A/N: So, for my followers, I'm sure you all remember be setting up a "poll" of sorts of which fanfiction idea I should write next. Turns out, The Professor's Apprentice won!
Here's the first chapter!
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Chapter One – Farewell
The dock was noisy and crowded, the large ship waiting patiently for her passengers. The water she floated in was a darker reflection of the light blue, almost cloudless sky above, and the sound of the seagulls' cries were almost cheerful.
The same could not be said of the thirteen year old boy, perched on top of his suitcase, waiting to board, next to his longtime friend and mentor. The boy kept his head down, using his light brown bangs and the brim of his blue hat to hide his eyes.
Finally, after the sound of the horn, the boy knew it was time. Reluctantly, he hopped down from where he sat, keeping his eyes covered.
"I guess this... is good-bye..." he said softly without looking up. The man next to him turned from where he was studying the ship.
"Oh no, my boy," he began in a tone that announced he was optimistic. "This is 'so long', not 'good-bye'."
At these words, the boy's shoulders began to shake, a small sob escaping him yet. The man closed his eyes with a small smile.
"Now Luke, you know a gentleman never makes a scene in public," he said, knowing the boy in front of him always tried his hardest to be a "true gentleman".
The boy stopped for a moment at these words, sniffled, and finally looked up at the man, his eyes brimming with tears.
"I'm sorry, Professor, but I'm not a gentleman yet!" he cried before throwing himself at the surprised professor, wrapping his arms tightly around his middle, and sobbing into his orange clad chest. Professor Layton, after a moment more of shock, smiled reassuringly.
"There there," he said softly, adjusting his top hat before wrapping his arms around the sobbing boy, tears appearing in his own eyes.
A little while longer, the ship's horn let out another blast, and the Professor helped Luke load his suitcase before walking back down the gangplank and watching as it sailed peacefully on its way, taking two of his closest friends, and his beloved apprentice, away from London and towards America.
…
Luke watched as the coast of their new home came into view. It had been about a week since he said good-bye to the Professor, and, while he was still sad, he couldn't wait to see this new land and the adventures that awaited him.
The ship finally glided smoothly up to the dock and stopped, letting her passengers off and onto the solid ground of California, North America. This dock was as busy as the one they left, and Luke's mum, Brenda, made sure to keep a tight grip on his hand so they wouldn't get separated.
Luke, however, froze in his looking around, inadvertently pulling her to a stop. Rubbing his eyes to make sure he wasn't going crazy, he studied the woman in front of him, seeing someone he recognized, and the last person he expected.
"Luke!?" a woman in a long, purple kimono gasped, spotting him. Her black hair was longer then the last time they met, and she no longer wore the clothes of an acolyte-in-training, but that grin was one he'd never forget.
"Ms. Maya!?" Luke gasped.
"You two know each other?" Clark, Luke's father, asked in mild surprise.
"Yeah. Remember how the Professor told you about Labyrinthia?" Luke asked excitedly, looking up at Clark.
"Yes," the man sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He loved his son and how attached he was to one of his oldest friends, but sometimes, he wondered if he gave Luke a little too much freedom.
"That's where we met!" Maya said, clasping her hands together and giving a quick nod of her head, her hair bouncing with the movement.
"That's great!" Brenda said with a smile. "It seems Luke already has some friends in the village where we're going. Right, Clark?" she said. Clark smiled with a nod.
"Wait, you're the archaeologist from London?" Maya asked. Clark nodded again with a bemused grin, and the young woman smiled. "That's great. Right this way!" she said, turning on her heel to lead them forward.
"So, what's with the new clothes, Ms. Maya?" Luke asked, walking a little faster to get closer behind her. "And are you still Mr. Wright's assistant? How's he doing, anyway?"
Maya lost the spring in her step at these questions, glancing back at the young boy. Her eyes, moments ago so full of happiness, were now sad.
"I'm now the Master of the Kurain Channeling Technique," she said, running a hand down her sleeve and looking away from him, off to the side. She then looked forward. "And... no. I'm no longer Nick's assistant. As for how he's doing..." she trailed off and Luke, despite his young age, knew better than to pry. Maya shook her head, gave a determined nod, and suddenly turned to face the family, her large grin back in place.
"Hey! You've never been to America, right? What you need to try is an American Hamburger. Come on!"
…
A/N: And here we are! The conclusion of the first chapter! What do you guys think? Should it stay in third person? Should I switch to first person?
What are your opinions?