Title: The Corpse Bride
Rating: M
Warnings: Language, death, both het and slash couples, lots of character death

There is also very heavy tones of America/Liechtenstein. That isn't the main couple- America/England is-, but it will be a very prominent couple throughout most of this.

Also, there is French used throughout this story that is used referring to Arthur, and it's commonly feminine. The joke of it is the fact they refer to him as a bride, and it's a way of teasing him.


Summary:

Alfred would have liked to have taken part in his parents decisions just once. Having them tell him over and over what to do got irritating after a while. Not only that, but now he's being forced to marry a woman he hadn't ever met in his life. That was the last straw.
However, Lili is different from other girls, in a way Alfred really likes. Maybe this marriage isn't too bad.

Until the night came for marriage vows, and Alfred failed to deliver them correctly. He's chased out of the church, and left to be humiliated by the family. One late night, he results to practicing his vows in an abandoned forest in hopes of getting it right.

Who would have known he'd accidentally be proposing to a dead man named Arthur, who seems really highly intent on marrying him!

This story is based off of Tim Burton's 2005 film, 'The Corpse Bride.'


Hello, readers, once again! Thank you for reading this story! I've been meaning to write this forever, but I wanted to finish my Spamano Omegle story and Bloody Frog before I did. Those ones seem not to be very liked, however, so instead I'll be working on this for the next few months!

I've planned out 14 chapters, and it's likely there won't be an epilogue. So, I'll see you for the next 13? If you have any suggestions, corrections, or even complaints, feel free to leave a review or PM me!


"Yes'm..." Alfred's words were barely more than a jumbled mess as they left his lips. It was quite surprising he was responding at all, considering he had left the world of grave consciousness to delve into the darkness of his dreams. He hadn't gotten a great amount of sleep last night - mostly from the nerves of what was coming today - so it was natural for him to take advantage of his situation.

The carriage he sat in rocked with every bump and pebble, creating a lulling effect. The seats had been renovated with a very soft plush created from newly fallen leaves and scraps of fabric, and this only proved to allow Alfred a rather comforting setting. Along with the constant chattering of his mother creating a white noise that blocked out the sounds of screaming children and dreary adults, it was overwhelming.

"Do you hear me, Alfred?" Marion demanded with her typical snappy tone. The other was heavily lethargic at this point, and mumbled something along the lines of "I'll do it later" and "Yes, I agree". This was the last straw for the very stressed woman. She raised her hand above the teen's blond haired-head, and snapped it down, cutting through the air until it made contact with the boy.

"What the hell?" Alfred blurted out with a sudden jump, eyes shooting straight open as he glanced around the cavern he sat in. "What's happening?"

Marion could only offer up a heavy sigh, directing her glare towards the ever passive Richard, Alfred's father, who in turn laughed it off, not knowing the right words to say as an alleviation.

The woman rolled her eyes at the lack of support, and cleared her throat, grabbing Alfred's attention.

"Keep your shoulders back and your chin up." Marion instructed, continuing exactly where she left off.

Oh great. Alfred turned his view out the gaping hole in the side of the carriage, the window to be precise. He really couldn't care less about the events to happen later in the day when they reached their destination. Yeah, it was quite a life-changing decision, but the fact he wasn't involved in it, pissed him off and actually hurt him to no ends.

Besides, he'd like to at least meet this young lady before he was to be married off to her, forced to father her children, and support a family he didn't even know if he wanted.

Alfred felt another heavy bump as they passed over one of the many deformities in the cobblestone road the group traveled on. It had been a deal of about 10 minutes already, meaning they'd soon reach their destined location. Marion noted this as well, and wasted no time in forcing Alfred to tidy up from his usual appearance.

Despite being the rich kid, Alfred didn't enjoy wearing suits and ties, and pretending he was something fancy when he really wasn't. The one he wore now felt alienated on his own skin. Kinda annoying, but he'd pass. It was only for this one marriage ceremony rehearsal, hopefully. Then he'd marry this so called "Lili" and move on with his life permanently. Who knows, maybe the gods would have mercy on him and allow this to blow over?

"We're here, Master Jones!" Came a very hoarse voice from outside the vehicle, and just as predicted, the large, black carriage lurched to a heavy halt. Before there was time to react, the Jones family unloaded themselves one-by-one onto the empty street, Alfred stepping down last.

"Thanks!" Alfred called as soon as he'd hit the regular surroundings. He dug out a shilling from within his coat, tossing it to the chauffeur that was perched on his personal cart. Gilbert's hand shot out and he caught it gratefully, sending a wink to the blue-eyed man below.

"Hey, don't mess this up!" Gilbert chortled with his raspy way. He stopped halfway through a chuckle to let out a long string of coughs, worrying Alfred greatly. He'd been like this for weeks.

"I'll try not to. Sleep well, 'kay?" Alfred reminded with a gentle smile, and bid him a subtle wave. Gilbert cracked the reigns down to the old horses pacing from foot-to-foot to get them moving, and parted with a wink.

Alfred could only watch him go so far, as he was quickly whisked towards the front door of the extravagant house they now stood in front of. A quick survey of the area showed a brief run-down of how the family seemed.

Altogether, it was creepy.

Like a normal family, leading up to the house was a walkway, lined with fences and various gardens littering the grassy area of the home. But the flowers were dead, the grass was brown, the fence was black with small figures of gargoyles on each poking pole, and the walkway was made with shards of rock that formed shapes that looked peculiarly like wolves. Not only that, but the theme of the mansion seemed to be bats and vampires and every other creature of the night. It was like walking straight into a horror movie.

The teen lacked time to dwell on it, as seconds later, he was pushed ahead to meet the entrance of the home. His mother knocked heavily on the door five times, and the force of her fist sounded like a scream that echoed inside the house for ages. No sounds were made, which caused Alfred to hold his breath as he waited for the door to be answered.

Hope struck him that, possibly, no one would come to greet them. Maybe the house was abandoned. Hopefully this was the wrong home... or something. Maybe they were all werewolves and only came out at night, which would definitely prevent Alfred from being involved with the family! Maybe... maybe they were all-

His fantasy was interrupted quickly. There was the faint sound of clicking locks and banging hands stopping any thoughts in their tracks, and the door was able to move. It took its sweet time opening, and when it had, it revealed a young man.

Alfred was surprised to see such a young servant. The boy had to be no older than him, with blonde hair that floated down around mid-neck. He stood erect, though much shorter than Alfred, with skinny limbs and a hollowed out face that most likely signaled he followed a poor-lifestyle of hunger. It almost made Alfred stop and feel sorry for him, but was ceased from any further inquiries when two short and bitter looking figures popped out of nowhere like a pack of wild animals.

Alfred jumped back, the shock of it all absorbing him. The silence within those moments hit him, and he noticed the awkward vibes he was giving off from the mere sight of the entire place.

He straightened himself up - which his mother cleared her throat happily at from behind - dusting off his suit and doing his best not to look intimidated by the creepy man and woman staring expectantly, silently at him.

"My name is Alfred," he said with a soft voice, barely audible to his company. He noticed the disappointment on their faces at the lack of his power. It kinda angered him; he wouldn't let himself be bested by some vampires or whatever the bullocks they were. "I'm here to...marry your daughter?"

Though his tone was meant to be official, the lines were obviously dorky sounding. Even the servant-boy showed it when he suppressed a mocking laugh at the attempt of Alfred. Marion groaned heavily.

"Katarine, Berwick," the chubby lady greeted, pushing past her soon to shake the reserved couple's hands. The disgusted look on their faces proved they were looking quite down on the family already. They almost didn't even take her offering. "Nice to meet you. This is Alfred. We've arrived early, it seems."

"...Yes," Berwick said in a voice that sounded like forks screeching across glass. "Yes, indeed, you have. Please, don't make it a habit. The rat is off getting changed. I suppose you want to come inside."

"Please, that would be great," Marion said, her voice quieting down a great deal at the impression she'd just received. "In we go." Her fingers caught on the fabric of Alfred's jacket, whom was still gawking at the oddly-shaped, satanic duo that hardly even left each other's sides. "Shoo, shoo."

Alfred was pushed in through the doors, which slammed shut seconds after his entry. He blinked, glancing back to the tall doors in shock at how they could be so quick with their size.

Though that was a question for another day.

"We should discuss marriage plans in... decent company," Berwick informed the group after they'd recovered from seeing the great home's scenery. Marion and Richard glanced back towards him, a confirming nod on their heads.

"Alfred, stay here." Marion instructed when she had caught her son's gaze, and offered a comforting smile. "We'll be back soon. And for the life of Christ, please don't touch anything."

"'Promise." The boy confirmed with a nod, giving a dry smile to show he meant it.

The parents began chattering softly the second they had the chance, leading themselves off into another huge room in the mansion. As soon as the door had slammed shut, Alfred was thrown into a silence that unnerved him. Being alone in dark, huge, seemingly-haunted places was not his strong point.

Alfred licked his lips once, attempting to get used to the feeling of being trapped in a black hole. He so desperately wanted to go off exploring, just to take his mind off of his problems, but he had no such luck with the others right next door.

"So, you're Alfred?" Came a critical voice from behind him. He spun, and in the shadows stood the one who had answered the door. He seemed to be sizing him up, the same as how everyone else he met did. "Unimpressive."

"Hey, kid," Alfred felt a frown appearing. He got pretty defensive when he got attacked by mere strangers. "Do you think I'm trying to impress you? I was forced into this. I would rather be a million other places."

"Vash." The blonde corrected. Vash's eyebrows set in a calculating way, mixed with a dash of surprise the other wasn't a simple suitor. "Should I take that offensively? My sister is too good for you. You'd be lucky to marry her. But I'm glad you're not just an ass-wipe looking to take her heart and break it." His eyes turned dark in an instant, and his finger clutched a shape that poked out of his side-pocket that looked oddly dangerous. "Just remember. If you break her heart, I'll break you."

Alfred took this as the signal to nod. While he wasn't super intimidated by the boy, he didn't want to get in a tangle with someone that was possibly a nut-job. However, it wasn't until after he had disappeared up the stairs that Alfred noticed the fact he'd said "Sister." Hmm.

There was a very muffled laughing from next-door. It sounded nervous. Were Alfred's parents okay? Were they really all vampires?

And what was with this house? It was so... secluded!

Plus it was dark and brooding, totally not his favorite scenario.

And the entire place smelled like blood and death...

Alfred had been left alone for a long time. It was getting to him. He decided to simply explore the area around him before he went insane. He turned his blue eyes to the furniture in the room, spotting a few things that sparked his interest, but nothing too immensely. Just a nice couch here, a vase there, a rug made of bear in the back.

And... a piano! Perfect! Alfred's own musical instrument had gone out of tune just a few weeks ago, and he hadn't been able to properly play for a great deal of time. He glanced around him, making sure there weren't any blonde vampires with a knife lurking in the dark, and he slowly slunk away.

The piano was gorgeous. Its keys were a bright ivory, surrounded by a deep cherry wood that sparkled like new. There was a heavy amount of dust on it. It probably meant the whole thing was a fluke and it wouldn't work properly. But, humans can dream.

Alfred brushed off a layer from the rickety seat placed directly under the instrument, and settled down as lightly as he could. He knew he'd break it if he was hasty in his actions.

His fingers tested each of the keys, the notes being played hardly heard. Perhaps, if he was quiet, he could get away with using the piano without permission. He'd get a heavy scolding if he was caught. Maybe even take a bite to the next.

His resolve didn't last long. Once he'd figured out the piano was beautifully in tune, he cracked down on it. His fingers glided across the keys in an instant, and he began to scratch out one of his songs he'd been working on for years. Melodies and harmonies escalated together, starting from a slow beat that resembled an ocean breeze, and ranging to a great deal of half notes, played frantically and loudly.

It painted the picture of a sailor. He was an old man, who'd lived a beautiful life, with two children, five grandchildren, and a lovely wife he'd adored until her death. Their dream was to sail all of the seas together. However, he had to take on the trek alone. The first day was set in a lonely cove as he departed, the seas easy and flowing with ocean life that danced in his eyes in a mass of colors. However, the longer he traveled, the more pitchy the waves got. It grew into a haunting melody of clouds, lightning, and tidal waves, throwing his measly fishing boat in the water. However, he continued trekking.

The music descended, slowing its tempo and adding more soprano notes to take on the main tune of the song; it created a whimsical feel. However, as the balance of pitches began to even out, a calming song fell from the sound of the piano.

The old man lay on the deck of his boat, staring at the sky. A large gap was in his side. He had been impaled on a falling pole.

His wife lay on his right, and they held hands until the end of the song, in which he'd passed on to another world.

Alfred's heart had calmed by the end of the song. Emotions overwhelmed him when he played his music. There were too many feelings within the secrets of this instrument. It always left him feeling the emotions of the characters.

"That was lovely."

Alfred caught his breath, jumping at the sound of a female voice behind him. The rickety bench creaked as he regathered himself, squealing with delight when he'd picked himself up and gave it breathing room.

Alfred, with wide eyes, turned in a hurry, preparing himself as the gentleman he should be. He smiled large, a nervous expression on his face as he focused his panicked vision on the figure in front of him.

There stood a girl. Actually, Alfred couldn't quite tell if it was a girl...

...Or an angel.

The girl looked like Vash in the hairstyle she had chosen, though her blonde locks flowed beautifully down to her shoulders. They had been freshly brushed, a ribbon hovering down the strands and giving it an elegant quality.

She wore a simple pink dress that went past her feet, and covered her entire body. She was small, though with a delicate frame. She seemed as if she was floating.

Alfred felt like his mind had completely left him.

"H-Hallo," the girl whispered, her eyes shining like the sea. Her voice was gentle and sweet, and twisted Alfred's stomach in the way he thought no woman could. "I'm sorry for interrupting. I just heard you playing... I thought it was... beautiful."

Alfred couldn't close his mouth as he gawked. He felt frozen. Unable to move. His heart was fluttering. Was this that feeling discussed so often in fairy tales?

"Are you alright?" The girl asked once more, and offered a kind smile. "I'm Lili... in case you hadn't figured it out. Are you.. Alfred?"

Alfred blinked, snapping his mouth closed after hearing his name. It took him seconds of comprehending what had been said before he was able to dumbly nod, a goofy grin now forming. "Y-Yeah!" He said with a new enthusiasm, reaching out a hand to Lili. While it tended to be against the laws of manners, he couldn't quite think through them right now. "Alfred F. Jones, I, uh... it's...nice to meet you!"

Lili accepted the hand, much to Alfred's surprise. Her skin was soft, and her grip, light. She seemed much like a feathery dove. "Same to you. Would you mind, possibly... playing the song once more? It was absolutely lovely. I've always wanted to learn to play, however, mother forbid me. She said it wasn't lady-like. I just wish I had been taught." She happened to notice a glint of light, which turned Alfred's attention to it.

He watched as she bent, picking up the fallen glass that had smashed on the floor when Alfred stood. He felt a pang of guilt, but she hardly seemed put off about it. When Lili stood, she had retrieved a stalk of purple flowers, which she played with the buds of in between her fingers.

"Lavender..." She said quietly, excited by her find. "It smells wonderful. I also heard it can symbolize... a happy marriage."

Alfred felt his face growing hot from the simple attention of such a stunning girl. He hardly realized what was happening until she was just inches from him. Her fingers pricked at the pocket on his blazer, as she settled the flower inside. He glanced down at it, his heart twisting and turning in a million ways.

The next few seconds sent chills down Alfred's spine. His fingers lightly brushed over Lili's, to which she looked up with her cheeks dusted pink. Their eyes met gazes, and neither could dare pull away.

"I'm happy this was arranged." Alfred beamed, his hand closing around hers. "This wasn't a bad idea-"

"What are you doing-?!" The pair jumped, separating in an instant. In the doorway stood Katarine, taut and peeved at the sight of them both. "Priest Heracles has just arrived. You're not even dressed properly, you insolent child! Hurry now!"

Alfred was removed from the scene by a grasping hand, as he came face-to-face with his mother. "Hurry now." She said quietly and dragged him off to the next room.

The blonde threw a glance over his shoulder, feeling his breath catch when he found Lili looking back at him. She bid him a farewell wave, her fingers wiggling, before she was dragged off to finish her preparations.

"This isn't so bad." Alfred laughed to himself, eyes closing as he imagined the heat radiating off their bodies when they'd been so close. "Amazing girl, isn't she?"