Only this chapter then one more, then it's finally revolution! This chapter was really fun to write though, as I was looking forward to introducing particular characters as they're some of my favourites
(Though some are out of character right now, but if you know the original story then you'll see why I've made them like this. They'll be back to their original personalities soon enough.)

I own neither franchise. Still.

Castle on a Cloud

Descole put his hand against his sword as he entered the hospital; he was simultaneously overjoyed and disgusted. The famed 'Hershel Bronev' that he'd felt so wrong to betray had been the convict after all. The man ran into the courtroom screaming that he was Hershel Layton instead of the man on the stand. The judge declared that this man was clearly not well and should be taken away, but Descole knew. He had always known.

The scene as he entered the room would probably have been touching if he cared enough to pay attention. Layton sat on the edge of the bed where the unstirring body of the young woman found in the plaza lay. A sad look was upon his face as he bowed his head and whispered something. The sea hit slowly against the side of the rocks beneath the window as the wind whistled.

"1919, after all this time." He looked up to see him, the look on Layton's face showed mild shock but he had clearly known this was going to happen.

"Please Inspector, this woman has a child that isn't aware yet, I need to speak with her." He pleaded with him, Descole scoffed at him.

"You really should have thought of that before you turned yourself in then shouldn't you?" He unsheathed his sword "I'll be taking you back to the docks now. The child will learn of the news soon enough." Hershel backed towards the window, wary of the sword's swinging.

"Just a few days, then I'm yours." He frantically grabbed a pipe that was hooked up on the wall and yanked it from its fixtures. Descole swung towards him as Hershel blocked with the pipe now it his grasp. "It's all I need."

"I've been hunting you for years; you think I'm going to give up now? Pah, you're more clueless than I thought." He flicked the pipe out from Hershel's hand and raised the sword to his neck, trapping him between himself and the window "You don't think I know how you criminals think? I grew up with criminals. You say you'll return but intend to flee at first chance."

"I guess this is my chance then." Descole barely had time to register his words before Hershel jumped backwards into the water below. Descole screamed his name but Hershel was long gone.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Monte D'or was unlike a town anybody had seen before, as you passed through it you'd be suddenly hit with a barrage of life and noise that weren't present in the gloomy town of Folsense. Gamblers stood on street corners and everyone around was nearly always drunk, it was odd for people not to be. The main cause of all the strange town customs was a place called the Camel's Hump hotel. Run by the eccentric inventor Don Paolo, a strange moustached man who seemed to devote his life to creating strange inventions that would ultimately fail. The inn was crowded every single night with people from all round town. Though most had a good enough time whilst they were there, the prices inflated by the hour and they often found themselves leaving with only half their luggage, as the rest was quickly concealed underneath Paulo's coat and thrown downstairs to the waiting arms of his wife Dahlia.

Dahlia was a strange woman, hardly ever showing signs of true emotion, instead faking them to get money. Acting flirtily towards the older men that entered and motherly when children were there. People joked that it was almost as if she was robotic which, considering Paulo's love for machinery, wasn't a completely ridiculous remark. Following her around like a dog was their daughter Emmeline, a loud and pushy girl that was remarkably bright for age; already able to get people to tip her mother extra by flashing a toothy smile and curtseying, holding her bright yellow dress as elegantly as she could.

In the middle of all the chaos was a girl much younger than Emmeline, small in stature with a dress far too big for her hanging off her bony shoulders. A broom was in her grip as she spun around the floor with it. A small rag doll was tucked under her arm and a quiet song left her lips. Flora had been at the inn for a few years, helping round the hotel and getting Emmeline's old, usually torn, dresses and leftover food in return.

"Are you singing again?" Dahlia finished pouring out another glassful for the circus clown that had entered, slipping one of his rings off as she passed it to him. She tucked it into her blouse as she glared at the girl.

"No-no I was just sweeping…"

"You've been sweeping the floors for the past hour and they don't look any cleaner." She tapped her foot against the pool of sand on the floor.

"I swept it up b-but Emmy just came back in from playing and put sand all over –" Emmy jumped up from one of the sofas and draped against the back of it, flicking the gold sand out of her brown hair to hide any evidence.

"Mum, she's lying. I hardly put anythin' on the floor." Flora protested as Emmy stuck her tongue out.

"Are you making up lies about Emmy?" Dahlia angrily slammed her hand against the back of the sofa, making Emmeline jump. "That's-" She raised a hand to her head and sighed "I'm just too busy to care about the sand right now, your father will sort it later. Go and fetch water from the fountain outside."

"But it's so dark out." Dahlia glared at her as she propped her broom against the wall.

"Well excuse me madam. We need water for the guests wine. Go." Flora frowned, but left with one of the buckets.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hershel shook himself off before he entered the town; he'd floated down the coast for ages and managed to pull himself out on a rock about a mile back. He had the address on the back of his notebook and headed towards the hotel, but not before he noticed a very small girl struggling with a pale of water near the edge of town.

"Excuse me miss?" The girl looked up frightfully and darted behind the fountain. "I'm sorry; do pardon me I must look awful right now. I just wanted to know whether you needed help with your water." The girl stood up and peered at him, clutching a rag doll to her chest.

"I'm not sure if I can trust you with the water, you look as if you've already tipped one over you." Hershel laughed as the little girl came closer.

"My name is Hershel. Don't worry about the water; I'll just help you take it back to your home." He picked the buck up off of the floor, it was heavy even to him, how the girl planned to carry it was beyond him.

"I'm Flora." She offered a clumsy curtsey.

"Flora… Is your mother Claire Foley?"

"Yes, do you know her? I haven't seen her in a long time…." He decided not to trouble her with the news just yet. "I miss her."

"I do know her. She's a lovely person."

Reviews would be really appreciated!