Professor Layton and the Shadow Legend

Notice + Chapter 5

I am so sorry for not updating this regularly, this story is actually very hard for me to write as I prefer first person view. I've decided I want to post a new part of this once a week starting today. The next chapter is difficult, but I want to get it out there so that the story can actually be exciting. Sorry in advance if I'm delayed, I'm in an exam year in school so I spend a lot of time doing homework (when I would rather be writing or drawing). Also, I think I might start up another story, so I'll be updating even less often. I feel like a week is a long time to wait for a story update, but I do know there are some stories out there that only update like once a month! Hopefully it doesn't come down to that.

Btw I'm on Christmas break now, so hopefully I can update more over the holidays. Merry Christmas all you Christians out there, and for those of you who are non-christians, happy holidays!

Anyway, you're probably all bored of me by now, so I'll shut up. Here's the chapter.

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Luke found himself eagerly awaiting his friend's arrival on Tuesday afternoon. He had run all the way home from school, and finished his homework in under twenty minutes, faster than anyone in his class would have been able to do it. He waited, excited but patient, for the professor and Flora to arrive. He was still pondering what the professor had meant by expect the unexpected, but he knew it would become clear once he arrived.

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The laytonmobile drove slowly around the small American town. The twisty roads were very confusing, and the professor had gotten himself lost twice now. He didn't have a very good map, and although all three of them had tried to decipher it, it was to no avail. Eventually they had to pull over to take a look at the useless thing again.

"So, is that bit there this intersection here?"
"No, this is that intersection."
"That means we're on this road right?"
"Yeah, and we have to get to where exactly?"

They squabbled back and forth until a young boy came up the road, kicking a football. He noticed that these new people seemed lost, and slowly approached the odd-looking red car. Flora noticed him first, and told the professor and Emmy. The professor rolled down his window, as it was now next to the side of the road.

"Can we help you with something?" He asked politely, as always.
"Oh, no, I'm fine, I just noticed that you guys seemed a bit lost. Need directions?" The boy replied, stopping his ball from rolling off with his foot.
"That would be helpful. We need to reach this address." the professor said, handing over a slip of paper with Luke's address on it.
"Oh!" The boy exclaimed. "This is Luke's house! And..." He looked up at the people in the car, slowly recognising them.
"So what Luke said was true! I knew it! You're professor Layton, aren't you?" The boy asked excitedly.
"Indeed I am." The professor replied.
"Well, my name's Jonah, I'm one of Luke's friends, I knew he wasn't making up stories! Barely anyone believes him, you see. The adventures are just too... wild." The boy, named Jonah, explained. All of them smiled at that comment.
"Yeah, wild." Emmy whispered through quiet laughter. Flora started giggling at that.
"Well," Jonah interrupted the girls laughing, "to get to his house, you go up this road to the four-way, turn left and go to the first t-junction, turn right and then it's the sixth house on the right." He instructed.
"Thank you very much, your help is appreciated. Have a lovely day." The professor closed the window again and pulled back out onto the road.

About five minutes later, the group finally pulled up to Luke's new home. It was detached, like all the other houses on the street. It was painted a cream colour, dull but inviting. All three of them recognised Clark's car parked in the driveway. Hershel was the first to open the car door and step outside. Flora was soon after and Emmy last. They walked up the path to the front door, Flora stopping to admire the flowers growing in the lawn, and Emmy slightly behind. Of course, she was nervous, Flora was excited, and Hershel... well, he was just glad to be seeing his apprentice number one again.

Hershel knocked twice, then paused, then knocked once more. Anyone who knew Hershel knew this knock, and all of the professor's friends, past and present, used this knock to signal each other. The door opened almost instantly, and there stood Luke, with the widest smile on his face.
"Dad! The professor's here!" He exclaimed in the general direction of the house. He rushed outside and embraced his great friend, and Hershel embraced him back.

"It's so good to see you!" Luke felt screaming every word, but he didn't, instead simply saying it rather loudly.

"It's good to see you too, my boy." Hershel replied. The boy had gotten only a little bit taller than when he last saw him, but it made a noticeable difference. Luke let go of his friend and looked around, spotting Flora.

"Flora!" He exclaimed, running over to hug her as well.

"Luke! Oh I'm so happy to see you!" Flora laughed, smiling so that the golden apple mark appeared on her collarbone.

Seeing this warm welcome made Emmy turn away however. She didn't want to ruin the happy moment, so she stood in silence, twisting her boot against the ground. She felt like running off, they wouldn't be able to catch her, but she had no way back to London without this group. Why did she even agree to come?

Luke finally let go of Flora too and stood back, smiling widely. Then he glanced at the laytonmobile for just a second and then did a double take as he spotted Emmy standing next to it.

"Is that..." He spoke quietly. "Emmy?"

Emmy lowered her head a little bit and smiled to herself. "Yeah... Hey Luke."

Luke approached her slowly and Flora and the professor stood back. Luke came right up next to Emmy and stopped.

"Um... Well, it's nice to see you again too, I just... Um..." Luke had no idea how to start this most awkward conversation.

"I'm really sorry, Luke." Emmy whispered, loud enough so that only Luke heard.

"It's ok, Emmy, I forgive you."

"Really?" Emmy looked over at the boy she had once betrayed and threatened, hope filling her heart.

"Yeah, really."

Emmy smiled sadly and silent tears started falling down her cheeks. "Thank you." She muttered, secretly thrilled, but so emotional at the same time.

"Come on, all of you have to come inside! Then we can get started on this mystery!" Luke turned back to Flora and the professor and ran up to the front door. His father Clark and mother Brenda were waiting to welcome them in. Hershel followed quickly, shortly embracing Clark and Brenda before following Luke into the front hall of the house. Emmy came slowly, and Flora stayed behind a bit to go with her.

"You ok?" Flora asked, concerned now for Emmy's mental health.

"Yeah, I'm fine" Emmy replied, wiping the last tear from her eye.

"What just went on there?" Flora was truly curious as to what had happened between Emmy and Luke before.

"He forgave me."