This chapter could probably have been squished in with Chapter 12, but I wanted Chapter 12 to stand by itself. So, instead of one long chapter, you guys get two tiny tidbits. Enjoy. In this chapter, the Professor tries to guess the motive behind the museum heist

Hollyshadow the medicine cat: I'm cruel, aren't I? Don't worry, your questions will get answered in due time...or will they? MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! And, patience is the key, my friend. Maybe I'll slow down updating just for you :D Oh, and yes, Claire seems to be rather aggressive, doesn't she? I wonder if she's on her-never mind.

Shimmering-Sky: Glad you liked it! The Emissary is, in one word, enigmatic. Intentions? No one knows. You might think you know in this chapter...but I guarantee that you don't. The Emissary might be like Descole in the Last Specter: a diabolical, ambitious mastermind (yes, I know his motives are explained in Azran Legacy, but still...who was playing through PL4 and was thinking, "oh, there's Layton's selfless brother"? Not me!). Or maybe like Clive, wronged in the past and seeking revenge. Maybe I've finally invented a cool character unlike anyone else! Hm...nah, I'm terrible.

RavenGoesToHeaven: I read the word "Clershel." Let's be friends.

Enjoy! Or else...*hair changes to crimson* I'll cut off your tongue.

Chapter Thirteen

The Alternate Plane

"Well." The Professor really didn't know what to say.

"That was rather shocking news," Clive admitted.

"Beyond shocking. Pulling off this sort of crime is impossible. I don't know how the criminals managed to do it."

Clive posited a theory. "Maybe the guards were part of it too?"

"Perhaps. Though the guards are most definitely trustworthy. Perhaps they were...set up. By a third party."

"Who?"

"I don't know. These are all assumptions. For now-" The Professor was cut off by a ringing sound in an adjoining room. "I'll be right back." He rushed over to the telephone and picked up the receiver.

"Hello?"

"Good morning, Professor."

"...may I ask who is calling me?"

"This is Tom."

"Ah. Good morning to you as well."

"Thank you. I'm sure you've heard of the museum break-in that took place last night? Apparently everyone has...in fact no one is talking about the Belmarsh incident anymore."

"Yes. It was on the news broadcast."

"Good. Now, Professor. I don't think whoever did this crime wanted only money."

"Neither do I. The items stolen seem a bit...haphazard. I have been to the museum before, and the items stolen are located far away from each other. Nor are they as valuable as some of the other ancient treasures showcased."

"Precisely. If you don't mind, would you and Randall figure out the significance of the artifacts stolen? I have not heard of any of them."

"Not at all. I'm not too familiar with them myself."

"It's settled, then. I will go investigate the crime scene. Scotland Yard knows me quite well."

"I think you're crazy," Arianna flatly told Luke.

Luke put on his signature blue cap. "I'm not! It's just that this case about the British Museum sounds really interesting, and I want to investigate it with the Professor! I was going to visit him soon anyway."

"Shouldn't you at least tell him beforehand?"

"What!?" Luke cried. "Are you insane! It's got to be a surprise."

Arianna mentally slapped herself. "Uh...alright...have fun...I guess...say hi to the Professor for me."

"Not a chance!" Luke said. "You're going to say hi yourself! Come on, we haven't got time!" He grabbed Arianna's hand and dragged her out of her room.

"Wha-Luke! Stop it! Tony! Tony! Help!"

Instead, Tony pretended to be completely oblivious to Arianna's pleas, a grin on his face all the while.

"I'll get you back for this, Tony!" Arianna screamed as Luke pulled her out of Barde Manor.

As Luke led Arianna down Highyard Hill, the Black Ravens passed by, on their way to the lake (now their favorite place to hang out). And promptly burst into laughter. Even Crow had to snicker at the comical scene.

Arianna blushed furiously when Marilyn winked at her and gave her a thumbs up.

"To London!" Luke shouted. "C'mon, we'll use my dad's car!"

"I-"

"Are you saying you don't want to go?"

"Of c-" Arianna then saw Luke's downcast expression. She sighed. "Not at all. I'd love to."

"Great!" Same old Luke. "Just a note of warning, my dad's a terrible driver!"

Oh dear...

A number of near-accidents later, Luke and Arianna arrived at the Professor's house. After waving to Clark as he drove away, they knocked on the door.

A familiar looking man with a top hat greeted them. "Luke! Arianna! It's been a while. Come in."

"So that's why Clive and Bronev are here?" Luke asked. Despite having received Tom's letter, he was still quite surprised to see the two former prisoners in the Professor's living room.

"Yes. Tom and I decided that this would be the safest place. As a matter of fact, since you're here..." Professor Layton looked at the clock. "You can help me with something. Randall should be here any minute-"

"Wait. Randall's coming too?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. He is. Tom wants us to figure out the history of each artifact stolen from the British Museum. Their purposes and whatnot. He thinks the thieves weren't after just money. I share that belief."

"Why? It seems like they just want to sell these artifacts and make a fortune."

"Luke, think about it. There are much more valuable objects in the museum, and yet only a few were taken, none of truly extraordinary value. Furthermore, they were located throughout the museum; the thieves would have had to travel around the entire museum to steal what they did. And how did such well-trained guards fail to stop them? Especially if they entered through the main entrance, which, according to our esteemed friend Inspector Chelmey, they did."

Luke processed this new information. "That doesn't seem very likely, does it?"

"No. There's something suspicious about this case. I feel that there is more to it than meets the eye." Just then, they heard someone furiously banging the door. "Ah! that must be Randall."

"So. The ancient weapons. I dropped by the museum while on my way here, and apparently the collection consists of a few axes, a pike of some sort, a double-edged sword, and some daggers," Randall listed.

"Nothing special about them?" the Professor inquired.

"Nope. Just typical weapons."

"Let's ignore those for now, then."

"I brought my computer today, by the way. It's quite cutting-edge. It can access content usually not available." Randall typed a few characters into the search bar and pressed 'Enter.' "Here's some interesting information about the Book of the Arcane. It's considered the Bible of Azran civilization; almost everyone owned a copy. Its pages detail some of the most important events in Azran history, and also contains a section of keywords, or magical spells. Most people don't believe that these spells actually do anything, but the possibility is there. There's a full translation online, and there's a few of the more interesting drawings as well. Here, have a look."

Luke was quite baffled as the two archaeologists became engrossed in analyzing every minute detail shown onscreen. Finally, he said: "Look, the Book of the Arcane wasn't the only thing taken!"

It was then that Randall realized how long he'd been staring at the screen. "Oh. Right."

"The bronze sculpture. Is there anything about that?"

"Oh." Randall entered the words "The Triumph of Man bronze sculpture" into the computer. "It was created to honor some battle or other. No one knows which though. It's honestly not much. I can't find any information on it, except it is very valuable due to how intricate it is."

Luke frowned. "Huh. Not very interesting, then."

"Nope."

"Randall, look up the Pyriatic Crystal, would you?" Professor Layton asked.

"Sure." Within seconds, Randall had the page loaded. "The Pyriatic Crystal is basically a crystal with a flame that somehow burns inside it, without oxygen or fuel. It's said to originate from Hell itself. It's 'the connection between Earth and Hell', apparently...probably complete bullsh-"

"Wait...load up the Book of the Arcane again, please."

Randall opened a new tab, and showed the Professor the images of the requested tome.

"If I'm not mistaken, there was a symbol similar to the Pyriatic Crystal here somewhere...I'm not sure...this is just instinct."

"You'll be searching a while. The book is really long." Randall chuckled.

"No problem, Professor! I'll help!" Luke's enthusiasm was infectious.

In fact, Luke did find the symbol first. "This the one, Professor?"

"Yes, the exact same. Good work, Luke. Read its description, please."

"Alright." Luke cleared his throat. "'The Hellspawn portal, sealed by the forbidden spell. Uttering it opens the portal, provided that the one who used the spell also has the keystone in his possession...' but hold on. What's the keystone? And does this portal exist?"

"I don't know. Let's present our findings to Tom. Maybe he can make sense of it."

The Emissary stepped out of his helicopter along with several aides. "Ah. The Hellspawn portal."

It looked quite simple, reminding the Emissary of Stonehenge. But the Emissary knew better.

"Hand me the Pyriatic Crystal."

The aide obeyed the command without question.

Grinning, the Emissary held the crystal and whispered, "Aperirae."

A flicker of red appeared in the center of the arch before the arch melted before the Emissary's very eyes. It then reformed into an obsidian doorway with a hazy crimson outline...

"Excellent. We've arrived at Hell."

Dunno what I was thinking when I wrote this chapter. Must have been half asleep; hopefully next chapter's a little better. The Emissary has reached the Hellspawn portal. What will he do next?

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