The Glass Dome

Chapter 1: Cat Blanc

"M'lady, why are betraying me like this?!"

"I'm sorry Cat! I didn't know how else to stop you!"

An akuma had been released. But it wasn't an akuma, nor an amok. It was an amokuma: a bird-like feather creature that could turn anyone into a villain and could only be released once the villain wanted it to be. If used on a miraculous holder, it was unknown how to release it.

One day in Paris, one was released and innocent Cat Noir was targeted by the local villain, Shadow Moth. It could have been hours before Ladybug finally saw him. No one really knew anything, except that he had been amokumatized and could destroy the world. In desperation, Ladybug alerted the authorities, who chained him up in a large glass dome in the zoo.

_______

It had been a month since Cat Blanc had attacked. Most of Paris had done their best to move on. Marinette stopped turning into Ladybug. Alya gave her miraculous back to Marinette. But the thing no one really got past was the Glass Dome.

"It's an injustice and you should see that!" claimed Marinette as she sat in her desk chair.

"Marinette," said Alya. "You should move on! Paris has. I know how well you knew him, but there's nothing you can do about it, especially without your miraculous. By the way, have you thought any more about giving up the Miracle Box?"

"No," replied Marinette, quiet. "I'd lose my memory-all of it. Not just as Ladybug or as the guardian. I'd forget you, Nino, Adrien-"

"Can you please talk about something other than Cat Noir or Adrien?!" Alya cut her best friend off. "They're both gone! You need to move on, girl!"

Alya read the look on Marinette's face.

"Sorry," Alya apologized. "Nino's been acting the same way."

"So that's why you two broke up," said Marinette.

"Yeah. Well, we said we'd get back together when Adrien returned, but I'm not sure if we can rely on that. For now, just don't bring him up!"

"Then what can we talk about? We used to talk about the heroes, the miraculouses, and Adrien, but...it seems like those are all gone from our lives. Shadow Moth hasn't even attacked since Cat Blanc."

"He can't. He can only akumatize or amokatize one person at a time."

"What about the Gang of Secrets?"

"That's a different case. Anyway, I have to go home."

Alya waved to Marinette and then left her room. Ever since she'd told the kwamis to stay in the Miracle Box, she'd been lonely. Her friends wanted to talk to her less now that she had trouble not talking about Adrien or Cat Noir.

Adrien Agreste had gone missing right after Cat Blanc was chained in the Glass Dome. There were so many rumors, especially ones from his fans, of what could have happened.

Some of the craziest ones said that a super fan was holding him hostage and Gabriel Agreste knew but cared more about his money than his son. Marinette didn't believe that. The darkest one was that Cat Blanc could have harmed, and maybe even disintegrated him. Marinette tried not to believe that. The most likely one seemed to be that he had run away while Paris was distracted by Cat Blanc because of his neglective father. Marinette believed that.

Though she wanted Adrien to be happy with a new identity and life, Marinette missed him. Not just as a girl who had a crush on him, but as his friend. She wished he would reach out to her and tell her who and where he was. Marinette wish he knew that there were people in Paris who actually loved him, like herself and her friends. Adrien going missing had at least pulled away some of her focus from the Glass Dome.

Marinette wanted to see Cat Noir again but was too afraid to see the injustice that was enforced. She knew he was dangerous, but didn't think anyone should be locked in a glass dome that anyone could look into. If she went to visit him, he would recognize her. If she didn't, she wouldn't see him at all.

Marinette acknowledged that she did love Cat Noir, but not romantically. She loved him as a friend, but in such a strong way that she could only feel the same with Tikki or Alya. He was one of the two closest people to her outside her family. She could never just forget him and move on.

Marinette looked over at her "craft box." She wasn't sure if she could remember the password, but she decided to try. She slid left a couple of feet in her desk chair and opened the box. Marinette had an idea. There was a way she could visit Cat Blanc without being Ladybug and without anyone knowing.

Marinette entered the password and took out the Miracle Box. She pressed the button on top and the kwamis flew out.

"Marinette?" asked Tikki.

"Tikki!" screamed Marinette, overly excited.

"I thought I'd get a new owner and Miracle Box holder!"

"I thought about it, but without the cat miraculous, I'd rather just wait until we can fix this whole Cat Blanc situation."

"Just say 'Spots On!'"

"Sorry, but I'm not going to be Ladybug."

Marinette grabbed the mouse miraculous and put it on.

"Mullo, Get Squeaky!" yelled Marinette.

It was odd to be a hero other than Ladybug again. Marinette grabbed at one of her buns.

"Why not me?" asked a sad Tikki.

"I..." Marinette started. "I don't want to be Ladybug without Cat Noir. We're a duo! Besides, the mouse miraculous will be more helpful for my plan."

"What's your plan?"

"I'm going to release Cat Blanc-"

"WHAT?!!!"

"Not yet. For now, I'm going to sneak into the Glass Dome. I did some research about a month ago when Cat Blanc moved into the Glass Dome, so I know there aren't any cameras on the inside. There's a door, but only the person who brings him food and checks on him every few hours can open it. There is a window I can go through, but it's very small. That's why I'm Multimouse. See you in an hour, Tikki!"

Multimouse leaped out the window. She'd visit the Glass Dome and someday, she'd free Cat Blanc from it.