Garmadon sighed softly as he watched Yakunan and Xenudah talk. He was concerned for them.
Lloyd sat close by his side. When he heard the words 'save your family…', he thought of his father.
"This is not the time to get distracted, son," Garmadon said with force. "This mission is vital. We cannot let our thoughts get in the way. I'm sorry, I know you want to spend time with me, but we have to take the Oni down."
"Why the change in personality?" Lloyd scooted closer to his father.
"I don't know," Garmadon replied. "My mind has been in turmoil ever since their arrival. I have not been the same, so I can only believe they have been causing problems."
"Why doubt yourself?" Lloyd asked.
Garmadon took a deep breath and thought. He had been thinking so much about his past, it had been affecting his present. He had been conflicted with himself. "They are the cause of many problems. I have not been the same since their arrival. I have been acting under a lot of pressure, probably more than I should be. It's because of them that we were driven apart." The last phrase was spoken in a sharp tone.
"What happened?" The Chosen One's eyes were wide with curiosity.
He sighed. "Let me put it like this, Lloyd. They threatened to take you away from me. I could not fathom it. I loved you. Though the darkness within me felt the urge to join them at the time, I couldn't allow it. We were torn apart and made enemies. A big battle ensued, and I forced myself to stay away from you because I didn't want to hurt you, too. And then the evil consumed me."
Lloyd's eyes filled with tears. "They wanted me. Why is it always my fault?"
"It was not your fault," Garmadon said heatedly. "I should have been paying more attention to you. I shouldn't have lost confidence in myself and fallen into the darkness's grip. I should have been the strong one. I'll make it all up to you, Lloyd. I promise." Garmadon pulled his son close to him. He looked deep into his eyes with sincerity. "We all make mistakes," Garmadon said gently. "I promise I'll never let you down again. I can't believe how much you've grown. You have grown into a strong boy. I love you so much, but you deserve a lot better than me. You deserve the friends I was never able to give you. You deserve to live a happy and free life. I'll give you that."
"Dad…" Lloyd said, and embraced his father.
Garmadon wrapped his arms around his son and held him tightly. Lloyd was here now. He was safe. Garmadon didn't have to worry about him being harmed. It was almost too much to take in. All these years, Lloyd had been growing up with Master Wu as his guardian. All he had been able to do was watch from afar. Now, finally, he could have a father-son relationship with him.
Garmadon lightly kissed the top of his child's head. "I love you, son. You don't need to pay me back. All you need to do is to be there for me."
As he finished speaking, Lloyd pulled back to hug his dad. He nodded to show his agreement. "I love you, too." That was all he could say. The truth was, he wasn't sure if things would be alright. He had told his father how conflicted he was.
"You never had to worry about me, Lloyd. I promise to always protect you and keep you safe."
"Dad…"
"I'm here. Let me do this. We can work together to take down the Oni. We can look after our family together," Garmadon said with a smile.
Lloyd held his father close, tears streaming down his face, and it was then that the barrier broke. "I-I'm scared," he admitted, his voice beginning to shake. "I should be strong, but I'm not... I'm...I'm not strong like you. I can't..."
"You're still just a child...but you're my son, and I'm proud of you... I'm not as strong as you think I am...and I–I will fail without your strength... But, with your strength… We could have the determination to protect everyone...and save our loved ones." Garmadon said, holding back tears. With Lloyd, Garmadon could be himself. No matter what. No one would judge him. He was very proud of his son. "Lloyd, I need you. You're the only one who has ever stood up to me, and I need that strength now more than ever. So please… Stand by my side, and fight with me."
Lloyd looked up at his father with wide eyes. "You mean that?"
"I do," Garmadon said. "And I'm sorry for everything that I've done to hurt you. I love you too much to cause you any more pain."
And just like that, Lloyd was back in his father's arms, sobbing. "I love you, too."
Garmadon smiled and held Lloyd close, an arm around his back with the other on his head. "I'll never let you go, son. I promise."
Lloyd let out a shaky breath, and he held his father as tightly as he could, tears streaming down his face. He didn't know it for sure, but at that moment, he felt like everything would be alright.
Xenudah struggled to maintain himself while in his father's gentle embrace. His breath was unsteady and his chest ached from the immense emotions he was releasing. He felt so helpless, and he didn't know what to do.
He needed help. But what could he do? The image of his family's captors had been burned into his mind, and he tried to remember where they had been last. His mind grew bitter as he remembered the Oni who tore his family from him. Xenudah's posture began to break, and his father could feel his son's trembling.
"Xenu..." Yakunan whispered, as he tried to comfort his son. But, as the shaking began to overcome Xenudah, he embraced him. He could not stand to see his son in such despair.
"I-I just don't understand," Xenudah snapped, as he broke from his father's hold. Xenudah began to pace the temple grounds, trying to assess what he should do.
"Xenu..." his father said softly.
"It was so unfair! It was so–" Xenudah's self-pity had taken over, and tears began to stream from his eyes. "–so unfair!" He screeched.
"You did everything you could," Yakunan tried to soothe his son's temper.
"But it wasn't enough!" Xenudah wailed. "I wasn't enough!" He stopped his pacing and dropped to his knees. His hold on his emotions was rapidly fading. "I was never enough! Not for you, not for them!" he shouted.
Yakunan was heartbroken. "Xenu," he said, kneeling next to his son and covering his mouth. "You listen to me, and you listen well. You are more than enough–"
The young man's eyes snapped up to his father, and he snarled, "No! It was my fault! If I was stronger, they would've been spared!"
"Xenu–"
"What?" Xenudah snarled back. "What would you have me do, Father? There's nothing left for me! Everything's been stolen from me! All I have left is revenge! And I know where it starts..." he said slowly, drawing his dagger and holding it over his father.
"Xenu..." Yakunan whispered as he began to understand what his son had been through. "You don't have to do this."
"I have no choice!" Xenudah cried out.
"You always have a choice," Yakunan said calmly.
"Do you know what it's like? Do you know what it's like to have your family taken from you and never be able to go back to them?"
"I know," Yakunan said with a soft smile. "But, it's not the end–"
"For you, it isn't!" Xenudah shouted.
"I know it's hard and you think you're alone, but you're not, Xenu..." Yakunan said gently.
"I'm nothing to you. I never was. I've always been a burden–" Xenudah sobbed. "An unwanted son."
"You are my son, and I love you. No matter how broken you are, you'll forever be my son," Yakunan said gently. "Please don't leave me... Please, Xenudah..."
"I don't want to leave you, either," Xenudah sobbed. "I don't know what to do... I can't think clearly... I... I..." He screamed in frustration, punching against the ground.
Yakunan sighed, reaching for his child. "Xenu..."
"No!" His eyes widened, and he shoved his father away. "Don't you get it?" he wailed. "No matter what, I'm a failure to the both of us! I'm no use to anybody, and seeing you love me is more than my fragile heart can handle." He began to struggle, and he fell to his knees. "I'll end up destroying you... I lied! I was never free from the darkness! I can never be free! The darkness will always find me, and I will betray you!"
"Xenudah... Please, calm down..." Yakunan begged, but his son pushed him away.
"What will it take? What will it take to prove I'm worthy of the love you so easily give to me?" Xenudah bawled. "What will it take to prove that I'm more than a burden? That I'm not worthless?! I have to be stronger if I am to survive... I don't know if I'm strong enough...!"
Yakunan wrapped his arms around his son, pulling him close. "You're stronger than you know. You are everything I needed you to be... You are someone I can rely on, and you're a son I can be proud of. You're everything I've ever wanted… You're everything I never had..." he whispered. "You are my son… You will always be my son... I'm sorry for everything I've done... Please, forgive me."
Xenudah was rigid in his father's arms, his fists tightly clenched. His heart pounded and his breathing was rapid. His eyes were closed, and he couldn't see his father's tears streaming down his face. He couldn't rationalize what was happening, and he felt like if he opened his eyes, everything would shatter. He bit his lip and allowed his body to relax, struggling to find the words. Once he found them, he let out a thick breath. "I'm not strong enough… I don't deserve your love... But I'm not strong enough to leave you… I can't be... Not yet..."
Yakunan kissed his son's forehead, his heart pounding with emotion. "No, Xenudah... It's alright to be weak… There's no need to be strong… Just... Don't shut me out... I need you..."
Xenudah's hand slowly slipped up to his father's cheek, and he gripped it tightly. "I'm not strong enough to leave you, but I'm not strong enough to stay, either. The darkness...it wants me… I don't know how much longer I can keep it at bay."
"No, Xenudah... Don't let the darkness take you. You're strong. Just don't give up. I need you too, Xenu… Please, don't let the darkness win..."
"I promise I won't, Father."
"That's my brave son," Yakunan said as he pulled Xenudah's head to his chest. "I'm so proud of you, Xenu."
"I love you, Father," Xenudah whispered.
"I love you, too," Yakunan said, his voice cracking. "Please... Don't ever leave me..."
"I will always be here for you... I promise..." Xenudah promised. He held his dad tightly, never wanting to let go. His mind was reeling, and the darkness was calling him. The darkness was whispering to him that his father had given up on him. The darkness stated that he was worthless. The darkness ached Xenudah's heart, and he struggled to maintain his control. His mind raced, and he tried to remember how long it had been since he last saw his family. The more he replayed the memory, the more he thought to himself that he was the reason they hadn't returned.
Yakunan held his son tightly, struggling to keep himself composed. He couldn't believe the lengths this battle had caused his only child to go through, yet he knew that this was just the beginning of his son's journey. He knew that Xenudah would never stop fighting, and it would not be until the end of time. Tears streamed down the old man's face, and his heart pounded. He didn't know how to help his son, and he didn't know what to do for him. All he could do was hope.