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"I suppose I should start by welcoming you back," Hawkmoth began. "You've had a long journey, and not a particularly pleasant one, by the looks of things."
"How did you know?" Ladybug asked.
"Do you know how I choose my Akumas?" Hawkmoth approached the cage. "I feel other people's fear, their anger, their sadness, their pain. It draws me in, like a moth to a flame. And looking at you is like staring at the sun. Something's gone very badly wrong for you."
"Yes, you made me talk to you. What do you want?" Ladybug spat contemptuously.
"I could Akumatise you," Hawkmoth said. "It would be very easy. One tiny little butterfly and those emotions and that power would create something... unstoppable."
He stopped to savour those words.
"But, I have no need. You're right here, and your partner is next. I'm not a believer in senseless violence."
"He's not my partner," Ladybug replied bitterly. "Not anymore."
"Ah!" Hawkmoth clapped his hands. "So that's what it is! Trouble in paradise. Don't worry, it'll be his turn soon enough."
"What do you want?" Ladybug asked again.
"You know very well what I want," Hawkmoth replied smoothly. "Your miraculous, and that of your partner, please and thank you."
"If you want it, then you can come and take it," Marinette snarled, trying to take a fighting posture, but Hawkmoth did not move.
"Who said I had to do that?" He asked. "I've already won."
"What do you mean?" Marinette asked, not liking the sound of that.
Hawkmoth walked up to her and tapped the cage casually.
"I consider myself something of a scholar," he said. "Specifically on the magic which animates these Miraculouses. They're fascinating things, are they not?"
"So you want them for science?" Marinette asked incredulously.
"Of course not!" Hawkmoth replied. "If I can study them, then I can understand them. And if I can understand them, I can counter them."
"Oh no you can't," Ladybug retorted.
"Oh yes I can," Hawkmoth's eyes glinted. "And I've done it using this cage."
"How?" Marinette asked. "I'll escape, you know."
"No you won't," Hawkmoth stated. "This cage is specially enchanted against you. Your partner's Cataclysm wouldn't destroy this cage, and don't bother trying to think of some trick to allow that lucky charm of yours to find something; that won't work either. There is only one way out of here for you."
He smirked, an expression that Marinette hated seeing on his smug face.
"I know how these Miraculous operate, and I know they're not permanent. Sooner or later, your Kwami will get tired, and your transformation will wear off, leaving whichever ordinary young woman you really are in there. Using your little tricks will only speed the process up. And then you will just drop it into my hand, of your own free will, and I'll let you go."
"You'll let me go?" Ladybug fixated on his last sentence.
"Of course! Like I said, I'm not in favour of unnecessary cruelty, and I'll have no further use for you."
"And what about Chat?"
"Chat Noir is in no position to do anything. He's still stuck in the 18th century. If he wants to help you, he'll have to come the long way round. And whoever heard of a cat who lived for 250 years?"
He studied her.
"And that's even if he wants to help you. No, he'll be in this cage after you, don't worry about that."
Marinette knew she had to escape. She couldn't let Chat fall into this trap too, even if he apparently hated her now.
Then she remembered the rest of his statement.
"No! I'm not giving you anything!"
"You don't have a choice," Hawkmoth replied genially. "But, I did think you might say that. So I've been busy."
He picked up a nearby remote, and switched the TV on. Marinette squinted at it, and soon made out that it was a CCTV feed.
And then she saw something hurtle through one of the camera's field of vision, followed by something else, something much bigger and angrier.
"I take it you know Carapace and Rena Rouge?" Hawkmoth asked innocently. "Or should that be Nino Lahiffe and Alya Cesaire?"
"What?" Marinette asked, horror-struck. "You know?"
"Of course I know! They transformed right in front of my Akumas! They have eyes!" Hawkmoth pointed out. "It was a surprise when they did that, but it doesn't matter. In fact, it's better this way. Two birds, one stone, if you catch my drift."
Marinette's heart was racing. Hawkmoth knew her friends' secret identities, meaning that they were in terrible danger.
"Anyway, they're currently being attacked by two of the most powerful Akumas I've ever created," Hawkmoth went on. "Credit where it's due, they're fighting well; they're not as good as you and Chat Noir, but they're putting up a hell of a fight. But they're tiring, and I've given my Akumas orders to kill."
"You can't do that!" Marinette cried.
"Why not?" Hawkmoth asked. "I won't have to if you just give me the Miraculous. It makes no difference to me how long you wait, but it might make a very big difference to your two friends. Give me your Miraculous and I'll call off my Akumas. Your friends will live. I won't even go after them afterwards, because I'm feeling generous. But you'd better do it soon; I'm not sure how you'll cope with blood on your hands."
Marinette felt anger surge through her.
"Damn you," she cursed. "Go to hell!"
"Now now," Hawkmoth chided. "Talk to me that way again and I will Akumatise you, and send you to kill them yourself. I'll let you watch helplessly as your body does it, unable to stop yourself."
Ladybug fell silent and stared at the screen, watching Rena Rouge barely dodge a mighty fist.
Hawkmoth laughed. "It's funny, I've thrown everything I can at you. Every trick, every trap, every Akuma has failed. But even you, not even the Miraculous Ladybug herself, can defeat time."
He turned to leave. "Anyway, I've got more important things to be doing than watch you wallow in self-pity. Do get in touch when you come around to my way of thinking."
With that, Hawkmoth left the room, leaving Marinette torn and nervous.