Chapter 2

Impenetrable darkness surrounded them on all sides. The only light coming from the hole above the ladder

"This place sure gives me the shivers professor" said Luke Cryton

"NO LUKE" Layton shouted "THIS LADDER IS VERY OLD AND FRAGILE, IF YOU SHIVER-"

But it was too late, Luke's babyish shivering caused the ladder to break and fall forward!

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" screamed everyone (except John)

"Oh, fantastic work kid!" growelled Hyde, spinning around in the air "Now we're goners!"

"Hmm this reminds me of a puzzle" said Professor Layton as they plummeted to their deaths

Puzzle No. 5520341: Ladder or step ladder?

Picarats: 999/999

Once upon a time Phoenix Wright and Maya Fey saw an object

"It's a ladder" said Maya

"It's a step ladder" said Phoenix

Ladder or step ladder? What is right?

"Oh I know LADDER" said Luke

"No"

Picarats 300/999

"STEP LADDER"

"Try again"

Picarats 0/999

"NEITHER"

Picarats -100/999

"BOTH"

Picarats -2000/999

"STEP LADDER"

"Luke you already said that one"

"LADDER"

Luke's answers were so stupid that the picarat value went so low that it actually wrapped around to 999,999,999,999 picarats

"Yes!" said Layton excitedly "This is just what I was anticipating! Quickly, someone give me the correct answer!"

What is right?

"That's easy, A DEFENSE ATTORNEY" said John Phoenix

PUZZLE SOLVED!

A mountain of 999,999,999,999 picarats blinked into existence and they landed on top of it

"Not bad John" said Kyle

"Yes excellent work" agreed Professor Layton

Luke was upset "B-b-but what kind of answer is that! What does "a defense attorney" have to do with a puzzle about LADDERS!"

"My dear boy, you completely misinterpreted the puzzle! Here, let me show you'

Layton lit a match and held it under the puzzle

Ladder or step ladder? What is Wright?

"You see, the puzzle was actually asking for Phoenix Wright's profession, NOT for the correct classification of the object!"

"BUT THAT'S CHEATING, I COULDN'T READ IT, IT WAS DARK"

Layton chuckled "My dear boy don't get upset. Consider this a learning experience. Don't be afraid to take a step back from a puzzle and reassess what it's actually asking"

Luke still thought this was kinda cheating, but before he could whine about it, he saw the others climbing down the picarat mountain

"HEY WAIT FOR ME" he slid down the mountain

To be continued...