It was a simple day in Ninjago. The sky was a perfect shade of blue without a cloud in sight. A pair of bluebirds sat perched on a dainty branch of the cherry blossom tree watching the pair of brothers below them curiously as they provided a sweet chorus of soothing music. "Come on Wu I KNOW you can do better than that. Quit holding back and just let me have it already!" The oldest encouraged. "Okay you asked for it," Wu warned poising himself. He took a deep breath before lunging at his brother. "Whoa!" Garmadon gasped clearly impressed as he struggled to block the attack. The struggle grew and grew when suddenly Wu's katana flew from his hands over the wall! They heard a muffled *clunk!* come from the other side and the two realized the katana had landed in a bush. "You better go get it or Father will be mad." Garmadon said turning to Wu. "I don't wanna, I'm scared." Wu trembled gazing up at the wall. Garmadon followed his brother's gaze and sighed. "Never put off til tomorrow what can be done today." He said before leaping over the wall. "Where did it go?" He mused glancing around. A twinkle of light caught his attention and he followed it to a nearby bush. "There it is!" He exclaimed reaching under. His fingers had just grasped the handle when suddenly he felt two sharp fangs pierce his skin! "Augh!" He cried out stumbling backwards in pain. His vision blurred and it felt as though every muscle was being torn in two. "Brother!" Wu screamed as he and his father ran towards him. "Let me see it son." Their father said gently grabbing his son's hand. His eyes widened in fear as he examined the bite. "No..." He gasped. He quickly gathered his son in his arms and ran into the monastery. "Daddy what is it? What's wrong with brother?" Wu asked fearfully. "Your brother has been bitten by the Great Devourer!" The older man replied gravely. Wu gasped in fear and felt tears begin to form. "There is no cure for his condition. Your brother will be moved to an isolated room in the monastery where he'll be lonely but safe."
Wu gasped in excitement as he glanced out the window. It couldn't be could it? It was! The rain had finally stopped after days of downpour. He could finally go outside! He ran as fast as his little legs could carry him to the far end of the monastery where his brother had been moved to after his encounter with the Great Devourer. His father had warned him to stay away insisting that his brother was now too dangerous to be around but Wu refused to listen. He knew his big brother would never hurt him. "Brother," the five year old called gently knocking on Garmadon's door. "Do you wanna do Spinjitzu? Come on let's go and play!" He begged. "I never see you anymore, come out the door it's like you've gone away. We used to be best buddies, and now we're not. I wish you would tell me why," he sighed glancing over at an old picture of him and his brother. "Do you wanna do Spinjitzu?" He asked again. "It doesn't have to be Spinjitzu." He continued pressing his mouth into the keyhole. "Go away Wu!" Garmadon spat back meanly. "Okay bye," Wu sighed sadly walking away.
Garmadon sighed to himself as he traced patterns on the wall aimlessly with his finger. He stopped abruptly as his fingers began to sharpen into deadly claws right before his eyes! He looked at the section of wall were he had just left an enormous rip in in horror. "This amulet has a special sealing spell." His father explained placing a jade inlaid amulet around his sons neck. "It will help. Remember, conceal it don't feel it," "Don't let it show." Garmadon continued in unison with his father.
"Do you wanna do Spinjitzu?" Nine year old Wu called through his brother 's door excitedly. "Or ride our bikes around the halls?" He suggested. "I think some company is overdue. I've started talking to the pictures on the walls; hang in there Joan." He greeted a painting. "It gets a little lonely, all these empty rooms. Just watching the hours tick by ; tick, tok, tick, tok, tick, tok,"
"I'm scared, it's getting stronger!" Garmadon moaned glancing at his claw like hands worriedly. His once brown eyes had turned a crimson red, his skin was turning an impressively dark shade of black, his teeth had begun to sharpen into fangs, and he was finding himself to have a worse and worse temper as the days rolled on. "Getting all worked up only makes it worse." His father replied patiently. "Just calm down-" he said reaching a hand towards his son. "No stay away from me!" Garmadon screamed swatting his father's hand away viciously. "Please," he begged tears forming in his eyes. "I don't want to hurt you ,"
Fifteen year old Wu ran through the halls excitedly. "Today is the day," he told himself struggling to keep his heart steady. "There's no harm in asking." He muttered to himself. He skid to a stop outside his brother's door and raised his fist to knock nervously. Although his hand was mere inches from the wood that separated him and Garmadon, he found himself beginning to have second thoughts as his nervousness grew. Finally, he sighed and dropped his hand in defeat. He looked back at the door one more time almost hoping his brother would open the door. When nothing happened, he sighed again louder and walked off visibly deflated.
Twenty and twenty five year old brothers Wu and Garmadon stood by their father's bedside trying their best to hold back their tears. They had both known this day would come. Both had anticipated that when their father fell down the monastery steps and broke most of his ribs, he most likely would not be getting back up. "My sons," the old man rasped barely audible. "Before I go, there is some business to attend to." "Yes father," the brothers replied leaning closer eagerly anticipating the inheritance their father would soon be leaving them. "Wu, come closer my child." Wu did as he was told. "You my son, will inherit the monastery and the four Golden Weapons." His father said. Both Wu and Garmadon appeared surprised at first; Garmadon even looked a bit hurt, but Wu quickly recovered himself before nodding solemnly. "Ninjago will look to you for protection now. Do not fail me." "I won't father." The youngest vowed giving his father's hand a gentle squeeze. "Garmadon," the old man rasped calling his oldest son to his side. "Yes father?" Garmadon replied leaning closer. "You- you are a monster," his father gasped causing his son to reel back as if struck. "I fear there is no way to save you. You must leave. Leave Ninjago and never return for as long as you live. I- I know you've made friends with that Misako girl." Garmadon nodded. "Yes father we're engaged. She- she's going to have a child too..." The old man's eyes grew wide in shock and fear. "No!" He screamed causing a roll of coughs to violently rack his frail body. "No! Are you mad?! You'll kill them! Please, stay away from her and the child!" He begged. Garmadon and Wu exchanged worried glances and Wu could see the tears building in his brother's eyes. "Garmadon," the old man continued. "You will cause them nothing but pain and sorrow. I'm sorry my son, it would be best if you avoided contact with the outside world at all costs." Garmadon could feel a lump rising in his throat. He turned away from his father coldly before he could see the tears begin to spill over. His father said a few more things before he finally took his last breath, but Garmadon was too hurt and angry to hear. That Sunday, Wu and the small village of Ninjago gathered on the mountain top just outside the monastery to say goodbye to their founder, the very first Spinjitzu master while Garmadon grieved by himself in his room isolated from the rest.
"Garmadon?" Wu called through his brother's door after returning from the ceremony. "Please, I know you're in there. Misako's been wondering where you've been. She says, 'have courage' and I'm trying to. I'm right out here for you. Just let me in. We only have each other. It's just you and me. What are we going to do?" He begged slumping himself into a heap outside his brother's door. "Do you wanna do Spinjitzu?" He asked choking on his tears.
Garmadon sat slumped against his bedroom door silently crying. His room was in shambles from the many tantrums he had thrown over the years. He missed his brother. Really he did. And he wanted to be with Misako. He wanted to marry her and raise their child. He wanted to be with his family again; for things to just go back to normal. But deep down, he knew that could never happen. Not with the demon inside. Perhaps he truly was a monster after all.