The Truth and What Remains: An Adrienette story

Chapter 19: The Dream Chronicles: A Prelude to a Nightmare

Have you ever wished that dreams could become reality? The dreams we all hold keeps our drive alive, the motivation to want better things. What if there are dreams that aren't worth trying to reach? Dreams, that somehow turn into a living nightmare, it is at that point that it is no longer worth it. Why risk your life on the slim chance that a dream could come true, especially when it can get you killed. A dream is many things, but there's something it isn't and it's a very crucial thing: real. A dream isn't real and yet we grasp for what isn't real. Why is that? Do dreams validate our existence, to give a reason to want more? Marinette wanted more, she had a dream, and so did the rest of her kids. It's simply too bad that most dreams often die... but who's to say that her dream's dead?

"It doesn't look too good Mr. Agreste," The doctor said as Adrien, covered in bandages and pads, looked at the four beds in front of him, each bed occupied by a different Dupain Cheng. Alya, Nino, Chloe, and Luka looked sadly at the family, a myriad of heartbeats echoing in discordant harmony. Adrien had somehow came out with burns that paled in comparison to the others, however, he was to stay at the hospital to recover. The doctors were not sure when the others would wake, but they suspected it would be a while since the lack of oxygen at the time contributed to the uncertainty of their waking, "Louis is scheduled for a reconstruction surgery later since he was burned so badly in the blast that he's no longer recognizable. Thank you Gavin for providing me with the photo to use as a reference."

"It's no problem," Gavin said quietly at Louis, whose entire face was covered in bandages to the point that he just looked like a mummy that was just uncovered by explorers.

"How did it come to this? God... How come... this always happens to me? My family... disappearing before my eyes? My mom might never wake up, my father could barely even be called human, and everyone I love is laid out here in front of me, motionless and scarred beyond recognition. Marinette.... you promised.... you promised you wouldn't leave me..." Adrien murmured as Chloe rubbed his back comfortingly and took the seat next to him.

"Adrien, I know it's difficult, but you have to hold out hope," Chloe started but Adrien cut her off sharply.

"What hope is there Chloe? Tell me, I... feel like I lost everything... Chloe don't you understand? These kids... are MINE, they are my very own children and I abandoned them, I always hated whoever the father was, leaving Marinette and these wonderful kids on their own. Turns out? It's me who I've hated which is fan-fricking-tastic," Adrien said emphatically as Chloe nodded her head and folded her hands.

"You didn't abandon them dude, you didn't even know they existed and Marinette refused to tell you," Nino reassured Adrien as Adrien put his face into his hands and stared into the blackness of his hands, "so suck it up man, because none of that matters anymore because you know NOW that you have kids who needed you, and what would they say if they saw you moping like this like some sorry little victim?"

"Nino honey, I think that's enough," Alya started but Nino continued.

"No, Adrien, you're an adult now, you have to be able to take life by the horns and steer it away from the herd because the lead bull, aka YOUR FATHER is just gonna stick his horns up your ass and that'll be the end of it. Are you gonna let that happen dude? Because he just did that right now by blowing up that recital hall," Nino huffed angrily as Adrien lifted his head to glance at Nino's clearly ticked off face that softened as he continued, "Are you going to be strong for your family or not? Because we've said this time and time again: you're it for her and she's it for you, and your kids love you, you're their hero. Are you gonna let them down?"

Adrien straightened his posture after a moment and sighed as he took one grateful look at his family and Nino, "No... and even though I make that promise everytime, I meant it... and I always will."