Alas, E3 comes to a close. But on the bright side, I still have Animal Crossing: New Leaf to tide me over until the next big release, which should be Mario & Luigi: Dream Team.

ThinkRANDOMLY: AND THEN SHE BLEW UP.

buslimpan: Definitely. Imagine Layton's life if Randall hadn't steered him into archaeology, or if Clare hadn't steered him into gentle-manliness?

Maict: Probably Skrelp or Clauncher. I really like how Skrelp looks. He's not a seahorse, he's one of those sea dragons.

Sicomba: I think it's safe to say Layton VS Ace Attorney is a thing of the past now. If it was going to be localized, we would have been told by now. Now we're getting Layton 6 and Dual Destinies, games that came out after PLVSAA in Japan. What does that tell you?

GeorgieSusoWasSuarez: Thank you! What with New Leaf and constant Pokemon X/Y updates, I try to keep up with this too!

The Mocking J: I wonder how long it took Hershel to win her favor. That's something Unwound Future forgot to go into deets about.

Wanna drop me a line? Talk? Question? Why not review! I'm so nice I accept everything from reviews to flames to constructiveness, all with a smile and a reply guaranteed! You enjoy the story or your fictional money back!

Spoilers?: No.

Location: The Wide-Open, Treacherous Sea.

Timeline: After Last Specter, but before Azran Legacy

Track Listened to While Writing: Maruchino from Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy

Word Count: 323 words.

Tip NO. 036: Sailing

"Luke my boy, there isn't really an experience much like being in the open waters."

"Ca-caw! Caw! Caw!"

"Squawk, squawk! Squawk!"

The birds overhead them are just reminders of where they are. That, and the wooden mermaid hugging the ship. Together, Luke and Emmy stare at the ocean below them, vague interest in whatever sealife manages to be visible within the deep depths of the waters.

"You don't suppose the professor actually knows how to drive a boat, do you Emmy?"

She shrugs with a smile, "It wouldn't surprise me to be honest. It seems like everyday he surprises us with something new and out of expectation that you wouldn't think he'd know how to do, but then he brings out the sword, or the horse, and shocks everyone. So yeah, I think he does."

"Oh, and, you don't 'drive' a boat, Luke."

The boy stammers, "I-I knew that! I just couldn't find the right word to express it!"

"Luke, Emmy, stray away from the railing for now. This is going to be quite the bumpy start, assuming my boating skills are as rusty as they were back in my day."

Layton unties the rope anchoring the boat at the dock, "Hang on to something."

The professor takes hold of the steering wheel, but it's clear that his experience is just as amateur, if not worse by today's standards, than when he first took the wheel some years ago. The boat starts to rock back and forth, but eventually comes to balance itself after it departs the harbor for good.

Layton breathes a sigh of relief, "My word... Emmy, would you mind setting the sail?"

"On it!"

A custom sail featuring Layton's insignia is holstered up, and begins to assist in the ship's movement.

"Ca-caw! Caw!"

Although cautious about seasickness, Luke is nonetheless still ecstatic about traveling through the seas, a child-like pirate vibe, so to speak. With a smile, he stands in front of Layton and points out into the sea.

"Onward, to the island of Cragphlor!"