So I figured, "Whatever may have possibly happened, Emmy must have broken Professor Layton's heart, right?" Whether or not it was his romantic heart of friendly heart if you know what I mean. So I went with the very general theme that can go for pretty much anything when it comes to her.
Luke slowed down his pace, falling behind the sad gaze of his mentor and the troubling gaze of his childhood friend. Professor Layton followed his example, slowing down just enough to let Emmy catch up with him. After that, they continued to walk at the same pace as Luke fell more and more behind to avoid overhearing something he shouldn't.
"So…" Emmy started. "Um… Well…" Layton gave her a questioning look. "I'm sorry. That's all I've got to say. I regret what I did every minute of every day! I understand if you never want anything to do with me after this! I know you'd say no, and if not you'd say yes just because you're such the gentleman… I won't even try to ask you if I can come back to-to…"
"To?"
"You know… the Professor Layton Squad!" The Professor laughed, catching the now curious attention of Luke from a few feet away. That was a loud laugh for Layton.
" First it was 'Laytonesque', and now 'The Professor Layton Squad'. You remind me of Luke!"
"Don't compare me to him, please."
"And why, might I ask, not?"
"Because he's just like you! If he was like me, then I would be like you, and we both know that's not the case!" Layton smiled.
"You're right about that, in one way. You're not like me, but neither is Luke… Don't compare yourself to me, or anyone else. You'll only end up making yourself miserable." Emmy smiled. She missed that smile of his.
"So Professor…" She said, leaving the subject of returning to Layton's group.
"Yes, Emmy?"
"Why did you say it was good to see me?"
"Because it was."
"But-but I hurt you- and… and…" She hung her head lowly and sighed. "What about Luke? Why was he so happy to see me?"
"He doesn't hold a grudge, and neither do I!" And with that, the two continued to walk in complete and utter silence.
Meanwhile, Luke found himself next to Buttercup before he could even think about avoiding her.
"Well hey there, What-His-Name-Professor-Dude's-Kid!" Buttercup said with a boyish smile.
"Hello… My names Luke, Luke Triton. And I'm not the Professor's son, actually… Not legally, anyway."
"But at heart?"
"I guess you could say he is." A small smile crept across his face as he looked forward at his "father" and Emmy walking and, at this point of time, still talking.
"Kind of like my sisters and I and the professor…" Buttercup mumbled.
"Hm?" The words "the professor" caught him off guard.
"Our 'dad'. He created us, so I guess he is kind of our father… But he's not like our biological father… Legal, but not biological… I'm not making any sense am I?"
"Not really, Ma'am." Luke replied politely.
"Ma'am? Ma'am is my teacher! Never call me Ma'am again, alrighty?" She winked at him, causing him to become a little nervous.
"Oh, um, ok."
"Anyways, I forgot that in this world, not everyone knows I'm not human." This statement took Luke aback. Buttercup laughed. "My sisters and I were created nine years ago out of sugar, spice, everything nice, and Chemical X! That's what gave us our powers. You did realize we had powers, right? And before you say 'Oh I thought you were fourteen!' We were created right off the bat at five years old."
Luke wasn't quite sure how to react. Buttercup laughed.
"Bu-but that's not scientifically possible…" Luke stuttered.
"You're forgetting that we come from different dimensions." Buttercup said with another wink.
"Oh, right…"
Just then, Buttercup tripped over a piece of mechanical machinery sticking out of the ground. Luke caught her by the waist and arm before she could hit the ground.
"Stupid idiot left wiring sticking out of the ground! How could I have not seen it?! GET YOUR STUPID HANDS OFF ME!" She said as she stood up and yanked Luke's protective arms away from her.
"I-I'm sorry, Miss Utonium…" Luke said with a dazed look in his eyes. He glanced over to make sure no one was too close, confirming just how long this hallway was, and how much faster he, Buttercup, Layton and Emmy were than the rest, before turning his attention back to a fuming Buttercup. She sighed.
"Blossom says I overreact way to easily… I guess she's right… S-s-sorry. Gee I hate saying that word!"
"That's all right…" And at that, the two continued to walk in silence. The silence only lasted a moment or two, though, before Luke spoke up.
"So, do you trust Professor Xandermon?" Buttercup shook her head.
"No, but my dumb sisters do, and when they want to do something-especially if they think they're helping someone-there's nothing I can do about it. I mean, I COULD say no and go back but… Who else is going to protect them if they're wrong about him?" Luke smiled and nodded.
"That's very ladylike of you, Buttercup!" He said as he rearranged his cap. Buttercup laughed.
"I'd usually take that as an insult, but from you, I'll take it as a compliment! ... How about you? You trust him?"
Luke shook his head. "No, but I trust Professor Layton, and he… well… he doesn't entirely trust him either, but he also wouldn't let me get into anything that he thinks would be too dangerous, even after all we've been through!"
"Sounds like a loving father-figure." A single tear slid down Luke's cheek as a large smile spread across it.
"He is…"
"So how old are you, Luke?"
"Fifteen, why?"
"Just wondering. You look more like seventeen." Luke laughed, loudly. "What's the matter? What'd I say?"
"It's nothing! It's just that, well, I've always been so small for my age. Until I turned fourteen, that is. I never thought I could ever be fifteen and look seventeen!"
"It's called a growth spurt!" Luke smiled ear-to-ear.
"I suppose it is…"