"Emmeline?"

Emmy whipped around. That voice... She thought, scratching her fingers on her palms. It couldn't be- wasn't he meant to be chasing after Descole? And not-

The sound of leisurely footsteps moved across the floor, echoing with each pace.

Why was she still standing in the doorway? He had already ran outside, but Emmy hadn't moved. The boy began to run over to her.

"Emmy?" Called Luke, having heard the other voice from inside the building. They had to get back to the professor! It wasn't safe to stay in here.

Just before he could reach her side, Luke was forced to come to an abrupt halt.

He looked up.

Dark pointed shoes, white trousers, a stiff jacket and a shaggy mane of hair towered above him.

No, Luke didn't deserve to find out. Not like this.

Emmy clenched her jaw, pressing her gritted teeth harder together. Behind her tough exterior hid a desperate panic. She buried her restless hands into her folded arms, trying to restrain the guilty butterflies that weighed down her from the inside. She and Bronev had agreed to not reveal anything until it was absolutely necessary - or so she had thought. What had changed?

"E-Emm..eline?" Luke repeated, his voice little more than a whisper. Bronev's words had only just registered. Why did he call her-


A gust of wind sent Descole's red tie flying over his shoulder and his undone suit jacket flapping back. He snorted in amusement, watching as Layton's hands shot up to keep hold of his top hat.

Now was the perfect time to strike.

Descole launched himself forward, swinging his sword. There was no way he would let anybody stop him, not now, and especially not Layton.

Caught off-guard, Layton flinched back; kicking gravel into the air. He had no choice but to parry blow after blow.

It was his own fault, he shouldn't have gotten distracted by a hat.

Descole rammed his sword into the pipe at a perpendicular. The other man was forced to tighten his grip.

Layton's hands were visibly shaking from the pressure as they pushed against one another.

This wouldn't accomplish anything. Descole thought. Layton's too stubborn to give in.

Feeling a sudden surge of strength run into his arm, Descole thrust his sword forwards.

Layton was sent flying back.

The scraping sound of loose gravel against his clothes pierced his ears as he skid across the floor. The tiny stones dug into the skin on his hands, bringing a sudden burning sensation. Layton winced with a fast hissing intake of breath.

He fell into a heap, the pipe landing just out of his reach. All he could hear was his own panting breaths. It was only a matter of time before the Targent agents found them here. "Descole! Think about how-"

The other man's taunting cackle of laughter interrupted him. "You're oblivious, Layton. You know nothing at all!"

What was he on about? Layton groaned, pushing himself up with his grazed hands. It's just a scrape. He thought. Just a stinging scrape...

The shuffling of gravel (which he presumed to be the other man moving towards him) reminded him that he needed to needed to focus again.

"Descole! Think about Aurora!" He said. He only hoped that the man's affection for the girl wasn't also an act. "She trusted you the most out of all of us!"

The shuffling stopped. He didn't hear a response.

...were those few words enough to have changed his mind?

Descole huffed hoarsely, and his hands tensed up.

"No!" He roared. His eyes were set ablaze with a fury more piercing and intense than Layton had ever thought was possible. "The Azran legacy is all I have to live for!" He said, swatting the air with his sword. He would never let it all go - not after all he had been through to get this far.

Layton scrambled to is feet, grabbing the fallen pipe. This wasn't going to be over with ease.

He braced himself for impact, and with a clank, the two weapons met again.


Bronev's mind was whirring.

Emmeline was supposed to be there for leverage for when Layton got in the way. Now that the boy had heard he would run and blab.

The other plan could have completely eliminated this problem... He thought.

It was too close. Emmy watched as her uncle debated with himself - he had made a mistake that he couldn't blame anyone else for. She reached for her camera case and pulled out a set of keys. She couldn't stand it anymore. The guilt that had welled up in her was just waiting to overflow. She looked down at the keys that dangled around her finger. This...This would make things easier for everyone in the end.

"Luke, I am-" Her voice faltered. "I am so sorry."

She had served most of her purpose - thanks to Emmeline they been able to claim all of the Azran sites practically unchallenged. Besides, it wasn't Layton who they had to worry about right now - they could afford to have nobody so close spying on him.

Emmy dropped the keys into Luke's hands, looking down as they fell. She couldn't hold his gaze. He had to go back to the professor - if he lingered here for too long then he too could get dragged in to be used as blackmail. She had seen for herself that Layton would risk his own life to protect the young boy - she couldn't let him get into another situation where he would have to.

"Wha- Emmy, I don't 's going on? Why are-"

"Luke I-" She shut her eyes. How could you tell a child that you have spent the past years betraying them?*

"Emmeline." Bronev's voice was stern. If she took any longer then there would be no need to say goodbye to the child. He looked down at Luke. "She works for us, boy."

Luke stared back, his mouth held open as. It was as if he had been paused. It wasn't true - it couldn't be! Emmy was their friend! His eyes began to well up.

She crouched down and placed a hand on his upper arm. "Tell the professor that I'm sorry."

"But Emmy-" Luke snivveled.

"Luke, please. You need to go back to the professor."

Bronev made his way to the door to one of the meeting rooms, remaining silent. Emmeline needed to be clued up on all of the happenings since she had been gone. He opened the door and looked over to Emmy. The girl stood up and looked at him with sorrowful eyes.

No matter, she'd get over it.

He held the door open and motioned for her to enter. There were some important matters that they needed to discuss.


The side of the Bostonius was right behind Layton. He tried to hold his ground, using the pipe to ward off the other man; Descole kept advancing, pushing him back.

There's nowhere left for him to go now. Descole thought, bringing a malicious grin to his face.

With the point of his sword aimed at Layton, he lunged forward.

Layton flinched out of the way. The sword edge missed his hand by mere inches.

The sound of ripping material tore through their ears, and the Azran egg that the professor had taken back from Bronev tumbled to the floor.

They both glanced at each other with fierce determination. Both swooped down to grab it, but Descole maganged to swipe it first.

With one last strike, Descole knocked Layton's pipe back, before running up onto the Bostonius stairs.

"Raymond!"

There was a muffled "Yes master." And the airships engine started up.

Layton had no choice but to stand back and watch as it flew higher into the sky.