The Dark Heirs: Ninjago

A Little Change

Lord Garmadon walked through Jamanakai Village, enjoying the feeling of the chilly night breeze on his newly revived skin.

That is when he heard whimpering, most likely from a child judging by the tone.

And while he was an evil warlord, Garmadon could not sanely call himself a father if he let a child suffer in the cold.

He went towards the source of the whimpering and soon arrived at a candy store but could not locate the source of the noise.

Until he looked up.

There he saw a young boy he instantly knew was his son.

Lloyd was being held up to the shop by the cape of his hoodie, his neck was covered in a necklace of bruises from his hoodie's collar digging into his pale skin.

He was asleep, but his cheeks shone with tears and he was trembling and whimpering from the night chill.

The Dark Lord's heart ached at the sight of his precious son hurt.

He immediately helped him down, cradling his son in his arms for the first time since he was banished.

***

Lloyd groaned as he woke up, his neck aching terribly.

He quickly realized that he was no longer hanging from the store sign, he was in a cot!

Had the Ninja come back and helped him?

The ten year old boy sat up, not noticing the man sitting in the shadows.

"Rest, son." The hidden man said, making himself known

"Dad?" Lloyd asked, his eyes wide as he looked into the shadows of the tent

"Yes, I am here, blossom." Garmadon confirmed, standing and walking up to him, "How did you end up on that sign?"

"The Ninja." Lloyd frowned, kicking his feet off the edge of the cot, "I just wanted some candy and they put me up there! And then they bought it all and made me watch them eat it! And after they left the villagers started throwing garbage at me and no one helped me down even though I said I couldn't breathe!"

Garmadon said nothing at first, merely absorbing what his son had said, absolutely furious but trying not to show it as to not scare his child.

"Where is your mother?" Garmadon asked, gently, "I'll take you home and have a chat with her. You'll get to sleep in your own bed tonight."

The blond just shrugged, "No idea, I haven't seen mom since I was four I think."

That shocked the Dark Lord even more. The thought that Lloyd was safe with his mother had been his only comfort during his time in the Underworld.

"I see. Where have you been staying?" Garmadon asked

"Mom dropped me off at Darkley's and never came back so I was there, but I got expelled a few months ago." Lloyd replied

"Where have you been staying since then? With your uncle?" The King of the Underworld inquired

"No way!" The boy spat, "I hate him and his stupid Ninja! They're just a bunch of bullies."

Garmadon had to force himself not to smile at the slander against the Ninja, calmly saying, "I have noticed. So where have you been, son?"

"Here and there, I've just been walking around." Lloyd shrugged, as if it was no big deal

"Who has been watching you? Where have you been living?" The Dark Lord asked, reiterating his question

"No one has been watching me. I live where I can find a place to sleep." The blond answered