[i]“Easy, Eazy! Why the tears, love? I won’t be gone for long. I’ll be here when you get out, okay? Go on, learn your teacher’s name, make some friends, find a crush! I’ll be back before you know it, okay?”[/i] [hr] In time, the two arrived at their destination. Ezra was quick to pay his fare and the driver was nice enough to point the boy towards the wharf before taking off. He didn’t really have the time to take in the sights of Vermillion city, only making mental remarks of what laid in immediate sight. By the sound of things, the ferry he needed to get on was already getting ready to leave. He didn’t want to wait any longer than he needed to, so he scooped up Brie and broke into a light jog to make his way to the water. He paid his fare and hopped aboard. As the big boat took off, Ezra and Brie felt free to roam the deck. Not for long, at least. Eventually, Ezra found himself keeping his Oshawott from hopping in the water for a swim. He picked her up and pointed into those murky depths. [color=#00FFAE]“Check that out.”[/color] He told, his finger pointing towards the curious Gyarados lurking about the boat’s edges. [color=#00FFAE]“You won’t be sea monster food today, Brie.”[/color] He smiled at the Oshawott, but his tone remained flat and cautious. [color=#E3CA19]“Awott osha wo.”[/color] She replied, crossing her flippers in some disappointment. As she sulked, Ezra brought forth his own phone. He figured Esmerelda might’ve only been in the middle of her flight, so he opted to call up his father instead. The older gentleman picked up the video call immediately, and instantly Ezra could hear a commotion filling in the background. Something between crying, shouting, and general shenanigans drowned out old Ezekiel as he tried communicating with his eldest son. [color=#00FFAE]“Sounds like everyone’s awake.”[/color] Ezra greeted, smiling at his father’s appearance. “[i]They[/i] are, sure. Me? I’m ready to go back to bed.” Zeke replied, panning his phone around their Alolan home to give Ezra a glimpse of the chaos. Eli was enjoying a bowl of cereal at the kitchen table, while Tawny chased a shirtless, whining Elena around the living room. Esther sat at her father’s feet, crying in distraught. As Zeke lowered his phone closer to the youngest sister, her cries were loud enough to ring throughout the boat. Ezra felt the need to pacify the situation before anyone began staring. [color=#00FFAE]“Esther? Esther!”[/color] He called through her cries, instantly gaining her attention. “Eeeeeeazy! Come hooooome!” She sobbed loudly, easily melting the boy’s heart. He probably would’ve canceled the whole trip right then and there if he were any closer. The remaining siblings quickly crowded the phone once they realized the youngest was talking to their oldest. “Yeah! Come back right now! Who said you can leave?!” Elena shouted. She was always more articulate than her twin sister, and she never hesitated to let anyone know. [color=#00FFAE]“How’s about you put a shirt on first?”[/color] Ezra chuckled in reply, giving his brother a chance to do just that. “Hey, Eazy.” Tawny casually greeted, wrestling his sister into the holes of the blouse. “See any cute girls yet?” He asked. [color=#00FFAE]“Nope, I just got here. Where are my keys?”[/color] “Uhhh…” [color=#00FFAE]“Don’t you lose my keys, pipsqueak. Find them, and put them up until you need them.”[/color] Ezra’s tone lowered, and Tawny ran off. Eli played the background, pausing mid-bite once the camera fell on him. [color=#00FFAE]“Eli, help Dad, please. Get Esther dressed.”[/color] “Kay, Eazy. Imma finish eating first!” The twin brother replied with his mouth full. Seemed the oldest brother killed the commotion with some simple commands. “I could’ve done that, y’know.” Zeke replied, bringing the phone back to his face. [color=#00FFAE]“Wasn’t downplaying ya, Pops, I just wanted to help.”[/color] “Yeah, I appreciate it, Eazy. You talk to your cousins, yet?” [color=#00FFAE]“Yup. Zapp was supposed to come through, turned out he had an interview today.”[/color] “So how’re you getting around?” [color=#00FFAE]“I’m on a ferry right now. I guess I’ll be walking the rest of the way.”[/color] “Make sure you find the time to take a break when you can. No need to run yourself ragged.” [color=#00FFAE]“Oh yeah, no doubt. I’m sure the first soft cushion I come in contact with I’m collapsing into.”[/color] Ezra chuckled. “Hey.” Zeke got serious. “Y’know you can talk to me about anything, right? I’m here if you need me.” He would’ve put a hand on his son’s shoulder if he could. [color=#00FFAE]“I know, Dad.”[/color] Ezra appreciated the sentiment, but really felt it was the wrong time to make it known. He diverted his gaze in that moment and realized the ferry was nearing land. [color=#00FFAE]“We’re getting ready to dock Pops. I’ll catch up with you guys later.”[/color] Ezra concluded the conversation. Zeke frowned a bit, but the two shared a wave before ending the call. [hr] The duo soon proceeded down the wharf. With their brief trek successful, the next step looked to be to find the Pokemon professor’s lab. [color=#00FFAE]“Guess the quicker we get this show on the road, the better, huh?”[/color] He asked Brie. [color=#E3CA19]“Wotta wott.”[/color] Brie, tired of being cradled, transitioned across his shoulders to ride on his backpack. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the girl from earlier, posing with her phone and some sort of pink goblin on her shoulder. Her floating robot-phone-thing snapped a couple of pics of the two, no doubt documenting the journey the two were embarking on. Ezra was too focused on finding the lab to make any real observations on the girl’s peculiar style and Pokemon.