The Hands of Time

*“Shall we finish what we started? I've been waiting decades.”*

— Wu to Acronix

**The Hands of Time** is the first episode of the seventh season of *Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu* and the 65th episode overall. It premiered on May 15, 2017, in the United States on Cartoon Network.

## Synopsis

*Master Wu mistakenly tries to single-handedly complete a battle he began decades ago against Acronix, one of the twin Hands of Time. But the arrival of the first Time Blade-a weapon with the power to speed up time-sends the Ninja to the Monastery just in time to rescue their master from certain doom.*

## Plot

Several Ninjago citizens gather around the doors of the Borg Store, where the release of the latest BorgWatch would be unveiled at. As the camera pans away from the city, it heads up a mountain, where the ruins of the Monastery of Spinjitzu are. A butterfly lands on a flower before a rabbit begins to eat the flower. Wu then pulls out a watch as a vortex begins to form above the ruins of the monastery. After the rabbit flees, the vortex completely opens and it releases Acronix, one of the Time Twins. As Wu tells Acronix that he's right on time, Acronix is surprised to see how old Wu has become, saying his best days have passed, not unlike his monastery. As Wu tells Acronix that he still has plenty of days left, he asks him that if they should finish what they started, saying that he's been waiting decades. As Acronix remarks that it hasn't felt that long to him, Wu states that it ends now.

Meanwhile, at the Ninjago Museum of History, Jay says that it ends now to a statue head of Samukai, though he claims it doesn't help make cleaning up the museum any more interesting, and that they're ninja not janitors. As Lloyd reminds Jay that they are partially responsible for the damage caused to the museum, saying that if it is wasn't for their battles on the Day of the Departed, the place would still be in one piece as he pushes a trolley with a statue of Chen on it. As Jay questions whose fault that was, Cole apologizes for accidentally unleashing the evil spirits of their enemies onto Ninjago, before throwing the portrait of Yang in a nearby wheelbarrow and is about to move it, then Jay ask him how high can he count, then Cole grabs the wheelbarrow handles, but then hands glow orange making him let go, with Jay asking if he has gotten used to being human again, and Cole replies that he's working on it. Exiting the small room, they meet up with the other ninja in another exhibit, where Nya puts down a large crate, complaining that if she could travel back in time, she would make it so that she told Dr. Saunders that they were too busy to help clean up. As Zane pushes a trolley with a statue of Cryptor on it nearby, he reminds Nya of how some of them have time traveled before, saying it wasn't a joking matter, though Nya tells Zane it's just an expression. As Nya walks over to Kai, he tells her that he doesn't believe it, showing her a painting of their parents. While Nya determines that the painting was made when she was three, Kai explains that they know so little of them, saying they only left them with so little, though Nya reminds him they left them their powers. Cole then gets their attention, where they discover a massive painting depicting Master Wu and Garmadon fighting two unknown men at the Monastery of Spinjitzu while the other Elemental Masters watched. As Cole tells Lloyd that it's his dad and uncle in the picture, Lloyd wonders if he'll ever live up to their legacy. As Cole asks if anyone recognizes the battle in the painting, Zane requests P.I.X.A.L. to scan the painting, where she reports that facial recognition tells her that the battle took place forty years ago during the Serpentine War. Cole questions this, saying that Ninjago was at peace during this time, asking who they could've been fighting.

At that moment, Dr. Saunders arrives with refreshments for the ninja. As he explains that it is a tea made from pickled beetroot, most of the ninja spit out their drinks, while Cole drops his, claiming that he was still getting used to his new hands, while Jay drinks it nonetheless. Lloyd asks Saunders what the painting was about, Saunders explains that it was a minor skirmish and that it held no historical significance, saying that was a reason why it isn't hung up in the main gallery. As Jay says it looks significant due to its size, Saunders says that it is all a huge myth. As Zane states that even if it was a myth, he asks who the men Wu and Garmadon were supposed to be fighting, saying he has no data on them. As Saunders puts down his tray on a nearby crate, he explains that there was a legend where two twin brothers known as the Hands of Time, saying they could allegedly control Time itself by speeding it up, slowing it down and whatnot before laughing, saying that time manipulation was a ridiculous fairy tale. As Nya asks who the older one was of the two, Saunders stated that the "handsome looking fella" was called Krux. Lloyd then asks who the nasty looking one is, with Saunders saying that in the stories, he was called Acronix.

Back at the monastery, Acronix and Wu circle around the center plant in the courtyard, with Acronix telling Wu to give up, saying his brother wasn't here to bail him out, but Wu tells him that neither is his. Acronix asks whose fault that was, and Wu tells him that he and Garmadon did what they had to do in order to protect Ninjago. Acronix then says he will do he must do before pulling out a dagger and engaging Wu in a fight. Wu manages to knock back Acronix with his staff into a pole and tries to hit him with his again, but Acronix dodges it. Acronix climbs up the pole and as Wu is about to jump towards him, he cuts a piece off of Wu's staff. Saying that Wu was sprier than he imagined, he asks if he could catch up. Wu then climbs up after Acronix and manages to block Acronix's dagger from hitting him.

Meanwhile, at the Temple of Airjitzu, Ronin is carrying a box, asking Misako where he should put it. Telling him anywhere he could find space, she thanks him and Dareth for helping. Though Dareth says he's happy to help, Ronin tells him that he airlifted 300 boxes up to the temple, and Dareth didn't lift a single one. Saying he has a bad back, he tells them that the boxes aren't going to supervise themselves. Misako opens one of the boxes and finds Nya's old Samurai X outfit, which catches the attention of Ronin and Dareth. Saying it came to the wrong place, Dareth tells Ronin to get a look at it. Misako tells them that it was supposed to go to her Samurai X Cave instead of the temple, with Ronin question why, asking that he thought Nya gave up being Samurai X. Misako tells them that she keeps it as a reminder of her "previous life" along with her mech. Ronin says that if he was Nya, he would've sold it, saying that kind of tech would make some good money. He tells Misako that if Nya was interesting in selling it for a small fee. Dareth steps in and says it should go into a museum or his dojo before putting on the helmet and calling himself "Samurai D." As Misako and Ronin look on in disappointment, Dareth explains the "D" is for Dareth.

Back at the monastery, Acronix climbs up after the tower of the monastery after Wu, telling him to once again give up, saying he has decades on him, saying he's both faster and stronger. Wu tells him that that's his mistake, saying that he thinks his youth is a greater weapon than Wu's experience. Acronix jumps after Wu and Wu nearly falls backward off the roof and down the cliffside but catches himself. Acronix jumps again and Wu dodges it. Telling him that he's arrogant to the finish as his brother, Acronix tells him it's confidence before struggling with Wu before Wu kicks him over him, where he lands on the edge of the roof. As his dagger falls down the cliff, Acronix nearly falls down too, but his cape is caught by Wu. Saying it was arrogance, he tells him that it was his brother's downfall and it would soon be his. Asking him if he yields, Acronix refuses, but Wu tells him there's no escape this time before letting go of him and quickly catching him again. Asking him again if he yields, Acronix then yields. As Wu starts to pull him up, he explains that the battle forty years ago between them and the Elemental Alliance finally ended at exactly 6:00 pm. As his watch strikes 6:00 pm, another vortex opens above the monastery, where something soon lands in the courtyard, sending out a shockwave that spreads across Ninjago, causing all time to skip a minute as Wu and Acronix teleport right next to the Blade.

At the Temple of Airjitzu, Misako asks Dareth to give her the Samurai X helmet, with Ronin offering to do so. The shockwave then affects the temple, causing Ronin to immediately be on top of Dareth on the ground while Misako is holding the helmet. At the museum, the ninja exit the building, where they are immediately teleported to the bridge of the *Destiny's Bounty*. Questioning what happened, Kai asks if time just moved forward. Back at the monastery, Acronix claims the Forward Time Blade from the ground, and soon snags Wu's watch and exclaims that at 6:01, the battle continues again.

At the Temple of Airjitzu, Misako, Ronin, and Dareth all try to figure out what just happened, Misako wonders how she got Nay's helmet, Misako has the strangest feeling. It's like déjà vu, but in reverse, Ronin feels like time skipped a beat, but Misako realized that it skipped an whole minute,Dareth tells Ronin to get off of him, meanwhile on the Destiny's Bounty*,* the ninja attempt to cope with what just happened as well,Cole tells the others weren't they just outside, and when did they got on the Bounty,Nya wonders how did they get here, Zane says his circuits are picking up an energy displacement, Kai replied that there was a displacement all right. It displaced them right into the Bounty, Lloyd wonders what is going on,Jay jumps up covering his ears from the noise replying doesn't know but it's really loud. As Wu and Acronix continue fighting, Acronix tells him that he should've let him drop, asking him if his experience was more powerful than the Time Blade.

The ninja, still aboard the *Bounty*, are able to turn off the alarm system. Zane soon determines that the shockwave they felt was a blast of temporal energy, which is described to be incredibly powerful, saying that the rules of reality no longer apply to such a force. At the monastery, Acronix begins to slowly overpower Wu, taunting him to flee. Calling him weak and afraid, Acronix tells Wu he has no ambition, while Wu tells Acronix that his ambition was to rule, with Acronix saying that he and his brother deserved to. After Wu recites the Time Twins' signature motto, Acronix resumes fighting, and in the midst of their fight, is able to use the Forward Time Blade's powers to jump forward in time. After appearing again, he strikes Wu with the Time Blade, unleashing the Time Blade's powers onto Wu. At the *Bounty*, the ninja are able to pinpoint the epicenter of the surge, revealing that it was at the monastery. When Lloyd reveals that Master Wu was going there alone, the ninja soon set course for the monastery after realizing he was in trouble.

As Wu gets up from the rubble, Acronix then proceeds to name his newfound ability as the Time Punch, saying its effects are devastating. As Wu realizes his mistake, Acronix tells him he never should've fought him, not forty years prior, or even today. Seeing that Wu was one more Time Punch away from death, he attempts to strike him, but Wu dodges the attack before using Spinjitzu to knock Acronix onto the roof, where he drops the Time Blade. As he goes for it, Wu appears and struggles with him, but Acronix soon kicks him over the side of the mountain. Wu manages to grab ahold of a lone branch, and after Acronix leaves him to die, the ninja arrive in the *Bounty*. After Jay confronts Acronix, P.I.X.A.L. soon identifies Acronix's identity, forcing the ninja to help Jay fight Acronix. A long fight ensues, and in the midst of it, Acronix reveals to Kai that he's met his father. While Zane and Nya attempt to put out the fire caused by Kai, the others fight Acronix and are able to send their powers towards the Time Blade, overloading it and seemingly destroying both Acronix and the Time Blade. However, Acronix used the Time Blade to escape the monastery. As the ninja recover from the battle, they soon search for Master Wu. Just as the branch snaps off, Wu begins to fall, only for Cole to save him. As he pulls him up, the ninja start to question him, but Wu tells his students that there is much to tell, but not much time.

At midnight, Dr. Saunders looks at his watch when Acronix arrives, asking him what took so long. Replying that things have changed since he was last in Ninjago. As Dr. Saunders suddenly takes off his mustache, he takes off the rest of his civilian outfit, revealing that he is actually Krux as the two brothers hug in front of the painting depicting their battle forty years prior.

## Appearances

### Characters

* Acronix
* Cole
* Dareth
* Dr. Saunders/Krux
* Jay
* Kai
* Lloyd Garmadon
* Misako
* Nya
* P.I.X.A.L.
* Ronin
* Wu
* Zane

### Miscellaneous

* Chen (statue)
* Garmadon (painting)
* Maya (painting)
* Ray (painting)
* Samukai (statue)
* Yang (painting)

### Events

* Battle for All of Time (painting)
* Day of the Departed (mentioned)

### Items

* BorgWatch
* Dagger
* Nunchucks
* Forward Time Blade

### Locations

* Ninjago
	+ Ninjago City
		- Ninjago Museum of History
	+ Mountains of Impossible Height
		- Monastery of Spinjitzu
	+ Ignacia (painting)
		- Four Weapons Blacksmith
* Temple of Airjitzu

### Species

* Humans
* Nindroids
* Oni/Dragon/Human hybrids

## Trivia

* This is the first episode to air in 2017.
* This episode has the same title as the season. This is the second season premiere to have the same name as its season, the first being "Rise of the Snakes."
* The name of this episode was first confirmed by Tommy Andreasen on Twitter.

## Cultural references

* Acronix's taunt "Ninja, come out and play!" is a reference to the movie *The Warriors*, where Luther, one of the antagonists of the movie, would clank three bottles together in his hand while saying "Warriors, come out to play!" He also shouts "Here's Acronix!" a clear reference to Stephen King's 1980 film *The Shining*, the quote referencing "Here's Johnny!".

## Continuity

* It is revealed that Ray and Maya disappeared when Nya was only three years old.
	+ Since Nya is 2 years younger than Kai, that means Kai was 5 when Ray and Maya disappeared.
* Dr. Saunders is revealed to actually be Krux, one of the Time Twins. His brother, Acronix, is introduced.
* This episode reveals that the Serpentine War took place 40 years prior to this point in the series.
* Lloyd refers to his father and uncle as Elemental Masters, when he should have said simply "Masters." This is because even Lloyd is confused and does not know the full truth yet.
* This is the first time Cole reappears with his redesign from "Day of the Departed," which now gives him the ghost scar after being turned into a human again.
* Zane references the events of "Wrong Place, Wrong Time" in this episode, saying to Nya, "you may recall that the rest of us once time-traveled." It's unknown why Nya would recall this, as only the individuals who were involved remember those events, which was shown when Lloyd did not remember them. However, Nya showed recognition of the events in "Codename: Arcturus".

## Errors

* Lloyd says, "After all, if we hadn't had that massive battle on the Day of the Departed, this place would still be in one piece." This implies there was one major battle at the museum in "Day of the Departed," while in reality there were a number of smaller battles across Ninjago, and the museum was only damaged in Dareth's conflict with Kozu.
* The Samurai X helmet is too large when Dareth wears it, in order to fit his hair.
	+ This is the second time a helmet has appeared on Dareth larger than its normal size, the first being with the Helmet of Shadows in "The Surge."
* Jay's armor disappears when he misses Acronix after he uses the Forward Blade.