Chapter 30:
Nalah cringed as Robot Rowland's never ending screams pierced the air. "Will she ever stop?" She asked to particularly no one.
The tense air was driving everyone insane. They wanted nothing more than to get out of the tunnel, and sadly the only way was forward.
"How much further must we go?" Flora asked.
"Who knows." Luke replied with a sigh. "It seems like it never ends."
"What's that up ahead?" Inspector Rowland asked suddenly.
Layton attempted to make out the shape in front of them. "I can't tell."
Emmy squinted. She could make out a small, dusty pedestal with a square shape perched on top of its surface. "Is it a box?" she asked.
Philip, who hadn't been paying much attention to anyone, quickly perked up. "A box? It must be the treasure!" He began to dash past everyone, pushing Luke and Nalah to the ground in the process.
"STOP!"
Philip jerked to a halt, and turned his glance to back behind him. The others did the same, and no one was able to hide their horrified looks. Behind them stood Robot Rowland. Her arm from the hand to elbow was missing with sparks flowing out of wires hanging out of the socket. Her body flinched back and forth as if malfunctioning. "No one move. The treasure 's m-m-mine." She stuttered.
"My word..." Layton whispered.
"That is extremely disturbing." Inspector Rowland cringed.
Robot Rowland walked forward, ignoring everyone's disgusted glares at her terrible appearance.
Philip gritted his teeth. "You, stay where you are! I have had quite enough of you!"
Robot Rowland frowned. "I will n-not stay b-b-back and observe! The treasure is with-i-in my grasp!"
"You do not deserve to touch it!" Philip exclaimed.
"And y-y-you are?" Robot Rowland yelled back.
Emmy shook her head. "Last I checked, neither of you are worthy!" She pointed at Philip. "You devised this scheme, created that robot, kidnapped Inspector Rowland, had people attack us, kidnapped me, attempted to posses me, and made me wear this ridiculous dress!"
Emmy then turned to Robot Rowland. "And you! You lied to us and tricked us, hypnotized me, nearly crushed us with your machine, dragged us down this hole, and you aren't even a real person! Neither of you deserve anything!"
The accused both looked shocked at Emmy's outburst. "No one asked you!" Philip spat back.
"W-w-what he said." Robot Rowland added with a huff.
Emmy looked like she was about to kill someone. Layton quickly stepped forward before she could do anything. "Most likely there will be another trap in our way. It would not be wise to walk up and take the treasure."
Philip sighed. "Of course."
"Why d-d-don't you and your m-mouthy friend go a-ahead then?" Robot Rowland stated.
"Does she realize she can't talk correctly anymore?" Luke whispered to Flora.
"I h-heard that!" Robot Rowland yelled. "Now g-go ahead P-Professor."
Layton took Emmy's hand, and the two continued ahead of the others.
Philip turned to Robot Rowland. "How do you know they will give us the treasure once they get it?" He asked.
The robot smiled in return. "They will re-return it if they want their fr-fr-friends returned safely."
"What do you think this treasure is anyway?" Emmy asked the professor.
"I'm not entirely sure." Layton responded. "I have a feeling it isn't what those two have made it out to be though."
The pedestal was now directly in front of them. It was obviously old as it was completely brown with dust and dirt. The bottom had two figures made of gold, a young man and woman hand in hand, both rusted with age. The top had something inscribed on it, though they couldn't entirely make out what it said.
Emmy read a visible part. "...The key embracing the neck... What does that mean?"
"Hm..." Layton pondered. 'The key embracing the neck... What key?' He looked at the box sitting on the pedestal. The box didn't appear like that much. It was small and wooden, and he noticed that it had a small indention shaped like a heart. "Of course."
Emmy turned to him and smiled. "I know that look. What did you figure out?"
"We need Nalah." Layton stated.
Emmy blinked. "Oh? Why is that?"
Layton was about to explain when he was interrupted. "Hurry up! We don't have time for this!" Philip yelled.
Emmy hesitated. "Is it safe to take the box? It seems too easy."
The professor sighed. "It seems we don't have much of a choice."
Layton reached for the box as Emmy closed her eyes, refusing to watch in case something went wrong. Layton picked it up and waited, thankful that nothing happened. Emmy opened one eye and glanced at the smiling professor. "Oh, well that wasn't hard." She said.
"Finally!" Robot Rowland snatched the box out of Layton's hands with her only hand. She somehow managed to hold the box with her broken arm, then she pulled a small tool out of her pocket and began picking at the lock.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Layton stated nervously.
Philip had joined them and took the box from Robot Rowland. "Let me try. You don't know how to pick a lock!"
Robot Rowland scowled. "G-give me t-that!" She attempted to take the box out of Philip's hands.
Emmy glanced behind them and noticed the ground beginning to shake. "Uh...Professor-"
"Philip! Stop trying to pick the lock!" Layton exclaimed.
"Huh?" Philip looked down as the ground began to crack underneath him.
"You obviously can't pick locks either!" Robot Rowland grabbed the box and yanked it back to herself.
"You can't pick the lock! You need the key!" Emmy yelled at the impatient robot.
"I have waited l-long enough! I'm s-s-sure I can open it without a k-key!" Robot Rowland yelled back as she proceeded to attempt to open the box, which was extremely hard with one hand.
"The ground will fall underneath us if you continue to do that!" Layton stated.
Robot Rowland ignored their pleas to stop. Layton and Emmy backed up as the ground began to crack underneath them. Philip, who had suddenly realized the predicament attempted to pry the box out of Robot Rowland's hands.
"S-s-stop it!" Robot Rowland screamed.
"You'll kill us if you don't stop!" Philip yelled back.
"W-what are you-" Robot Rowland slipped as the ground began to crumble. Philip ran next to Layton and Emmy, leaving the robot to fall. Robot Rowland screamed and scrambled for something to hold onto, holding the box with her mouth. She grabbed the nearest item, which turned out to be Emmy's ankle.
Emmy screamed as she began to fall with Robot Rowland and grabbed onto the ground next to her as the crazy robot refused to let go. Emmy could hear Luke and Flora yell her name as she felt her hands begin to slip. Layton managed to grab her right hand and attempted to pull her back up, though Robot Rowland's awkward movement was not helping. Philip quickly grabbed Emmy's left hand, leaving both her and Layton surprised.
"I did not come all this way to lose the treasure to a hole." Philip grunted.
Philip and Layton pulled Emmy up a little. Layton grabbed her waist as Emmy wrapped her right arm around his neck. Philip let go of Emmy's other hand once she was tightly in Layton's hold, and went for the box. Philip snatched the box from Robot Rowland's mouth, making her jaw make a sickening crunch as it broke apart. She screamed and grabbed onto the edge of the ground after letting go of Emmy.
Layton quickly moved Emmy as far away from the hole as possible, Emmy wincing in pain as she realized her ankle was sprained. "T-thank you." Emmy muttered.
Layton smiled. "You're quite welcome, my dear."
They looked back as Philip yelled. Robot Rowland had a hold of him, and he was trying desperately to get away. "I'm not going d-d-down alone!" Robot Rowland proclaimed, her broken jaw hanging by a small piece of artificial skin.
"Let go of me!" Philip exclaimed. He slipped and grabbed onto the side of the hole, holding on for dear life. "Hold on!" Layton yelled as ran towards them.
Layton's hand was right above Philip's when it slipped off the side. Layton tried to grab him, but it was too late. Everyone watched in silence as Philip and Robot Rowland plunged into the deep darkness, never to return.
Layton bowed his head in shame. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to Emmy, who had managed to drag herself next to him. They shared a knowing look before she glanced down. He did the same and noticed the box sitting before them.
Luke, Flora, Nalah, and Inspector Rowland had stood in silence since Philip and Robot Rowland's demise. Luke looked ahead as he saw the professor walking around the gaping hole in the ground with Emmy leaning on him for support. He and Flora ran to them, both relieved to see them unharmed.
"Professor! Emmy! Are you two alright?" Flora asked.
Layton and Emmy nodded in response. Luke looked at the box in Layton's hand. "Is that it? Is that the treasure?"
"Yes." Layton answered.
Nalah and Inspector Rowland joined them. "How do you open it?" Inspector Rowland asked.
Layton looked at Nalah. Her necklace was glowing a light yellow. "As I thought."
Everyone looked at the Professor. "What?" Flora asked.
"Nalah, would you mind opening the box?" Layton asked.
Nalah looked confused. "How can I open it?" Layton glanced down at the heart around her neck, and she followed his gaze. She gasped as she noticed the glowing necklace. She then looked at the lock on the box and understood.
Nalah removed her necklace from her neck and placed the heart shaped charm into the heart shaped lock. Everyone watched as the lock glowed along with the charm. The lock clicked and the box's lid popped open. The group hovered over it, all anxious to see what the treasure was.
"It's...paper?" Luke commented unsurely.
Nalah reached into the box and carefully picked up the "treasure". She opened the folded piece of paper and began to read writing on it.
"Luciana my dear,
My soul is filled with fear.
Our souls bonded together,
Hearts bonded forever.
Nay, they say I a mere child,
Blinded by something so mild.
I long for true,
To be with you.
Alas, I cannot say,
If it will ever be that way.
Day and night my thoughts abide,
The horizon just too wide.
If it is not meant to be so,
Then alas, I shall go.
I cannot burden you still,
Against my own will.
My dearest love,
As delicate as a dove,
I adore you with my full being;
I am filled with so much feeling.
My dear,
Have no fear,
We will meet again my lover,
There will ne'er be another.
I love you with all of my heart,
Dread kills me when we are apart.
I will meet your father's decrees,
I shan't ignore your pleas.
I will always be with you,
I pray you know this true.
Hence, make a vow;
Farewell for now.
My sweet, delicate love,
I promise I will return soon.
My love forever yours,
Thomas"
"The knight's name was Thomas?" Emmy questioned.
"The treasure was a love note?" Luke asked.
"That's so romantic!" Flora exclaimed.
"We went through all of this trouble for a piece of parchment with a sappy poem?" Inspector Rowland sighed.
Emmy looked back inside the box. "Hey, there's something else in here." She reached in and pulled out a small, silver ring.
"Oh, is that a promise ring?" Flora asked.
"He gave her the ring as a promise to return for her." Layton summed up.
Nalah couldn't seem to process everything. "But...Why did my necklace unlock the box?"
"Nalah, I believe you are a descendant of the princess Luciana." Layton answered.
"But mama never told me about that." Nalah said.
"She probably didn't want anyone to use you. You did have the key to the treasure all this time, after all." Layton continued. "She didn't give you permission to leave with us, did she?"
Nalah began to stare at the ground. "Well...not exactly... When did you find out?"
"I thought it was odd that your mother would let you come with us like that, but I was too earnest to get to the island to really pay it mind. Besides, I thought you would be able to help us since you knew the history of Locusamator. It turns out you did." Layton responded.
Nalah smiled. "I'm glad I was able to help! And we did have a great adventure!"
Flora and Luke laughed. Emmy smiled and shook her head. "Speak for yourself. I don't think I've ever been this worn out in my whole life." Emmy pretended to stifle a yawn for emphasis.
"Hey look. I think there is an exit back behind the pedestal." Inspector Rowland stated happily.
Layton helped Emmy up while Luke, Flora, and Nalah gathered up the contents of the box. "Shall we go?"
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, I finally managed to finish this chapter! The next update will be the epilogue. I hope you enjoyed this:)