It had been a week since Mystaké was revealed as an Oni. And now the other Oni that just arrived had destroyed Ninjago City. The ninja, their sensei, their families, and the other citizens of the continent had to retreat to the underground hideout with the serpentine.
Lloyd had fallen into quite a depression.
The darkness was surrounding the city once more. Eerie purple wisps of energy swirled around the metropolis as the ninja watched warily at the sight.
Especially Garmadon.
Lloyd was by his side but it didn't stop him from doing all he could to protect his little boy.
But then everything changed...for the worst.
"LLOYD!" Garmadon shrieked as one of the spirits inflicted a gash along his cheek, blood starting to flow from it. With a growl of fury, the master of destruction launched a beam of his energy at the creature who dared to hurt his child. "YOU IMBECILES! YOU COULD HAVE KILLED HIM!" he exclaimed in between sobs. He turned to his son. "Lloyd, we have to go. Now. You'll get hurt again..." He shook his head and trembled in distress. "I just... I can't let that happen to you... Not anymore, Lloyd... Not...anymore..."
Lloyd softly nodded, the two of them, as well as the others running away as fast as they possibly could and into one of the manhole covers, disappearing from view. Fortunately the Oni were unable to destroy it.
At last.
They were safe.
Lloyd was curled up into a ball against a rock. Tears streamed down his face as the memories returned, as clear as day. Though he tried to contain it, he was unable to and heavily sobbed.
He hated to accept the truth that...
They'd failed.
~OwOwOwO~
"Is Lloyd okay? He hasn't been around much." Harumi's voice was filled with concern as she talked to the destruction elemental.
"No, not exactly...he blames himself for everything that happened...that we're in this predicament now. I can't help but worry about him... I'm his father after all, and even if I weren't, I would still worry... I just...wish I never had to leave him...it tears me apart just thinking about it." Garmadon's voice was soft and somber. He wanted Lloyd to be alright, but with the situations that had happened the last couple of weeks, that seemed impossible now.
His thoughts were interrupted by a loud shriek.
Too recognizable.
"Oh, Lloyd..." Garmadon practically sobbed.
"Comfort him," Harumi replied firmly. "Let him know you're here."
The master of destruction nodded softly, knowing she was right. "Thank you...I was so caught up in my concern for him for the past week that I didn't realize I could do something about it..." He sighed in guilt, then left to check on his son.
I shall help you, my child... I promise...
He drew in a soft sigh and sat down beside his son, wrapping his arms so tightly around him.
"LET GO OF ME!" Lloyd screamed, trying to pull away, but his father refused.
"Lloyd, you've got to calm down..." Garmadon pleaded, carding through his child's hair ever so gently. "I have you now... I'm here for you... I'm not leaving you again... Just relax... Shhhhhhhh..."
"B-But we...we failed..." Lloyd whimpered, burying deeper into his father's embrace. "We're taking refuge here..."
"Son, there is still hope. You have to be strong...all of Ninjago is counting on you to lead them."
"But I'm just a kid! I'm only twelve years old... It's just too much...all of it..."
"My child...my child... Please, don't cry... Don't cry... It hurts seeing you like this... It'll be okay. I'm right here... I'm right here..."
Softly, Lloyd cooed. He was relaxed now because of his father's words.
"It's going to be alright... I still remember...so vividly...the time where I...shouted at your uncle...just moments after your destiny was revealed. And I came to comfort you, just like now."
Wu sighed, knowing the inevitable reaction his brother would have to the revelation of the Green Ninja. "The battle lines have been drawn, Brother. Sadly our family is only more divided—brother versus brother, and now, son versus father."
"No..." Garmadon was in denial. He just couldn't believe his own child would be the one to battle him...to the death.
"But–"
The destruction elemental sighed, turning to the rest of the group. "Ninja, I wish to speak with my brother alone."
The other ninja and Nya left the room, giving the family some private time.
Garmadon sighed sadly at Lloyd. "My son, with what I'm about to tell him, you wouldn't want to listen. Just...go to your room, okay? Please, Lloyd... I will talk with you, but not right now. I just need time alone with my brother. This is for your own good... I don't want you to see or hear this... It could very well change the course of our relationship... Forever..."
Lloyd softly nodded, wrapping his arms tighter around his dad. "Okay... I love you..."
Garmadon softly smiled, carding his fingers through his hair ever so gently. "So do I. Now go on..."
Lloyd nodded, leaving the room upon pulling away.
Garmadon glared at his younger brother, shaking his head in disapproval. "Wu, just why of all people, my own child?! I just cannot accept this! YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT BY NOW!"
Wu sighed. "I do know, Garmadon, but Destiny has spoken."
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT DESTINY!" Garmadon shouted, his heart throbbing in immense emotion. Sadness... Disbelief... Anger... Fear... Worry... "HE IS MY SON! HOW COULD YOU TEAR US APART!"
The creation master continued to sustain his solemn expression. "You cannot change his fate. It has already been decided."
Garmadon shoved Wu back, growling in response. "NO, BROTHER! I OBJECT! I JUST DO NOT WANT TO FIGHT HIM! HAVE I MADE THAT CLEAR?!"
"I understand your concern, but we will have to train him. He has Father's powers as well as his own."
"LEAVE OUR FATHER OUT OF THIS! LLOYD IS OUR FOCUS HERE! I WILL NOT HAVE HIM FIGHT ME! I CANNOT FIGHT HIM EITHER! We are too close...too close..." Garmadon let out a soft sob and walked away from the control center, slumped over, heading to his child's room, wanting nothing more than to hold his dear little boy closely against himself and reassure him that all was okay. "Lloyd? May I come in?" The master of destruction softly knocked on the door of his son's room.
Once the door opened, he was met with a shocking sight. His son's eyes were bloodshot and puffy from uncontrollable crying. Garmadon brought his child to the bed, sitting down beside him.
"S-So...what happened?"
"Long story short, my brother refused to change his view about our...destiny. I couldn't take it, fled the room, and now I'm here..." Gazing at Lloyd's saddened expression and observing his pathetic attempts at restraining his cries, Garmadon tenderly cradled his son's face with one of his hands. He then wrapped his lower arms around Lloyd's body, drawing him into a tight embrace, using his upper hands to gently stroke his hair. "My child... Shhhh... I won't let go of you my son... I would never hurt you, Lloyd... You bring me so much emotion... I don't know how I'll ever fare without you..."
"It was tragic... I thought we would fight each other, when in reality, you were truly destined to fight Yakunan, the Overlord. It's relieving to say the least... I'm here... We'll pull together...I promise you..."
"Thanks, Dad..." Lloyd whispered ever so softly into his father's chest, his arms wound around him in a hug.
"Of course, little one... I have you now..." The master of destruction laid his head atop his son's. "You're going to be alright, my child..."
"I don't wanna lose you..." Lloyd whimpered, burying his face deeper into his father's chest, tearing up almost instantly.
Garmadon ran his fingers through his hair. "I know it hurts... It'll be okay... It'll be okay... I won't leave you again..."
"Dad..."
"I'm here, Lloyd... I'm right here...everything will be okay... I promise you..."
~OwOwOwO~
Several feet away, a man in dark clothing, blue-purple eyes, and pitch black hair scowled down at the green ninja and his father. He was the son of the Overlord and his name was Xenudah. Apparently, he had found his way to the refuge site, and all he could think about was the fact that the stupid Chosen One of a ninja killed his father, feeling hate and vengeance towards the twelve year old hero.
"Otōsan...Father... I promise I'll avenge you. He won't get away with this again."
He growled lowly, disappearing into the shadows.
Lloyd would get what was coming for him, and Garmadon would suffer in kind.
And nothing was going to stand in Xenudah's way.