//------------------------------// // entering the catacombs // Story: My Little Layton: Puzzles are Magic // by sailor sunburst //------------------------------// “Did you send out the letter yet?” Luke asked to Twilight. “Yep! I sent it to Celestia, and they’ll be on their way to the caverns.” Twilight replied. “I think we should get going to the cavern under Canterlot.” Discord suggested. “Alright team, is everyone ready?” Twilight asked. “Ready!” Everyone but Luke replied. “Wait! I need my bag!” Luke said as he dashed out of the room and to the guest bedroom. He looked around, and eventually, found his bag on the floor. But, there was something missing… “Oh no! I lost my teddy bear!” Luke said. He heard someone laugh and Luke blushed “now, discord! That isn’t very nice!” said Fluttershy. She flew up “do you know where you might have lost it, Luke?” she asked. “I-I thought it was in my bag…” Luke said shyly, hearing Discord laughing in the background. “Hmm…well, maybe it fell out.” Fluttershy replied. She then looked under the bed. “Nope, not under here.” “Is this the teddy bear you’re looking for?” Pinkie Pie said as she came into the room holding the bear. “I found it in Professor Layton’s room!” “The Professor’s room? I wonder what it was doing in there. I mean, I know he doesn’t mind me having it, it’s just odd that it would be there in all places.” Luke said as he magicked out his notepad and began to write. “Hey Luke, there’s some sort of…golden hat shaped thing on this bear’s ribbon. Was that there before?” Applejack said as she looked at the bear. “A gold hat? I don’t think so…” Luke said as he magicked the bear in the air in front of him. There was indeed, a flat, golden hat on the bear. “P-Professor’s hat? And…and there’s writing on the back!” “Oooh! There’s some writing? Maybe…it’s a secret message! Read it! Read it!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed with glee. “To Luke, as a reminder to all of the great times we’ve had, I’ve taken the effort to make this little tag for your bear. That way, you’ll always have a piece of me with you. Keep doing what you do my boy, I’m proud of you. –Hershel Layton” Luke read aloud. “Thanks Professor. I’ll always have a piece of you with me!” Luke said as he put the bear back into the bag. “Alright, now that everyone is ready, let’s go to the cavern!” Twilight said to everyone. And so, they headed off to the cave. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “So this is the way out?” Flora asked to Rotten Heart, looking into a small tunnel. “I…I think so.” Rotten Heart replied. “Although, I’m not really sure to be honest with you. It’s just been rumors I’ve heard.” “Well, it doesn’t hurt to try! …Err, I hope.” Flora said nervously. “If it leads outside, I don’t mind!” Flora said as she started to go into the tunnel. “Wait, I’ll go with you! L-Like I said, I don’t want you to get hurt!” Rotten Heart said as he followed her. “You remind me a lot like Luke, Rotten Heart.” Flora said with a giggle. “He’s always protective of me.” Rotten heart blushed slightly “also, I don’t think it would be wise. What if the professor or shining armor find out about you? If they find out I know about the passage because of a changeling, they’ll get suspicious and there goes our only way out.” Said flora “I suppose…” said rotten heart “but, don’t forget your promise to me!” “I won’t. A true lady never goes back on her word.” Said flora “alright. I’ll try and meet up with you once you’re on the surface.” Said rotten heart. Flora nodded “agreed. Now, get going! I need to get the professor and shining armor so we can leave.” She said “what if your friends come while you’re gone? Even if I tell them the truth, how will they know they can trust me?” asked rotting heart. Flora thought “umm…” she wondered aloud “tell him… tell him that this place reminds me of Folsense. He’ll understand. If you can get that to him, that should at least get his attention.” Said flora. Rotting heart nodded “alright. be careful, flora. I’ll see you soon.” He said “you be careful too.” Said flora “now get going!” rotting heart left and flora went to where the professor and shining armor were “professor! Shining armor! I found a way out!” she said excitedly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Cadence!” Twilight said as she ran to her. “Twilight!” Cadence replied as they ran towards each other. “Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” The two of them said in unison. “It appears we have found out where the changelings have taken them. A little changeling friend of ours told us.” Discord said with a smirk. “He was very good at pretending to be the Professor.” “He’s told us that they’re in the Crystal Catacombs, you remember that place?” Twilight asked “how could I not? I spent weeks trapped in there thanks to chrysalis!” said cadence “should have guessed that chrysalis would keep them there…” “you coming with us to rescue them?” asked rainbow dash “of course!” said cadence “with my love spells, I can lead us straight to shining armor, and no doubt the professor is nearby as well.” “let’s hope.” Said twilight ‘we’re on our way professor…’ thought Luke. When the group arrived at the entrance, cadence led the way. Luke, rarity, and twilight all had their horns aglow to light the way. “this place gives me the creeps…” said Luke “Ick! Gross! What did I just step in?!” whined rarity “rarity, quit whinin’!” said applejack “I was not whining!” said rarity. “thiiiis is whiiining!” she whined loudly. Everyone chuckled. As Luke looked around, following the others, he spotted rotting heart watching them “changeling!” he said, everyone immediately turned to it “wait! I’m not going to hurt you, I promise!” said rotting heart “like we’d trust you, a changeling!” said cadence “don’t hurt me, please!” said rotting heart. He looked at Luke, a pleading look in his eyes “I met flora. I didn’t hurt her, I promise. But you all have to leave. M- chrysalis has set up traps for you all!” “traps or not, we’re not leaving without our friends!” said Luke “I already showed flora the way out, I promise! She’s just fine, same with Shining Armor and the Professor.” Said rotting heart, backing up, scared “please, you have to believe me!” “if you’ve met flora, prove it!” said Luke “she said…. I asked her if there was something I should say to prove that I at least met her. She said to say that this place reminded her of Folsense…” said Rotting Heart. Luke raised an eyebrow “should we hear what he has to say?” asked discord “I guess. There are only 3 people in this world who know what Folsense is. Me, flora, and the professor.” Said Luke “Well then changeling, tell us your queen’s plan!” Twilight said to Rotten Heart. “I have to? Alright then.” Rotten Heart said as he looked at Luke. “The Queen is planning to separate you from the others one by one and capture them. Then, when it’s just you… she’s going to have you brainwashed, and make you… make you…” rotting heart paused and shook his head “I… I can’t…” “Oh lord… please don’t tell me. I think I know what you’re saying…” Luke said to Rotten Heart. “good. Because I really don’t want to say it… but you all need to get out of here, before other changelings show up. If they find out you’re here, we’ll all be in trouble. I showed flora the way out. She’s probably already shown shining armor and the professor out already.” Said rotten heart, looking around “but please, you have to leave right away! There could be other changelings coming here any minute!” just then, the sound of insect wings filled the air and changelings, hissing, ambushed the group. “Excellent work, rotten heart.” Said a voice as chrysalis came from the shadows. “chrysalis!” said cadence “well, hello again cadence.” Said chrysalis, smirking “I’m glad you all have my son, rotten heart.” “SON?!” they all shouted.