A Mysterious artifact is revealed at the London Museum. But when the Artifact is missing. Professor Layton and Luke reveal there's more then just a missing piece of Jewlery
A Mysterious artifact is revealed at the London Museum, and renowned archeologist Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke are invited to the unveiling. But something is off about the artifact and the woman who happens to be the most intrigued about it.
When the artifact and the woman are shown to be much more then at first glance. A deeper mystery is uncovered that threatens not just London, but all of Earth and another world as well...
One of my most intriguing adventures with the Professor, also happens to be the one of the few we never told anyone else about; mainly because we felt no one would believe such a tale, even if it was from someone as respected as Professor Layton.
It's an tale of Adventure, Mystery, and Ponies...
The modified red Citroën 2CV casually drove across Westminster Bridge on it's way to it's destination.
"Professor," The apprentice known as Luke started, "Remind me again why we are going to the Museum?" He asked his mentor as they went past Westminster Abbey, it's buildings and famous clock tower reflecting beautifully on the evening waters of the River Thames.
The tall driver of the Citroën chuckled, "As you know Luke, after our success in Misthallery, the curator of the museum gave us an invitation for the reveal of the museums newest exhibit. Which, as it happens, is tonight."
Professor Hershel Layton was a renowned archeology professor at Gressenheller University in London. Yet, most of his status comes from his impeccable intelligence of puzzle solving, as he recently solved a serious mystery in Luke's hometown of Misthallery.
"I also wouldn't mind looking at the recently unveiled Protoceratops exhibit." Layton finished as he adjusted his trademark black top hat.
Layton opened the glove compartment of the car and took out two sheets of paper and handed them to Luke. As he looked them over he saw that they were the invitations 'cordially inviting Hershel Layton and Luke Triton to the unveiling of the artifact known as: The Equine Amulet.'
"The...Equine Amulet?" Luke asked, looking up toward his mentor.
"I believe it's pronounced Eck-whine, in this case, Luke. Apparently, it was discovered in those recently uncovered ruins in western Ireland. They say it once belonged to an early neolithic Celtic princess, rather interesting." Layton explained as he made the left turn onto the road the museum was located on.
Both the Professor and Luke were lead through the museum after showing the female salesclerk their invitations. They went past exhibits showing dinosaur skeletons, the history of London, and even a scale model of the old Great Wheel that once was on the shore of the Thames.
"Ah...Professor Layton, it's quite a pleasure that you've decided to join us" A very smooth voice stated as the feminine figure it belonged to came into the light. Her flowing jet black hair moving seamlessly into her smooth black dress.
Instantly the salesclerk bowed at the woman, "Dr. Phantasima, I-I'm sorry. If I knew you would be out in the halls, I would have called for you to escort our guests" She said nervously as she backed away from Layton and Luke
"Oh, Marsha...no need to be sorry. We all make mistakes" Dr. Phantasima said calmly as the salesclerk put on a strained smile and briskly walked away from the trio. The doctor sighed at the display of incompetence, "Ignore her, she's new." Phantasima threw a quick, sly smile in the pairs direction, "Still, I'm surprised you actually came, Professor. I would have thought one such as yourself had a busy schedule."
"A gentleman never refuses an invitation from a lady" The Professor responded, tipping his hat slightly in Phantasima's direction. "What surprises me Dr. Phantasi-"
"Please, call me Diana, Professor" Diana interrupted, bringing a gloved hand to her chest
Layton smiled softly as he cleared his throat to start again, "What surprises me, Diana, is how we were invited in the first place. Most of the people here were involved in the investment of the excavation of the ruins, I myself are a professor and Luke is only my apprentice"
"And Assistant #1!" Luke chimed in, causing Diana to hold a small laugh while muttering the word 'Cute' under her breath
"Well I certainly couldn't pass up the chance of inviting THE Professor Layton, now could I? You are one of the best archeology teachers they have over at Gressenheller." Diana said "With you all in the London Times about how you solved the case of the 'Last Specter' in Misthallery. I simply thought-" Dr. Phantasima stopped before flashing another one of her big smiles, "Oh, but I go on. Come, let's head to the exhibit room before we're chastised about lateness." Diana said before leading Professor Layton and Luke through the museum once more.
After a few minutes of walking, Diana brought the two to a large room towards the back of the museum, situated around on the walls were pictures of the Celtic Ruins and it's discoverer, while also showing other artifacts from the ruins such as vases or jars. All around the room were the other invitees, most possible London high life, but all were drinking from wine glasses and talking amongst themselves.
But what was most interesting was toward the back of the room, it was a pedestal with a red velvet cloth covering what was under it.
"Ah, that must be where the amulet is. Come along, Luke" The Professor said before walking toward the pedestal with Luke following closely behind.
However, as Layton got close to the covered pedestal, he found himself looking what was behind it and saw another part of the exhibit; two pieces of worn canvas were laid onto tables lighted from above. Both of them were painted and the Professor wondered if these were recovered from the ruins as well.
The one on the left had a painting of what the Professor thought was the Amulet itself. It had a large purple gem in it's center with a smaller red gem connected on the bottom of the purple one, with a pink and light blue gem to the left of the purple gem and a yellow and green gem to the right, with a black lacy line connecting the pink and yellow gems, much like a piece of string.
Layton was about to look at the painting on the right, when a young woman stepped in front of him and started looking intently at the information being given on the small plaque below the canvas.
The woman was a few inches shorter then Layton, with dark shoulder-length hair that had two streaks of purple going down one side. She had on a long dark cardigan with a purple shirt underneath, frilly skirt and leggings with brown heels. She also was writing something down into a notebook, but Layton wasn't able to read the woman's handwriting.
"Excuse me, miss, but you look familiar." Layton said to the young woman, "Do you happen to study at Gressenheller?"
"Oh, huh? Sorry." The woman said as she was taken out of her intense concentration, "Um, yes. I've been studying there for the past five months, my name's Tara Streinhart." She said as she put her notebook under one arm and held the other out towards Layton
"Of course, Ms. Streinhart. I remember you took about a week of my archeology class before moving to World History. Smart girl" Layton responded as he shook Tara's hand, her frameless glasses glinting in the light as she smiled bashfully
"Oh, thanks Professor." Tara said as she took out her notebook and reviewed her notes on the second canvas painting, "Um, Professor? What are you doing here?" She asked quizzically as she looked back toward the Professor
"Same as you I suppose, here to take part in the reveal of London's latest artifact of mystery and wonder." Layton said to Tara, noticing how distressed Tara seemed at the mention of the Amulet. He was about to question her when the lights of the exhibit dimmed as Diana was seen walking toward the cloth covered pedestal.
"Ladies and gentlemen." She started, "I thank you all for coming to this grand gathering for the unveiling of the greatest archeological find in the last century. So without further ado, I give you: The Equine Amulet!" Diana said with a flourish as she took the cloth away from the pedestal
Until a combined gasp from every patron revealed that the glass case was empty save for it's red velvet pillow.
Murmurs and whispers traveled throughout the room as Dr. Phantasima was still in shock.
"Professor!" Luke shouted in excitement as Layton's face grew determined.
"Wha-? B-but how!?" Diana questioned as she continued to stare at the empty case in disbelief, her left eye twitching as she muttered something about how the 'Museum's Ticket' was gone from her very eyes
Suddenly one of the patrons decided to speak up over the whispers of the room, "Oi! Why are we all just standin' here gawking when we have Professor Layton here? Surely he's already solved this little mystery!" The rather portly man said as the rest of the patrons agreed.
Layton's smile returned to his face, "Alright, let me take a look." He said as she adjusted his hat and walked over to the empty glass case. The Professor looked around the pedestal a few times, the silence in the room so thick, one could cut it with a knife.
Finally, Layton moved away from the pedestal, "Knowing the museums tradition of order, I can say that the Amulet was stolen before the gathering started, due to the cloth covering the case was off by forty five degrees." Layton deduced, "Unfortunately, that means there isn't much of a clue to go on-" Suddenly Layton was cut off from his thoughts as he slipped in a puddle and fell right onto the ground.
"Oh my," Tara said, covering her mouth as she and Luke helped the Professor up, "I'm quite alright, bit odd how there's now a- what's this?" Layton said, noticing the puddle he slipped in shimmered and sparkle as if it was just glue and glitter.
Now both Luke and Tara were looking at the pretty puddle, "It's like it just appeared like-"
"Magic..." Tara cut Luke off as something clicked in her mind, instantly she stood up and started looking around the puddle, before long Tara started walking off, bent over, as she continued to stare at the ground following a trail of the glittery gunk.
A few seconds after Tara disappeared behind a corner she called out for the Professor and Luke, and pretty soon the trio was looking at a steel door marked 'Shipping & Receiving'
"The puddle just continues under this door. This requires investigation!" Tara commented before grabbing onto the door's handle and the trio entered the room.
The room was maze-like with the amounts of crates it contained, the trio followed the trail of glitter until it stopped right in front of two large crates.
"Professor, what do you think is in these crates?" Luke asked,
"Only one way to find out," Layton responded as he and Tara each opened a crate, which was surprisingly easy due to neither crate being sealed.
Each crate was filled with packaging peanuts, and each has an identical necklace placed right on top, both necklaces bore a striking resemblance to the canvas painting
"Look Professor! It's the Amulet! But, why are there two of them?" Luke commented as the three of them looked over the two amulets
"My guess is that whoever was going to steal the Equine Amulet, also wanted to swap the real one with a very convincing fraud. Trying to figure out which one is the right one seems to be quite the puzzle" Layton said as he put a hand to his chin in thought
"I can figure it out." Said Tara after a few seconds, at the Professors and Luke's curious faces, she continued, "A long time ago, back when this Celtic Civilization was still around, they worshiped a pair of God-like beings. The Equine sisters they called them, and they believed that they were the reason the Sun, Moon and Stars went along their paths. The Civilization wanted to communicate with their Gods and after many years of practicing magic, they created an Amulet that will let them visit the world of their Gods."
Tara stopped and looked at the two gentlemen in the eyes, "I'm...from that world."
Both Layton and Luke were taken aback by this, though while Layton only responded with a tip of the hat and a mutter of "Interesting", Luke half-shouted "You're an God!?"
Tara looked away slightly, "Well, no. In my world, there are two Princesses who control the Sun and the Moon. I have reasons to believe that these are the same Gods this civilization was talking about."
Now it was Layton's turn to speak, "So, Tara, in this world, you're ruled by winged horses?"
"Actually, most of us are ponies. Pegasi, Unicorns, Earth Ponies. My world is also inhabited by Gryphons, Dragons and all sorts of things, Professor."
"Quite interesting, Ms. Streinhart..." Professor Layton remarked as he looked over the two amulets again, but was cut off by a small cough from Tara.
"Actually...my name isn't even Tara Streinhart..." She said, again gaining puzzled looks from the two, "I had to change my name to avoid suspicion, my real name is Twilight Sparkle."
"I can see why it would make people question you" Luke commented, while Layton was deep in thought.
Finally, he spoke up, "I see you did your research, Ms. Sparkle, but...If you are from your world, how did you end up here in London?"
Twilight looked so relieved that someone like the Professor actually looked like he took her tale truthfully. After adjusting her glasses, and she continued "Five months ago, I was tasked to look over a set of artifacts known as The Elements of Harmony from my mentor, Princess Celestia. After doing a few research tests on it, I must of accidentally activated some sort of 'Thief Guard' spell on it and after a bright flash of rainbow light, I found myself in a field in this body. And for the past five months I've been living in London, going to Gressenheller, and hoping something would come up that could help me get home."
"And that would be the Equine Amulet." Layton deduced,
"Exactly! That's why I bought myself a ticket to this event,so I can ask Ms. Phantasima if I could do some research with the Amulet. Hopefully understanding it's magic enough to get my back home" Twilight finished, before picking up one of the Amulets and saying, "This is the one."
And before anyone could say anything, Twilight put the Amulet on around her neck, instantly, a strange wind blew through the windowless storage room, as well, a magenta aura surrounded Twilight's hands. A half a minute passed before Twilight took off the Amulet and handed it to Professor Layton, who was still a bit in shock.
"We better return this to Ms. Phantasima before anything weirder happens" She said as Layton nodded in agreement and the three of them returned to the main exhibit room.
And that was only the beginning! After we returned, Layton was congratulated but then the fame was shifted onto Ms. Sparkle, who we agreed to use her fake name, who was pleasantly surprised at the recognition. Then the Equine Amulet was revealed properly to everyone in the room, and then it progressed like any other social gathering in upper-class London.
I'm afraid that I can't tell you much more right now, I'm almost out of writing paper. But I'll write back to you what happens next as soon as I can. Take Care!
Professor Layton sat at his desk, reading from a thick book titled 'Mythologies and Monstrosities: A Visual Encyclopedia of Mythical Beasts' while occasionally writing something in a notebook sprawled out on the desk. Layton's head perked up when he heard the sound of a pen hit the wood of a writing desk.
"Finished writing your letter to your friend in Misthallery, Luke?" He asked as Luke finished tucking the letter in the already addressed envelope
"Sure did Professor! I'll be right back as I go mail this!" Luke replied before he stored the letter in his satchel and left the office. A minute later a slightly elderly woman wearing a cloth over her dark green hair comes in and hands the Professor a small pile of letters
"Thank you, Rosa" He remarks before putting his book down and starts shifting through the letters as Rosa begins to clean up the dust laden room. Most of the letters were memo's from the University, however, one letter, this one with the Professors name written in a much fancier way then the others, stuck out. The Professor put the rest of the mail on the table and opened the one that stuck out and read it's contents
Dear Professor, I know it's only been two weeks since the event at the museum. However, after many hours in the library studying and research. I may have discovered something big that covers my world and the Equine Amulet.
