A/N: What would a Professor Layton fic be without some puzzles? Mwahahaha! I have placed three puzzles of my own design, for you, the audience, throughout this story. I was going to put a link to some puzzle music, but unfortunately, external links printed on this website aren't working right now, on the account of spam-bots and what not. Just open a new tab, go to youtube, and type in 'puzzle theme', should be the third or fourth video on the list.

Also, the 1st chapter is the longest, just to let you know. Well, take a second to let open that video in a new tab, to let it load while you read, and enjoy the story! Can't wait to get feedback on this story.

For a disclaimer see my profile: shadow101202

Chapter 1

"Come on Luke! We were supposed to be their ten minutes ago!" Flora said over her shoulder as the two of them wound through the lunch hour crowd in the plaza.

"I'm sorry Flora, but I really couldn't hold it anymore!" Luke said a little too loudly for Flora's taste. She shook her head as they continued walking. Finally getting past the crowd they rounded a corner and Flora exclaimed,

"There it is Luke! 'The Full Glass'! That's the cafe where he the professor said he'd meet us!" Luke was huffing and puffing, trying to keep up with Flora's quick paced walk. She carefully looked both directions before crossing the street, with Luke in tow. Flora peeked in the window as they went through the front door. A bell jingled overhead to signal their arrival. Neither Flora, nor Luke could see the professor anywhere in the shop, although his characteristic 'Laytonmobile' was parked on the street outside. The proprietor smiled at them and motioned them over to the counter where he stood by the register.

"What can I do for you two young ones?" asked the kindly older looking man.

"Um, excuse me, but has a tall, gentlemanly looking man come in this shop today?" Flora asked the kind looking shopkeeper.

"He wears a top hat!" Luke added urgently.

"Well, let me see now… Several people with that description have come by today. I might remember if you help me out by solving this puzzle-," the shopkeep was abruptly cut off by Luke, who all but shouted,

"We don't have time for puzzles; the professor could be in real danger!"

"Now Luke, if you want to become a true gentleman someday, you must learn to put others needs before your own," Flora scolded lightly.

"But I am Flora; I'm putting the professor's well-being above my own!" Luke pleaded with Flora. Flora was having none of it though, as she turned to the shopkeep to say,

"Of course we'll solve your puzzle."

"Oh splendid!" Exclaimed the older man. Luke sighed, but figured he needed to focus on the task at hand.

Puzzle 001

"One man came in with a young lady, they ordered two of the daily special, and as you can see they are still here. Another came in with an older man, they both had tea, and left separately. One man came in by himself, ordered coffee and was joined by another man who had nothing but water, they left together. Three other men came by that matched your description, they each came separately, ordered tea, and left shortly after finishing."

Which of the parties is Professor Layton?

A. The young man and young woman still in the café.

B. The two gentleman who had tea and left.

C. The man who ordered coffee and left with the man who had water.

D. One of the three other men who had tea and left.

"It must be one of the last three," Flora said, "What do you think Luke?" Said apprentice frowned while scratching his head,

"Although that seems logical, I think it was one of the pairs." The shopkeeper then asked,

"Is there anymore identifying qualities about the man you're looking for?" Luke and Flora mulled it over for a bit before Luke answered,

"His name is Professor Layton; I'm his apprentice, Luke Triton."

"I am Flora Reinhold, the professor absolutely loves puzzles," Flora added. The man behind the counter muttered something to himself and began to rummage through the impaled orders on the counter.

"Ah, yes, now I remember," The shopkeeper said as he held up a particular scrap of paper.

(Are you ready for the answer?)

"The man who had coffee actually had tea. I was so busy chatting about a new puzzle with him, that I forgot and wrote down the wrong order," the man explained.

"So he left with someone?" Flora asked.

"Yes, the man he left with kind of a shady guy. That man wore a boulder hat and deep blue tinted sunglasses," Luke frowned as the older man described the person the professor had left with.

"Deep blue tinted lenses? What a strange color for glasses," Luke murmured.

"Yes, I thought so too," the older man nodded in agreement, "but there's really nothing for it. Hmm, if my memory serves me correctly, and it usually does," Luke rolled his eyes, "the two of them left about two o' clock, and went towards the park," When the shopkeeper looked up, Flora and Luke were already out the door. He heard a faint 'thank you' and smirked to himself. Time to call the boss and let him know that the 'packages' are on their merry way…

"Why would they come to the park?" asked Luke, as they came to a stop near the center of the commons area. Flora looked around admiring the scenery,

"Maybe they stopped to feed the pigeons," she then motioned to a woman sitting on the lone bench in the vicinity. "We should ask that lady if she has seen anyone come by," Flora suggested.

"Good idea," remarked Luke. While the two junior sleuths walked towards the older woman, she tossed a fresh bunch of bread crumbs for the assortment of gathered birds.

"Well hello dearies, would you like to feed the birds?" Flora graciously declined,

"No thank you, maybe some other time. Right now we are looking for someone. We thought you might have seen him pass this way."

"His name is professor Layton, puzzle solver, scholar, and above all a gentleman. I'm his apprentice Luke Triton, and this is our friend Flora Reinhold," Luke interjected excitedly.

"Don't forget Luke he also wears a top hat," Flora added.

"Oh yes, I've seen your friend," the woman said cheerfully.

"Really?" the two children exclaimed in unison.

"Yes, he and his strange friend were examining the old riddle on the fountain over there," she made a motion at the detailed waterworks centerpiece, "People have been going on that treasure hunt for years, but no one has ever found the lost jewels… Anyway, they seemed to know where to go and headed off somewhere," the bird lady finished. Flora looked at the woman somewhat confused,

"The Lost Jewels?" she asked.

"Yes, my dear, it's a bit of a local legend," the woman explained, "would you like the gist of it?" the woman offered.

"I guess it would be good to do some research... We need to know everything we can in order to solve that puzzle!" Luke exclaimed.

"Mmm, Yes that's true," the bird woman cleared her throat, "Well a long time ago, most of this area belonged to a certain family, unfortunately, I don't remember the name, but that probably isn't so important... Anyway, after the family reached the pinnacle of their status, they was befallen a terrible tragedy, their only daughter passed away from unknown causes, that wasn't the only mystery though... She had recently been engaged and was so in love with her fiance. He had sent her some jewels, as an engagement present, it's said there were twelve extremely valuable jewels. When he heard of her death, he came to the household, wishing to collect his engagement present as a memento of her, but although everyone searched that house from attic to basement, they were no where to be found. There are some who think that she knew that she was going to die, and so she had her closest maid hide the gems, so that she could sew them into the hem of her mistresses funeral dress, so that she could be buried with the only gift from her beloved. Some even say that she can be seen walking through the graveyard at night in her wedding gown, waiting for her love to come and take her to the altar," the woman took a deep breath after relaying the story to the children, "And that my dearies is the story of The Lost Jewels," she concluded.

"How, sad, yet romantic," Flora had to say about the story. "Did you happen to see which direction they went in?" she asked.

"No, I didn't really pay attention, sorry, and before you even ask, I'm no good with puzzles, so I can't help you there," she had seen the look Luke had on his face, ready to ask her a question.

"You mean you don't know where they went?" Luke asked exasperated.

"No, but you two look pretty bright, I'm sure you'll solve it," the lady reassured him.

"Thank you for your help ma'am. Come on Luke let's solve that puzzle!" Flora said with renewed enthusiasm. Luke sighed; Flora liked puzzles almost as much as the professor did.

"Well let's get on with it then," Luke and Flora looked at the metal plate on the fountain's tower.

Puzzle 002

Death doth cross thy path,

the spirits are loud and clear.

Where do I lay down to lie,

as memories are held so dear?

"This riddle is so sad," Flora commented on the tone of the riddle.

"Yeah… Oh! But I know where to go next!" exclaimed Luke.

"Oh good, but before we go, I should take a picture of the stone slab with my new camera phone," Flora said as she pulled out said phone and clicked a few pictures. "So where are we going Luke?" Flora asked.

(Are you ready for the answer?)

"To the Manchester Cemetery!"

Thanks for Reading!
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