a/n: okay, I'm going to REALLY try and make this update longer (at least 1,000 words.) Please review if you like this or you would like your OC join the action. I'll also add in certain characters if you would like them to be included.

Speaking of OCs, this update included nostalgicCyanide's OC, Cedric.

Chapter 7

"And what do you plan to do when the bomb goes off?" Clive limped out of bed, his head pounding. This was insane and somehow he was rolled up all in. He should've known something like this would've happened.

"I'll put my head in between my knees and kiss my ass good bye. Just like you were planning to do when you finished leveling an entire city, weren't you?" She retorted, leaving him speechless for a moment.

What was he planning to when all inevitably went south? Was he prepared to die at 23 just to get his stupid revenge? He frowned, trying for the door.

"How do I get out of here?" He said, going to the door. "Is the clock shop still open?"

"You can always help us if you want." Monique replied, glancing at him. "You're an inspiration."

Clive pushed through the door, ignoring what she said. He was going to fix all of this, even if it killed him. He noticed Katarina and the professor standing outside. The professor had a bandage wrapped around his ear. That couldn't be good.

"Assuming you were conscious, would you know where an exit would be?" Clive huffed out of impatience, shooting what could be mistaken for a glare at Katarina. "It makes me nauseous to be back here."

"Well, we wouldn't want that." She smiled the faintest of smiles and somehow that tiny grin made him feel relieved. "There is a way out, I can tell you that, but you wouldn't like it."

…

"I thought ya weren't leavin' the flat for anythin'." Subject 3 remarked as the pair walked down the street towards the university. "Not even for eatin'."

Dimitri smirked, adjusting his hat. "I've suffered a mighty change of heart, 3. I need fresh air anyway."

He could hardly call the air fresh. It smelled like poison, deadly and suffocating. A depressing smog filled the once cheerful and busy streets of London. He tensed when the ever familiar smell of burnt rubble. The morning somehow

Jogging ahead of the test subject, he found the ashy remains of the Gressenheller University.

He felt sick to his stomach. "Not again…"

Subject 3 bounced beside him, sniffing the ground. The smell brought back bad memories for the rabbit was well. He continued to sniff the rubble, looking for any scent of the professor he'd met years ago. He nosed through the dirt, accidentally bumping into a young man with dark hair and shimmering emerald green eyes.

"Excuse you." The boy glanced down at him. "Do watch where you're going."

The rabbit frowned. "I resent that!"

As soon as Dimitri snapped out of his daze and followed his animal companion to the young man who seemed to be investigating the remnants of the once great university. He seemed to be at least college age.

"Who are you?"

"Cedric Stuart." He replied, looking up at him. "And you are… Dr. Stahngun? Or is it Dimitri Allen? It doesn't matter anyhow. Is this your uh… talking rabbit?"

He chuckled, glancing down at Subject 3 who was digging through the rubble. "Yes, that would be Subject 3. I think he prefers 3 though."

"Nice to know. Do you have any idea where I could find Professor Layton?"

"No, but that's the least of our problems right now." Subject 3 piped up, looking at the police officers flooding into the crumbling remains.

…

Bill Hawks stared at the mobs and rioters gathered outside the Parliament building. Their shouts grew louder and louder with each passing moment. His cold gaze roamed the disarray below.

"All this over an accident a long time ago." He remarked quietly, a hint of fear in his voice.

He stared at the man standing in the shadows against the wall. "You know what to do, don't you?"

The figure chuckled, his voice crackling with suspicious intent. "You want me to change their minds? Make them think the villain is actually the boy and your former associate. It'll be hard, I'll admit that."

Bill snorted, turning around. "Make it happen. I'm not going to fuss over how you do that. Meanwhile, I'll be in Spain. I heard it's lovely this time of the year."

"You're truly a great leader." The Prime Minister didn't bother caring about the sarcastic undertone in the figure's voice.

"Let's hope when I return, this whole matter is settled. Don't make it too messy though."

"I never am."

a/n: please, please, PLEASE reviewed if you liked. It encourages me to continue.