GRAH! ONE OF MY FICS GOT TROLLED SO MUCH THAT IT WAS TAKEN OFF! I'm just so... can I sick Grosky on them? That's about the only use I can find for him. Anyway, while I'm moping, THE FIC IS THE THING!
I only own my OC(s).
Triton Residence, Tuesday 8:16 AM.
Clark's eyes widened when Layton said this. "How is that so? Everyone heard about the discovery of The Golden Garden when it came around."
The professor put his hand over his mouth to think. John, however, stood up with his answer. "Someone must have an immense power of censorship to be able to keep everything inside the town. And the only ones with that power would be the electoral candidates."
"Are you assuming that I did it?"
"Well, you or... Descole..." John shuttered when he said the name.
Clark shook his head before he continued. "I'm sorry, but I don't think we've been introduced properly. I know of everyone else in the room, but not you."
"Johnathan Walker at your service." With this, he mocked a bow. He was not amused at all that was transpiring. Especially since he had heard the name Descole several times. Each time sparking another flashback.
"John, respect your elders," Emmy scolded the American. "May I remind you that you are speaking to the mayor of Misthallery."
"I think this boy needs a bit of a lesson in respect," Grosky muttered to himself. Only yesterday, he had taken a nearly lifeless limp of this boy over to the professor's house. Now, that same boy was back-talking to a figure of authority.
Layton stood up from his chair. "Well, Clark, it was good to see you again. But now, I think we should take a walk around Misthallery. It has been a few years since our last visit to the town, John here would like to see the sights."
"I would?"
"Well, if that's the case..." Clark walked over to his friend and shook his hand. "I'm glad you came around before you did anything else. It's good to see a friend in times like this. And I know that you'll get to the bottom of this puzzle."
"I'll try my best, Clark. A gentleman leaves no puzzle undone. Now," Layton said, turning to the rest of the group, "let's go investigating."
Twin Bridges, Tuesday 8:30 AM.
What the professor said was "investigating." What he meant was "sight-seeing." The first place they went was back to a set of bridges they had passed when they went to the Triton Residence. "These are the famous Twin Bridges," Luke said to the three who hadn't known. "Supposedly, they were built at the same time. The one to the right leads to the market. The left leads... just about everywhere else."
"Interesting," John said. Then his eyes drifted to a man in suspenders and a stetson. "Who is that?"
The man looked over to them and ran over. "Who am I? Who am I? I'm Bucky, and I run the boat service for Misthallery's canals. My motto is: See boat. See Bucky."
Flora looked around and behind the man. "But I don't see any boats."
"Ah, but you see Bucky! See Bucky. See Boats! I can get you anywhere you want in the town."
Luke suddenly bounce up. "Ooh, your route to Barde Manor is still open, right?"
"Of course! I said I could get you anywhere, and I meant it."
"Well, that's where we want to go."
Grosky still wasn't convinced about these mythical boats. "And where are your vesicles?"
Bucky smiled yet again. "See Bucky. See boats!"
Barde Manor Garden, Tuesday, 9:00 AM.
John still didn't quite believe what had happened. The boat just seemed to come out of nowhere. And before he knew it, they were up the river and on their way to Barde Manor. Luke kept chattering about some friends of his: two children named Arianna and Tony.
Right now, they were coming around to a garden. Luke said that is had been overgrown and wild last time they were there. But now, it was beautiful and elaborate. Almost... too beautiful.
John shot his hands to his temples and grunted in pain. Flora, who had been walking in between Luke and John, placed a hand on his shoulder. This sparked another Shockback.
~Flashback~
There was a tree on a small hill in the middle of an equally elaborate garden. On this hill, a picnic was taking place. John was one of the three people there, along with Emily and the boy. They were laughing about something that was lost from the memory.
Suddenly, John stopped laughing and turned his head. He thought he heard something move. A bush of roses rustled a bit when he spun around. "Emily, Peter, get behind me."
The kids swiftly obeyed him. He reached to his left for a staff he had left by the tree. He stood ready to defend them at any cost. He had lost so much already. He wasn't losing anyone else.
Out of the bush charged another wolf. He thought they would be safe in this garden. It's name was the Garden of Tranquility, after all. But John guessed that... Descole cared little for the value.
"Get up the tree!" he commanded, and was again obeyed. The wolf charged him, completely ignoring the children. They always did. Every single one tried to go for his neck.
For his grandfather's ring.
~Present~
Flora and John were shot from each other again. This time, John was flung into the nearby windmill while Flora, again, was pushed into Luke. The boy in blue was not happy about this. "Okay, next time you start a Shockback, do it away from me!"
Flora regained her feet and ran over to help John up. The American was unshaken by the impact, but still a little in pain. He smiled at Flora when he regained his composure. "You know, Flora, you're cute, but we need to stop doing this."
"I'm so sorry, John. I didn't know..."
"Hey, don't worry about it. It's mostly my fault. Don't blame yourself for having a heart." He extended a hand to her, which she took. And this is how they walked the rest of the way.
Barde Manor, Tuesday, 9:15 AM.
When they reached the manor, John could hardly take it in. It was only a run down building to the others, but to him, it was a palace. The design was complex and luxuriant. He cared little for the places that could be fixed.
Luke ran up to the door and knocked loudly. After a while, a little boy in a yellow overcoat answered. When he saw Luke, a smile sprouted on his face. "Luke! It's great to see you!"
"Hello, Tony. You've grown since I've been out of town."
"Well, you have been away for a few years."
"True enough. Oh, and I should introduce you to some of my new friends. Of course you know Emmy and the professor. But these are Inspector Grosky, Flora, and John."
Tony looked at them, walked over, and shook each one's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Now, if you would like, you can come in. Arianna is inside waiting for me to come back."
They followed the boy into the building, through a few halls, and came finally to large sitting room. There, sitting on one of the couches, reading a book, was a girl in a dark blue dress. When the company entered the room, she looked up at them. A smile shot onto her face as she jumped up and ran over to Luke, wrapping him in a huge hug.
"Oh, Luke, I've missed you so much."
Luke returned the embrace. "I missed you too."
John was holding in a laugh. Unfortunately, a part of it slipped out. "Aw, isn't that cute."
Flora shot a warning look at him before Luke and Arianna quickly broke apart, blushing bright red. "Um... Nice to see you all again," Arianna said to the three who had helped her and Tony a few years ago, the year that their friend Loosha died. Then she turned to Flora and John. "I know about the inspector, but who are you two?"
John extended a hand to the girl to shake. "My name is John."
"And my name is Flora." She followed John's action when he released the girl's hand.
"Nice to meet you two." Now, she turned back to the professor and his assistant and apprentice. "What brings you back to Misthallery? Another mystery?"
"Things are starting to appear that way," Layton stated. "Do you two know anything about the Swords of Destiny by chance?"
Arianna and her brother shared a look before she answered with, "No, sorry. We know as much as the rest of the town."
"Well, there is the wall we found in the Golden Garden."
Chapter Complete. Sorry that this has been delayed. I've been set back again and again with school and sports, homework and chores, there so much to do. Anywho, R&R this chapter for me. I know it may not be the best, but just keep in mind that this is my first mystery anything, fic or otherwise.