Lloyd's P.O.V.:

We had all said goodbye to our kids and spouses and my father was getting ready to use the travelers tea to open the portal to the realm of madness. Kira packed me a backpack with everything I needed, even though we were only supposed to be gone for less than a day, but I was happy she did.

I was really worried that I wouldn't make it back. I usually don't get this nervous about a mission, but this time was different. I had a family to think about, they were all I could think about. I had to just focus on getting Wu home.

My father was about to open the portal when I suddenly got another migraine. I held my head in pain and set down on the ground.

"Lloyd!" Nya sounded concerned. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm alright, this is just how Wu contacts me." I said, still holding my head. "I'll be right back."

"What?" Nya asked.

"I'll explain later, I just have to do something."

I fell asleep and entered the dreamscape with master Wu...

"You called master?" I asked.

"I wanted to warn you." He said. "The realm of madness is not safe."

"We know master, that's why half of us are coming to save you." I explained. "My father's going to open the portal so we can go there and find you. Then he can open it from that side of the realm."

"Opening a portal of that size takes a dangerous amount of energy." Wu warned. "You and your father may be warn out and not be able to bring everyone back."

"Well Seliel has a backup plan in case we can't open it from that side." I told him. "She said it's some kind of potion that can open a gateway in Ninjago."

"I haven't heard of that method for crossing in between realms." Wu said.

"Don't worry master, we'll be there soon. Just hang in there."

"Thank you nephew." He smiled.

"Lloyd wake up!" Nya yelled as I started coming to.

"Nya?" I said waking up.

"Are you ok?" She asked helping me up.

"Yeah you just kinda... fell asleep?" Cole said confused.

"You were even snoring." Kai laughed.

"I'm fine." I assured them. "I have to be asleep in order to talk to master Wu."

"Did he tell you anything?" Kai asked.

"He said it could be dangerous if we open a portal of that size." I frowned. "If my father and I can't do it, we might not be able to bring you all back."

"I know you do not want me to say it, but maybe we would stand a better chance of all of us coming back if Ryder goes with us." Pixal suggested.

"No way! Kira's already mad at me about the cave incident, and I don't want him getting hurt again."

"We understand." Cole said.

"Besides, Ryder doesn't even have powers yet." I added. "I doubt he would be able open the portal anyway."

"Yeah you're probably right." Nya agreed.

"Are we going or not?" My dad said.

"Ok, we're ready." I told him and the others nodded.

My Dad poured the travelers tea in a large circle and created the portal to the realm of madness. One by one we all jumped in and landed on the other side in the realm of madness. As soon as we entered, we all started looking around.

"Whoa, look at this place." Cole looked around.

"We're not here to take in the scenery Cole." I reminded him. "The plan is to find Wu, save him, and get back. Nothing more."

"Lloyd's right." Kai agreed. "I don't wanna be in this place any longer than we have to."

"It's important that you do not lose focus." My father told us. "For if you are consumed by the realm, you could be corrupted by it."

"Ok, we'll be careful." I said.

"Wu could be anywhere in this realm." Nya said.

"Wu?" Cole cupped his hands around his mouth. "Master Wu?"

"I say we split up." Kai suggested. "We'll cover more ground that way."

"No Kai, we need to stick together." I said. "We can't risk anyone getting separated."

"Not to worry, I thought about that already." Pixal said as she pulled out a tracking device and turned it on. "This way."

"Alright, now we're getting somewhere!" Kai said excitedly.

We all followed Pixal to the bottom of a tall mountain. She told us the signal was coming from the top of it so we all reluctantly started climbing. It must have taken us hours, but as soon as we made it to the top, we saw Wu there down on his knees.

"MASTER!" We all screamed and ran to him. Except for my father who kept his distance.

"Hello pupils." He huffed as Nya and I helped him sit up.

"Are you alright master?" Kai asked.

"Yes I am fine." Wu answered. "The vortex is not opening."

"We know master, that's why we're here." Cole said.

"How is he Pix?" Nya asked.

"According to his vitals, he won't last much longer unless we get him out of here." Pixal said as she scanned Wu.

"We need to get to the summit." My father pointed to the next the next mountain over. "If we want to reopen the vortex, it'll be easier from there."

"Brother?" Wu questioned. "Why are you here?"

"You have been in this realm for five years, trying to undo what I have done to myself." My father frowned. "I'm done letting you clean up my mess for me."

"Thank you brother." Wu smiled.

My dad let Wu ride on his back and we started following him to the vortex. When we got there, the vortex was closed just like Wu said it was.

"How do we get it back open?" Cole asked.

"Lloyd and Garmadon must combine their elemental powers to open it." Wu explained.

"Well come on and do it already." Kai grew impatient. "I don't want to be in this creepy realm longer than we have too."

"I don't even know if I can do it." I frowned.

"Come on Lloyd, we didn't come all this way for nothing." Nya said. "At least give it a try."

"I guess." I said.

My father held out his hand and focused on the summit and I followed his lead. We both started to use our powers and eventually the vortex started to appear. We both were getting more physically and mentally weaker by the minute, but then the portal was finally open.

After everyone except for me and my father had passed through the portal, we were both physically and mentally exhausted. We both dropped to our knees as the portal slowly started to close.

"Son, go." My father demanded with the little strength he had left.

"What?" I looked up at him.

"Go." He said again. "I can't hold it for much longer. Wu has been fixing my memories long enough, it's only fair that I finish what he started."

"D-dad." I struggled as I stood up. "I'm not leaving you."

"Yes you are."

He picked me up by the shirt and threw me into the portal, but it closed before I could get through and I slammed into the rocks behind it and fell to the ground. I blacked out.

Garmadon's P.O.V.:

As I threw Lloyd through the portal I lost control and I couldn't hold it. The vortex disappeared and he slammed into the wall and tumbled off the mountain a little ways. Normally I wouldn't care, and I'm not sure why I did, but a voice inside me was telling me to help him, and I listened to it.

I ran over to where Lloyd landed and I found him unconscious. I felt his pulse and he was alive. He didn't look hurt, but he probably had a concussion from me slamming him into the wall.

I took the first aid kit out of his bag and I carefully wrapped up his head. I tried to pick him up but then I noticed his leg was swelling so I wrapped that up as well. Then I put him on my back and he was still out cold.

I know I'm the last person to help my son, but I got him into this mess, and I was gonna get him out. Not for my sake, but for his son's. It's bad enough I couldn't be the father he needed, but I wasn't about to let Lloyd do that to Ryder. It's time we break the curse befallen on our family.

I took Lloyd to a small opening in the mountain where I used to stay while I lived here. It wasn't much but we would be safe there. I built a fire and tried to warm Lloyd up. His body heat was below normal due to this realm being an abnormal temperature for him. I've built up an immunity to it, but my son wasn't so lucky.

It took hours, but Lloyd was finally starting to wake up. I ran over to him.

"Son! Son wake up!" I yelled at him.

"Father?" He slowly opened his eyes and looked around. "W-what happened?"

"I... I couldn't keep the portal open long enough." I frowned. "I'm sooooorr..."

"What?" He raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sorrrr..." I mumbled. I couldn't say the word I wanted to say.

"Are you trying to apologize?" He questioned as he sat up.

"I can do this." I took a deep breath. "I'm... ssss... sorry. I'm sorry I was a terrible father. I'm sorry I hurt you. I'm sorry I hurt your son. I'm sorry that I let our family down. I'm sorry I let you down. I know this doesn't make up for anything I've done in the past, but I... I..."

He cut me off and put his arms around me.

"I love you too Dad." He smiled.

What did I feel... happy? What was this feeling? I liked it. I put my arm around him as well.

"Come on, we have to get back." He tried to stand up but his leg was hurting him. "Ahh!"

"Take it easy Lloyd, that leg is pretty bad." I warned.

I sat him back down on the ground and he looked at the bandages around his leg confused.

"Did you do this?" Lloyd asked.

"You hurt your leg when you smashed into that wall." I frowned. "I did what I could to help."

He looked even more confused. "Why are you trying to help me?"

"Because of Ryder." I admitted.

"What about him?"

"He needs his father." I frowned. "I couldn't be there for my son, but I'm not going to be the reason you can't be there for yours."

"I... I don't know what to say." He said in shock.

Lloyd tried to stand up again, but he groaned as he put pressure on his leg. I noticed that his bandages had come loose from the ride over here.

"Take it easy." I said as helped him sit back down. "You're hurt."

"I'll be ok." He smiled. "Tha... Than..."

"Are you trying to thank me?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I guess I am." He laughed.

"I'm sorry son." I frowned. "I never meant for you to get hurt."

"It's ok Dad. It's not your fault, it was an accident." He assured me.

I took out his backpack and got the first aid kit out so I could wrap his leg again. I began to wrap it up.

"Does that feel better?" I asked.

"A little." He said as he tried to stand up again.

"Careful don't get up."

He sighed and looked around. "Wait, where are we?"

"This where I used to stay while I was here in the realm of madness all these years." I informed him. "It'll be safe so we can ride out the night."

"Ok, but Seliel and the others are going to open the portal from Ninjago." He explained. "It'll open at the summit so we have to be there when it does."

"And we will, but nightfall is upon us. It's too dangerous to go back now." I told him. "We'll just have to wait until morning."

"But they don't know that. What if they open it before then and we're not there?"

"Then we'll just have to hope they don't." I said. "Now get some rest, it's been a long day."

"Rest! That's it!" Lloyd perked up. "If Wu can contact us in the dreamscape, couldn't we do the same?"

"I see where you're headed son, but that skill takes years to master." I told him. "Your uncle spent decades perfecting that."

"Well it's worth a try." Lloyd said.

He laid down by the fire and went to sleep. Such a stubborn boy he is. I wondered if he was actually able to do it.

Lloyd's P.O.V.:

I laid down and entered the dreamscape...

"Wu!" I yelled. "Master please answer me."

"You rang?" He appeared in front of me.

"Wow, I can't believe that actually worked." I said to myself. Then I turned back to Wu. "Master, was Seliel able to make the potion to open the portal?"

"They have to get a few more ingredients first, but they shouldn't be too hard to find." He explained. "We should have it open in no time."

"Good." I said. "Listen this is important. My father and I had to leave the summit, but we'll be back over there in the morning. You have to tell the others to wait until then to open the portal."

"Will do." Wu agreed.

"How is Ryder doing?" I asked.

"Oh your son is adorable. You've done such a good job with him." He said.

"Thanks." I said. "I can't hold this form any longer. I never knew how hard this was."

"Well don't worry, we'll get you both out of there." My uncle said.

"Thanks." I said before I exited the dreamscape and woke up.

"Ahh!" I shot up awake.

"Lloyd, are you ok?" My father asked as he helped me sit up.

"I... I gave him the message." I caught my breath and I started coughing.

"What's wrong?" My father asked.

"T-That took a lot out of me." I held my head.

"Son, rest now." He told me. "We need at your best in the morning if we're going to make it to the summit."

My stomach growled and I looked at me father. He looked in my backpack and handed a banana that Kira had packed for me.

"Here you need to eat." He said.

I took it and started to eat it. After that I laid down and went to right to sleep. I just hoped it would all go ok when we got to the summit tomorrow and I couldn't wait to see Ryder again.

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Hey guys, so judging by the title, you can guess that there's only going to be a few chapters left. However the story is far from over. See you all next time and please vote and comment! Stay awesome! 😉

~awesomespecs21