Who Shot Professor Layton?

Chapter 1

Professor Layton ran over a puddle, making a splash. He and his apprentice Luke were running after a thief on a motorcycle with a passenger seat attached. The thief, Alistair Painter, just stole a painting from an art museum, a day before it was due to open. Police cars were also a part of the chase. The painting, with a black cloth over it, was in the passenger seat.

"You won't be able to get away!" Professor Layton called after Alistair. "So you may as well give up!" Alistair laughed.

"Wanna bet?!" He challenged, speeding up. He laughed and laughed.

"I got it, Professor!" Luke told him. He ran towards a nearby bridge. This confused the professor.

"Luke; come back! Where are you going?" Luke was too far in the distance to hear. Layton just kept running after Alistair.

"Say, where's the little kid?" Alistair shouted behind him.

"Here I am!" Luke stated. The young boy lunged towards the motorcycle. Alistair screamed as Luke tackled him to the ground. His cap fell on the ground beside them.

"LUKE!" Professor Layton yelled.

"Get off me!" Alistair ordered, pushing Luke off of him. He stood up. He was about to run to his motorcycle when he was cuffed by a police officer.

"Alistair Painter," He told him. "You are arrested for stealing a painting from the museum." He looked at Luke. "Are you okay kid?"

"Yeah, I'm okay." Luke replied. He stood up, picked up his cap, and adjusted it on his head. He tried to pick up the painting from out of the passenger seat, but it was too heavy for him.

"Let me do it, son." Another officer offered. Luke stood back, and watched him lift it, and took it away to his car.

"Luke!" The professor said to him, catching up. He stopped to catch his breath. "Luke, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Luke answered.

"That was a very dangerous thing you did, kid." Another officer told the young lad.

"Yes, Luke." The Professor agreed. "It was very dangerous, and you shouldn't have done it." He then smiled. "But it was very brave." Luke blushed.

"Aw; I'll do anything for you, Professor."

"I know you would Luke, but I can't have you risking your life. You're just a kid, and your parents would be very worried if something happened to you, and I'd be responsible for it." Luke nodded.

"I understand. I'll be careful." A lady ran to them. Luke and Layton looked at her.

"The painting is all right, Beatrice." Layton told her. He gestured to Luke. "Thanks to Luke." Beatrice looked at the child.

"You have my thanks, Luke." She said. "You are a very brave young lad." Luke blushed again.

"I'm only helping out." He said back.

"How can I ever repay you?" Layton shook his head.

"Please," He started. "Your thanks is thanks enough."

"No; I insist. You must get repaid somehow." She thought for a second, then snapped her fingers. "I got it! You two can come to the grand opening of the art museum on Friday for free. I'm sure the curator wouldn't mind."

"Thank you so much!" Layton thanked her, "We would love to come; right, Luke?"

"Yeah!" Luke agreed. Beatrice clasped her hands together.

"Perfect!" She said. "I'll go tell my bo…" She then frowned when she looked at Luke. "Oh my! I can't believe I almost forgot." Layton and Luke were now concerned.

"What's that?" Layton wanted to know. Beatrice looked at them.

"I'm sorry, but children aren't allowed at the museum."

"What?!" Luke commanded to know. "That's ridiculous! Why are children not allowed in?"

"My boss hates kids."

"Why does he hate kids?" Beatrice shrugged.

"Don't know."

"But, you don't hate kids, do you?"

"No; I think kids are a delight! It's a shame that kids aren't allowed; if it was up to me, I'll be all for it." She sighed. "But I don't make the rules." Luke got red in the face.

"I want to meet your boss, and set things straight!"

"Luke!" Layton said firmly. Luke looked at him.

"No, Professor, I want to know. I understand hating some kids, but that doesn't mean all kids have to suffer for it. This is discrimination."

"I agree, Luke. I understand why you're upset. But, rules are rules, and you should respect them no matter if you think it's right or wrong."

"But, some rules that you think are wrong are worth fighting against, aren't they?" Layton nodded. "Then I say it's a worthy cause. You're mad about this, aren't you, Professor?" Layton nodded.

"You're a nice kid, Luke. You always were. But, I think we should respect the curator's decision."

"And I say we shouldn't! We should fight for it!"

"Well, let me take you to my boss then. He'll be happy to meet you." Beatrice said.

"Good!" Luke retorted. "Because I have something to say to him." Luke and Layton then followed after Beatrice.

Luke looked all around once they entered the museum. Paintings surrounded the walls, and there were busts on the other side.

"This is a big museum." He observed.

"Yes." Beatrice agreed. "It is. You can spend two full days here, and never be completely finished seeing everything."

"Wow! There sure is a lot of stuff that you could bre…" Luke accidently bumped into a pedestal. A lovely sapphire vase with flowers on it, spun.

"Oops!" He said. The vase started to fall. Layton and Beatrice gasped.

"Luke!" Layton scolded. Luke caught it just as it was about to hit the floor, shattering in a million pieces. Layton and Beatrice sighed in relief as Luke put it back on the pedestal.

"There!" The boy said. "All better."

"Luke," The Professor began. "You need to be careful here. There are a lot of fragile items in here."

"I'm sorry." Luke apologized. "I'll be careful. I promise." He then looked at it again. "Is this vase made out of real sapphires?" Beatrice nodded. Luke smiled in astonishment. "Cool!" They then went off again. Luke, however, went slowly for he was looking around, still in awe.

"Luke!" The Professor called. This startled the boy. He looked and saw Layton and Beatrice were by a door, feet from where he was. "Catch up!" Luke started to run.

"Comin'!" He called.

"Don't run!" Beatrice warned. "You're in a museum, and also don't shout." Luke slowed down.

"Right; sorry!"

When he caught up to them, Beatrice opened the door for them, and they all went in.

"Sir!" Beatrice called as soon as they all entered her boss's office. Her boss was doing paperwork at his desk. The office nametag told them that his name was John Kidd."

"His last name is Kidd?" Luke wondered out loud. "And he hates kids?"

"Luke!" Layton scolded him. "Shush!" John put his pen down, and stood up, and went over to them.

"Are you the ones that got the painting back? I must thank you." He offered his hand, and Layton shook it.

"Oh, you're very welcome, Mr. Kidd. But, really you should be thanking Luke. He's the hero." John raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, and Luke is?" Layton walked and stood over Luke.

"This is Luke."

"Hello!" Luke said, waving. John sneered.

"Oh, the kid."

"Yeah; the kid!"

"Luke!" Layton warned. "Mind your manners!"

"I hear you don't allow kids here." John nodded.

"That's true." He responded. "You shouldn't be here right now." He shot a glance at Beatrice who just smiled. She then left.

"Why?"

"Because you're a kid."

"No; I mean, why aren't kids allowed in the museum?"

"Because I hate them."

"Why?"

"Because I just do."

"Why?" This irritated John.

"Because they're monsters! They break things, they're loud, immature, annoying like you are now by asking questions, and a bunch of other stuff."

"But, that's just some kids. Not all kids are like that. I'm not like that. The only reasons why they misbehave is because they don't know better, and are still learning. Plus, some are just raised that way."

"Yeah, well, I still say they're uncivilized citizens who need to grow up and learn."

"That's what schools are for."

"And I'm grateful for that, but they teach them too slowly. I think they need to lock kids in school until they're full-grown adults. Oh, and I also can't stand adults that act like kids for their kids' amusement, and just act like kids in general."

"But sometimes it can't be helped."

"I don't care! They're grown; they should know better."

"But they don…"

"You're getting on my nerves, kid!" Luke scowled at him.

"Sorry about him." Layton apologized. "He means well." Kidd sighed.

"You think that."

"Anyway, your assistant invited me to the grand opening on Friday."

"Oh, yes." John said. "You should come! We'll be happy to have you." He then looked at Luke. "Just don't bring the kid along."

"I won't; he has school anyways."

"Good."

"Well, I think we should leave now. Come on, Luke. See you Friday."

"See, you Friday. Oh, and the museum opens at nine."

"Right; thanks." He started to leave, but Luke stayed put. He noticed this. "Luke, come on!" But, Luke didn't. Instead he looked at John.

"I'm going to rally a protest on this, you know." He said. John laughed.

"Yeah, right!"

"I am!" John went over, bent down, and looked at Luke face to face.

"I'd like to see you try!"

"You don't think I'll do it, do you? Because I will." Layton went over to Luke.

"Okay; come on, Luke." He said, leading Luke to the door.

"I will!" Layton pulled him to the door. "I WILL!" He led him out of the door, and they left.

"Luke," The professor started as he and Luke were walking. "I'm disappointed in you. You embarrassed me."

"I embarrassed you?" Luke asked. "I only defended myself and kids everywhere. I'm sorry, but John Kidd made me act that way. He had no right to talk that way."

"It's his opinion."

"Well, that may be, but that's no excuse for banning kids from his museum. If he was so proud of it, he should invite them so they can like it as well. You're on my side Professor, aren't you? You think John's taking his hatred towards kids a bit too far?"

"I am, Luke." Layton assured him. "I think kids should be free to go into the museum, and feel bad that they can't. But, I can't change John Kidd's opinion, and you shouldn't either Luke. You can't change people. They'll change when they're good and ready." Luke crossed his arms across his chest.

"Yeah, well, you can try." Layton just sighed.

"I'm going to inform your parents about this."

"Then inform them; I don't care! They're my parents; they'll agree with me. I know they will!" Layton sighed again.

"Luke!" His mom called. Luke was upstairs, doing a crossword. "Bed!"

"Yes, Mum!" Luke called back, putting the pencil and crossword away. "I'm getting ready for it!"

Luke, when he was ready, was about to hop into bed, when his parents came. Luke noticed this.

"Luke," His dad began. "Your mum and I would like to talk to you." He gestured towards his son's bed, and they all sat down on it. "The Professor told me what happened today, and told me about your outburst. Care to explain?"

"I was only expressing myself." Luke explained. "The museum's curator, John Kidd is a creep. He calls kids uncivilized. He hates kids so much that he is banning them from his museum. Can you believe that? I never heard of a museum that bans kids. I hate him."

"'Hate' is a strong word, son."

"Have you ever thought of trying to fit in his shoes?" Mrs. Triton wanted to know. "To find out why? Digging deeper; maybe he has a backstory that explains it." Luke shook his head.

"I don't want to fit in his shoes; it won't do any good. It won't change my opinion towards him."

"Maybe if you just listen…"

"No, Mum! He won't listen. You know why? Because I'm a kid."

"Well, you won't know unless you…"

"Can I go to bed now? I'm awfully tired, and don't want to talk about this any longer." His parents hesitated a moment, and nodded. Luke tucked himself in bed.

"Goodnight, Luke!"

"Goodnight, Mum. Goodnight, Dad!" His dad said goodnight, his mom kissed his forehead, and the parents left the room, but not before his dad turned off the lights, and shut the door.

Luke was thinking. He went out of bed, and turned on his lights. He got the things he needed from downstairs, careful not to disturb his parents. Once he got the stuff he needed, he went back upstairs, and went back to bed.

"Classmates!" Luke shouted to his pupils in homeroom. "May I have your attention?" Kids stopped doing what they were doing, and looked up at him. Luke was standing on the teacher's desk. The teacher had left the room.

"Be careful, Fluke." Clyde, the biggest bully in the school, and whom Luke detested, warned. "Or you're going to fall!" He tried to scare him. "BOO!" Luke ignored him, and continued.

"Now, have you heard of the new art museum opening tomorrow?"

"My parents are going there!" A student said. "They both have off tomorrow, and are going right when it opens."

"Did you know that the museum bans kids?" Kids gasped, and talked among themselves. Everyone was surprised except Clyde.

"It's true!" Luke stated. "The curator hates kids so he doesn't allow them to come."

"That's crazy!" Another kid said. "I never heard of such a thing! If we can't go to a museum, where would we go?" Several kids agreed. "What does he have against kids?"

"Apparently, he thinks kids are trouble makers, and are uncivilized."

"That's absurd!" Shouted another pupil. "The only troublemaker and uncivilized person here is Clyde." Most kids laughed at that.

"Hey!" Clyde shouted. "Take that back; I'm not uncivilized!"

"Not all kids are like that." Stated the same kid.

"That's what I told him!" Luke told him. "But, it's no good. He still hates them."

"Who cares if we aren't allowed in a museum!" Clyde spoke. "It's just a stupid museum! Art is boring to us kids." Several kids disagreed. "Oh, come on; you all agree!"

"I love art!" A girl put in. "I've been painting since I was three!"

"Yeah, Clare." Clyde said to her. "We get it; you're weird." Clare put her hands on her hips.

"I don't call your hobbies weird, Clyde! A lot of people like art."

"Yeah, well, they're all weird then. Now, video games are the way to go; they're a thousand times better then art, even the bad ones!"

"You're just jealous that I'm getting a better grade in art class than you!"

"No; I just hate art."

"Guys; listen!" Luke shouted. The kids all listened. All eyes were now on Luke again. "I have a plan! If you are all mad at the museum's policy, and think that it must change, I'm going to host a protest tomorrow. We kids shall be heard!" Kids cheered.

"I think that's an excellent idea, Luke!" Flora complimented. Luke blushed.

"Thanks, Flora."

"So, when and where shall it take place? Right away after school?"

"Well, I was thinking of something else."

"What were you thinking, Luke?"

"Tomorrow right when it opens." Kids gasped and were confused.

"But Luke, we can't. We have school. The only way we can is if you…oh no, you're not, are you, Luke?" Luke nodded.

"We have to skip school." Kids gasped again. "Look, I know it's wrong to skip school. I'm not proud of it myself. But, if we want the best results; I think we have to."

"Skipping school because of art?" Clyde questioned. "That's dumb! I'd rather stay in school!"

"It's not just because of art. It's standing up for what we believe in, and being the voice of kids everywhere." Kids cheered again. "Now, who's with me!?" The cheers all died down. The room was now filled with complete silence, except for the occasional ticking of the wall clock. "Come on, who's with me? Who wants to skip school, and make a change?"

"Oh, Luke!" Said a mournful Flora to no one in particular.

The teacher then came back into the room. Arms were crossed his chest when he saw Luke on the desk, and the students surrounding him.

"Luke!" The teacher snapped at him. Luke looked at him, panicked. The other kids looked at him too. Luke laughed nervously.

"Oh, hello, Mr. Taylor."

"I'm here now, you can get off my desk now." Mr. Taylor said. Luke sighed, hanging his head in defeat.

"Yes, Mr. Taylor." And with that, he hopped off. Mr. Taylor looked at everybody else. "You can get back to your seats now. The excitement is now over." Kids listened, and returned to their seats.

Throughout the day, Luke told every kid he could about the protest, but all weren't thrilled about cutting school. He almost forgot to eat his launch in the cafeteria because he was too busy trying to convince his peers. He would've forgot it all together, if a lunch lady hasn't reminded him of it.

Luke told his parents about the protest, minus the skipping school part at dinner that night.

"I think that's great!" His mother said. "You have my full support."

"Mine too." His father agreed. "If it's that important to you; you should fight for it at all costs no matter what." Luke smiled.

"Thanks, guys." He thanked them. They all then resumed with their meal.

The next morning, Luke greeted his parents, had his breakfast, and went off.

Mr. and Mrs. Triton thought their son was going for the bus stop, but he went the other way, and headed towards the Underground instead.

When he saw the professor outside of the museum, he hid behind a nearby bush.

"Hi, Luke!" Greeted Flora, startling him. He grabbed her, and led her into the bushes. "Hey; what are you doing?!"

"Shhhh!" Luke shushed her. He pointed to Layton. Flora saw him. "It's the professor; he can't know I'm here."

"Oh, right. Because you should be in school."

"You should be too."

"Yeah, I know, but I didn't want you to be alone, even though what you're doing will land us in hot water." Luke blushed.

"Thanks."

Luke was then confused.

"Are any other of the kids here?"

"A few, but most of them went to school. We're going to get caught you know."

"Yeah, I know. But when we allow kids in the museum, and change the curator's mind on kids, it'll be worth it."

"I hope you're right." She showed him her protest sign. "I was up past my bedtime making this. Do you like it?" Luke examined it, and smiled.

"It's brilliant, Flora!" He showed her his sign. "How's my sign?"

"Luke, I love whatever you do." Luke blushed again.

"Ah, shucks!"

"Ladies and gentlemen." The mayor of London Town shouted. Everyone looked at him, including Luke and Flora. "Art…it brings us all together. It lets us express ourselves in many different ways we never thought possible. We can learn a lot by art, including the culture, and the artist's inspiration, and history. What starts as just a doodle on paper, and a thought becomes a masterpiece that others marvel at. We like art because it's beautiful, and abstract. Now, before I cut the ribbon," He looked at John. "Is there anything the curator of this museum wish to add?" John Kidd shook his head.

"Just enjoy my museum." The mayor looked back out at the crowd.

"You heard him." He got out giant scissors. "Go on an art journey, and enjoy the museum!" He cut the ribbon. Everyone cheered, and went to stand in line to get in. The mayor, his wife, John Kidd, Beatrice, and the museum's staff all went in separate doors to enter.

Luke turned to Flora.

"Ready to change Mr. Kidd's mind?" He asked her. Flora nodded. The children rushed out of the bushes.

"Hi, Luke!" Arianna greeted him. Luke saw her.

"Arianna!" He cried. "You're missing school too?" Arianna nodded.

"I wasn't at first. But I need some excitement after my father's death, even though he'd probably be mad at me for playing hooky." Luke nodded.

"Your father will be happy protesting this with me." He then gave her a protest sign. "Here's a protest sign, if you don't already have one." Arianna took it.

"Thanks."

Luke then gave protest signs to the few other kids who came; even kids from different schools came. Luke then raised his sign. The other kids did as well.

"Allow kids in the museum!" He shouted. He and the other kids followed him, chanting their own chants.

"Kids Rule!"

"Kids can make a difference too."

"We are the children of yesterday's dream!"

"This is our fight song!"

"Kids are smart, kind, funny, precious, energetic, and very civilized!"

"Little wonders!"

"Size doesn't matter!" They continued chanting over and over. People passing by saw this as they were walking.

Even some people from the museum stopped their art gazing to see what all the fuss about.

"Look!" One person shouted. "There are kids outside protesting!"

"Good for them!" Another shouted. "I thought the 'No Children Allowed' was stupid!"

"My kids were disappointed about this rule."

"Mine too!"

"Ours too!"

Layton tried to see though the windows, but there were too many people in the way.

"Luke?" He asked himself when he thought he saw him during the protests. But, it couldn't be him. He knew Luke was upset about the rule, but he wouldn't skip school over it. He shook it off. He was about to look at more art, when he saw that it was indeed Luke. He passed by people in his way.

"Excuse me." He said as he passed. "Pardon me. Please, get out of my way!" When he was at the exit, he went outside.

"LUKE!" The Professor shouted. Luke stopped, and looked at him.

"Hello, Professor." He greeted. Professor Layton put his hands on his hips.

"Luke," He began. "I can't believe I see you and your friends not in school."

"I'm standing for what I believe in."

"You could do this tomorrow, or after school."

"But, this is important."

"So is school. By doing this during school hours, you're only proving Kidd's point." Luke became mad.

"How?! By not thinking things through? By breaking the rules?"

"Luke, go to school. I'll talk to you later. I'll have to call your parents about this.

"Not until Mr. Kidd comes out, and change his attitude towards kids."

"Luke, please! Not now. You can do this later, when more kids and adults can help." He looked at the other kids. "You kids go back to school too." He looked back at Luke. "I'll see you later, Luke." And with that, he went inside. Luke saw him pull out his cell phone, and dial a number.

"Luke?" Flora wanted to know. "Maybe Layton's right. We should go." Luke looked at her.

"No!" He looked at the others. "No; we won't be weak. We'll raise our voices and be the voice of children everywhere. We won't give up until John Kidd gets nicer to us kids, no matter how long it takes."

"But, Luke…"

"No, Flora; I mean it! We stay!" Flora sighed.

"Okay, Luke. If that is what you want."

"He's calling your parents!" Someone put in. Luke saw through the window that the Professor was talking into the phone. Luke looked at the kid.

"Let him call. I don't care. If we make this change, I'll be happy, no matter the consequences. Now, let's resume this protest!" Kids all nodded. They were about to continue, when a loud gunshot sounded, startling them.

Luke then saw the Professor collapse onto the floor though the window. Sheer terror was now in his eyes.

"PROFESSOR!" He yelled. "NOOOOOO!"