*Shuffles back in awkwardly after more than a year*

Hi, everyone!

So, you all probably thought I've gone MIA, but really, I've just gone over to ao3. I post and read fanfics over there than I ever do here anymore. In saying that, it's been a while since I wrote anything for Miraculous Ladybug, because Boku no Hero Academia kind of owns my life at the moment.

That said, my beautiful fanfic wifey, wonderfulwizardofthozz, offered to write this chapter for me, because I'd lost all motivation for it and hit a serious wall. Everyone give her a round of applause, because I love what she did with it. She actually updated this for me on ao3 a while ago, but I forgot to do it here. I know, I know, I'm hopeless. Sorry, everyone.

I hope you enjoy this (very late) update. Please let me know what you thought in the reviews, so I can pass them on to wwot.

Lost in the Time Stream

Chapter Ten

PARIS

2016

"Okay, okay, let me get this straight: I'm supposed to waltz in as another Volpina, confuse the hell out of her, and act like I've been doing it for years so people well and truly understand that she's a fake?"

"That is correct, young Alya."

"And I have to do it with the knowledge that you two—" she pointed to Marinette and Adrien— "are the people I fangirl over on a daily basis and you—" Alya pointed to Nino— "barely have a better idea about what's going on than I do?"

Adrien nodded. "Yep, pretty much."

Alya stared at the other four in the room, finally landing on Master Fu. "Why? Why me?"

"You have a heart that will not stop until it knows the truth. So, will you offer yourself and your help in this fight, or will you stay on the sidelines?"

Alya hesitated, clearly unsure of what she should do.

Marinette reached out and took her hand. "I'm sorry it's rushed like this. You originally had more time to think about it and mull it over, but we just don't have that kind of time with Father Time on the loose." She made a face. "Do you think maybe I could stop using the word 'time?'"

Adrien and Marinette spoke at the same time. "The answer may shock you!"

Alya was too overwhelmed by everything to join in their laughter, speaking quietly and firmly. "I'll do it. I'll go."

Adrien hugged her. "I knew you'd take the Ring to Mordor!"

Marinette rolled her eyes with a smile. "That line wasn't any funnier the first time, either."

Nino, quiet until this point, put a hand on Alya's knee. "You'll make an amazing Volpina. You already know more than you think. I mean, I think you know more than you think, but I guess I could be thinking wrong. I'm not always good at thinking."

Adrien chimed in. "I said this the first time, so I may as well say it again because What's keeping a timeline consistent? I'll take Time Travel Problems for five hundred, Alex!" He cleared his throat. "You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

Nino's jaw dropped. "How does he do that?"

Marinette whispered to Nino, "You're gonna love future-Adrien. Current Adrien. I mean—I give up."

Alya, meanwhile, was wiping tears from her eyes. "I've wanted something like this from when I was little, but even with actual superheroes I never thought it would happen to me."

Master Fu smiled at her and offered her a box. "Let's meet your kwami, shall we?"

Alya and Adrien both fainted before she could take the box.

PARIS

2027

Marinette cuddled little Emma close to her chest while they all settled down for a serious conversation. "So, what's the plan? Wait, why are you all staring at me?"

Nino shrugged a shoulder. "Well, you're usually the one with the plan, being Ladybug and all. Guess it's what we're used to."

Marinette blinked. "I've known about this the least amount of time out of everybody here except for my parents. I can guarantee that I do not have a plan right now. You know, other than the general 'Let's defeat Father Time and go back to the proper timeline!'"

Adrien cleared his throat. "Well, having known about this for a short while longer, we're not getting anything done by sitting and developing plans unless we come up with something that actually works. Splitting up didn't work, so we obviously have to do this together. You know, while still battling other akumas and praying we end up in the right timeline when it's all over." He smiled tiredly at the lot of them. "No offense, but I'm starting to miss all the easy ones back home."

Tom clapped Adrien on the shoulder. "I understand, son. This is sounding like a little bit more than you bargained for."

He nodded, that warm feeling filling him again.

Marinette kissed Emma on the top of her head, noting how her eyes were falling shut. "It's more than any of us bargained for."

Adrien nodded, his own plan formulating. "Let's take patrol shifts in rotating pairs. Sound good?" When everybody nodded, he continued, "Marinette, you and I will—"

Alya cleared her throat. "Not to interrupt, but you and Marinette should be on opposite sides of that. Nino and I have eleven extra years of life experience, and your miraculouses are too important to get caught together."

Marinette and Adrien looked at each other, despondent.

Nino laid his hand on Adrien's other shoulder. "I know you two want to spend time together since it's the only familiar thing you have right now, but you can do that after we defeat this guy. Alya's right. We need to use every advantage we have against this guy, and that means not putting you two together except to rest."

Marinette sighed. "I know you're right, but that doesn't make it any easier. I—"

A loud boom echoed down the street, causing the lights to flicker.

The four heroes chorused, "Akuma," standing as one to go neutralize the problem.

Marinette handed the sleeping Emma to her father. "Tell Maman I said goodbye and that I love her."

Tom wrapped her in a bone-crushing hug with his free arm. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Papa."

Less than a minute later, the four heroes were out on the street, trying to figure out what had happened.

"Something feels off," Tortue Verte murmured.

Chat Noir nodded. "I agree. My senses are off right now, but I think you're right."

It was Volpina who shouted, "Look out!" and shoved the other three out of the way.

Ladybug fell on top of Chat, who wheezed under her weight.

"Sorry!"

Chat shook his head. "Nothing we don't do every day at home."

"Shit, is that Timebreaker?" Tortue Verte pointed at the tiny figure. "How do we have two time based akumas out right now?"

Chat shook his head. "I'm really beginning to hate Father Time, you know."

Volpina pointed in the opposite direction. "You mean that guy over there?"

"Shit."

Ladybug shook her head. "We need a plan."

Chat grabbed her hand. "We'll have to use our special abilities."

"I can only use Oblivion on one of them. Who should I pick?"

Tortue pressed his lips together. "If we draw them in close enough, I can use Limbo to get the skate and you can get the watch from Father Time. Ladybug, can you cleanse two at once?"

"Well, let's find out."

"Chat, I need you with me. I need you to trip her in case something goes wrong."

"Done."

Ladybug and Volpina made eye contact and nodded. Eleven years wouldn't separate their friendship, and it definitely wouldn't erase their ability to read each other's thoughts.

"Everybody ready?" Ladybug asked.

The rest of them nodded.

"Then let's go get 'em and let's go home!"

They all turned off in their pairs and started jogging.

"Looks like your sand has run out, Father Time!"

Volpina snorted. "Oh, I missed those cheesy lines from you."

Ladybug rolled her eyes. "Only because they're from me."

Father Time's laugh started echoing all around them, but he remained invisible.

The two women went back-to-back, eyes searching everywhere until he appeared just a little too close for comfort.

Ladybug screamed, "Volpina, now!"

A few things happened at once.

Volpina cried, "Oblivion!" and Father Time started to shoot at them, which caused Ladybug to grab Volpina's arm so she could pull her out of the way. Meanwhile, Chat and Tortue fist-bumped, having gotten the necessary roller blade. Tortue's eyes went wide, seeing what was happening to their wives.

"Alya!"

Ladybug was too slow, and Volpina's shoulder got clipped by Father Time's energy ray, making her use Oblivion on Ladybug instead of her intended target before she succumbed to the ray's effects. And, because only Volpina's shoulder got clipped, Chat Noir was still in the path of the energy ray. Chat swore under his breath when he realized it was too late to do anything else and let the ray hit him; he fell like a sack of rotten camembert.

Father Time snickered and disappeared, leaving Tortue Verte effectively alone with his fallen comrades and an uncleansed akuma.

PARIS

2073

"My father is still the Papillion and we're how old?"

PARIS

2016

Adrien rubbed his head, searching for anything he recognized in the room. "M-Master Fu?"

Master Fu nodded at him. "When are you from, dear cat?"

Adrien groaned and sat up. "2073. Why, what's happened?" His face fell. "Wait, Master Fu? You've been dead for years!" He scrambled backwards, recognizing a still-sleeping Alya. "This is an Akuma problem, isn't it?" He stretched, noticing how much energy he had and how unwrinkled his hand appeared. "Okay, when I said I wanted to be fifteen again, this isn't how I imagined it. Master Fu, can you fill me in on the details?"

Master Fu gave him a brief explanation and wondered aloud where (or, rather, when) Adrien's younger selves ended up.

Alya chose that moment to sit up. "Ugh, is this what it's like with you people and your time travel?" She yawned. "Hey, Adrien. Hey, Master Fu."

"It's been so long since I've seen you like this, Al. It's kind of freaking me out."

"You and me both. Wait, which Adrien are you?"

"I'm from 2073. I wish I could tell you where the other me's are, but I honestly don't know."

Master Fu cleared his throat. "There is little time. Marinette and Nino are out fighting an old akuma, and they require assistance immediately."

Adrien nodded. "Ready, Alya?"

"As I'll ever be. Kupii!"

"Plagg!"

"Transformez-moi!"

*Shuffles back in again*

DID YOU ALL SEE THAT 2073 PLOT TWIST COMING, BECAUSE I SURE DIDN'T WHEN I FIRST READ WONDERFULWIZARDOFTHOZZ'S UPDATE.

Isn't she great?!

Okay, I'll leave you all be and hopefully it won't be such a long gap between updates this time. Oh, and if you're over on Archive of our Own, look me up there for more ML and Boku no Hero Academia fics.

Much love,

Leisey