What else is he hiding? Wu walked down the hall, still pondering what he'd discovered just a few minutes ago. His brother was obviously good at hiding things—he'd already known that, but this was concerning. If he could hide that…then what else could he be hiding? More missing limbs? Injuries? Secrets? Knowledge?

Then there was also still the question on how he was good in the first place. Last he'd seen him, he was a full-blooded oni. Had…he done something? In some way caused this to happen to himself? The robotic hand, his eye, the scars? Being good?

It was one big mystery. Good thing was, Misako was great at solving things. Wu was confident she'd crack the mystery soon. Though in the meantime, he'd keep a closer eye on Garmadon. Pry more. He didn't want to pry, but obviously, it was necessary and for his own good.

There was suddenly movement up ahead—

Wu frowned, eyes squinting.

Garmadon disappeared out the door, shutting it behind himself.

Where is he going…?

Wu quickened his pace. When he reached the door, he carefully slid it open, peering out. One of the large red doors leading to the monastery's steps shut. Where was his brother going this time?

He remembered the last two times Garmadon had disappeared. The first had been because of the panic attack he'd had while meditating. The second was…he really wasn't sure. Either way, both times he'd come back limping, and the last time he'd had a bruise on his face. And so, Wu had decided he would follow him next time.

His hand tightened on the sliding door, and he frowned. But…because of his brother's injuries, he might need backup, depending on what kind of situation Garmadon had gotten himself into. He didn't want to bring all of the ninja, but…

Wait.

Wu felt a small smile appear on his face. Maybe he could make this work out a little… He frowned, shaking his head, and turned, shutting the door behind him.

He'd get his nephew to help him.

"You want to follow him…?" Lloyd gave him a disbelieving, you're-insane look.

Wu nodded, now clutching his staff, with his other hand folded calmly behind his back. "Yes. The last two times he'd come back limping, and the last time with a bruise on his face as well. He claimed he'd only tripped, but…you and I both know he did not trip. I'm concerned."

Lloyd bit his lip. "I don't know…are you sure following him is a good idea? Whatever trouble he's in, I don't think we'd want to be involved, seeing as who we're talking about…"

"I know you're skeptical, Lloyd, but I believe your father may be in danger in some way."

Lloyd looked away, jaw clenched. "I think Garmadon can handle himself."

"Not from what I've seen… Can you please come with me? It won't take too long, hopefully."

His nephew frowned. "What are we even supposed to do? What sort of trouble do you think he's in?"
"I don't know. That's why I intend to find out."

Lloyd sighed.

"Bring your sword, and a few other weapons. I don't know the situation yet, but I'd like to be prepared."

"Why don't we just bring everyone, then?"

"Because I don't know the situation. It could be Garmadon is just getting into fights or something, with only a few people. I don't know. But I'd also rather keep this quiet for now, as well. Your father hasn't seemed keen to tell me much, and though I am concerned, I do respect his privacy."

Lloyd ran a hand down his face, letting out something between a groan and a sigh. "Ugh…of course… How typical…"

"Please, Lloyd? I really am concerned."

He let out an actual groan that time. "…Fine. But only because you want me to."

Wu smiled. "Thank you, nephew. I'll meet you in the courtyard. Chop, chop, though! I don't know how far he's gotten already, and I want to be able to catch up." He turned, walking out the door.

He heard Lloyd sigh behind him, then get off his bed.

Good. Maybe now, he could find out what was going on.

Garmadon reached the bottom of the monastery's steps, letting out a shaky breath. Everything spun, black dots blinking in his vision. He stumbled to the side, leaning against the nearest tree. Why was he so dizzy…? A weak and shaky?

He shook his head, then headed into the trees.

Failure.

Ichor was right—he deserved this. He wanted this to happen. What was about to happen. He'd told him to come back in a few days for his punishment. And besides, he needed a distraction, anyway.

He glanced at his gloved hand, running his hand over it.

He wasn't supposed to know.

Garmadon bit his lip. He felt so exposed now. Just one more thing Wu had found out about. What next? How long could he keep this a secret?

He can't know.

He needed to leave. He couldn't risk staying at the monastery any longer. They couldn't know.

Wu was getting too prying, too curious, too pushy. Eventually, he'd interrogate him for information.

I can't risk that.

He took a breath, realizing that he was trembling.

But he had to do this. Ichor said to come back in three days. So he had to.

And he deserved it, anyway.

He stopped, now near the same places he'd gotten attacked at twice now. He glanced around, seeing no sign of anyone. Maybe Ichor had—

"Hello, Garmadon."

He spun around, Ichor and a few members of his gang coming out of the shadows of the trees.

Garmadon swallowed, instinctively taking a step back.

Ichor grinned. "I see you're here for your punishment." He lifted his wrist, glancing at an imaginary watch. "Right on time, too. You must be itching to get started, hmm?"
Garmadon swallowed again, though he found that he couldn't from how dry his throat was. When was the last time I had any water?

Everything still spun, and he sucked in a breath, blinking, trying to reorient himself.

Ichor walked slowly over to him, hands folded behind his back calmly as he looked him over. "Hmm…what to do today… Maybe I should let you choose, hmm?"

Garmadon blinked. "Uh…I…what?"

Ichor stared into his eye, his expression becoming unreadable. "How about you choose your punishment for today?"

Garmadon blinked again, confusion clouding his mind. "I…why?"

He smiled. "Because I want you to. What would you like for your punishment today?"

Garmadon stared, uncertain. "Um…what? I-I… You want me to choose…?"
"It is your therapy, isn't it? Your punishment? You want it. So what will it be?"
"Um…" The world seemed to slow. What do I want…? Do I want this?

Failure.

Yes. He did want this. Ichor was right. He deserved this.

"Well?" Ichor gazed at him expectantly.

Garmadon still stared at him. "Um…" His mind seemed to go blank.

"Of course, if you don't choose, I'll have to." Ichor took out his dagger nonchalantly, fingering the edge.

Garmadon tried to swallow again, but his throat was still too dry. "Um…I…I don't know…"

"Hmm. That's too bad."

Sudden terror came over him at the prospect of Ichor choosing his punishment. He shifted, fingering his glove. "I…uh…I mean, maybe…just…what you did last time…"

"Last time? Hmm." Ichor tilted his head in thought. "Alright." He grinned.

Garmadon glanced around at the others with him, who started to converge on him.

Ichor held up a hand to them. "Oh, don't worry. You won't have to hold him still this time." His grin turned a twisted way, a sickly, evil expression as he stared Garmadon in the eye.

Garmadon tried to swallow again.

Ichor walked over to him, sheathing his dagger. Then he aimed a punch to his stomach.

Garmadon flinched back, tripping, and then doubled over wheezing as his fist made impact. Then he was shoved to the ground.

A kick—

He coughed, curling into himself.

I deserve this.

I deserve this.

Don't fight it, don't fight it—

It took every last ounce of will power he had left to fight his fight or flight instincts.

Ichor continued nailing him with kicks and punches, turning into an enraged growl.

I'm so sorry—

Garmadon choked, gasping. There was more movement from the corner of his eye—

He jerked back before he could think, raising his arms protectively over his face. A solid kick slammed into his arms, and Garmadon flinched as his arms smacked into his face instead.

Ichor abruptly grabbed him by the collar if his gi, lifting him up a few inches from the ground.

Garmadon cowered, trembling.

He snarled in his face, eyes narrowed hatefully. "I told you not to resist me, Garmadon." He dropped him, stepping back. "And here I thought we were making progress. Tsk." He shook his head disdainfully.

"I…I'm sorry…"

"Sorry doesn't fix anything!" Ichor grabbed his gi again, lifting him up to be face to face. "Only punishment will account for all you've done!" There was a flash in his eyes, something…far off.

Then Ichor slammed him to the ground, stepping back. The look was gone. "Get him up. I was wrong, it seems. Hold him still."

Garmadon flinched.

The men seized him, dragging him to his feet. Though Garmadon found he couldn't stand, not with the way his head swam and his vision blinked in and out.

Ichor landed another punch to his gut.

Garmadon sucked in a breath, doubling over. He didn't know how much longer he could endure this—

Crack!

Blackness.

Another kick—

Garmadon jerked, choking pathetically. The cold grass and leaves under him provided a brief amount of relief, and he dig his fingers in, gripping the ground like a lifeline.

Another sharp kick.

"How does it feel to be helpless?"

He could hear Ichor's grin in his voice, his glee.

Blackness blinked in his vision, everything swimming.

Another kick.

Garmadon curled into himself, letting go of the grass and leaves.

Ichor laughed. Another flash of movement—

The kick didn't come. Ichor turned, eyes scanning the trees.

Garmadon sucked in a breath, deciding to use the brief break to learn how to breathe again. He sucked in another breath. His ribs ached terribly. His leg burned, knives shooting up. His head throbbed. Everything hurt.

Another breath.

He blinked, eye sliding to look at Ichor. He stood there, rigid, gaze still searching. Why did he stop…?

Ichor abruptly turned around.

Garmadon cringed, choking on another breath.

"We're about to have company." Ichor slipped on a ninja mask, a visor over the eye opening.

His men followed his example.

Company…? What does that mean…? Garmadon shuddered, blackness briefly covering his vision before it blinked back on. Though everything looked fuzzy.

Ichor kicked him again.

Garmadon curled into himself further.

Wu moved swiftly through the woods, tracking Garmadon. Unfortunately, it had taken longer to catch up to his brother then he'd thought it would. Lloyd followed closely behind him, still skeptical about the whole thing.

Wu suddenly slowed, then stopped.

Lloyd paused behind him, panting slightly. "What is it?"

"Do you hear that…?"

His nephew was silent for a moment. "Yeah…it…sounds like a fight…" He broke into a run.

Wu ran after him.

They slowed when they neared sounds of the fight. Wu swiftly climbed a tree, Lloyd right behind him. He wanted to get an idea of the situation before just rushing in.

Then he hesitated, suddenly afraid of what he might see.

Lloyd glanced at him questioningly.

What if Garmadon had turned? Or was actually still evil? And it was him beating people up? Or…what if someone was hurting his brother? The last thought spurred him on, a sudden determination surging through his veins. He climbed a little higher, perching on a branch.

Lloyd followed, then crouched on the branch below him.

Wu cautiously peered through the branches.

Then let out a gasp. He knew it…

The horror, the realization, hit him hard. I should have pried the information out of him, like today, not have waited on the slim chance he'd tell me on his own.

There were four people below, his brother included. They were dressed in all black, from head to toe. Masks covered their faces, concealing their identity.

Were…their outfits oddly similar to the one his brother wore…? That was odd—

And this was also not the right time to ponder that. His brother needed him. He looked bruised and beaten, laying on the ground as, what seemed to be leader, landed kick after kick on him. Garmadon's eye was shut tight, teeth clenched.

Had he even tried to defend himself…? Wu found that he wasn't sure…

He glanced down at Lloyd. His nephew's eyes were wide, shock on his face. And anger.

Wu looked back at the scene, narrowing his eyes. "Lloyd, follow my lead," he whispered.

Lloyd made a quiet sound of agreement, though Wu wasn't sure if he'd truly heard him.

Wu sprang off the branch, whipping into Spinjitzu and barreling into the leader. He sucked him in, then flung him out. The leader landed hard, but he rolled on his shoulder and stood. Wu turned to—

Lloyd was already swinging his sword at the others, who were backing away in fear.

The leader bolted, his minions following close behind.

Wu immediately knelt by Garmadon.

His brother stared at him, wide-eyed with shock.

"Garmadon, are you alright?" Wu examined his face, then glanced over the rest of him. He couldn't tell how bad his injuries were. Not without examining him.

Garmadon blinked, uncomprehendingly.

"We're going to take you back to the monastery, brother. Alright?"

"We're going to take you back to the monastery, brother. Alright?"

Garmadon stared at him. How…?

The kicks kept coming. Over and over and over again. Unrelenting. Garmadon had his eye shut tight, taking the pain, teeth gritted. He deserved it anyway.

Then why was he trembling?

You deserve this.

Why was terror running through him?

He wanted it to end—

The pain—

Maybe he didn't want this. He thought he had. Ichor had said he did.

But I do, don't I…?

Another sharp kick to the stomach, then to the chest.

Garmadon cringed, sucking in a breath—

Why can't I breathe—?

Someone, please help me—!

The plea surprised him a little. He wanted this. He did.

Help—

Why, then, was he pleading for—

A flash of light sped past him. Garmadon blinked open his eye before he could think, trying to figure out why Ichor suddenly had—

Wait, the kicks had stopped—

Then he blinked again. A golden tornado threw Ichor out and to the ground, spinning to a halt.

Garmadon gaped. Wu…?

A flash of green then moved beside him, and Garmadon looked over, seeing…Lloyd…? He gaped even more, confusion now clouding his mind even more.

Lloyd swung his sword wildly at the three men, forcing them to back away.

The men fled. Garmadon saw Ichor disappear into the trees, his minions following him.

Garmadon looked at Wu, who had turned, coming swiftly over to him. He knelt by him, gazing at him worriedly.

"Garmadon, are you alright?" Wu glanced over him.

He blinked, finding that he couldn't respond. Everything faded in and out, and instead he only stared at him, trying to figure how this was possible.

"We're going to take you back to the monastery, brother. Alright?"

"Garmadon, can you hear me?"

He blinked, snapped back to reality.

Lloyd was standing next to Wu now, gaze also worried.

What was going on…?

They BOTH came…?
Garmadon felt a shudder go through him, and he slowly lowered his head back to the ground, unable to hold it up anymore.

They can't know.

I'm fine.

This wasn't supposed to happen. They knew too much. I have to leave.

Wu gently put a hand to his shoulder, and Garmadon flinched.

"It's alright, brother. We're going to help you. Lloyd, help me get him up." Wu sounded eerily calm.

He's angry. Garmadon knew it, he knew that voice. It was the voice their father always used when they got in trouble, or he was trying to hide his emotions from them. It was an eerie calm, hiding a barrage of anger underneath.

I'm in trouble.

Lloyd knelt behind him, and carefully helped Wu lift him up.

Garmadon stumbled, everything spinning as they dragged him to his feet.

Wu took his right arm, and Lloyd took his left. They slowly started walking, towards the monastery.

The trip was slow. Garmadon found that he kept blacking out, first finding himself still in the forest and the next at the monastery's steps, then halfway up, then to the large double doors.

He blinked blearily, head lowered.

Wu opened the door, and they both dragged him in.

Garmadon managed to stumble after them, almost tripping.

He blinked—

"Lay him on the couch."

He found himself suddenly laying down again, staring up at the living room ceiling.

Wait, what…?
He blinked.

Wu's face appeared above him. "Brother, I'm going to check you over for injuries, alright?"

Injuries…?

Wait, no—!

Garmadon jerked away from him, forcing his arms to move, and shoved himself into a sitting position, leaning against the back of the couch.

Wu frowned. "Garmadon, I won't hurt you. But this is necessary. I have to see if you're alright."

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine…"

Garmadon glanced at Lloyd, suddenly realizing he was still here. The green ninja stared at him, frowning. His expression was unreadable, other than his frown.

"Brother, let me take a look."

"No." They can't know. Garmadon shook his head, taking a breath. "I'm fine."

Lloyd glanced at Wu.

Wu stared at Garmadon, his gaze undecided.

He was trying to decide if he should leave him be or not.

"I…I just need some rest. I'll be fine."

"I need to assess your injuries, still."

"No. I'm fine."

Lloyd crossed his arms. "We're checking you over for injuries whether you like it or not."

Garmadon flinched. "No."

Lloyd glanced at Wu again, expression hard and determined. But…also worried.

Why is he worried?

Wu sighed. "Alright…we won't check you over. But you will have to take care of your injuries yourself, then."

"Wait, what?" Lloyd gaped at Wu. "Why can't we—"

Wu held up a hand to silence him. "I can't force it onto him, Lloyd."

Lloyd didn't look happy about that. He bit his lip.

Garmadon looked away, feeling an immense sense of relief hit him. He nodded at Wu.

"But…I do want to know if you're alright."

He nodded again. "I'm fine."

Wu hesitated, then nodded. "Alright… The medical supplies is in the bathroom cupboard. Use whatever you need."

Garmadon shakily stood.

"Do you need help…?"

"No." He started for the bathroom, limping slowly. His head still swam.

"Garmadon…there is two more things."

He stopped, not bothering to turn around. He could barely stand as it was.

"I'm going to make some healing tea for you. That will help with whatever injuries you have."

Garmadon grimaced. "I'll be—"

"That's a requirement if you won't let me take a look at your injuries."

He hesitated, frowning. I can't take any more from them. But he found himself nodding anyway. "What's…the other thing?"

"I don't want you leaving the monastery without someone with you."

Garmadon felt himself freeze, sucking in a panicked breath. I have to leave—

"I'm sorry, brother…but it's for your own good. I don't want something like this happening again. We can discuss the details later, after you've taken care of your injuries. I have some other things I'd like to discuss as well."

Garmadon bit his lip, blinking rapidly. You can't just keep me here—!

He stayed silent. There was nothing he could do about it, anyway.

You deserve this.

He continued on, limping slowly and head down.