takes place during season 10
Warning spoilers

Title from the song from SIX.
I love the cover by Annpantsu, it's AMAZING!
*******

Lord Garmadon.

That was his name.

And it was one of the only things that made up his identity.

The risen oni only remembered being roused by insistent chanting before entering into the world of Ninjago. Small snippets would come back, names, emotions, jagged images. But it was all clouded by the red haze of pure dark power that coursed through him.

"That's you," Lloyd said, smiling almost as he looked at the image in one of Garmadon's four hands. The smile tilted downward as he looked to his father. "Don't you remember?"

Garmadon stared at the image. An old grey haired man, standing beside a younger Lloyd. There was something familiar there. Something small. Something good. Thats what scared Garmadon the most.

Rage followed the fear, a deep dark feeling his was used to as he threw the picture. Garmadon could hear the hurt in his supposed son's voice but he ignored it as he strode away.

****

Garmadon swung his sword, parying blows with precision as he fought. But out of the corner of his eye he could see Lloyd struggling against an oni, he fell back and cried out as it closed in on him.

Something was triggered inside of him again.

Fear.

But it wasn't just any fear.

It was almost a paternal fear. Garmadon reacted before he even knew it, knocking the oni away with ease.

Lloyd blinked in shock, gasping as he stood. "You saved my life."

Garmadon realized his walls were slipping and he raised them higher and thicker, lacing an uncaring tone as he retorted with an excuse.

Lloyd's own brilliant green gaze hardened. He replied with an equally hard tone as he faced his father. Garmadon smirked as he seethed out words, but he wore his heart on his sleeve. A typical, weak, trait of humans. He could see past that anger and find the lies weaved in. This puny, bratty, human lime thought he could squeeze him back into a cell.

"Why are you smiling?" Lloyd demanded suspiciously.

"Maybe I'm happy." Garmadon replied smoothly, grin widening more.

"That's not a happy smile. It's an 'I'm-up-to-something' smile." Lloyd narrowed his eyes.

Garmadon blinked. Maybe this child wasn't as much of a naive little turd as he thought. He did bear the same blood as his own. Garmadon forced the expression to fall for a blink before trying again. "How about now?"

Lloyd's brow scrunched, face fixed in an 'are you serious' expression. "That's the exact same smile."

"No its not." Garmadon argued, he didn't like the smart tone the ninja was using.

"Yes it is."

Garmadon felt his voice rise.

"No its not!" As Lloyd shot back Garmadon caught sight of an oni sneaking up behind him. With a yell he blasted at Lloyd, he ducked and it hit the oni. Lloyd stared in shock at the form.

Garmadon frowned, all smiles gone as he became aware of the depleting time. They had to get moving.

*******

Omega was strong, really strong. Lloyd was basically just being tossed around like a rag doll. Garmadon grumbled internally at his pathetic insignificance.

Finally Lloyd found an opening, he moved forward, sliding under a tentacle, sword slicing the misty limb as he jumped. Garmadon watched at the boy smashed the realm crystal and landed in a superhero pose. What a little show off.

"Took you long enough." Garmadon huffed. He internally felt a rush of pride as Lloyd's smirk changed to an offended glare.

"Oh come on! That was awesome!" He protested.

But the presence of the oni leader stopped the short.

It didn't work.

*******

"I failed. I am sorry Lloyd." The robot sounded sad as they began to fall. Lloyd stared a her, eyes wide as he gave her a silent look of acceptance.

Garmadon felt numb, the air rushing with their impending doom. Garmadon tried to think of things that humans would do in this moment. Probably something outrageously sappy full of weak sentimentality. Maybe of loved ones or mistakes. Or perhaps things they had wanted to do with their life in the future.

His gaze turning to his son as he squeezed his eyes shut and held onto the metal arm. He looked younger in that moment. How old was he? Only a child by far. For some reason there was an ache starting to grow inside him. Garmadon clenched his teeth. What was this feeling? There was a slam as the Bounty appeared under them.

"Brace for impact!" Garmadon bit back most of the yell as he was jostled onto the deck hitting it hard. The ninja ran to the shapes of their friends.

"Pixal, are you alright?" The nindroid asked in concern.

"I am unhurt." Pixal assured him, taking his hand as she pulled out of the mech.

"What about you Lloyd, are you okay?" The one that looked like a cross between a giant red candle and clown questioned. He helped support the boy's weight as he pulled him up.

"I'm okay." Lloyd breathed, shock shaking him as he regained his footing.

Garmadon scowled, standing and brushing himself off. "I'm okay too!" They all looked at him. "Not that anyone asked."

Lloyd pressed his lips together and turned back to his friends only for him to change into a concerned look at their somber expressions.

"What? What is it?" Lloyd scanned the shapes. Lord Garmadon instantly noticed the absence of the mop haired one with the high pitched squeaky voice.

"Where is Cole." Ah yes, that was the one. "Where is Cole?" Lloyd repeated more urgently. He grabbed Kai by his collar. "Somebody say something! Where is Cole?"

"He..he...he's gone." The robot told him, gently turning Lloyd's attention to his sad face.

"What do you mean...gone?"

"Lloyd," candle said gently. "He fell...into the cloud."

Garmadon blinked. Cole had passed. He wouldn't have been able to survive the cloud if he had dropped in the thick of it.

The girl's eyes were glassy. "I...I'm so sorry." The sharp tone she usually bore toward Garmadon was softened in guilt and remorse.

"He...he's really...gone?" realization dawned on his face as the shock set in.

The girl began to cry as the rest surrounded her. He furrowed his brow with wonder at the purity of the sadness in them. Humans had soft hearts. Why did they have soft hearts if they died so easily? Garmadon watched Lloyd's face twisted into shock and despair.

They'd didn't have time for this. Garmadon cut in. "Okay, let's get going."

But Lloyd only stared at him in anger.

"Do you mind?"

"Yes I do!" Garmadon growled. "We are wasting valuable time! All that matters now is this!" He held up the armour for the embraced group to see.

"The golden armour!" The red one breathed.

Garmadon gripped it as Zane inquired about the realm crystal.

"It didn't work." Garmadon almost spat. Frustration lacing his tone. "But this will! They fear it."

Lloyd stared at him, gaze level as he shook his head in almost shock.

"Cole is our friend." He said, voice full of emotion. "He was more than a friend, he was family." Garmadon was mildly surprised to find such a sharp and commanding tone from him, eyes like glints of sea glass.

He rose to stare his father dead in the eyes. "But you don't know understand that do you? And what's the point? You're never gonna get it! Because you don't care for anyone but yourself."

For some reason that hurt, but only briefly. Like the sting of a stone on your shoe. Garmadon knew that was meant to be an insult in humans. He had this weird feeling in him, an emotion he remembered. Like his past self had cared. It probably had since it was human.

"He was family!"

Garmadon didn't have family. Not this version of him at least. That bitter feeling of unbelonging gripped him tight.

But that didn't matter. None of that mattered! That wasn't him anymore.

"Every moment we delay risks our survival!" Garmadon hissed, red eyes furious. This sentimentality was clouding his judgement just like it always did.

"THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN SURVIVING!" Lloyd shouted, he released a strangled cry of frustration before turning and storming away.

Garmadon watched him go. More to life surviving? He pressed his lips together in annoyance. Perhaps it was teenage angst.

"How do you reason with that?" Garmadon grumbled as he turned to the others. "You! Nindroid, if anyone is capable of logical thought it would be you. Tell them!"

The robot stared back, coldness in his blue gaze. "I am happy to say you are mistaken." His tone was biting. "At this moment even I am incapable of logical thought."

*******

Garmadon fixed his gaze on the limp body. The words of the past and present echoing in his head.

"Dad!"

"I'm your son."

"I cannot fight you, but I will resist you!"

"Don't you remember?"

"There is more to life than survival."

"Father."

"Father."

Wu knelt by his son's side, gently feeling his wrist for a pulse.

"There is nothing to save." He said gravely, bowing his head in grief.

"He was family."

Family. What Garamadon was witnessing was a grieving family. It almost felt like he was intruding. Garmadon set his gaze on the still face of Lloyd. A youthful, pure, innocent face.

What was this...heavy emotion dragging his heart down? What was this fog clouding his mind as he stared at the lifeless face of his son.

His son.

First spinjitzu master what was happening?

Had the evil allowed in what would seem to be almost affection? Had he somehow allowed the little, feeble-hearted being to wiggle his way into his soul?

Garmadon was suddenly aware of a yellow petal floating across Lloyd. His eyes narrowed. There weren't any flowers here.

A gasp split through the heavy quiet as Lloyd drew a ragged breath. Garmadon watched as the ninja blew out yells of joy and helped Lloyd get to his feet. They fussed over him as he mumbled deliriously.

Garmadon considered moving to see if he was okay, a weird paternal feeling, but he pushed the thought out of his mind and began to leave. Lloyd was already turning away into the building without a glance his way. Garmadon remembered his promise.

After all this you're going back into your jail cell.

Garmadon made his way down the rock. An almost sad feeling growing in him. Omega had spoke of the doubt that had been gripping him for so long, the yearn to belong and understand humanity.

He paused and looked back to the monastery, meeting eyes with his brother's. For a heartbeat they just stare at each other but then Wu smiled and dipped his head to him. Garmadon turned slowly, thought robbing his brain as he made the journey away from the reminiscent world.

The place wasn't good for him. Made him think good, weak, soft thoughts. He'd be back and when he returned his walls would be stronger and his heart colder.

And he'd takeover Ninjago and bring the green ninja to his knees.

Note******
I know I missed some big scenes like the battle and a bunch the discussion with Vinny but it was getting really long and I was doing this mostly from memorization than actually copying every line. XD