So this is a little idea I started playing around with that ended up turning into an entire story, so eh, here goes. I posted about 13 chapters of this up on Archive of Our Own, and decided to come back to this site to share it with others.

What you can expect here is a lot of family moments, little twists on the canon lore, and lots of character development/exploration. I refuse to make this just romance ;D There will be love triangles, however, and as cliche as it is, I don't write them unless necessary, so please keep that in mind!

Anyway, I hope you all like it! Feedback is always appreciated as well!

"Long before time had a name, Ninjago was created by the First Spinjitzu Master by using the four weapons of Spinjitzu. The scythe of quakes, the nun chucks of lightning, the shurikens of ice and the sword of fire. Weapons so powerful no one could handle all of their power at once. When he passed away, his two sons swore to protect them. But the oldest was consumed by darkness and wanted to possess them. A battle between brothers broke out and the oldest was struck down and banished to the Underworld. Peace was returned and the younger brother hid the weapons. But knowing his older brother's relentless ambition for power, he placed a guardian to protect them. And for fear of his own demise, a map for an honest man to hide..."

Their little eyes widened, as they succumbed to awestruck once the tale was completed.

"woahhhh..." the two little girls said in complete unison.

The boy next to them scoffed. "Uh, lame." he crossed his arms and turned away, clearly trying to fight off the same emotions as them.

The old man telling the story chuckled, stroking his long and white beard. "And who is to judge what is lame, Kai? Perhaps we judge our own character before a simple legend."

Harumi giggled, placing a hand over her mouth before they got too out of control.

"Kai doesn't believe in legends, Master Wu." Young Nya explained, also trying to fight back some giggles of her own. She leaned forward, chubby face in her hands as her raven hair fell to frame her face. "I for one enjoyed it."

"Booorrriinnnggg" Kai faked a yawn.

Wu smiled at the children. "So it may be." His eyes turned towards the bedroom window finding the nightfall approaching rather rapidly. He sighed, content with knowing he could rest soon. "I suppose I must get going," he announced to the children. Nya let out a noise of disappointment, which made Wu amused Wu more. His attachment to these children was unmeasurable. He too would miss them until he next arrived. Whenever that would be.

"Master Wu?"

Wu suddenly felt a tug on his robes, and the old man looked down to find the curious jade eyes of young Princess Harumi.

"Yes child? He asked, bending down to her level.

There was genuine concern blooming in her eyes now, the tips of her mouth turning downward in a frown. "It's only a story, right? There is no evil older brother who is going to steal the weapons and... well... do bad things?"

All their eyes suddenly turned to the old man, as they found that he had gone silent.

The question, so innocent, had brought him back to his youth and the paranoia he'd had to live with ever since that fateful day.

Garmadons oath that he would return. The constant worry he had that the weapons would disappear right under his nose. In all honesty, he didn't know how well Ninjago would be protected in the years to come... especially since his old age proved him to be much... weaker...

This wasn't a journey he could go through alone much longer. Sooner rather than later, he'd have to find them. All of them.

Wu released a tired sigh, struggling to find an answer that would soothe the children. "Young one, evil may triumph when you least expect it... but eventually there will be good to stand up to it. Ninjago has had its protectors in the past. And it has its protectors now. As for the protectors of the future..." he stood, patting her head. The girl's eyes lit up with pure joy, her smile shining, "that's up to you."

The night soon came to a close. Wu waited with a full heart as Harumi waved goodbye, being ushered off to bed. Young Kai and Nya said their farewells not too long after, as they ran off to their chambers alongside their mother and father, who had come to collect them. The man nodded his respect in their direction and watched as they did the same. Not a word was said, but there was so much meaning behind the gesture. Wu was grateful to have some of his old friends beside him.

Finally ready to take his leave for the coming week, Wu balanced his staff in his hands. His mind was whirling. There was something about Harumi's question... about her eyes and her... goodness.

He had already found the fire elemental. Though Ray refused to let Kai pursue his hidden potential, Wu knew time would only reveal Kai's true destiny, as it would for Nya.

But the jade princess was no elemental. No... maybe she would become something far greater.

His whole body shook. The night was cold and haunting, feeding his fear. It was something he was very familiar with, though he could never say that out loud. But it was different now, after everything that had happened. And the loneliness that came with running away from the only life he'd ever known ate at him, pushing the tears to come out and collect at his feet.

What did I do? I shouldn't be here...

He didn't belong there. He didn't belong anywhere. Where would he go? How would he survive? Lloyd Garmadon wasn't dumb enough to believe he was impervious to harm. But why did he have to go and make that stupid mistake?

You do belong somewhere, my son. The shadow rang out against the hollow night winds. Lloyd found solace in its company once more; the company of the only person who had ever truly cared about him. Once you release me, I will make sure that you are never lonely again. We will make everyone see how powerful you truly are. No one shall dare to challenge the name of my son ever again.

Lloyd's tears slowed at the thought.

Power...

The boy remembered it so clearly. That cold and dark energy flowing through his veins, taking over his every thought and the very body that wielded it. He had felt consumed whole, as he watched that awful, horrible, mean boy die at his fingertips. Only ten years old and he had already become the monster everyone told him he could never be.

It felt... good.

His breath sped up, heart beating faster and faster as he looked up at the flat rock figure in front of him, where flames of the fire cast a soft glow onto its surface. The shadow waited there in knowing silence and Garmadon's smile grew as he looked upon his all too eager son.

The poor wretched thing, who had been beat and hollowed through the years. Finally, the perfect pawn had been placed before him. He could already see it: Lloyd's green power was raw and untamable. With the right motive, he could use that very power to fuel Ninjago's new beginning.

An empire awaited him.

"What do you need from me, father?" Lloyd asked through gritted teeth, as his hatred for those who wronged him drove him to accept his true destiny.

The dark lord chuckled, knowing this was it. Someday soon he would be able to leave this place and take back his birthright. And this pathetic and pitiful child of a son?

Garmadon hadn't cared much for him before the incident... but perhaps he could prove to be useful in other ways.

Find the map to the Golden Weapons and bring them to me. And stain the streets with the blood of those who dared to keep me imprisoned here.

Lord Garmadon's lips curled into an evil grin as he watched his already devoted son faithfully nod.

"Yes... father."