Hey y'all. This took awhile to write. I had an AP test recently, and I got caught up in helping someone write a stopmotion Ninjago series, but I finally have another update (even though it's short)! Season 11 is coming too and I can't wait! Also, I love you guys!
-Zena Airale
Lloyd woke up early the next morning but was struck deep with immense fear. "Daddy..." he whimpered, leaning closer to his father, burying deeper into him.
"Lloyd Ryuda... What's going on..." Garmadon sat up, cradling his child close, laying his head atop his child.
"It's always us!" the energy elemental exclaimed, curling into a ball. "One of us always has to suffer! I can't TAKE IT ANYMORE!"
"Shhhhhhhh..." whispered Garmadon. He placed a hand on his child's shoulder, gently squeezing. "This is not your fault... Tohakai was the one who tore our families apart. But we will pull through. We will take revenge on Tohakai for descending our home into darkness. I will not hesitate." The destruction elemental's vivid purple eyes glared into the distance. Something dark was tearing from his soul, directed at the malevolent Oni that caused this very calamity to befall Ninjago.
"Father, I failed you..." Lloyd's voice fell to a soft whimper as he tightened his hold on his father, never letting him go. "I'm so horrible... I let you and Ninjago down... It's my fault we're in this predicament..."
"Don't say that, Lloyd. You haven't failed me... We can still undo what has been done... There's still hope, my child... We will find a way. There will be one day where we shall claim victory. One day we will succeed. And I'll protect you no matter the cost." Garmadon pulled Lloyd close to his chest and sighed softly, his voice set in affirmation. "You'll be safe now, I promise..."
"Don't leave me... Please, Father..." Lloyd spoke while allowing the tears to finally escape his eyes, overflowing like a waterfall when his father reached his hand over to stroke his hair so gently. He just cried harder, tightening his hold. "Don't go... PLEASE, DAD! DON'T GO!" His words fell into piercing wails as his body trembled uncontrollably.
"Shhhhhhhhhhhh... Lloyd Ryuda, my precious golden dragon... Listen to me... You're gonna be okay... I've got you... I've got you..." was Garmadon's tenderly whispered reply. "I'll never leave your side and I'll never let anything hurt you ever again for as long as I live... "
Yakunan was awake as well and he shifted over to Lloyd and Garmadon's side, placing a hand on the latter's shoulder. "What has happened? Is your child alright?"
"No, Yakunan," sighed Garmadon. "He's terrified and doesn't want to leave me... Especially after I...I lost him the first time."
"Tohakai has inflicted so much pain on our families, and it has taken such a toll on us all," Yakunan explained with such solemness. "Your son especially."
Another long bit of silence came, sans Lloyd's heartwrenching screaming and crying. Garmadon just continued to hold his little boy close. It was just becoming too much for his precious child. After all, he was the chosen one, and Fate, of all things, just had to give him all the responsibility.
Lloyd just wouldn't stop sobbing, and it only grew louder at Yakunan's words from moments ago. "IT HUUUUUUURTS! HELP MEEEEEEE! I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE! I NEED YOU DADDY, PLEASE!" he screeched, trembling even more violently.
The destruction elemental tightened his hold on Lloyd, continually stroking his hair. "Oh, Lloyd... My little one...you're gonna be okay... I'm never letting you leave me after losing you before." Garmadon's words fell away as he laid his head atop his son's, rocking him back and forth in a desperate attempt to comfort and calm him down. "Shhhhhhhhh... Please, baby... Just hold onto me... Hold on... Just hold on..."