Here's the next chapter I hope you enjoy.
Dikratsblim - Thanks again, I'm also really excited about write Miracle Mask. Both Pandora's Box and Lost Future are great games. I felt that the Curious Village was trying to find its feet (being the first game) so it was not as good in terms of story and art. Still it's a classic so I enjoy playing it. I was not expecting Layton vs Wright to be so good. I never played a Phoenix Wright game before so it was really interesting how they switched between the two games. I haven't finished playing Layton's Mystery Journey because I'm finding it hard to get into it, but (as you said) at least it ended on a high.
Thanks again.
Djinn - Thanks so much I hope you enjoy the next chapter.
aivenir - Hello again. Yeah, I'm Wimbledon FC supporter so I felt obliged to make my OC follow the same team. The Spectre's Call and the Lost Future were brilliant, however I don't think I'll ever forgive the English dub for what they did to Flora's voice in the Lost Future.
Thanks so much again. I'm trying to find ways for Edgar to be more 3D as a character and I felt that him being this rough, foul mouthed, delinquent who also make handmade gifts and cries at operas is a great way of doing that. Thanks for the support.
Guest - Thank you so much, hope you enjoy.
Thank you everyone for reviewing. I really like talking to you guys. It feels like I'm part of the world's smallest book club :)
The Puzzling Adventures of Edgar Cipher:
The Miracle Mask
Prologue
The City of Monte D'or was alive with celebration.
Fireworks boomed overhead and lit up the night sky, the tall buildings were brightly lit with decorative lights and neon signs, and multi-coloured confetti rained down on the grand parade as it went down the large avenue. Flocks of people had arrived to see the vibrant parade with it's fantastically costumed dancers, it's eccentric floats and the big brass band that played loudly into the night. Everyone was enjoying themselves as they cheered and stared in awe at the performers as they past playing instruments and demonstrating their acrobatic skills. Children laughed with colourful balloons in the hands as they saw a row of mechanical blue elephants playing trumpets while people danced around them.
For Edgar, Monte D'or was one of those places that you have heard of but cannot identify where it was on the map. He knows its like a English version of Las Vegas with its constant parties, its grand casinos and the shameless disregard to light pollution. However, as he and Layton walked down the crowded yellow brick pavement, alongside the parade, only one thing flashed through his mind.
'Bloody hell, if I came to this place over a year ago I would be rich after one night,' he thought as he glanced at all the potential pickpocket victims, his hands twitching slightly.
Safe to say that bad habits do die hard.
Edgar shoved his hands in his leather jacket pockets and tried to think of something else.
"So this is Monte D'or," Edgar mused as he sidestepped out of the way of two running children, "Have to say it's much nicer than Misthallery," he sniffed the air before muttering," certainly smells better."
"Indeed," Layton agreed, dressed in his usual coat and top hat attire, "In only 18 years, this little desert oasis has grown into quite the tourist attraction."
"Damn, only 18 years," Edgar said, looking at the tall stone and brick buildings with a keen eye, "it looks way older then that."
They stopped to take in the sight of the wide avenue with it's magnificently designed architecture/
"I suppose it does," Layton said, repositioning his hat on his head, "Some people even call it the City of Miracles."
'The City of Miracles, huh,' Edgar thought as he reluctantly got out his notebook and jotted down the first mystery down.
New Mystery - The Miracle of Monte D'or: Monte D'or has grown from a humble inn to a wealthy city in a space of 18 years. How could such a city develop so fast?
He placed the notebook back in his pocket whilst grumbling in annoyance. Layton and Emmy had encouraged him to keep a record of all the mysteries they encounter on their investigation. Edgar insisted that he didn't need it since he has a good memory and it would be a waste of paper.
Also it's really uncool.
Edgar thought it would be better suited for someone young like Luke, but (like most things in his new life) things were decided for him. He looked around and noticed something odd.
"Hey Prof, is it me or is does the world look...different?"
"Different?" inquired Layton.
"Yeah, it looks more...3D."
Layton looked around with a curious hum, "Perhaps the lights are effecting your eyes. It is awfully bright," he suggested.
Edgar blinked a few times and shrugged, "You might be right. Anyway what are we supposed to be doing, Prof?"
"Well, the letter that we received told us of terrible things that has been happening in Monte D'or," Layton explained as they continued walking beside the parade towards the city centre, "It's quite hard to believe with the celebration currently occurring."
"They're covering it up well," Edgar mused as he glared at incoming man to get out of his way, which he promptly did.
Layton hummed in thought, "We'll have a better understanding of the situation after we speak to Angela."
As they continued walking through the crowded avenue, Edgar's mind drifted to Angela Ladour, the writer of the letter they received the other day.
'The Prof has been awfully quiet in this Angela. From what Emmy and I can get out of him, she had been a friend of his back in his school days. Did something happen between them?' Edgar mused.
They reached the end of the avenue where people have gathered in a round plaza, surrounded by looming buildings. The plaza itself was decorated with flags and streamers attached to lampposts (whose existence seemed redundant with the amount of illumination) and various types of decorative shrubbery and cypress trees. In the centre of the plaza was an exuberant water fountain topped with a statue of a Greek woman carrying a water vessel. Up ahead past the plaza was giant red and white circus tent. It looked to be fifteen stories tall and was lit up with lights and brightly coloured flags. An arch doorway on either side of the tent allowed people to travel from the plaza, under the tent and deeper into the heart of the city.
"It's a wonder how people can get any sleep in this city," Edgar muttered thoughtfully as music and cheering filled the air, "it's like having a never ending circus on your doorstep."
Layton chuckled, "I suppose people need a place to forget the worries of everyday life. Anything is possible in the City of Miracles. Or so they so," he turned to Edgar with a proud smile, "I commend you for not giving into pickpocketing. It must be hard for you."
Edgar grumbled as he saw a person walk by with their wallet sticking out of their pocket, "It's like I'm being tested."
"Well, we won't get far just standing around. We had better make a start with our investigation," Layton said as he looked around the crowds of people.
Edgar hummed, "Where should we star-oof!" he cried as something rammed into his back almost knocking him over.
He growled in annoyance and looked back, "Watch where you're goi-" he stopped mid sentence as he caught sight of who hit him, his expression turning from angry to confusion, "What the hell happened to you?"
Before him and Layton was a man in his forties dressed as clown. He wore an orange and blue tunic and a blue hood pulled over his head. His face was painted white and the end of his pointy nose was red. But what was strange about the clown was that he was tied around the waist and arms by a bundle of colourful balloons which kept him floating two feet off the ground.
"H-h-heeeeelp!" the clown cried in distress as he began to slowly float away.
Edgar and Layton grabbed the strings that he was tangled in before he drifted away.
"How?" Edgar questioned in bemusement.
"I-I don't know," the clown sputtered as he struggled against his prison, "I'm meant to be tying up balloons for the carnival, but I've gone and tired myself up instead! I f the ringmaster catches me like this, it won't be pretty! Even with all my lovely balloons! Ohh, I've bungled my last!" he cried.
"We should assist him," Layton said, earning an irritated sigh from Edgar.
"Alright, one moment," Edgar said as he got his pocket knife out of his jacket and prepared to cut the strings. However before he could get close, the clown saw what he was about to do and yelped again.
"No, no please no!" the clown cried, "I won't be able to sell them if you cut the strings."
Edgar raised an eyebrow, "It's either this or you'll continue to perform the worst impression of Harry Houdini."
"Perhaps you can untie him," Layton suggested as he looked over the tangled mess of strings, "I believe you have to move three stings to untangle him, Edgar. I'll hold him down and make sure he won't float away."
"Fine," Edgar grumbled as he got to work.
Puzzle Start
Upon closer inspection there whole mess could be tracked down to four strings that had tethered the rest down. Edgar would need to straighten these strings to release the rest and set free the clown.
He started with the top right tangle and managed to release one of them, although the other three were still a mess. The clown smiled gleefully as he was able to move around a bit more. Next Edgar tackled the tangle in the middle of the second and third string and the strings loosened once again. It didn't take a genius where to untangle next, the third and fourth string needed to be moved over and then all them were released.
The clown jumped down on the ground and grabbed onto the strings before they could float into the sky.
Puzzle Solved
"Oh, you've know idea how grateful I am," the clown told them with a wide grin, "Honestly, I'd give the world if I had it."
"Well-"
"Your thanks is enough," Layton reassured the clown whilst stopping Edgar from giving a suggestion.
"All right then!" the clown happily said as he began to walk away, "I'll just let you enjoy the carnival. That's as good as any gift!"
He waved to them as he walked into the crowd, the balloons eventually being the only thing in sight.
"You know he's going to be caught in those balloons again, right?" Edgar questioned in deadpanned tone.
"Indeed he will," Layton agreed.
They both heard gasps of joy from the parade behind them and turned around to see what the spectacle was. Edgar saw the largest balloon he has ever seen in his life. It took the form of a clown wearing a green costume with blue and white sleeves and it had a white face with a black 'X' over one eye. Its torso has inflated in order to keep afloat above the spectators and the performers and attached to its back were a number of large balloon of various colours. On the avenue in front of the clown balloon were a troupe of performers. Acrobatics, men on stilts and another brass band. Two performers holding a bundle of multi-coloured balloons ran up to the centre of the avenue and released them in a fantastic display that wowed the audience.
"Who do you thinks pays for all this," Edgar said as they continued walking to the city centre, "seems a little pricy to do this every night."
"I would assume that the city administration of Monte D'or are firm believers of the concept of spending money to make money. I reckon that the amount of tourists flocking in everyday provides the treasury with sizeable profit," Layton said.
Edgar raised an eyebrow, "You don't think the troubles happening around the place are trying to disrupt all of this."
"It's a possibility," Layton admitted, "although it is impossible to say for certain."
They were about to walk further into the city when a scream of terror rang out somewhere behind them. They turned and to their shock people started to run past them in a panic. They stepped to the side to avoid being rammed into and watch the carnage slowly unfurled.
"It's him! Run!" a person cried, stirring up more strife.
"We need to get out of here!"
"Help!"
"They're frozen to stone!"
The last cry caught Layton's and Edgar's attention.
"Stone?" Layton questioned in confusion.
The giant clown ballon began to rock unsteadily as the wire keeping it to the ground loosened, causing Edgar to worry it will fall on people. It didn't have time to think about it they needed to see what they panic was about.
"Let's go," Layton said as they ran against the flow of the crowd.
They had to bob and weave through the hysterical people. Edgar almost crashed into somebody, but luckily dodged at right time. However, he didn't see the danger over head. The clown balloon's tethers became loose suddenly and the balloon ripped, sending it hurtling down on to the ground. Layton noticed the arm of the clown balloon fall towards them and pushed Edgar forwards.
"Jump!" he cried as he and Edgar were forced to tuck and roll before the arm slammed down onto the ground.
They both recovered from their jump and got to their feet. Edgar looked back at the arm and wondered why made such an impact if it was just balloon.
'Maybe they weighed it down,' Edgar thought.
However, he didn't have time to ponder as he turned around to see what caused the panic. He stepped back in shock as he saw a number of stone statues of people. They looked to be in a terrified state, some were running away, others were in the middle of turning around in surprise, while others held the arms in front of their faces as if they were fending off something.
"Bloody hell," Edgar muttered in disbelief as he inspected the statues.
"What on earth is going on here?" Layton uttered out loud, just as astounded by the scene.
Suddenly a short, plump clown came running past in fright as he tried to make his way past the deflated balloon. He wore blue dungarees over an orange shirt and wore white face paint, large red lips and blue crosses on his eyes.
"Come on! Come on!" he shouted, earning worried glances from the people that had gathered.
"Please sir," Layton pleaded to the clown, "try to calm down."
The clown turned to him in fright, "Calm down!? Are you blind!? Those people have been turned to stone!" he cried as he managed to escape.
"Turned to stone," Edgar repeated, glancing back at the statues, "what's going on?"
"I don't know," Layton answered, just as confused as he was.
Something compelled Edgar to look up. He didn't know if it was out of instinct or some godly intervention, but something told him that he needed to look in the buildings above. His instincts were not wrong.
"Prof," Edgar said, catching his attention. He nodded upwards and Layton saw what he was indicating.
"What on earth..." Layton muttered.
Standing on the edge of a roof was a tall man. He wore a white fancy suit and tails, a white cloak, white shoes and white top hat. The most distinguishing feature of this mysterious man was the mask that covered his face. It looked like one you find at a carnival and was completely gold in colour. Carved into it was a wide smile and two jovial eyes that seemed to gleam in mischief and a lighter gold strip forming a 'V' shape just above the eyes. Long golden hair covered the rest of his facial features from view.
Edgar felt uneasy when he stared up at the man. He presented himself in such confidence that it was intimidating to anyone watching him. He twirled a golden cane I his left hand and, in a mocking voice, the man spoke to the crowds down before him.
"1,2,3,4, did you miss me, Monte D'or?" he proclaimed, "Ladies and Gentleman, welcome! I hope you enjoyed tonight's grand miracle curtesy of... The Masked Gentleman. Consider what you have seen tonight as a warning. Monte D'or will soon be destroyed. Those who submit to the power of the mask may be spared. But then again..." he announced as he lifted his cane and held both hands on either end, "...they may not!"
They pushed his hands together and the cane he was holding collapsed and disappeared in his hands. As soon as the cane vanished, a pair of large, white wings sprouted from under his cloak. He leapt of the side of the building and the wings allowed him to glide into the air above the crowds and houses of Monte D'or. Layton and Edgar were of the people he flew over and watched helplessly as the Masked Gentleman soared across the night sky.
"I have to admit he sure does know how to make an impressive entrance," Edgar said out loud.
"Professor! Edgar!" a familiar voice shouted over the sound of horse hooves.
They turned around to see Emmy galloping towards them upon a white and golden maned horse. She was dressed in her usual outfit, but now she wore the necklace Edgar gave her for her birthday. Something that Edgar was secretly happy about.
She stopped the mare in front of them and glared at the Masked Gentleman who flew overhead and over the buildings.
"What are you waiting for? A written invitation," she determinedly said, eager to pursue the mysterious man.
"Where did you get a horse from?" Edgar questioned, leading her to point to a few horses further down the avenue. They were used to pull the carts for the parade, but they had been abandoned during the panic.
Layton hummed, ran up to a grey horse with a black mane, and instantly mounted it, "Let's go," he said as he pulled on the reigns and took off in the direction of the Masked Gentleman.
"Hey!" Edgar shouted, "I never ridden a horse before. What I'm supposed to do?"
Emmy smiled in amusement, "You can always take the trainee horse," she told him, nodding in certain direction before following Layton.
Edgar turned to where she nodded and grimaced as he saw what she meant. Looking up at him through his shaggy grey hair was a pony with his tongue sticking out of his mouth. It looked eagerly up at Edgar, obviously excited to be part of the chase.
Edgar was less thrilled.
"If I ride you I might actually crush you," Edgar told him in honestly, earning a disappointed whinny from the pony.
Layton and Emmy rode swiftly down the backstreets of Monte D'or. It was less populated and hell of a lot quieter than the main avenue, its street lamps lit up the streets with a dim glow.
They chased the Masked Gentleman down the narrow cobblestone streets, darting left or right when they came to a fork in the road as they tried to keep sight of the flying man.
The Masked Gentleman would mock them as they chased him as if this was all part of a game. This, of course, annoyed Emmy tremendously.
"Professor, how are we going to catch him?" she called out as they turned right down another lane.
Layton hummed in reply, "Keep him in your sight. We can only hopes that he slips up somehow," he told her before looking around as he noticed somebody missing, "Where's Edgar?"
"I don't know," Emmy called back, "perhaps he's coming up with a plan."
Meanwhile
Edgar was trying his best to mount a brown horse with a black mane, but the pony was using his mouth to pull on his trouser leg, stopping him from doing so.
"I'm sorry but you can't come," Edgar told the pony as he tried to release himself from the pony's jaw.
However, the small horse was stubborn and whinnied in complaint.
Edgar sighed and turned down to look at the pony, "For the last time I'm too heavy to ride on your back. I can carry you faster than you can carry me."
The pony stopped pulling and thought over what he said. He then tilted his head cutely and gave him a pleading look, his tail wagging excitedly.
Edgar pieced together what he wanted and frowned in despair, "You have got to be kidding me," he muttered.
Layton and Emmy continued their chase through the back alleys, but now their path was hindered by numerous obstacles left carelessly by the residents. They had to drive their horses carefully around barrels, carts, rubbish bins.
At one point they lost sight of the Masked Gentleman, but to their relief he flew into view with a taunting cackle.
"Come on now. Aren't you supposed to be stopping me," he mocked as his white wings continued her to flap away.
Layton's brow furrowed as he told his horse to go faster. He kept eyes trained on the flying man. He didn't want to lose sight of him again. However, now that his concentration was on the Masked Gentleman, he had lost focused on the road ahead of him. As they turned right down a road, Emmy spotted the barrel in Layton's path that he had not noticed.
"Professor look out!" she shouted urgently.
Layton looked back down, spotted the barrel and pulled on the reins to the right sharply. The horse managed to avoid it in the nick of time, but Layton lost his grip of the saddle. The force of hasty turned forced the professor to lose balance and fall to the right. Emmy was unable to do anything as she was too far behind.
He would have smashed his face on the ground if it wasn't for something zooming out of a side alley and catch Layton by the collar of his coat. Layton looked up as he saw Edgar riding on a horse holding him up with his left arm, having to lean far over to do so.
"I've got you," he told him, "can you get up?"
Layton hummed in confirmation as he slowly pushed his way up his horse with assistance from Edgar. Emmy rode in between them and helped pull him up as well and soon Layton was back in the saddle, his hat still firmly on his head.
"I've see you've got a hang on horse riding," Layton said as they all galloped down the street.
"What can I say, I'm a fast learner," Edgar shrugged.
They heard a happy whinny, but Layton and Emmy noticed that it wasn't coming from the horses they were riding. Looking over at Edgar, they saw a pony underneath his right arm its legs were moving rapidly as if he was the one galloping despite being six feet in the air. His tongue hanging out of his mouth and flapping in the wind as he gave another joyful whinny.
Layton and Emmy looked at Edgar with confused looks.
Not bothering to look at them, he sighed, "Don't ask."
Despite the serious situation, Emmy and Layton couldn't help but laugh a little.
They continued to follow the Masked Gentleman as he scored through the air, having to make a left turn up a hill. Eventually, they had almost caught up with him, but before they could do anything the Masked Gentleman dropped something from both his hands. They looked like two small balls, but once they landed on the ground, smoke spouted from them, completely coating the street in a thick layer of fog.
Layton and Emmy stopped just before the smoke, but Edgar rode on through it, making sure he covered the pony's eyes as he didn't want to get damage by the smoke bombs. It was thick, but Edgar managed to hold his breath and navigate through it until he got to the other side.
He looked up, ready to follow the Masked Gentleman again. However, he growled in annoyance as he disappeared. The only thing that was left was his white cape that fluttered gently down and caught in Edgar's left hand.
Edgar inspected the cape for a second before throwing it down on the ground, "Bugger he got away!" he yelled as he stopped his horse.
Layton and Emmy were not far behind and stopped their horses alongside his.
"He had the advantage over us," Layton mused as he inspected the area where the Masked Gentleman had disappeared.
Emmy hummed thoughtfully, "I suppose we can assume that was the Masked Gentleman."
"Thank you Emmy," Edgar sarcastically said, "what gave it away? The fact that he wore a mask or the fact that he called himself the Masked Gentleman?" he quipped.
"Now, now you two," Layton interrupted, stopping the fight between them before Emmy could retort, "we have more important things to do tonight. We must continue our investigation before the Masked Gentleman appears again."
"Right Professor/Prof," Edgar and Emmy chorused.
A tired whinny sounded from the pony under Edgar's arm, making them turn to him. The pony had managed to fall asleep a while back, his limbs and tail hung limply and his tongue still stuck out of his mouth adorable.
"Aww he must of tired himself out," Emmy cooed, gently brushing the sleeping pony's mane.
Edgar turned to Layton, "We should probably bring these horses back first and buy some carrots for their good work."
"Perhaps we should," Layton agreed with a small smile.
Edgar remembers that first night in Monte D'or well. Looking back at it, he had to admit that magic was the only thing that explained the things that he and the Professor had seen.
He remembered how Layton looked at a lost when he was shown these 'miracles'. It was almost worrying to see.
However, the investigation of the Masked Gentleman of Monte D'or and his misdeeds had only just started for them. On this adventure they will encounter more miracles, old friends, hidden pasts and many many puzzles they need to solve.
And it all started when they received that letter...
And that was the prologue, hope you enjoyed it.
Like the other Layton games, I am going to do one chapter per...well, chapter (I guess) plus a prologue and an epilogue.
Plus I didn't do this in the other arcs but I'm going to do the mysteries that they encounter like in the games. I didn't do it in the Spectre's Call because back then I was an inexperienced writer and I didn't do it in the Eternal Diva because it was a movie.
Stay tuned for the first chapter of the Miracle Mask.
Thanks :)
