If Elaine could think of one good thing, even just a mere crumb, to say about today, it would soon be over, leaving Madeline free and the city of Monte d'Or with… at the very least, very little damage. Hopefully. As well as the little 'misunderstanding' on Randall's part to be cleared up. Preferably before anyone can even consider to bring up the options of throwing him in prison.

But that sort of thing was still some distance away, and Elaine would just have to try and hold her head high for a little while longer.

The day had been busy like all the others. Suspicions of who the Masked Gentleman was were pointed in few directions of the local people. The most popular being Henry Ledore and Alphonse Dalston. True, the later had been proven innocent by Professor Layton, and Henry was the most popular in being viewed as guilty (not too greatly helped by the cold personality he could show). But there were still people who seemed to think it Dalston. Truth be told, given the money likely involved for all miracles it was hard to point fingers at anyone other than wealthy people such as them.

Even the Professor seemed unable to avoid looking at Henry, with the evidence he had so far. Elaine of course knew she had been far from helpful with giving Henry certain documents to sign like the removal of that chariot. Of course, Elaine tried to justify to herself that she did it for a good reason and none of it was truly willing. Cringing at bit at the thought, Elaine knew that after this, with Henry and Madeline together, any future meetings probably wouldn't be easy. If that wasn't an understatement of the century.

But, with the small meeting between Professor Layton and co and Henry in the parlour (which Elaine 'coincidently' overheard from the hallway), she knew that Henry probably wouldn't have asked the archaeologist to come himself had it just been himself and not both he and Angela. But regardless of his opinion, that didn't stop Angela from giving Henry her opinion on his… 'Attitude'.

"Henry, I know you're bitter against Hershel. But he's only doing what I've asked him to do." Elaine and Henry were sitting on the parlour couch while Angela stood in front of them. Her arms folded and a lightly stern look on her face. While she didn't raise her voice, there was a tone in it to hint towards her aggravation.

"I'm not bitter, I just-."

"He only left because of…" Angela pursed her lips briefly before speaking again. "He only left because of the things I said. The fact he's agreed to even come here is a miracle in itself."

"I know, but that still doesn't give him the right to suggest I would cause any of this for profit!" countered Henry, a little sharply. Elaine inwardly cringed a bit at this fight. She doubted this could have been a first fight. There was no such thing as a relationship between friendship and love that didn't have at least one fight. At least according to her mother. Still, to see this argument, small as it was, it was a little uncomfortable to watch. At least for the poor Frenchwoman.

"He's not being biased! The evidence he found just coincidently pointing to you. I'm sure that Hershel will find proof that you're just being framed by someone."

"Exactly." Elaine added in, a little too quickly. "Professeur Layton will find the evidence and then this whole mess will be nothing but a bad dream." Henry still seemed reluctant. Elaine really wished she wasn't here now. Madeline herself would probably know something to say to Henry that would actually help.

"Henry," Angela spoke a little more softly. "Please. Just apologise to Hershel. I know you don't want to admit it, but you know I'm right. I'm certain he'll accept. He's never been one to hold a grudge, even if it would have been justified."

"… Fine." Henry gave a low sigh. "I… I suppose I've been a bit… I've let my frustrations get the best of me. If we find him at the Pumpkin Patch, I'll apologise."

"You're still certain you want to go there for the next miracle?" Elaine hesitantly asked. She knew that Descole had something planned for that some time ago. And as morbid as it may have been, her curiosity as to what would happen was getting the better of her even though she knew she shouldn't let it.

"I have to." Henry said definitely. "It's my duty. I wasn't there for previous miracles because we were never aware of when they would occur. But since we do, there's no excuse not to attend. Who knows," Henry mused. "Perhaps if we're fortunate enough, we can prevent it from even happening."

"Good to hear." Angela seemed relieved to hear that, and Elaine was as well even though she didn't say it. If asked to take a side, she probably would have gone with Angela. She couldn't say for certain if Madeline would have done the same though.

The park itself that night was busy and crowded. The almost Halloween-like theme wasn't something she would have chosen herself to use for the park had she been chosen to design it, or at the least give an input of theme. But that wasn't to say the park was unappealing. The design of the Ferris wheel was certainly interesting, looking almost like a black spider web, and the carousel reminded her faintly of one she had been on when she was younger and back in France.

Elaine stayed close to the Ledores' as they went through the crowds, and it wasn't too long 'till they found the people they were looking for. Henry cleared his throat as they approached.

"Layton. A moment, if you please."

"Hershel, if you could."

Elaine stayed quiet, as did Emmy and Luke as the Ledores' and Layton talked. Henry did apologise as he said he would (even if a bit awkwardly), and not too surprisingly the Professor did accept his apology.

But apologises quickly done, talks turned to the Masked Gentleman and his possible next action. Already, the Professor and his friends found clues that led to Topsy Tower, the park's control room. Naturally that was they're next destination due to the worry of the easy to imagine consequences if those controls were to be messed or tampered with.

The tower itself surprisingly looked like any other attraction at the park, even if a certain distance away from everything else. Then again, a standard grey building probably would have been an eyesore compared to everything else in the park. But either way, a not too surprising new figure would have stood out still with any building design.

"Hello, Monte d'Or!" The Masked Gentleman stood on the ledge of the building, just above the door. As always, he spoke with gusto. "Tonight's miracle is for a very select audience that was clever enough to find my clues."

"Now what's all this about?" questioned the Professor to himself, eyeing the masked figure warily. The Masked Gentleman just continued on.

"Hurry and take your seats! The show is about to start!" He jumped to the ground and casually made his way inside the control room, quickly followed by all six people to prevent what was assumed to be at first tampering to the electic controls. It was dark inside. Barely anything could be seen, the only source of light coming from the control panels of the faintly humming controls.

"Henry, do you have a light switch here?" questioned Luke. He sounded a little somewhere behind Elaine.

"I don't know." Henry admitted. If he was embarrassed, he didn't show it. "There must be one somewhere. I've never had a reason to come here before. Ms. Béze, do you know?"

"I wouldn't be too familiar with this room either, Monsieur." Elaine replied. It didn't really matter now if Madeline knew or not. Henry didn't and neither did Angela (presumably) so what difference did it make?

"Worry not, my select audience!" The Masked Gentleman appeared, seemingly from nowhere. Elaine wondered if Descole had purposely thought Randall how to be a showman. "You have the best seats in the house. Your views shall not be obfuscated nor obstructed!"

There was an argument between Henry and the Masked Gentleman, the later mocking Henry and making him out to be the villain. Elaine couldn't help but feel some irony when the Masked Gentleman claimed Monte d'Or was a monument to Henry's "grotesquely swollen ego." In the time Elaine had known Henry, he never seemed to have a big ego. A bit of pride for the city but it was justifiable. Randall however was working with Descole. A man Elaine would never deny having such a big ego that the fact one could stay in the same room with him and not be suffocated was a wonder.

But, after claiming everything was but a mere lesson in humility for Henry, the Masked Gentleman ran back outside again. Not surprisingly, everyone ran back outside and back to the park. Elaine felt grateful she had decided to wear flat heeled shoes tonight and not the usual high heels she'd been wearing since Descole took Madeline.

Back in the Pumpkin Park though, not a soul could be seen. All rides were running, but no one was on them. As if everyone had become invisible and silent, or just simply vanished.

"Um… Professor?" Emmy began, looking around with a worried look. "The park… It's empty! Where did everyone go?!"

"No! We're too late!" Henry growled lightly. It was indeed confusing. The group had not been too far away so long that the visitors could have vanished without a trace. But yet they were the only ones here.

"Hee hee hee!" The Masked Gentleman, though he could not be seen and only heard, giggled like a child. "You patrons belong to a very exclusive VIP club: people in this park who still exist! Congratulations!"

As talks went on, the Masked Gentleman made it no secret that he held a grudge against Henry. A deep seated, dark grudge.

Wherever it was the Masked Gentleman had been hiding exactly, it had to have been a good spot since he was able to appear from behind both Angela and Elaine, and grab the arm of the former and pulled the distressed woman by his side.

"Let me go!" Angela demanded, trying to push herself away from the white suited man, but he barely moved an inch.

"Angela!" Henry had his fists clenched, eyes moving quickly between his 'wife' and villain.

"Henry! Help me!" If Angela had anything else to add, she didn't get the chance as her captor dragged her away.

"Wait! No!" Naturally, everyone ran in the same direction they had just come from. In other words, it was almost a big going-back-and-forth sort of thing. If it kept on going, it would have been repetitive and tedious.

Going back inside the control tower, something already felt wrong to Elaine. She couldn't put her finger on it though. It just felt… wrong.

"Angela, where are you?!" Henry called, trying to keep frantic worry out of his voice.

"Henry?" Angela appeared from a darker corner of the room. She seemed calm and fine. The calmness is what struck Elaine as odd though, but she decided to brush that off as nothing much to worry about.

But still, why would the Masked Gentleman drag her here just to let her go?

"… And don't worry about getting good seats. You'll be able to see tomorrow's dark miracle from anywhere in town." The Masked Gentleman had declared shortly after he reappeared. "It will be the greatest of my illustrious career!" he said with a bow. "Without a doubt!"

"Whoever you are, this must stop here." Professor Layton demanded calmly. But reasoning seemed to have little existence in reality these days. The Masked Gentleman was no exception. He was even bold enough to state that there would be quite a few victims. That churned Elaine's stomach badly. Would Descole actually cause a city to be brought to such harm for one artefact?! Okay, there was the Golden Garden in Misthallery, but Elaine had hoped that would be a onetime thing. Ambrosia? It was mostly void of people bar contestants and such.

"Henry, what are we going to do?" Angela asked Henry with concern after the Masked Gentleman made his leave.

"I don't know… But I have a duty to protect this city at all costs."

"Perhaps if you gave him the Mask of Order as he asked, he would stop all of this." Once again, a feeling that something was off came to Elaine. There wasn't a tone that made it off, and the suggestion was fairly reasonable anyone would make. But still, she did seem a little… pushy, on the Mask of Order.

The Professor of course brought up the main problem of the missing visitors, and so everyone went back outside to try and find a cause.

But they were already back.

It was almost like they never vanished. Not a single person seemed to give any sign of confusion or distress. Everyone was enjoying themselves, unaware of the miracle that just took place.

"Why did he only allow us to witness this?" Professor Layton wondered out loud as his eyes scanned the crowds.

"He wanted me to see it." Henry spoke with a slightly dry tone.

"Yes, Henry. I think you're right. You need to tell us anything -everything- that you know. Do you have an idea who might be under that mask? Have you made any enemies recently? Think, please!"

"I don't know anyone capable of doing all this. Who would go this far?" Henry rubbed his eyes. "I'm going home. I need time to think. I must put together some sort of plan for that monster's return tomorrow."

"I'm coming too." Angela said.

"Good night to all of you." The Professor said to both Ledores' and Elaine. "Be safe, I'll see you tomorrow." Both groups then parted ways. Walking with Angela and Henry, Elaine cleared her throat before saying,

"I suppose I should 'ead 'ome myself then." Elaine spoke before Angela grabbed her hand quickly before Elaine could walk away.

"Actually, Elaine. I was thinking perhaps it would be better if you stayed the night in our house. For safety." Elaine frowned a little, briefly glancing down at the hand gripping her's. The grip was familiar, and as Elaine felt a sensation of her stomach being pulled out of her, Henry (thinking of Madeline's safety without doubt), had added in,

"Actually, Angela has point. There's plenty of room so a hassle would hardly be thought of." Elaine didn't say anything at first. Madeline probably would have accepted. From what she had seen during her time her, Madeline had slept over once or twice. Thankfully she had her own room so the worry of having to sleep in the same bed as Henry was quickly moved aside. But she was still feeling a bit un-eased by something.

"Well… If you insist, I suppose I can accept your invitation. Just for the night though."

"I'm happy to hear that." Angela was smiling lightly. However, after Henry took Angela's arm to lead her home, taking the role of the 'husband' he was, Angela looked back at Elaine and with no one else looking, she smirked towards Elaine. It wasn't the fact that Angela was smirking, but rather how she did it that hit the nail of realisation for Elaine who nearly stumbled over her feet though was barely noticed. Unfazed, Angela mouthed out a sentence. While Elaine could not read lips, she understood the meaning clearly that moment.

'Come along, puppy.'

OMAKE THEATRE: Where Layton characters are chibi-fied!

Coming into the library, Descole raised an eyebrow as he saw Elaine writing something in a notebook.

"Something the matter, Elaine?" Descole questioned dryly. Elaine looked up with a cheerful smile.

"Nope! Just working on our ship name!"

"… Our what?"

"Ship name. The name for character parings. Like Axel and Roxas being AkuRoku, Professor Layton and Claire being Clairton or Draco and Hermione being Dramione." Descole stared at Elaine.

"… How is that last one ever supposed to work? Isn't Draco raised a mugleborn-racist?"

"Fans will ship anything."

"Anything?"

"There are fanfics out there of Mello from Death Note and Tetris blocks and Professor Snape and Teletubbies."

"… What?"

"But back to us…"

"What was that about Tetris, Teletubbies and anime and book characters?"

"It's basically down to this." Elaine held up two sheets of paper, with a separate name on them each. "'Delaine' and 'Elscole'. I think the first one is better."

"They both suck." Descole said bluntly. "They're unimaginative and are pointless."

"You know what, fuck you!" Elaine snapped as she slammed her hands on the table. "Unlike you, I'm doing something, so either make a name of your own or get the fuck out!"

"… But this is my library."

"Get out!"