A/N: What? It's been less than two months? Probably because I'm on a family trip and I'm only on decent terms with about half my family… and we have internet so writing is a good, viable escape. So here we go, chapter time!

Just a reminder, it's been about three years in-fic since when the last chapter took place.

Review Replies!:

ScarlettParker18: Bonding indeed. Now, plot!

arrowchristian: I'm so glad you like soft Morro! There will be more of him, as well as some protective Morro! As for how I incorporate the other ninja, and whether Garmadon continues trying to conquer… well… just read this chapter. ;D

Guest: Oh, thank you! I will keep writing, and hopefully keep improving!

Garmadon finally found them, what his own army had been hiding from him. He scanned through the records, eyes growing wider and wider before finally narrowing into a cold glare of steel.

That city was going to pay.

*the next morning*

Lloyd awoke at his desk, head resting on his open laptop. He glanced around, shocked. "Dad didn't come check on me last night?" He muttered. His dad hadn't missed a night since Lloyd moved here three years ago. Had something happened?

He shook his head, hard. He was overthinking again, everything had to be fine, Garmadon had to have just forgotten, right?

Reaching over, he turned on his radio, already set to his favorite music station.

"-do you think, caller?"

Huh, that was weird, it didn't sound like an ad.

"I'm not sure, but it's gotta be connected to Lloyd Garmadon somehow. Why else would Garmadon take a three-year hiatus before attacking again, and with this weird shark theme?!"

Lloyd froze before hesitantly pulling up the news. Every single site was covering an attack - the attack from the previous night. There was footage of his uncle trying to get his dad to back down, or at least offer an explanation, but Garmadon simply tossed him aside. Wu ended up having to physically drive the man back to the volcano.

Shakily, Lloyd shoved the laptop shut. He rushed to the chest labeled 'stuffed animals' and threw open the secret hatch in the bottom. The tunnel was only supposed to be used for emergencies, but the thought of confronting his dad or the shark army about this made him feel sick, so sneaking off to his uncle and cousin was the next best choice.

He emerged on the other side, tears already in a frantic stream down his face as he stepped into his uncle's warehouse. "Uncle Wu, Morro! Dad-" he froze as his eyes landed on the people in the warehouse.

Sure, Wu and Morro were there, but there were five others. A girl with black hair, a boy with black hair, a redhead, a blond with blue eyes that seemed to glow like him and his father's eyes, and…

Kai.

This had to be a nightmare. A mild one, but a nightmare nonetheless. He hadn't seen any of his elementary school bullies since his tenth birthday. Yes, this entire thing was a nightmare…

But he could feel the cold asphalt beneath his feet, could hear himself hyperventilating. He hadn't felt more than faint phantom pains in nightmares for the past year, nothing came close to feeling like this. It had to be real.

That was the real Kai.

Real surprised eyes narrowing into suspicion.

Real words he spoke.

"That's Lloyd Garmadon! I bet he came here to spy on us! Don't worry, I'll take care of this little rat!"

He stepped forward, and suddenly Lloyd was in fourth grade again, the bullies closing in.

"Lloyd!" Wu called, but the boy's feet were already moving. He was smaller than everyone else, so much smaller. He had to be fast. He had to get away.

If he was lucky, his mother would deem whatever damage the city had done to him as enough for the day. But that was only if he wasn't tortured to death before he got back to her apartment.

He took turn after turn, and as he started to slow his brain finally caught up to him.

He was thirteen, in the volcano's seventh grade class. He lived with his dad, not… her.

And he was now well into the city his dad attacked last night for an unknown reason. The city he hadn't really been in (aside from his uncle's warehouse) for over three years.

*Bleep*.

*Meanwhile~*

"Lloyd!" Wu cried. Morro raced out after the small teenager.

Kai blinked at Morro's disappearing figure. "Where's he going?" He turned to face Wu, and then jumped back when he saw the expression on the old man's face.

Wu's voice was quiet when he spoke, but with the silence they were all able to hear perfectly. "How many of you would be willing to attack Lloyd Garmadon? How many of you are perfectly fine with attacking an innocent person for the sins of his father?"

They were all silent for a minute, before Jay piped up. "What do you- do you mean 'innocent?' His mother publicly said he's just- just as demon- demonic as his fath-"

"And how long ago was that?"

… "12 years."

"So, that abusive piece of… crap… told the entire city that her one-year-old child is a monster?"

They were all silent until Nya spoke. "Abusive?"

Wu nodded. "That is why I took him to live with his father."

"Wait, you're telling me he didn't run away to be evil with his father? What's next? Garmadon didn't stop attacking the city so he could train his son in evil?!" Kai threw his hands into the air.

Wu sighed. "Sit down, and let me tell you all the story of Garmadon and Lloyd."

Hope you all enjoyed! Next chapter will include what happens to Lloyd and Morro out in the city. I'm sure they'll be fine. ;P