//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11: Rarity's Riddles 
// Story: Professor Layton and the Equestrian Silence 
// by Crystal Blue 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 11: Rarity’s Riddles

Stepping from the morning train back into the welcoming rural setting sent a sigh of relief through the cluster. Quickly, they all turned to the professor and Luke.
“Right, well, we’ve gotta get back to our places,” A beaming but twitching Twilight announced, resplendent with a snoozing Owloysius at ease on her back. “Thank you soooo much for everything, Professor. Feel free to stop by the library any time!”
“It was my pleasure, Twilight,” Hershel answered brightly. With that, the unicorn and the owl teleported away in a brilliant flash of pink light. Applejack was next.
“Well, ah reckon we’d bes’ be headin’ back ta Sweet Apple Acres, right brother?”
“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh smiled.
“You should come by the farm sometime. Ah’ve got a couple a’ difficulties needin’ solvin’.”
“I will make a note to be there.” AJ and her big brother set off sprinting towards the farm, most likely to see who would win.
“Um...” Fluttershy, still nervous around this hat-donning stranger, squeaked a little before continuing. “I... need to get back to my cottage. The critters need feeding. I’ll, uh... see you around. Thank you for the tea...”
“Glad to have helped, Miss Fluttershy. Take care.” The rose-haired pegasus trotted away, eyes closed and a contented smile on her face. The remaining members, Layton, Luke and Rarity turned to face each other.
“I would be honoured if you would accompany me to my boutique, Professor Layton,” Rarity requested in her sweetest voice.
“Of course, Miss Rarity.”
“Can I come too, Miss Rarity?” Luke asked, wanting to come along.
“But of course, darling! I wouldn’t want you to be left out. A friend of a friend is a friend.”
“Then let’s go!”
Layton and Luke followed the gently trotting unicorn to the south-eastern fringes of the city, across the river bridge and into a small grouping of slender buildings and tents. Standing most prominently in the district was the Carousel Boutique, a beautiful building of pale pink, baby blue and gleaming gold. Pony models adorned the exterior of the top level, and a carousel pony sign hung above the doorway.
“Come on in, gentlemen,” the white pony invited the two humans inside, opening the door with a blue glow from her horn.
“Thank you sincerely, Miss Rarity.” Luke was first in the door, overtaken by the sheer elegance of the interior. Mirrors lined the walls; a podium took the centre of the room. A couple of clothing racks were strewn about, with elegant dresses and works in progress streaming from the horizontal bars with an unmatched splendour.
“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity called out for her sister. Soon after, a couple of thuds and crashes bellowed out from upstairs. Three familiar young fillies, a beige earth pony, an orange pegasus and a white unicorn, tumbled down the stairwell in the most inordinate fashion, stopping at the bottom and groaning as they regained their place on their hooves. “Sweetie Belle, I know I said you could have your friends around, but I warned you about making a mess!” The small horned pony reeled slightly.
“I’m sorry, sis.” The guilt in her voice was obvious. “We just...” Her reasons (or excuses) were cut short when she spotted the human with the fancy hat. “Ooh, ooh! Look, Crusaders! It’s Mr. Big Hat! Hi, Mr. Big Hat!”
“You know these three fillies?” Rarity questioned Layton, one eyebrow cocked high above the other.
“Indeed,” replied the professor. “We met as soon as I first arrived in Ponyville. They helped my find the library, and they gave me a puzzle as well.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” Apple Bloom replied. “We wanted ta be Cutie Mark Crusader puzzle masters, so we spent a whole sleepover comin’ up with one.” Scootaloo trotted up to the gathering.
“But he solved it in a matter of seconds. I don’t think we’re cut out to be puzzle makers at all.”
“Ah, don’t be discouraged, ladies,” assured the professor. “I have an affinity for puzzles. For your ages, that puzzle was very well-made. You should be proud. It was just unfortunate that I was the first to try it.” The three fillies smiled, happy at the encouragement.
“Alright, girls,” Rarity cleared her throat. “You’d best head out for some fresh air.”
“Okay, sis,” Sweetie Belle happily obliged, with her friends chasing her out of the front door.
“What do you think we should try next to earn our cutie marks?” Scootaloo asked.
“Ah think we should try shootin’ arrows next...” Apple Bloom’s voice faded into the distance as the wide door brought itself gently to a close. Rarity sighed heavily.
“Those girls... They are good friends, but a touch single-minded when it comes to attempts to obtain their cutie marks. Now, I must return to my work. Being attached to a flagpole has a way of cutting into my schedule, hence why I invited you.”
“How may we be of assistance, Miss Rarity?” Layton asked curiously. Rarity pointed a hoof towards what looked to be a pink treasure chest.
“Could you fetch me some rubies? This outfit is in requirement of them if it is to look as magnificent as I envision.”
“Of course.” Luke and Hershel walked to the case.
“Professor,” Luke enquired somewhat abruptly. “Shouldn’t we be looking for more clues for our investigation?”
“I take it that Princess Luna brought you up to speed.”
“Mm-hm,” Luke nodded.
“Luke, it is the duty of every gentleman to help out in any and every way they can. Also, you will be quite surprised as to what you can learn if you look in the least expected of places.”
“Okay, Professor... Hey! This chest is locked!” Luke attempted to heave open the lid, only succeeding in doing his arm muscles a mischief.
“This is quite an intriguing lock. Say, how would you like to shake off some of the puzzle-solving rust?”
“I’m ready for anything, Professor!”



Puzzle 030
“All of the buttons must be pushed in sequence in order to open the chest, the last button being the OK button in the centre. R means right, L means left, U means up and D means down. You need to find the first button to start the sequence.”

Luke scratched his head, before coming up with an answer. He proceeded to press the first button, followed by the dictated sequence. He finally pressed the centre button, lifting the lid with a hint of delicacy.
“I did it, Professor!”
“Well done, my boy. Now let’s show Miss Rarity these rubies.” They returned to the dressmaker, who was hard at work threading together multiple sections of velour into a stallion’s ballroom jacket.
“Oh, why thank you, Luke. These are perfect.” She telekinetically lifted the red stones from the boy’s hand before clicking them into place on the jacket. “Oh, that looks simply smashing! Don’t you think? I had to increase the security on the chest after Sweetie Belle had at my collection of baby blue sapphires. She created a wonderful picture with them, but still...”
“That looks very fetching indeed. Is it for an important client?”
“Much more than important, Professor Layton! It is for my friend Fancy Pants. He is one of the Canterlot elite, you know. Very kind as well.” Rarity smiled as she brought her labours to an end on the jacket. It was a wonderful affair, an epitome of fashion and comfort. “Now I must move onto my next task. One particular customer wanted a jewel display to hang as art of a sort. However, I have been perplexed by what he wants. His instructions are... difficult, to say the least. Perhaps a gentle fellow with your intellectual fortitude would be able to assist me.”
“I would be only too happy to assist.” Rarity passed a piece of paper to the professor.



Puzzle 031

“Dear Miss Rarity,
I request a sewn pattern, a 5 x 5 design in the style of the enclosed sketch. I have come up with the coloured squares and think you would be well-suited to complete the pattern. However, I have some stipulations:
•	There must be 5 colours: blue, red, yellow, green and grey.
•	No colour must be repeated in the same row, column or corner-to-corner diagonal.
•	By that same measure, each row, column and corner-to-corner diagonal must have one square of each colour.
“I will pay 2000 bits to you for the completion and delivery of this pattern by Friday morning.
“Yours sincerely,
Prince Blueblood”

“Ah, you serve royalty as well, it seems,” Hershel noted quickly.
“Indeed. I have had more... personal dealings with that member of the royal line before. He was one of the most arrogant stallions I have ever had the misfortune of knowing. And to think I ever wanted to be married to him! Oh, please forgive the ruffling of one’s own mane, Professor.”
“It is quite okay, Rarity. Your secret is safe with me.” Layton picked up a nearby quill, scratching away on the letter.
“Oh, it’s not a secret, my dear! Far from it. Everypony who was present at the Grand Galloping Gala knows full well what that excuse for a prince did to me. Still, if he wants to pay for some of my work then I must have left an impression.”
“Indeed. Speaking of which, I have an answer to the prince’s request.” Layton turned the letter to show the unicorn. She scrutinised it, before a sweet smile plastered her face.
“Oh, this is spectacular, Professor Layton! You have an incredible mind.”
“Nothing like a touch of logic to solve the issue, Miss Rarity. However, if Prince Blueblood is as obtuse as you have described, I believe it would not be beneath him to set you a task to make an example. Not everypony – or every human, for that matter – is willing to forget.”
“Hmmm... now that you do mention it... Still, it was his promise, and as long as I fulfil his order, then his promise still stands. Besides, he is related to Princess Celestia after all.” Rarity walked over to the open chest, levitating out a gleaming ruby and a stunning sapphire. “Now, as you have both been very helpful, I would like you to have these as a gift.”
“Thank you, Miss Rarity,” Luke replied, slightly stunned.
“Thank you, but we needn’t take this from you,” the professor followed. “They must have some value to you.”
“Oh, darling! Much like friendship, gems may be of a value, but they are worth nothing if not shared with anypony- I mean, person. I insist that you keep them!”
“Well... thank you, Miss Rarity.”
“Yes, it’s very generous of you!” Layton dropped into thought with Luke’s comment. Generosity... one of the Elements of Harmony. Something else, however, caught the archaeologist’s eye.
“There seems to be some sort of powder on your tail.”
“What? Where?” The normally prim and proper pony started panicking.
“Hold steady. I shall remove it.” Layton grabbed a nearby comb and pulled a small paper bag from his inner jacket pocket.
“Where’d you get that , Professor?” Luke felt the need to ask.
“A gentleman always comes prepared, no matter the situation.” The professor carefully ran the comb through the elegant curls, making sure not to disturb the contours. He caught all of the powder in the bag before folding it up and putting it back in his pocket.
“D-did you get it all?”
“Yes.” Rarity looked back at her tail, breathing a sigh of relief.
“My, my, you were gentle! A small wash and it will look like new! Thank you ever so much, Professor Layton, Luke.”
“Glad we could be of service. We must continue our investigation, but I am sure our paths will cross again.”
“See you later, Rarity!” Luke continued in his typical London style. The two of them left via the door, making sure that the door didn’t slam. Rarity sighed contentedly, before making her way gracefully to her bathroom, her work all caught up.

Luke and Layton made their way back into the town centre, conversing along the way.
“Well, that was... a distraction,” Luke commented. “We didn’t learn anything about our case.”
“I wouldn’t say that, Luke.” Layton pulled out the bag, before dipping his index finger into it.
“What are you doing?! That could be poisonous!”
“Why would a poisonous powder be on Miss Rarity’s tail?” The professor placed his powdered finger on his tongue. The taste was instantly recognisable.
“It seems,” he continued, “that this investigation is less clean-cut than I originally thought.”