Season 4: The Princess of Friendship

The battle of the Elements and Magic!

The **fourth season** of *LEGO Ninjago & My Little Pony: Masters of Friendship*, subtitled **The Princess of Friendship**, and alternatively **The Tournament of Elements**, was preceded by Rebooted and succeeded by Marks of Possession. Kai and Twilight Sparkle were the focus Ninja and pony and mascots, Chen, Adagio Dazzle, and Tirek served as the main antagonists, and the Anacondrai Cultists were the villainous faction of the season. It continues and concludes the Rise of the Overlord story arc that began in the Pilot Episodes.

This season is based on LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu Season 4, subtitled *The Tournament of Elements*, and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic season four.

## Story

After the loss of Zane, the team is split apart, and Lloyd seeks to rebuild it. But everything changes when they find out that Zane is alive, and that crime lord, Master Chen, invites the Ninja and the other Elemental Masters to a Tournament, so that he can steal their powers in order to complete a spell that will turn him and his worshippers into Anacondrai.

## Episodes

1. Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 1
2. Princess Twilight Sparkle - Part 2
3. A Secret Invitation
4. Only One Can Remain
5. Flight to the Finish
6. Rarity Takes Manehatten
7. Ninja Roll
8. Pinkie Pride
9. Maud Pie
10. Twilight Time
11. It Ain't Easy Being Breezies
12. Leap of Faith
13. Game to the Fame
14. Twilight's Kingdom - Part 1
15. Twilight's Kingdom - Part 2

## Trivia

* The collectible items featured in this season are the Jadeblades and the Keys of Friendship. Unlike the previous collectibles, the Jadeblades did not have any powers. The Keys of Friendship are also the items featured in the season.
* This season was inspired by the 1973 film *Enter the Dragon*.
* When Zane rejoins the cast, the intro is not updated.
* This is the first season that the Postman doesn't appear in.
* This season, along with Marks of Possession, aired in their entirety in the same year. (The Princess of Friendship in the spring of 2015, and Marks of Possession in the summer of 2015). This marks the first time in the show that two seasons aired in the same year.
* Nya does Spinjitzu at the end of the intro, just like the others. However, it is not canon, as she is confirmed to have later learned it between The Changing Effect and "Day of the Departed."
* The Hageman Brothers stated that they liked the mysterious island and tournament aspect of the season but they didn't like the ending as much.
* In some airings, the tune of the audio had a low pitch.
* This was the first season to have issues of the Ninjago Magazine made for it.
* This season has some structural similarities to the previous season:
	+ The first story arc ends with three episodes remaining, and the ninja have mostly succeeded in stopping the villain but one ally has been captured.
	+ The final three episodes deal with the ninja attempting to and ultimately failing to stop the villain from attacking Ninjago.
	+ The villain is finally defeated by a main character sacrificing himself.
* When asked which season would work best as a movie, Tommy Andreasen said "TPoF is based off Enter the Dragon, so narratively that would lend itself well."

### Focus Character

* Kai was the focus ninja of this season. Different aspects of him were explored, like the relationship between him and Skylor, his jealousy in the prophecy of the Green Ninja, and the introduction of his parents.
	+ Kai was focused on in episodes 55, 56, 57, 59, 40, 41, 42, and 44.
		- * In episode 35, Kai went to Zane's statue to mourn for his fallen friend. Kai also fought Karlof on the way to Chen's island.
			* In Episode 36, Kai fought Karlof for the final spot in the next round of the tournament and won. He also discovered hints to Skylor's powers.
			* In Episode 37, Kai faced Ash and was ultimately victorious, advancing in the tournament.
			* Kai and Skylor's relationship was focused on in the second half of Episode 39.
			* In Episode 40, Kai found out Skylor is Chen's daughter, which turned into a conflict between the two.
			* Kai was the main focus in Episode 41 in many aspects. Kai was confronted by Chen who knew secrets of his parents; temporarily betrayed Nya, Garmadon, and Lloyd while working for Chen; and became corrupted with the power of the Staff of Elements, ultimately breaking it and giving the powers back to the Elemental Masters.
			* In Episode 42, while captured by Chen, he and Skylor struggled as Chen began the transformation spell, which he completed. Later, Kai was able to summon an Elemental Dragon, making him the third Elemental Master to do this after Lloyd and Zane.
			* Kai and Skylor's relationship temporarily ended in Episode 44, when Skylor left for the time being.
* Skylor had a major role in this season along with Kai, especially in episodes 39, 40 and 41. The relationship between them was a major part of this season's story.
* Master Garmadon had a great role, with many individual moments in the season, especially in episodes 40 and 44.
	+ Throughout the first half of the season, there are hints to his dark past with Chen and Clouse.
	+ In Episode 40, his backstory is explored in greater detail.
	+ In Episodes 44, the relationship of him with Misako, Wu, and Lloyd was the focus.
* Lloyd also had a major role, specifically in episodes 36, 38, 40, 41, and 44.
	+ In Episode 35, he brought the ninja team back together after the loss of Zane. In this way, he served as the thematic opposite of Chen, bringing the ninja together while Chen worked to cause conflict between the Elemental Masters and pit them against each other.
	+ In Episode 38, Lloyd's spot in the tournament against Chamille was the main focus.
	+ In Episode 40, Lloyd unlocked his Energy Dragon and later inquired about his father's past.
	+ In Episode 41, he faced Chen in the final match of the tournament.
	+ His relationship with Garmadon was a primary focus in Episode 44. Lloyd was also the one who technically defeated Chen and his army, though it was through Pythor's idea and Garmadon's sacrifice.
* Zane also had a crucial role in the season. His loss in the previous season was the primary cause of this season's events.
	+ In Episode 37 he dreamed of the Titanium Dragon, struggled with remembering who he was, and ultimately found P.I.X.A.L. dismantled and saved her by adding her to his programming.
	+ In Episode 42, he unlocked his ability to summon the dragon, with the help of P.I.X.A.L..
	+ P.I.X.A.L. had appearances in episodes 37-40 and 42-43.
* Cole had a great role in the middle portion of this season.
	+ He was focused on in the second half of Episode 37, where he fought Jay in the tournament, and he ultimately let Jay have the victory, repairing their friendship.
	+ Cole lead the prison break storyline in episodes 38-41, helping Zane and the Elemental Masters who had lost in the tournament plan to escape.
* The relationship between Jay and Cole remained hostile in the beginning of the season, but their battle and Cole's choice in Episode 37 repaired their friendship and allowed Jay to move forward in the tournament. Jay's leg was also injured in Episode 39.
* Nya had a significant role in some episodes, but overall her role was relatively minor,
	+ In Episode 38, she used the DB Express to sneak aboard Chen's ferry.
	+ In Episode 39, she became a spy in the tournament, discovering the transformation spell and ultimately fighting Clouse and escaping with the spell.
	+ In Episode 40, Chen used the goal of tracking down Nya as a ruse for the Elemental Masters, though Nya did not appear much in the episode herself.
* Wu had a minor role in the season.
* Misako had appearances in episodes 37, 40, 42, and 44.
	+ In Episode 40, it was revealed Garmadon had intercepted and signed the letter that would have otherwise caused Misako to fall in love with Wu.
	+ She had a greater role in the finale (Episode 44), regarding her relationship with Garmadon.

### Antagonists

* Master Chen, Adagio Dazzle, and Tirek served as the main antagonist of the season.
* Clouse served as the secondary antagonist of the season.
* Other important antagonists include Skylor (episodes 35-41), Eyezor, Zugu, Kapau, Chope, and the Anacondrai Serpent.
* The Anacondrai Cultists were the villainous faction of the season.