It was the middle of the night.
"My father is still in you! He won't fight with me!"
"Lloyd, stay strong!"
"Fight, Father!"
"Lloyd!"
"Fight him!"
"You will not...take...my son...!"
"Your father is gone!"
Lloyd stirred a bit in his sleep, quietly whimpering. His father felt him moving, and woke up. He sighed and pulled his son close, caressing him. Lloyd then woke up, sobbing quietly into his father's arms. Something was clearly wrong.
"I'm here..." Garmadon whispered. His voice was gentle and compassionate. He pulled away, concerningly gazing into his son's eyes. "You look absolutely distressed...what is the matter?"
"The f-first battle with the Overlord...I c-can't let it go..."
"Lloyd...Lloyd...it's alright. That battle's over... It's done now...you do not need to worry. We're finally together."
"I know it's over, but it's still really emotional for me... I didn't want to hurt you, but in the back of my head, I knew it was the right thing to do... I didn't want to lose you so early..."
"I completely understand. I felt the same way. I knew I couldn't live with myself knowing that I had killed you permanently. But nevertheless, I'm just so glad that you saved me. Come here..."
Lloyd nodded, attempting to hold back tears, and leaned into his father's warm grasp. "I love you, Dad..." he whispered.
"Yes, Lloyd... I love you too... It's okay to cry... I know you're upset... I don't blame you... At all... It's over..."
After that, the two of them sat holding one another for awhile. Lloyd eventually settled back down, softly humming. "Thanks, Dad..."
"No problem... I really care... You mean everything to me."
Lloyd and his father woke up the next day. The Green Ninja was gazing out the window, looking extremely despondent.
"Is everything okay?" Garmadon asked his son. His voice was filled with much worry.
"No, Dad. I'm scared...what if...something bad happens, and the others get captured or hurt...? I'm the leader...I'm supposed to be responsible...I'm not sure I'm ready..."
"Son, you...you have truly come so far. I couldn't be more proud. Come over here."
Lloyd nodded, leaning close to his father. He smiled gratefully, tears of joy falling from his face.
"I'm glad you're still here..." he murmured.
"Me too. I've missed you...very, very much... It's been such a long time, and I'm glad it all finally worked out." Garmadon smiled in reply, tenderly caressing his son's hair. "You mean the absolute world to me. I'm glad I had you. And I just...I wouldn't have had it any other way."
"Father..."
"Yes, Lloyd, Yes... I'm right here...I'm right here..."
"Lloyd. Garmadon." Xenudah said. "The others need you in the main foyer. Can you come over?"
"Sure." Lloyd replied.
The father and son got up, following the ninja of darkness down the stairs, and to where all the others were gathered.
"What has happened?" Garmadon asked, his voice filled with concern. "Why did you need to call us over here?"
"it's the ocean, there's been a huge vortex coming." Ray told the two of them.
"It's most likely my sister." Maya presumed. "She has always wanted control of Ninjago. I left and abandoned her. Although she is my sister, I couldn't live with someone who wanted to control this place. Although it pains me to say this, we have to stop her."
Lloyd was gazing down at the koi pond in front of the Airjitzu Temple.
"Lloyd? You alright there?"
It was Morro. He and Xenudah had also come outside to get a break as well. The Green Ninja looked up to face the two of them. Both the wind and darkness masters looked to their once former enemy with concern.
"Hey, Morro. Hey, Xenudah. I'm okay, just...a little overwhelmed. Wu hasn't been himself lately. I mean, he's only become more and more weak, and I can't help but feel that he's going to pass on at some point. It seems as if something is stripping his immortality, I just..." Lloyd sighed, looking back down again. He had already lost his mother, and he lost his father twice already, He didn't know how much he could take after that. "I've gone through so much these past several years. I know I won't be able to go back to how I used to be. Sometimes I wish I was part of a normal family...that I didn't have to deal with all these hardships."
Garmadon was sitting on the stairs, glancing over to where his son, Morro, and Xenudah was. He could see that Lloyd was upset. Sighing, he got up and joined them, placing a hand upon his child's shoulder.
"Son? What's the matter?"
"I feel sad about Wu. He hasn't moved from his bed in awhile. I don't know what's wrong. I'm assuming he got stripped of his immortality, and is slowly dying."
"Lloyd...don't think about that..."
"It's all I can think about... I-I don't w-want to lose h-him..." the Green Ninja stated, his voice shaking.
"Neither do I. Come over here..." Garmadon pulled his son's trembling body close, letting him sob into his chest. He looked down to his child "It's alright, my dear... Would you like to go see him?"
Lloyd merely nodded, ceasing his cries for a moment, and followed his father back inside the Temple. The two of them went upstairs to Wu's room. He was lying in bed, extremely weakened. Zenaida was already there. The energy ninja kneeled beside his uncle, taking his hand. Garmadon stood behind him, placing his hand upon Lloyd's shoulder in support.
"L-Lloyd..." Wu murmured weakly. "I don't think I'll be able to stay much longer... Something happened... It's slowly coming to an end for me..."
"Master Wu..." Lloyd's eyes widened with concern. "Don't go... I need you..." he pleaded.
"You already have Garmadon... You've come so far; I'm very proud... As is your father..." Wu fell asleep after that.
The Green Ninja nodded silently. He slowly stood up, gently letting go, then tightly embraced his father, quietly sobbing again.
Garmadon smiled sympathetically in response, returning the embrace. "I will be right here... Always, Lloyd... Always."
