Chapter by: LillaSmolBean
~~~~~~
If it wasn't Christmas morning, Garmadon would be infuriated with the insufferable source of noise, running around the bedroom. Of course, as a puppy, Cloud needed all the exercise she could get. It wasn't often that the dark lord brought her on walks, presumably afraid that it would earn him the wrong idea with his guards. A weakness wasn't something an oni was supposed to have.

Yet, on a chilly morning, the barking never ceased. Garmadon could feel his walls of composure all come crashing down. The white furball ran around the room, barking and yanking on everything it saw. Including the bedsheets, Garmadon desperately tried to wash himself. "Now now Cloud, you want to stay a surprise, don't you?" He lifting a brow, his face not changing when he realized he caught the adorable pup's attention. It halted in place and simply stayed silent for a small while before it restarted to yap.

Garmadon chuckled on that one. Oh how stubborn Cloud was, or mainly, dogs in general were stubborn creatures. The man never understood animalistic behaviour for he didn't entirely consider as an "animal" himself, better yet, the term "monster" suited him better. But today, on Christmas Day, he figured that he shouldn't act like one around the white haired girl still sleeping in bed. The puppy restarted to yap and even jumped on the bed where Garmadon was carefully lounging on.

Cloud and Garmadon had a very complex relationship for now. The pup wasn't too fond of strangers it seemed and stayed away from Garmadon a couple of times when he was having his "melodramatic episodes." though, at the moment, Cloud was feeling generous and decided to test her luck by stepping closer. "Hm? What's wrong, girl?" The oni lord ran his fingers down the white Pomeranian's fur. Cloud whined at the gesture of affection.

The man really didn't understand what the dog wanted however if he had to decipher her irritating yapping, "You're impatient, are you? Don't worry, you'll get to see Harumi soon. I promise." Garmadon, for once, gave a kind-hearted smile to address and mainly reassure the puppy. Sort of like a reward for approaching him in the first place. Speaking of Harumi, it was best if he started heading over to her room to wake her up. It was Christmas and he didn't want her to miss out her entire day. Sure she was tired from playing around in the snow yesterday but he was certain that Harumi would be pretty disappointed to miss out on Christmas.

Plus he needed to find a way to get rid of the annoying noise which was Clo- Garmadon snapped out of his thoughts when he felt a swelling feeling on his left hand's fingers. The dark oni lord lowered his head only to gasp in surprise. "Ouch!" He yelped and shoved away the small puppy to release his poor fingers from the aggressive pup's fangs. Alrighty well, fair play Cloud, it serves the man right for thinking unpleasant things about the dog. However, he didn't have to stay angry at Cloud for all eternity, on the other hand, he should thank her.

Because of the pain struck right him just now, he remembered the keen guests he has kept downstairs in the dungeons. Garmadon nodded to himself and stood up from the bed. "I thank you, Cloud! I'll be right back, don't worry." He smiled and left the room. The puppy, at first confused to her owner's departure, didn't seem too bothered to know when he will return.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Humming a Christmas carol, Garmadon strolled down the hallways of Borg tower. A few guards, quite taken aback from their emperor's festive mood, shot him a few weird glances as they passed by. But who was Garmadon to care? The dark lord didn't really care about opinions when he had the most authoritative being in the entire tower.

The location he was heading for was the dungeons obviously, it didn't raise too many question marks for the guards guarding that area. "Back so soon, my lord?" A man, who was deprived from sleep for a few days stared up at the dark figure in front of him. The emperor nodded and raised a hand out, "Yes yes now out of the way." He demanded. Without much protest or attempt to mutter out a "Merry Christmas, my lord." Garmadon was able to pass through.

His heavy footsteps easily startled the ones kept down in his dungeons. Three prisoners halted their breathing and stared at the entrance. "Did you hear that?" wondered a woman wearing glasses. Limited by chains, she couldn't approach the metallic bars. Her two companions nodded at her question. "I think I know who's coming.." a young boy stayed in front of the two women mainly to protect them.

It was by that phrase that Garmadon made his grand appearance. "I believe you are correct, dear brother." He chuckled menacingly. The three prisoners gave him dreadful looks, why did he have to show up out of all people? However, their thoughts were momentarily interrupted when a screech escaped the dark lord's lips. His hands were raided and a big smile appeared. "Merry Christmas, to you three! Misako, you didn't forget, now did you?" He stepped closer to the bars, that awful grin on his face disgusted the woman.

"Of course not. How can I forget about Christmas?" She gave her husband a suspicious look. He was being far too friendly, but whatever, she still remained in her comfort zone. She had Mistake and Wu with her so hope was not all lost. Garmadon laughed and clapped his hands. "Good! I was worried that you suffered through brain lost-" he was stopped by an angered Misako. The woman's eyes flared up behind her glasses. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Garmadon kindly explained his joke, "Oh! You know since you're always tagging along the resistance. It's far too far too dangerous out there, you know? Always fighting and always on the verge of dying. While I'm here enjoying myself and not even having to go out into battle!" with that smug grin still on his face. Misako stayed silent and this time, Mistaké intervened. "Shut it, we're fighting on the right side, unlike you." The old woman hissed, holding her hands out to Misako.

Garmadon laughed once more. "Ah yes, the oni. You're here too?" He asked, dumbfounded of course but he was certain that he didn't forget anyone who was his prisoner. Mistaké didn't answer, not like she was obligated to in the first place. But the emperor was soon fatigued by the dull and one-sided conversation he was having between his family members and a witch. "Ah I wish I could stay longer, but I have a daughter to look after." He claimed.

It earned red flags in Misako's mind. Her husband has a...daughter? With another woman? Ah but things get even more complicated here, it seems she doesn't know the full story hence her anger. "You, lying ungrateful-!!" The woman couldn't contain herself, couldn't help herself but to sob even. Garmadon tilted his head in confusion at the woman's irrational behaviour. "Oh my, have you finally gotten insane throughout your stay here in my dungeons?" Her husband wondered, mockingly sneering at her distraught form.

Misako wiped her eyes, "I'm not the one who's insane enough to fetch for another child." She spat, her words containing full of confusion and unreleased anger. Garmadon began trotting off from the prisoners behind bars. "Ah but how could I resist? She's adorable!" was the last audible words the three could hear before he disappeared completely from the lower floors. When he was gone, Misako fell to her knees and Wu was the first to notice. "Misako! Are you alright?" He wrapped his arms around the older woman.

Misako sobbed into his arms, the handcuffs chains were now touching the back of Wu's neck for she had to wrap her own arms around him. With these chains, everything was uncomfortable. "Even though I kept my love for him, he still.." she couldn't finish her sentence. Wu didn't know what to say of this matter for he never truly found a partner, though the only partner he did manage to find was the taken woman in his arms right now, subbing about her husband's betrayal. But that was in the past, for the young master has turned into a simple teenager.

"It'll get better soon, I assure you. My brother..just doesn't know what he's saying." Wu assured her with uncertain eyes. He wasn't sure whether or not Garmadon was bluffing about the whole "daughter" dilemma, but what he knows for sure is that Garmadon wouldn't directly hurt his wife like this. Or would he?
~~~~~~~~
Staring at the ceiling, a pair of black eyes blinked then opened, blinked then opened. Before they stayed awake for good. "So it's Christmas, huh?" muttered a still half- asleep Harumi. Yesterday was already amusing for Harumi. My oh my, has she never seen that much snow in her life. A part of her wants to go back to the rooftop to laugh and play with that cold substance once more. Only seeing snow once in your life wasn't enough and Harumi knew it.

Snow isn't deadly, it's fun actually, very fun. The white haired girl couldn't really think of other snow activities to propose to Garmadon when he comes here for the door of her bedroom opened. 'Oh shoot, back to bed!' She warned herself internally before grabbing the bedsheets and pulling it at the level of her chin. The door was now fully opened and the visitor came in. Harumi couldn't see who it was for her eyes were forcefully shut. She pretended to fall back asleep, despite the tension and slight excitement of wanting to know who it is. Then again, only a few people could visit her room. The caring SOG guards or the lord himself.

But then again, the chances of it being those lousy geezers who want to hurt her physically wasn't exactly low. Heck, Harumi caught a few, nights almost eons ago. But luckily, she managed to stop them with some training taught to her by Nya and Lloyd. She felt herself shiver when a cold hand was placed on her shoulder. With a gentle shake, Garmadon was now waking her up on Christmas morning. "Harumi, wake up." He called kindly.

Pretending to wake up for the first time in hours, Harumi let out a fake yawn. "Morning already? Oh, merry Christmas!" She hesitantly brought her hands over to embrace the man in front of her. Hesitantly because she didn't want to hug her lover's murderer at first but upon remembering that he was the one who opened up the truth about winter to her. Garmadon nodded and hugged her back. "Did you sleep well? I imagine you had good dreams involving snow?" He teased. The white haired girl nodded and glanced at the window at her side. Well not exactly a dream but more along the lines of: Harumi couldn't stop thinking about all the fun she faced yesterday night.

"Yeah I did, thanks for bringing me outside yesterday. I didn't think snow was this satisfying to play around with." She gave an embarrassed chuckle. Yet for her, the whole fact that she thought snow was deadly was embarrassing for her. Garmadon shook his head but still kept his friendly smile. "Well what can I say? I feel bad for those who can't see something as graceful as snow." He replied. There was a bit of silence between the two, well for Garmadon, he was bringing his courage to propose something they could both do as a "family." The man placed a hand on her shoulder and stared at her for a brief moment. Harumi was almost confused to why's he's been staring at her for this long, was something up? Was he getting rid of her?

"Harumi, I think that I'd like to bring you outside more often." The man started, albeit shaky at first. Was it because he was scared to face tension with the girl again? He didn't forget that Harumi should technically be still furious with him after what he did to Lloyd after all. But he has to admit, the girl was pretty good at hiding her feelings, if it weren't for his clever minds, he wouldn't have guessed that Harumi had a problem with him. Upon hearing his proposal, Harumi's eyes kind of widened for a second. He really wouldn't mind bringing her outside? "You know, that would actually sound nice! I intend on going out anyways." She gave a small wink. If Garmadon was smart, he would catch on that she tries to joke about leaving Borg tower herself.

But the man was just so relieved that he didn't notice. Atleast he knows that Cloud's new owner will enjoy going on walks with her. "In that case, stay right here!" Garmadon prompted in a rush. Harumi watched in curiosity how the man quickly fled out the door. There was nothing to be asked since she's Kinda relieved that he didn't use the window to exit the room. Using the actual hallways was...way safer than crashing out a window like Ultra Violet does it. Man, she still needs to ask her how she does it, then again. Was she even alive, was she even doing well? That's the question, how was the resistance? Did they miss her too, sure she misses them immensely. But she needed to strategize, how would she leave the tower without catching the guards and Garmadon's attention? It would be a Christmas miracle if she thought about something...

Though, for now, Harumi felt a wall of anxiety form in front of her when she saw the dark lord returning. In his hands was a white-furred puppy with a ribbon around its neck. Judging by Garmadon's facial expressions, Harumi could only guess: that the puppy was for her. Entering her room, Garmadon gave her the puppy. "Merry Christmas! This is your gift! I hope you like it, Rumi." He smiled and watched how Cloud settled onto Harumi's arms without much protest. But just like that, tears fell down onto Harumi's cheeks. Garmadon was quite surprised seeing how she's this happy to receive a puppy for Christmas. "Oh? Do you like it?" He grinned to himself, he really did a good job at finding her a present huh? He needs to award himself next time.

"I-It's the best...the very best." Harumi merely chocked on the tears still daring to roll down her cheeks. This was a very touching present, never did she receive such a beauty in her entire life. "Thank you.." the white haired girl looked down to examine the animal in her hand for a bit. A Pomeranian, she noticed. Luckily, she wasn't too really allergic to dogs, it was mostly cats. Hence why she was sneezing when the animal visitors came into the tower a few weeks ago. The dark lord smiled and informed Harumi the following: "I kinda went ahead of myself and gave the dog a name. It's Cloud, you can change it if you want." He gave her permission to change the Pomeranian's name if she doesn't like it very much. But it kind of melted Garmadon's "nonexistent" heart when he heard that she will very much keep it. "No no, I like it." She said.

Now Harumi's crying wasn't mainly because she was overjoyed with Cloud the pup. But mainly because she had to find a way to escape Borg tower with the care of a yapping puppy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N Merryyyyyyyyyyy late Christmassssssss! Thank you for reading this chapter of Reconciled hearts! I hope everyone had a great time during the holidays and what do you guys think of Harumi and Cloud's meeting? Do you think they'll get along great? I mean Cloud didn't growl in Harumi's presence after all! Tell me what you guys think! Alright, this is the end of my chapter, I'll see you guys in the next one!