Leyla urged herself to continue running in pursuit of her father, but her father was a fast runner. She panted. She was still tired from their little spar a few moments ago.

"Where- are we- going- Dad?" She asked in between breaths. They haven't been running for long, but she was already exhausted.

Her father glanced at her over his shoulder, and Leyla wondered how he can run without looking where he was going.

"You're about to find out," was his reply before running faster and disappearing through some bushes.

Leyla pushed through and found herself standing in front of a tall tree. She looked around for her father, but she didn't see him.

"Dad?" She called. "Dad, where are you?"

Something suddenly appeared in front of her face. She screamed and covered her face with her arms. She heard a laugh and looked up to see her father.

Lloyd was hanging upside-down on a branch, with his legs curved on the branch to keep himself from falling. Leyla, still panting from both exhaustion and fear, stared at her father with wide eyes, and not only because she was surprised.

"How'd you get up there so quick?" She asked. Lloyd only chuckled. He pulled himself up and started to ascend the tall tree.

"Come on!" The former ninja called. Leyla could only stare as her father climbed the tree with great agility no man his age could compete against.

The blonde girl soon began to climb after her father. She grabbed a low branch and started to ascend the tall tree. Her pace was much slower than her father's, but she managed to reach the top.

Leyla found her father sitting on a branch and looking out into the distant outline of New Ninjago City. She positioned herself on a branch next to him.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Her father asked. Leyla only nodded as her father continued. "I remember the time I met your mother in the city. I knew from the moment I saw her, that she'll one day be the one I'd marry."

Leyla made a disgusted face and turned to face her father. "Did you bring me up here to listen to your love story?" She asked, her face scrunched up in disgust. "Cuz if yes, then I'll pass."

Lloyd only chuckled. "No. I brought you up here to teach you control." He said. Leyla cocked her head to the side.

"Control? Control what?" She asked curiously.

《¤》

Should I tell her? Lloyd thought. No. Telling her will only place her in more danger. She'll have to figure it out on her own.

"Control yourself," he said simply. Leyla looked even more confused. She turned to look at him, her hands holding the trunk so she wouldn't fall.

"Control myself? Seriously, Dad?" She asked skeptically.

"Seriously." Lloyd nodded and stood on the branch, a hand to the trunk. "To be a good fighter, one must control his/her self. If you can control yourself, you can control anything."

"That's.... impossible. Everyone knows you can't control everything." The young girl scoffed. "Life is life. You can't do anything to control it."

Lloyd smirked at her. "But life cannot control you." He said and pointed at her. "It's you who controls your life." Leyla was about to say something, but Lloyd continued.

"To control doesn't always mean to force someone or something to do things your way. It can also mean to gain emotional or mental control."

The young descendant stared at him for a moment before shaking her head in confusion. "I don't get it." She said.

Lloyd sighed. "Leyla, control isn't just physical force, but it's also emotional and mental control." He said. "We cannot control how things happen in our lives, but we can control how these things affect us."

Lloyd reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Control yourself. Control your emotions. Don't let it control you." He said gently. "If you can control yourself, you can control your power."

Leyla frowned. "Power? What power?" She asked. Lloyd cursed mentally. He just blew it. He let it slip.

Before he can think of anything to say, there was a loud inhuman scream. The two looked up and saw a mass of black, moving across the field of grass like a storm. Lloyd didn't need his ninja senses to tell him that trouble has arrived.

"D-dad? What's that?" Leyla asked, looking over at her father with terrified eyes.

Lloyd narrowed his eyes, trying his best to keep his fear and panic under control. "Leyla, run." He mumbled, loud enough for her to hear.

"W-what?" She asked, her eyes filled with fear.

"Run! Back to the house!" Lloyd ordered. Leyla hesitated, looking back and forth between her father and the approaching inhuman creatures. "Hurry!"

Leyla finally complied and climbed down the tree as fast as she can. After one last look at the mass of shadows, Lloyd climbed down after her and they both ran as fast as they can.

《¤》

Lynn was startled when her husband and daughter barged through the backdoor. At first, she thought they were just playing a game of some sort. But Lloyd's serious, yet scared, expression made her think otherwise.

The little girl ran up to her mother and hugged her, her breaths were short and panicked. Lynn grew worried. She didn't know what they were afraid of, but deep inside she knew she already did.

"What's going on?" She asked. Lloyd looked at her, and she dreaded his reply.

"They're here," was the phrase that she feared from the very beginning. She held her daughter closer as her husband blocked the doors and windows.

Lloyd then turned to the two girls. He looked down at Leyla, who looked up at him with fearful eyes. "Leyla, go pack your things. Only bring the essentials." He said, his tone firm and held no room for arguments. "There's a case underneath the bed in our room. I want you to choose a weapon and prepare to leave the house."

"What's going on, Daddy? What were those things?" She asked, her small voice wavering in fear.

"Just do what your father said, and do it quickly." Lynn said, trying not to let her fear show as she knelt in front of her daughter. "Be safe."

Although still afraid and confused on what was happening, Leyla nodded and ran upstairs to pack her things. Lynn walked up to Lloyd and hugged him.

"I'm scared," she whispered. Lloyd kissed the top of her head and whispered back, "Me too."

They pulled apart and Lloyd pulled out a sword from under a loose floor board. Lynn also pulled out a weapon, a dagger, from her boots. Lloyd raised an eyebrow at her.

"Have you always had that there?" He asked. The former female ninja gave him a half hearted smirk.

"You act like you don't know me." She said, skillfully twirling the dagger between her fingers. Lloyd smiled at her before walking towards a painting and removing it.

Behind the painting was a small keypad with a single red button on it. Lloyd looked to Lynn. Should I? his eyes seem to ask. Lynn gave a nod and he pressed it without much hesitation.

"The others will be alerted," Lloyd said as he put the painting back. He turned back to face the blue eyed woman. "Hopefully it isn't too late."

Lynn looked down at the dagger in her hand. "Lloyd," she mumbled, her voice slightly wavering. "What will happen next?"

The Green ninja sighed. "I don't know," he said, equally as quiet. Lynn walked towards him and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. Lloyd returned the hug and whispered into her ear, "I love you."

There was an inhuman screech, followed by the loud banging on the door. The two ninjas held their breaths and held their weapons tighter.

This is it, their thoughts seem to say. There's no turning back now.

There was a moment of silence, followed by the door getting blown off its hinges. The two ninjas dodged the wooden door and glared at the black mass beginning to come in. Glowing, purple orbs stared back at them, the endless void of destruction bringing back unwanted memories.

"Lynn" Lloyd whispered.

"What?" She whispered back.

"Remind me for next time, no more secrets and lies."