Chapter one-For the first time

"She left," Wu sighed, holding a small baby in his arms. The baby's eyes were closed, small body almost drowning in the large blankets that held him. "I don't blame her either. Why did you wait until she was eight months pregnant to finally snap? You should've seen her. She was so broken after I told her everything."

"Shut up," A larger shadow hissed. It lay against the wall of the monastery, tracing the shape of a man who wasn't there. A pair of red eyes was the only features the shadow possessed. "It's not like I choose to be this way. As I recall, it was your fault I ended up like this, brother. Besides, I don't regret a thing. I am Kingof the underworld now. I'll soon have Ninjago under my control."

"So you don't care about Misako?" Wu shook his head. "About your son?"

"Of course I care!" The shadow shouted, its dark body growing larger. "But there's nothing I can do. I can't escape this. There's nothing more I'd like to do than to hold my son. To raise him and to protect him against anything and everything. . . But I can't. In this world I am no more than a shadow. I can't take care of him. I can't do anything"

"I'll take care of the baby-"

"Lloyd,"

"What?"

"Lloyd," Garmadon repeated. "Misako said that would be his name."

"Okay," Wu looked down at the baby then back up at his brother. "I'll take care of Lloyd, But on one condition. You have to try to fight the evil. You have to find a way to come back and be with him."

"You say that as if it were easy," Garmadon growled softly in response. "I'll try my best to be here for him. . . But changing Ninjago into my own image will still be a priority. I'll find a way to gain possession of the Golden weapons."

"And I'll find a way to keep them from you." Wu responded.

"You're getting old. The evil is making my body stronger. I have allies and you have no one. You will fall before me one day ." Garmadon's shadow began to disappear, growing weaker and weaker until nothing remained. " But until that day comes to pass. . . I thank you for taking care of Lloyd."

Two years later

The small green eyed toddler sat up from within his wooden crib. He shivered, as a soft breeze traveled through the open window. The toddler giggled, he did not remember ever seeing the window open before. Cold air tickled the toddler's skin once more, raising goosebumps all throughout his small arm. For a few seconds, the young boy was entertained by the bumps, tracing them with his tiny fingertips.

His eyes traveled back up, following the source of a creaking sound. A white, thin hand gripped the bottom of the window tightly. The hand pulled the rest of its owner's bony body up, causing a soft cracking sound with each movement. The toddler pulled himself to his feet, awkwardly wobbling forward to the edge of his crib. He tilted his head, studying the large skeleton that now stood a few feet away.

"Hi!" The toddler said, voice ringing loudly with enthusiasm and innocence.

Another skeleton pulled itself into the boy's bedroom. Its large glowing eyes fell upon the young, hyperactive person stuck inside the crib. He now stood on the tips of his small feet to get a better look at his unexpected visitors. " This is Lord Garmadon's son?"

The other skeleton smacked his partner on the back of his head, sending his skull spinning around for a couple of seconds. "Of course it is. Do you see any other babies sleeping in this monastery?"

"I just thought. . . Garmadon is so. . ." The skeleton open his arms wide and made a strange roaring sound, gaining a giggle from the toddler. "And this boy is just so. . ."

"He's a baby." The other skeleton shook his head, grabbing the baby's small shirt and pulling him upwards. " Now let's hope he doesn't make any noise. . . Lord Garmadon wouldn't be pleased if we failed to pull this off."

Both skeletons carried the baby out the window. The toddler waved at his monastery. "Bye, bye."

The air was cool on the outside of the monastery. The moon's light was faint, giving the skeleton's plenty of shadows to hide in. At first, the scrawny toddler wiggled around in the skeleton's grip, his bright green eyes taking in every aspect of his surroundings. There were many things he had not seen before, and he began whimpering, wishing that the strange visitors would let him down to explore. When the young boy realized that no amount of wiggling would allow him to be free, he closed his eyes, falling asleep with nature's lullaby floating through his ears.

The skeletons climbed onto a large truck, which appeared to be made solely of oversized bones. One of them took the wheel, driving forward through an empty road. With his bony leg pressed down on the accelerator, the skeleton gained speed. The world rushed passed them, meshing into one multicolored line. The faster the truck moved, the less they could see. Faster and faster the truck went, until there was nothing around them but darkness.

They had crossed into the underworld.

The skeletons jumped off, the impact jolting the toddler awake. Lloyd looked around, his small body shivering. He had never seen this place before. But it was cold, and far too dark. He did not like this game anymore. He wanted to go back home.

"Home?" He whimpered, looking up at one of the skeletons. "Wu?"

"It wants to go home," The skeleton looked down at the toddler. "I don't like it. I think it's going to cry."

"He ,not it," The other skeleton growled, snatching the baby from his useless partner. "And we're almost to Lord Garmadon's. If the baby cries it'll be his problem, not ours."

Lloyd began to wiggle again, not enjoying the way the skeleton's bones were digging against his tummy. Once more he stopped struggling, because every time he moved the grip around him only tightened.

They walked into a dark castle, their footsteps bouncing through the empty hallways. Small purple flames were spread all over, capturing Lloyd's attention. The bright fire threw amusing shadows against the walls, causing the toddler to momentarily forget about his home. He reached out towards the light, wanting to play with the glittering darkness.

The skeletons trotted down a spiral staircase, finally reaching their destination. The room was almost empty, filled only with a couple of candles and a tall throne made solely on bones. A man sat on the chair, his dark skin blending in with the shadows around him. Looking up at the skeletons, he smiled and stood, slowly stepping closer.

His eyes were fixed upon the toddler. Garmadon's footsteps became slower and slower, afraid of approaching his son. Afraid that this was just another dream, afraid that it would all fade away before he could finally hold the young boy. He stopped in front of him, studying Lloyd's features. The light blonde hair was just like his father's had been. But it was wild and curly, just like his. The small round lips and nose reminded Garmadon of his mother. But it was the eyes that made his heart stop. They were emerald green, just like Misako's. The thought of her brought tears to his eyes. He couldn't believe she'd left. Couldn't believe she'd given up.

It took Lloyd a couple of seconds to notice that the dark man approaching him. When his sharp eyes were done scanning the room, they made contact with the powerful crimson eyes.

"I can't belive it actually worked." Garmadon sighed with relief, slowly accepting that his son was really a few feet before him.

Lloyd tilted his head, recognizing the man's voice. It was usually beside him as he played, sometimes telling strange stories and sometimes teaching him the name of different objects along with Wu. Lloyd smiled, reaching out for the man.

Garmadon cleared his throat, trying to ignore the small arms trying to reach him. The toddler insisted, whimpering the word 'hold' with a grumpy tone. Arms shaking, Garmadon finally stretched his arms, gently holding his son close for the first time.

"Your work here is done. . ." Garmadon informed the skeletons, keeping his eyes low. "You can leave me now."

After hearing his henchmen walking back up the stairs, The lord of darkness allowed a few tears of happiness to slide down his cheeks. He embraced Lloyd tightly, sobbing quietly against his son's body.

Lloyd placed both his hands against the man's cheeks, forcing him to look up. With his small hands he wiped away Garmadon's tears. He couldn't understand why the man was crying, But he didn't like it. He shook his head. "No cry."

"R-right," Garmadon smiled weakly, closing his eyes for a few seconds to keep the tears at bay. "I won't cry anymore. Daddy's just very happy to see you. . . I didn't think this moment would ever. . ."

"Daddy?"

"Yes," Garmadon nodded. "Daddy. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you son. But now I'm here. I'll find a way to be with you. . . Blow a hole right through the gates of the underworld if I must. . ."

Lloyd yawned, the man's soothing voice reminding him of how tired his body was. He leaned against the man's chest, closing his eyes, reaching the dreamworld once more.

Garmadon stood there, holding his son. He looked down at the boy, knowing he couldn't keep him here. His body and heart was untainted by evil, and keeping him in the underworld would only corrupt Lloyd, like the devourer's blood had done to him. Garmadon didn't want that. He wanted his son to be free, to have a choice over who he wanted to be. He would have to take him back to Ninjago. Allow him to grow up there, without the hands of destiny controlling his every move. But for now, Lloyd was here.

And he was going to enjoy every second of it.