Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Professor Layton franchise.

Chapter 18 Confessions

''So, it has come to this.''

''Yes, I suppose it has.''

Luke switched between the two adults, waiting for either of them to explain what the actual heavens was going on. He knew something had been going on with Emmy and he knew the professor was keeping something from him as well, but what...

''How long?'' Emmy asked.

''I had my suspicions since the beginning.'' The professor answered.

Emmy sighed.

''I knew I couldn't fool you…''

''Emmy I…''

''Okay, ONE of you is going to tell me what is going on or so help me god.''

Emmy and the professor both looked at Luke in surprise, not expecting his little outburst. The professor nodded at the lad.

''Of course my boy. Emmy, if I may?''

''Go ahead.''

''Well Luke, let us start at the beginning. We were called here to investigate and possibly put an end to a curse that has haunted Nemhat for a couple of months.''

''Yes…and that is also the reason why we're here today right? To stop the curse?'' Luke responded.

''Yes and no. You see, the curse was actually Emmy all along.''

''Wait...WHAT?''

Emmy turned her gaze back to the orb and reached her hand over to carrased it. The stone felt unexpectedly warm to the touch, almost as if the sun had warmed it.

''At first it seemed like a blessing to have Emmy here.'' The professor continued. ''She knew exactly what had happened and her presence during the attack on the princess seemed too good to be true.''

''You're not saying Emmy attacked princess Farah...right?''

''Not personally, she hasn't, no. She has put her time into creating a small circle of henchmen that were at the ready to help her out with her tricks.''

''Do tell, how did you figure it all out professor?''

Her eyes were cold. Her words stung his heart. He wanted to reach out and hold her. Tell her she didn't need to do this. That it would all be okay...

''The first thing that seemed odd to me, was the first time we met again. You didn't want to make contact with us on the market. Of course we had experienced some difficulties in the past that would make it hard to casually say hello, but I just couldn't believe you went out of your way to dismiss us. You even changed your voice to sound like a different person.''

Emmy's cold eyes softened, almost showing an affectionate look when she remembered their evening on her balcony.

It seemed so far away now…

''Then, when I found you later that evening, I saw you speak to a young boy with striking green eyes. Not only did you never mention your relations to any of the locals, he was also later confirmed to be one of the assailants of princess Farah's attack. Adofo was able to identify him, since the boy had such a distinct characteristic that was hard to miss. He told me about it this morning, while I was out in town looking for said boy.''

The air felt thick in the room, making it hard to breath.

''I have also talked in private with princess Farah.''

Emmy looked up at him, meeting his eyes. A jolt of electricity struck their hearts, a certain unsaid agreement between them that they would not look away.

''What did she say…?''

''She told me about what happened when she first touched your hand. There was a part of her power that she has kept hidden from you because she knew more than she wanted.''

''Wait...what…?''

''Not only can she feel the same emotions others are feeling...she can also see a few of their memories. She had seen you move around the statues, kidnap her citizens and instruct her assailants. She purposely kept it hidden from you, hoping you would open up about your plans and turn around.''

Emmy's eyes started to water. She reached her hand over to her chest and gripped her shirt tightly around her heart. She had not expected the princess to lie to her.

''The king had some insight into this ordeal as well. He warned me not to trust you, but...at that time I still couldn't believe it was you...It seems like he knows what is inside that orb that you wish to claim. He had warned me that it would cause great sadness.''

''Emmy...why are you doing this? Please, you know you can tell us right? You know you can trust us?'' Luke asked.

The boy had started to tremble. He didn't understand. Emmy was their friend...she wouldn't...She wouldn't hurt them like this again would she?

Emmy took a deep breath and wiped her eyes dry. For a moment, she had looked scared and fragile, but now, she looked ready and decisive.

''Those are some pretty good reasons why you could think it was me. Tell me, what was the definitive breakthrough?''

The professor frowned.

''During our first visit to the cave, Luke mentioned something intriguing. It had been strange that the curse hadn't bothered us yet, even though we were trying to stop it directly. Since everyone said it was the visit to the cave from the princess which invoked the curse, why wouldn't it try to hurt us at least, if that was the logic you were going with. I could tell from your reaction to Luke that you actually had not thought of that. After we returned you rushed to your temporary home to revise a new plan. You had to find a way to return to the cave with a way in. You trusted we would be able to figure out how to get in, so you only needed to get back as soon as possible. It was a two birds, one stone kind of situation. We would be distracted by the new attack from the curse and you had an excuse to return.''

Emmy whistled unimpressed.

''When you returned with the news of the fire, me and the princess had been waiting. If you would return with a ''curse'' on your heels, it had to be true. You had to be the instigator.''

''Wow, count me impressed.'' She responded with a dry laugh. ''Did you also figure out WHY exactly I wanted to get into the cave so badly?''

''No. This is one of the parts of this mystery that I don't understand.''

''One of them? What else don't you understand professor?'' Luke asked.

''The other part...is why you would not trust us. I thought…''

''Well you thought wrong.''

It felt like one of the axes from the other room had hit him in the back.

''I suppose now is as good of a time as any to explain my reasoning. Since...I won't be able to in another moment.''

She turned around the orb until she was behind it and stared at the ring inside.

''Four years ago, when everything happened the way it did, something inside of me...broke.''

''You mean...with Bronev?'' the professor asked.

''Yes. My betrayal, as you could call it, turned my whole life around. I thought seperating myself from you and Luke would help me heal. Would help me...find myself. I travelled a bit, tried different things and met new people. After a year...I didn't understand…''

Her face turned to a frown and her hand clutched firmly around the orb.

''I didn't get why I still felt the way I did. I wanted so badly to start anew, to get a life and find happiness...but, I suppose fate had other plans in store for me…''

He stroked the orb and smiled a small, bitter smile.

''There had to be some other way for me to...just forget about it all. About Targent, about Bronev, about...you. I..started trying different things. I turned to alcohol, but that only helped for a little while. I tried drugs, which I found out I seem to be immune to. Last year...I crashed my plane in a desperate attempt to end it all.''

''Emmy…'' The professor whispered, not believing his ears.

''I was put in a hospital for a few weeks for my broken leg and arms...but I recovered without as much as a scar. I hoped to walk away with at least a head injury that gave me amnesia, but no. I had once again failed...After that I returned to a world I was familiar with. I started tracking down relicts and myths that would be able to help me with my predicament. A year ago, I stumbled upon a legend of the jewelry of Thoth. A necklace that could make you compassionate, an earring that could make you see the truth...and a ring…''

''That can make you forget.'' The professor finished.

She looked back at him and nodded.

''Yes...The one thing I've wanted all of these years...To just forget and continue a happy life. When I arrived at Nemhat, I quickly discovered that no one actually knew where the cave of Thoth was. I tried finding it myself, but got lost more times than I can remember. That's when I heard about the princess. I heard she had visited the cave with the king's permission. She was my ticket in...I thought up this whole curse plan to try to get in touch with her. I hoped that if I spread the rumor through town that she was the reason the curse was inflicted, she would try to find help. That's where I would jump in by saving her heroically. I have to say, I hadn't calculated in meeting up with you two, but...I'm honestly glad I did.''

''Why…? Wouldn't it be better to not see us ever again?'' Luke asked with a frown.

''Luke...you are mad. I...understand.''

''No you don't understand Emmy! Why would you want to forget about our time together? We had fun didn't we? We still care so much about you…I...I DON'T UNDERSTAND!'' Luke had started wiping away the tears from his eyes.

Emmy's eyes watered up again as well, but she turned her head to collect her emotions.

''Luke…'' The professor whispered, softly squeezing the boy's shoulder.

''So, even after spending time with us again, you still wish to forget?'' The professor asked.

Emmy stayed silent for a moment, contemplating what to tell him. The professor was hoping, waiting for something. The feelings inside of him that had started growing ever since he saw her again had to mean something. They had to...

''I have decided to do this no matter what. I'm glad I got the chance to at least say goodbye to you. To you both. Thank you for helping me get this far and...I'm sorry.''

Emmy hovered both of her hands above the orb and closed her eyes.

''Thoth, I beg upon you, cleanse my soul in your judgement.'' She whispered, making the orb glow stronger than before.

The professor and Luke watched as the orb slowly split open from above. The ring inside was small and silver. A tiny blue stone, placed on top of the ring shone bright in the darkly lit room. Emmy slit the ring off the marble finger and eyed the trinket curiously.

''Is there any way we could convince you not to do this?'' The professor said, unsure if he should rush forward and slap the ring out of her hand or turn around and never look back.

''I...have so many questions…''

She shook her head and turned to look into his eyes.

''No...there isn't. I will say my goodbye now. Thank you Luke, for being like a little brother to me...Thank you professor...for...everything.''

Before they could respond, she slit the ring onto her finger. The blue glow inside the stone strangely released from the rock and latched onto her skin. Emmy yelped as the glow started pulsating on her hand. The ground, walls and roof around them trembled as her yell increased, almost as if it responded to the ring's powers.

The blue light from the stone slowly siphoned into her skin, flowed inside her arm, up her shoulder, onto her face and into her eyes. Emmy's hands shot up to her neck, seemingly choking from it. Her brown eyes turned a bright blue colour, glowing brightly in the still darkly lit room.

The intense light seemed to lessen in brightness and Emmy's arms dropped to her sides. Her eyes, which had been opened wide, fell shut and her body limped forward.

''We have to get out of here professor!'' Luke shouted. ''I think this place is gonna collapse!''

The professor ran forward to catch Emmy right before she hit the ground. He placed his hand under her head and pulled her close.

''Emmy!'' He called, hoping this was all just a bad dream or a terrible prank. ''Emmy, please!''

Emmy stayed still and her face looked pale. The ring had clutched down onto her finger, leaving a dark purple ring around it from the tightness. The blue light had completely vanished from the stone. He leaned forward to check her breathing and felt a shallow, soft breath against his cheek.

He turned to look at Luke, who stood near the entrance. The room was still shaking fervently and pieces of rubble had started falling down. They needed to get out. And quick.

He lifted her up from the ground and started running in the direction of the exit.

''Luke, let's go! Now!''

''Right.'' Luke responded and quickly followed his mentor into the tunnel.

So, this was the chapter this whole story was based around. I can't believe it took me 18 chapters to get here. Thank you to everyone who has been reading this so far. From what you might be able to tell, this story is far from over!

I would very much like to hear from you guys what you thought about it so far. I would appreciate a comment or a private message even to hear what you think! It would mean the world to me, just like this story does.

As a little bonus, I would like to tell a little bit about how I got inspired to write this story for anyone who would like to know. So, this is going to sound very lame, but the actual thing that inspired me….was the new Men In Black International movie. I KNOW, WHAT? So, for those of you who haven't seen that movie (or have but are like, WTF how did THAT inspire you to write THIS?), well...there is this scene in the movie where the main characters are in a market in an Egyptian style looking place and...that's it.

Lmao yes I know. I guess just the idea of the professor in an Egyptian adventure got me going and I've always adored the idea of Emmy and him reconciling their past issues in a major way.