Tonight was game night.

Lloyd watched as Zane pulled three tubs of ice cream from the freezer, setting them on the table in a neat line.

That line was soon to be ruined when Cole and Jay started fighting over the ice cream.

Lloyd licked his lips in excited expectation. He loved candy, and ice cream was one of those things that was close enough to candy to be almost as good as it. He walked over, studying the flavors. There was cotton candy (his personal favorite, because of the candy part), vanilla, and chocolate fudge brownie.

Nya brought a stack of bowls over. "Okay, guys—" she specifically looked at Cole—"don't take too much. We only have three tubs."

P.I.X.A.L. brought over spoons, setting them on the table as Nya set the bowls beside them.

Cole huffed, crossing his arms.

Lloyd bit his lip. He suddenly had doubts about his dad joining them. What if he didn't want to? Yesterday he'd never considered it, only that it was possible Garmadon could join them.

He'd already cleared it with his uncle. Wu hadn't minded the game night idea, and had even let them have it in the living room. Lloyd guessed, in slight irritation, that Wu wanted him and Garmadon to spend time together.

He really didn't need his uncle barging into that. He was doing fine.

"Alright, everyone get in line! I'm going first!" Nya walked over to the table, now holding an ice cream scoop.

A line was immediately formed. Lloyd realized he was next to last, Cole being subjected to very last because he would eat it all before anyone else had a chance to it.

Phooey. They'd better save him some of the cotton candy.

Garmadon walked down the hall, now having only a slight limp. He still had a cast on, but it would most likely come off soon. The healing tea had worked well, apparently. He felt…much better, since Ichor's. He hadn't felt this free of pain in months. It was both relieving and depressing.

He deserved the pain.

Ochre had stayed in the living room, taking a nap. The dog seemed pretty tired, so Garmadon hadn't woken him up.

He reached the kitchen, where the ninja were loudly talking. He peered in, feeling a spark of curiosity. It didn't hurt to be curious…right?

Of course, his father may say otherwise. Curiosity often got one into trouble, according to him. But he also said curiosity was a virtue.

No wonder he never learned much from him. And Wu was just as cryptic and confusing.

Inside, the ninja were eating ice cream, Cole and Jay arguing over flavors and amount.

Garmadon cautiously entered.

Garmadon didn't normally go around the ninja, but he'd been much braver lately. He wasn't sure why…but he suspected it was the talks with Misako. And what had happened between him and Lloyd last night.

Lloyd was the first to notice him. He stood closer to the counter with a tub of ice cream, a bowl on the counter. He blinked, looking a little surprised to see him. "Hey…uh. You want some?" He waved an—

Ice cream scoop. The light caught the metal, making it flash dangerously—

"'I'm sorry' doesn't cut it." Ichor suddenly lifted up an ice cream scoop. The edges of the metal scoop glinted coldly in the light. "Ever wondered how pirates feel?"

Pure panic flashed through his body like a tsunami. Everything was suddenly muted and hazy and—

Danger, danger, danger—

Ichor—

Garmadon sent a blast of power at the scoop before he could think.

Lloyd yelped, jumping back in surprise. The ice cream scoop was blown free from his hand, narrowly missing his face, and crashed to the ground with a metallic clang.

"Grab his face."

"Hey—" Kai barked.

It pierced his skin, and then he heard a crack as it pierced his skull.

Garmadon screamed. Everything suddenly sounded muted.

Ichor dug the scoop into his face. Wetness—blood—started pouring down. There was a muted chuckle, laughter, taunting—

Garmadon bolted.

Lloyd blinked, watching Garmadon bolt out of the room. What…had just happened? He'd just…Lloyd had only asked him if he wanted some. Then he'd blasted his power at him.

No…at the scoop.
"That jerk—" Kai marched towards the door.

Nya quickly grabbed his arm. "Kai, don't. Master Wu will handle it."

Kai growled. "But he just tried to blast Lloyd!"

"I know. But Master Wu will take care of it." She looked at Lloyd. "Are you okay?"

Lloyd nodded slowly. "I'm fine…" He set the tub of ice cream on the counter.

Cole picked up the ice cream scoop. "Wow…this definitely isn't usable anymore."

Lloyd looked at it. It was charred, and bent at an odd shape where the handle met the scoop. He winced.

Though…Garmadon hadn't hit him. He could have. But he'd hit the ice cream scoop.

Lloyd frowned.

"Now what do we do…?" Jay shifted uncertainly.

"Get our ice cream, then start the gaming," Nya said.

"What about Garmadon?" Kai growled.

"I said, Master Wu will deal with him."

Lloyd bit his lip. What had happened, though? Had…he done something? Was it his fault Garmadon had suddenly shot his power at him?

He headed for the door.

"Lloyd? Where are you going?" Kai asked.

"I'm…gonna tell Master Wu what happened."

"I can do—" Kai started.

"No. I will." Lloyd left the kitchen, not waiting around to hear his friends' objections.

He reached Wu's meditating room a few minutes later. His uncle had decided to meditate while they had their game night—why, though, he didn't know. They were often very loud on game nights, so he wasn't sure how he'd meditate. Or he was just that good. Or showing off.

Lloyd slid the door open. "Master Wu?"

Wu sat still, cross-legged, with his hands together and eyes closed. He opened one eye at Lloyd's entrance. "Yes, nephew?"

"Um…" He shifted uneasily, then walked in, shutting the door. "Can I talk to you?"

"Of course." Wu nodded for him to sit. "What is on your mind?"

Lloyd bit his lip, then sat down. "Well…can you check on Da—Garmadon?"

Wu frowned. "Why?"

"We were all getting ice cream in the kitchen. He came in, and I asked if he wanted any, and then… Well, he blasted the ice cream scoop out of my hand. And it's, uh…kinda broken now. We're gonna need a new one."

"I see…" His uncle's frown deepened.

Lloyd shifted nervously. "Yup…"

"Why did he do that?"

"We don't know."

"You and the ninja?"

"Yeah…it was really sudden."

Wu stood. "Where is he?"

"I don't know…" Lloyd also stood.

"Hmm." His uncle went and opened the door, then left the room.

Lloyd sighed quietly. Just when things started to be okay…something else had to happen.

Just my luck.

Garmadon sucked in gasps of air on the porch in the courtyard. He hadn't been triggered in so long… He hadn't had a panic attack in a while, either. It had been so sudden and unexpected.

Really, when he'd seen the ice cream, he should have expected there to be a scoop—

He shut his eye, trying to breathe.

Pain swept through his face. Like fire. Though the metal scoop felt cold.

Garmadon shuddered, sucking in another breath. He'd be okay. He'd be—

"There we go. See what I have? It technically belonged to you. Except that you are mine."

He grit his teeth, rubbing his hand up and down the pole of the porch. Trying to get him out of his head—!

"Hold him still again."

No!

Where was Ochre? He swallowed, hard. He needed his dog.

Something cold was suddenly being pressed to his face, into his wound—

Pain, pain, pain—

It's almost over. It was almost over, the memory had almost played all the way through, just a little longer—

Something was pounded into him. And then there was a crack. Sharp pain erupted on his face. Something metal was being…nailed into him. Where his eye had been.

Garmadon choked. No no no—

"There we go."

Garmadon's facewas released. He struggled again, but his strength was all but gone. So was his will.

"Now you know how pirates feel. Congratulations."

He sucked in a shuddering breath. The memory faded, growing dim. He tried to breathe, to get his bearings again. It was okay. He was okay.

"Garmadon?"

He stiffened, glancing at his brother. Now what did he want?

Wu watched him concernedly. "Are you alright?"

He went back to staring at the floor, jaw clenching. "I'm fine." He'd barely managed to get it out, but it was somehow coherent, and his voice hadn't cracked. Maybe he was getting better at pretending he was fine.

"Hmm… Lloyd tells me you broke the ice cream scoop?"

He froze. Right. That's why he was out here. Lloyd— He sucked in a breath. "Is he okay?"

"Who?"

"Lloyd." He swallowed.

"Oh. Yes. He's fine. But why did you blast the ice cream scoop?"

Ichor's cold face flashed briefly into his mind. He shut his eye for a moment, then stared at the floor again. He couldn't explain it to Wu. Wu couldn't know…couldn't know what he'd done.

"Brother…?"

He didn't reply.

"Garmadon, what's wrong? Why did you break the scoop?"

He can't know. I'm sorry…

Wu sighed. "I see we're back to this. If you don't tell me what's wrong, I cannot help you."

Good. He didn't deserve help, not after—

I almost hit him! I COULD have hit him! He'd blasted his power at his son again. What is wrong with me? Even if it was only at the ice cream scoop, technically, he'd still almost hit his son. Did he even deserve to call him his son? He'd disowned him once—

"Well…how about you come to the living room, then?"

He glanced at Wu, then shook his head, looking back to the floor.

"Why not? The ninja are having some game night. It would be good for you to actually do something. Besides, you might have fun."

Garmadon bit his lip. "I…no. I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because…I…I just can't." I can't hurt him again. He'd gotten too close already. He'd promised to be Lloyd's father. And the very next day, he'd shot his power at him.

I'm a coward, and a liar.

"Garmadon…is this because of what happened?"

He didn't reply.

"Lloyd is fine."

I almost HIT him. How is he fine? Garmadon gritted his teeth. Sometimes, Wu really was naive.

Wu sighed. "You do like video games, don't you?"

He hesitated, then gave a brief nod.

"I thought so. I remember you played one of the ninja's games, back after I'd gotten you from the Realm of Madness to save Lloyd." Wu paused. "Hmm…that was a while ago, wasn't it…" His voice trailed off.

It had been a while ago. Things were so different back then. Back then, even though evil had run through his veins, he'd still loved Lloyd. He never would have hurt him. If the Overlord hadn't taken over his body, he wasn't sure the Final Battle would have happened.

"Anyway, brother, you really should come. It may be fun."

Garmadon shook his head. And run the risk of hurting Lloyd again? No, thank you. Maybe he should just leave. He knew this was going to end badly. It always did…

"Hmm." Wu turned, walking back inside.

Good. Maybe he would leave him alone. He wanted to be alone.

Didn't he?

Lloyd bit his lip, staring at the TV. "Prime Empire" was in large letters across the screen, along with a figure jumping obstacles and fighting a few bad guys. The play button was below the large lettering, waiting to be pressed. His friends were still setting things up in the room, putting pillows here and there for the people relegated to the floor, and a bowl of popcorn on the coffee table. Along with an assortment of snacks, of which Cole was already pigging out on—unsurprisingly. The ice cream had mostly been eaten already, though a few bowls sat on the coffee table. Lloyd's was not among them—he was smart enough to eat it before Cole got to it.

Kai patted his shoulder. "Hey, how're you doing?" He kept his voice low, so the others wouldn't hear.

Lloyd shrugged. "Fine, I guess…"
"Garmadon didn't hurt you?"

"No. I'm fine."

Kai looked like he didn't believe him. "Okay…" He straightened after a moment, pulling him into a headlock. "Are ya ready to get toasted by me in Prime Empire?"

Lloyd smiled a little. "Nah. You're going down."

Kai huffed indignantly. "As if."

"Whoa, I thought I was the champion of this game?" Cole ruffled Lloyd's hair affectionately, a chip bag in his other hand.

Lloyd blinked, not having realized he'd walked over, and then tried to fix his hair. "Nuh-uh. You're not the only one who plays this game a lot."

Kai shook his head. "You're both getting roasted. Just wait."

Cole smiled. "We'll see about that."

"Yup." Kai smirked.

Wu walked over to them. "Lloyd? I would like to speak with you."

Lloyd, Kai, and Cole looked at him.

"Oh…okay." Lloyd suddenly felt apprehensive, and swallowed.

Kai released him, eyebrow raised. "About what?"

"That is not your concern." Wu walked towards the door.

Kai scowled. "It's about Garmadon, isn't it?"

Wu didn't reply.

Kai leaned towards Lloyd, whispering, "Hey, if you don't wanna go, let me know. You don't have to if you don't want to."

Lloyd shook his head. "It's fine, Kai. But thanks." He walked over to his uncle, who walked through the doorway and into the hall.

Lloyd followed him out, glancing back at Cole and Kai. Both watched him, Kai's eyes narrowed and Cole frowning worriedly. He swallowed again, taking a calming breath. Once in the hall, and out of earshot of his friends, he faced his uncle.

Wu shut the door to make sure they weren't overheard—especially by Kai, who would probably try to eavesdrop.

"Is this about my da—Garmadon?" Why did he have to keep catching himself like that? Lloyd realized his secret talks with his father were going to be harder to hide than he'd originally thought. And if Kai heard about that…he was afraid he'd do something stupid again. Which would make Garmadon leave—

He sucked in a calming breath. It would be fine.

Wu nodded, his staff in one hand. "Yes. I spoke with him, but I still don't know why he broke the ice cream scoop. He wouldn't answer me."

Lloyd frowned. Odd…

"I was hoping you could speak with him?"

Lloyd stuttered in surprise, eyes widening. "M-me? Why me?"

"Because…I think he feels guilty about it. I don't think he meant to break the scoop, and he certainly didn't try to almost blast you. You just happened to be the one to hold it. Although, I'm still not sure why he blasted it in the first place…" Wu shook his head.

He bit his lip.He…feels guilty about it? And apparently he hadn't tried to almost blast his face off? Because if the power had hit his face, he would have been left with a permanent burn scar, instead of the ice cream scoop. He blinked, taking a breath, and tried to focus. "I…but Master Wu, how am I supposed to help?"

"You're his son, and the one he shot his power at. Since he feels guilty about almost hitting you, I was hoping you could ease the guilt? You just have to talk to him. You don't have to say too much."

Lloyd stared at the floor. "I…maybe I could." It made sense, anyway.

"Thank you, nephew. I also wanted you to try and convince him to join your movie night. I tried to, but he wouldn't…I think because of the guilt. But I believe it would be good for him. For both of you, actually."

His jaw clenched in annoyance. Why his uncle kept barging into this was beyond him. Sure, Garmadon was his brother, but still. He could handle it fine.

But…he did want his dad to join them.

"Lloyd?"

"Yeah…fine. I'll talk to him."

"Thank you." Wu nodded.

Lloyd sighed, then headed down the hall. "Where is he?"

"Courtyard." His uncle took the lead.

He nodded. "Right…"

Wu walked quickly, reaching the courtyard a few minutes later. They both walked outside to the porch, where Garmadon still stood.

"Brother?"

Garmadon looked at Wu, then Lloyd. He bit his lip when his eye landed on Lloyd, guilt flashing across his face. He stared at the floor.

Lloyd frowned. He was confused about what had happened with the scoop. And irritated that his dad had blasted his power at him again. Even if it was he was also…concerned. Because he didn't know why in Ninjago his dad would blast an ice cream scoop of all things, and break it.

Though…he was Garmadon. He'd done stranger things.

Lloyd bit his lip.