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Marinette was 16 when Hawkmoth was defeated. She was 16 when she managed to lure him outside his home and beat him on a live broadcast. She was 16 when he was arrested, and 16 when he was sentenced. She was 16 when she took back the butterfly and peacock miraculouses. She was 16 when Plagg showed up in the middle of the night with the ring of destruction. She was 16 when she retired her Ladybug persona.
Marinette was 16 when she finally had her life back. Gabriel Agreste had been very vocal after his arrest, likely trying to gain sympathy at first. He talked about his wife, about being despite for her. When that didn’t work, he went for the scorched earth perspective. Gabriel Agreste was one of the biggest names in fashion and his company was worth billions in its prime. He knew many secrets and he told them all.
Marinette was 16 when she watched the world explode. Gabriel Agreste started small. Personal kinks of the famous, old secrets that people tried to keep hidden, a few health fanatics who used surgery to stay thin. Then, he got personal. Affairs revealed were revealed and hidden families and children were pulled into the spotlight. He let that sit for a few weeks, then, he went for the lawbreakers. Fraud, larceny, tax evasion, blackmail, extortion, bribery, property damage, vandalism, and so much more. He started with minor things and worked his way up. In the end, people watched in horror as the crimes grew. Soon, it was assaults, arson, child abuse, sexual harassment and assaults, rape, manslaughter, and even murder. Gabriel Agreste’s words started a plethora of investigations. Pyramid Schemes fell, families were destroyed, and Gabriel Agreste smiled throughout his whole interview. Dozens were arrested, and several got off because the crimes were just too old.
Marinette was 16 years old when she gave up on her classmates. The final interview with Gabriel was the shortest. He told the world that Adrien had nothing to do with his crimes. He confessed to Natalie’s involvement. A week before his arrest, she’d fallen into a coma. She was still in it. The last thing Gabriel Agreste revealed was Lila’s involvement. No one wanted to believe it, but it was still investigated. A cursory investigation, as Madam Rossi was very threatening in Italian. Her daughter was perfect in her eyes. Gabriel didn’t have any proof of Lila’s involvement, and Lila wasn’t stupid enough to leave any proof behind. Her classmates had stood beside Lila, providing alibis and character witnesses. Lila didn’t have to do anything, her classmates and teachers did everything. However, what really sealed the deal was an interview that Adrien did.
Marinette was 16 years old when she realized she no longer loved Adrien Agreste. Paris still loved Adrien, as Gabriel’s neglectful and emotionally abusive practices came out after his arrest. Adrien’s innocence was never really doubted. So, when the golden boy of Paris said Lila was innocent, no one doubted it. Adrien was still covering for Lila, despite there being no more concerns about akumatizations. She couldn’t understand it, he reaffirmed all of her lies with his words. He knew she was a liar, but he protected her regardless. He was hard to love after that.
Marinette was 16 years old when she stopped trying to please everyone else. As the Hawkmoth arrest and subsequent drama died down, Marinette stepped down as class representative. She stopped bringing in free pastries and making free clothing. She stopped fixing everyone else’s problems. The class wasn’t pleased, neither was Miss Bustier. She’d didn’t care anymore.
Marinette was 16 years old when she started feeling truly happy for the first time in years. She joined the student council, actually went to the art club, and even joined the cooking club. She listened to Marc’s short stories and encouraged him to publish them. She cooked with Mireille, who had a hidden talent for knowing just what spices a dish needed. Aurore helped her set up a website for her clothing, and in return, she asked Aurore to model for her. She fenced with Kagami and the two of them started doing yoga three mornings a week. She had girl’s nights and sleepovers where they watched cheesy shark movies, and ate day-old pastries and popcorn. They dressed in their PJs and put on face masks. She felt alive again.
Marinette was 17 when her new friends started encouraging her to challenge herself. She enters more fashion competitions and puts up flyers around the city. She’s started to design for people all over Paris, and she’s loving every moment. She makes suits for Jagged and dresses for Clara when they both go on tour. She goes by MDC in the public world, and soon MDC is popping up in magazines and talked about on shows. Jagged and Clara started giving out her business cards like they were candy.
Marinette was 17 when her website crashed from the number of requests. Dozens of people want her designs, and she doesn’t have the time to make all of them. Marc is the one who suggests she hire people to make her outfits, and she can’t help but love the idea. Aurore and Mireille give her advice for her ads. She has to take out a loan so she can rent out a workspace. She thinks it’s all worth it. Soon, she has 7 seamstresses who are ready and her designs are being worked on every day. What would have taken months to complete is now being done in weeks.
Marinette was 17 when famous people start wearing her outfits. Taylor Swift does an interview in a statement dress, and Selena Gomez does an episode of her show in a garden dress. Chrissy Teigen is pictured in an evening gown. Jennifer Lopez does a concert in a cocktail dress. Sandra Bullock is on the front cover of Vogue after wearing a formal dress to a movie premiere. Channing Tatum wears one of her suits in a movie. Pitbull does a show in a designer shirt. Tom Hiddleston walks down the red carpet in a three-piece suit. She has never loved designing more.
Marinette was 17 when she gets accepted to FIT in New York. The Fashion Insitute of Technology would be her home for four years once she graduated. It makes her giddy with excitement. She starts to consider an online store. She has a long list of exclusive clientele she wanted to design for, but she also wants to design for everyone. She wanted to see her designs on the streets and imagine them in closets.
Marinette was 18 when she starts to hire people for her own company. A graphic designer is the first person she finds, to design a public website. She also gets a product developer, a production manager, and a quality assurance manager. She hires a public relations specialist, a head of customer service, and an accountant. Lastly, she hires a personal assistant. A woman who has fashion experience, but was tainted by her previous experience with the Agreste Brand. Ms. Adeline Bardot. Adeline contacts an up-and-coming manufacturing company just outside Paris. They start to produce her clothing. Next, a warehouse is rented with hourly employees to package orders.
Marinette was 18 when her second website is opened to the public. The website sells out within an hour. Within weeks, pictures all over social media are popping up with people wearing her designs. They restock, with more items in stock, but still sell out within a day. She sees Chloe in one of her outfits and has to go to the bathroom to hide her laughter. She doesn’t even try to hide her laughter when Lila shows up in one of her dresses, raving about being friends with MDC. Allegra and Mirelle have to drag her to their classroom.
Marinette was 18 when she graduates from Lycée. She spends the next couple of months baking with her parents and designing. Marc gets ready for art school in London. Allegra prepares to move to the states with her, though she was going to be moving to the Midwest, the University of Michigan. Mirelle is the only one who was going to be staying in Paris. She managed to get a small time job at her weather station.
Marinette was 18 when she moved into her New York apartment. She gets the hamster she’s always wanted. Actually, she gets several animals. She gets two guinea pigs, and then three gerbils. The chinchilla is a spontaneous purchase. Her guest room is filled with animal cages and tunnels go all over the walls. There are doll houses for each of the Kwamii in that same room. Personal houses with tiny beds, mini radios, and areas for food storage. She puts a mini fridge for their cold items. She spoils her pets and her Kwamiis.
Marinette is 18 when she starts at the Fashion Insitute of Technology. She makes new friends, fashion friends. They go to Mode Fabrics and obsess over fashion. She helps them with their designs and they help her with her own designs. She gets real critics from teachers for her work for the first time. Her work gets better.
Marinette is 22 when she graduates from the Fashion Insitute of Technology. She packs up her New York Apartment, puts all her pets into carriers, and flies back to Paris. She gets her own place, just a five-minute walk from her parent's place. She starts to grow her company and hire more personnel. She runs into some of her old classmates. Nino at a music store, Sabrina as a barista, and Alya as she’s caught for trespassing. The others are in casual settings. She doesn’t acknowledge them and they don’t acknowledge her, or maybe they didn’t recognize her. She was different. She finally looks up Lila after seeing them. Lila Rossi is in an Italian prison for fraud.
Marinette is 23 when she reveals her identity to the world. She sits through a dozen interviews and photo shoots.
Marinette is 27 when her company celebrates. MDC Fashion is worth a billion dollars.
Marinette is 30 when she takes a step back from her company. She starts to build up a new Guardian’s Temple for the Miraculouses. She still designs, but she hires a CEO to run her company.
Marinette is 52 when she gives out the Ladybug and Black Cat miraculouses. The two wearers are in their late teens and they want to make the world a better place.
Marinette is 68 when she starts giving out the other miraculouses boxes. Soon superheroes are popping up around the world.
Marinette is 102 when she surrenders the Grand Guardian position to her Black Cat chosen protege. She hands over her Miraculous Box and says goodbye to her Kwamii friends. She starting to have memory issues and starts to worry.
Marinette is 105 when she peacefully dies in her sleep, surrounded by friends and family. She dies happy and proud of all that she’s done.