The ninja had settled down in the Hero Suite in Ninjago City, the very same suite they had attempted to buy so many years ago. The sun peeked out from behind its veil of clouds, grinning down at the world. The other ninja were visiting friends and family, but Lloyd remained in the apartment. He was training alone with his golden powers when his father entered the room.

"Lloyd!" the older man expressed with a smile.

"Father!" Lloyd's powers dissipated at his command and he ran to embrace Garmadon tight.

A few moments passed and they let go of each other.

Lloyd gazed longingly into his father's eyes. "Would it be alright if I were to talk with you alone?"

Garmadon bowed his head, closing the door of the training room so they could have some privacy. "Of course. Anytime."

The two of them sat down on one of the dummy platforms.

Lloyd sighed and continued, "Were you planning on telling me of the Oni and Dragons?"

Garmadon nodded. "Yes, I would've, but I died before I could even begin to tell you about it."

"Well, Mistaké told us just a month ago, and I was utterly shocked to find out. And when she told me of how the masks would resurrect you…I was torn...you have no idea how much that affected me… A-And much later…" Lloyd's panic began to rise. "You DISOWNED me!" He buried his face into his hands and began to sob.

Garmadon shook his head adamantly, putting a hand on his shoulder. "No...why would you even think that? That was not the real me. I could only watch in growing horror as the evil side took over, leaving me entrapped within my own body." He clutched a hand close to his heart. "But internally, I was devastated. I wanted to scream at the monster who was in control...plead for him to stop hurting you but to no avail. You could have been KILLED!"

Lloyd glanced up and flinched slightly at his father's exclamation, gasping in shock.

Garmadon sighed, placing his son's hands into his. "I'm sorry I startled you…but I love and adore you so dearly. I just would never want you to leave me again. Had my other persona pulled through and done so, I would have never been able to take it… You are here now… Alive. It is all that will ever matter." He brought Lloyd into a tight embrace. "I would never hate you, Lloyd...never...never…"

Lloyd let tears fall as he held his parent close. "Father...I'm glad you're back… I've waited so long..." He let out a soft whimper. "Don't leave me again, please…"

Garmadon stroked his hair lightly and hushed him. "Shhh... I won't...I won't leave you… I never wanted to and I won't now…"

Lloyd relaxed slightly at this.

"You still seem uneasy. Is everything alright, my son?"

"No, Father… I'm scared, unsure… Like the strains of being a master is just too much…"

The destruction elemental held his son tighter. "I'm here…" he reassured. "I'll help you through this...it's the least I can do to make up for leaving…"

Lloyd shut his eyes for a moment. "I really missed you…"

"I've missed you too, Lloyd…" Garmadon spoke ever so slightly in a whisper to his ear. "But now we're together… It has been too long… Much too long…"

"Lloyd?" Harumi's voice was heard as she slowly opened the door into the suite, having heard Garmadon raise his voice earlier. She was wearing an smooth emerald t-shirt and salmon-colored jeans. Her hair was put half up in a bun. Jade post earrings in the shape of lotuses were in her ears, the very same ones she wore as the princess of Ninjago. She opened the door into the training room and then walked over to the father and son, sitting beside the green ninja. Looking up to Garmadon, she asked, "Is he alright?"

Lloyd broke away from his father's grasp and fled to his room with a sob.

"Not exactly... He's extremely stressed," Garmadon explained while watching the green ninja leave, his heart aching in worry for his only child.

Harumi let out a whimper. "I-It's all my fault!"

"You didn't know any better. Lloyd was only a child when he released the serpentine, who would later release the Devourer. In fact…" Garmadon let out a breath, knowing what he was about to say next was something very emotional to him. "That serpent was the same one that bit me as a child, turning me evil all those decades ago… I knew I was the only one who could defeat it, and not only that, I sought vengeance on it for my whole life… It was because of the Devourer that my family was torn from me. Lloyd told me about what happened to your parents, and I know how devastated you must feel..." He put a hand supportingly on her shoulder. "We'll help you find a way to bring them back."

Harumi inhaled a deep breath and softly smiled. "I would give anything to see my parents again. My mother drove me to and from school in the city every day. I remember…she would always hug me before I left. And my father used to play with me. He used to play with my actions figures. Lloyd must be very grateful to have a father like you."

Garmadon nodded admirably. "Yes, but he is still a child at heart...only seventeen, yet he has come so far. I couldn't be more proud of him. Although sometimes it ends up being too much for him to bear all at once. He was very young when the responsibility was first put upon him. Much like you had said to me about Lloyd being an obstacle to my true potential, he was, and still is the same way with me. You saw how hesitant he was..."

Harumi let out another sigh. "I'm sorry I made you fight him and broadcasted it… I'm sorry I played with his emotions... I wanted to cause so much inner turmoil for him because he made me suffer… I-I… "

"Harumi…" Garmadon whispered and held her close. "It's in the past now..." Speaking in a normal volume, he continued, "I, too, have moments I've regretted, but...it was through those that a miracle happened: Lloyd. He was, and always will be so important to me."

"I've noticed that…" Harumi looked up to the destruction elemental tearfully. After gathering herself, she let out a soft giggle. "You two are practically inseparable."

Garmadon slowly pulled away, giving her a small smile in response. "With all due respect, Harumi, I thank you for bringing Lloyd and I together once again. Yes, it was difficult for me to endure, but I wouldn't have it any other way."

Lloyd swing open the doors and stepped into the room once he had calmed down. "Hi Rumi! Father…"

Harumi waved at Lloyd.

The destruction elemental looked up at his son, noticing his saddened expression. "Whatever happens, I'll be here…always..."

"And me too…" The former Jade Princess and Quiet One got up from where she had been sitting and gave her boyfriend a kiss on the cheek, which he accepted.

Lloyd's heart fluttered, and he kissed her on the lips for a moment. They held their positions for a minute, before the couple exited the training room.

Garmadon smiled as they left. Lloyd was truly grown up, but some things would never change.


Harumi and Lloyd walked into their room, Lloyd's hand on Harumi's back. Lloyd shut the door behind him, and he leaned on the wall. He was grateful that Harumi was here with him. He was grateful that she was on their side.

"Harumi…thank you. You've reunited my father and me. I can't express my gratitude to you. I owe you…so much," Lloyd whispered softly.

"I was twisted, my mind refused to change," Harumi reflected. "I thought bringing back your father was the only way. But…it only led to more pain." She choked on her own words, her tear glands beginning to activate.

"Rumi…it's okay…you're with us now…" Lloyd comforted Harumi. "What you did…it's okay now. We're all together now. And…you've made up for it." Lloyd pat Harumi on the shoulder in reassurance.

"I love you Lloyd… Who was I to ever reject your embrace? Who could I have been to ever cast you away? You complete me…you have filled my emptiness. I once sought revenge on you. I once wanted your heart to waste away, to deteriorate into fragments. I wanted your father to sh-shatter your existence and to allow you to p-perish. How? How c-could I have done that?" Harumi sobbed, burying her face with her hands.

"Harumi…"

"But now," she continued, collecting herself, "I've seen how inseparable you and your father are. And I must have been the most malevolent being in all of the realms. I long to forget those days. For the past few weeks…I truly feel myself. I used to be carefree and playful. I don't know what happened to me…but I hope you will n-not…think of me as the d-demon I once was." Harumi began to weep, the gates into her eyes opening and releasing all of its contents.

"Rumi, I love you. How could I ever hate you? You made some mistakes, but…you're with us now. You're on our team now," Lloyd reassured.

Harumi nodded, wiping the remainder of the salty liquid with the back of her hand. "Thank you for always supporting me...even in my darkest moments…"

"I love you…"

The two of them kissed once more, hugging each other tightly, promising to never be separated again.