Chapter Text
Marinette had been spending her time wisely since Gabriel’s arrest. Adrien dissolved the company, and thanks to her expert planning, she quickly divided the work among those more qualified for now, only a select few employees knowing her identity as the MDC brand exploded. Warehouses for storage and sewing, photo shoots and models, all while MDC replaced Gabriel as the mysterious recluse that never came to public events.
Aside from her fashion design, Marinette devoted herself to translating the spellbook and creating potions and upgrades for the kwamis, seeking to unravel every hidden mystery within the tome, now that she has unlimited access to the physical copy and the original texts.
Nooroo and Duusu were happy to have reunited with their friends, and Marinette was glad to care for the godlings like she had cared for all the others- Nooroo and Duusu very quickly became comfortable in the kindness she gave them.
Marinette and Adrien hadn’t made their relationship public quite yet, but that didn’t stop her from riding him around on her motorcycle whenever he wanted to feel the wind in his hair. It was now her primary mode of transportation, and she enjoyed the freedom that came with it.
She was steadily preparing to move in with Adrien- her family would be gone for the coming weekend, but there’s plenty to get done before then, and she knows that Grandpa Rolland will be moving in once she’s gone to properly reunite with his family.
---
Tom and Sabine had organized a meeting, holding onto all the necessary files. They wait in tense anticipation, silent until Tom’s deep sigh breaks the silence. Sabine places her hand on his.
“Tom, I promise this will be good for her.” She assures him.
“But what if someone hurts her again? Or worse, what if they don’t let her in? I can’t bear my little girl getting hurt again…” Tom explains sadly.
“Everything’s going to get better.” Sabine assures him. “She has Adrien now, and with Shadowmoth behind bars, she’ll never have to worry about butterflies again.” She says, and he gives a soft sigh.
“You’re right…she’s still our little girl, though. So small and fragile.” He frowns.
“She’s my height.” Sabine chuckles. “And I wouldn’t describe her as ‘fragile’. She’s able to beat you in arm wrestling now.” Sabine points out playfully, and Tom smiles.
“Yes…you’re right.” He chuckles.
“Tom Dupain and Sabine Cheng?” a voice asks, and the couple looks towards the young man that called their names. “Mme. Graham will see you now.”
---
Headmistress Alissa Graham of Paris’ Academy of Fine Arts was a shrewd woman. She allows the best of the best, and those who are truly capable in their talents. Her students go forward to shape the future. In the past few weeks, she had gotten dozens of applications, and was pleasantly surprised at how many capable students were going to be coming this year- it was at an all-time high. Of course, one application in particular drew her eye. Marinette Dupain-Cheng, looking to complete a Fashion Degree, but an incomplete High School education…looking into her, she was impressed by her work with Jagged Stone, and her former work with an up-and-coming band. She contacted Mme. Dupain-Cheng’s parents and asked them to come in with a portfolio of her work, so that she can take a proper look at it herself.
Now, as she looked through everything they’d brought, she had to admit she was impressed. These designs were impeccable, and Alissa had an eye for talent. But one of them seemed…familiar. Oddly so. She began to type on her computer, looking for something, but she heard the clearing of a throat. Right…they’re still here.
“...tell me about this.” She says, taking out Marinette’s file, and the section about her incomplete education was highlighted. “Just a month before graduation, she was expelled for ‘bullying’. The school board never received further word than that. Do you have anything to add?” She asks, and is surprised to see how red the Father’s face became.
“ That is a bold-faced lie! My angel would never bully anyone! She’d never done it before, there’s no reason she’d start now!” He complains. A typical reaction from a parent, and his wife tries to calm him down, but he had a point…Mme. Dupain-Cheng’s record had been spotless up to that point.
“You are suggesting that Monsieur…” She looks at the school information. “‘Damocles’ was falsifying your daughter’s expulsion? That is a serious accusation.”
“We don’t know if he was responsible…” The bride begins. “But we do know that there has been a student that has been bullying Marinette and turning her friends against her. In fact, earlier this year, her sketchbook was torn apart by her own classmates.” She explains.
“Do you have a name?” Graham asks.
“Lila…something.” Sabine sighs. “I’m sorry, I know we shouldn’t be throwing others under the bus like thi-” she begins, but Graham holds up her hand. She had found what she was looking for.
The outfit she saw in the portfolio was a concept piece for a dress- a dress now complete and for sale on the MDC website. Graham began to put the pieces together, and for a split second, a smile was on her face. The up-and-coming commissioner, the faceless MDC, had a unique way of creating fashion. If she was truly as self-taught as Marinette seemed to be, Graham could only imagine what a diploma and four years of classes would do for her.
“We accept.” Graham says.
“...come again?” Tom asks, astonished.
“I said, we will accept your daughter into our University.” She closes the portfolio. “It will take us a few days to finalize the paperwork, but I assure you it shall be done. Congratulations.”
---
Marinette was taking a walk with Marianne and Wang Fu. They had returned to Paris to once more enjoy a walk and paint.
“So you’ve been welcomed into an art school? That’s wonderful, Marinette!” Fu says happily. “I am so happy for you! I just hope you enjoy the humbler artists when you become famous.” He chuckles, and Marinette smiles.
“I’ll never forget people like you, M. Fu.” She says earnestly.
“Marinette…” Marianne says, tapping her shoulder, and Marinette looks at her. “What’s the progress on the…medicine?” She whispers the final word as Fu is hard at work, and Marinette frowns as she looks at the poor old man.
“Nothing yet…but I promise, I’m working hard.” She assures her, and Marianne smiles.
“I’m sure you are, dear.” She gives Marinette a gentle bow.
---
Marinette groans as she lays on the bed that night. “Adrien will be here within the hour, and I don’t have the energy to greet him…” She complains to no one.
“Maybe you could design something! That always makes you feel better.” Tikki suggests, and the kwamis all reciprocate, and she smiles.
“Alright…I could try it out. Let’s get started.” She says and starts working. It gets later, and she gives a loud yawn, when she hears a knocking on her door. “Mmm…did Adrien lose his key again? I swear…” She gets up and stretches, heading downstairs and opening the door. “Hey, ki-”
A slam. A headache. Disorientation. What hit her? Who hit her? She slumped against the wall, and saw someone run past her. She gives chase, not realizing at first what she’s after…until she starts climbing up, past the bakery, past the apartment…to her room.
“Ti…tikki, spots…spots…” Marinette tries to get out, but she feels she might have a concussion as she is slammed again and knocked to the ground, pinned down, and Marinette can finally see her through blurry vision.
Lila.
She was holding the Miracle Box under one arm, and she reached down. Marinette tried to fight, but in her current tired and concussed state, she was no match for Lila.
“I’m so glad I learned about you during Hardlight. Now, I have everything I need to ruin you permanently. I’ll take everything away from you. Your friends, your fans, your partner…even these stupid little jewels.” She says as she begins to walk out. “Bye bye, Marinette.” She says with a twisted smile, the kwamis all shivering in the box.
And then Marinette blacks out.
---
When she wakes up, Adrien is cradling her in his arms. She is still concussed, and Plagg is looking around frantically. Both of them have realized the box has been stolen. Marinette explains.
“I’m…I’m gonna kill her.” Adrien says, anger and rage in his voice. “I’ll cataclysm her to dust . No one will find her.” He snarls. “Plagg, claws-”
“Wait.” Marinette manages to get out, and he looks down at her. “She…she doesn’t know it’s you.”
“What?” He asks.
“She said…said she was going to turn you against me, too. We need to play…play this smart.” She pants, her headache too severe. “We need to…need to…” She feels herself get picked up.
“Well before we discuss what Chat will do, Adrien is gonna take you to the hospital.” He explains.
---
She’s too well connected. Accusations thrown her way would bounce off harmlessly. Nothing was stolen, that’s what’s reported. Lila is probably basking in victory right about now.
In the coming weeks, a new heroine graced the scene. The new Heir Guardian, Ladybird! She plans on building a team of superheroes, starting with the basics! Carapace and Rena Rouge returned, obviously having told Lila about themselves at some point.
“But she doesn’t have everything.” Marinette says, steadily recovering and looking over the spellbook. “She always thought it was just a book of heroes.” She closes it. “...you knew this was going to happen, didn’t you?” She asks, looking back at Ema.
“I did.” Ema confirms.
“So you wanted this to happen?” She asks.
“...I don’t want you to get hurt, but it’s necessary.” Ema admits.
“...fine.” Marinette says, standing up. “But let’s be clear. From now on, we do it my way .”
“As you wish.” Ema nods to her.
“That’s my line.” Adrien says, bringing in tea. “Now…” he smiles a bit. “What’s the plan?”
“You’ll be pretending you know nothing. Keep being a hero. Be patient. Wait for an opening.” Marinette explains.
“And the other heroes?” Adrien asks.
“She’s on her own. Tell her I kept those to myself, and she should know them already.” Marinette explains.
“As you wish, M’lady.” Adrien says with a grin, and Ema grins to herself as they plan.
It’s finally happening.