A small human-like creature opened up his eyes and curled closer to Yakunan's arms, the moment a golden and purple light dissipated.
Yakunan's heart swelled with emotion at the frail child in his arms and he let out a sob, his entire body trembling as he pulled his boy closer.
"Oh, Xenudah…" he cooed. "You're really here… I've waited for so long and you're finally here… You already mean the world to me… Welcome to Ninjago, little one…"
The small child let out a whine, his eyes opening before they widened to see Yakunan gazing softly down to him. He looked up towards the trees before he lay his head on Yakunan's chest and nuzzled his face in his neck. Xenudah then curled back and towards his left shoulder, whimpering softly before Yakunan brushed his hair.
"It's ok, little one," Yakunan said with a quiet whisper. "I'm not going anywhere… I'll protect you with my life…" He let out a soft sob as Xenudah nuzzled back into his chest. "I will never let you go…" His voice had a slight break as he spoke, soft and ethereal like a breeze.
After a moment, he began to hum a gentle tune.
"You really are the most precious thing to me…" Yakunan murmured as Xenudah started to fall asleep. He wrapped him back up in the blanket as they came to the edge of a small, lush forest, Hikari following close behind. He carried Xenudah to an alcove where he laid the child down to sleep.
"He truly is so adorable…" Hikari smiled.
"Yes… He's perfect…" Yakunan nodded. "I'm so happy… My whole life feels complete…"
Yakunan's eyes opened as he gazed down at his hands, calloused from years of fighting. He really did lose it all… No, not yet...there's still hope. He let out a shuddering sigh, the anxiety and pent-up emotions being released all at once as he did. He wanted this to be over. He wanted to be with his child again. Xenudah meant too much to him, the only family he had left in the world; he wanted to be there for him, but Xenudah pushed him away.
Yakunan's eyes clouded over as he quietly began to cry. Maybe he would get to see his child again.
"I'm so sorry, Yakunan…" Garmadon walked over to sit down next to his former adversary. "It must be so hard to lose a child…"
"He's not gone yet… He's just...misguided. I was never there for him as a child, and he should be upset about that. But did he really have to go as far as disowning and wanting to kill me?! He's my son! I'm still fighting, trying to prove that I had good reasons for doing what I did! I want a chance at repentance!" Yakunan sniffled, wiping at his eyes.
"I sympathize. Please understand, though, there is a very good reason why he comes off as an antagonist to myself and others. It's because he wants to be. He has chosen his own path." said Garmadon.
"I know that. I know it deep down… It's why I can't stop trying to… I just want to be reunited with Xenudah. I want to hug him again. I need to make up for lost time." Yakunan sniffed and wiped his eyes again. "There has to be a way… I'm tired of being weak, Garmadon… I want to be strong. I want my child back. I'll do anything…"
Yakunan's voice broke, and he sighed. Garmadon placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and gave him a small, sad smile.
"Have patience, Yakunan. I'm sure there is a way for everything to work out... You just need to keep believing." Garmadon told him.
"Believe in what?" Yakunan replied. "I'm being hunted by my son. My family's being torn apart before my eyes! Why should I believe anything?"
"Xenudah has a very strong sense of justice. I have a feeling he will come to see that you were trying to do what you thought was best for him. You're all he has."
"I want to believe that. That's what I'm working for...but why can't I just be reunited with him now? He's my son..." Yakunan sighed. "I just want it to be over. I just want him to come home to me..."
"If you want your son, you are going to have to meet him on his own terms... I think you realize this."
"But how?" Yakunan asked. "He can't bear to be in the same vicinity as me without wanting to attack... I can't lose him again. He's my only son. I have to get him back. I just want to be in his life like I was so long ago. I want Xenudah back..." Yakunan looked up at Garmadon, weary of the whole situation. "I need to get my son back, Garmadon. I have to prove what I did was right..."
Garmadon let out a sigh and gazed deep into Yakunan's eyes. "I understand the desire, Yakunan. I know how strong the bond is between you both. That's what makes this so hard on you. As I said before, I have a feeling Xenudah will see that you did what you thought was best for him too. You just have to hold on, and have him on his way. Even if it means waiting a little longer for that to happen."
"Do you really think that could happen? I don't know if I can keep waiting…" Yakunan admitted, looking away from Garmadon's gaze.
"I'm a firm believer in things working out in the way they're meant to. Just look at what happened with Lloyd and I. I have a feeling you'll see your child again."
"Until then, I can't stop fighting. I have to search for him." Yakunan sighed. "But what if he doesn't want to be found? That would be awful. All that work and not even coming back to meet up with me. He got away from me once before... I never wanted to lose him... He's my only family."
Garmadon felt the conflict brewing inside Yakunan. He knew for a fact that Xenudah was somewhere out there, trying to find a way to kill his father and avoid the reunion that he dreamed would happen one day. But at the same time, he would never want to be found by his father, or be forced to meet him, for it would tear him apart yet again. It wasn't the easiest situation to be in.
"Let's just hope it all ends well. Perhaps Xenudah will change his mind at some point. You need to be patient, and you need to believe in a happy ending. Without hope, you won't find your son." Garmadon replied.
"I'm trying to believe. I can't even imagine how hard it must be for him to deal with... I just want him to know I never meant to leave him..." Yakunan sighed.
"I know how much you love your son. I don't think there is anything that would keep you from chasing him down if he decided to run away from you." Garmadon replied.
"I don't care what happens to me. I will get him back. I want him back. Nothing else matters..." Yakunan sniffled, tears trickling down his cheeks. "I have to keep believing that he'll come around. I wasn't there for him when he was small. Maybe if I was there when he was young, this wouldn't have happened..."
Garmadon sighed as he watched Yakunan's face. He looked as if he was about to cry. He knew the pain that Yakunan felt. It was a pain that there was nothing anyone could do but listen and console. Xenudah was too far gone to accept any kind of help at this point.
"You may believe that, but of course I don't think that would have changed anything. Your child is just being who he is... Xenudah was always prone to strong feeling and acting on them. Just look at the way he is now. He feels betrayed, and acts on that betrayal. There was no way to know that this would happen. Please, Yakunan, don't blame yourself. It will only hurt your son more if he sees you blaming yourself like this."
"He'll never know. I live only for him. All I need is to be with my child again..." Yakunan replied. "I just have to find him. I'm desperate... But what am I to do if he doesn't want to come?"
"Xenudah will come. I promise you. Just be patient and have faith."
"I do..." Yakunan replied. "I'll wait as long as it takes. But I lose more hope every day."
Yakunan sighed and stared into the sky. His mind was filled with doubt. Garmadon let him be, picking up where Yakunan left off and continuing to get to the bottom of this mystery.
"I want to believe there is a way... I'll do anything to get my child back. But I never knew it was this hard..." Yakunan admitted.
"Life isn't easy. You get up, you fall, you get back up and you move on. That's how life is... Sometimes you don't even get a say in what happens. There are so many questions in life." Garmadon replied. "You never get a clear answer. But what you do get is the chance to make your own choices. You get to decide how your story is written. I know you want to blame yourself, but please, you have to realize that this was not your fault. You can't change the past, but you can change the future. Step up and be the parent you always wanted to be." Yakunan nodded, and silence fell between them.
Eventually, the once-former Overlord spoke again. "I never wanted to leave my son. I need to be there whenever he needs me and I always made an effort to be there for him... But I never saw it coming. He's my son and I'm his father, but then he cuts me out and rejects me. If I did the right thing, then he wouldn't have done this."
"You did all the right things. He was the one to ignore you. This was not your fault."
"I'm trying to listen to you, but I don't like thinking that my son was ever capable of doing this to me and making me this hurt." Yakunan's voice was strained and broken, paralleling the pain that lay bare in his heart.
Garmadon's eyes were clearly sympathetic. "I'm sure he didn't intend for it to be this way. This is a lot for him to take in. When I first met you, I felt the same way. He's hurting, Yakunan. You can only reach out to him when he gives himself away."
"That's something you learn when you're a father, Garmadon. You can't force someone to love you and make them realize what they're doing is wrong." Yakunan replied. "Xenudah's my son. I want him to know that I'm here for him and care about him. I just want him to know that I love him and that I'm here."
"And you will be." Garmadon responded. "I don't think there's a selfish bone in your body. You do what you need to do to help him... that's all you can do. The world's been so cruel to him. Make him know he's still loved. That's all he needs to know."
"Maybe he doesn't love me anymore. I just started trying to be here for him and he knew I was there for him and he didn't care." Yakunan continued. "He may not choose to return. That's what I'm afraid of."
"I think you're wrong. I don't know him. Maybe you misunderstood something. He may be scared of what happened... He may not be able to deal with the truth of the situation. It will take time."
"You think that?" Yakunan replied. "...I think he hates me..."
"No. He just needs time."
"I told him I love him. He rejected me. He cast me aside. But I still love him. I still am his father."
"Of course you are." Garmadon nodded, placing a hand on Yakunan's shoulder.
"I just have to have hope. I'm sure he'll come back to me. I just have to be there for him when he comes. I'll find him no matter what. I have to show him I'm there for him. I'll show him I'm not his enemy." Yakunan sighed.
"Yes. You will. You will prove your love is true." Garmadon replied. "It might be a hard road, but you'll get your son back. Just wait for him."
Yakunan nodded at this. He sighed as he turned to look at Garmadon. "You... you'll help me, won't you?" Garmadon nodded.
"I've always been a man who sticks to his word. I won't quit. I'll be here until the end. Just be patient, Yakunan. Everything will work out. I promise."