Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Professor Layton franchise.
Chapter 27 Renewed Adventuring
The next morning everyone got up early for their departure to the temple. The king had let them know that they were to be transported in another car that would be more comfortable for them to travel with for such a long period of time. This pleased the professor and Luke, who had both not been looking forward to the pain in their backsides from sitting in the back of the princess's jeep.
The princess herself had not understood the sudden change in plan, but didn't mind it either as long as she was allowed to join. Asim, Adofo and Mahir were joining them for protection. Nane had waited outside of Luke and the professor's bedroom to wish them good luck. The professor understood the situation and quickly left the two lovebirds to say their goodbyes. When he walked outside, he found Emmy on the edge of the staircase leading up to the palace. She was looking down at the entrance where the three guards were loading up the small bus under the command of the princess.
She had a small smile on her face, obviously amused to see her friend delegate the guards. The professor joined her by her side and readjusted the position of his tophat.
''Good morning. Sleep well?'' Emmy asked.
''Very. Ready to tackle the day.'' he responded confidently.
''Me too.'' she smiled up at him.
He was truly going to need to get used to her new eye colour. Luke didn't take too long to join them. They made their way down and met up with the rest of the group.
''Ah! Good morning everyone. We are all set to depart on our adventure!'' the princess said excitedly.
Emmy whistled at the bus, like a construction worker who saw a nice looking lady walk by.
''I would love to drive this baby.''
''Nope. Nope. Nope. Do not let Emmy drive.'' Luke jumped in front of her with his hands held up. ''That will only end up in trouble. And with trouble I mean an early death.''
''Hey! I happen to drive perfectly fine thank you very much.'' Emmy huffed.
''Yeah? How do you know? Do you have a memory of driving well?'' Luke retorded.
''No...I just feel it. In my gut.''
''Pff. Right. No way I'm getting in that car if she drives.''
Both Emmy and Luke turned their back to one another with their arms crossed over their chests. The professor could swear nothing had actually changed.
''Don't worry, I will drive!'' Mahir shouted from the front of the bus. ''I have the most experience driving the princess and king around so it will be my honor.''
''Awh...fine.'' Emmy said with a small smile.
''Thank god.'' Luke whispered, earning him a grumpy side eye from Emmy.
The whole team got into the bus and departed without another hitch. The drive over was long and dull, without much to see for the larger part of the trip. Emmy and Luke had soon gotten over their little dispute and tried to come up with games and puzzles to keep their minds occupied. The professor and the princess joined in every now and again when they could, but usually sat back to just enjoy hearing them goof around and squabble.
The professor could hardly believe Emmy did not have any memory of Luke during all of this. The way they interacted. They way she taunted him. Just like she had always done. Luke fought back as hard as always, secretly happy their bond still remained the same. Happy to see Emmy had not changed even without her memories.
After a few hours, the crew stopped for a little break to stretch their legs. Mahir pointed out that they could see the start of the forest area in the distance and it would take another hour and a half or so to get to the temple. With the second half of the journey ahead, the crew decided they could spare some time to eat lunch and relax. Nane had prepared sandwiches and small pastries for them to enjoy, much to Luke's delight.
He stuffed his face vigorously without warning. Emmy laughed hard at the display, but soon joined him. Her appetite had completely returned. The princess and the professor moved back with a sandwich in hand before the two monsters had completely devoured their supply. After everything had been cleaned up, the group returned to the bus and drove off once again. The second half of the trip was much quieter.
Everyone admired the outside area, which had completely changed from the wide open desert plains to a dense, tropical forest. The variety in trees, vines and animals was enough to take one's breath away. Colour pops from beautiful flowers and fruits could be seen all around and the light that cascaded down from the top of the trees brought about a spectacular view.
''From the king's instructions we should arrive at the temple any moment.'' Asim pointed out while looking at the documents in front of him.
The king had drawn out a map with several pointers to be able to find the place they were looking for.
''There should be a clearing up ahead. Mahir, be careful.'' Asim said.
''Hmh.'' Mahir returned while slowing down the bus.
As the trees parted, a new area revealed itself to the unaware group. Obscured by the tall tree trunks and abundance of greenery, a large, stone structure covered in moss and vines emerged. The team fell completely silent, awe struck by the magnificent, almost pyramid-like formation that took shape in their eyes. To their surprise however, the temple seemed like it was nowhere near its original state. In the area around it lay several large chunks of stone and waste that seemed to have been broken off of the construction.
The top of the pyramid had been replaced with a large tree that seemed to grow from the inside out. The bus stopped right in front of a large, stone hand. They made their way out of the vehicle and tried to take in the overwhelming area. The cave back in Nemhat had been a breath-taking experience, but that seemed to shy away in light of their new discovery.
A group of colourful birds flew past the temple in a swirl and landed on top of the tree. Luke gasped and quickly took out his notebook to make a description of the wonderful creatures. The professor finally looked down at the broken-off hand in front of them, wondering why this was here and what had happened to make the temple be in such a state of ruin.
''Layton Ustaaz…'' Asim called out from a bit closer to the temple.
The professor looked up at the man and noticed him waving at him to come closer. When he did, he understood what he wanted him to see. Next to his, a large broken off head lay in the grass. And not just any head at that, it was the head of the god the temple was supposed to worship.
''I suppose the statues over here have been destroyed.'' the professor said.
''That seems to be the case.'' the princess responded from behind him. ''Look over there, the other parts of the body are spread over the field.''
He followed her pointed out finger to see that, indeed, the god Thoth had been scattered about.
''Almost like someone didn't appreciate the guy very much.'' Luke chuckled half-heartedly.
''Maybe a certain king who did not agree with the effect of the necklace.'' the professor thought out loud while placing his hand on his chin.
''You think Metjen could have done this?'' the princess asked.
''It is possible. But it has been many years, a century even. Who knows how many people found this place in the meantime. Another possibility is self destruction. After we took the artifact out of the cavern in Nemhat, the place practically took itself down.''
''Such a waste.'' Emmy sighed.
She walked in between a bit of rubble towards the temple and traced the statue's remains with her fingers. The rest of the group followed close behind. An anxious feeling accompanied both the professor and Luke when they looked at Emmy's back. The sensation of adventuring with her in a structure that housed, or used to house, a powerful artifact that could change her life, gave them the strong feeling of déjà vu.
Emmy walked up the first steps to the temple, her sapphire eyes filled with wonder. In her mind, she had never seen anything like this before. She knew she could take a picture with the camera that was in her backpouch, but the feeling she was experiencing right now, by looking at this, felt indescribable. Almost like a waste to look away from even one second.
''Emmy, be careful.'' the professor warned. ''The last time we were in a structure of Thoth, the place was boobytrapped.''
Emmy turned to look at the professor to respond, when her foot landed on a tile that clicked down into the ground. Before she could say or do anything more, the stairs beneath her vanished and were replaced with a set of spikes. The next few seconds happened in slow motion. Emmy tried to turn on her heel to no avail. The ground she was standing on had vanished. She gasped as she felt her weight shift in the direction of the ground. The spikes still looked sharp. Sharp enough to impale her and put a miserable end to her life.
Panic began to set in as she could feel herself fall down. A scream behind her. Someone calling out her name. Birds flying over in panic and suddenly...darkness. She waited for the pain to hit her. The realisation that she had been impaled. The realisation that she had died. Anything.
''Emmy! Emmy, are you alright?!'' a panicked voice.
She could suddenly tell she had clamped her eyes shut. She opened her eyes and mouth to take a deep breath. When she opened them, she saw that she had fallen back against the professor. He had grabbed her face in his hands and studied it closely with worry all over his features. He sighed deeply when she blinked a couple of times.
''Thank god I was on time.'' he whispered and leaned his forehead against her shoulder.
The professor saw it all right in front of his eyes. She had stepped on some kind of trap and activated it. She had started falling down into a dangerous set of spikes that would kill her instantly. Before he could think, he leaped forward and grabbed her stretched out arm. With strength that he didn't know he had, he pulled her back and screamed out her name.
She landed against his chest, making them both tumble back onto the staircase behind him. The rest quickly ran up to them, checking to make sure the two were alright. The professor had quickly grabbed her face to check if she was okay.
''Emmy! Emmy, are you alright?!''
She had shut her eyes tight and trembled against him. When she opened them and looked him in his own eyes, he had never been more glad to see the colour of the ocean.
''Thank god I was on time.''
He leaned his forehead against her shoulder and sighed loudly from exasperation.
''Wow...that was a rush.'' Luke sighed as well, his voice shaking ever so slightly.
''Emmy you have got to be careful!'' the princess sat down on her knees next to the professor. ''What would we do if you got hurt or worse!''
''I'm...I'm sorry.'' she chuckled. ''I'm okay though. Thanks professor.''
The professor moved his head up and realised how close he had been holding her. He blushed slightly, but made no attempt to move away.
''A gentleman will always help a lady in need. I'm glad you're alright. Let's continue through this temple together.''
It was Emmy's turn to blush now. She nodded and smiled.
''Yes. Let's.''
He called me a lady again.
They rose from their spot on the ground and looked at the entrance of the structure in front of them. They carefully made their way around the spikes and stopped to look at the broken down doors.
Are you sick of the pining yet? Cause I sure as hell am loving it.