[[Spoilers: For Azran Legacy.

Set: AU, starting with Emmy's perspective at the Azran Sanctuary.]]

My Mission

"Don't look at me like that, girl."

It's not Uncle Leon she's looking at. It's me.

Pale blue eyes, pleading. No glint of betrayal- she still doesn't blame me.

That same look she gave when she asked what I thought of her Azran robes, as though the fate of the world depended on it. She seemed like a school girl forced to wear a uniform. She was so much more at ease walking around in her disguise.

But what did I know? I told her the robes were part of who she was and sent her off to complete her mission.

I'm no better than the people of Hoogland, am I?

Aurora kept marching on, even after she read the inscription from the Azran column (I already knew it word for word) and her memories returned.

Whatever she remembered was so terrible that she nearly jumped from the top of the Nest. (I'd forgotten how high it was; Uncle rarely let me visit his office...)

Professor Layton managed to talk her down, and at that point I almost told him the truth. Almost, until Descole stole the keystone.

Despite everything he's done, I doubt Descole would stab Aurora. He was always so gentle with her, even when he took the keystone from her hands. You could argue he was doing her a favour.

It was the professor's decision to follow Descole in the Bostonius. I didn't even have to push him.

All I did was threaten Luke, but I let him go earlier. Why did Aurora enter that coffin so willingly?

I stare back at her. In her gaze, I see Arianna; icy and despondent, but brightening with hope when she learns she'll recover. I see Nina, asking if she can go home. There's Bonnie, lost without her mother, but also Button, defiant as she faces the jungle.

And Luke, begging me to think.

Please try to understand, Aurora, I think. This is MY mission.

The world is at stake, but my world would be nothing without Uncle Leon.

I turn to him as he studies the knife. See? He's hesitating. He's finally going to see the light-

"I will not be swayed..."

I glance at Aurora. What is she waiting for? Can't she turn away or shield her heart or something-

"Not after everything I've been through to get here!"

Uncle Leon lifts the knife. The professor is too late- all he can do is shout.

Think, Emmy.

Without my uncle, I never would have met the professor and Luke... Or would I?

The blade flashes through the air.

Think.

My world stops spinning as I knock the knife out of Uncle Leon's hand. Disbelieving, he looks from the weapon to me.

"Think about what you're doing," I gasp, "please, Uncle-"

Everything falls out of orbit when he strikes me across the face. He sends me reeling to the floor but by then, the professor and Luke have reached us.

The professor has never looked so angry. For a split second, I see the resemblance between him and Bronev.

He grabs the knife from the floor, aims it at Bronev and orders Luke to free Aurora. Keeping Bronev at bay, the professor offers me a hand up.

I take his hand and the world starts anew.