Here's the epilogue. I hope you have enjoyed the first story arc of 'TPAOEC'. Thank you for all your support.

Epilogue: The Last Gift

The group were having a small celebration. Descole still haunted their minds, but they were able to brush those thoughts to the side.

Well, for now at least.

It was clear that Layton had been the most effected by the masked man as he kept quiet as the others breathed sighs of relief that everything was over.

"We really did it…" Luke stuttered in a bit of a daze.

"That was quite a trial, Professor," Emmy chirped.

At being mentioned, Layton looked up to the others and gave a tired, gentle smile.

"Indeed, it was quite eventful," he agreed.

"Well," Edgar started as he clapped his hands together, "it's past midday and we still haven't had breakfast. Why don't we-"

A shrill cry rang out across the plaza, interrupting Edgar and simultaneously dashing his hopes for a free meal. They turned in shock towards Loosha.

"Loosha! What's wrong!?" Edgar cried out in concern.

The injured Loosha picked herself up and nodded her head towards the broken dam as if urging them to follow her. She then began to shakily make her way up the stairs again.

Edgar felt dread pool in his stomach as Loosha squeaked in pain.

Something was wrong with her.

The group looked at each other in worry before they rushed after Loosha.


BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

Loosha smashed her body against the gate of the stone dam that kept the Barde Manor reservoir. Every time she smashes into the gate, she would squeak in pain due to her injuries, but anyone looking into her eyes could see the fierce determination.

The group watched her in shock and worry as she kept slamming her body against it. Her wounds beginning to get worse and worse.

"What are you doing?" Arianna cried out in concern, "What's wrong, Loosha? It's all over. We won!"

Loosha ignored her pleas and kept slamming into the gate. Edgar could hear the creaks and groans from the wooden gate as it began to splinter and break.

"Arianna, the flute" Layton reminded her. The sound of the flute might calm Loosha down.

Tony took out the flute from his pocket and passed it to Arianna quickly. Arianna began to play the hauntingly beautiful song again, hoping that this will calm Loosha down.

However, to Arianna's sadness, the tune didn't do anything to stop her.

"It's not working," Arianna cried out in sorrow.

"Prof, Loosha wouldn't be doing this without a good reason," Edgar told Layton calmly, "maybe we should help her open the gates. I don't want her to risk anymore injuries."

"But that would flood Misthallery," Luke countered adamantly.

"I'm sure it could handle one more flood, Luke," Edgar contested, "besides all the water will flow into the river again."

Before Layton could reply, Arianna started screaming at Loosha.

"Stop that right now! Please stop doing that, Loosha!" she screamed as tears formed in the corners of her eyes.

In anger, Arianna picked up a rock off the ground and prepared to throw it at her. Edgar doubted that Loosha would even feel the rock if it were thrown at her.

Arianna grit her teeth in anger and sadness, "Fine. I don't want to be your friend anym-"

But before Arianna could finish her sentence of throw the rock at Loosha, a hand was placed on her shoulder. She looked up to see Edgar shaking his head at her.

"Arianna, I know your upset, but please don't do anything you'll regret," Edgar softly told her, "look at her. She's trying to do something."

Arianna looked at Loosha. She saw the sadness in her eyes as she looked back at Arianna.

Loosha sighed and continued her attack on the dam gate.

Tears began to roll down Arianna's cheeks as she dropped the stone on the ground.

"Loosha," she softly said.

"Why won't she listen?" Tony asked, equally as upset.

With a loud shrill cry, Loosha reared back her head and slammed into the gate for the final time. The wood began to crack and splinter as jets of water burst through the gaps.

"Get back!" Layton shouted, "The gate is giving way! Get to higher crowd, everyone!"

Edgar picked up Arianna and Tony and ran up a hill next to the stone dam with Layton, Emmy and Luke following him. It was just in the nick of time, as the gate burst open and released a tidal wave of water, much bigger than the last one.

The water destroyed the stone bridge that crossed the stream and headed fiercely towards Misthallery. Loosha shut her eyes tightly as she resisted getting pulled away by the water. The reservoir, that was also the Barde manor lake, held much more water than the smaller wooden dam. It stormed the smaller streets of the Middle Town, the canals overflowed, the old rusty pipes spouted water for the first time in years. It was lucky that the residents of Misthallery were able to reach higher ground before they were hit by the flood. The water eventually filtered into the river in which the robe bridges cross over. The damage to the town was also minimal although everything was a bit soggy.

The water from the Barde Manor reservoir flowed out much quickly than Edgar was expecting. The water left behind a large muddy pit where the reservoir used to be.

Loosha didn't hesitate to slide through the broken gates of the dam. The group ran after her through the dam and stopped when they saw what Loosha was trying to show them.

On the bed of reservoir, was a raised platform, now uncovered since the water was drained. On top of that raised platform was a round metal dais with intricate patterns and symbols. On further inspection, it looked to be more of a sealed gate with four metal birds in the centre surrounded by a ring of circles, each circle containing an image. An inscription can be found around the side of the gate in a language Edgar couldn't read nor recognise.

Loosha squeaked at them and pointed her head towards the metal gate.

"What is this?" Layton asked curiously, as he inspected the inscription.

"It looks like an entrance of some sort," Emmy said, "Professor, how on earth can we get it to open?"

Layton hummed as he read the inscription, "I think I can read this," he softly told them.


(Puzzle Start)

Layton cleared his throat and began to read:

"Traveller to paradise, awaken the birds with the four fruits and make them dance.

Bird of illusion, raise your beak and kiss the sun so the traveller may stray into illuminate paradise"

"What does that mean," Luke asked, confused by the inscriptions.

Edgar began to inspect the ring of circles that formed the outer layer of the gate. Each circle contained an image like stars, flowers, fruit, mountains…

'Wait a minute!' Edgar cried out in surprise, "fruit?"

He looked down and checked again. One of the circles contained an image of an apple. Edgar looked around the ring and saw three more the same.

"awaken the birds with the four fruit"

Edgar pressed his foot on the image of the apple. To his surprise, the circle sunk down, and a loud click was heard. Everybody looked up to see that an eye of one of the birds on the gate lit up.

"Find the other apples and press down on them," Edgar ordered the others.

Emmy was the next closest to an apple. She pressed it with her foot and yet another loud click and another bird's eye lit up.

Tony found the next one and Luke the last one.

Now all the birds have been "awoken".

"and make them dance."

Edgar leaned down and nudged one of the birds. It shifted slightly and so Edgar began to turn it 180°. The others followed his lead and began to turn the other birds.

Edgar smiled as he saw what they did. The wings of the meatal birds were designed that if they were arranged in a certain way, they'll form a fifth hidden bird.

"Bird of illusion, raise your beak and kiss the sun"

Edgar followed the direction of the bird's beak to see, and engraved sun previously hidden under the metal birds. Edgar pressed his foot on the engraved sun and it to sunk with a loud click.

"so the traveller may stray into illuminate paradise"

The ground begun to shake as the gate started to lift upwards. Everyone had managed to jump off the gate before it started to move to the side to reveal the entrance to a tunnel.

(Puzzle Solved)


The tunnel wasn't as dark as one would expect. A bright light shone through it, illuminating the walls a beautiful bright blue. The source of the light was still unknown to the group. It looked like it had not been touched for many years, maybe centuries.

"Fascinating," Layton mused in wonder as he looked down the tunnel.

"Why is this here?" Luke asked.

"That's not the question," Emmy countered, "The question is: where does it lead?"

"Only one way to find out," Edgar said as he jumped through the entrance and landed in the tunnel.

The others followed him with various degrees of excitement.


They have been walking through the bright tunnel for a while now. Loosha followed behind them as they trekked through.

Edgar admired how the walls of the tunnel sparkled as if they were made of gems and the air was so crisp and clean. It was like nothing he has ever experienced before. Everybody looked around in fascination and awe of the sparkling tunnel.

Edgar couldn't help but note Loosha's heavy breathing. He looked back at the sea creature and saw her solemn expression. When Loosha noticed his concerned gaze, she gave him a bright smile and a small squeak in reassurance.

Edgar frowned at Loosha's action. He was a great liar, and he was even better at spotting lies.

And Loosha's smile was definitely fake.

He turned towards the front looking at the bright, welcoming light at the end of the tunnel. Trying no to think about it too much.

They had reached the end of the tunnel and the bright light blinded them temporarily. Once their eyes adjusted, they gasped at what they saw.

It was simply breath-taking.

They stood on a cliff looking out on a beautiful oasis. Green, healthy trees and vegetation surrounded a crystal blue lake fed by several waterfalls. Plants and flowers flourished in this brightly lit secluded cavern. Looking up, Edgar could see large crystals hanging from the ceiling, illuminating the oasis with its bright, welcoming light.

Edgar had never seen such a beautiful scenery in his life.

"WOW! Look at this place!" Luke gasped in awe.

Layton looked up at the crystals on the ceiling and hummed curiously.

"Light comes in through the earthen ceiling and reflects off of these crystals. Hm. That sunlight has supported the vegetation here and turned it into a verdant paradise," Layton deducted.

Emmy, who had just figured out to speak again, smiled in wonder.

"So, this is… the Golden Garden!?" she said in awe, "It's an entirely untouched world… I pictured it so differently, with ancient ruins and gold everywhere!"

"Who cares about ancient ruins and gold," Edgar said in a wonder filled tone.

The group turned to see Edgar smiling serenely as he gazed upon the landscape.

"they may be pretty to look at," Edgar continued, "but they'll only trinkets, dead, meaningless. The most valuable thing in the world is life. From the smallest ant to the mightiest tree, life has given more then we realise. The beautiful intricacies of life are delicate and precious and should be respected as it protects us all from harm. Life flows through us, feel our hearts with joy, brings everybody together. Gold may be precious to some, but the real beauty can be found in our surroundings," at that Edgar sighed happily, filling his lungs with cold air.

"Gold is nice to look at, but life makes our existence meaningful and bright."

Edgar finished off his speech by closing his eyes and feeling the gentle breeze.

That's when he noticed the silence coming from the others. He looked around to see everybody's faces filled with surprise and humour. Not expecting Edgar to give such a speech. Even Loosha looked at him with a slightly bemused expression.

"Or…or… something like that, whatever," Edgar coughed at the embarrassing moment.

"Again, Edgar. You surprise us with your poetic use of language," Layton said, a gentle smile on his face.

"That was very sweet," Emmy said, trying to not burst out laughing, "Did you make that up just now?"

"What no!" Edgar cried out in reply, "I…was quoting…from a book…which I stole…from a…blind…puppy," he explained, trying to salvage his delinquent reputation, "I don't care. Are we going to explore or what?"

At that Edgar walked down a pathway that led to the waters, ignoring the laughter coming from the group.

After a while of exploring the Gardens, the group stopped by the shallow waters of the lake. Looking out at the Prussian blue waters.

Layton hummed happily, "Edgar is right. Such a paradise has more value than any amount of gold. It certainly means more to Arianna," he told the cryptically.

Everyone turned to him in confusion.

"What do you mean?" Arianna softly asked.

"The air here is untouched. As Emmy said, it is pure. Its properties may be able to cure your illness," he explained.

Everybody stood astounded at the information.

"I think Loosha knew this," Layton continued, "She led Arianna here in order to cure her. Had Descole found this place first, that would not have been possible. And so Loosha opposed Descole at every turn, trying to stop him from discovering this paradise. And she did it all to help cure Arianna of her illness."

Emmy smiled happily.

Luke and Tony were ecstatic. Relieved that Arianna had a chance of surviving.

Arianna herself held her hand over her mouth in shock. Tears threatening to leave her eyes once more.

Edgar felt like crying too. He was overjoyed by this information. Happy that Arianna will survive. However, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness as he remembered Agatha.

'If I had brought her here, she might be still alive,' he thought sadly.

Emmy noticed the sullen expression on Edgar. She moved closer to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders and gave him a warm hug.

"It's all right, Edgar," she whispered, "What happened to Agatha was not your fault," she reassured.

Edgar sighed and accepted the embrace.

"Thanks Emmy," he softly said.

A loud shrill rang out. Everybody turned to see that Loosha, who was in the shallow waters, wobble and collapse with a splash.

"Loosha!" Arianna shouted in shock as the Barde children ran to her side, "What's the matter!?"

Edgar was afraid of this. The injuries she had sustained in the fight against Descole's machines had been too much for her to take. She had, after all, been battling them for almost an entire year.

Loosha was dying.

Arianna and Tony hugged the gentle giant's head. Loosha looked down on them with a happy but tired smile.

"You brought us here for me, didn't you?" Arianna said, trying to hold back her tears, "I'm sorry. I didn't understand. You wanted to give me this gift. This beautiful gift."

She sniffed and rubbed her face against Loosha's.

"I'm sorry. Please, let's just go back to how things were," she pleaded.

"Please… please don't die. Loosha, please! You've got get up," Tony begged as Loosha's eyes began to flutter.

But no matter how much the Barde children begged and pleaded, Loosha couldn't stay. Slowly her eyes began to close and with a final squeak of farewell, her body became limp, and her breathing stopped.

Forever.

The Barde children cried and hugged Loosha. Tears streamed down their young faces and falling onto Loosha's lifeless body.

The tide began to take Loosha away. They tried to keep hold of her, but it was too strong. Eventually they stopped chasing after Loosha and stared as she drifted gently into the lake. The others watched the scene on dry land. Edgar wished he could so something to help. To bring the only friend the Barde children had since their father passed away.

But some things were impossible to solve.

Loosha began to sink into the deeps of the lake. Leaving behind the people who love her. Eventually, she was out of sight and Loosha, the gentle sea creature and the last of her kind, disappeared into the dark depths.

Arianna continued to stare at the lake. Hoping that this was all a lie or a joke and Loosha was going to pop her head out of the water again and squeak happily.

However, it was neither a lie nor a joke.

Loosha was gone.

"Loosha…" Luke said as he walked over to her catching Arianna's attention, "She used her last ounce of strength to bring you to this wonderful place. She sacrificed her own life to be sure that yours would be saved."

Arianna sniffed, "It's not fair," she sobbed.

"It never is," Edgar commented sadly as he stepped up to them, "however, I like to think Loosha was thankful to have met you two and would be happy to give her life in order to make you live yours."

Arianna sobbed and held her hands to her mouth.

She remembered the times where Loosha would let them ride on her back across the lake.

The games they would play.

All the hugs and petting.

All of these memories were priceless.

Loosha made the loneliness and the grief she felt after her father died go away. She was special to the Barde children.

Arianna wept for her dear friend for a very, very long time.


"Time stands still down here in this ancient paradise," Layton commented after a long period of silence.

Edgar had manged to entice the children out of the shallows and onto to dry land. Nobody had said anything since that sat on the fertile ground. They were all in mourning.

Layton continued, "Loosha must have been born here. I imagine she lost her parents while still young. It must have been lonely being the last of her kind. So, she ventured out through the tunnels into the lake where she met Arianna and Tony."

Tony sniffed and wiped his tears away.

"She needed friends after her parents died… so did we," Tony said.

"It's true," Arianna agreed though tears, "Loosha came to visit us often. We were lonely, as well. We only had each other."

Arianna frowned, "Our father made a fortune on the backs of the townspeople. And after he died…nobody would come anywhere near us. The two of us were on our own. We were all on our own…"

"But that's not true," Luke countered, "We were all worried about you. Please give us another chance."

Arianna wiped her tears away and gave Luke a small smile.

"Luke… I f you do that for me, I will do the same for you," she simply said.

"I used my illness as an excuse to close myself off from the world. I see that now," Arianna continued as she stood and walked towards the lake, "The people in town didn't push me away; it was my own doing," she realised.

"When you feel better," Luke said, "you'll be able to open yourself up again. The whole town will be waiting for you. I think Loosha knew that somehow. Loosha just… she just wanted you to be happy again."

"She knew…" Emmy mused, "that we all need other people in our lives."

Emmy turned to Edgar with a raised eyebrow.

"You know Arianna isn't the only one that should be learning this lesson," she told him sternly.

Edgar rolled his eyes, "I am very aware of how similar our situations are, princess," he replied deadpan tone.

(A.N: The fact that Edgar and Arianna had very similar situations was actually unintentional. I honestly discovered it the other day. Maybe this a sign of being a good writer. Maybe?)

"Now it is my turn to say thank you to Loosha," Arianna said.

She took the flute out of her dress pocket and placed it to her lips.

She began to play the beautiful song again. It sounded much more beautiful as the music echoed across the garden, filling the listen's hearts with joyful sadness.

Arianna played for Loosha and the times she had with her.

Dear reader, it is sad, but unavoidable truth that nothing lasts for ever.

Empires fall, trees rot, and loved ones pass away. The universal feeling of grief and lost is something that everyone will experience at least once in their lives. To say that its fair and you shouldn't feel bad about it would be false.

It is unfair.

You should feel horrible to have somebody you love taken away from you too early. It is normal to cry and weep for your family and friends that have given you so much love. It is your only right to stay up at nights and pray that you were taken in their place.

Death is unfair.

However, dear reader, not everything is in disarray.

Your loved ones may never grace you with their presence again, but do not think they had not blessed you with the memories that you had spent together.

The joys, the miseries.

The laughter, the crying.

The fights and the reconciliations.

These memories of your loved ones will always live in your heart to keep you company for the rest of your life. One will never be alone with these memories. Perhaps it is time to make new memories with another who deserve your love and admiration.

Dear reader if you have experienced the passing of a loved one either recent or not. Do not be sad that they have left you forever but be thankful that they are no longer weighed down by the difficulties and turmoil that this mortal coil had cursed upon them.

They are truly in a better place.

This is something, Edgar learned as he listened to Arianna's song whilst looking out on the blue lake.

He saw a spectral figure of a young girl with blond hair and an ever-loving smile dancing and playing upon the surface of the lake. No longer did Agatha look sickly or pale, but bright and hopeful just like when they were children. Her sickness will always be a horrible dream that she had forgotten long ago.

Edgar watched the celestial figure laugh and squeal in happiness as she ran and jumped playfully. He remembered the days he would spend with her and the fun adventures they have had. Memories that he will always treasure.

He saw the ghostly figure of Loosha joining in her fun as Agatha gave her a hug.

Agatha pulled away and turned to Edgar with a bright smile.

She waved to him happily and opened her mouth as if she were talking to him. No sound came passed her lips, but Edgar knew that she said,

"Goodbye Edgar. I love you."

And with that, the celestial figures of Agatha and Loosha disappeared in a flicker of light.

As he stared out at the now empty lake, Edgar smiled.

He closed his eyes and sighed sadly.

'Goodbye, Agatha,' Edgar thought, 'I love you too.'


Middle Town

The group, minus Arianna and Tony who were still in the Golden Garden, made their way down the wet streets of Misthallery. The residents were starting to rebuild the town after Descole's attack and things were starting to become normal again.

"Looks like it's all over, Professor," Emmy said, "So who do we alert first?"

"Alert?" Edgar asked curiously, "about what?"

"Well, I mean, we discovered the Golden Garden!" Emmy chirped in reply.

"No, Emmy. We must keep this place a secret," Layton replied surprising Emmy and Luke and causing Edgar to smile, "At least… until Arianna recovers."

"That's a bit of shame," Emmy sighed, slightly disappointed in what he said.

"I don't think so," Edgar spoke up, "if it were up to me, I would never tell anybody about the place, ever. Don't want anybody getting their grubby hands of something so beautiful."

"I quite agree," Layton replied, causing Emmy to sigh in disappointment again.

"By the way Prof," Edgar added, "I would like to go on record and say that if you said you were going to use the Golden Garden to boost your career and become well renowned, I would have made you eat your own hat," he jokingly threatened.

Layton chuckled, "I do not doubt that for a second, Edgar."

Luke turned to Edgar with a curious look, "Edgar, what are you going to do now?"

Edgar sighed and smiled at Luke, "Well, I mean it's not like I can do anything. I'm still wanted by Scotland Yard. My problems haven't miraculously disappeared," Edgar hummed, "I suppose later I will travel as far away as possible. There is a small island in the Lower Hebrides that I have also wanted to go to. Beautiful sceneries, some historical places and about as far away from Scotland Yard you can get without a passport. Sounds perfect."

"And what about now?" Emmy asked.

"Now, since everything has been dealt with and with haven't had a meal, I would like lunch and nothing is going to stop me this ti-"

They turned a corner and stopped suddenly at what was in front of them.

"That meal might have to wait," Layton commented as he observed the hundred or so waterlogged London police officer's ready to arrest Edgar. He could only assume the police were met with the full brunt of the two floods.

Leading the attack was a damp Grosky, who stared at Edgar in anger and slight triumph.

Edgar sighed, "Really, now," he muttered.

"We've caught you now, criminal!" Grosky shouted at Edgar, "get on your knees and place your hands upon your head!"

"Do I have to?" Edgar replied, "the ground's wet."

Grosksy growled in anger.

Edgar sighed and did what the inspector told him to do.

"Well, it was nice knowing you guys," Edgar said turning to face Layton and the others, "good luck with the rest of your life, I suppose."

Luke tried to protest, but Layton stopped him with a shake of his head. Edgar smiled at Luke telling him that it was okay, eventually the young boy took a step back. Layton nodded his head at Edgar while Emmy only watched on in sadness.

Edgar knew they couldn't do anything to stop.

'Thanks for reminding me of the important things in life,' Edgar thought as he turned back to face Grosky and the battalion of police officers.

Grosky marched up to him, his shoes squishing from the amount of water in them.

"I take it you were responsible for the floods," Grosky growled.

"I think you are mistaking me with God, Grosky," Edgar quipped, "Although, I can't blame you, many people make that mistake."

Grosky hummed in annoyance and took out his handcuffs.

"Any other smart comments you would like to say before I arrest you," he asked with a raised eyebrow.

Edgar thought for a moment before he smiled up at him.

"You wouldn't happen to have found my Pink Floyd badge, would you?"

Grosky snapped the cuffs over Edgar's wrists way too tight.


HMP Wormwood Scrubs, London

One week later

Edgar couldn't say he ever thought of what prison life was like.

You hear the usual horror stories of gang fights, stabbings, guards abusing their powers and so on. But they never tell you worst thing about prison:

The boredom.

Your locked in a cell for most of it and then a couple of hours exercise and getting your meals and then your back in your cell again.

It was basically a school, but with better quality food.

Although, it wasn't as if Edgar can complain. He wasn't technically a prisoner until the court sentenced him, so he has been hanging around in relative comfort until the jury had made up their minds.

He thought the court case had actually gone pretty well. He pleaded guilty to the robberies, but the judge allowed him to explain why he did it.

He told them everything. From Agatha being sick, to the Grey Street Gang, to the Gertnat Antidote, to him running away. It seemed to have worked to convince the jury. He even made some of them cry.

Layton and Emmy even testified as his case. Luke was too young to testify so Clark took his place. Luke must have told all the good parts to his father since he showed Edgar in a positive light. Layton's testimony was his favourite. The jury and the judge were so astonished by it his elegant speech that they would have said Edgar was innocent if it wasn't for the fact that Edgar had already pleaded guilty.

It has been a couple of days since the court case and Edgar could only wait for his sentence. So, Edgar was lying in his cell complete and utterly bored.

Bored.

Bored.

Bored.

Of course, it wasn't just waiting in a cell.

Layton and Emmy had visited him almost every day, so he wouldn't go insane. They occupied him with puzzles and stories about their day.

Luke also visited him a couple of times along with Clark and Brenda, Luke's mother. She was a lovely lady with long olive green hair and a face which bore resemblance to Luke's. Edgar was pleased to hear that Luke had patched things up with his father. Clark was only acting distant to keep Luke safe from Descole's plans, unaware of the strain in their relationship. They were happy and now that Brenda had returned, they can start being a family again.

Luke told him all the things that have happened since he had left.

Misthallery had been repaired and fixed after the incident and the dams rebuilt.

Jakes, who had to be cut out of the pipe Edgar had put him in, was arrested with forgery and police corruption. News that Edgar was more than overjoyed about.

Arianna was feeling much better, but she still had to stay in the Golden Garden for now, while Tony is starting to make friends with the children of the town. Both children miss Edgar and wish him well.

The Ravens had "unofficially" named a street after him in the market. Edgar definitely approved of it. Cipher Road had a certain ring to it. The Ravens had even insisted on making plans to break him out of prison, which Edgar had to firmly decline. Although, he couldn't help but feel a certain pride with the Ravens expanding into different criminal activity.

And finally, the Tritons had decided to move back to London. Being the mayor was too much for Clark and had given the title to somebody who deserved it. Greppe took his mayorship in his stride while openly criticising Clark's managing of the town. Although Clark knew that deep down Greppe was very thankful for the position.

Luke admitted that he was upset that he had to leave Misthallery, but he was mostly upset that he had to leave Arianna. He would miss her. This, of course, led to Edgar teasing him about missing his girlfriend which made him incredibly embarrassed and denied it. Although Clark and Brenda explained how Arianna kissed Luke's cheek when they left making Edgar burst out laughing and Luke to go beet red.

After that, Luke talked for ages about how he was excited about starting his new school next week. He even brought Toppy along from Misthallery, much to his parents' mild annoyance.

That was a couple of days ago and Edgar was now bored.

Edgar was in the middle of making plans on how he would theoretically escape from the prison when his cell door swung open with a large clang.

A burly prison guard stepped in as Edgar turned his attention to him.

"Has the judge finally made up his mind?" Edgar sighed lazily.

"Yep, we're supposed to transport you to the Old Bailey now," the guard gruffly said as he prepared to put Edgar's cuffs on.

Edgar sighed and allowed the guard to cuff him.

'This is it, I suppose,' Edgar mused as he was led out of his cell.


Old Bailey, London

Judge Lawrence Wargrave, a stern-looking man in his late fifties, peered down through his round glasses from his seat to look at Edgar. The teenager has been one the judge's most interesting cases. From the reports he had received from Scotland Yard, Edgar Cipher was a notorious thief who preyed on London's elite without mercy. However according to those who know him, he was a brash but caring boy who looked out for those who are in need.

Meanwhile, the jury and the audience in the stalls behind Edgar sat patiently at the scene as they waited for the judge's sentence. Edgar glanced to the side to see Grosky switching glances between the judge and Edgar eager to what he had to say.

Edgar looked around, but, to his shame, couldn't see neither Layton nor Emmy. He couldn't blame them, of course. They were busy with their jobs to come visit him. Edgar did briefly wonder if they'll visit him in prison.

Judge Wargrave sighed and leaned back in his oak chair.

"Mr. Cipher, you are quite an interesting character," Wargrave said.

"Thank you," Edgar replied with a small smile.

"Shut it, criminal!" Grosky shouted at him with an intense glare.

"Detective Grosky, this is a court of law. Please do not shout at others, this is not Parliament," Wargrave scolded the detective earning a couple of chuckles from the audience.

Grosky coughed in embarrassment and mumbled an apology.

"Mr. Cipher," Wargrave continued, "you are interesting character. You have been accused of many crimes in the past years including many counts of burglaries, thefts, violent acts against Scotland Yard's officers, impersonating a detective, pickpocketing and the list goes on and on. If I were to sentence you based on this information alone, I would have sentenced to prison without wasting a single second."

Wargrave paused as he stared at Edgar blankly, making sure he the teenager understood the seriousness of what he was saying. Edgar himself stared back, seemingly unbothered. He had already accepted his fate.

"However," Wargrave continued in a kinder tone. His stare became much lighter, almost sympathetic.

"Since I now know the circumstances of your actions. Having been forced into a gang to save your ailing sister. To which I give you my condolences…"

Edgar nodded in thanks.

"…then perhaps the fault does not lie with the young boy who had no choice in the matter, but rather on Scotland Yard who failed in preventing it from happening."

Grosky coughed nervously under the intense gaze of everybody in the courtroom.

"However, Mr. Cipher, no matter the circumstances, those actions were yours and you are deemed a sentence."

Edgar nodded in understanding. Again, he expected this.

"I feel that prison will not fit your sentence as the purpose of imprisonment is to punish those who break the law deliberately. You, Mr. Cipher, need to be rehabilitated into society and reflect from your previous actions. That is why I sentence you to be under the supervision of a responsible law-abiding adult until you have reached the age of 18. Then you will be judged again on whether you have learned from crimes," Wargrave explained surprising Edgar and the rest who was present.

The rest was a bit of blur to Edgar.

He remembered Groksy protesting against the sentence and the excited chatter from the audience, but that was about it.

'I'm not going to prison,' Edgar though in disbelief, lost in his own little world.

That's when he realised something.

"Judge Wargrave," Edgar called out, catching his attention after dealing with Grosky's moaning, "who would be me my supervisor?"

Wargrave smiled gently, "Well, we actually have a volunteer. A well renowned person who is both favourable to Scotland Yard and the academia."

"A volunteer?" Edgar muttered in confusion, "who would- oh," he said in realisation.

The oak doors swung open behind Edgar.

The teenager turned to meet Professor Hershel Layton smiling gently at him. He wore his usual attire along with his stove pipe hat while stood behind him was Emmy giving him a cheery grin.

"Of course, it had to be you," Edgar sighed good-heartedly.

"Good to see you too," Layton greeted, "since you have been such a great help to our investigation, I thought I would return the favour. I hope you don't mind being my apprentice."

Edgar smiled gratefully, "No, of course not. Thanks, Prof."

Later, Judge Wargrave dismissed the court. Grosky gave him a warning (threatened) that if he stepped a toe out of line, he would arrest him on the spot before marching furiously out the Old Bailey.

Edgar, Layton, and Emmy made their way to Layton's car which was parked just outside. They walked in silence for a moment before Edgar decided to break it.

"So, what do I do as an apprentice?" Edgar asked.

"Well," Layton replied, "it means you will help me in my studies, and you will learn under me."

"Don't forget," Emmy added "we have to rehabilitate you into proper society."

"Meaning?" Edgar asked in annoyed tone.

"Well," Emmy grinned mischievously, "have you ever seen My Fair Lady?"

Edgar narrowed his eyes at her, "You mean the film that implies the lower class people are deemed unintelligent and thuggish because they don't speak English in the way that higher class people think English should be spoken. Even though, English is fairly new language with a mix of Latin, Greek, Old French, Old German and Norse and because of it English becomes more flexible than any other language, but elites think they so amazing and so clever that any other form of English apart from theirs is wrong. Not only that, but it also implies that women have no worth in society unless their docile to the patriarchal society and that any woman who veers of the stupid misogynistic notion that women are inferior to men need to be "re-educate" into proper society, demonstrated by the fact that instead of the protagonist marrying the nice young man who liked her for who she really was, she instead married the old man who bullied her for the entirety of the film. You mean that film."

"Yes," Emmy replied simply.

"Never seen it in my life," Edgar answered.

The group had reached Layton's car and after a bit of debating on who should sit shotgun, the professor drove them back to Gressenheller University.


A year later, Arianna fully recovered from her illness.

The discovery of the Golden Garden was made public, thanks to the work of an eminent archaeologist.

It became known to all, as did the name of the man who solved its puzzle:

Professor Hershel Layton.


On a dark forest path, a wooden carriage pulled by two black horses ambled on under the night sky. The lanterns on the side of the carriage illuminated the driver as the elderly Scottish butler and its passenger, Descole.

Descole fiddled with his fingers in annoyance.

"It appears that I underestimated Layton," Descole mumbled in slight frustration.

"All things happen in good time. Don't worry, Master," the butler calmly reassured him.

Descole smiled sinisterly, "Oh, I'm not worried," he said darkly.

"After all, patience is a virtue…"

Descole chuckled slightly at what he said as the carriage carried on traveling down the dark forest path.


Edgar Cipher will return in:

The Eternal Diva