Hi my peoples. I, the great glorious humble Goldenponyboy, has finally got his rear in gear to create the next chapter. I'm sorry, but I nearly forgot I had this one going. Kind of like my one friend who hasn't updated in forever. But never mind. THE FIC IS THE THING!
I own only my OC(s).
Tuesday 4:30 P.M., Barde Manor
The package sat on the table in front of them all. Johnathan had just finished apologizing and then telling them how he had got it. Professor Layton was sitting back in his chair, thinking about everything he had said. "You say the Black Raven got this from...who again?"
"He didn't say. But he did hand me this as well." He reached into his pocket and produced the letter Crow had given him.
"Hmm...'from a friend.' I wonder..." He proceeded to open the envelope and read the following letter:
Dear Hershel,
It has been a long while since we had last seen each other. And, before I tell you anything else, I want to thank you for all you've done for Kaita and myself. Without you, I never would have seen past the lies I created and have been able to enjoy Kaita's company.
But enough of formalities. Via a network of travelers (I'll never change), I have gotten to you my Elysian box, within which you will find something I hope will be of help to you. It is a pendant that is made of the same material as the box itself. With it, if your powers to convince another is adapt enough, you can make anyone see what you want them to.
I hope my gift to you will help you,
Anton Herzen
The good Professor laughed as he began to open the package. "I thought as much. It appears that Anton and Kaita are doing well."
Johnathan nudged Flora in the side and whispered into her ear, "Who's Anton?"
"I don't really know for sure. Uh, Luke?"
"Yeah?"
"Who's Anton?"
"Oh, right. You weren't there. Anton is an elder man from the city of Folsense. Though, for a while, he was thought to be a vampire, due to the fact that he hadn't aged one day in fifty years! It was due to a vein of hallucinogenic gas that wafted through the the town, which also hadn't changed from his idea of it."
Flora turned back to John. "Answer your question?"
He had his arms crossed, leaning back against the wall beside her chair. "Seems legit."
Soon, sitting before the Professor was an extremely decorative box, with a goat head design upon the lid. "Ah, the Elysian box. I never believed that I would see it again."
John stood up straight. "That box..."
"Have you seen this before, John?"
"I...believe I have. I think...I think I carried it myself for a while... Yes, it was after the-" He stood bolt upright and shot his hand to his head. Flora immediately threw her hands around his neck in a tight embrace.
~Flashback~
John limbered off the submarine last. The other people around him looked so happy to be back on dry land, away from the destruction and lies that Descole had provided on that island. How could so many people be deceived by the "promise" of Eternal Life? They could be so thick.
But, then again, he had also been extremely thick in going after his cousins. He wasn't ready to go after them yet. But not only that, but he had allowed himself to be used for the Detragiganto, allowing Descole to tear apart Ambrosia!
Leaning heavily on his staff and holding his hand, newly scarred by the "sample" of blood taken, he began hobbling off, only to fall flat on his face in agony.
"Oh, hey, kid? Are you alright?"
Forcing himself back to his feet, John saw who was talking to him. It was a short, plump man, wearing just about all green on his outfit and a backpack slung over his back.
"I asked if you were alright."
Slowly standing up, he said, "Yeah, I'm good," only to fall straight down again.
The man helped him back to his feet. "Easy, there. You've been through a lot here. All those lies about Eternal Life and whatnot."
"You...don't know the half of it." When he regained his composure, he asked the man, "Do you...know where...Scotland Yard is?"
"Doesn't everyone?"
"Just...point me in...the right direction."
The man sighed and pointed to his left. "I don't know how you would get there, but that's the way you want to go. Oh, but before you do," he reached into his bag and pulled out another bag of supplies and handed it to John, "take these. It may be a bit heavy, but that problem will solve itself."
John shouldered the bag, thanked the man, and then headed in the direction the man indicated. When he stopped to see what was in the bag, he found the basic supplies. You know, instant, water-activated food packets, water, and a first-aid kit. But what he wasn't expecting the last thing inside. A golden, decorative box.
He didn't know anything about it at all, not even the legend behind it. In fact, when he opened it, he found nothing inside, except for a letter, but he didn't think anything of it. The first chance he got, he sold it so he could get more supplies.
~Present~
John and Flora let go of each other and gasped. "I didn't think it was important," he told her when they recovered. "It was just an empty box."
The professor opened the lid and confirmed what he had said. The box indeed appeared empty. That is until Luke took it from him. "Don't you remember, Professor?" he asked. "There's another way to open it."
After looking at it for a while to remember the poem, Luke turned two pictures, lifted one, and then blew on the box, revealing a secret compartment on the bottom. Within it was the pendant that Anton had described before. Luke handed it to the Professor, who examined it with great interest. "Astounding. Just like the box, it appears that there are traces of the gas in this material."
"How can you tell?" John asked.
"Why, there is a spider on your shoulder."
Looking where he indicated, John saw a huge, hairy spider, resting on his shoulder. He swatted it off behind him and then turned back to Layton. "When did that get there?"
"What?"
"What do you mean, "what?" The spider."
The professor laughed. "There never was a spider. It was simply an illusion. Try to believe me and look again."
John played along and imagined that the spider wasn't there. And, sure enough, it wasn't. "How did..."
The professor stood up and then placed the pendant around John's neck. "It's all the pendant. Trust me, you will learn."
There you go. I hope that this lives up to your expectations and am sorry that it took so long to get up. R&R ANDADIOS!