremony. His thumb gently rubs the back of her hand. His eyes never leave her, wishing time would slow down so he could live in this moment forever.

"Do you, Adrien Agreste, take Marinette Dupain-Cheng, to love and to hold, in sickness and in health, for rich or for poor, as your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do" he swears.

"Do you, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, take Adrien Agreste, to love and to hold, in sickness and in health, for rich or for poor, as your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do"

"May we have the rings?" The officiant asks and Alya steps forward, having had them removed from Manny's grip. They hand Adrien Marinette's ring first, "If you have vows prepared, now is the time." They prompt.

He releases one of Marinette's hands and holds the silver, engraved, band between his fingers. "Marinette," he breathes out, trying to focus, "you've always kept me grounded. Whenever I would feel myself slipping away, you caught me. You always catch me." He shares a secret smile with her, which she returns. "I promise to strive to be worthy of your love, to be the man you deserve. To catch you when you fall. To love you forever." He slides the ring onto her finger, breathless.

The officiant hands Marinette Adrien's ring. "If you have vows prepared, now is the time."

She breathes out a shaky breath, a slight sniffle. Adrien holds her steady, giving her an encouraging smile. She takes a deep breath, looking from the ring to his eyes. "Adrien, you'll never know how much you mean to me. How much of my heart has only been full for you." She quickly wipes away a tear from the corner of her eye. "You're the one who has saved me, in more ways than one. I promise to be worthy of your love and worthy to love you in return. To love you forever." The smooth ring slides onto his finger with ease.

He holds her hand and brings it to his lips, kissing where her ring meets her knuckle.

The officiant smiles, "Then, it is my honor to now pronounce you, hus-"

With a crash, the wall behind the officiant bursts inwards, into the church. People scream as debris shoots into the crowd and dust fills the air. Adrien puts his arm around Marinette, putting himself between the destruction and her, both of them buckling down to their knees.

Through the clouds of dust, a figure appears, coming into focus, someone floating above the pulpit on a cloud of white butterflies.

"What kind of wedding doesn't include the 'Does anyone object?' part?" A shrill voice exclaims "How ridiculous!"

Marinette squints up at the figure over Adrien's shoulder, "Chloe?"

Chloe descends a bit, her eyes narrowing as she focuses in on Marinette. A silver mask covers her face, allowing her burning blue eyes to show. Her purple suit is stylish yet demanding. A wicked smile crosses her face, "That's Miz Butterfly, to you." She outstretches her arms and bellows, "Fly, my Akumas!"

A swarm of glowing butterflies bursts through the opening in the wall. A panic ensues among the guests, everyone trying to make a break for the exit and swatting at purple the butterflies, neither to any success.

Adrien jumps up, still keeping his arms around Marinette, "Everyone!" He calls out, trying to break his voice over the crowd, "Everyone try to keep calm!" He yells, but it's no use.

The butterflies faze into the guests' items. Suddenly the room full of frantic people is still and silent, waiting for instruction, with eyes glowing purple.

Adrien slowly turns around to face Miz Butterfly, keeping Marinette behind him. "Where did you get that Miraculous?" He asks sternly.

"You mean this? Your daddy's old plaything?" She touches the Butterfly Miraculous broach pinned to her lapel. "Seems that you can get anything from an evidence lock-up, for the right price." She laughs darkly.

"What do you want?" He demands, his jaw clenching.

She holds her finger under her chin thoughtfully, "I just want a happy ending, Adrikins. Why don't you want that for me?"

"I, I do wish you were happy." He admits, "But I can't make you happy, not in the way you want."

Miz Butterfly's eyes narrow, focusing back on Marinette, who's eyeing Miz Butterfly angrily. "It's you." She sneers, "You're the reason Adrikins has turned from me. We were going to be happy! This should be my wedding!"

The akumatized crowd lurches at them from behind, tearing Marinette from Adrien's side. Both of them are held steadfast by their brainwashed friends and family. They struggle to break free of the countless hands holding them back but only more guests join in.

With Marinette's arms and legs held securely, Miz Butterfly hovers down to her, grabbing her face, "Ever since high school you've been in my way! Trying to steal Adrikins from me!" She pulls their faces together, just inches apart. "Now it's my turn to steal him from you." Miz Butterfly whispers menacingly.

"Get your hands off her!" Adrien shouts from the otherside of the church.

Miz Butterfly drops Marinette's face and starts to eye Adrien. "Please don't! Don't touch him!" Marinette barks at Miz B. "I'll do anything, don't take him away from me." Her voice bleeds into pleading, feeling herself start to get choked up, tears forming behind her eyes.

"Why? Because you're nothing without him?" Miz B mocks her.

She shakes her head, "Because I love him."

"And I love her!" Adrien calls out, still fighting against the Akumas. His face darkens, "And I'll never love you."

Miz B rolls her eyes, "That may be true. But it's nothing I can't fix." She points to one of the akumatized, "You!"

The person steps forward, purple eyes still glazed over.

"I name you, Memory Worm!" Miz Butterfly shoots her arm out in the person's direction and they are immediately engulfed in a cloud of purple smoke.

When the smoke clears, Miz B picks up the akumatized person, now a large purple worm, about the size of her arm. "You are nasty! But you'll get the job done," she sets it back on the ground and it starts to excrete a blue fog from its pores. It digs through the floor of the church, quickly disappearing beneath them.

Blue fog starts to seep up through the floor and the ground outside. "Get a good whiff, you two; and all your worries will fade."

"Mari!" Adrien calls out desperately, "Whatever happens, we'll find a way back to each other. I promise." The fog rising up to his hips.

"I promise too." Marinette says with shallow breaths, not wanting to breathe in the thick blue fog.

"Cute. But too bad you won't remember. No one will." Miz B floats above the rising cloud. "No one will remember anything about your relationship, not even a sickeningly sweet 'high school sweethearts' memory." She scowls, "So say your goodbyes. I promise there won't be any more 'hellos'."

The fog rises to their chins; other guests are already completely engulfed. Adrien and Marinette struggle to keep their chins up while still being restrained. "Talk to me, Mari, please."

Being shorter, Marinette starts to be consumed by the fog first, "I love you, Adrien. I'll find you!" She tilts her head back as far as she can to stay above the fog.

"I know. I love you too. Keep talking to me, don't let it take you." Adrien's voice strained from his effort to still break free.

Mari smiles, "This was the best day of my life. I'll never forget it. I'll never forget it. I'll never forget..." her voice fades away as her face dips below the fog.

"Marinette!" Adrien cries, struggling harder and harder, until the fog reaches his chin. He glowers up at Miz Butterfly floating above it all.

She smiles mischievously, "See you soon," she waves her fingers at him as he too is overtaken by the fog.

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