CHAPTER FOUR:
THE CEREMONY
Adrien watched his father tread down the aisle first, flanked by four of his trusted guards.
The prince waited his turn, fidgeting with the green sash crossing over his black uniform. It was all exactly the way he wanted it: sleek and proper, but also mysterious and daunting... like a black cat. A silver circlet studded with emerald and obsidian sat upon his golden head.
King Gabriel looked regal and flawless himself, wearing gold instead of the usual purple he wore on special occasions. His own crown – much larger and less delicate than Adrien's – gleamed with gold and encrusted diamonds.
The guests bowed or curtsied deeply to the king as he passed, giving respectful greetings of "Your Royal Majesty", "My king", and "My liege". Gabriel nodded to each of them with a smile, his hands clasped behind his back. Alya, Nino, and the kwamis did the same when the king approached them.
Adrien fidgeted again as soon as his father reached the end, and everyone glanced back to look at the prince now.
Taking a deep breath, Adrien whispered to himself, "Here we go."
He stepped into the pavilion, keeping his back straight, his shoulders sharp, and his chin up.
Once again, the people bowed, murmuring their salutations and congratulations to the princely groom.
Then, Adrien heard cheering. Curious, he glanced to the far left side of the crowd.
He almost burst out laughing when he saw a group of children – most of them commoners – calling out and waving wildly to the prince. A few of the taller boys and girls propped the smaller ones onto their shoulders to give them a better view.
"Adrien! Prince Adrien!"
The boy covered his mouth to hide his mirth. He waved kindly to the children, and their responding smiles relieved him of his edginess.
But as soon as he caught his father's eye, Adrien forced himself to put on a straight face: mouth firm, eyes serious. He went to stand beside the king, clasping his own hands behind his back. Adrien never really admired tradition, but with so many other kings, princes, and lords watching, it made Adrien shiver standing within their critical gazes.
But then, he felt his father's hand on his shoulder.
"Don't be so solemn, my boy," Gabriel chuckled. "This is a happy day."
Adrien grinned, and his shoulders relaxed. "I'm just excited," he said, looking down the aisle towards the open door. There was no one there yet.
The king nodded. "As am I," he said, though there was a hint of sadness in his voice that made Adrien glance back at him. Gabriel's eyes had crinkled a bit, making him appear much older than he was. "I never thought this day would come, and now..." He sighed and stared down at the long carpet as though it would lift his spirits. "Now I'm afraid it's come all too soon."
Adrien huffed a laugh. "Father..." he began, but all the words he wanted to say vanished in an instant.
Gabriel's brow drew together. "Bah! Don't listen to me, son – I'm an old man." He straightened up and gave the prince a look of love that Adrien had not seen in a long time. "I'm very happy for you, Adrien, and... and I know your mother is too."
Adrien's look of gratitude and affection was a good-enough "thank you" as he could manage without speaking, lest he'd start crying.
"Aww..." Tikki said, putting her hands on her heart.
At that moment, a soft horn sounded from the other end of the aisle.
The whole pavilion hushed.
Adrien inhaled sharply, snapping back to the door.
A pair of beautiful peacocks stood by the entrance, their broad tail-feathers blocking the view of the hallway.
Not far from the royal birds, Tom waited with jumpy feet.
Gabriel stood as still as a statue, but he still wore his confidant smile. Alya and Nino looked like they were holding their breaths as they held each other close. Tikki, Plagg, and Wayzz were all bobbing up and down in anticipation. In the front row, Sabine leaned over to get a better look, as did Nathalie.
All Adrien could do was stand still and wait, and it made him more twitchy than ever. His heart was thudding off kilter. He felt the tiny hairs on the back of his neck standing on end with exhilaration.
She's here!
And when the musicians picked up their instruments and played the official Agrestian wedding theme, the peacocks drew their tail-feathers to the side.
A collective gasp went through the pavilion like a tremor.
Adrien felt every nerve in his body going slack as his eyes widened and his smile broadened.
She was breathtaking.
Marinette stood with her hands in front, holding a bouquet of red and pink begonias. Her midnight hair stood out like sapphire against her moonlight skin, and it was all drawn up into a braid that circled around her head like a crown complete with sparkling, diamond pins. Her gossamer veil – adorned with white ladybugs, Adrien noted – hung from a tiny comb on top of Marinette's head and cascaded down her back. And that gown! The top was plain, long-sleeved and hanging just off the shoulders. The skirt flowed all the way down to the floor. White flowers and sparkling stars clumped together at the bodice and scattered down the dress like snow.
And finally, secured on the right side on the front of her chest was the peacock brooch Adrien had given her.
The moment Marinette's blue eyes met Adrien's green ones across the aisle, she beamed.
Adrien thought he was standing inside a dream, just like he had felt the night he kissed "Princess Ladybug" on his balcony.
"Wow..." he breathed. There were just no other words to describe his lady.
"Oh, yeah!" Nino cheered silently beside him.
Alya looked like she was going to cry... as was Marinette's mother. And Tikki.
Throughout the room, there were whisperings and praises of the dress, the bride, the smile on her face... all of it.
Tom stepped forward, looking teary-eyed himself, and lent his arm to his daughter.
Marinette took it and allowed her father to lead her down the aisle, where her prince and one true love waited for her.
The moment she heard the pavilion grow silent, the Queen of Thieves knew the prince's bride had arrived.
She grinned deviously behind her face covering. "You distract the guards," she told Hawkmoth without looking at him. "I'll sneak up from behind and get the girl. And the Miraculous."
She could feel Hawkmoth's sword-like, scrutinizing look at her back. "All part of your plan?" he guessed.
The Queen walked over to one of the grazing elephants and stroked its trunk. "A large part," she replied.
The beast groaned at her in response, as though it could sense the wicked scheme festering in her heart.
The Queen went back into the stables, casting her eyes over nineteen of the twenty camels and their baskets. "It's time," she called softly, knowing they all could hear.
At that moment, the baskets either blew off their tops or broke apart all together, revealing a cloaked figure within.
They all carried a weapon of their choosing: swords, crossbows, arrows, knives, clubs, and other devices. Most of them were old and experienced criminals, hardened by years of black-hearted thievery.
Only seven of them were younger than the Queen, somewhere within their teens or early twenties. These companions were the ones the Queen trusted most.
Of course, there was Juleka, the infiltrator and spy who could take on the appearance of anyone she chose. This was why the other thieves called her "Reflekta".
There was Ivan, the buffest and strongest of the seven, with smokey-grey eyes and barely any hair except for a small, blonde tuff on the front. He didn't have a weapon on him, but he usually didn't need one. His hard appearance and grim look earned him the name "Stoneheart".
Beside him was Mylene, his girlfriend. Though short and chubby with dirty-blonde braids and innocent-looking, brown eyes, she wore a crafty monster outfit with a matching mask: her "Horrificator" costume. She was not quite the fighter, but her ability to scare people made it easier for her not to be one.
Kim was tall, muscular, and sportsman-like with black, gold-tipped hair and dark-brown eyes. He carried a bow and quiver of arrows with him, and he wore a red hood that made him look every bit like his thief name: "Dark Cupid".
His partner – the puny, dark-skinned Max – had only one weapon that he needed: his brain. A genius for one his age, his tactics and strategies were remarkable, hence the reason why the Queen welcomed him to her inner circle. Max's thief name "Gamer" had been given to him due to his infinite winning streak at card games.
Rose nearly tumbled out of her basket as she emerged. She quickly smoothed her short, blonde hair and smiled with gleeful, baby-blue eyes. She carried a bag loaded with an assortment of... aromatic ordnance, which was what the Queen liked to call them. Despite her sweet demeanour, Rose was also feisty and bossy, thus the reason why she was known as "Princess Fragrance" among her peers.
And last, but certainly not least, was the Queen's second-in-command, best friend, and confidant: Alix the "Timebreaker". When she popped out of her basket, her deep-pink hair gleamed with sunlit streaks, and she gathered herself up on her wheeled boots – an invention of her own making that allowed her to "glide" along the ground rather than run or walk. She was so quick and nimble on those things, nothing and no one could catch her.
The Queen's Seven gathered by their leader, and the other thirty-two men and women followed behind them. All of them grinned from the promises this heist was going to give them.
The Forty Thieves had arrived.
Marinette finally arrived at the head of the aisle, her heart pounding as she came within an arm's reach of Adrien. She wanted nothing more than to leap into his arms and kiss him right there.
Later, she scolded herself with a giggle.
She turned to her mother as she approached. Sabine pulled her in gently, being careful not to ruin the dress, and Marinette gave her mother a fierce squeeze before passing her the begonia bouquet.
Marinette then pecked her father on the cheek, her lips coming back salty from the streak of tears on Tom's face. He embraced her tightly, shuddering as he breathed, and then pulled away with a proud smile before moving into the front row with his wife.
Alone now, Marinette walked over to the king, who stood between the royal couple before the stairs leading up to the altar. Gabriel extended his hand to her. Marinette took it and dipped into a curtsy, her gown flowing out around her.
When she rose back up, Gabriel reached to take Adrien's hand in his other. Then, with all faces in the crowd watching, the King of Agreste joined the hand of his son with the hand of his bride.
Their fingers curled around each other's. A perfect fit. Marinette and Adrien smiled up at each other.
Gabriel stepped aside and beckoned to the stairs.
Adrien inhaled slowly, and exhaled even slower. "Are you ready, Milady?" he asked.
Immediately, Marinette imagined a night sky, fireworks, and a certain, feline prince holding her in his arms as they both listened to their song playing in the distance.
So the baker's daughter clasped her prince's hand tightly and answered with the same reply, "As long as I have you, I'm ready for anything."
His responding grin sent a jolt down her spine.
Together, they ascended the stairs.
Alya's ragged breathing could be heard, and her hands kept coming back wet every time she wiped her eyes. Nino held her in a sideways hug, sniffling rather pathetically.
Enormous droplets fell from Tikki's large eyes. "It's all... so magical," she blubbered.
Wayzz nodded with a happy grin, apparently taking the whole thing well.
Between them, Plagg looked like he was leaking and trying to hold it all back. "I'm not gonna cry," he said. "I'm not..." At that instant, Plagg burst into outright bawling, pulling Tikki and Wayzz into a suffocating hug as tears rained down in wide arcs onto his fellow kwamis.
Tikki rolled her eyes and summoned a pair of tiny umbrellas for her and Wayzz.
Marinette and Adrien cleared the top of the stairs, both of them smiling at Master Fu, who greeted them with a bow.
The pavilion settled down, though there were still a few sniffles here and there, as the Guardian began:
"Your Majesties, lords and ladies, citizens from near and far, friends and family... We are gathered here today to celebrate the joining of His Royal Highness, Prince Adrien of Agreste, and the lady Marinette, the Hero of Agreste, in blessed marriage."
A few people from the far back of the massive crowd hollered out, "Ladybug! Ladybug!"
Others quickly shouted out "Adrien!" or "Cat Noir!"
Marinette and Adrien chuckled, the former covering her blushing face.
Master Fu cleared his throat with a smile and continued.
The Queen of Thieves grinned at the lovely, royal couple as she climbed to the top of the pavilion.
That's right, old man, she thought as her eyes fell on the minister. Keep talking.
She needed no rope or gear to help her climb. Her fingers hooked onto every small cranny she could reach, and she was as agile as a monkey.
Once she reached the golden dome, the Queen drew her sword from her hip. Crouching down, she turned in the direction of the grand stables. Marking where the sun was, the Queen angled her sword so that the flat part was facing outward.
The light danced off the blade perfectly.
The Queen smiled and inched it back and forth. Once. Twice. Thrice.
Hawkmoth grinned when he saw the tiny, flashing light at the top of the pavilion.
He walked over to where Stoneheart and Dark Cupid were struggling to get one of the elephants to move, pushing against the beast from behind. Obviously, they were getting nowhere.
Hawkmoth nudged them both aside with a heartless shove. Then, he drew his sword.
"Let me be the point man," he said with a darkened smile.
He drew his sword back...
The pavilion shook.
Master Fu stumbled with his speech and paused, glancing around. "Oh... oh my! What on earth?"
Marinette gasped as bits of marble dust fell from the ceiling. Adrien glanced around them, eyes narrowing, and he pulled his bride closer.
Down below, there were startled cries from the guests, who shifted and bounced around as they tried not to fall over from the mad rumbling.
King Gabriel and Nathalie were among them. "What is the meaning of this?" the king demanded, as though someone in the crowd would answer.
Tom and Sabine nearly toppled over. Alya and Nino quickly crouched down and looked for the source like hawks trying to catch their prey. Tikki covered her mouth with concern, and Wayzz was getting shifty-eyed.
Plagg scratched his head with a frown. "I thought the earth wasn't supposed to move until the honeymoon!" he objected.
Marinette and Adrien exchanged a fearful glance. What was happening? Why was it happening now?
An angry, trumpet-like noise blared from outside the pavilion.
Another followed it, then another... and another.
The guests turned to see elephants – their elephants – beyond the marble pillars, thundering straight towards them.
Tikki, Plagg, and Wayzz shot higher into the air in synchronization, their eyes wide. "STAMPEDE!" they bellowed.
Screams erupted as the guests scattered.
CRASH!
Several pillars broke off into heavy chunks as the elephants rammed right through them. The impact seemed to make them angrier, and they charged further into the pavilion.
Marinette cried out as she saw her parents leap out of the way of one of the beasts.
Wasting no time, Tom picked up Sabine and carried her towards the doors, which almost everyone was trying to squeeze through to escape.
Trixx flew into the chamber, carrying a small, golden ship she had apparently saved from the treasure horde. "What is going on here?!" she cried hysterically, her violet eyes going all swirly with terror.
Marinette couldn't utter a single word. All she could do was gape at the madness around her.
King Gabriel roared for the guards, who came pouring in through the treasure antechamber.
Unbeknownst to them, the Queen of Thieves was perched on the chandelier high above their heads. She watched the soldiers leave with a smirk.
With all the chaos going on, and once her fellow thieves took the stage, everyone would be far too busy to notice a blue-hooded figure sneaking around them.
All the Queen had to do now was find her target and take her.