At the Airjitzu Temple, Clockwise had a determined look on her face as Thunder, Landrush, and Frost stood behind her in the library. "Okay, you got this kid," Landrush encouraged.
"You got this, no pressure." Thunder added.
"Just focus, let energy flow in and out of you and then, it is yours to command," Frost instructed.
"I know, but you boys forgot about one more thing." Clockwise mentioned before she held up the Slow-Mo Time Blade with an excited look. "This thing is so cool times a million!" She then did a battle cry when she threw the blade right at a stack of boxes with a target painted on them. "And I hit the middle yet again! What's the score now, Frosty?"
"I believe that moves you up to ten points ahead of both Thunder and Landrush, again," Frost responded as Landrush pulled the blade out of the boxes.
"Okay, my turn." He said before he did a few front flips before flinging the blade right at the boxes, and almost hitting the center of the target. "Oh almost! Did you see that?"
"Not bad, not bad at all." Clockwise mentioned as she went over and pulled out the blade. "But try it more like this." She then threw a box into the air and thrusted the blade forward.
"Ah, you didn't even let go of the blade!" Thunder called out.
"But I still hit the target." Clockwise told him as they noticed that she used the blades power to slow down the box from falling down. She then jumped up and started slashing at the Box before landing on the ground with a confident smile. "Slow moving target, easy peasy, lemon squeezy. That's how you get rid of an empty box by the way." She said as something fell out from the destroyed box.
"That box was not empty," Frost noted, pointing to the object which was a blue stuffed animal as Thunder screamed in horror and rushed to the stuffed animal.
"Mr. Cuddly Whomp," Thunder whimpered with sad puppy eyes.
Clockwise raised a brow, "Mr. Cuddly What?" She repeated as Thunder turned to them.
"Uh he is a teddy bear I used to love when I was a colt… but now he's totally and-"
"We all know you still sleep with that, Thunder." Rainbow told him with a brow.
"Uh-Dah and I don't care who knows it!" Thunder shouted hotly as he hugged his stuffed animal close. "Mr. Cuddle Whomp…"
"Okay…" Clockwise said with a weird look before Frost took the blade from her.
"Switching to playful mode!" He said before he spun around and flung the Blade at a wall near where Aqua was working.
"He, watch it!" She called out with a look. "I'm working here!"
"Yeah, both you and your brother are." Rainbow mentioned as she looked over at Trail who was busy flipping through some books with the helmet he got from one of the Vermilion Warriors. "What exactly are you two working on anyway?"
"Aqua has been attempting to locate her stolen Samurai X suit and it's consuming her." Frost mentioned.
"Boy, she's as bad as her brother." Pinkie mentioned as they looked at Trail, who kept his eyes on the emblem, deep in thought while looking at the many books in front of them.
"Ah-ha, I've got a clue!" He exclaimed as he picked up a book and flipped through it. A disappointed look on his face then appeared as he closed it. "I haven't got a clue." He complained as he threw the book near Clockwise's hooves.
"He's been reading those Equestria history books all day." She mentioned as she picked up the book. "I don't get those two. We finally get a victory and they choose to celebrate by dorking out instead of doing something fun and cool?" She questioned before she had an excited look on her face. "Guys, I just thought of something really fun to do with this thing." Soon Frost, Pinkie Pie, Thunder, Rainbow Dash, and Landrush as they got into position, but Thunder rushed back and picked up his stuff animal and cuddled with it as he rushed after the others.
"I really think I'm starting to get the hang of this whole Master thing." Lloyd said with a smile while he and Twilight are in the room Celestia and Wu are in while Misako and Luna came in with a tea set. "So then I come storming in my own jet, maintaining a low altitude for tactical benefits, and I just completely overwhelm the Snakurais." He added as he repeated their last mission they had with the Vermillion Warriors before requiring the Time Blade.
"Until they leapt into our vehicles and crashed, that is." Twilight said with a sheepish look.
"Yeah, but you know. Not everything is perfect." Lloyd said while scratching his head. "Fast-forward, the blade ends up in the sand. "And General What's-His-Face…"
Luna gave a chuckle as Misako smiled after they ready the tea. "Lloyd, dear, perhaps it would be better to tell them your amazing story when they can…" Misako tried to say, but Lloyd unknowingly lifted his hoof that tossed the tea set as it flying and spilled on the ground.
"...and Clockwise uses the blade combined with her powers to slow all of them down like a bunch of slugs, and whoosh! We fly out of there." Lloyd said excitedly.
"Sorry, Misako, Luna, he's lost in his own world after the first time of being master." Twilight apologized with a sheepish look.
"We can see that. He's more enthusiastic than my sister." Luna said with a chuckle.
"Pretty amazing, right? Huh?" Lloyd finished while Wu and Celestial were still sleeping while Celestia's mane got bit grayer than before.
"I'll make some more tea." Misako said as she walked out.
"Mom?" Lloyd asked when he noticed his mother was gone.
"You may need to go easy and pay more attention, Lloyd." Luna commented with a chuckle.
"Yeah, you were way into the story." Twilight added with a small smile as Lloyd scratches his head.
"Uh, sorry." Lloyd said sheepishly.
At the Hooves of Time's Hideout, Krux and Acronix are pacing around Raggmunk and Blunch. "You lost the Time Blade?!" Acronix started.
"We had the Time Blade, and now we do not have the Time Blade." Krux added.
"Why?" Acronix questioned.
"Because you dolts lost it!" Krux answered.
"To a bunch of kids!" Acronix added.
"Kids!" Krux yelled out.
"It was the blue Ninja!" Blunch said in defense. "He came flying in on some weird, super-fast bike." He said.
"I definitely want to get one." Raggmunk commented, finding Thunder's bike impressive.
"So I did the whole time-bubble thing." Blunch added.
"He did do the whole time-bubble thing. So did I." Raggmunk said.
"You used the Time Blade?!" Acronix questioned in shock and anger.
"You were not given permission to use the Time Blade!" Krux exclaimed.
"Because you do not know how to use the Time Blade!" Acronix added.
"Because if you knew how to use the Time Blade…" Krux started while tapping Blunch in the chest. "...you would not have lost the Time Blade!" He snapped at his face.
Raggmunk and Blunch looked at each other. "Now that I think about it, maybe we didn't use the Time Blade." Raggmunk said sheepishly.
"Yeah, I don't think we did." Blunch said with a nod.
"You use the Time Blade, lose the Time Blade, then lie about using and losing the Time Blade." Acronix said with a look.
"Okay, yes, true, but we have come up with a way to get it back." Raggmunk said.
"We lure all the Ninjas here by telling them we'll trade the blade for Cyrus Borg and Dr. Gear." Blunch suggested as he gestured to the two scientists, who are working on a device together.
"We need Cyrus Borg and Dr. Gear." Krux reminded them. "Without their Apparatus, my plan won't work!"
"Yeah, I know. Um…" Raggmunk said as he rubbed his chin. "Then we take the Time Blade and don't give them Borg and Gear."
"Double-cross." Blunch said with a smile as the Hooves of Time gave them a brow as Krux facehooved himself.
"Has it occurred to you that if we do that, the Ninja and Council will learn the location of our secret headquarters, see our master plan and try to take our Blade?!" Krux questioned them as Borg and Gear watched with smiles.
"Krux clearly didn't bred them to be more smart. Such defects are expected of a walking time capsule." Dr. Gear whispered with a smirk as Borg chuckled.
"It has not." Raggmunk admitted.
"Furthermore, we need all the Time Blades, including the one you lost!" Krux yelled out. "And it's only a matter of time before Tempura receives her powers and she and her sister learn how to control them!"
"This is our chance, Gear." Borg whispered. "Time for a little industrial espionage." He said as he eyed a red wire.
But before either of them could cut a wire, Machia came up to them. "Are you sure you want to cut those wires? They look important for the Apparatus to fully operate." She said as she hissed at them. "The way lungs are important for a creature to properly operate."
"Uh, don't worry. Borg was just making sure it's secured and no loose wires." Dr. Gear quickly said as Borg held the tweezers and nodded quickly. "Gotta be sure, you know."
"That's what I thought." Machia said as she walked off.
"I hate that snake." Dr. Gear muttered with a glare before she and Borg went back to work as she subtly did some sabotage.
"Gear, you know that if it's not working, they'll just destroy everything." Borg whispered.
"I know. But it will still work. Just adding a little 'surprise' for their troops." Dr. Gear said with a smirk while Borg was wondering what she meant.
"Okay, Plan B. Hear me out." Blunch said to them. "Operation Fudge Bomb. We just need 1000 gallons of chocolate ice cream or-"
"Or a plan that will actually work?" Machia interrupted.
"You have our attention." Acronix said to her.
"Because of your Borg watch's temporal scanner…" Machia started.
"Regret adding that." Borg muttered with a look.
"Told you." Dr. Gear muttered with a sly chuckle while Borg gave her a look from that.
"...we know the Blade's location." Machia finished as she walked up a door and opened it. "Now we just need to go and get it." She said while outside there were a few tank like war vehicles while the Vermillion Eggs are still around the area.
Back at the Airjitzu Temple, Frost, Pinkie Pie, Thunder, Rainbow Dash, and Landrush stood on opposite ends of the room while Clockwise stood in the middle. "Ready?" Clockwise asked eagerly.
"Let's do this!" Pinkie cheered excitedly.
"Time Blade and powers ready?" Thunder asked Clockwise.
"Both ready." Clockwise said while readying the blade while her hooves glowed blue.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Rainbow questioned with a challenge smirk as the two sides looked at each other. "Let's go!" She called as they all yelled as they charged straight at each other.
Clockwise then slam her hooves down while smashing the blade on the ground as well, trapping them all in the time bubble as they slowed down. "FFFFFaaaaassssstttteeeeerrrrrr, ggggggguuuuuyyyyyysssss." Landrush said in slow motion.
"YYYYYoooouuuu'rrrreeee aaaaaaalllll sssssooooo sssslllloooowwww." Frost said to them as Twilight, Lloyd, Tempura, Flash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Morro, Irona, Rarity, Spike, and Gaia entered the room.
"Hey! I thought I told you guys to not mess around with the Time Blade!" Twilight yelled after seeing this. "I thought you guys were teaching Clockwise to use her powers without it!"
"WWWWWWeeee aaaaarrrrreeeee." Thunder said before the time bubble popped and time returned. The group collided and fell down as they groaned before they chuckled.
"Sis, seriously?" Tempura asked as she took the Time Blade from her sister. "You can do two time powers, forward and slow. Why do you even need the blade if you can already do those?" She questioned Clockwise.
"Well, the Time Blades can help me gain better control of my powers." Clockwise said with a shrug. "When I used it in the desert, it helped me gain some control of my slow mo powers before I managed to gain control of my fast-forward abilities."
"Sounds like a crutch to me." Morro said with a brow.
"Eh, it helps either way." Clockwise said with a shrug as Lloyd stepped in and took the blade from Tempura.
"Twilight and I said to hide it someplace safe." Lloyd said to them.
"And we ignored you two." Rainbow said with a shrug.
"Besides, we're, um, skill-building with Clockwise." Landrush lied.
"What skill? Room destroying?" Gaia questioned with a brow. "You ponies have been playing with the blade, there are slash marks around the room."
"Uh, how can you tell?" Landrush asked sheepishly while Gaia gave her coltfriend a look. "Okay, so we were."
"Dude, that's what you get for getting a marefriend." Spike said with a smirk, which Landrush gave the dragon a look.
"This Blade is extremely powerful and highly coveted." Lloyd pointed out.
"Lloyd's right. Nothing this valuable will be so easily conceded." Twilight said to them.
"Nothing this valuable will be so easily conceded," Rainbow mocked. "Sounds to me like somepony's earned their black belts in being a wet blanket."
"What's that supposed to mean, Rainbow?" Lloyd questioned with a glare.
"I believe Rainbow's intent is to describe you and Twilight as a blanket which has become wet." Frost spoke up. "Not for the purposes of putting out a fire, but rather to extinguish our enjoyment."
"Can't you guys ever take things seriously?" Flash questioned them. "Sure, we managed to get the Time Blade, but that doesn't mean we can lay off."
"Aw, seriously, Flash, not you too." Pinkie said with a smile. "Lighten up." She said as she took the blade from Lloyd. "It's not going anywhere." She said as she tossed it away, which hit Twilight in the head.
"Ow! Hey!" Twilight yelled while giving Pinkie a look, who gave a sheepish chuckle.
"Uh, see?" Pinkie asked with a nervous smile.
"What we see is that after victory most of you have decided to indulge yourselves in fun and games," Wu spoke as they turned and saw him and Celestia at the door. Wu's beard was so long it was almost touching the floor while he seemed to be leaning on his staff. Celestia's mane was grey, flopped over her back, her coat lacking its usual shine, wrinkles under her eyes and her wings hanging out with a few feathers missing.
"We'd advise not to be so careless, an artifact this valuable and highly should not be so easily conceded," Celestia said to them while looking at the Time Blade, her voice sounding tired.
The entire group looked at them in wonder. "Uh, sorry, Masters." Landrush said with a bow.
"Well put, masters." Thunder said.
"Well put?!" Lloyd questioned with a look. "Twilight and I said that exact same thing!"
"Uh, Celestia, are you okay?" Twilight asked in concern, "I don't mean to sound rude but, you look a lot…older," She said as the others finally noticed Celestia's condition.
"Your mane is looking very grey," Rarity noted.
"And are you molting?" Rainbow asked, seeing some feathers falling from Celestia's wings.
"I… I'm still a bit under the weather from Acronix's fight." Celestia lied with a weak smile. "That attack he pulled on me and Wu really had an effect."
Twilight didn't look convinced, "Celestia, I'm getting the feeling there's something you're not telling us. I know Alicorns age at the pace of a snail and this is a huge red flag," She said, gesturing to her mentor's appearance. "Celestia, what exactly did Acronix do to you and Wu?"
"It's… It's complicated." Celestia said to them as Wu went up to Trail.
"Trail, Aqua, join. This is important." Wu said to the two as Aqua and Trail walked up with Trail holding the helmet. "You had a victory. A well-earned one. But Krux, Acronix and their forces remain a threat."
"So do not allow your confidence to cloud your vigilance." Celestia said to them as they all looked at each other. "Wu and I made that mistake once."
"Wow, they're good." Irona commented.
"That's why they're masters." Spike said to them as Trail was in deep thought while looking at the symbol of the helmet before having a vision of a similar symbol on a gong in a familiar place.
"Trail, is something troubling you?" Wu asked the fire ninja, seeing him lost in thought as Trail shook his head and snapped back into reality.
Trail sighed. "The marking on this helmet. Do you and Celestia recognize it?" He asked, showing the symbol on the helmet to the two. Wu and Celestia looked at the symbol before they then gasped as they backed up and turned away from it. "You both do recognize it. What do you know? Tell me, please." He said to the two.
"This means…" Wu stammered.
"This changes everything." Celestia finished.
"What are you two talking about?" Fluttershy asked before a Vermillion Pod came through the wall as they moved out of the way as it crashed into the ground.
"What was that?!" Irona asked in shock.
"I have a feeling of who it is." Tempura said with a serious look as they looked out through the hole.
Outside, Acronix, Krux, and an army of Vermillion Warriors are on the ground at the spot where the Temple is, with the Ninja rushing outside and seeing them and the commanders. "It's father and uncle." Clockwise said in shock.
"I've run a fourth-level analysis." Frost said to them. "It appears the snake warriors have returned to retrieve the blade."
"Really? I could have told you that with a third-level analysis. Or a no level analysis!" Thunder sarcastically exclaimed.
"Well, we're all the way up here and they're all the way down there." Rainbow said with a smirk. "No chance they could reach…" She was cut off when a pod launched up and some snakes came out.
"Oh, come on. They built catapults?!" Aqua questioned tiredly.
"Whatever. It's just a bunch of snakes." Rainbow said to them as Twilight and Lloyd supported Wu and Celestia outside.
"Remain on guard, ninja." Wu said to them. "There is more to your adversaries than you may think." He said as more pods came in with armors as some warriors formed.
"Uh, whatever. It's just a bunch of warriors." Rainbow said nervously. "I mean, they are not armed. But we are." She said as they all ready their weapons.
"Oh, big mistake!" Thunder taunted. "Never bring fists or hooves to a ninja weapon fight!" He called before another pod came out and released some swords, which the Vermillion Warriors picked up.
"Can you guys please stop saying things?!" Spike questioned with a look. "It always comes back to bite us!"
"He's right. They went from unarmed snakes to fully weaponized Vermillion Warriors really, really fast." Thunder commented.
"Doesn't matter. We can take-" Trail tried to say before he realized what Thunder just said. "Wait. That's what they're called? Vermillion Warriors?" He asked with a small laugh, which Thunder returned.
"I know, right? So lame." Thunder said with a chuckle. "There are so many better names."
"Like my Snakurai." Pinkie mentioned.
"Actually Vermillion is quite clever," Twilight commented as another pod came up.
"It does?" Applejack asked.
"She is correct." Frost nodded. "You see, vermillion is a shape of red with a slight orange tint, a color which symbolizes life and eternity." He explained as more Vermillion Warriors formed up. "So in that sense, they should actually be commended for…"
"Guys! Focus!" Lloyd called out. "Everypony ready?"
"Celestia and I will stay here and preserve our strengths." Wu said as he and Celestia sat down with the Time Blade between them.
"Good idea, Master." Lloyd nodded.
"Let's do this, Lloyd." Twilight said to him.
"Right." Lloyd nodded again.
"NINJA, GO!" The Ninja, except Tempura and Clockwise, all did Spinjitzu as they knocked the Vermillion Warriors down as they stopped and cheered.
On the ground, Machia is seeing this through a telescope while the rest hear the cheering. "Great plan, General Machia." Blunch sarcastically said.
"Yea, it took the Ninja, what, three seconds to defeat them?" Raggmunk added as he turned to the Hooves of Time. "See? This is what happens when you put her in charge."
"That was merely the first salvo." Machia retorted. "Next, we bring in the big boy." She said with a smirk.
Back at the Temple, the Ninja were still celebrating their victory.
"Ha, that was way easier than I thought it would be," Morro laughed.
"My thoughts exactly," Landrush smirked.
Trail then went up to Wu and Celestia, "Now can you tell me what that marking means?" He asked them.
"Yes, you must know that-" Wu stopped himself when he noticed the Vermillion snakes grouping around the discarded bits of armor, "We have another concern," He said seriously as the armor started building up.
"Um, what are they doing?" Pinkie asked in worry as they backed up.
"Oh I do not like where this is going," Thunder feared as the snakes former a Vermillion Behemoth that roared at them.
Machia laughed as her eyes glowed, "The big boy," she said with a smirk.
The Ninja tried fighting the Behemoth but their attacks bounced off its armor. Irona tried to use her powers to pull it apart but it grabbed her and threw her into a tree before doing the same to Aqua, throwing her at Trail.
Trail then got an idea, "Aqua, remember our old foalsitter, Ms. Grubbybags," he asked his sister.
"The mean one with the mole on her-" Aqua tried to say before Trail cut her off.
"Yeah, do remember what we did when she tried to make us go to bed early?" Trail asked with a sneaky grin.
Aqua smirked back, seeing his plan. "Of course," She said with a wink. The others let out painful grunts and groans as they were knocked back by the behemoth Vermillion Warrior.
The Behemoth then slithered up to Twilight as it was about to finish one of them off before Aqua called out. "Hey you, it's not my bedtime! I still have plenty of energy." She quickly ran forward as the Behemoth didn't see Trail below in front of it before she jumped off of her brother and leaped over the behemoth. She then landed near the edge as the Behemoth slithered closer to her. "But it's lights out for you!" She yelled out as Trail tripped the Behemoth and Aqua kicked it over the edge.
"Whoa, whatever they paid Ms. Grubbybags definitely wasn't nearly enough." Clockwise commented after seeing what the two siblings just did as Rivet came out and summoned the Bounty.
"Come on, we can use the bounty to play above all this and get a good view of the others' position." Rivet called out before they started firing at the Harmony's Bounty with boulders. "Oh come on! First Sonic Raider now the bounty?! I put a lot of work into both of them!" Soon the Bounty took too much damage and began to fall out of the sky.
"Overwhelming force." Machia spoke up through the mind. "Do not stop until the mission is complete." She ordered.
Inside the temple, Luna and Misako are making more tea, but a pod bursts through as they duck and two Vermillion Warriors are formed. "Oh, hello." Misako said with a glare.
"Not a nice way to bust into our home." Luna said with a glare as she picked up the tea pot and tossed it at one of the snakes, which made it break apart. "Want some tea?" She sarcastically said as she and Misako drank their tea while the snakes reformed.
Luna ready her horn to summon twinblade swords while Misako picked up a pan as they then clashed with the Vermillion Warriors.
Back outside, more Vermilion snakes came down and started forming in the armors when they landed. The ninja started to fight them off before Lloyd came up with an idea. "We have to go on the offensive!" He told the others. "They're bringing everything up here, which means we have to go down there and take out their equipment!"
"But how?!" Irona called as she used her powers to break apart many armors she could.
"Like this!" Lloyd called as he entered his dragon form.
"Okay, that is cool!" Tempura exclaimed.
"Lloyd, I really don't think going down there's a good idea." Trail spoke up while slashing away the warriors.
"Especially as in your dragon form." Frost added as he threw his shurikens. "In the past, your fear has caused your dragon form to revert and-"
"That was a long time ago!" Lloyd quickly told them. "I am now a master…"
"In training!" Thunder called out.
"And our temple is under attack! I don't have time for fear!" Lloyd stated as he looked down at the catapults. "I'll take care of the ones down below. You guys hold them off up here! And protect the Time Blade!" He called as he flew down with a roar.
"Hmm. You do have to admire his unfounded moxie." Rainbow commented while looking down at Lloyd flying down. The Vermilion started to fire at him as he dodged each incomings before taking out each pod being flung right at him. He then flew down and took out the catapults by grabbing hold of one of them and flipping over the rest. When they launched egg bombs up to the temple Lloyd blasted them with his dragon elemental breath, blasting the swords out.
"Yes!" Lloyd cheered, but the swords started falling down towards them. "Uh-oh." He said as he flew around and dodged the swords.
The Hooves of Time and the three snakes stood there while Blunch and Raggmunk ran off to avoid the swords while Krux, Acronix, and Machia simply stepped aside to avoid the swords. "The Ninja are not the only ones with air power." Machia said as she then spoke through the hive mind. "Sky team, go."
Then coming out from the side of the mountain are Vermillion Warriors who have flying gliders on their backs as they flew up with them clashing their weapons as they flew up to Lloyd. "Stay cool, you're a master in training." Lloyd told himself, getting slightly nervous. "This is no time for fear." But a Vermillion Warrior flew up next to him and startled him with a hiss, which caused Lloyd to scream in panic as his dragon form vanished and he started falling with scream.
"Lloyd! Conjure the dragon again!" Landrush called as the others continued fighting the Vermillion Warriors.
"I don't think he could!" Fluttershy cried out before transforming into a snake and slithered around. "He got spooked!"
"I've got this!" Trail called as he entered his dragon form and flew after Lloyd. "Faster! Gotta go faster!" He called as he flew closer, but he saw Vermillion Warriors flying after him as he then quickly whacked them away, but once he turned around, he frowned. "Oh, no! He's too far!"
Lloyd continued to scream as the others looked over the edge with a worried expression until Pinkie noticed something in the air. "Look up in the sky!" She called out.
"Is that a bird?" Clockwise asked when they saw something familiar in the air.
"Maybe it's a skyship." Tempura guessed as the others recognized the mech.
"No, it's the Samurai X mech!" Rainbow shouted as the mech flew by. "The Vermilion warriors did steal Aqua's equipment!"
"Oh, so not fair!" Thunder complained as Lloyd kept screaming, but the Samurai X mech flew in and caught him as they flew back up.
"What is taking so long?" Krux questioned Machia.
"A mere set back." Machia assured as she looked through a telescope. "A good general changes her strategy to reflect the conditions on the ground. But a great one uses every weapon at hand."
The mech soon flew back up to the temple as the others were amazed about what happened. "Samurai X just saved Lloyd's life." Rarity gasped.
"Whoo-hoo! All right!" Thunder cheered. "That was…"
"Highly illogical." Frost finished as the others looked on in wonder.
"So Samurai X is not one of them." Landrush said to them. "Which means…"
"Aqua must be Samurai X again." Trail said as he landed in and got out of his dragon form.
"Uh actually…" Rivet spoke up before Thunder interrupted her.
"For sure, she probably faked the whole stealing thing to throw us off." He assumed.
"What're you guys looking at?" They heard Aqua ask before they were even more shocked to see her walk up to them.
"Or…maybe not." Applejack said with a confused expression.
The mysterious samurai then landed the mech behind them, which Aqua noticed. "Hey, you! Suit thief!" She yelled as she rushed at the mech while placing Lloyd down. "You owe me an explanation! I have the right to know who you are! Tell me!"
Thunder gave a nervous laugh as he pushed his marefriend back. "I got this. WHO. ARE. YOU?!" He asked the mech loudly as his voice echoed, but the mech didn't respond. "Huh? How did that not work?"
"Whoa, everyone, cool down." Rivet told her, holding her back. "Whoever this is, is obviously on our side because they just saved Lloyd."
"By the way, thank you." Lloyd said as the Samruai X nodded and moved the mech.
"Thank you?!" Aqua questioned as the Samurai flew off. "Samurai Whoever-You-Are stole my suit!"
"Yeah. And saved my life." Lloyd added.
"I get that. And we're all incredibly grateful." Aqua said with a look as the others walked off. "Really. It's just…" She then paced around. "You stole my stuff!" She yelled out to the samurai.
"Aqua, will you let it go?" Clockwise asked with a brow. "So, it stole your suit. Sure. But from what we're seeing, this new samurai has good intentions."
"Yeah, no reason to be so sour over-" Tempura was going to say before the samurai mech was hit by giant spiked ball and knocked out of the air.
"NO!" They all screamed as they saw the Samurai went down.
"Oh, come on! Seriously?!" Morro questioned in aggravation.
"Ninja! Ponies!" Celestia called out as she and Wu stepped back while Wu is holding the Time Blade while a couple of Vermillion Warriors went up to them. They swung their weapons, but the Time Blade was knocked out of Wu's hooves as the two masters braced themselves for impact, but the Vermillion Warriors was caught in a time bubble, slowing it down as Wu and Celestia looked up in surprise.
"Look who got her powers down!" Clockwise cheered as she glowed her hooves blue.
"And look what I found!" Tempura called as she held up the Time Blade as she rushed in and slashed the warriors down.
Both Celestia and Wu were grateful they were saved before they were about to fall before Twilight and Trail quickly caught them. "Thank you both." Wu said tiredly to them.
"You're welcome, masters." Twilight said with a nod.
"Now please, tell me about the marking. What does it mean?" Trail asked the two.
"Ah, yes, of course." Wu nodded. "You're father-"
"Time is up!" Krux and Acronix both called as they all turned and saw the Hooves of Time flying up on glides with Acronix holding his Time Blade as they detached and landed on the temple's ground.
"The Hooves of Time!" Flash exclaimed.
"Father and Uncle." Tempura said with a serious look. "So glad you decided to come out on your own and not from behind your troops."
"Sometimes it's just that important, sweetie," Krux said.
"Well, if you want the Time Blade, you're gonna have to go through us." Clockwise said with a look. "And trust me, I've been practicing my powers."
"Get them!" Rainbow called out as they charged at the two brothers.
"All we need are a few moments, brother," Acronix said, holding up the Blade of Forward.
"Indeed." Krux nodded as the Ninja charged at them, but Krux and Acronix vanished before they appeared in front of Twilight, Celestia, Wu, and Trail while the others were confused before the Hooves of Time synced punched the four, knocking them back as Twilight and Trail went to one side while Wu and Celestia went to the other with screams.
Acronix then went up to Wu and Celestia while holding the Time Blade up. "Goodbye…" He started.
"Master Wu! Celestia!" Clockwise called out before she used her power to create a large slow-mo time bubble all around them. She then focused as her other hoof glowed green and she began to move at a normal pace. "All right, now we're talking!" She then charged right at her uncle and kicked him away from both Celestia and Sensei Wu.
Just then, the Time Bubble faded as time moved forward as the Fast Forward Blade fell in front of Krux, who picked it up. "Okay, that was a cool trick, sis!" Tempura called with a smile.
"Very nice, indeed." Krux agreed. "But let's see how well you do when you're fighting at a fast pace!" He then used the Time Blade on himself as he started to speed himself up. Clockwise was not going to let her father get the better of her as she quickly used slow down to make her father go at a normal pace.
"Wu and I are too weak to fight." Wu said as Tempura came up to them. "Restraint with this weapon. Be careful, Tempura."
"Okay, Twilight, Trail, let's join the others," Tempura said as the two nodded and charged into battle with Trail giving a battle cry.
Clockwise was then fighting her father as he tried to hit her with his blade, but Tempura came in as she swung her Time Blade around her father as Acronix saw a sword being picked up before Lloyd and Twilight blocked his path.
"Not so fast!" The two leaders called out.
"Well, look at this." Acronix taunted. "Two foals pretending to be big, brave heroes."
"Underestimating us is big mistake," Lloyd said with a glare.
"Said the colt who fell out of his dragon form." Acronix countered as he charged at the two and they clashed with each other before Twilight noticed something.
"Guys! Look out!" Twilight yelled as more Vermillion Warriors flew in behind them and fought them.
Tempura and Clockwise are still fighting Krux while Trail came in and tried to deliver a kick, but Acronix blocked it and kicked him back. "See you soon, kids!" Krux called as he was about to use his blade.
"Oh no you don't, father!" Tempura called as she rushed in and put her Blade between her father's, causing an energy surge between them while preventing Krux from using it.
"Last chance my daughters, join me and my brother and you both won't suffer as much as the Ninja." Krux told his daughters. "You know it is inevitable, the powers that you'll gain, are the powers that once belonged to me and my brother! There is no escaping your destiny!"
"I determined my own destiny!" Tempura called as she pushed harder on her Blade.
The others are still fighting the Vermillion Warriors as Rivet uses her stun blaster while Irona uses her powers to bend the metal off them as they all stood at the edge with the warriors charging at them. "Ice!" Frost called.
"Wind!" Flash called next.
"Darkness!" Morro called as the three used their powers to knock the warriors off the island as they fell over the cliff as they cheered.
"Later gators!" Rivet cheered. "That was for messing with my babies!" She called as they rushed back to the others.
Inside the temple, Luna and Misako are still fighting their own Vermillion Warriors as the snakes laughed at them and were about to strike, but they flipped over and knocked them back as they whacked the snakes down, scattering the snakes to pieces. "Now that's how you take care of a few snakes." Luna quipped with a chuckle before they heard screaming.
"Wu, Celestia, Lloyd… They need our help!" Misako called.
"Let's go!" Luna called as they then rushed to the door.
Back outside, the Ninja are still fighting the Hooves of Time as they clashed weapons as Landrush and Applejack jumped up and slammed down on the ground, creating a shockwave that sent everyone back.
They stood up as they clashed again as Lloyd was grabbed by the legs and was tossed around to knock the others down before tossing him to the floor. Clockwise looked around as she fought both her father and uncle. "That was an impressive use of time power you did there, my dear niece." Acronix said as Clockwise avoided a swipe from the sword. "Even I didn't even think of that."
"Well, that's what practice with Ninja gets you and not with an evil uncle and father!" Clockwise exclaimed before she jumped and kicked him back.
"Then how about this?!" Krux questioned as he was about to hit her with the Time Blade, but Clockwise whipped around and blocked it with her sword.
"Nice try, Old school!" Clockwise called as she then began to spin around before she then did Spinjitzu that is mixed with blue and green colors as she spun around, which shocked the Time Twins as they were pushed back a bit before they regained their balance.
"Spinjitzu." Gaia said in awed as she and the others watched Clockwise did Spinjitzu.
"Sis! You're doing Spinjitzu!" Tempura called out.
"And rocking it too." Spike commented.
"I know, now how do I stop?!" Clockwise called out as if she was spinning out of control.
"Just stop spinning!" Thunder called out.
"How?!" Clockwise called as she kept spinning around.
"Uh, can somepony help her?" Fluttershy asked in concern.
"I got it!" Pinkie called as she rushed after Clockwise.
But the Hooves of Time recovered as they got up and charged at them, which Lloyd jumped over to avoid the strike as she turned to Tempura. "Tempura! The blade!" He called as Tempura nodded and tossed the Slow-Mo Blade towards him, which Lloyd caught in his hoof.
Lloyd and Krux then glared at each other before they jumped up and the two Time Blades locked blades, which caused them to land on the ground and released a time blast that sent the others back while the two blades clashed with each other's energy.
"Yield, boy!" Krux called out. "Equestria shall be ours!"
"No, I won't give up!" Lloyd strained as he spun Krux around and tossed him in the air as he landed on Acronix, which made him lose the Fast Forward Blade as Twilight flew up and caught the blade as she landed next to Lloyd with the others behind them cheered as the two leaders each held a Time Blade.
"Sorry, but it's gonna be pretty hard to control Equestria when you have absolutely none of the Time Blades." Twilight said with a smirk while Krux kneeled down while Acronix stood in defeat as they all cheered on to their victory as Twilight and Lloyd held up the Time Blades.
"Do not be blinded by pride, Ninja." Wu spoke up while she and Celestia were leaning on the stairs.
"Now is the time for the greatest vigilance." Celestia added before she saw Machia flying in on a glider towards them. "Ninja, look out!" She called.
Machia then flew down and took the Time Blades from both Twilight and Lloyd as she landed in front of the Hooves of Time. "Oh no!" Spike cried out.
"Oh, yes." Machia said as she aimed the slow-mo blade at them, slowing them down. "As I promised, the Time Blades are yours to keep." She said to Krux and Acronix.
"Indeed." Acronix said with glee. "And let's also take them!" He pointed towards Wu and Celestia as they walked up to them.
"Brilliantly executed, Machia." Krux complemented as an airship was over them as a ladder was brought down. "Forward. We are wasting precious time." He said as they all started climbing up while Wu and Celestia were forced up when Machia was aiming the blades at them.
"Thank you for your hospitality." Machia mocked the ninja as they flew off just as Luna and Misako came out.
"Brother! Sister! No!" Luna cried out as they saw the airship being taken away as Luna tossed the sword at Machia, who blocked it with one of the Time Blades.
"Be strong, it isn't over yet." Misako told Luna with a determined look just as the time bubble that caught the Ninja faded away but it was already too late.
"That did not just happen," Morro said in denial.
"All that fighting… just so we could end up losing everything." Flash said in despair. "Master Wu, Celestia, both Time Blades…"
"The Harmony's Bounty. And our temple." Landrush said as they looked down at the damaged Bounty on the ground and the damaged Airjitzu Temple.
"They beat us. They won." Rarity said sadly.
"Even Samurai X has been destroyed." Frost added as Aqua and Rivet rushed to the edge as they saw where the mech crashed as it released a puff of smoke.
"Maybe not." Rivet said with a small smile.
"Yeah, maybe not at all." Aqua said in thought.
"They didn't win." Lloyd spoke up as the others turned to him and Twilight as they took off their hoods. "We lost, because we got overconfident."
"So we've got to regroup." Twilight said with determination. "They're gonna pay." She said before she kicked the helmet away, which Trail picked it up and saw the symbol.
"The marking…" Trail muttered before he had the same vision again that he saw the symbol in a gong in his parents' old blacksmith shop, which made Trail gasped as he shook his head as they all huddled together. "This changes everything." He said as they all stood together.
They may have lost Wu, Celestia, and both the Time Blades, but they will save them and stop the Hooves of Time while Trail found a clue of the symbol from his past.