It was a rainy day in Ninjago City. Unlike how most people were used to seeing it during the day, the sun was masked by a sheet of gray clouds, which were steadily dropping hefty rain on the metropolis.

As the rain pelted the tall skyscrapers, the city's public transportation system was practically in shambles, barely working as the streets were flooded and it was impossible to see. The rain was cold and hard, making the air feel freezing. A light rain began to fall even harder, causing the trees to bend and branches to bounce to the ground with the force of nature.

In spite of it being a rainy day, Lloyd was warm, in his chamber, huddled near his father as a means of comfort. He didn't want to let him go. Lloyd wasn't afraid of the dark or the rain, he just didn't want to let go.

"Lloyd, I love you..." Garmadon murmured, his voice soft and barely a breath as he held his son close. Lloyd let his eyes fall shut in response.

Lloyd clung to his father, his body shaking with sobs. The young man, who was still just a little boy at heart, had let instinct take over. Nothing would affect how much he loved his dad.

"Lloyd, I want you to listen to me very carefully, okay?" Garmadon tenderly said, with a soft kiss on his son's forehead.

"I'm listening..." Lloyd responded softly, still in a daze as his body shook.

"Stay safe...and don't ever leave again. You're much safer here…" Garmadon's voice was thick with emotion as he tried to reassure his son, who seemed terrified. "I've got you here with me now, little one. I'll never leave your side ever again."

"I…I don't understand, Dad…" Lloyd said in a tremulous voice. "I thought…we were finally…together..."

"I know, Lloyd. But the Oni won't leave us alone. We truly can't be safe. Not until they're gone... I'm so sorry..." Garmadon held his son, still tightly. "I'm so, so sorry… I'm sorry I've been distant from you lately, but...I can't help it… I'm just so scared..." He sighed again. "Lloyd, I know it hurts... But I know you. You're a strong kid. You've been through a lot, more than you deserve. But still, you are loving, compassionate, and you always look out for your friends and for me. Those are qualities that define a true hero. You're the reason why I still have a heart, even after everything I've done. I am so sorry..." Garmadon said, his voice beginning to break. "I need you more than you know. I can't find myself again, not without your bravery and heart. You've given me so much, and I want to make you proud, I swear. I swear I will make it up to you, my boy."

And so Lloyd let the tears fall. He buried his face in his father's chest as he cried, while Garmadon rubbed his back and hugged him tightly in response.

"Don't leave, dad…" Lloyd murmured, his breath catching on a sob. "Please don't go…"

"Oh, Lloyd… I'm here...you'll be okay… Everything will be okay…"

The energy elemental yawned, his body feeling like concrete. He wanted to hold something to keep himself from collapsing. Perhaps it had something to do with the Oni invasion. They did have a penchant for messing with others' lives. Like his father's.

Lloyd nearly burst into tears at the thought, and his father tightened his hold on him.

"Son…" Garmadon whispered. "I've got you… Stay here with me… I won't let go..."

"So what do we do now?" Lloyd asked, his voice trembling as he spoke. He broke away, throwing his hands up in the air. "It doesn't matter what we do, we're useless. I can barely hold my ground alone!"

"We'll find another way, son," Garmadon consoled. "I'm sure."

Xenudah stood outside the gate as he watched the chaos on the other side of the forcefield. There was a huge rainstorm outside, lightning striking across the city. It was like his heart, filled with inner turmoil, and he didn't know what to do.

"Xenu, are you alright out there?" His father called out from inside the Temple of Fortitude, reaching out to him in desperation

The son of the former Overlord shook his head in distress. He rushed back inside, clinging to one of the pillars like a lifeline, while letting out a shuddering sob.

Yakunan sighed, letting a hand brush gently through his trembling son's hair. "I'm right here, Xenu… I'm not leaving this time, I promise…"

Xenudah focused on a corner of the room and struggled to reign in his emotions. He looked down, slowly, as if in prayer. His head bobbed as though he were having a seizure. His heart was so heavy, almost broken. No, not broken, just heavy. That was what it felt like to him, to feel broken-hearted. He curled up into a ball, laying his back against the pillar. "I still miss them… Kymika and Shiren are nowhere to be seen..." Xenudah's composure snapped as he jerked his head up to face his father with a pointed gaze. "Aaagh! I want them back! I can't take it anymore!"

"Xenu, please calm down… It does you no good to dwell on what might have been."

"Can't you see I'm breaking?!" Xenudah screeched. "I don't know what's happening to me! I need help!"

"Xenudah, shhhhh…"

"Don't shush me, father! Why can't you just LISTEN TO ME FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFETIME!"

"Alright, I'm sorry…" Yakunan sighed shakily, placing a hand gently on his son's own. "I'm here… I'll stay and listen… I love you…"

Xenudah just nodded, shifting closer to his father. "I-I keep overreacting to even the slightest thing and I don't know how to stop it…" He choked on a sob. "My family being gone hurts too much for me to bear… I WANT THEM BAAAAACK!" He fell into another fit of wails, shaking his father desperately as he cried.

"We'll find them, Xenu, I promise…" Yakunan whispered, drawing his son close once more. "Just hold on… We'll pull through this… Hold on…"

Lloyd found himself walking through the dense jungles on the Dark Island in the middle of the night. The moon shone brightly as he gazed up, taking a deep breath. Just then he heard some rustles in the bushes.

"Who's there?! Show yourself!" Lloyd hissed.

He looked around, ready for an enemy to come at him with weapons raised.

"Lloyd?" The man's voice was soft, barely a breath, and uncharacteristically fragile. "Son, what are you doing out here so late?"

Lloyd felt like someone had punched him in the gut when he recognized the voice. "I couldn't sleep…" His shoulders fell as he let out a sigh. He didn't want to talk about it; he just wanted to be alone. The green ninja walked deeper into the trees, leaving the older man behind.

"You shouldn't be alone. Not even at night. You're scared about our battle, aren't you?"

Lloyd's breath hitched as his father confirmed his thoughts.

Of course, he would know Lloyd was afraid—he was always one hundred percent aware of all of Lloyd's fears and worries.

The younger ninja turned to face his father slowly, unsure of where to begin. He stared for several moments. "Why… Why did it have to be us? Do you hate me for what's become of our relationship?"

"No…" Garmadon drew his son close, brushing a hand through his hair, repeating the statement. "I'd never hate you… It's just… This could have been prevented…" he sighed. "And that's what hurts most of all… I don't know how long I can keep the darkness at bay. The only thing I do know is that my world needs you more than ever right now." Garmadon's voice cracked, broken and fragile like paper. "I won't be able to protect you anymore if something happens to me."

"Don't say that! We still have each other. I wouldn't lose you over this! Not over anything."

"I don't think I can live without you, Son... There's no way… I need you by my side. And I know that I can't live without you… I just need you to believe that I love you no matter what happens to me."

"I understand. I promise you. That doesn't make me feel any better though."

Lloyd sat down under a tree with his father, leaning against him. It hurt that their family wasn't complete yet. They were fighting a war and everything they knew was crumbling down around them. But he wouldn't give up, because he was still determined to save everyone together.

Garmadon ran his fingers over his son's blonde hair, humming a tune to himself. Lloyd took a deep breath, letting his eyes slide closed as his father continued to whisper sweet nothings. "It doesn't look like we have another choice…but I hope we can find a way to survive this. I don't want to have to kill you…"

"Me neither…"

The destruction elemental held Lloyd tighter. "If we do get through this fight, I promise that we will find a way to be together forever." He whispered the words so softly that his son almost didn't catch it. "Forever is such an impossible wish...but maybe, just maybe…someday… Maybe someday we could finally make it work…"

They sat quietly under that tree for minutes on end. Talking and reminiscing about different times. Memories of childhood days spent playing pretend and learning new things. All of it was tainted now; everything had changed for the worse. But that was okay. Because no matter what happened next, Lloyd and Garmadon would always have each other.

The former lord of darkness was pulled out of the memory by a nudge in his direction. His son was grasping onto him tightly. "I'm here, son… What is it?" He asked, wrapping both arms around his son.

"Did you forget about your promise? To never leave me alone again?"

Garmadon let out a shaky chuckle. "Never… Never. I promise I won't abandon you. We'll take down the Oni together and forge a new path for both of us. You and me." The boy looked up at him with shining eyes, and Garmadon found himself getting misty-eyed as well.

He had promised to never abandon his son and he meant it—no matter what. No matter what it would take or if anyone else tried to stop him from keeping that promise. There were times where it was hard to think clearly, like right now. But the only thing he knew was that if he lost this battle, then there would be no going back. And that scared him. He couldn't bear to lose his only child. Not after everything he had done to protect him… He couldn't imagine his son leaving him again. Especially when they were so close.

Garmadon leaned down and kissed his son's forehead softly. "I love you, son. Always and forever…"

"I love you too, dad…"