Our heroes soon began their trek up the path that lead to the Herzen castle as they climbed the large mountain. They soon arrived to said castle where a butler with pointed ears and sharp teeth came. "Welcome. How may I serve you?" he asked.
"We wish to see Anton Von Herzen." Hope said.
"Of course. Please follow me." he said leading them into the castle where they soon saw a young man with blond hair and a cape. "Ah. Guests. I welcome you to my home." he said.
The heroes then sat at a large table where they ate the food and discussed the box. "So, you say this box has the power to kill anyone who dare open it?" Anton asked them.
"We do, and we think since you are the other Von Herzen alive, we thought you might be able to-" Hope said.
"While it is true this box was a Von Herzen heirloom, I have since parted ways with it. Now, how about you all rest in the guest rooms. You all must be so tired after such a long trip here." ANton said.
That night as the heroes slept, they found themselves in a ballroom where they saw Anton dancing with a girl who bore a resemblance to Katia. It wasn't until the girl noticed the heroes that the dream started to break. Anton looked over towards them and began to laugh evilly.
Soon after, the heroes awoke in a wooden room, each of them tied up with their weapons missing from their persons. "Well, it seems you all didn't sleep well." Anton said.
"You, youre a mad man! Let us go!" Hope shouted.
"Sorry, but no. Now, I believe it is time to go. Besides, I need to rest before dinner." Anton said closing and locking the door behind him.
Indigo then broke free with her Guts armor. "Good thing I always wear it. At least he's respectful enough not to touch a woman." Indigo said as she untied the others.
The hereoes found a secret passage to the mines, bearing effects to a gas chamber.
"Whoa! I wouldn't wanna fall down there." Teddie said looking down.
"Can we just get out of here before that Anton guy comes back?" Lucy asked them.
They felt infulence of the gas, but made it back to the main room of the castle where they saw Katia entering. "Oh. What are all of you doing here?" she asked them.
"We need to get out of here. This guys a real vampire." Usopp said.
"He's not a vampire. He's just not in his right mind." Katia said. "Nevermind. You need to get out of here."
"Well, this is a surprise." Anton said walking down the steps. "It seems our guests didn't want to stay for dinner." Anton said before looking at Katia. "Could it be?" he said. "My sweet Sophia. You have come back to me." he said before seeing her run to Layton. "Ah. I see. I wasn't expecting this Layton. Not in the slightest." Anton said gripping his hands.
"Uh-oh. He's got that same look Juvia gets." Happy said.
"This is your fault! But you cannot have my Sophia!" he shouted drawing a sword and slashing at Layton who dodged too the right. "Hmm. Well, I'm a sporting man. You may take any of the weapons behind you there. But keep in mind, only one of those swords is real. A true warrior keeps his weapon in hand." Anton said.
"Now do you see why Juvia has all these visions?" Hope asked.
"Will you shut up already?" the heroes told Hope.
Layton acted quickly and grabbed a sword from a suit of armor as Anton clashed. "It appears I have underestimated you, Mr. Layton." Anton said.
The two then began clashing swords down the steps as they fought all across the room.
"Whoa. Awesome! Swordfight!" Rainbow said.
"Layton!" Anton shouted. "Sophia belongs to me! You can't have her!"
He thrusted as Layton as they fight continued up the stairs with the others following.
"This is getting out of hand! Edward, Alphonse, stop them!" Katia said.
"Sophia? Why are you…" Anton said.
"You haven't figured it out, have you?" Katia asked him. "I'm your granddaughter, Anton."
"But...but that's impossible. I'm too young to be anyone's grandfather." Anton said.
"That's not true. Anton, your age, much like this town is a illusion of your mind." Katia said.
"Allow me to explain. The gold mines that made Folsense famous was also their undoing." Layton began. "It would seem that the miners hit a vein of hallucinogenic gas while digging, leaving anyone who breathed it in open to liminal suggestions."
"Then when the box was opened by Dr. Shrader, he must have expected to die and it happened." Indigo said.
"That's part of the reason while grandmother left the town." Katia said.
"She and I were betrothed. Then she went and left me for another." Anton said.
"No. She loved you with all her heart Anton." Katia said.
"What?" Anton asked.
"She left because she wanted to protect the little life growing inside her." Katia said.
"I...I never knew." Anton said.
"Yes. Grandmother was carrying my mother, who died after giving birth to me. Grandmother passed away last year but she never stopped thinking about you." Katia said.
Anton was shocked by all of this. "My Sophia...is dead? No! I've had enough to hear with your lies!" he shouted slashing at the heroes in anger.
Edward then clapped his hands and blocked the slash with a wall, but the stone hit the chain of a chandelier, which sent it crashing down into the middle of the room, making the castle start to crumble.
"We need to go! The whole place is coming down!" Jexi shouted.
The castle then crumbled into nothing. Looking out onto the town, they saw as the lights began to go out one after another as they saw the aged Anton that stood before them.
"The mines must be blocked now, disrupting the gas flow, this…. is the true face of Anton Von Herzen and the town of Folsense." Layton said.
"So, I guess it was just an ordinary box after all." Luke said.
"I assure you, its much more than that. It actually has something special inside of it." Anton said.
"But the box is empty." Brook said.
"There's actually...a second way to open it." Anton said.
Luke solved a mechanism opening a secret compartment, revealing a letter.
"Oh dear." Anton said.
'What's wrong?" Erza asked.
"This isn't the letter I wrote. This is Sophia's handwriting. The box must have made it to her after all." Anton said as Sunset began reading it.
"My dearest Anton, I hope you are well. I know it has been painful since we parted ways with each other like we did. But I should let you know that every time I look at my granddaughter Katia, I am reminded of you. I hope this letter finds you well. Love, Sophia." Sunset read as Anton was crying a little. He then embraced Katia.
"Aw. Nothing like a happy ending." Pinkie said.
The heroes then departed for London on the train, Picking up flora on the way, who forgave them. But little did they know that once they make it back, their biggest adventure would soon begin.
to be continued in...Dimensional Heroes Legends: Professor Layton vs Ace Attorney
by Jexi and Hope