Yakunan sighed, looking down at his hands. "He wants revenge…" he repeated.

Garmadon placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll find a way to get your son back. You're not by yourself here."

"I'm scared Garmadon…" Yakunan confessed. "Xenudah will be too strong." His hands shook, and he fell to his knees. "He's too much for me…"

"Come on, Yakunan…" Lloyd said softly, reaching out for him.

And then they heard a howl. A long mournful sound that rang through the sky and vibrated throughout the ground.

Yakunan looked up, his heart pounding. "He's calling to me…" he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"What do you mean?" Nya asked.

Yakunan quickly stood and looked around, frantically searching. "I don't know where he is… He's out there somewhere…"

"We'll find him!" Lloyd said, smiles creeping across his face.

"We must find him..." Yakunan said. "It's too dangerous for him to be wandering around… I'll have to convince him to come back…"

"You may as well not risk it," Garmadon said.

"I don't care!" Yakunan said, eyes narrowed. "I want my child back! We have to at least try!"

"If you go, he'll just refuse to come back," Garmadon insisted.

Yakunan bit his lip to control his anger. "We're wasting time here. He could be hurt, or…"

The scream of the howl came again, a little louder, as though the creature had come closer.

"He's getting closer…" Lloyd whispered.

"We must get him back!" Yakunan said, looking determined. "I must try…"

The roars came again, growing in intensity, coming closer.

"You don't need to do this…" Garmadon pleaded, looking at him.

"Let us help you!" Cole exclaimed.

Yakunan shook his head. "I'll get my son back… You will just have to wait here." And with that, the shadow elemental fled the area.

Yakunan ran as quickly as he could. His feet pounded against the rocky soil. He jumped over a large rock, arms outstretched as he left a trail of dust and dirt in his wake. He ran through the grove of vines, fumbling back through the small forest of trees. He kept running, faster, until he saw the cliff that overlooked the beach. The ocean was the same color as the sky, and stood as a backdrop behind the island.

"Xenudah!" Yakunan called out. He looked around, searching for any sign of his son.

"Xenudah!" he called again. He ran to the edge of the cliff and looked down at the ocean below. It was a long way down. He tried to spot any movement on the surface of the water, but there was nothing.

And then he heard a crashing sound, and a howl echoed through the trees on the other side of the cliff. Yakunan turned, looking into the thick bush that was found there. There were many small rocks there, and many trees.

He looked into the trees, wondering where the sound had come from.

"Xenudah, I'm here now!" Yakunan yelled, moving into the brush. "Xenu, please come back... Please…" His hand reached out, trying to find h

He continued to call out, calling to his son. He was not getting anywhere. The foliage was too thick for him to see very far in any direction.

Yakunan turned, looking around for any type of trail that would lead him closer to his son. There were small paths that led deeper into the woods. He seemed to recognize these paths. He ran along these paths, calling out to his son as he went.

He stopped for a moment, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He was wheezing, and his voice was thick and cracked as he ran. He had no idea how long he had been running through the forest.

"Xenudah..." he said, sitting on a large rock. "I'll find you. I'll find you..." There was a trembling in his voice as he said it, and a quietness. He knew that he was already going to get his son back.

He quickly jumped off the rock and hurried off in the direction that he had heard the crashing sound. The path of bushes and trees was a small one, but he followed it until he came to a small clearing. He looked around, but saw nothing. The only movement was the branches of the trees blowing gently in the wind. He moved closer to the center of the small clearing, and glanced around, hoping to see some sign of his son.

He stood there for a few minutes, trying to think. A quiet noise broke the stillness, a soft rustling that came from behind him. He turned and faced the forest. He looked around again, and saw the thin trail that he had followed. He ran back in the direction that he had come from.

Yakunan ran over the rocky terrain as fast as he could, trying to find the small path that he had followed to get to the clearing. He ran around a few trees, stumbling. His muscles were getting tired. He kept his eyes on the ground, trying to find the trail that he had taken.

He glanced up to look at the trees and shrubs as he ran, and then something white caught his eye. His hand shot out instinctively, gesturing towards it.

A dark purple figure emerged from the brush, and Yakunan's heart nearly stopped.

"You…" Xenudah scowled,

Yakunan shook his head, trying to comprehend what he was looking at. "Xenu... I-I'm..." he said, his voice quiet.

"I don't have time for this," Xenudah said, turning and walking through the brush.

"Xenudah... Please!" Yakunan cried, his voice pleading for his child.

"What do you want, Father?" Xenudah asked, turning and looking at him. He was hunched over, his hands held to his face. There was a look of sorrow in his eyes.

"Come back home..." Yakunan said, his voice choking with fear and sadness. "You're in danger..."

"I know I am…" Xenudah said, looking away. "The darkness…"

"Please..." Yakunan said, reaching out.

"No..." Xenudah replied, turning away.

Yakunan moved closer, and his son met him halfway. "Xenudah…"

"I…I have to go." Xenudah said, pressing his lips together. He then stepped back and began to walk away.

"Xenudah!" Yakunan shouted, trying to reach him. He could not keep up with him. Xenudah strode through the forest with ease, and he was moving faster. He ran faster, and reached out for him again. Xenudah stepped aside, dodging the grab, avoiding the father.

Xenudah kept walking, and Yakunan continued to follow. The forest stretched out into the distance, and they passed through many more small groves and glades.

"Xenudah! Don't leave me!" Yakunan begged. He reached out again, and his son grabbed his arm. Xenudah pulled him back, and Yakunan stumbled and fell, landing on his stomach.

"Why are you doing this?" Xenudah demanded, grabbing him. "I said I didn't want you anymore!" He suddenly threw Yakunan back, and he crashed into a large tree, landing on his back. Yakunan tried to reach out for him again, but Xenudah knelt beside him and pulled his hand back behind his head. "Leave me!" he commanded, his voice harsh.

Yakunan struggled, but Xenudah persisted. The strength in his son's arms against his much larger, heavier body was abnormal, and Yakunan was barely able to fight him off. He barely managed to get a grip on his son's wrist.

"Xenu, my child, please don't leave..."

"I'm not your child! You just outright abandoned me for years and only want me back now?!"

"I wanted you back from the start, my son…" Yakunan sighed. "Look, I know I haven't been the best father to you, but I want to try to make it up."

"Good luck…" Xenudah whispered, pressing his lips together. He lifted his body off of his father's and left. His steps were hurried as he walked off into the thick forest.

Yakunan began to get up, but when he reached out his hand, Xenudah grabbed him and tugged him back down. "I said I don't want anything," he said, grabbing the cloth of his father's kimono and tossing him back. He then stood, looking down at the crumpled shape on the ground.

Yakunan reeled back, and a painful growl escaped his lips. Xenudah leaned down, looking down at him, and Yakunan gasped, following him with his eyes. He gasped as he saw the new markings under the black markings on Xenudah's face. His eyes were a silvery blue and were sharp and fierce. "Xenu…" he said, tears beginning to form in his eyes. "Xenu, my son," he whispered as Xenudah turned, leaving him behind.

Yakunan struggled to get up, but he couldn't. He was too hurt. He struggled to get up, but couldn't, and soon passed out.

Yakunan woke up. His eyes slowly opened, and he looked down. His body was chafed from all the branches sticking into him. He slowly sat up, wincing from the painful pressure against his sore back.

He looked around. He was in a dense forest. There were tons of trees, and he felt like he was never going to find his son again. Yakunan stood up and slowly walked through the forest. Yaks, moss, and lichen covered the forest floor. Yakunan winced as he looked down at his feet to see the condition they were in.

The forest was fairly tall and made it hard to see above the treetops. Yakunan followed the trail of vines that he had started following. He would stop halfway through the trees, looking around, but his search was futile. He did not see any signs of Xenudah.

Finally, he came upon a thick, purple bush that stood taller than the rest in the forest. He approached the bush and pushed his way through the foliage. He was trying to find his son, but he couldn't find him. He looked around and saw a small stone. Yakunan picked it up and continued through the thick bush. He came to another clearing, and he stopped. He turned to look around, not wanting to go any further.

In the center of the clearing, there was a large, purple flower. Yakunan walked forward, reaching out to pick the flower. He picked it up and found that it was warm to the touch. He touched the petals as he walked back and forth, and then he suddenly threw the flower. It continued through the air, and he watched as it landed at the feet of a small, white hare.

The little rabbit looked at the flower, sniffed it, and then sniffed Yakunan. It waved its head back and forth, and then it stared at Yakunan with a sort of fascination. It then leapt into Yakunan's hand, causing the former Overlord to let out a soft chuckle.

The small rabbit nuzzled against the warmth emanating from Yakunan's hand, and he couldn't help but coo softly at how soft the creature felt. He picked the small animal up and cradled it close to his chest, reminding him of the forest creatures he and Xenudah used to take care of, back when life was so much simpler and he didn't have to worry about losing his child to the darkness. Now, he wasn't sure if he could face his son again. It was his fault; he was the one that had caused all of this. He knew that he still had a chance, that he could get his son back, but he was scared of what his son had become. He was scared that he could only end up hurting his son again, and he didn't know what he would do if he did.

The rabbit seemed to sense his sadness and nuzzled into his hand with a soft little whine. Yakunan stroked the hare's soft fur and slowly started to let the tears fall down his face. He cried bitterly, shocked by the complete and utter depths of his feelings. He cried for his son, for his life, for his family. He cried for Xenudah, who had left him. He cried for himself, and for the dangers that menaced both his and Xenudah's life. He cried for the way that the world seemed to be falling apart around them. He cried for the unfairness of it all. He cried for the length of time it had taken to find him, the length of time it took for him to realize that Xenudah was out there, and that he needed his help. He cried for his loss, for his love, and for all the jangling emotions that struck and demanded his attention. He cried for his shame, for his regret. He cried for his sadness, for his despair.

He cried for his guilt, for all the missing mistakes that he had made. He cried for his loneliness. He cried for the age that he had lived through, for the time that he had wasted without his son. He cried for the morning that he had abandoned his child, his family. He cried for the sadness that he felt when he woke up. He cried for all the mistakes and unhappiness that he had caused.

He cried for the mistakes he was afraid to make again. He cried for his loneliness, and he cried for the fact that his son had been alone for so long. He cried for the fact that he didn't know how to save his son from the darkness.

The small rabbit whimpered in what seemed to be sympathy. Yakunan laughed slightly as the small animal made a soft noise, like a purr. The feelings that he had inside of him were overwhelming, and he was overwhelmed. He still felt that it was him who had caused all of this, that it was all his fault, and it was hard for him to believe that he could fix anything. He felt like he would fail, like he would be kicked down again. He felt as if he couldn't accept the fact that he could get his son back, and that Xenudah had changed so much.

He held the hare in his arms and allowed the gentle purring to soothe him slightly. A cool wind blew through the clearing, a gentle, comfortable breeze. He looked up at the sky as he said softly, "Come back to me, my son. I still want to know you, to make up for all of the years I spent away from you. I am sorry I left you." He reached out to wipe a tear from his cheek and the hare nuzzled into his hand, causing him to smile softly.

The hare sniffed the air, and then it sniffed at his hand again, snorting loudly at him. Yakunan looked down at the little animal, and with a chuckle, he reached up and scratched its ears. He just didn't want to leave the precious creature.

"Father?"

Yakunan's heart stopped at the soft voice coming from behind him. He slowly turned around, looking up at the breathtaking sight he had missed so much. His son was kneeling beside him. Yakunan gasped for a moment, but then he tried to look into Xenudah's eyes. They were a dim blue-purple, and the smile that stretched across his face was friendly and shining.

"What happened?" Yakunan asked as he looked over at his son, his face slack with surprise and confusion.

Xenudah smiled. "The Oni were able to take the evil out of my system..." He muttered, looking down at the ground. He lifted his head up. "I'm sorry for everything…"

Yakunan grabbed his shoulders. "Xenu, don't leave me again... I love you..." He begged, tears in his eyes.

Xenudah's eyes were now glistening with tears as well. "I don't want to go, I don't want to leave you again." His eyes began to grow dark, and he looked down. "I'm so sorry."

"Xenudah, you're never alone... I'm here for you. I never left. I'm so sorry for leaving you alone with your darkness, I'm sorry for everything I've done wrong. I just want to make up for all of this…"

Xenudah sniffled and looked into Yakunan's eyes. "I love you, father. I'm sorry."

"I love you too, Xenu. I'm sorry for everything." Yakunan held him close, his voice fragile and full of emotion as he continued to embrace his child. "Please don't leave me again..." He kissed him on the forehead and began to cry as well.

Xenudah could feel the warmth radiating from his father's body. "Without you... I...I..." Xenudah sobbed.

"Shhhhh..." Yakunan whispered. "I'm right here. I will protect you."

"You've always protected me..." Xenudah sobbed, pathetically. "I'm sorry," he choked. "I misunderstood..."

"It's okay," Yakunan told him. "I'm here. And I'll always protect you from this point forward."

Xenudah sobbed weakly in his father's warm embrace. He felt his chest become heavy again as he cried so hard. His father tried rubbing his back, but he just cried harder. "I was so angry with you…"

"I know…"

"I didn't mean it... I never want to lose you again..." Xenudah said, sobbing harder. "I don't want you to hate me..."

"I don't hate you," Yakunan whispered, lifting Xenudah's chin up gently. "I never did. I love you more than you'll ever know."

Xenudah was crying so hard at this point. "I'm so sorry, Dad."

"Shhhhh," Yakunan whispered. "Don't be. It's okay."

Xenudah buried his face in his father's chest again, crying and gasping. He could barely hear anything, but he could feel his father's warmth.

"I don't want to lose you either." He sobbed. "All I ever wanted was to be with you. But the darkness–"

"Shhhhhhh… I get it… I get it… You're going to be alright, Xenudah," Yakunan said, stroking his son's hair. "You're going to be alright. I promise I will protect you from this point forward."

Xenudah nodded, taking a deep breath. "I love you so much, Dad," he sniffled.

"I'm right here," Yakunan said. "You will never lose me again. I am your father, and I will always be here for you. I promise."

Xenudah nodded. He went on, sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm so sorry..." Xenudah's voice cracked. "I'm sorry for everything."

"Shhhhh… Oh, Xenu..." Yakunan whispered. "You don't ever have to be sorry about anything. I love you, and I will always protect you from this moment forward. Come on, let's get you home."