After the Kamiares' emotional reunion, they gathered with the Akurai family to plan their next move on their siege against the Oni.

"What now? Ninjago's been completely destroyed." Lloyd's body was curled up into a small ball. He trembled and let out a soft wail.

"Lloyd Ryuda, my child…" Garmadon cooed, embracing him tight, stroking his hair with such gentle caresses. "It's going to be alright… You're going to be just fine…"

Lloyd shuddered softly, tears streaming down his face. "I don't know what got into me…"

"And that's completely understandable." His father's voice was soft and consolatory. "You have been through so much these last few years, Lloyd. I am so grateful to have gotten to know you as my child. I don't want our world to plunge into darkness, nor do I wish to lose you to it. You're my whole world...you have been and forever will be, alright? Nothing—and I truly do mean nothing—will ever change that."

Lloyd's eyes fluttered, trying to keep the tears at bay.

"He's overwhelmed…" Xenudah responded. "I can see it…"

"I know…" Garmadon sighed, stroking his son's hair and pulling him closer to his chest. "It's...been so much for him these past several years… Especially the fact that he was revealed to be the Chosen One so early in his life."

"Tohakai… I hate him..." Yakunan muttered in anguish, fury clear in his tone as well. His voice rose to a despairful shout. "I hate him! He sealed his fate the very moment he corrupted me! HE WILL NEVER GET AWAY WITH WHAT HE HAS DONE! CURSE HIM FOREVER! HE RUINED ALL CHANCES OF OUR FAMILIES EVER HAVING A TRULY HAPPY LIFE!"

"Yakunan...calm down…" Hikari stroked his back to soothe him, but to no avail.

Yakunan flinched, violently tearing away and began pacing around the temple grounds. "I CANNOT! TOHAKAI MUST PAY FOR THE PAIN HE HAS CURSED US WITH! I AM DONE WITH ALLOWING HIM DESTROY NINJAGO AND THE REST OF THE REALMS! I WANT HIS REIGN TO BE OVER! I WANT IT ALL TO BE OVER!" He collapsed to his knees with a sharp, piercing cry and buried his face into his hands.

"Otōsan…" Xenudah managed to whisper, tears brimming his eyes in sympathy.

"Enough, son...not now, not right now…" Yakunan bit out, teetering on the edge of losing his temper once more. He let out a shuddering breath, his body trembling uncontrollably. "Let me be…"

"But Father..."

A trembling, whispered cry escaped the elder's lips. "Please...listen to me and just leave me alone…"

"Let me help you…"

"XENUDAH, ENOUGH!" the former Overlord commanded, glaring daggers at his own child. He was absolutely tired of his son's incessant nagging and desperation to be beside him."At this moment, you are only making it worse!"

Xenudah sighed softly in response, moving to hold Kymika close to him. "Alright then…"

"Grandfather…" Kymika whispered, tears welling up in her own eyes. "I feel so bad for him…"

"So do I," Xenudah glanced at his father, sobbing silently into his hands. "He's been through much, all because of Tohakai's corruption… I don't believe it will ever go away…"


The darkness seemed to cloud over the island as Yakunan continued to distance himself from the others in the group for the next three hours. It was like he was being corrupted all over again. Garmadon was talking to his son, who was still shaken from the tension between Yakunan and Xenudah.

"Dad…" Lloyd whispered. "I can't help but worry about Yakunan… It feels like him and Xenudah are starting to drift apart again… Just like when they were on opposite sides… I can't help it, Father…"

"You have always been such a sentimental, compassionate person, Lloyd Ryuda… Ever since you were just a mere child. And I adore you so much for that." Garmadon caressed his son's cheek gently with his hand. "I always have, and forever will."

Lloyd couldn't help but smile too. He wrapped his arms around his father and laid his head on his shoulder. Garmadon chuckled softly, as did Lloyd, reveling in each other's company.

Even in the darkest moments, there would always be some light.

"I'm glad you're here with me…" Lloyd's voice was soft as he laid his head against his father's shoulder, kind of tired now. "I just really want you to stay forever, Dad…"

"Lloyd, I won't be going anywhere, alright?" Garmadon tightened his hold on his son, carefully stroking his hair with such tender gentleness. "Everything is going to be just fine…"

But the happiness didn't last long.

"What if it isn't?" A sob escaped Lloyd's lips as he buried his face tighter against his father's chest and trembled uncontrollably.

"Oh, Lloyd…" the destruction elemental sighed, cradling him while stroking his hair and rocking him back and forth. "It will be...one day… Hush now, little one…"

"I can't, Daddy, I caaan't! Stop making me!"

"Alright…" Garmadon whispered. "I won't… I'll just hold you close instead…"

Silence fell amongst the father and child as they continued to embrace each other so lovingly. Garmadon ran his fingers through his hair, softly humming.

"It's okay… I'm right here, Lloyd RyudaJust let it all out…"

And so Lloyd did.


"Son, I'm so sorry…" Yakunan's voice was so soft as he walked over to where Xenudah was.

His son was curled up into a ball beside Kymika who had fallen asleep. His son's body was trembling uncontrollably, emotions on the verge of breaking down.

"I shouldn't have been so cold to you earlier… I was just...overwhelmed…"

"Father…" Xenudah whispered, head leaning on his shoulder. "It's okay… I was just worried… You looked so broken… I wanted to help, but you pushed me away…"

"Yes, Xenudah… And I never should have done that." Yakunan glanced down momentarily. "You're my only child…my whole world..." A soft sigh escaped his lips as he grasped his child's hands with such delicacy. His son's deep indigo eyes met his own dark blue ones as the former Overlord cradled his son's cheek. A soft sob escaped his lips as he continued to speak. "I don't want to be torn from you again…"

Xenudah wailed into his father's open arms, too overwhelmed now to say anymore.

"Oh, Xenu…" Yakunan whispered, stroking his hair with gentle caresses, caring little about Tohakai. "I'm right here… I'm right here…"