They neared the city. Garmadon backed away to the doors leading down into the lower deck.

He couldn't be seen.

No.

He shuddered, taking a breath.

This was a bad idea. Why did I agree to this? What is wrong with me?

Why would I dare to come back here?! To show my pathetic face again?!

Ochre looked over the railing, then backed away, joining him.

Nya's head poked over from above them, on the deck. "We're almost there. Lloyd's going to find a place to park a little ways from it, since otherwise there's not much room. It's a smaller pet store, not like Furmart or NinjagoPet."

Garmadon nodded, stroking Ochre's head.

"…Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Garmadon swallowed.

"Okay…you just seem like…you're hiding…"

"I'm not. I'm fine."

"Okay…"

She didn't say anything else, so Garmadon assumed she'd gone back over to Lloyd.

About ten minutes later, the ship slowed. It hovered near the ground in a small, deserted parking lot. Buildings surrounded it, making it seem very closed in, and shadows covered the alleyways. Weeds grew from cracks in the old cement.

Garmadon sucked in a breath. I can't believe I'm back here…after what I did…

The city had small billows of smoke coming up, some buildings in ruins. It was dark, and desolate. The Colossus stomped through the city, purple eyes scanning for his son. It would wander the city like this often, searching.

Garmadon knew he was close. He knew he was still in the city.

He needed him found.

He growled, a fist clenching. "You can't run forever, Green Ninja…I will find you."

"My Lord?"

He turned to Harumi, eyes narrowing at the girl.

"We may have some—"

"Alright, let's go!"

Garmadon jumped, turning to see Nya by him.

Lloyd then slid down the ladder that led to the bridge, walking to the railing. His jaw was clenched, and his movements were stiff.

Garmadon took a breath. It would fine.

Nya followed Lloyd.

Lloyd disappeared over the side.

Nya turned to look at him questioningly. "Are you coming?"

He nodded, swallowing. "Er…y-yes…" He walked towards her, patting his leg to signal to Ochre, who padded after him.

Nya then disappeared over the side as well.

Garmadon reached the railing, looking down. Lloyd was already walking away, towards an alleyway. Nya stood waiting for him, looking up. She signaled with her hand to come down.

He swallowed, then picked up Ochre, one arm supporting his haunches so he could use the other to hold the chain.

Ochre shifted uneasily, but otherwise didn't move, instead licking his face.

Garmadon smiled a little before it vanished. He hopped off, grabbing the chain, and slid down it. At the bottom, he set Ochre down, glancing at the anchor—of which had now caused large cracks in the concrete. He wondered if the ninja were supposed to be destroying property like that…

He shook his head, then followed Nya, who was already heading after Lloyd.

The sound of a few cars came from ahead. It was pretty quiet otherwise. Looking around, he noticed that the buildings were smaller, so they weren't near downtown. Probably more on the outskirts.

That…was good. Less people to recognize him. Less people to panic when they saw him. Less of a disaster. Less eyes on him.

He swallowed again, stroking Ochre's head. It would be okay.

They came out of the alleyway. There was a smaller street there, with diagonal parking along the sides. A couple cars were parked. A few people passed on the sidewalks.

Lloyd walked out, heading straight ahead, towards a small store. The sign read, "Four Paws".

Nya followed him.

Garmadon hesitated, frowning. He looked around, seeing the people walking. I can't be recognized. He bowed his head, then started forward, keeping one hand over his face while keeping the other on Ochre.

The dog followed, staying at his heel like he'd taught him. Garmadon was thankful for that.

He looked both ways for cars, then crossed the street, hurrying to catch up with Lloyd and Nya. They reached the door a few seconds later.

Lloyd swung it open, a soft bell ringing.

Garmadon jumped.

Ochre's ears pricked, staring up at the bell.

Nya followed Lloyd in, and Garmadon hesitantly entered as well.

The store was medium-sized. Which was surprising, from what he'd seen outside. There were some shelves, a counter with a girl behind it, and pet stuff of all kinds was stacked, shelved, or hung. It wasn't overly stuffed, though.

"Hello." The girl waved at them, smiling cheerfully.

Garmadon cringed, shrinking back, and looked away. She couldn't recognize him. No.

Nya waved back, and Lloyd said a small hello, one hand in front of his face as he headed for an aisle.

Garmadon bit his lip, hiding his face from the girl as well, and followed them. Ochre trotted at his side.

"Um…we do require pets to be leashed at all times—" the girl called after them.

"Don't worry, we're here to get one for him!" Nya called cheerfully back, unfazed, apparently.

Ochre kept pace with Garmadon as he quickened his steps. The dog was sniffing around curiously at the different smells, ears pricked.

Garmadon stole a quick glance at Lloyd, seeing him remove his hand once he was out of sight of the girl. That was…interesting. Though he was famous, so he probably didn't want a mob after him.

He looked around, seeing that they were in an aisle full of dog toys, collars, and leashes.

"Should we get Ochre some toys, too?" Nya eyed the different rope tugs, rubber things, and stuffed animals.

"I don't have enough money…and Wu said to get him a collar, tag, and leash, not toys." Garmadon watched as Ochre went over and sniffed one of the bones wrapped up in transparent plastic.

Nya shrugged. "I guess. Maybe we could come some other time…"

"He has sticks to play with."

"I guess…but he might like these." Nya took a rope toy off the shelf, holding it out to Ochre. "Here, boy! Look at this!"

Ochre's ears pricked, and his head snapped towards her. He walked over, sniffing it curiously.

"I think he'd really like this." She squeezed the toy once, and it made a loud squeak!
Ochre jumped, hackles raised. He sniffed it again, tail now wagging excitedly.

Garmadon had jumped as well, wincing. He tried to calm his now-racing heart down.

Nya smiled, then sadly put it back on the shelf. "Sorry, Ochre… Don't worry, I'll get you something sometime, okay?"

Ochre whined in disappointment, head lowering as his tail slowed.

"Right…so, we came here for a collar?" Lloyd was already over by the collars, looking at them.

Garmadon walked over to him hesitantly, glancing at them. There were all sorts of colors, patterns, and sizes.

Ochre trotted over, sniffing one of them.

Nya walked over, taking it off the shelf. "Ochre, this is for girl dogs, silly. You need one for boy dogs." She put it back, staring at the other collars thoughtfully. She pointed to a yellow one. "That one would match his eyes." She looked at Garmadon questioningly.

Garmadon started, stuttering a bit. "U-um…I don't know…"

"You don't like yellow?"

"No, I just…" He shrugged.

"Okay…what about that one?" She pointed to a blue one.

He shook his head, frowning. They all seemed too…colorful. Too noticeable. He didn't want to be noticed—he just wanted a plain old collar for Ochre.

"I like the green one…" Lloyd said.

"I don't think green would match Ochre's eyes, Lloyd…" Nya laughed a little.

He pouted. "Har, har…but I still like the green one."

She laughed, patting his shoulder. "If you ever get a dog, you can get it a green one."

Lloyd shook his head, but he smiled briefly.

Garmadon eyed a black one thoughtfully. It was plain, unnoticeable, and would blend in to Ochre's neck-fur well. Plus, it seemed pretty sturdy, so it wouldn't break easily. It had a dark, gold buckle that connected the ends together. The gold wasn't too noticeable either, blending well with the black. Plus, as Nya had said about the yellow one, it would match his eyes pretty well.

He frowned, hesitating. Then he carefully took it off the shelf, looking it over.

"You want plain black?" Nya rose an eyebrow.

Garmadon felt the buckle, then put it against Ochre's neck.

The dog tried to sniff it, tail wagging.

The collar would definitely fit him…

Garmadon nodded at Nya. "I like this one…"

She blinked, then shrugged. "Okay. I guess you do have the black thing going…"

He stared at her in confusion.

She gestured towards him. "You know, because you're wearing all black, you have a black glove, your dog is black, etc?"

Garmadon blinked, then looked away. "Oh."

"I'm not saying it's bad. It's just something I noticed." She turned, walking over to the leashes. "Now, what about these? You want a black one?"

He nodded, coming over. "Yes…" His gaze traveled over the different leashes.

"Hmm…" Nya pointed to a black one. "What about that?"

It was all black, the metal being a dark gold color like the collar. It would match it well.

He nodded after a moment. "Yes…that will work."

She nodded, taking it down, and showed it to Ochre. "You like that?"

Ochre wagged his tail, sniffing it excitedly.

Nya handed the leash to Garmadon. "Alright, now we just need to pick out a tag for him." She walked away.

Garmadon rubbed his fingers along the leash, then followed her.

Lloyd hesitated for a moment, then followed as well.

Nya walked up to the counter, where a small stand displayed different tags.

Garmadon looked them over, seeing the many colors, shapes, and sizes.

"Hmm." Nya put a hand to her chin. "Which one do you like?"

Garmadon blinked, then shifted nervously. "U-um…" Why does she keep asking me? "I don't know…"

The girl at the counter glanced over at them.

Garmadon immediately put a hand over his face, keeping his gaze averted and on the tags instead.

He felt Nya's gaze on him.

"Um…can I help you with anything?" the girl asked.

"No, we're just looking." Nya smiled at her.

She nodded. "Alright. Just ask if you need anything." She went back to what she had been doing.

"Well?" Nya looked at him.

Garmadon bit his lip, then picked up Ochre, showing him the tags.

The dog stared in confusion. He sniffed them, then wanted down again.

Garmadon reluctantly set him down, going back to staring at the tags.

"I like the gold ones. They'd match his collar and leash. And his eyes." Nya picked out one in the shape of a bone. "What about this one?"

Garmadon stared at it, his mind immediately going to Skulkin and pirates. "Uh…no."

"Okay…" She put it back, taking out one in the shape of a paw print. "How about this one?"

He shook his head. He needed non-noticeable… He picked out a plain, round one in the shape of a circle. It wasn't the same gold as the buckle on the leash and collar—it was a bit lighter—but it would work. And it would match, as Nya had said. "I like this one."

Nya rose an eyebrow. "Hmm…okay." She looked over at the cashier, gesturing to the tag Garmadon held.

Garmadon ducked his head, putting a hand over his face again.

"How do we imprint this?"

The girl smiled, pointing to a machine by the windows. "Just stick it in there. You can type in what you want on it, like the pet's name and your address. Then it'll engrave it for you."

Nya nodded, smiling. "Thank you."

She nodded, going back to her computer again.

Garmadon frowned, glancing around. Wait, where did Ochre go…? And Lloyd was nowhere in sight…

Panic began to build up in his chest. He looked around frantically, but Ochre was gone.

Ochre?

Not again!

Had someone taken him? Or maybe—

"Right. So we'll do that, okay?" Nya held a hand out for the tag.

Garmadon blinked, his gaze snapping to her. "Uh…what?" He looked around again. Ochre had to be somewhere in here…right?

She frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"Where's Ochre?" He took a breath, trying to steady himself before he started panicking even more.

Nya glanced around. "Um…I'm not sure…" She shrugged. "We can find him, don't worry." She started walking.

Garmadon followed her, biting his lip worriedly. Ochre will be okay. He'll be fine. Don't worry.

They wandered the store for a few minutes. Garmadon tried to breath normally, blinking rapidly, but it didn't seem to be helping.

Ochre is gone. Again.

He'd failed again!

"It's okay, we'll find him." Nya looked at him concernedly.

Garmadon swallowed, not replying. His throat was too tight, anyway—he wouldn't be able to even if he'd wanted to.

Nya continued on. "This store isn't even that big…they couldn't have gone far."

"You think Lloyd is with him?"

"Probably. They are both missing, so I'd assume so."

Garmadon bit his lip again.

A while later, Nya rounded a corner. "Lloyd! There you are!"

Garmadon sped up, rounding the corner as well.

Lloyd abruptly stood. "Uh…yeah. Sorry." He blushed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't realize you'd be done so soon…"

Ochre looked at them, tail wagging.

Garmadon felt a wave of relief come over. Ochre was fine. He was fine. He could calm down, now…

The dog padded over to him.

Garmadon knelt next to him, pulling him into a hug. He sunk his fingers into his fur, taking a breath.

"You came over to the cats?" Nya chuckled.

Garmadon looked up, seeing the cat kennels. A few cats lay in them, sleeping. One had been near the door, where Lloyd was. It was loudly purring, pressed against the gate. It's fur stuck out through the kennel spaces.

Lloyd blushed even more. "W-well…I had nothing better to do…" He looked away, then knelt by the cat again. He ran two fingers along its fur.

The cat purred louder, a low rumble. It was a large orange tom, with darker orange and red stripes. Its eyes were an amber color.

Nya smiled. "Right…but it is time to go. We're going to get Ochre's name and everything on the tag, then pay."

Lloyd nodded.

"So…you brought a dog over to the cats?" Nya rose an eyebrow.

Lloyd blushed again. "I didn't. He followed me over."

"Mhmm… What did Ochre think of them?"

He shrugged. "He looked confused at first. But otherwise he didn't seem to mind them."

Nya tilted her head. "Huh." She glanced at Garmadon. "You've got yourself a pretty great dog…"

Garmadon blushed a little, stroking Ochre's neck. "U-um…thanks…"

Lloyd looked away, sticking his fingers through the bars and rubbing behind the cat's ears.

"How did you get him to like cats?" Nya asked.

"I…didn't." Garmadon stood, then showed Ochre the tag he'd picked out for him.

Ochre sniffed it, wagging his tail. He sniffed the leash and collar as well, which were in the same hand.

"Huh." Nya stared at Ochre.

Lloyd stood, looking at them. "So, uh…when are we going?"

"We can go now." Nya turned, walking away. "Come on."

Garmadon and Lloyd followed her, Ochre at Garmadon's side.

She led them over to the tag engraver machine. "Okay…let me figure out how to work this…" She held out a hand. "Hand me the tag."

Garmadon did so, watching as she put it into the machine. He picked up Ochre so he could see.

The dog looked confused.

"Alright, first I'll put in Ochre's name." She typed it in. "That will go on the front. What do you want on the back? Normally, someone would put their phone number in, I think, but I don't think you have one…or do you?" She looked at him, brow drawn questioningly.

He shook his head. "I…used to have on, but I don't have a phone anymore…"

Nya nodded. "Okay…maybe I'll just put the monastery's address in?"

Garmadon frowned. But what if I leave? Did he really want that engraved on there…? "Uh…sure…"

She nodded, typing it in. "There—'The Monastery of Spinjitzu, Mountain of Impossible Height'. Hmm…I wonder if I should put in someone's number, at least…"

"No…that's fine…"

Nya hesitated, but nodded. "Okay…if you think so." She typed something else into the machine, then clicked a button.

A laser started engraving the tag in the machine.

Ochre's ears pricked forward curiously.

When it was done, the machine spit the tag out into a slot.

Nya picked it up, smiling, and handed it to Garmadon.

Garmadon set Ochre down, taking the tag, and looked it over. Ochre's name was carved into the front, and in the back was the monastery's address. "Thank you…"

She nodded. "Of course! Come on, and we'll pay for everything." She turned, walking over to the counter.

Garmadon followed her, still eyeing the tag. Ochre padded at his side.

It was so…strange…the tag. It made Ochre feel more…officially his, he supposed. No one could take him now. The tag said where he lived. Garmadon almost wanted his name on it as well, so that people knew who owned him, but at the same time…he didn't want that. He didn't want people to recognize him.

Nya stopped at the counter, gesturing for Garmadon to set the collar, leash, and tag there.

Garmadon hesitated, then put the items on the counter, hiding his face behind his hand again. He pulled out the money Wu had given him, handing it to the cashier as she scanned the items.

The girl took it. "It's $50.00."

Nya rose an eyebrow. "Really? That's…expensive."

The girl shrugged. "I know…prices have gone up with how often the city is attacked. Especially after the takeover of Emperor Garmadon and the Overlord."

Garmadon paled, ducking his head lower and raising his hand over his face further. Just breathe. Just breathe…

He patted Ochre's head, swallowing.

He felt Nya's eyes on him, before she turned back to the cashier. "Here—" She pulled out her own money, handing it to her.

Garmadon made a mental note to repay Nya, as well…

The cashier nodded, counting it up, before slipping it into the register. "Thank you. I hope you have a nice day." She smiled at them.

Nya nodded, smiling back. "We will." She grabbed the collar, leash, and tag, then turned—

"Wait, I have something for your dog—"

Nya stopped, looking at her.

The girl handed Nya a dog treat shaped like a bone, smiling. "We always hand these out to our four-legged customers."

Nya smiled, taking it. "Thanks." She handed it to Ochre.

Ochre sniffed it uncertainly. Then he took it in his teeth.

Nya then walked to the door.

Lloyd hurried after her, keeping his head down.

Garmadon followed as well, keeping Ochre close to him.

Once they were out of the store, Nya handed Garmadon the leash, collar, and tag.

He took it, looking the items over.

"Is he going to eat that?" Nya looked at Ochre.

Garmadon glanced down at his dog, seeing that he still carried the treat in his mouth—head held high and tail raised proudly. He found himself smiling a little before he tried to hide it. "Um…I don't know…" He shrugged.

Nya laughed. "Well, I'm glad he likes it, anyway."

They reached the Bounty a few minutes later. They all boarded, and Lloyd went up to the deck. The ship started to rise into the sky.

Nya glanced at Garmadon. "Are you going to try it on him?"

He looked at her. "Uh…what?"

"The collar."

"Oh…um…" He looked down at it, then knelt by Ochre. "Stay." He took the store tag off, then undid the buckle.

Ochre sniffed it in interest, sitting down.

Garmadon laid it around his neck, moving his fluff out of the way so he could see the buckle, and then strapped it on. He tightened it a bit so it fit snugly, then tested it with his fingers. It fit perfectly. He smiled, standing to see it on him.

It suddenly felt more real now…more concrete.

Ochre tried to sniff the collar, then scratched at it with his back leg.

Garmadon patted his head. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it…"

Nya smiled. "He looks good with it."

He nodded, head slightly tilted.

She looked at him, frowning.

Garmadon glanced at her uneasily. "What…?"

"Are you okay…?"

He blinked at the question. "Um…yes. I'm fine."

"Okay…it's just, that girl mentioned your takeover of the city…and you were trying to hide your face the whole time we were there."

He looked away, frowning. He stroked Ochre's head, feeling his soft fur beneath his fingers.

Nya stared at him for a second, then shrugged, looking out over the view as the ship started moving back towards the monastery. "Okay. I was just wondering." Then she sighed. "Too bad I forgot to look at the fish, though…I'll have to do that some other time. Maybe when I go to buy Ochre a toy." She smiled, then went up to the bridge.

Garmadon listened to her go. He stared down at Ochre, fingering his new tag, then knelt next to him. He wasn't sure why Nya was being nice to him…that was a little suspicious, especially since she had been being hunted by him for a week, and had been kidnapped by him, and who knew what else he'd done.

Ochre licked Garmadon's face, tail wagging.

He smiled a little, sizing the tag to his dog's collar. He'd need one of those metal key rings to attach it on…he was sure he could find something, though.

Nya suddenly hopped back down, coming over to him.

He looked up in confusion.

She held out…the metal ring he'd just been thinking of.

Garmadon blinked.

"Here. Try it on him." She smiled.

He hesitantly took it, then started weaving it through Ochre's tag. One he'd secured it on, he started putting the metal key ring through the ring on his dog's collar. Once it was on, he fingered the tag, now laying against Ochre's neck. He smiled a little.

"It looks good on him." Nya pet Ochre's head, smiling.

Garmadon nodded, stroking Ochre's chest—which somehow looked fluffier now, with the collar and tag.

Ochre held his head proudly, tongue hanging out again. He probably had no idea what was even on him.

Nya laughed, then went back up to the deck.

Garmadon stayed with Ochre, watching his happy-looking face and stroking his chest. "You're such a silly wolf-dog…"

Ochre licked his face.

Garmadon laughed a little, taking his tag and running his fingers over it, feeling his dog's name engraved into the metal. "'Ochre'…" He looked up at him. Nya had been right—it did feel more official, now.

Finally…things seemed to be going okay.

It would be okay. No one could take him. Ochre was his, now.

It was official.

Garmadon walked out to the courtyard with Ochre, heading for the mountain top outside that overlooked everything in the front of the monastery. He enjoyed that spot…it was nice. Quiet, usually, too.

"Oh, hey, I want to see his new collar!" Cole hurried over to Ochre.

Jay came over as well, and then Zane and Kai followed.

Garmadon paused, blinking in surprise.

Ochre wagged his tail as the ninja looked over his new collar and tag.

Kai came over as well, eyeing Garmadon suspiciously.

Garmadon avoided his gaze.

Nya patted Ochre, grinning. "He looks so proud, doesn't he?"

The dog had his head held high as he sat, soaking up the attention.

Jay laughed. "Yeah." He patted his head as well, then frowned. "He still looks like a Fritz to me…"

Nya rolled her eyes.

Garmadon patted his leg, signaling to Ochre, and started for the doors again.

His dog trotted after him.

He sighed when he'd cleared the courtyard, shutting the doors behind him. The ninja were seriously confusing him.

He sat down, Ochre laying next to him. Garmadon stroked the dog's back, staring at the view ahead.

A soft breeze blew, and he looked down as it slightly ruffled Ochre's fur.

He smiled a little.

Kai turned to Nya as soon as Garmadon and the dog disappeared, crossing his arms. "Why are you being so nice to him?"

Nya shrugged. "It's not wrong to be nice, is it?"

Kai scoffed. "It is when it's him you're being nice to."

She rolled her eyes. "Relax, Kai. He's not planning anything."

"How do you know?"

"Because…he's…changed."

"Changed?" He scoffed again. "I doubt that…"

"He has. He's…awkward. Unsure."

"Right…he may have you all wrapped up in his game, but I'm not fooled." Kai stomped inside.

How can they all be so blind? Kai shook his head, slamming the door. I'll prove they're wrong. I KNOW they're wrong!

He's up to something. And Kai was going to find out what.