Garmadon woke up feeling awful. He grabbed the glass of water beside his bed and downed it in hopes of relieving his headache. He stood up and stretched, sleepily changing before heading out to the courtyard. He found Clouse, angrily sparring with a dummy. The sorcerer paused when he saw his fellow apprentice. The look of hatred in his eyes only darkened. The two had a long-running rivalry so that wasn’t new, but what surprised Garmadon was the way his voice sounded when he stormed up to him. He wasn’t just angry when he spoke, there was something else there. “You fool! Is it true!?” Garmadon blinked looking up at the taller man, “What? What are you blabbering about!?” “All these years and you don’t even think to mention that you’re going to have a child!? And with Misako of all people!?” “Wh- excuse me? All these years? Years of what!? When were you ever entitled to know about my relationship with Misako?” “Oh, so was it Misako’s name you were screaming and begging for that night?” Clouse jabbed a finger into Garmadon’s chest. Garmadon’s face burned hot but he covered it up with an insult, as he always did, “And that makes you think there’s any genuine feelings between us!? I’ll have you know we’re discussing marriage, too!” “Save it, Garmadon. There’s no way in the 16 realms that you and that woman will work out. Spare them such misery.” “Are you implying that me and you would work?” Garmadon huffed, amused. “At least with me, you wouldn’t be pretending who you are. Stop hiding from yourself.” Garmadon stepped closer, fuming at the ears. “And abandon the child!? Have you lost your mind!?”

“Like you are capable of being a father! Have you lost it!? Or are you just trying to save the last bit of humanity you have left.” “So what if she wasn’t pregnant!? Then what? Would your delusional ass still believe that you and I have a chance!?” He snapped. “Maybe I am just delusional!” Clouse blurted, “and maybe I’m upset because deep down I know we won’t work! Can you blame me for being shocked by the news!? You’re not just lying to yourself but you’re lying to Misako. I know it wasn’t you who wrote the letter.” “I don’t have any other choice! You think I don’t hate myself for this!? I wish I wasn’t such an idiot, but here we are.” “Garmadon…” Clouse sighed, his chest and shoulders relaxing, “don’t marry her. She deserves better. Even if we’re doomed, at least I’m almost as terrible as you. You’re rotten to the core and you know she doesn’t deserve that. At least think of the child.” “You know it’s too late, Clouse-” “It’s not! Tell her the truth!” Clouse begged, “I can’t let you do this.” “And I can’t leave her alone with my mistakes.” He muttered hopelessly “You can’t fight the venom, Garmadon. It’s not your fault but be sure you don’t do something you regret.”