Garmadon took a step off the last step of the monastery's achingly long stairs. His legs were shaky, and his injured one felt ready to buckle, but he continued anyway.

He needed to get away. For a few hours, anyway… Especially after he'd humiliated himself so drastically in front of Wu.

Idiot…

He shut his eye, taking a breath. What would Wu think of him now?

What does he want?

He continued to ask himself that, but never seemed to get an answer. Wu acted like he genuinely cared…but that wasn't possible after what he'd done. So there had to be something else, some other reason…

He looked up, glancing around at the forest. It wasn't like where he'd lived with Ochre—Garmadon flinched—but it was comforting in its similarities.

He shook his head. Just focus on the forest…nothing else.

Garmadon finally slowed, reaching a small clearing. It seemed peaceful enough.

He'd been walking for about half an hour now. Not too long, or he'd probably pass out.

He sighed. What am I going to do? Why…why am I even here? He should head back to the woods he'd stayed in with—

Garmadon shook his head.

He should go back. Staying here became more and more of a risk—a risk of hurting someone.

Or worse.

He shuddered, blinking.

What now?

Hopefully, his walk would help clear his head a bit. It…always did, at least a little, before he'd come to the monastery.

Then he would have to go back and face Wu. He blinked rapidly. That was sure to not go over well…

He continued on, his pace now a slow gait. Maybe I could go explore a bit, see what's changed—

"Hello, Garmadon."

He tripped, almost face-planting. Wait, that's not in my head—

Garmadon whipped around, heart thudding wildly. His throat seemed to close.

No no no—

Ichor—

Ichor grinned, showing his lopsided smile. The marks across his face seemed to draw his attention, taunting him for what he'd done—

"Did you really think I wouldn't find you?"

Garmadon stumbled, tripping again, and backed away. Sharp gasps escaped him.

Run—

Ichor took another step towards him, his grin turning into an admonishing scowl. "Didn't I tell you not to try that again?"

Garmadon trembled uncontrollably. "I…I…"

"Do you remember the last two times you did something like this?"

"Maybe this will teach you."

Loud whirring whizzed in his ears, the blade coming down—

"Ever wondered how pirates feel?"

There was a crack, blood running down his face—

Garmadon opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His face stung like fire, and he could almost feel the liquid running down, could feel his skull crack. His arm throbbed, feeling like flames arced through it mercilessly, the sense of wrongness that his limb was gone—

Ichor smiled. "You do? Good. Than you'll understand why I have to do this. As your father always said—discipline is a virtue."

Garmadon tried to swallow, but he couldn't move—everything was frozen. Muted. Numb.

Five others, dressed in all black like Ichor, came out of the woods into the clearing.

Garmadon cast them a glance, panic racing through him—

No no no, this was not—

This wasn't supposed to HAPPEN—

"Grab him."

At Ichor's words, the men rushed him.

Garmadon yelped, stumbling back, letting out a terrified whimper—

He was slammed to the ground. He choked out a cry, his hands going in front of his face, not even bothering to try and defend himself.

"You deserve this, anyway—don't you?" Ichor's footsteps neared—light, like Wu's.

Garmadon thrashed, struggling, as they pulled his arms behind his back. Someone else grabbed his legs.

"Please, don't—"

What are they going to do to me?

"I…I'm sorry—"

Ichor growled. "'I'm sorry' doesn't cut it."

Garmadon's vision blurred, and he blinked back the sting of tears. No no no, not again—

I can't break down in front of Ichor, not again, I'm already so pathetic—

Ichor suddenly delivered a sharp kick to his stomach.

Garmadon wheezed, trying to curl into himself with a strangled gasp.

Ichor kicked him again, harder.

Garmadon coughed, choking.

"You deserve this, after what you've done. Don't try and resist the pain!" Ichor kicked him again, snarling.

He sucked in a gasp—but no air came.

"Get him up."
Garmadon was roughly dragged to his feet. His injured leg almost buckled, and he stared at the ground, avoiding Ichor's accusing gaze.

Ichor delivered a sharp blow to his chest—

Garmadon wheezed, the air in his lungs suddenly gone—

Just breathe, work work work—

Stupid lungs—

"Pathetic. Just think about what you did to Lloyd—you almost killed him. You said he wasn't even your son. How much worse can you get than that? And of course before that, you murdered me. And for what?! A poorly placed comment?!" Ichor snarled, striking him across the face. "You're a murderer, and a monster. And you've been a villain since you killed me."

Garmadon shuddered, flinching. Everything seemed to grow hazy, unfocused.

This isn't happening, no, I got far away from Ichor this has to be a dream—

I'm dreaming—

Another strike. "Oni. You've always been one. Even though I altered your blood, made you human again, you still have—and will always have—that oni stain in you. It's in your DNA. Which means you'll always be a monster."

Ichor then took a step back, staring at him disdainfully. "Let him go. I don't want to damage his face too much—I can see in his eyes he hasn't told anyone. I wouldn't want to…spoil that, now, would I?"

The men released him.

Garmadon's legs buckled, and he landed with a thud on the ground. He cringed, trying to move away from them, but his muscles wouldn't listen to him—

Ichor stomped on his leg.

Garmadon let out a cry of agonized pain, knives seeming to shoot through him.

"Of course, I have no problem hurting him elsewhere." Ichor grinned.

The men chuckled, sending Garmadon taunting laughter.

He cringed, whimpering. Then he cringed even more as he felt tears trickle down his face.

"Is he crying?" One of the men jeered at him disbelievingly. "Wow, and he used to be Emperor Garmadon…"

Ichor laughed. "As I said—pathetic."

Garmadon shut his eye, trying to block them out. He shuddered.

Ichor delivered a sharp kick to his ribs again.

He gasped, clutching his chest—

"You're despicable. Probably the worst father—if you could even be called that—in all of Ninjago." Another kick, this time on his right ribs—

Knives shot through his side—

Garmadon gasped, trying to suck in air, but he couldn't breathe—

Muted laughter rang out around him. His vision blurred, everything going out of focus. He blinked rapidly, but everything was suddenly in a foggy haze.

More muted voices sounded, though he couldn't make them out—

More pain erupted through his chest, then his leg—

I can't—

I can't do this—

Please, stop—!

A few seconds later, the voices became clear again and his vision refocused. Garmadon choked, then coughed, heaving in strained breaths.

Someone knelt down next to him. "Murderer. How does it feel, to be helpless and weak? How does it feel to be broken?" Ichor snarled, grabbing him by his chin, forcing his face towards him.

Garmadon found he couldn't look away. Their gazes locked, Ichor's a dark, cold of fury beneath the surface. They blazed like flame, boring into him. It was like Ichor could see right into his mind, could see his every thought, his every mistake.

Ichor scoffed. "You really are pathetic. To think you used to rule Ninjago is beyond me—no wonder your son beat you. Or I mean, the Green Ninja." He smirked. "I forgot you'd disowned him."

Garmadon couldn't help the wince that flashed across his face, the guilt hitting him so strongly he cringed.

Ichor paused, a mocking, thoughtful look in his eyes. "What should we do with you now…?"
Garmadon froze, eye widening in terror. His heart sped up—if that was even possible with how hard it was already thumping—and adrenaline surged through him.

I can't go back, I won't I won't I won't—

Please, someone help me—

He chocked, blinking as more tears leaked down his face.

Ichor laughed.

Garmadon swallowed, trying to loosen his achingly tight throat. "I…please don't… I… I won't go back!" He flinched, shutting his eye at how…defiant he sounded.

I'm going to get it now—

Idiot, why did you say—

Watch your tone before you make this worse!

Fool!

Ichor rose an eyebrow. "Well…you've sure gotten a little…insubordinate. Have you forgotten that you are mine?"

Garmadon tensed, cringing, waiting for the blow—

Ichor let go of his face. "I guess I'll have to correct this behavior…we wouldn't want you to grow complacent, would we? Remember how much you deserve this. Think of Lloyd." He stood.

Garmadon blinked, staring at the ground. I do deserve this…for everything. For Lloyd. He shut his eye, trembling—waiting for the pain.

"Hold him down."

Garmadon gasped sharply as the five men roughly tightened their grips, one still holding his arms behind him and two holding down his legs. Another grabbed his shoulders.

Ichor grinned crookedly, his eyes glinting darkly. The forest cast shadows over his features, his scars, partially obscuring his full expression—but he knew that look.

"Now, grab his face. Hold him still."

No no no—

"Grab his face."

"Grab his face."

"Grab his face."

He knew that line, he recognized it—

Someone took a hold of him, holding down his head.

Ichor reached for something in a small pouch at his side Garmadon hadn't noticed before. He brandished—

An ice cream scoop.

No no no—

"I…please, no— Don't, please, I— I won't disobey you, I'm sorry—" He struggled madly, trying to buck Ichor's gang off of him.
"Didn't I already tell you? 'Sorry' doesn't cut it." Ichor took a step towards him, expression calm. "Because of your defiant disobedience, you've left me with no choice. I suppose the outside world had dimmed your conscience, hmm? You should feel terrible, after what you've done. You deserve all this—this pain. Why do you fight it? Do you not feel guilty at all? Though I suppose since you're a monster, and an oni, that would make sense…"

Garmadon choked back a sob. "Please…" His struggles weakened. He's right…why am I fighting this? But the fear was so strong, so overwhelming…it was instinctual.

Ichor knelt beside his face, a mock-sympathy on his face. "You know, I wouldn't have to do this if you'd listened to me. If you'd just taken your punishment." He held up the scoop, shadows making it look dark, but a beam of sunlight showed its sharp edging. A faint brown and red color stained it.

From the last time.

It was the same one—

Garmadon trembled, closing his eye. Helpless.

"Look at me." Ichor grabbed his chin, the growl in his voice demanding, ordering.

Garmadon hesitantly, reluctantly, did so. He met his gaze with fear, seeing only cold, unforgiving hate and…hurt…in his eyes.

"You murdered me, Garmadon. We were supposed to be allies, remember? You deserve this." Ichor brought the scoop down slowly, intentionally.

Garmadon's gaze flickered to it, watching it get nearer.

I'm going to be truly blind this time. Completely helpless.

What would Wu think?

What…what will happen to me? What will I do?

Another part of him accepted his fate. I deserve this. He's right. I murdered him—I took his life. This is nothing compared to that. It's only an eye.

"I hope you can get around blind, with two eyes gone." Ichor grinned, then suddenly thrust the scoop at his face—

Garmadon screamed. He shut his eye anyway, disregarding Ichor's order.

Pain—

Blood—

A sickening crack sounded.

I'm going to die—

Then he froze, realizing…there was no pain. Nothing…nothing was happening. Why…?

Ichor chuckled.

Garmadon cracked open his eye, wincing—

Ichor then laughed, the scoop centimeters from his face, poised above him threateningly. "Got you." He stood, sliding the scoop back into his pouch nonchalantly.

Garmadon blinked—the tense feeling in his shoulders didn't leave.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to blind you—how else would you see what you did to me?" Ichor grinned.

The men around him laughed, jeering at him.

It…this was a prank…? Garmadon still found himself staring.

Ichor clapped his hands loudly.

Garmadon flinched, tensing up again.

"Now, we should go. It's getting late, and I have things to do." Ichor folded his hands behind his back.

No no no—

I can't go back, I CAN'T—

But he stayed silent. I can't disobey. I…next time I may not be so lucky. Maybe if he yielded to Ichor, he…he wouldn't hurt him so much. Maybe…maybe he'll know I've learned my lesson, maybe he'll finally let me go—

No, that was wishful thinking. Though maybe he'd go easier on his punishments, the sessions, if he was subordinate enough…

He turned his gaze to the ground. He could at least look like it—

"Let him go."

Garmadon's head shot up. What…?

The five men released him, still jeering, and gathered behind Ichor.

Garmadon stared at him, confused.

Ichor just grinned. "I shall see you soon, Garmadon." He turned, walking back the way he'd come.

Garmadon found himself gaping as the reality suddenly set in. "I…I… Y-you're not taking me…?"

Ichor looked back at him over his shoulder, hands still folded calmly behind his back. "No." His gaze hardened. "I'll let you suffer—let you realize how much you've hurt your family. See how much they hate you now. Watch as you sink further and further down. Eventually, you'll come running to me, begging for me to punish you for what you've done when you fully realize the pain you've caused."

Ichor turned, walking away. "Enjoy your stay at the monastery. I'll be watching. Waiting back at the lab as you crumble under their judgment and pain."

Garmadon watched as they disappeared into the foliage and trees. He didn't move even after they'd gone, too shocked to do anything but gape.

A few minutes later, exhaustion suddenly hit him like a brick. He blinked, then slowly let himself sink back to the ground. He closed his eye, wincing.

Why did he let me stay…? Why didn't he take me? I…I ran away, I can't believe—

Ichor had said he wanted him to feel the pain of what he'd done to his family. Garmadon still didn't fully believe it… The fact that Ichor hadn't taken him back…

Why?

He sighed. He was so tired…so exhausted. The pain of his injuries now made themselves known, throbbing, feeling like knives shooting through him.

He took a shuddering breath. I…I have to get back to the monastery…

In this condition? No…not like this…

I think I'll just wait. Until evening, at least.

Garmadon blinked, staring at the greenery and foliage. Birds chirped a little ways off, and the leaves and branches rustled softly.

He sighed again. The sudden peace of the forest was a bit disorienting, but…he wasn't sure if he should welcome the calm or shy away—he didn't deserve it, anyway.

I'll… I think I'll just sleep for awhile…

He was so tired… He'd already panicked in front of Wu, and the high anxiety was energy-draining as it was, but in front of someone else—especially him—added another stress level that depleted him even more. And on top of that, he'd just…run into Ichor.

He felt completely sapped.

Garmadon closed his eye, allowing the blackness of sleep to pull him in. Allowed it to pull him into the blissful state of nothingness.

Pain.

Guilt.

Shame.

Fear.

Garmadon blinked rapidly, trying to calm his racing heart—then he slowly slid open the door leading into the monastery. He blinked, looking around for anyone. Seeing the coast was clear, he entered, gently shutting the door behind him.

"Oh, hello, brother! I—"

Garmadon jumped, whipping around so fast he almost tripped over himself.

"—was wondering when you'd be back." Wu paused. "You've been gone all day…are you alright?"

Garmadon blinked, trying to calm the adrenaline down. It's just Wu, Ichor's gone—

Wu rose an eyebrow, looking concerned. "Are you alright?"

Garmadon swallowed, nodding. "Yes…I'm fine."

Wu took a sip of his tea, sudden guilt on his face as he grimaced. "I…I'm sorry about earlier. I honestly thought it would help… I…didn't think it would cause…that…"

Garmadon looked away. "…It's fine." Is he really sorry? Or concerned? No…there has to be something else—

"I'll let you suffer—let you realize how much you've hurt your family. See how much they hate you now."

Revenge.

Garmadon winced.

Wu was silent for a moment. "I… Could you tell me what happened?"

Garmadon shook his head, then started for the living room.

"I… Garmadon, I just want to help. Is there— Wait, why are you limping?" Wu suddenly started following him, catching up quickly.

Garmadon clenched his jaw, trying to quicken his pace. His leg ached, feeling ready to buckle as knives shot through it like fire. I just need to reach the living room, then I can rest—

You don't deserve to rest.

"Garmadon?"

Swallowing, he tried to lessen his limp. "I'm fine."

"What happened?" Wu was next to him now, gaze questioning.

"Nothing." Leave me alone. The living room, surprisingly, came sooner than he'd thought. He opened the door, trying to ignore Wu's hovering.

Garmadon walked to the couch, then turned to him.

"Are you alright?" Wu still looked concerned.

He nodded. "Yes. I'm fine. Stop following me…please."

That…that was too insubordinate as well—

Didn't I just have this conversation with Ichor?! He swallowed, looking away. Ichor didn't have to know, right? And…and Wu hadn't seemed to be openly hostile to him yet, so he wouldn't—

"I…" Wu blinked. "If that's what you'd like…I'm only trying to help…"

Garmadon cast him a nervous, disbelieving look.

Wu frowned. "Well…" He sighed, taking another sip of his tea. "Alright. Everyone already ate, just so you know, but we saved you some again. Did you have lunch?"

"Yes." Garmadon looked away.

Wu paused. "I…okay." He turned, leaving the living room.

Garmadon closed his eye. Why…why am I acting like this? He went over to the couch, then collapsed onto it. He didn't try to move, even as his leg ached.

At least his nap from earlier had helped with his exhaustion. He felt better now.

Now what?

Maybe I'll just lay here for a while…I have nothing better to do.

Nothing but to wallow in guilt and shame, thinking of my mistakes. Mistakes that would never stop haunting him.