Chapter 4: The Dangers of Working Together

Kanan watched the boy with oddity. He had never met anyone so strange before in his entire life. Kanan had the feeling that the kid had never been outside before. A part of him wondered who the hell Ezra's father was and why he treated him this way. The other part of him just made peace with the fact that it was only in between Ezra and his own parents. However, he felt something familiar with this kid.

However, one minute, Ezra was frolicking with joy but then, at the last second, he was on the ground, sobbing, Caleb laying down right next his owner's feet, and the kid's long hair draping over the rocks. "Geez kid, what's wrong with you?" Kanan asked, crossing his arms. "Nothing," Ezra sobbed through his hands that were covering his face. "Seriously, something's bothering you. What's wrong?"

Ezra, said through the tears, "N... nothing. It's just that, I've been told by my father to never been outside before...and I..."

"Feel like you are betraying him?" Kanan asked. Ezra nodded, causing Kanan to think quietly to himself.

"Alright, that's it," Kanan said, "Deal is off..."

Ezra looked up with a surprised expression and stood up. "Wh... what?"

He stood up.

"Yeah," Kanan said. He put his arm around the boy's shoulders, grabbing his frying pan and then, he brought up Ezra's cat, thrusting them both in the boy's arms before pushing them. "You go home, therefore you don't break your father's heart like a break. Therefore, they won't break the father/son bond

However, Ezra realized what Kanan was doing and quickly shoved the man off his shoulders.

"No!" Ezra hissed. "You are taking me to those lanterns, whether you like it or not!"

Kanan growled. "Oh, come on, I just want my damn bag back. Ezra glared, bringing his frying pan up, threatening to knock him out

"I swear, I will use this against you!" Ezra sneered with Caleb hissing at Kanan, who brought his arms up in surrender.

Suddenly, the nearby bushes and branches caused Ezra to go wide eyed. Quickly, he hid behind Kanan in fear.

Without another word, Ezra whimpered, bringing his frying pan out and keeping one arm around Kanan.

"Wh... what is it? Ruffians? Thugs!? Ezra cried, causing Kanan to give off an annoyed look. He did not need to panic when he saw who it was: that best friend of a Lasat of his: Garazeb Orrelios.

"Kanan, there you are!" Zeb said, realizing Ezra was standing right behind the young man. "I've dodged Ahsoka Tano and those guards for the past three hours, and here you are playing with children!"

"Uh, yeah," Kanan said, shrugging off Ezra's arm around him. "The kid was playing with me!" He pointed his thumb at him. "And uh, he took the crown." He scratched the back of his head.

"What?!" Zeb hissed. He cuffed Kanan over his head.

"The kid won't give it back unless I show him the floating lanterns for the Prince."

Zeb blinked. "And how did you get doped by a kid?"

Ezra smirked. "Knocked him out with a frying pan."

At first, Zeb was flabbergasted at what the kid had just said. Honestly, at first, he didn't know what to think of the kid, but then, he chuckled, laughed even harder than he needed to.

"Really?" Zeb said between laughs. "Never thought Kanan would get tripped up by a kid before, but you've got spunk kid." He slapped Ezra's shoulders, causing the boy to rub them tenderly.

He poked at Kanan with an even bigger laughter. "Should have seen that one coming. Never thought you'd be tripped up by a kid before!" Kanan just growled at his best friend, when he suddenly came up with an idea.

If the kid feared ruffians and thugs, then he knew a group of outlaws would just get a taste of scaring him. He hadn't seen Cham Syndulla since he and Hera broke up. Cham was always the overprotective father. Then again, he thought of Hera. She was always a softy and a motherly figure. So, he had a feeling that the kid would be adored by her. But Hera's foster daughter, Sabine, would likely be suspicious of both Ezra and Kanan.

However, she would be more suspicious of Kanan because he had "broken Hera's heart."

Those Wrens and Syndulla's (the Spectres) were very protective of each other.

"You know, I know a group of people you would love to meet, kid," Kanan said, but Zeb was not paying attention, just glad to be meeting a kid who could overturn Kanan.

"Really?" Ezra questioned.

"Yep," Kanan said, putting a hand on Ezra's shoulder. "They are the Spectres, and they are the best at what their good at."

Zeb stroke his beard.

"Wait, don't they include that girl you once dated and aren't they-"

"Willing to meet new people!?" Kanan said over his friend's voice, just hoping Zeb was catching on with his plan that he was trying to scare the kid to get that crown. Meanwhile, Ezra to look up at them both.

He wasn't entirely sure at what was going on, but he had a bit of a suspicion that these men were trying to trick him. He could also tell by Caleb hissing he shouldn't trust anyone in this alcove. However, there was that other part of him knowing that Kanan was having his best interests in heart. Not if he wanted his stupid satchel back.

"Okay, I'll go with you," Ezra sighed. "Will they help us?"

Kanan nodded. "Yeah, sure, they'll help!"

He pushed the kid between his shoulder blades as Zeb joined Ezra's other side.

"Are you sure you want to do this, kid?" Zeb asked. He wasn't entirely up with the plan of scaring a child, let alone a fourteen-year-old boy. He looked disapprovingly at Kanan, but the younger of the two outlaws just ignored him.

"Sure, I guess, if it will help," Ezra said.

"That's the spirit, kiddo!" Kanan said with a smirk as the trio walked out towards the inn of the Ghost.

Maul made his way to Garel, just annoyed that he had to go get the paints his son so desperately needed. The things he did for that child. Well, if he didn't, Ezra would never heal him again and he would never get his revenge on Kenobi. However, he still loved the boy as if he were his own. If there is one thing Maul learned from his mother was to always keep a tight rein on their children. And he always did with Ezra, who was going to remain under his protection until the child helped him get what he wanted. He was dealing with a child. His child. Sure, Ezra was the Lost Prince but the boy would always be his. No matter what.

Maul suddenly stopped. He heard rustling in the bushes. He began reaching for his lightsaber when suddenly, a horse jumped up from behind the bushes. The horse was Fulcrum, who was glaring at the horned Zabrak at first before he calmed down. Disappointed even. Fulcrum had been with Ahsoka, but then the two had been unwillingly separated.

"Oh, you're just a horse," Maul said. but then, he looked closely at the horse's insignia. "But where is your rider?" Suddenly, fear caught up to him.

If this horse was alone…

"EZRA!" Maul shouted. His son. Quickly, he turned back to the Tower, rushing into the alcove where their home was.

He cleared his throat and began shouting.

"Ezra, let your hair down!" shouted Maul. "Damn it, Ezra Bridger, you let your hair down right now young man!" Still nothing.

Maul growled in anger, quickly running to the secret door he hid and quickly climbed up the steps, removing the stone that led up to the tower.

He began searching everywhere for his son. He checked Ezra's room and even his own, but still no Ezra. Maul growled in frustration. Where had his son gone?

As he threw a nearby chair across the room, he saw a light shimmer.

It was coming from the staircase.

Maul removed the stair and saw a satchel within and in the satchel was a crown that was all too familiar to Maul. It was a crown that belonged to the Lost Prince…or in truth, it belongs to Ezra. That was not the only thing in the satchel. In it, Maul found another: a wanted poster of Kanan Jarrus, someone Maul barely recognized.

What did this man want with his son? However, Maul realized something. It was Ezra who wanted something with the man. He wanted to see those stupid floating lights. And he needed someone to guide him there, right. That man could ruin everything…maybe even help Ezra figure out he was the lost prince.

He got up and grabbed his lightsaber.

Whoever this Kanan Jarrus was, the man who took his son, was going to pay for it.

He's getting Ezra back. One way or another.