Stone of Spirits

Summary: When Luke's pen pal asks him to help solve a haunted house case, Flora wonders why Luke isn't his usual self. That because to solve this case he has to face his past as well.

You know, I really need to stop coming up with new ideas for stories, I'll never finish my other stories. For those who don't know me as I tend to be in the Merlin and Harvest Moon section, I'm HMemma546. I love Professor Layton (through some puzzle I hate) and I love Luke. I'm in england so I've only played the Curious Village and Pandora Box game. Anyway I got this idea-ish from the start of the two games when Luke seems to write to us, like a pen pal. But my head already spinning with more and more ideas. I've still stuck on the Illusions of darkness and writing Growth in magic as well....then there's cherry tree village, the sianjan and strong love....oh yea and the harvest godess too. Man I really need to sort out a writing scedule. Oh and I writng a novel as well (at least I hope it'll turn into a novel.
Luke: Ahem!
Emma: Oops, I'm rabbling! enjoy!

Prologue: A pleading letter

As the sun roused up into the sky for another day, a red car drove onto a dusty road, ignoring the fact that people should be still sleeping now. Driving the car was Hershel Layton- or, as we know him as, Professor Layton. He was only a little tired, after many years from staying up all night to solve a puzzle, as he always says: 'a true gentle never leaves a puzzle unsolved', he could easily fight of sleepiness.

Now, normally sitting in the front passenger seat would be his young apprentice, Luke, but today it was Flora. She was also awake, glancing anxiously at the boy in the back sleep. He had at last fallen asleep but a piece of paper was still clasped in his hands.

"He's alright, Flora," Layton whispered when she looked over at him for the fifth hundredth time, "Perhaps you should get some sleep,"

Flora shook her head, "I'm not tired," She replied as she shot Luke another glance, "Do you really think so?" She asked and Layton knew she was referring to the first statement.

"The letter was a shock to him, that's all, my dear," Layton murmured as he glance at her to reassure her, "Lucy normally just writes to him about what is happening and how she thought of the adventures that Luke had written to her," He couldn't help but frown a little. He wasn't sure it was safe for Luke to being trusting so much information to another person but-

"Is she really just his friend? I've never seen him so....concerned." She hesitated as she chose her word carefully.

Layton didn't answer her, "Flora, you've been up all night, and although so have I, you really need some rest."

"But-"

"I really need this matter for Luke to explain, my dear. So give him some time and he will eventually." Layton tone was firm, meaning that he was basically saying, Luke will tell you, now rest, in a more polite manner.

Flora sighed but rested her head against the window. She was really tired, she supposed. Her eyes had begun to droop a little after glancing at Luke and she really couldn't argue with the professor without forgetting her manners and probably waking Luke up in doing so. Being raise as a lady, she understood a little about what Layton went on about when it come to politeness but she sometimes was unable to hold herself in, so she had tried her best to let the anger out whilst doing her new habit; cooking. Maybe that was why neither Layton nor Luke ate it.

As she closed her eyes, she let her mind drift back to what had happened to start this long drive.

Luke woke up to the normal routine. Layton would call through the door and he would snuggle back down for a couple of moments before both Layton and Flora was telling him to 'hurry up or I'll eat your breakfast' and 'Luke, as much as I understand about wishing to sleep in, one must not keep the breakfast servers waiting'. Then he would yawn, tug on his clothes and head out of his room to the kitchen.

Luke and Layton lived in one of the lower flats in a busy high street; accessible to roads so they could immediately head out onto adventures. They were only four rooms; the living room/hallway, the kitchen/breakfast/dining room, Layton's study/room and Luke's room. Flora had bought the next door flat which occupiers had move out of and had built a door between her and their kitchen so she could access Layton's and Luke's flat anytime. She was rich after all, through not as rich as she would've been if she took the money from St. Mystere and Luke was glad, he had gotten used to the robots that lived in that curious village.

Flora was sitting at the table and thankfully, Layton was cooking the breakfast. Luke sifted a yawn; he already knew the lecture of yawing in front of ladies of by heart.

"Oh, and I really wanted two breakfasts," Flora moaned as she waved and Luke. He rolled his eyes and sat down.

"Tough!" Luke grinned as he stuck his tongue out at his friend and also sort of adoptive sister.

"Now, Luke, it's impolite to do that to a lady," Layton tutted as he set down the plates. Immediately both children had grabbed them and their cutlery and started to eat in a little un-gentlemen and ladylike way, "Now, children,"

"This is delicious, Professor!" Luke said quickly, covering his mistake by compliments. Layton raised an eyebrow but just sighed.

Then they heard the letter box click opened, "I'll get it!" Both children shouted.

"You did so last time!" Luke exclaimed as he tried to push in front of Flora.

"You've done it one hundreds time!"

"Well, obviously, I have lived here for a while, Flora. Anyway, you can collect it tomorrow, okay?"

"You said that the day before the Pandora box case and I still didn't get to collect it!"

"Now, children," Layton voice rung out and they stopped fighting as they didn't like to disappoint their mentor. But Luke paused for only a second and then he darted to the door with a 'Ha Ha!' at Flora.

"Luke...." Layton sighed but a small fond smile appeared on his lips as he watched the girl sit down, huffing.

There were six letters, four bills, one letter for the professor and one for Luke. Chucking to himself as he knew what it was, he headed back into the kitchen to hand over Layton's post whilst he read his.

"Aha, another assignment," Layton said as he read his letter, "Hrmm, seems to be just a riddle solving case..."

"But it could turn out to be something more!" Flora jumped up and down in her seat. Last time she had been locked in a barn so she was really keen for a big case. Layton smiled.

"There is always the possibility of that, my dear. Luke, do you agree....Luke?"

Luke had been silently reading his letter, barely listening to the conversation. His face was one of worry and disbelief as he shook his head and reread the letter, wondering if he had misread it. As he realised there was no mistake his hands shook but gripped the letter tightly and his face stayed with worry but as the disbelief left, other feelings were replaced by a mask.

"P-Professor," Luke voice shook a little and Flora eyes widen. Never, had Luke looked or acted like this.

"What is it, Luke?" Layton asked, worried also. Luke bit his lip and wordlessly handed the letter over. It took sometime to let go once it was in the professor hands.

Flora pushed away her plate as she leaned over Layton's shoulder. Luke's eyes never left the paper as he sat back down.

Dear Luke,

That was a great letter you wr-wrote and a long one! Perhaps you should be a w-writer, Luke, I felt as if I was there s-solving the El-Pandora Box case with you.

Ah, who am I kidding, you've already guess something is wrong. I've never repeat anything in my life, even if I really need to.

Luke, I need you're help. Something has happen to our house; I believe it may be haunted.

Honestly! At night, the whole place hisses like it's full of snakes, the windows and doors lock themselves- even the doors and windows that don't have locks on them- and Ted said he saw a see-through figure walking up and down the room when he hid in one of the cupboards. And that's not all; every night I hear my name being said and now my dreams are full of nightmares- and you know me, I'm too weird to have nightmares, well, ones that scare me anyway.

I know you don't want to come back and all but, please, we need you and the Professor! Ted's terrified; he keeps running away and he's too young to be on his own.

Please, Luke! I've would never ask, I don't get scared at all! But I am, Luke, we all are.

Love Lucy

"Who's Lucy?" Flora asked as she looked back at Luke, who was still looking at the letter. When Layton put it down, his hand immediately grabbed it back and held it tightly.

Layton glanced at Luke as if wondering how Luke would response.

"My pen pal," Luke murmured and Layton frowned a little. Flora, desperately wanting to lighten the mood, took that as a gesture to start teasing.

"I didn't know you had a girlfriend, Luke! I thought you still didn't understand girls." Flora weakly giggled hoping that Luke would either fluster or shout back. But his eyes just darted to the letter.

"She's just a friend," Luke murmured again and Layton frowned even more.

Flora knew that they weren't telling her something.

Puzzle 001
Who's Lucy?
Luke says she is just a friend and pen-pal but Layton's frowns don't convince Flora much. Could she be an old girlfriend as Flora teased Luke with or is she something else?

Looks like Flora will need time to work out the answer.

Now I know everyone asks this but...PLZ, PLZ, PLZ REVIEW!
Luke: is that how you ask? Sounds more like begging.
Layton: Now Luke....
Emma(me): Shut up!
Luke: Make me!
Layton: You know what? I'm just gonna stop this gentlemen roll and beg you; PLZ REVEIW, TO STOP THESE KIDS FROM DRIVING ME CRAZY!
Emma: He's even on his knees, guys