102. All the time in the world

Smoke: Hey guys Smoke here with the chapter for our contest winner. Hope you all enjoy it.

It's a dark night in Royal Woods, over at the Royal Woods Bus station a bus stops and a figure exits the bus. He has fair skin, green eyes, with short dark brown hair, and a handlebar mustache, he's wearing a Brown bowler hat, dark brown, buttoned up vest over a white undershirt, a red tie with silver stripes, a tan dress coat, gray pants, and black formal shoes. He also carries a cane and a gold pocket watch in his right coat pocket.

The man took out of his pocket watch and inspects it, and smiles a bit. "Right on time." The man said. "Perhaps I have time for a personal errand?"

He crossed the street towards a bank. He opens the door but allows an old lady to go in first. "After you madam." He says to to her.

"Why thank you." The old lady said as she walked in with the man going in after her. Once he's in he sees a bank teller head to the back.

The bank teller punches in a code to open the vault. The vault slowly opened up, once the vault opens up the bank the money was gone. "The money's gone!?" The bank teller gasps, as she runs towards a red button and sounds the alarm.

Unknown to everyone, the man from earlier stood in an alley with several duffel bags filled with money sitting next to him.

"I believe I beat my old record." The man said before opening up his pocket watch as sirens began to be heard from the distance. "And it's time for me to leave." A car drives past him and just like that he vanished.

The next morning at the Loud House, the family is having breakfast as Lynn Sr is reading the newspaper. "The whole bank got robbed within a minute." Lynn Sr read.

"The whole bank got robbed?!" Rita exclaimed.

"That's what it says." Lynn Sr said.

"You don't think it's that Johnny Speed do you?" Rita asked.

"Highly doubt that." Lynn Sr. said. "There was literally no evidence of any of the Terror Crew being involved."

"Maybe it was an inside job?" Lori Suggested.

"Like if someone had the same powers as Danny Phantom or Shadowcat?" Lincoln replied.

"Highly doubt it kids." Lynn Sr. said. "Says here that the teller saw the money then all of a sudden the money was gone." He snaps his fingers. "Just like that."

"How odd." Lisa replied.

"And the bank had no trace of evidence?" Leni asked.

"Not at all." Lynn Sr said.

"Hopefully the L-Crew can catch him." Lori said out loud before leaning into her siblings. "Ok here's what gonna happen. Lincoln, Lana, Lisa, Lily and I will investigate this whole robbery. You all try to rest and recover. Also Leni you have work today."

"Ok thanks for reminding." Leni whispered.

"Sounds like a plan." Lana whispered back.

"Right. Let's go." Lori said.

At the base, Mr. Cuddles was wearing wielding goggles as he wielded some metal with a blowtorch.

"Heh. This metal from the Tankbot is perfect for Clyde's armor." Mr. Cuddles said. "If that thing could tank hits from Petty than it's perfect to use as a hero suit."

"Indeed." Soothsayer said. "The metal should definitely speed up the process."

"Yeah but I still need a lot more stuff." Mr. Cuddles said as he pushed his goggles up. "I got the reactor working for the power source but I need more stuff that I currently have no way of getting. And the suit still has a ways to go."

"If anyone can do this my friend it's you." Soothsayer said. Clyde then rides into the base on his bike. "Greetings Clyde."

"Hey guys." Clyde greeted. "What's up?"

"Working on your Iron Man suit." Mr. Cuddles said. "But it might take a bit longer with the following items I need."

"Oh well hopefully it's soon because I really want to help everyone in the field." Clyde said. "Really want to be more than a computer guy."

"I understand. But we do not have the right resources at the time." Soothsayer said.

"Yeah I got the reactor working. We just need a few things." said Mr. Cuddles.

"I hope we get them soon." Clyde said. "Anyways, there was a bank robbery yesterday evening. According to witnesses, the teller went in to get money and suddenly the money disappeared. When she walked in the money was there and then suddenly she blinks and it's gone."

"Hmm. Interesting." Soothsayer said. "It could be magic but I haven't sensed any magical beings here."

"What about Johnny and the Terror Crew?" Mr. Cuddles suggested. "Could they pull off something like this?"

"I don't think so. Unless Johnny Speed had some of Candyman's drug." Clyde stated. "But than again, he would need to carry out a certain number of duffle bags to carry them to the Terror Crew's hideout."

"So it's someone else." Soothsayer said. "But who?"

"That's the big question." Mr. Cuddles sighed. "I feel like this is way too similar to Phantom where we have nothing to go on."

"It must have been a inside job or we're dealing with a new Metahuman." Clyde said.

"Those could be possible theories." Mr. Cuddles said.

"We'll need to investigate immediately to figure this out." Soothsayer said. "Perhaps we should start looking at camera footage from the bank footing street camera."

"I'll have Martha get on that." Clyde said.

"A good idea Clyde." Mr. Cuddles replied. Right when Clyde walks up to the computer.

"I can also call in the Louds to go check out the scene of the crime for any other clues." Clyde replied.

"Ah another good idea friend Clyde." Soothsayer said.

"By the way where's Petty?" Clyde asked.

"Stamina training." Soothsayer said. "He's working on perfecting his stamina."

"He's chasing Tongri around who's carrying a ham." Mr. Cuddles said. "They've doing it for an hour now."

"I guess that's a good way to motivate him through his training." Clyde said.

"Petty want ham!" Petty shouted from outside.

"Surprised that Tongri isn't tired." Clyde said.

"Tongri is magically enhanced in every way shape and form which includes endurance and stamina." Soothsayer explains. "Tongri can go on for hours."

"Man Izahr really gave him a boost when he served under his command." Clyde said.

"It appears so. I'm guessing they stayed with him when I reverted him back to his original form." Soothsayer said.

"Which is why he can take the hits he can." Mr. Cuddles said.

"I hope he keeps his training." Soothsayer said.

"Alright, we got a mystery to solve." Clyde said as he walked over to the computer. "Come in L-Crew."

"We read you buddy." Firecracker said.

"Alright we got a bank robbery during the final hours of Royal Woods second bank yesterday evening." Clyde said. "There were ten people in that building. Three tellers, two security guards and four civilians yet nobody saw anything. Nobody saw anyone suspicious walk in or out so we got no information whatsoever."

"So much for that." Speed Queen replied.

"The robber could strike again at the next bank." Prodigy said. "But if we split up, the robber would be gone before any of us can show up."

"Well is there anything that can help us?" Wildgirl asked.

"I don't think so." Clyde said as he watched some of the footage until something caught his attention. "Huh. That's odd. I'm rewatching the footage again and it shows a guy in a suit and bowler hat going in but it doesn't show him walking out and on different footage, it shows him standing in the middle of the bank and then he just disappeared."

"He looks like he could be a suspect." Prodigy said.

"Could be but we can't be sure till we actually investigate." Speed Queen said. "Thanks Clyde. You're the best." They then hang up.

"Yeah. The best at the being the computer guy." Clyde said with a sigh.

Firecracker and Wildgirl (in falcon form) are flying through the skies looking for the bank robber. "Maybe the robber can teleport into the vault and out." Wildgirl said.

"I don't know about that, there's cameras inside bank vaults." Firecracker said.

"Oh yeah." Wildgirl said. "What about portals?"

"Again the cameras in vault would catch it on film." Firecracker said. "So that's out of the question."

"Dang it. We can rule out invisibility, because we would see floating duffel bags." Wildgirl said.

"That and it would take forever to fill those duffle bags." Firecracker said.

"So how does a guy sneak into a vault undetected, steal everything inside it and then walk out without a trace?" Wildgirl asked.

"Maybe we're missing something." Firecracker said. "Let's put together what we know. So someone went into the bank but nobody saw him walk out. The cameras show him one minute and then all of sudden he vanishes without a trace. Teller goes into the vault sees money, blinks and then money is all gone. How does all that work in such a short period of time?" Suddenly it clicks. "Wait a minute. Time! That's it!"

"You mean the bank robber can control time?" Wildgirl asked.

"Yeah, he either paused time or moved forward through time." Firecracker stated. "It makes perfect sense."

"I mean it sounds a little crazy and I wouldn't say it makes perfect sense but we got nothing else to go off of so yeah." Wildgirl said.

"We need to find that guy before he robs the next bank." said Firecracker.

"Right." Wildgirl said. "Um, how do we do that?"

"I have no clue." Firecracker admitted. "This guy could be anywhere."

"It's going to take a long time to find him." Wildgirl said. "He'll be gone before we find him."

"Wanna check the clock repair shop because it'd probably be funny if he was there." Firecracker said.

"Yeah sure." Wildgirl said.

Firecracker and Wildgirl have arrived outside of the back ally of the clock repair store. "Should we call the others and wait or should we go in?" Wildgirl asked.

"We'll do both." Firecracker said. "We'll call and then go in."

"Ok sounds good." Wildgirl said as she tapped on her watch. "Hey guys we have a lead on the robber come to our location." Wildgirl said.

"On our way." Speed Queen says. "Stay put."

Sometime later, Speed Queen, Prodigy and Greenthumb have arrived at Firecracker and Wildgirl's location. "Did you find the robber?" Speed Queen asked.

"Yeah and we figured out how the robber robbed the banks cleaned." Wildgirl said.

"We think he has time powers." Firecracker said. "He'd be able to rob the bank completely undetected and no one would be the wiser."

"Please. Time powers?" Prodigy scoffed. "That's preposterous."

"Never say never Prodigy." Speed Queen said. "We've seen weirder." She looks up at the repair shop. "Let's go." The head inside and look around for clues. They hear noises from the back room and they look at each other before going to investigate. When they go to the back they see a large room filled with clocks. They scan the area and see a man at a workbench painting a clock.

"L-Crew." The man said as he looked at his pocket watch. "Your just on time." He turns to face them. "As I expected."

"You were waiting for us?" Speed Queen asked.

"I knew you would be here and I knew how long it would take for you to figure out how I rob those banks." The man said as he got up from his seat.

"Who are you?" Firecracker asked as he ignited his fists.

"Forgive me." The man as he took off his bowler hat and put it on his chest and bowed. "I am Clockwork."

"Clockwork?" Wildgirl repeated. "Wait do you actually have time powers? And are you British?"

"Yes and yes." Clockwork answered as he put his hat back on.

"So I'm guessing you robbed those banks by pausing time?" Speed Queen asked.

"That is correct my dear." Clockwork answered again.

"Fascinating." Prodigy said. "How come we've never heard of you?"

"Because I've never been caught." Clockwork replied as he walked around his workshop. "Not as Clockwork or as Arthur Williamson. No one has ever even suspected me. I pulled off multiple crimes back in London and got away with it all."

"Impressive, you were able to pull off these crimes with a power that is considered impossible." Prodigy said.

"Yes, I discovered these powers when I was almost hit by a car, but when I raised my hands, everything around me stopped." Clockwork explained. "I looked at my watch and time stopped, that's when it came to me, I can control time."

"Impressive but we need to take you in." Speed Queen told him. "You're going to the Dungeon."

"Sorry but I don't think I will." Clockwork told them.

"Then we'll bring you in by force." Wildgirl snarled as she morphed into a wolf and pounces towards Clockwork, but within a second Clockwork disappeared and Wildgirl hits her head on the table.

"Impressive but predictable." Clockwork said as he walked up behind her. "You should definitely work on your timing."

"Whoa." Wildgirl gasped. "He disappeared and reappeared just like that."

"I just paused time and moved out of the way." Clockwork said.

"Not really impressive when you explain it." Speed Queen said.

"Now that you mention it, you might have a point." said Clockwork.

"Doesn't matter let's get him." Firecracker said before flying forward. However Clockwork puts a hand up which causes Firecracker to stop in his tracks and with a slight move of his hand sent Firecracker back to his starting spot. "Doesn't matter let's get him. Wait what? I'm getting some weird case of déjà vu here."

"It appears that he rewound time to cancel your attack." Prodigy said. "Fascinating."

Greenthumb is about to place her hand on the ground but all of a sudden time around them slowed down and placed Greenthumb in the air. Once time moved at the right speed again, Speed Queen quickly grabbed Greenthumb before she hit the ground.

"We can add slowing down time to his other powers." said Lori.

"Indeed." Prodigy said from inside a cabinet. Speed Queen opens it up to reveal Prodigy. "He may have put me in here during the time slow down."

"This guy isn't messing around," Speed Queen said.

"No I am not." Clockwork replied.

"Look you technically haven't hurt anyone so maybe we can try to be civilized." Speed Queen said.

"I am not going to that prison. I will not end my crime streak this way." Clockwork said.

"Fine." Speed Queen said. "I tried to be civilized but it looks like you want to do things the hard way." She gets in position. "Fine."

"If you insist, ladies first." said Clockwork as he gestured.

Speed Queen runs towards Clockwork at super speed. "Something's not right." said Prodigy.

"What do you mean?" Wildgirl asked.

"It's almost like he's baiting her in. But why would he do that?" Prodigy questions. "Unless." She then gasps. "Speed Queen stop!"

Speed Queen didn't listen to Prodigy, right before she lands a punch on Clockwork, but everything around him stopped and froze. "Foolish child." He said.

He steps to the side and resumes time which causes Speed Queen to crash into a wall. "Damn it." She groaned. "I'm gonna literally take you down!" She turns to her team. "Circle him!"

The other nod and they each circle around Clockwork. "You know how this going end. There's really no point on defeating me." Clockwork said.

"The point is that we're gonna stop your crime spree." Firecracker said.

"And we're taking you straight to the Dungeon!" Wildgirl said before going gorilla.

"Enough talk. Converge!" Speed Queen ordered. The all lunged towards Clockwork but suddenly froze in place.

"And here I thought we would see it my way." Clockwork sighed. "Well perhaps it's time to truly teach you a lesson."

Speed Queen began to wake up as she groans, she gets up and sees she's in back alley of the clock repair shop. "Wait how did I end up here?" Speed Queen with a high pitch voice. "Why does my voice sound different? Wait why is everything tall around me." But she hears a baby crying near her location. "Lily don't cry it'll be okay."

"Ugh. I ain't crying." A women's voice said. Speed Queen turns to see an eighteen year old girl with long blonde hair. The woman looks at Lori and gasps. "Lori what happened to you!?"

"Who are you and why do you know my name?" Speed Queen asked.

"Lori it's me." The women said. "It's Lily!"

"Lily? It can't be! You're supposed to be a baby!" Speed Queen shouted.

"And you're supposed to be a teenager!" Greenthumb retorted.

"Lily? Lori?!" The two girls look and see what looks like a teenage Wildgirl.

"Lana, is that you?" Speed Queen asked. "Why are you big?"

"Why are you short?" Wildgirl asked.

"Why does everyone say I'm short?" Speed Queen asked.

"Because you're seven." Wildgirl answered.

"And you look twelve." Speed Queen said. "This is literally insane. Wait where's Lisa and Lincoln?"

"No clue." Wildgirl said. "I haven't seen them."

"Siblings are you there?" A voice called out.

"Lisa is that you?" Greenthumb called back. Seconds later, a older Prodigy stepped around the corner holding a baby. "Lisa you're fifteen!"

"It appears so." Prodigy said with a sigh. "Good thing I made our suits so that they grow as we do."

"Ok so we're just missing Lincoln." Speed Queen said.

"Actually you're wrong." Prodigy said as she held up the baby in her arms. "Sisters, our brother." The girls gasp as they see that their brother was now a baby.

"Oh my God it is Lincoln." Speed Queen said. "I remember that little face of his. It was always so cute. What happened to us?"

"Not sure but I think Clockwork had something to do with this." Prodigy said.

"Clockwork did this to us?" Wildgirl asked. "He made us older and younger?"

"It looks that way. Which appears why Lori and Lincoln are younger and why Lily, Lana and I are older." said Prodigy. "He has the ability she or de age items or humans."

"This is literally insane." Speed Queen said as she looked herself over. "Of all times to become younger again."

"Indeed. We must get back to base immediately." Prodigy said.

The team enters the base while Mr. Cuddles is working on Clyde's Armor. "Hey guys, did you stop that bank robber?" Mr. Cuddles asked as he continued to work on the armor.

"Not excalty." Lana said.

"Hey what's with your voice Lori?" Mr. Cuddles said as he turned around and gasped. "What happened to you guys?!"

"Long story." Lori said. "Can you get Soothsayer?"

Moments later Soothsayer was examining the newly aged Louds as Mr. Cuddles watched on. As he examined them, they explained what happened with Clockwork.

"Seems like we have a rough problem." Mr. Cuddles said.

"Indeed." Soothsayer said. "To completely change their physical age takes quite a bit of power to do."

"So can you fix us?" Lily asks as Lincoln played with her fingers while sitting on her lap.

"Sadly I cannot." Soothsayer replied. "Aging spells are considered dark magic. If one does dark magic, it could cause them to become corrupt."

"Like Izahr?" Lana asked and Soothsayer nodded.

"Izahr secretly studied dark magic in his down time which caused him to become corrupt and turn to darkness." Soothsayer explained. "The book Lucy had dark magic spells in it."

"Really?" Lori asked surprised. "Great Grandma Harriet used the book once. Does that mean she became evil?"

"Of course not." Mr. Cuddles answered. "Harriet only used one spell and that was to bring me to life. You only become corrupt if you continuously use dark magic. Besides even if Soothsayer did use dark magic to fix you, it's not that simple. Dark magic always has a catch. Like for instance, when Harriet brought me to life, there was a chance I could become evil and start a plan for world domination."

"Aging spells while yes they would fix can easily go wrong." Soothsayer added. "You could either de-age to non-existence or you could age rapidly till you're dust. Dark magic always has a price."

"Plus you gotta do it right for it to work." Mr. Cuddles continued. "When Lucy tried those spells she was probably doing something wrong. There's always a fine print with these things."

"Dang it, so much for that." Lily groaned.

"Sorry children. I cannot do this task to fix your problem." Soothsayer said.

"But we need to fix this. I don't want to go through puberty again!" Lori said.

"Calm down." Mr. Cuddles said. "I'll run some tests and see if there's a way to change you back."

"Excellent idea." Lisa said. "I'll assist you."

"Ok sounds good." Mr. Cuddles said. "Um, Lily? Where's Lincoln?"

"Oh he's on my lap." Lily said but when she looked down he wasn't there. "He was here."

"Crap, he could be anywhere!" said Lana.

"Ok let's split up and search for him." Lori said. "I can find him faster with my super speed."

Lori begins to start running around but suddenly begins to slow down.

"Lori why are you slowing down?" Lana asked.

"I don't know." Lori admitted. "I'm going back and forth between super speed and normal speed."

"Something's not right." Mr. Cuddles said.

"I'll sniff him out." Lans said as she tried to turn into a bloodhound, but she turns into a cat instead. "Oh come on! I wanted to be a dog not a cat!"

"This is curious." Lisa said. "You're powers seem to be not working correctly."

"We'll figure that out later. We gotta find Lincoln." Lori said. "Check outside!" Everyone heads outside where they find Lincoln flying in the air holding a ham while Petty and Tongri chase after him.

"Give Petty ham!" Petty shouted as he chased Lincoln. Suddenly to everyone's horror, Lincoln's flame went out and he started to plummet to the ground.

"OH MY GOD!" Everyone shouted. Lily tries to send vines but they didn't get far and Lisa tried to use her telekinesis but it didn't work.

"Someone catch him!" Clyde shouted. Right when Lincoln was about to hit the ground, Petty and Tongri slid underneath him and caught him and the ham.

"Petty save baby." Petty said as everyone let out a sigh of relief.

"Thanks for saving Lincoln Petty." Lana said as walked up to Petty and took Lincoln from Petty.

"That's Lincoln?!" Petty questioned.

"Yeah it's a long story." said Lana.

"Who you?" Petty asked.

"Petty it's me. Lana." Lana said.

"No, Lana small, not big." Petty said.

"Petty it's us. Some time villain messed up our ages." Lily said.

"Who you?" Petty asked.

"It's me Lily." Lily said.

"Lily baby." Petty said.

"Petty, bad guy change our ages." Lori explained slowly.

"Oooh." Petty said. "Me understand."

"This is going to be a problem still your powers are out of whack." Clyde said.

"We can't call their others for help they'll end up being older or younger." Lisa said.

"Not to mention Lynn, Luan, Lola, Lucy and Bobby are still recovering from the battle with Pike who the police have labeled as a level ten threat." Soothsayer added.

"Plus the only way to fix them is Clockwork and if we can't go after him, then they'll be stuck like this forever!" Mr. Cuddles shouted. "Well at least until their next birthdays."

"Damn it, I don't want to go through my awkward phase again." Lori said.

"But how do stop him if we can't go after him?" Lily shouted. The arguing continued which also caused Lincoln to start crying. Suddenly a voice shouted above the arguing.

"I'll go after him!" Everyone stops arguing and turn to the source of the voice. Clyde.

"Clyde are you insane?!" Lisa questioned. "That man can control time and you don't have any powers."

"Look we don't have many options and right now I'm the only one that can go after him." Clyde argued.

"But again, you don't have powers!" Lori said.

"Which is why I'm the best option to go after him!" Clyde told them. "If I get my age changed, it doesn't affect as much."

"Clyde it's a Suicide mission to go and fight a meta human, especially a meta human with time powers." said Lisa.

"If you call in the others, they're end up the same as us." Clyde said. "Ronnie Anne could end up like an old lady. Luna would be a middle aged woman. I'm gonna stop that guy with or without your permission."

"But Clyde, it's too dangerous." Lily said.

"I know." Clyde told them. "But I want this more than anything. I want to help people no matter the cost. That's why I'm starting with saving you guys." He then smiles. "Isn't that what heroes do?"

"He does have a point." Lori said.

"But don't you need weapons to fight this guy?" Lana asked.

"He has one." Mr. Cuddles said. "The suit isn't finished but there's enough there that should allow Clyde to confront Clockwork."

"Then do it." Lori said.

"Time to suit up." said Clyde and he walked inside.

He steps onto a platform and Mr. Cuddles starts putting parts of the suit on him.

"I only got parts of the suit done so you ain't getting the Iron Man treatment yet." Mr. Cuddles told him as he slipped a arm on.

"It'll do." said Clyde. "I don't need jets to attack Clockwork."

"Well you have jets yet but your other weapons are not installed." Mr. Cuddles stated.

"Doesn't matter." Clyde said as Mr. Cuddles attached the boots. "Whatever you can give me will be enough."

"These boots should provide you with short-term flight." Mr. Cuddles told him. "Not long but enough to get the job done." He grabs the chest plate with the reactor connected to it. "This'll power the suit. You only got enough power for five hours so be smart about it."

"I'll use it wisely." Clyde said.

"Be careful Clyde, we don't want you to be a toddler or an old man." Lori said.

"I'll be careful Lori." Clyde said.

"Also safety first." Mr. Cuddles said tossing him a pilot helmet. "Don't have your official helmet done yet but that should keep your head protected for now."

"Thanks." Clyde said as he begins to walk out of the base. But before he exits the threshold he looks behind and looks at the others. "If I don't make it. Tell Haiku I died a hero's death."

"Yeah I guess but we kinda need you to come back alive." Lana pointed out.

The thrusters on Clyde's jet boots activates and flies away. "God speed Mr. McBride." said Mr. Cuddles.

"Give him one for us Clyde." Lana said.

Clyde is flying through the city looking for Clockwork. "How hard is it to find a British guy?" Clyde said. "Come on dude where are you?"

"Hey Clyde maybe check his hideout." Mr. Cuddles suggested. "Since he changed the L-Crew's ages he probably won't be expecting them to show. Why not give that a look."

"Good idea." Clyde said and flew towards the old clock repair shop.

Sometime later Clyde arrives in the back alley of the clock repair shop. "Alright time to clean his clock." Clyde said. "I have to tell Luan that joke."

He enters the shop and heads towards the back room where Clockwork is at his workbench with blueprints in front of him. He sits up and turns around to face Clyde.

"You're early." Clockwork said. "Wasn't expecting you for another ten minutes."

"I've had this thing with being early." Clyde said calmly.

"Well the early bird catches the worm, as the old saying goes." Clockwork said. "Anyway you're here to fight me?"

"Yeah. But how did you know?" Clyde asked.

"Not only can I control time. But I can even see the future." Clockwork said.

"I see." Clyde said not taking his eyes off of Clockwork. "Turn the L-Crew back to their normal ages."

"No." Clockwork replied. "If I do they'll try to stop me and I can't have that. So I'm sorry but no I will not be turning them back."

"Well I asked nicely." Clyde sighed. "So I'll you again by force." Clyde said as he charged up his repulser.

"Think this thought kid. You're up against someone who can control time. You'll be either an infant or an old man." Clockwork said.

"It'll be worth the risk if that means taking you down." Clyde said before firing a repulser blast at Clockwork who vanished.

"You always want to use violence to solve your issues." Clockwork said from behind Clyde.

"I'm not usually a violent person but I gotta save my friends." Clyde told him.

"I'm sorry, I can't let you do that kid." Clockwork said. "I need to keep my crime streak going."

"Well I'll put an to it." Clyde said as he shot another repulser blast at Clockwork.

However he vanished again this time appearing next to him.

"You never seem to learn do you." Clockwork told him. "I know every outcome to this fight."

"So you know my moves before I act?" Clyde asked. "So what? I can still defeat you in the end."

"I doubt that." Clockwork retorted. "I want to show you something." He holds out his cane. "Grab hold if you would."

"If you insist." said Clyde as he grabbed Clockwork's cane.

"Now, hold on." Clockwork said as he breathes in and all of a sudden the room around the two began to go pitch black.

"What's going on? Is this the end of the time?!" Clyde asked.

"Close." Clockwork answered. "We're in the time stream." He waves his hand and several images pop up. As Clyde looked at them, he saw that they were all of him.

"These are all me." Clyde said.

"This is your timeline." Clockwork told him. "One of many possible paths of your life." Clyde floats through the timeline looking at his past. Some were good and made him smile while others were sad and made him almost shed a tear. As he looked around he he noticed several dark paths that branched off from certain moments.

"What are these?" Clyde asked.

"Possible paths you could've taken but didn't." Clockwork explained.

Clyde looked at one dark path and sees Bobby breaking up with Lori at Jean Juan's, while Lori is crying, Clyde is delight that Lori is single. "I know that day. But it's different." said Clyde.

"Exactly, this is an alternate timeline that never happened." Clockwork said. "But this is one of many."

"The way I remember it, Bobby and Lori broke up but almost immediately got back together." Clyde said. "Not gonna lie, if this had happened I'd have felt bad. So I'm glad that this didn't go that way."

"I'm glad you didn't get in the way. It would not only affect Lori's relationship with Bobby, but it would have affected your friendship with her brother." Clockwork said.

"Man I didn't think about that at the time." Clyde said. "All he was doing was to make things right with Ronnie Anne to help out his sister and I just made things worse." He looked around other paths that he could've taken but didn't like if he and Lincoln didn't try to steal that cat or if he, Rusty, Zack and Liam hadn't helped Lincoln with his four dates situation. Each possible outcome of his life made Clyde really think about the what ifs and what would've happened if he followed through with some of his plans.

"This is really making you think isn't it?" Clockwork questions.

"Yeah, it is." Clyde said before turning to Clockwork. "But this isn't why we're here. Show me what you brought me here to see."

"No. Not just to show you your pst and the choices you could have made in the past. But also possible futures." Clockwork said as they float through Clyde's timeline. Clyde looked and sees some branches that were developing in the process and they were soon to connect to events that have not happened.

They then stop at a particular spot: where Clyde confronted Clockwork. Clyde also noticed that all the paths connected to it were lit.

"Why aren't any of these paths dark if they hadn't happened yet?" Clyde asked.

"Because you haven't gone down any of these paths yet." Clockwork explained. "These paths are all the possible outcomes of our battle."

Clyde looks at the different outcomes, one where Clockwork defeats Clyde the old fashion way, one where he ages Clyde into an old man, one where he de-aged Clyde into a baby and one where Clockwork paused Clyde and destroyed his gear and other outcomes.

"Holy crap. You were right." said Clyde.

Clyde then looked at some of the other outcomes, one where Clyde defeated Clockwork but escapes, one where Clockwork loses but refuses to change the L-Crew back and another where Clyde accidentally kills Clockwork preventing any chance of fixing the L-Crew.

"Even if you defeat me, you still lose." Clockwork tells him. "You can't escape destiny or fate." He waves his hand Clyde sees more images of his future. There was one where he was big and muscular married to Haiku and then there was one where he was still single and alone testing video games. "This is your future."

"Which one the one where I'm strong or the one where I'm playing video games?" Clyde asked.

"I cannot say. It could be one of those futures, you could either be married and strong, or be a scrawny video game tester and die alone." said Clockwork.

Clyde looked at both futures and sighed. Yes these were possible futures for him to possibly live. One where he's happily married and jacked with a good job and another where he's alone and miserable with a job that probably gets old after a while. These were his futures and he had to accept them. Or did he?

"Who says I need to accept that these are futures?" Clyde said before turning to Clockwork. "Who's says that these are definitive? Who says I have to accept these?"

"You cannot escape your fate kid." Clockwork said. "You cannot rewrite your destiny."

"Like hell I can!" Clyde shouted. "Destiny is what I make it out to be. Not anyone else. Not you, not my dads, not my friends, only me. It's my life. I decide what I do in my life. I control what I do."

"But-" Clockwork started but Clyde interrupted him.

"Destiny is my choice." Clyde continues. "All my life, I've been coddled and protected like I was fragile. But one day I took a stand and proved to my dads and myself that I wasn't what people said I was. I am whoever I want to be and I do whatever I want to do because it's my choice and my life."

"No you cannot do this!" Clockwork said as he backed away as Clyde walked towards him.

"I'm in charge of my future and I'll do whatever I want and when I want." Clyde said.

"But destiny and life say otherwise." Clockwork said. "What are you gonna do with your life then if you don't walk the path laid out for you."

"I'm not sure." Clyde admitted. "But I do know that I'm gonna live every minute of it. That's what it means to follow your own path and stray from destiny." He then smiles. "That's what makes life fun."

Clockwork stands there silent, processing everything Clyde told him. All his life he's followed the path laid out for him, never strayed from it. But perhaps, maybe that was his problem. Why he never felt happiness with all the money he stole. He just never thought about straying from destiny.

"It's not always staying on the path. Sometimes you need to take a leap of faith." said Clyde.

Clockwork looks at him before looking back at the time stream. "You've definitely given me something to think about." He tells him. "I'll take you back now." Before he does anything he turns to Clyde. "What do you call yourself?" Clyde hesitates before answering.

"Call me Eagle Eye." Clyde tells him.

Clockwork smiles and nods. "Well Eagle Eye, I'm going to remember you." Then with a flash, everything was gone.

When Clyde woke up, he saw that he was in the clock shop but Clockwork was nowhere to be seen. However several duffel bags were in front of him. When he opened them, he saw that they were all filled with money.

"This is the money that clockwork stole." Clyde stated. "But where is he?" Clyde asked as he looked around.

He looks around the repair shop but finds no sign of Clockwork anywhere. With a sigh, Clyde grabs the money and leaves.

After Clyde dropped off the money at the bank, he flew back to base to break the bad news to the Louds that Clockwork was gone and he could turn them back. However when he walked in, he was surprised to see that the Louds were back to normal.

"Clyde, you made it!" Lincoln said as he ran towards Clyde.

"Lincoln, you're back to normal age." Clyde stated.

"So are the rest of us." Lori said as she walked towards the two, now seventeen years old again.

"Wow really?" Clyde questions. Lana, Lisa, and Lily then come up to them now back to their normal ages. "Wow I can't believe it."

"Neither can we." Soothsayer said as he and Mr. Cuddles joined them. "One second we were chasing after Lincoln again when he started flying again, next second everyone is normal ages."

"Wow. Clockwork actually did it." Clyde whispered. "He turned them back."

"So did you catch Clockwork?" Lana asked.

"I wish." Clyde sighed. "He got away after our fight. I managed to return the money he stole."

"So that's another villain loose on the city, one that controls time." said Lincoln. "As if our jobs wasn't hard enough."

"Yeah but this time it feels different." Clyde said. "Not sure why though, I just got this feeling."

"Whatever you say Clyde." Lori said. "We should probably head home then. C'mon Clyde I'll give you a lift."

"Thanks guys." Clyde said. "I'll meet you all outside, I need to take my armor off."

"Ok, we'll meet up with you soon." said Lori as the Louds exit the base.

Clyde began to take off his repulser gloves, jet boots, and arc reactor off of his chest. He took off his helmet last as he began to look at it. "Not a great start, but next time it'll be better." said Clyde as he placed the helmet on the table and began to walk out of the base.

As Clyde walks to Vanzilla, he suddenly freezes and then restarts. He then feels something in his pocket. When he pulls it out, he sees its a note. He opens it up and reads it.

Eagle Eye,

If you're reading this it means you got my note granted it'd be hard for you not to get it because I froze time and put it in your pocket. Now I know you're worried about me continuing my crime spree, but not to worry you have nothing to fear. I'm taking a break from that. You gave me something to think about and while I don't think that'll cause me to change my ways, it will definitely cause me to ponder some stuff. So for now, I'm going to wander the time stream looking back at my choices and maybe truly reconsider what I do. Again, don't get your hopes up but it's something to truly be proud of that you caused me, a villian to reconsider my life. And that Eagle Eye is something to be proud of. I will never forget your name Eagle Eye as long as I'm alive. Thank you. Until we meet again take care.

-Clockwork

After Clyde finishes the letter he smiles. He then folds it back up and places it in his pocket. "Until we meet again Clockwork." He says. "I hope you find what you're looking for. But until then, I'm going live every moment to it's fullest."

Smoke: Ok before we sign off I would like to thank ZNBT for the villain of this chapter. Will we see Clockwork again, only time will tell. Pun intended.

Zachlor16: First off congratulations to ZNBT for winning the contest. We enjoyed Clockwork a lot and yes we made some adjustments but mostly kept him as the way you described him. So yes, as you saw this was a Clyde chapter something you guys have wanted for a while. And as you probably noticed, a lot of the quotes we used were inspired by the movie Soul, a movie that Smoke and l loved very much especially the ending. It's very inspiring with a powerful message to it. So please check it out if you can. So until next time, see ya.