Ink's Notes: HELLO EVERYONE, Ink here with a new story for you all! I noticed a disturbing lack of crossovers between Professor Layton and One Piece, so I'm going to fix that now! In all seriousness, they're two of my favorite series and I really wanted a crossover between them so I just made one myself OH WELL WHAT WILL BE WILL BE

I sorta have writers' block for my other stuff, but this one the ideas just keep coming, so let's see how we do with this!

This story takes place after the Diabolical Box incident and after the Fishman Island arc. As such, Layton's posse is Layton, Luke and Flora, and the One Piece characters who will be showing up are all post-timeskip. The characters may also reference events from events prior to that in passing, but I'll try not to make it essential knowledge (and explain any reasoning behind actions that they take because of those events if I do reference them as being the reason for that) in case people aren't familiar with one of the two series I'm working with here. Of course, if you're not, I hope that you check out the one you don't know because they're great and I love them and they're two of my favorites and - wait I said that already. READ THE ONE PEICE MANGA, PLAY THE PROFESSOR LAYTON GAMES (also there's a movie you should watch too), DO IT NOW

...arhem. Anyway. I don't own One Piece and anything related, nor do I own Professor Layton and anything related. I do, however, own the town of Old Ashton and all that's related to that. Yes, that means OCs are in this. They're kinda essential to the story. Now, without further ado, let's begin!

Chapter One – The Mysterious Assistant

Luke Triton kicked his pace up to a light jog as he moved through the hall, past the university students moving about between their classes on his way to the Professor's office. Life had been calm since the incident with the 'Diabolical Box', as Luke had dubbed it, so he was looking forward to spending the day with the Professor and learning more about how to be a proper English gentleman. As he neared the office, he noticed that Flora was leaning against the wall outside, humming as she looked around at the decorations on the walls and doors nearby.

"Flora!" Luke greeted as he slowed his pace to a stop at her side. She turned to look at him with a smile. "What are you doing waiting outside?"

"I'm waiting for the Professor to finish talking with his new assistant," Flora explained. "She seems like a really nice person, but they wanted to talk alone for a little while."

"The Professor has a new assistant?" Luke asked, blinking in shock. The last assistant that the Professor had was Emmy, and he didn't think that the Professor would be willing to replace her so easily, so maybe she had decided to come back. Still, there was a chance that it wasn't her, so he decided to hold off on being excited until he was sure.

"That's right," Flora informed him. "Apparently, the dean of the school wanted to lighten his workload a little bit, and to have someone here in case he went off on an adventure again."

"…I suppose that's reasonable," Luke laughed nervously. They did have a little bit of a tendency to do that. The incident with the Diabolical Box had been his sixth adventure with the Professor, after all…

A light tapping on the door brought both of them to their senses, and Luke and Flora simultaneously turned towards the sound. It was followed shortly by the sound of an older woman's voice, speaking at a calm and level tone that Luke had the inclination to believe wasn't entirely natural. "We're done discussing, Flora. You can bring your friend inside." The voice sounded friendly enough, though, and Flora made no hesitation in opening the door to enter the office, followed shortly after by Luke himself.

Luke looked around the office as he entered. While everything was in roughly the same position, he noticed that the office was a lot cleaner than it usually was, and everything had been packed away and organized. The Professor was seated on the chair that was usually at his desk, but had turned it around so that he could sit at the coffee table, where four cups of tea had been set out. Luke found this to be odd, since the couch was currently empty, but his unasked question was answered when he heard the door close, and Flora moved over to the couch, followed by a woman Luke had never seen before.

She was elegant, that much Luke could tell just by looking at her. She carried herself gently and formally, in a manner that caused him to start relaxing. The woman dressed rather modestly, in clothing that was a size or two too big for her to compensate for her ample bust, and she had long, black hair that must have reached about halfway down her back. A pair of sunglasses was resting gently on top of her head, helping keep her hair out of her face, and he noticed through the movements of her brown eyes that she was studying him with as much interest as he was studying her.

Luke realized that he'd been staring for a little while and promptly adjusted his stance, standing as tall as he could and bowing to the woman before straightening himself out. "My name is Luke Triton, gentleman in training and Professor Layton's apprentice," he introduced himself, and it was only when the woman started laughing gently that he relaxed and let his stance loosen.

"Aren't you cute?" the woman smiled at him, lifting a hand and brushing a few stray bangs off of her face. Luke sputtered for a few moments at the compliment, and amusement seemed to sparkle in the woman's eyes. "My name is Robin Nico. Professor Layton's new assistant and, when he is unavailable, Flora's caretaker."

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Robin," Luke greeted with a smile. "If you don't mind my asking, what is it that you'll be helping the Professor with?"

"I don't mind at all, Luke," Robin gently smiled at him, and he felt as if he were being praised somehow. "I'm helping the Professor with organization, a little bit of cleaning, offering someone to bounce theories and ideas off of, and helping him grade his student's papers. After all, I am an archaeologist myself," she explained.

"It is quite nice to have someone to speak about archaeology with," the Professor spoke up, picking up one of the cups and taking a small sip. "Robin's knowledge of the practice of archaeology is quite outstanding, as are her manners."

Luke took this as a cue to have a seat, but no sooner than he did so, his attention was broken by the sound of knocking on the door. He looked to the door, then to the Professor, who shook his head to indicate that he wasn't expecting any further visitors. Before Luke could get up to go and see who it was, Robin got to her feet, moving quickly and – astonishingly, despite the fact that she was wearing high heels – quietly over to the sound, gently opening the door and allowing the one standing outside to enter the room.

Their mysterious visitor was none other than Dean Delmona, who cleared his throat before greeting each occupant of the room accordingly, then turning his full attention to Robin. "How are you settling in, Ms. Nico?"

"Quite well, thank you," the woman smiled calmly at the dean, and Luke noticed in passing that the smile had not left her face once during the entire time that he'd been observing her. "Was there something that you needed?"

"Ah, yes," Dean rummaged into his jacket pockets, producing a letter that was shortly handed to Robin. "This is for Professor Layton. It came in just a few minutes ago, but you'd stopped in to pick up his mail already, so I thought I'd make sure that it got to him personally."

Robin examined the letter calmly, her smile thinning into a calculative gaze but still present. The moment her eyes left the envelope, the calm smile had returned as if it had never left. "Thank you very much," she inclined her head slightly in a nod. "I'll see you later, then?"

"Oh- well, yes, of course!" he jumped slightly, and Luke couldn't help but notice that the Professor was smiling in that way that he did when he was interested in something. Dean quickly bowed and left the way he came, Robin closing the door after him and returning to her place on the couch.

"You're rather good at politely telling people to leave an area," the Professor observed, and Robin turned her gaze to him with a gentle smile that seemed to say she knew but didn't particularly care to elaborate how she did. "Now, I believe you have something for me?"

"I believe that I do," Robin replied in a gentle and airy manner, taking a moment to have a sip of tea before calmly opening the envelope and taking out the letter within. Using slow and methodical movements, she unfolded the paper, taking a moment to smooth the creases from were it had been folded, before turning the paper so that she could read the words aloud. A hand was gently removed from the paper so that she could bring it to her mouth clear her throat, and once she had done so it moved back to the letter, a finger sitting atop the words and running along them as she read them aloud.

"To My Dearest Professor Hershel Layton," Robin began, and both Luke and Flora were immediately focused on her, wondering who would address the man as such. The Professor, on the other hand, seemed to immediately know who it was, if the mute sigh he let out was any indication. "It has been quite some time since we last spoke, and there is no one to blame for that but myself. It feels like so very many years ago that we were in school together, and though I miss the days when we were but a few desks away from one another, I am quite enjoying my time in the gentle town of Old Ashton."

"Old Ashton?" Luke cut in. "That town is a few hours away from here by car, isn't it?" he asked, and Layton nodded to confirm his inquiry.

After making sure that no one else intended to interrupt her, Robin began reading aloud again. "As much as I wish I were writing in the simple hopes of catching up on times gone by and reestablishing contact with an old friend, I am afraid that's not the case. Old Ashton is in a state of unease. Several residents have found themselves afraid for their lives due to the odd sightings of what appears to be a…" Robin paused and squinted at the paper, lifting it a few inches off of her lap and squinting to the point that her brows furrowed. "…White specter wandering the streets?" The sentence was spoken with audible confusion, and Robin's expression relaxed, though she appeared to be deep in thought. She took a moment before continuing to read off of the page. "No one has quite managed to get a decent look at this creature, but the people are uneasy and afraid, and so I turn to you for assistance. My methods have not yet discerned anything, and my current occupation prevents me from doing any further investigation that might lead to finding some answers. However, I believe with your assistance, this specter would be found quickly and the people's minds would be at ease."

"What does he mean by current occupation?" Flora put in, and Luke offered a shrug then motioned for her to wait until Robin was finished.

"Due to the specter's presence in Old Ashton, as well as a few other… incidents that have the citizens on edge, I have been forced to close the gates to the town, but there is a password that the gatekeepers use to allow friends of the town or residents whom have been away to return. Of course, knowing you, you wouldn't be satisfied if I simply told you the password, so I have enclosed it on another piece of paper in the form of a puzzle." Luke and Layton both smiled at the word, and Robin gave them a curious gaze before finishing off the letter. "I look forward to seeing you again after so many years apart. Yours truly and forever, Mayor of Old Ashton, Doctor S.K.C."

"Doctor S.K.C.?" Luke wondered as Robin produced the paper that the puzzle with the password was written upon.

"That's right, Luke," the Professor informed him with a smile. "He's a general surgeon who minored in archaeology. He signs his letters in that manner, largely to throw off anyone who might intercept them. He's a rather curious man."

"This must be the puzzle he was speaking of," Robin noted as she scanned over the paper. "It's a rather easy one. Does he really expect to keep people out with this?"

Layton seemed curious about the contents of the puzzle, but before he could ask for the paper, Flora took it out of Robin's hands. "May I try solving it, Robin?" she asked.

Robin gently smiled at Flora. "Certainly," she responded, and the girl set to reading over the paper carefully so that she wouldn't miss any crucial hints.

PUZZLE ONE

A plane is traveling North from the United States of America towards Canada. Many of its passengers are those who are either visiting family up North, or whom have just finished visiting family down South. During the flight, an unfortunate accident occurs upon which two of the engines malfunction, sending the plane towards the ground, where it crash lands – perhaps miraculously – right on the border of the USA and Canada. The pilot, then the crew, then the passengers, all stumble out equally bewildered about how this occurred, before a question dawns on them- "Where do we bury the survivors?"

Flora squinted carefully at the words. "Now, let me think…" She brought her hand to her mouth in consideration, then snapped her fingers and pointed upwards. "I've got it!"

"May I have it next?" Luke asked politely, not forgetting his manners.

Flora stared at Luke, looking at the paper in her hands and then at the boy and her foster father. She then turned to Robin for support, and the woman gently pat her head in understanding. "I don't believe she'll be willing to give it to either of you so easily," Robin answered for Flora with a mysterious smile. "After all, she was telling me not long ago about how the two of you tried to leave her behind on your last adventure, the one with the Diabolical Box, as you called it," she explained. Luke fidgeted awkwardly in his seat, embarrassed, while Professor Layton adjusted his hat, avoiding eye contact with the woman. "That is our ticket to traveling with you, so you don't try to leave us behind," Robin smiled in an unusual way. It didn't look all that different than her normal smile, but there was something about the way that she directed the words at them that made the two involuntarily shiver. Flora passed the puzzle back to Robin, and she gently folded it more tightly than it had been before and tucked it gently into the front of her shirt, so that the paper was secure and snug between her breasts.

Luke sputtered a little bit while Layton looked away with what could best be described as an awkward blush. "Wh-Why did you put it there?!" Luke half-demanded, half-asked out of sheer bewilderment.

"Security," Robin answered with a serene smile. "So no one tries to take it."

Luke had to concede that she had a point – a gentleman like the Professor and a gentleman in training like himself would never stoop so low as to try and take something from that particular area. Not that they would ever stoop so low as to try and take something period, but that area in particular was especially off limits.

Robin folded the letter from Doctor S.K.C. gently and moved over to where Professor Layton's briefcase was, tucking it into one of the pockets of the briefcase before moving around the office and putting a few other things inside of it, then closing it and carrying it over to the door. "I believe you know how to get to this 'Old Ashton', Professor?" she asked with a smile as she gently opened it for the other three to walk outside. Flora got to her feet, followed shortly by Luke, and the two left the room to head for the Laytonmobile.

Professor Layton stood up as well, walking to the doorway, but stopped when he was standing by Robin and smiled at her. "I don't mind the two of you coming along, but don't let her out of your sight. The last time we had her with us, she was replaced by a peculiar master of disguise who seems to have something against me for some reason."

Robin lifted her hand to her mouth in a light chuckle. "Perhaps you've done something to wrong him in the past?"

Professor Layton stared blankly at her. "If I did, I certainly don't recall what it was…" He shook his head and walked out the door, followed by Robin, who made sure she had the keys to the office, then closed and locked the door after herself. Before long, she had reached where the Professor was waiting by the little red car that had been affectionately dubbed the Laytonmobile, and he opened the door so that she could sit in the passenger seat while Luke and Flora climbed into the back.

The trip to Old Ashton was largely uneventful, and after a few hours of travel the car was stopped at the front gate, which was locked. True to this Doctor S.K.C.'s word, there was a gatekeeper on duty- a large, burly man who was wearing a brown jacket, a tan turtleneck that seemed to be a size too big for him, long black pants and black formal shoes. He had dark red hair that almost looked pink, and eyes of the same color.

"Evenin', sir," the man spoke gruffly, and Luke thought he might describe the man as being like a bear if he didn't think it would offend him. "Hate t'stop ya when y'got a couple o' ladies an' a kid in the car with ya, but I'm gonna need a password from ya b'fore ya can go in," he explained.

Robin leaned forwards in such a way that her breasts bounced slightly and smiled at the man. "Might I ask your name, sir?" she inquired in a sleek and sexy tone.

The man adjusted his turtleneck awkwardly. "Erhm. I don' think that's important, ma'am," he looked away to avoid her gaze, "But- if ya specifically insist, ma'am, m'name's Harris," he introduced himself. He cleared his throat. "I- hrrm. Need the password, though."

Flora pulled herself up between the two front seats. "I've got the password, Mister Harris," she smiled widely at him, then pointed at him in a manner that Professor Layton was particularly fond of doing. "You don't bury survivors!"

Harris stared at the girl who'd just blurted out the phrase, and Luke was worried that she'd gotten the answer wrong. However, Robin's smile, plus the fact that Harris' own face was softening into one, seemed to indicate otherwise. "Ah, y'must be th'Mayor's friends," he nodded, and Layton and Robin both simultaneously realized that each person probably got a different password for entry. "A'right then, lemme jus' unlock th'gate fer ya, and y'can come on in." Harris smiled at them and moved over to the gate, which he easily unlocked and slid open for them. He lifted his hand in a wave as he motioned for them to go on through, and Flora and Luke both returned it as the Professor drove the Laytonmobile on through the gates.

"So what now, Professor?" Luke asked once they were inside of the town.

"I believe we should find a place to stay for while we're visiting, and then go and visit the Mayor," the Professor smiled at him. "I've no doubt our friend Harris will inform him of our arrival once he's closed the gate again."

Luke smiled at the Professor as he settled back into his seat, and the little red car trudged onwards towards its destination.

PUZZLES SOLVED – ONE

CURRENT MYSTERIES:

The White Specter – Several residents of Old Ashton have reportedly seen a mysterious white specter. No one knows anything else about it.