Alright, everyone! Here's another Miraculous Ladybug and mvie crossover! Which movie is it? Well, drumroll please! *Drumroll begins* For all you who have a taste for the morbid... For those of you who're suckers for monsters of all shapes and sizes... For everyone here who just so happen to be fans of Tim Burton (I know for a fact that I am NOT by any means)... The movie is...

CORPSE BRIDE!

Being a romantic, I can tolerate this film due to it's romantic story. Now, shall we summarize it? Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste are betrothed to be wed, and so far it's a match made in heaven. But our bride's got pre-wedding jitters and while practicing her vows, she winds up accidentally married to an akuma called Silencer (Yes, it's Luka, peeps)! He wants her to stay with him as his wife, but she has to get back to the living world to reunite with Adrien before he winds up wed to wicked witch Lila Rossi!

Here's a note: in this story, getting akumatized is this story's version of dying while being "pure" means that they're still alive. Everyone has given names in the story, but they're "assigned" names and powers after they die, and exactly what caused their passing is completely irrelevant. For example, just because someone drowns doesn't necessarily mean they're "akumatized" into a creature that has any relation to water. This also applies to death via diseases, such as cancer, plague, tuberculosis, (which was QUITE COMMON in the Victorian era, which is the setting of the film) etc. And the akumatized name and the name of the civilian is interchangeable here, too. Also, they still retain some of their features from when they're not akumatized.

And the Miraculous are going to exist in this story, so yes, Marinette will have Tikki and Adrien will have Plagg. Speaking of which, the Miraculous and all the information about them, the kwamis included, are common knowledge amongst the public, so secret identities are out of the question. That said, this information excludes what the guardians are exclusively taught, just like in my story "The Little Merboy." AND in accordance to recent leaks, Luka will have Sass with him, too! Can't wait for that to actually happen!

And honestly, if Adrien doesn't stop being denser than six-inch-thick cast iron about Marinette's feelings for him, then I'd want Lukanette to be canon! And even when Adrien wakes up, I'll STILL want more Lukanette moments!

MikaYuu'sgirl gets a credit line because he/she was the one who partially inspired me to do this.

It was a foggy, cloudy day in Paris, France.

One particular building stood out amongst the scene. It was a modest building that held a beautiful bakery. The bakery was labeled "Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie." The desserts and breads that the shop produced were sitting in the windows and the cases inside the bakery. And inside the bakery, several people were going in and out, either buying the goods or working in the shop.

The home of the family that owned the establishment sat above the shop.

Up on the top floor of the building was a balcony that had a trap door and window. And that window/door led to a loft bed in a pink bedroom. That bedroom also doubled as a design studio.

A girl of about eighteen years of age was in her bedroom, working on a few pieces of clothing that she made herself. She had a mannequin in her room, a sewing machine, and several fabrics strewn around. At the desk, she had a ladybug in a glass bell dome. It was flying around aimlessly, with no way out. A sketchbook next to the dome held a few sketches of dresses and clothes using the lucky insect for inspiration and color.

The girl had fair skin, eyes as blue as the Paris sky on a clear day, hair that rivaled the night sky, and was wearing her own handmade clothing. She was working on her mannequin and she was sewing some red thread into black fabric on the dress. Accompanying her was a small red creature, with darker blue eyes, black spots behind her cheeks and on atop her forehead, and antenna.

"It looks great, Marinette!" She said.

"Thanks, Tikki," Marinette said to Tikki. "I'm glad it's turning out the way I want it to!"

Marinette heaved a sigh as her face fell.

"Still anxious?" Tikki asked her owner.

Marinette gave a nod as she opened her window and then lifted the dome to let the ladybug out. The insect flew around Marinette a few times before leaving out the window.

Out in the city, the ladybug was flying around and making its way around the square, where another location of her parents' bakery was. Another young woman about Marinette's age, with green eyes, slightly tan skin, and long brown hair with orange hair ties in the front and wearing a red-orange dress was walking around. She was looking around the city with calculating, deceitful eyes. As the ladybug flitted near her, the girl merely flicked the bug away from her shoulder before scoffing.

Up on a TV screen, Nadja Chamack, the news anchor said, "This just in: only thirty minutes until the Agrestes' wedding rehearsal!"

Marinette was still up in her room, working on her clothes and trying to distract herself. The reason for anxiety was simple: she was getting married the next day. Problem was, it wasn't her choice. Her intended was Adrien, the young model from Gabriel, the heir to the Agreste fashion empire, and the family's aristocracy.

Ever since a huge scandal about lack of representation in the Gabriel brand's clothing lines for all shapes, sizes, people of different walks of life, and body types broke out, and there wasn't any evidence popping up to prove the contrary, Gabriel Agreste's fashion company started failing. The fact that the family were French nobility added another layer of contempt from the public, too. And to add insult to the industry's injury, a new movement called "Body Pride" was making waves around the world, declaring that people shouldn't care about fashion or the like because of its "insensitivity" to different body types. The people leading this movement were those who couldn't really find clothes that fit them for whatever reason.

Meanwhile, Marinette's parents' business was booming as an unintended result of this movement. Her parents' bakery was getting so much more revenue and popularity due to the attitude shifts. People started shopping for sweets instead of clothes. And the sudden success allowed Tom and Sabine to open up more locations around Paris, to the point where they'd easily created their own bakery empire themselves.

And with all that success came a lot of unexpected wealth. While her family still maintained a modest lifestyle, being proud bakers and never flaunting their success, that didn't stop people from congratulating them for reaping the secondary benefits of the "Body Pride" movement.

Luckily, Emilie Agreste was easily Sabine's best friend next to Nadja Chamack. Emilie didn't make any secret of her love for the Dupain-Cheng's desserts, and never hesitated to come and visit to talk to Sabine and have treats with her and Tom. It was very pleasant to have the blonde woman around.

Then about a month or so ago...

~Flashback~

Emilie was once again at the Dupain-Cheng house, spending time with Sabine and Tom while Marinette was either up in her room or going around the city doing her Ladybug duties.

"Sabine..." Emilie began as she put down her tea.

"Yes, Emilie?" Sabine asked.

"I know you have a daughter. Marinette, right?" Emilie asked.

"Yes, we sure do!" Tom said, delighted.

"I'd like to hear more about her." Emilie asked.

"Oh, Marinette's the best. Everyone loves her! She's attracted quite a few boys in the past. Hell, a few of them would even come by the bakery just to meet her!" Tom said.

Sabine giggled.

"Marinette's an adept baker, just like we are. All of her friends would sing their praises about her kindness, thoughtfulness, selflessness, and her sweetness. And she absolutely loves making clothes." Sabine said.

"Making clothes?" Emilie asked. This got her attention.

"Why yes. She admires your husband a lot," Tom said. "She wants to be a fashion designer herself someday."

This started turning the gears in Emilie's head and a smile grew on her face.

"And she's an even better superhero! Her work as Ladybug is impeccable!" Sabine said with a smile.

"I have a great idea!" Emilie said, standing up. "My son Adrien, and your dear Marinette should get married!"

"What?" Tom asked. "Your son and our daughter? Get married?"

"Truth is, the Agrestes' finances aren't doing so well, and Gabriel's business is on the decline. We're practically broke," Emilie admitted. "But you've recently acquired wealth to rival that empire."

"You want your son to marry Marinette for financial gain?!" Tom asked, appalled.

"Well, there is that, but there's something in it for you: this'll give you more opportunities to let the other aristocrats taste your desserts! I can't stop talking about them." Emilie said.

"I don't know about this, Emilie," Sabine said. "I'm not very comfortable doing this to Marinette."

"If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't, either. But there's more: my son gets lonely all the time being stuck in the estate 24/7. He hasn't had any members in his peer group for friends. His father is distant at best and it's only gotten worse recently. Sure, he has his kwami, Plagg, but I don't think that's enough for him," Emilie explained. "If he and Marinette get married, they'll be partners in life and as superheroes. And if you're daughter's as sweet as you say, they'll be sure to get alone just fine. He'll never be alone again."

Sabine and Tom started to reconsider the offer.

"And Gabriel can teach Marinette everything he knows about fashion design, too! He'll have someone else to mentor, giving him some new life!" Emilie added.

"...Okay, we'll do it." Tom said.

"Are you sure?" Sabine asked.

Tom gave a nod.

~End of Flashback~

And thus the situation. Marinette wasn't sure what was worse: marrying the guy who was supposedly Cat Noir, or marrying into nobility.

"I just never expected my future marriage to happen like this." Marinette said.

"It'll be okay, Marinette. You're marrying Cat Noir, the boy who's been by your side as a superhero from day one!" Tikki said.

"That's just it, Tikki. I've never met him outside the mask..." Marinette muttered.

Tikki landed in Marinette's hands to reassure her. She heard a car coming, so she went up and out of her trap door onto her balcony to watch. A shiny limousine pulled up to the house and parked. Marinette pulled an uncomfortable face, remembering exactly who the chauffeur was.

It was a man known only as "the Gorilla," who used to be the chauffeur to the Agrestes. But they had to lay him off when their finances started dwindling, too. And leave it to the Dupain-Cheng's to help him out by hiring the Gorilla to be their chauffeur whenever they needed an extra set of hands in the bakeshop or the like.

Marinette wasn't particularly fond of the guy. He never spoke, never smiled, and was a hulking giant of a man. No wonder he had the nickname "the gorilla." It made her shudder.

Marinette watched from up on her balcony as her parents - a petite Chinese woman with short black hair, silver eyes, wearing a white cheongsam, wearing nicer shoes. A larger man with sideburns, a mustache, and green eyes was wearing a nicer suit and carrying a bunch of breads and pastries in his hands.

"It's a beautiful day!" Tom trilled.

"It's a rather nice day." Sabine said, a bit more subdued about it.

"A day for a fabulous wedding!" Tom sang, delighted.

It was clear Tom was much more excited about this wedding than Sabine was. He was probably overly-romantic, thinking that an arranged marriage will lead to love at first sight and then happily ever after.

"A rehearsal, Tom dear, to be perfectly clear." Sabine said with a sigh and a shake of her head.

"A rehearsal for a fabulous wedding!" Tom sang as he lifted his wife up and gave her a hug.

"Assuming nothing happens that we don't really know." Sabine said as Tom put her down and the pair started to walk to the car.

"And nothing unexpected interferes with the show." Tom sang as the gorilla went to put his coat down on a puddle. Tom stopped him and shook his head, telling the driver to spare his clothes.

"And that's why everything, every last little thing, every single tiny microscopic little thing must go..." The pair sang as they approached the car.

"According to plan!" Tom crooned.

"Our girl will be married." Sabine said, delighted at the prospect of their daughter getting married.

"According to plan!" Tom sang as he and Sabine held hands.

"Our family carried..." Sabine crooned.

"Elevated to the heights of society!" Tom and Sabine sang together, looking forward to their future.

"To the costume balls in the hallowed halls!" Tom sang.

"Making desserts for the finest! Serving pastries to Her Highness!" Sabine sang, delighted about sharing their skills and talents with everyone in the nobility.

The two started to dance a little bit while holding hands. They sang, "We'll be there, we'll be seen, having tea with the queen! Proud of quite everything that we've ever, ever been!"

Tom opened the door for Sabine and then she got in the car without escort and scooted to the other side. Tom got in, too.

"Wait, where's Marinette? We're gonna be late if she doesn't hurry." Tom said, looking at the time on his phone and wondering where his daughter was.

Meanwhile on the other side of Paris, in a beautiful, ornate mansion that housed the Agreste family, the patriarch of the family, Gabriel, was standing in the atelier and looking over his phone. He sighed as he waited for the Dupain-Cheng family to arrive.

Emilie was standing in the room, too, looking at her husband.

"Ugh... Bakers. Why, of all things, did it have to be bakers?" Gabriel complained.

"Come now, Gabriel," Emilie said. "They're my friends. Besides, this whole thing was my idea anyway, and you were on board with it."

"Emilie, I don't doubt that you were on point with this idea. At least I'll have a protégé in the family." Gabriel admitted.

It wasn't that he held any contempt for the Dupain-Cheng family. In fact, he respected them for their work ethic, their pride in their work, and more. It was just that Gabriel was ashamed that they were in such dire financial straights that marriage seemed to be the only way out. He never wanted this to happen. He wanted to at least let Adrien choose the woman he'd marry in the future, just like he and Emilie did.

"It's a terrible day." Gabriel sang.

"Oh, don't be that way." Emilie sang, crossing her arms.

"It's a terrible day for a wedding. It's a sad, sad state of affairs we're in that has led to this ominous wedding," Gabriel sang, stepping away from the window. "How could our family have come to this? Marrying off our son to the nouveau riche. They're so common."

"Of course." Emilie sang with a sarcastic roll of her eyes.

"But things could be much worse." Gabriel said, relenting.

"Could be much worse? I'm afraid I must agree," Emilie sang as she looked up the bank accounts that they had on the computer and saw that they were basically broke without much to their name. "They could be land-rich bankrupt aristocracy, without a euro to their name. Just like you and me."

Gabriel sighed at the sight of the numbers and sang, "Oh dear..."

"And that's why everything, every last little thing, every single tiny microscopic little thing must go..." The pair sang as they started walking the halls of the house, showing portraits of their ancestors.

"According to plan!" Gabriel sang.

"Our dear son will wed." Emilie crooned.

"According to plan! Our family led..." Gabriel began, with he and Emilie singing, "From the depths of the deepest poverty!"

"To the noble realm of realm of our ancestry." Gabriel said as the pair came upon a portrait of Adrien.

He was a youth around Marinette's age, with an uncanny resemblance to Emilie. His eyes were a beautiful peridot green while his blonde hair was coiffed perfectly. He was wearing one of his nicer suits.

"And who'd have guessed in a million years that our dear son with a face, filled with none but charm and grace would provide our ticket to a rightful place." The married pair sang, proud of their son.

Meanwhile, Adrien was in his room, getting into a suit and fiddling with the necktie. He had a nervous and awkward expression on his face, and his kwami, Plagg, was sitting in the window, eating some Saint-André cheese. Compared to camembert, it was a lot less expensive.

Nathalie was in the room too, helping Adrien get ready. But the young heir wasn't feeling very optimistic about the impending marriage.

"A euro for your thoughts, Adrien?" Nathalie asked as Adrien was tying his tie.

"I'm a bit worried, Nathalie," Adrien said. "What if Marinette and I don't gel?"

"I'm sure you're worrying over nothing, Adrien," Emilie said as she came into the room to comfort her son. "Marinette's a sweet girl. Her parents can't talk enough about her. Besides, she's Ladybug, your partner. I'm sure once you two get that out in the open everything will be fine."

Adrien, feeling reassured by his mother, smiled and said, "Got it, mom."

"Good. Now make sure you look your best. You wanna charm her with your handsome looks." Emilie said with a smile and a wink as she left the room.

Marinette, now in one of her nicer, handmade ladybug-themed dresses, dashed out of the house and into the limousine. She sat across from her parents and buckled her seatbelt. Tikki was out in the open, too.

Marinette was looking out the window of the limo as the gorilla started driving to the Agreste mansion.

"Are you okay, Marinette?" Tom asked.

Marinette sighed and said, "I'm a little scared."

"Oh Marinette, he's sure to love you! Everyone loves you!" Tom said, delighted about his daughter's wedding. "Once the two of you meet, all you gotta do is hook him!"

"But... Shouldn't Adrien Agreste be marrying a noblewoman? A duchess, maybe?" Marinette asked.

"Marinette," Sabine said, putting her hands on her daughter's hands. "Emilie came to us for this because she trusts us, and she knows how great of a girl you are."

"But I haven't even spoken to Adrien before." Marinette said.

"That's where you're wrong, Marinette," Tikki said. "Remember, he's Cat Noir and you're Ladybug. You two've talked plenty of times when you're on the clock."

"In the masks, but not outside of that," Marinette said to her kwami. "He's probably a completely different person when he's not Cat Noir."

"That may be so, but Emilie's bragged about how much of a gentleman Adrien is. The two of you will just love each other, I'm sure of it!" Tom said, optimistic.

Marinette wasn't so sure.

Back at the Agreste mansion, Adrien's parents were up on the top of the stairs and waiting on their guests.

"Marriage is a bond of love between two people. A partnership, tit-for-tat. I'm sure watching the two of us surely taught him that. Surely taught him that." Emilie said with a smile, singing the last few lines as she held on her husband's arm.

"Everything must be perfect." Gabriel sang.

"Everything must be perfect." Emilie sang in round.

"Everything must be perfect. Everything must be perfect. Perfect!" The pair sang together.

"And that's why everything, every last little thing, every single tiny microscopic little thing must go..." The two pairs of parents sang.

Emilie and Gabriel were down the stairs inside the house while Marinette and her parents were approaching the door from the outside. Marinette was straightening out her pigtails while her parents were jovially talking about the wedding.

"According to plan!" The foursome sang as Sabine rang the doorbell.

Nathalie went to the door and opened it. The family walked in, their daughter lagging behind a bit. She was nervous about her first meeting with Adrien.

"Oh, it's such a beautiful home," Sabine said, Tom agreeing with her. "The décor is absolutely perfect!"

"Why thank you," Gabriel said. "Only the finest for the Agreste family."

"Monsieur Agreste, it's such an honor to meet you," Tom said as the pairs of parents met in the middle, with the gentlemen shaking hands. "My daughter is a big fan of your work."

"Yes, I've heard," Gabriel said. "Emilie talks about Marinette quite a bit."

"Sabine! Welcome!" Emilie said as she and Sabine shared a hug. "I never thought I'd see you here! It's a dream-come-true."

"Likewise, Emilie," Sabine said, before turning behind her. "Marinette, please come and meet your future in-laws!"

Marinette tentatively approached her idol and his wife, wanting to make the right impression on them.

But she stumbled on the hem of her dress before screaming and flailing her arms. She managed to keep herself from falling down, and then she straightened up her back and tried to hold her head up high.

"Monsieur and Madame Agreste... It's an honor." Marinette said, a bit nervous.

"Oh, you're such a cute little thing!" Emilie said as she approached her son's intended and put her hands on her shoulders. "I can see why boys go nuts over you! Is that dress handmade?"

"Y-Yes, Madame Agreste." Marinette said.

"Please, call me Emilie. You're going to be my daughter-in-law after all. Oh Sabine, Tom, you two weren't kidding when you said she was a talented designer!" Emilie said. "Gabriel, don't you think her handiwork is impressive?"

"Indeed it is, Emilie," Gabriel said as he examined the dress. "I'm definitely going to be bringing in some fresh talent once you and Adrien are married."

"I... Thank you, Monsieur Agreste." Marinette said, still nervous.

"Shall we have tea in the dining room?" Emilie suggested to the remaining adults. "We can talk more in there."

"Great idea!" Tom said. "I brought pastries for us to enjoy, too."

"I'd love it." Emilie said as she, Gabriel, Tom and Sabine started to leave the room.

Marinette stood there, Tikki floating nearby, and Marinette sighed, not sure what to make of her new situation. She started looking around, trying to get used to the surroundings.

"Are you okay, Marinette?" Tikki asked.

"I can't really be at ease right now," Marinette said as she sighed and hugged her shoulders. "I'm never gonna be able to get through this unscathed. He'll hate me, I'll mess up the vows, I'll get disowned..."

"Marinette, calm down!" Tikki said. "You're overreacting. You haven't even met him yet."

Marinette sighed, realizing Tikki was right. Out of nowhere, Marinette heard piano music being played from another room in the building. The level of skill was pretty high, almost pro-level and Marinette could sense the somberness out of the music. But it was so soothing that she ignored the sadness in the music.

She started walking towards the sound of the music, wondering who was playing it. She was also hoping that whoever was playing the music would talk to her so she'd be able to forget about her troubles for a little while.

Marinette walked down the hallways, listening to the piano playing. As the sound got louder, Marinette saw an open door to a larger room. The young girl peeked in and she saw a youth about her age with blonde hair. He was sitting at the piano, playing the instrument, and there was a black cat kwami sitting on top of it.

Marinette was taken by the music. She started swaying around a little bit before doing an impromptu dance. She twirled around in time with the song's rhythm, forgetting where she was for a second, and somehow started humming along with the song.

Plagg noticed the girl and he flew off the piano to approach Tikki. Noticing his kwami left his side, Adrien turned around to see Marinette, and ceased playing to watch Marinette dance.

Noticing the music stopped, Marinette looked at Adrien and gawked at him, embarrassed.

"Oh, my... I'm so sorry... AH!" Marinette began, but she screamed as she stepped on the hem of her dress and was about to fall backwards.

Adrien left the piano bench and he snagged Marinette by the wrist to catch her and help her stand up.

"You okay?" Adrien asked as he held Marinette's arm.

"I... I'm okay, now." Marinette said, breathing a sigh of relief.

"That's good." Adrien said, still looking Marinette in the eyes.

"I'm sorry for that display," Marinette said. "I... You play wonderfully, and I couldn't help myself."

Adrien chuckled and said, "Thank you. You were cute, dancing like that."

Marinette blushed and said, "...I... Monsieur Agreste..."

"Please, call me Adrien," Adrien said, holding up his free hand before using it to cradle Marinette's. "Or... kitty, if you'd like, m'lady."

He planted a kiss to the back of Marinette's hand and he looked at her with the usual flirtatious look he'd give her when she was Ladybug. Marinette blushed and smiled again, trying her best to hide the bashfulness she was feeling.

Feeling her confidence bubble up, Marinette grew her usual Ladybug smile and said, "Of course, kitty."

Plagg and Tikki made some distance in the room and started talking.

"That tomcat's really turned on his charm now, huh sugarcube?" Plagg teased.

"I keep telling you not to call me that, Plagg," Tikki said before looking at the scene with big, happy eyes. "But you're right. And I knew this would happen! They're getting along just fine! Since they don't have to hide us from each other, there's nothing getting in the way."

"Well, Adrien..." Marinette began, blushing and averting her eyes. "I... I know that come tomorrow, the two of us will be... w... We..."

"Wed." Adrien said, finishing that thought for Marinette.

"Yes, wed," Marinette said, still not sure about the situation. "I..."

Adrien put a finger to Marinette's lips, flashed her a sweet smile, and he said, "Would you believe me if I told you that I'm a hopeless romantic myself?"

"Huh?" Marinette asked.

"Truth is, I've always dreamed of the day that I'd get married," Adrien said as he noticed a vase with some red roses nearby. He walked over to it and took one out. "Marrying a woman whom I'd love and cherish with all my heart, and spend my remaining days with till death do we part."

Adrien came over with the rose and gave Marinette a smile. He admitted, "Watching my parents made me want a happy marriage like that, too. Stupid, huh?"

"...No. In fact, I relate," Marinette said, realizing that the two of them had something in common. "I've wanted the same thing my whole life."

"Well, m'lady," Adrien said as he closed the distance and slipped the rose behind her ear. He wasn't shy about hovering his face over hers. "You definitely stole my heart as Ladybug... But... is it possible for you to do it again as Marinette?"

Marinette blushed and smiled with an eager nod. Adrien gently cupped her cheek with one hand, had his other hand on her hip, and he started to slowly lean in. Marinette placed her hands against his chest and was beginning to follow suit. As the two of them got closer, they started to pucker their lips a bit.

Emilie and Sabine were walking out of the dining room, still chatting, when Sabine caught their kids about to share a kiss. She got Emilie's attention and pointed the two of them out.

"Oh my!" Emilie said, surprised to see her son.

The pair jumped away from each other in fright, and looked at their mothers before blushing. They couldn't believe they were caught like this.

"I knew it!" Emilie said, delighted. Her eyes were sparkling with joy. "I knew the two of you would hit it off! This is perfect! And just in time, too! Rehearsal is about to start and Mayor Bourgeois is here to officiate!"

Marinette pulled an uncomfortable face. She was certain Adrien would've married the Bourgeois's daughter Chloé. She was one of the wealthiest girls in Paris, and the daughter of the mayor to boot. Rumors also had it that Chloé and Adrien were friends from childhood, too. But Chloé'd been akumatized a few years ago. But Mayor Bourgeois hadn't just lost his daughter to akumatization, either. He lost his wife Audrey to it, too.

If Chloé hadn't been akumatized into Queen Wasp, then Marinette probably wouldn't be in this position. But Marinette had to admit to herself that she was happy to be marrying Adrien.

'Lucky me!' Marinette thought, blushing as the two of them started walking to their rehearsal, their arms locked.

But her luck ran out during rehearsal. It'd been an hour and Marinette still couldn't get her vows right. She and Adrien were holding the candles and practicing for the ceremony.

To say everyone else in the room was frustrated was an understatement, and Marinette could tell that the mayor was losing his patience, too. The parents were sitting in the audience, all with concerned looks on their faces. Gabriel's expression was clearly that of disdain and sternness. Nathalie had her stone-faced expression on as always.

"Mme. Dupain-Cheng, the vows are, "With this hand, I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine. With this candle, I will light your way in darkness! With this ring, I ask you to take me as yours." Alright, let's try this once more, from the top!" The mayor said, clearly upset.

Marinette looked at Adrien, who still had a smile on his face. He'd the patience of a saint, something Marinette was very grateful for.

"It's okay, Marinette," Adrien whispered. "You've got this."

Marinette, feeling reassured, went to light the candle. But it took a few seconds for the wick to light. She took a deep breath and said, "With this hand... No, with this candle, I will light your way in darkness..."

Adrien nodded, assuring Marinette that she was on the right track.

"...With this ring, I ask you to bake - er, take me..." Marinette continued, still jumbling her words.

The doorbell rang, prompting Nathalie to go and get it.

Marinette tried to light the candle, but the one she was holding went out. She sighed and relit it with Adrien's help.

Nathalie came back in to the room and handed Gabriel a card, saying, "A "Duchess Lila Rossi," Monsieur Agreste."

Gabriel and Emilie looked at each other curiously. The same brunette woman from the square came in and she said, "I'm bad with times and dates. Looks like I'm early for the wedding."

"Recognize her?" Gabriel asked Emilie.

"No. Nathalie, can you get a chair for Duchess Lila?" Emilie requested. Nathalie pulled up a chair for Lila to sit down in. She was giving the engaged couple a devious smile hidden behind a mask of friendliness.

Marinette and Adrien gave the woman curious looks, not recognizing her. But Marinette was getting weird vibes from her, and alarms were ringing in her head. She tried her best to ignore it, though.

"Go on." Lila said, all-to-casually. This only raised more red flags for Marinette.

Marinette took a deep breath before working with the candle again. She wanted to get this right, for everyone's sake.

"Alright... With this candle, I will light your way in darkness..." Marinette continued, and so far she was on the right track. But then her clumsiness got the best of her and she wound up dropping the lit candle.

It fell on the carpet and everyone gasped in shock as the fabric started to burn. Marinette saw a vase of roses nearby, snatched it up, took the roses out, and dumped the water on the flame, putting it out. She stepped on the patch to make sure it was completely out so it wouldn't combust again.

She sighed in defeat and said, "...I can't do this!"

"Marinette?" Adrien said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm not prepared! We can't do this until I have my vows down like the back of my hand... You deserve someone who'd be able to pull this off right, Adrien. Not a... Hopeless klutz like me!" Marinette said, beginning to cry.

"Marinette..." Adrien said, a hand on her cheek.

"No! I... I need some air..." Marinette said as she ran out of the room, crying. Tikki followed after her owner.

"Marinette, wait!" Adrien said as the door slammed. Emilie, Tom, Sabine, and Adrien all had worried looks on their faces, concerned about Marinette.

"She's certainly a fetching girl, huh?" Lila said before letting out a prissy laugh.

Adrien turned around and gave the newcomer a glare. He was not amused at Lila insulting Marinette.

And end scene! Hope you guys enjoyed it. Like I said, I'm no Tim Burton fan, but this movie is tolerable by my standards. One of his movies I was actually able to stomach when it first came out was "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." In fact, that movie came out the same year as Corpse Bride.

Now, the next chapter's gonna have to wait until Silencer airs (which knowing how crappy the airing schedule for ML is, is gonna be a while). Wanna make sure I get Luka's akumatized form and powers right. I also wanna make sure I wait on the debut of the powers of the Snake Miraculous (which, again, could be a while), since I want to make sure I write THOSE ones correctly, too.

Now, review, review, REVIEW! Please, the more comments I get, the more likely I am to update this story.

Coming up, Marinette practices her vows in the forest, unaware that everything she's ever known is going to be turned upside down.

Oh, by the way, here's a cast list for the story just for fun!

Marinette - Victor Van Dort
Adrien: Victoria Everglot
Luka/Silencer/Viperion: Emily
Tom and Sabine: Victor's parents
Emilie and Gabriel: Victoria's parents
Nathalie: the Everglots' butler
Lila: Lord Barkis Bittern
Sass: The maggot
Master Fu/Jade Turtle: Elder Gutknecht
Frightningale: Bonejangles
Undead inhabitants: Misc. akumatized villains.