One last time.
This is a short Professor Layton fanfic in celebration of the new game coming out next year and the ninth anniversary earlier this year. *tries not to cry*
So much has happened this past year Luke, you'd never believe how dull it truly has been without you here. Nothing seems the same since our first escapade back in Misthallery, speaking of which how is Clark? I haven't seen him for some time.
I really do miss you my boy... I miss everyone...
Hershel Layton put his pen down with a sigh, it had been a year since he had last seen Luke, his former apprentice. Looking through the window, he could see then Grassenheller University gardens where he had spent a considerable amount of time with Emmy and Luke. His now dusty office filled with treasures from their travels.
He exhaled deeply and rested his forehead on his hands, resting his top hat gently on his desk. Thoughts wondering across the past years. The spectre that ravaged Misthallery, which had begun everything. The Miracle Mask and his long lost friend... The Azran Legacy and Aurora's death... The Curious Village and meeting Flora... Pandora’s box and…and… his Lost Future and Claire…
A sudden knock on the door, alerted him to a small girl entering his dusty office, red rose in hand. Flora. He smiled at her approach. “Flora, what’s all this about?” He asked gently, his British accent influencing his speech as the young girl held the flower out to him.
“It’s just I-” began Flora, a sudden knock on the door interrupting her.
Rosa, the housekeeper, stood at the entrance to the office, letter in hand. Flora and Hershel shared a look of confusion as he took the letter and opened it. Inside was an incredibly lifelike drawing of a vase of flowers, similar to the one Flora had given him moments ago.
“A lady?” Asked the young girl. “Since when Professor!?”
Hershel laughed, watching her fume at the elegant drawing. “Flora my dear, this is from Clive!”
Clive, the misguided youth who had tried to destroy all of London, dragging in the Professor to try and stop himself. He now spends his time in prison, working out his wrongdoings.
A sudden noise in the corridor drew their attention. A young man with red hair and deeply tanned skin stopped in the doorway and stared at the Professor, unknown emotion glittering in his eyes. The man lunged forward and enveloped the Professor in a bear hug. He pulled away and Hershel could now see the man as his childhood friend, Randall. When they were younger… He had been thought to be dead in the ruins of Akbadain… The Professor smiled as he saw his friend’s wife, Angela come in stand in the doorway, Henry following close behind. Small child in his arms.
The Professor rose from his seat to greet Angela and her child, congratulating her and Randall.
“Professor!”
Turning around, Layton barely managed to gain his bearings as Luke barrelled into him, sobbing.
Smiling gently, Hershel hugged the small child back. “It’s been a long time my boy.”
Luke’s parents, Clarke and Brenda, entered the now crowed office and Layton smiled as he shook hands with his long-time friend as his son hugged him fiercely.
Letting go of the Professor, a figure at the doorway drew Luke’s attention. “Emmy?” He asked incredulously.
The young woman smiled at him. “It’s been a long time…” She then looked to someone standing in the hall. “Professor, I’ve brought someone who wants to apologise.”
Desmond Sycamore, or Descole as he was most known, entered sheepishly behind Emmy and looked away from the Professor, unable to meet his eye, guilt weighing on him heavily.
Emmy smiled and shoved Sycamore towards his brother and the two embraced, finally reunited after all these years.
Looking up at his friends and family, Layton could remember each treasured moment he spent with them and the more that were yet to come.
Taking a card from Emmy, he read the gentle cursive script out loud.
Thank you Professor, for everything. Tears welled in his eyes, he hadn’t cried like this since Claire had died and these words echoed what Emmy had said the day she left years ago. I know that our decisions have been hard on you and we just want to thank you… Thank you for everything… Happy ninth anniversary Professor…
A/N: I need to stop listening to sad soundtracks...
Play this game series guys... I can guarantee tears will be real. No other game has emotionally impacted me this much. I was screaming at the screen at the end of Azran Legacy... So have tissues on hand... :3792Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsG3GvDIfn
