Author's Note:

The Detective Pikachu movie is coming to theaters today, so I wrote a chapter with...Detective Pikachu. Bet you didn't see that one coming, did you? Bet you didn't see these review replies coming either:

"How soon will the BlazBlue characters show up? Will Nina and Anna Williams from Tekken reconcile? A scene with Kasumi from Dead or Alive meeting Kasumi from Persona 5R? Do you plan to do a Detective Pikachu chapter next week? And finally, do you plan to do a Persona Q2 chapter when the game comes out? (Since it will be the true final game for the 3DS)"

Before the end of the year...I can confidently say that much. Probably. Yes, oh yes! This is a Detective Pikachu chapter. And I'm already planning for the Persona Q2 chapter. Got most of the framework for the chapter going about in my head. The other review comes from PinkRose4452:

"1. Will there be a Father's Day chapter?
2. How much longer until we find out why Robin keeps avoiding his kids?

3. Will there be a Persona Q2 chapter in way? To make things easier, will there be a movie night chapter?
4. Since it's almost the one year anniversary of the Japanese release of P3D and P5D (which released on May 24, 2018), will there be a chapter of the Persona characters that are residents having a dance off, and maybe a few non Persona characters who loves or wants to dance and maybe Sonic joining them as well?
5. Can we see Joker, Yu, and Minato interact with each other and foraging a bond between the three and becoming BFFs? I can see them becoming friends and even best friends.
6. Speaking of question 5, is there any way you can make a chapter centered Joker, Yu and Minato? They see something strange happen in the mansion, and they all investigate to find out what it is, and they later out the it was caused by someone in the All Star manor (if not, someone in the mansion, or someone else entirely)."

1. Seeing that I never did one before, sure.
2. You'll find out soon. Very, very soon.
3. Having the Persona Q2 chapter a movie night chapter is something I've had in mind.
4. Um...probably?
5.
Expect to see the three interact some in this chapter.
6. There will be a chapter centered around the three soon.


Episode 177: Disappeared

Despite any word of the contrary, any day at the Smash Mansion was a perfectly normal day. Sure, you had a few residents at odds with one another, or maybe you have someone from the All-Star Manor coming by to start trouble...

...okay, so maybe those instances usually happen on Fridays, and occasionally Thursdays as well. But on any other day, life at the mansion was pretty normal for the most part. No beef, no unwanted intruders, nothing. Just the residents having a good time, and enjoying life.

However, there was nothing that the mansion residents enjoyed more than the newly built bridge, the one the Carpenters had built in the previous episode. With this bridge, the residents of the mansion could just cross over to the tower at any given time, without having to worry about going out through the front door. Very convenient.

Of course, you'll have your fair share of nimrods, doing stupid things on the bridge. Take for instance Fox and Falco, who were racing across the bridge.

"Are both men set?" asked the Excitebike racer who stood at the end of the bridge near the tower. Both Fox and Falco were in starting position, ready to race. "On your mark...get set...GO!"

And they were off! Fox and Falco started running down the bridge, running as far as their legs could carry them. Thankfully there was no one on the bridge, which meant no risk for injury. That wouldn't matter in the slightest, as Fox was able to reach the other side of the bridge faster than Falco could.

"Yeah buddy, I won!" cheered Fox, raising his arms up after he had crossed the bridge. Falco would cross the bridge a few seconds later, nearly out of breath. "Told you I was the fastest, Falco!"

"Enjoy your victory while you can..." Falco said to Fox, panting with his hands on his knees. "...because it's gonna be your last..."

Falco: How did I lose to Fox? Uh, well, I didn't want to win in the first place! I wanted Fox to win so he could have a big head and stuff, so that way when I race him again, he'll act all arrogant and cost himself the race. That's what you call thinking ahead. Galaxy brain. *taps his head*

"You two racing on the bridge again?" Isabelle appeared, speaking to Fox and Falco while holding her clipboard. "Master Hand made it clear that no racing or any other shenanigans on the bridge is allowed."

"He never said that to us," stated Fox, as Isabelle made a sudden face of realization. Her eyes widened, realizing that Master Hand made a huge mistake.

"You know what, I think he only told that to me...I should go ask him to send out a memo." Isabelle turned and walked away, returning to the inside of the mansion.

"Wanna go for another race?" Fox asked Falco, once Isabelle was out of sight. "I could really go for another one, if you like."

"You're on," agreed Falco, fist bumping with Fox as the pilots returned to the other side of the bridge. They expected the Excitebike racer to be prepared to start another race...

...but once they reached the tower balcony, they instead found the Excitebike racer speaking with a Pikachu. But this wasn't just any regular Pikachu - it was a Pikachu wearing a detective hat.

"So, what you're saying is...is that you're trying to solve a mystery?" the Excitebike racer asked the Pikachu, as Fox and Falco looked at him oddly. "Well, I don't think I'm the right guy for the job, so..."

"Excitebike racer, why are you talking to that Pikachu?" Fox asked the racer, grabbing his attention as he looked at Fox and Falco. "More importantly, why is that Pikachu wearing a detective hat on his head?"

"What, you never seen a Pikachu wear a hat before?!" the Pikachu spoke to Fox, in a surprisingly deep voice. Falco shrieked, as he leaped into the hands to Fox.

"Th-Th-That Pikachu can talk!" the avian pilot exclaimed, as he pointed his shaky finger at the Pikachu. "That is NOT okay!"

"Hold on...you can understand what I'm saying too?" the Pikachu with the detective hat was alarmed, jumping back in shock. "This has got to be a new record..."

"Bruh, when did you see this Pikachu?" Falco looked at the Excitebike racer, wanting the racer to tell him everything that he new. "Did he just magically appear, or what? I'm kinda scared, to be honest..."

"I dunno, he just, crawled up the tower and unto the balcony while you guys were having your race," the Excitebike racer explained as he looked down at the Pikachu, who was adjusting his detective hat. "This Pikachu and I just started talking, and..."

"Call me Detective Pikachu," the Pikachu interrupted the Excitebike racer, once he was done adjusting his hat. "I think calling me that would work best for all of us, don't you think so?"

"I suppose you're right - I mean, we do have a Pikachu in the mansion with us," stated Fox, leaving Detective Pikachu fascinated that there were more of his kind in the mansion nearby. "And a Pikachu Libre."

"There's Pikachus in that big fat mansion over there?" Detective Pikachu asked Fox, with his eyes wide, before shaking his head and getting back on subject. "Oh, never mind, I'll meet them later...right now, I have a hankering for a mystery. I would love to go looking for clues."

"Well you can count us out, we're not about that kind of stuff," said Falco, leaping down from Fox as Detective Pikachu sighed. "We just like to see things play out, you know what I'm saying?"

"Drat! There's gotta be someone that loves to go solving mysteries. Any of you boys know a guy?" Fox stroked his chin in thought, thinking of someone who could be the Watson to Detective Pikachu's Sherlock.

"Actually, I think we know a guy...or a kid, rather," said Fox, as Detective Pikachu's eyes widened with intrigue.


It wasn't that often that someone from the mansion - or the tower - went missing. Last time something like that happened was when Mario, Sonic, and Berkut were all abandoned by Link after a trip to the convenience store. But while those three have been gone for a huge chunk of the day, no one has ever been missing for over 24 hours.

Earlier this week, someone from the mansion had gone missing...

"For some reason, this just feels wrong," remarked Ike, standing in the kitchen as he was looking at a milk carton in his hand. On the side of the milk carton was an advertisement for a missing person; that person was Professor Layton.

"How so? We're trying to find Layton, not let him be lost forever," stated Samus, who was also in the kitchen, washing the dishes. Only did this because unwashed dishes bothered her sometimes.

"But Layton isn't even a child! He's a grown man with two kids. One of them he fondly talks about, in his down time. Alfendi is his name, right?"

"Yep, and then there's the daughter...funny how we hardly hear a peep from her." Samus smirked to herself, wondering why Layton's daughter was hardly spoken about. Quite mysterious...

Samus: I wish I could do what Layton did and go missing for a few days, that would make my entire week. Would also be a great stress reviler, too.

"I can't remember the daughter's name quite as well," said Ike, pouring some milk into a glass before putting the milk carton back in the fridge. "But I know it starts with a K." Ike grabbed his glass of milk, and drank it.

"And I know that the milk you're drinking is probably expired," remarked Samus, as Ike quickly spat out the milk unto the floor. "Ah, I was just messing with you..."

"Why did I even fall for that..." Ike grimaced as he wiped off his mouth, before drinking the rest of his milk and putting his glass in Samus' dish water. "Didn't know you had jokes, Samus."

"It wasn't really a joke - I just wanted to see how stupid you were." Feeling pretty angry with himself, Ike left the kitchen, leaving Samus alone to wash the dishes.


Ike would then head over to the living room, where Mario and Luke were present. The plumber and the young detective were all over the phones, calling local authorities for Layton's whereabouts. Mario was even speaking on two phones at the same time!

"No sir, Monday was the last-a time I saw him," Mario spoke into one phone, pressed against his left ear. "No-a ma'am, I wasn't talking to you!" Mario spoke into the other phone, pressed against his right ear.

"You need some help with that, Mario?" Ike asked the plumber, knowing that Mario couldn't handle two phone calls at once. No man could...well, except if his wife gave birth to a baby, and relatives were calling left and right. That would be an exception.

"Shut up, can't-a you see I'm busy?" Mario snapped on Ike, who soundly walked away. "No, I didn't say that-a to you, I was-a speaking with...mama mia!"

"He should still be in the living room," Fox said to Detective Pikachu, who was perched on his shoulder, as he and Falco entered the living room. They saw Luke, speaking with someone on a cellphone. "There he is!"

"Didn't see his handbag in the room, so I can assume he left the mansion with that," Luke spoke into the phone, being more calm than Mario was. "At least I think it was a handbag...could've been his man purse."

"You mean to tell me that I have to solve a mystery with that little munchkin over there?" Detective Pikachu asked Fox and Falco, as he looked at Luke. The mouse Pokemon then looked at Mario. "Why can't I work with him instead?"

"Because he's not all about that life," replied Falco, as Mario heard a cellphone ringing next to him. Mario answered the call, and placed the phone on speakerphone. He was doing it all.

"But it's flipping Mario, there's absolutely nothing he can't do! You mean to tell me that Mario can play tennis, paint some pictures, and even own a doctor's license, but he can't be a detective? That just doesn't sound right..."

"Fine, whatever, I'll call-a you back later," Mario said into the phone, or at least one of the phones. Didn't know which one - he heard three different voices at once. "You know-a what, I'll call you all back-a later, how about that? Good-a bye!"

Mario would end all three phone calls, before letting out a heavy sigh. He never knew that managing so many phone calls simultaneously could be so exhausting! After taking a very short rest, Mario saw Fox and Falco standing in the living room, and Detective Pikachu on Fox's shoulder.

"I really need a break-a from all this darn-a phone calling," Mario told Fox and Falco, getting off the couch so he could speak with them. "Master Hand's got-a me running the phones."

"Is is about Professor Layton?" asked Fox, to which Mario nodded his head. "I flew around in my Arwing, looking for the man, but I couldn't find him. Almost like he just went up and disappeared!"

"Yes, very strange, very strange-a indeed..." Mario looked at Detective Pikachu, perched on Fox's shoulder, and took great interest in him. "I take it that boys are-a going to look for Layton together, with Pikachu?"

"Oh, no, this isn't the Pikachu you're thinking of." Mario looked at Fox in confusion. "This Pikachu here is called Detective Pikachu. He's like Pikachu...but a detective."

"I don't think any further explanation is needed, Fox," Detective Pikachu told the pilot, as Mario jumped back in fright. "Oh, look at that...Mario can understand what I'm saying, too. Figures."

Detective Pikachu: Once in a blue moon, there will be at least one person who can understand what I'm saying. They can hear me use the human language, and not menial words like "Pika Pika!". But for multiple people to understand what I'm saying, in just the span of one day...my career as a detective must have peaked.

"Y-You can talk?!" Mario pointed at Detective Pikachu, nearly frightened out of his mind. "And you know-a my name too?! What-a sorcery is this?!"

"Of course I know your name, you're the famous Mario!" Detective Pikachu frowned at Mario, greatly offended when Mario asked him if he knew his name. "What, you think I live under a rock or something? Maybe you do, since you probably never heard a talking Pokemon before!"

"I have heard-a Pokemon talk before! In fact, I live-a with talking Pokemon in this mansion...granted, they speak-a through telepathy, but it still-a counts."

"Sure buddy, whatever you say..." Detective Pikachu looked at Fox and Falco, still frowning. "...I don't wanna work with Mario anymore. He's upsetting me, and for all the wrong reasons, too."

"Upsetting how? I was just asking some-a honest questions!" Detective Pikachu refused to look at Mario, as he folded his arms and looked the other way. "I can make it up-a to you, I promise!"

"Hey Mario, who's the talking Pikachu?" Luke asked the plumber as he walked next to him, having finished his phone call. Detective Pikachu looked at Luke, still thinking that the young lad was a munchkin.

"I'm not just a talking Pikachu - I'm Detective Pikachu!" Detective Pikachu introduced himself to Luke, now in a better mood. "As you might infer by my name, I enjoy solving mysteries! Provided I have the right sidekick."

"The right sidekick? Well in that case, why don't you make me your sidekick? Guess you could say I'm a bit of a free agent, since Professor Layton has..."

"Why would I want a munchkin like you as my sidekick?" Luke would feel hurt by Detective Pikachu's response, had he never been called a munchkin before. A few residents has called Luke that term several times. "I much prefer tall, teenage, good-looking boys...not that it sounds weird or anything."

"But Detective Pikachu, you don't understand! The detective I usually serve as a sidekick for, Professor Latyon, has gone missing! Has been so since Monday. I would love to go out looking for him, especially with a detective like you!"

"A detective gone missing, eh?" Detective Pikachu stroked his chin, smiling as he realized that he was on the verge of a tantalizing mystery. "Now that's a mystery worth solving!"

"Great! So that means you'll take me in as your sidekick, and we can look for Professor Layton together, right?" Luke got excited as he looked at Detective Pikachu, who looked at Luke with a dumbfounded look on his face. Detective Pikachu would then burst out laughing, giving up Luke's hopes.

"Man, you're such a funny kid! A real comedian!" Detective Pikachu continued to laugh, as he wiped away a tear from his eye. "Bravo, kid, bravo! Wait, hold on, what's your name kid?"

"My name...my name is Luke Triton," Luke didn't even feel like responding, as Detective Pikachu had him feeling all sad inside. He looked down at the floor, despondent.

"Luke Triton? Well Luke, for a munchkin like yourself, you're pretty funny! Maybe you should be a stand-up comedian, as a side gig."

"Well Detective Pikachu, if you don't want-a to work with Luke..." Mario said to the mouse Pokemon, who glanced at the plumber. "...then I can pair-a you up with someone else who has a knack-a for solving mysteries."

"And why exactly should I trust you, Mr. How-Do-You-Know-My-Name? Gonna pair me up with some rock dweller? Just trying to bring me down, huh?"

"No, not at all! Not-a at all! I can rest assure-a you that this guy can get the job-a done. He helped us solve-a one mystery two years-a back, and he could solve-a this one if he tried."

"Are you talking about who I think you're talking about?" Falco asked Mario, getting a feeling of whom the plumber was referring to. "Yeah, Detective Pikachu, you should definitely trust Mario on this one."

"Really, you think so?" Detective Pikachu looked at Mario, with some doubt resting inside of him. "If I have no other choice, then so be it..."

Luke: *sighs* My one chance to work with a detective other than Layton, and it failed...all because I look like a munchkin. I mean sure, I look like a little kid and I have a baby face, but... *pauses* ...wait, I just described what a munchkin looks like. I really am a munchkin! Sonic was telling me the truth all along!

Sonic: Ha, I've been telling Luke that he was a munchkin ever since I laid my eyes on him. All it took for him to realize that was for that boring top hat man Layton to go missing. Maybe now, Luke will also realize that he has terrible luck when it comes to ladies.


In the previous episode, the mansion received two new residents, in Yu and Minato. Over the course of the week, while Layton was missing, Yu and Minato got to know the residents of the mansion better, and became friends/acquaintances with a few of them. Some residents were trying to be Yu and Minato's friend, such as Pit for example.

"Yu, Minato, can we go hang out or something?" Pit, who was in the foyer with Kirby and Incineroar, was knocking on a trapdoor on the floor. Said trapdoor had a tunnel that led to Mario's bunker, as you might remember. "We can go have ice cream!"

"We don't need to go out for ice cream," Yu called out to Pit, from below the trap door. Judging by how he sounded, Yu was pretty annoyed with Pit.

"Yeah, you're right - Incineroar would make all the ice cream at the creamery melt anyways. Nice going, Incineroar..." Pit glared at Incineroar, who shrugged, before returning his attention to the trap door. "...why not go to Subway instead?"

"We can just stay here and make our own sub sandwiches, and save money. We have enough materials in the pantry."

"I thought those guys from the manor took all our salami." Pit looked at Kirby, who shook his head. "I can never eat a sub sandwich without any salami."

"Look, Pit, can you go away and leave us alone? We're a little busy at the moment - just give us some peace and quiet!"

"Busy doing what, going to the bunker? Because at this rate, you should've been there already." Yu could be heard groaning from below the trap door. Later he was heard climbing up a ladder, before he opened the trap door and looked at Pit.

"For your information, we're not going to the bunker. Mario isn't even home, so we wouldn't go to his bunker when he's not around. It would be in very poor taste."

"But Peach and Spyro and Hunter will be around, so what's your point? I'm sure they wouldn't mind." Yu became increasingly annoyed at Pit, furrowing his brow.

"Yes, but Mario is the man of the house, and if he's absent, then there's no point being at his home. It would be poor taste."

"What would be poor-a taste? Why do I hear-a my name?" Mario asked these questions as he appeared in the foyer, with Detective Pikachu following after him. "What are you boys-a discussing?"

"Yu and his friends are trying to sneak inside your bunker," explained Pit, leading Yu to facepalm with his elbow resting on the floor. "They were about to get away with it, too!"

"Oh really? I usually condone-a others entering my bunker without-a my permission...but all the power to you-a and your friends, Yu."

"Yu, are you done speaking with Pit yet?" asked Joker, calling out from the bottom of the ladder Yu was standing on. "We don't have all day!"

"Sorry for the holdup, Joker," apologized Yu, before the young man climbed back down the ladder. "I should get going guys, Joker and Minato are waiting for me." After Yu closed the trapdoor Mario realized why he had to do.

"Wait, Yu, come-a back!" Mario shouted to Yu, who sighed as he opened the trapdoor and climbed back up. "I need you to go-a on an important mission."

"What does this mission entail, and how long is it? Not sure if you're aware, but Joker, Minato, and I are working on something down here."

"I'm afraid it's gonna have-a to wait. As you know, Professor Layton is still-a missing, and I think we have some-a one who can track him down..." Detective Pikachu appeared from behind Mario, looking at Yu.

"Hey kid, Detective Pikachu's the name," Detective Pikachu greeted Yu, who looked amazed as he crawled out of the trapdoor and unto the floor. He stood on his feet, looking at Detective Pikachu and marveling at him. "Quit it out with the buggy eyes, you're creeping me out..."

"A talking Pikachu...?" uttered Yu, acting like talking Pokemon were figments of one's imagination. "Master Hand was right when he told me and Minato to expect the unexpected..."

"Seriously, Yu, why are you so easily distracted?" frowned Joker, as he climbed up out of the trapdoor and appeared in the foyer. Minato would follow after him.

Joker: The Shadow Thieves and I are building something secret underneath the mansion, with Yu and Minato. Can't really say what it is at the moment, but it's something only my friends are allowed to use. Wish we could've built this thing somewhere else, but the unlimited space provided by the underground tunnel was our only option...

"Shut up kid, we're having a conversation here!" Detective Pikachu snapped on Joker, who was taken aback by the mouse Pokemon speaking. Minato was taken aback as well. "Go climb back down that ladder, and leave us alone!"

"Why is there a talking Pikachu wearing a detective hat?" asked Minato, as Detective Pikachu greeted his teeth. So many questions being asked about him didn't help with his demeanor.

"Why not for there to be a talking Pikachu wearing a detective hat?!" Detective Pikachu groaned as he took off his detective hat and threw it on the floor in frustration, before putting it back on his head. "So many people, acting all brand new...I guess not having people understand what I"m saying was a good thing."

"Relax, Detective Pikachu, let's not-a forget what we came-a here for," Mario said to the mouse Pokemon, cooling him down. "We have yet to get you situated-a with your sidekick, Yu."

"Who, the silver-haired kid with the bowl cut?" Detective Pikachu looked at Yu, forming a smile on his face. "Yeah, he doesn't look too shabby. Better choice for a sidekick than that munchkin kid in the living room."

"What is the talking Pikachu talking about, what even is going on?" questioned Joker, not willing to let Yu get away so easily. "You're not taking Yu, are you? I'm afraid he's still busy."

"Yu is tagging along-a with Detective Pikachu here to track-a down Professor Layton," explained Mario, reminding Joker of the British detective's sudden disappearance. "You want Layton to return-a to the mansion safe and sound, right?"

"I...guess so...I suppose I can have Futaba fill in for Yu. She can come down to the tunnel, and complete what Yu has already started."

"Yeah, yeah, nobody cares," remarked Detective Pikachu, waving off Joker before returning his attention to Yu. "So, Yu - that's your name, right? What say you and I go solving a mystery together? How about it?"

"If you're down, then I'm down," replied Yu, and then Detective Pikachu ran up to Yu and leaped unto his shoulder. Thus beginning an unlikely alliance of the most unlikely allies - Yu and Detective Pikachu. What were the odds?

"I'll inform-a Master Hand and you and Detective Pikachu are looking for-a Layton," Mario told Yu, as he walked over to Master Hand's room. "Search every nook and-a cranny of Seattle as you can!"

"We'll be down here when you return, Yu," Joker informed the young man, as he and Minato returned to the tunnel below. Pit tried to follow after Joker, only to get quickly pushed out. "You don't belong down here, Pit."

"Sorry..." Pit apologized to Joker, as he and his best friends, Kirby and Incineroar, walked away. That left Yu and Detective Pikachu alone in the foyer, together.

"Just who the heck is this Master Hand?" Detective Pikachu asked Yu - shame on him for not knowing who the creator of the Smash universe was.


Master Hand: Mario stopped by and told me what I needed to know - Yu and some apparent talking Pikachu are gonna team up, and find Layton together. Obviously this is a very big mission, all things considered, so I have VERY high hopes that Yu will find Layton before the end of the day. Otherwise he's getting banned till the deed is done.

Before Yu and Detective Pikachu could start their search, they first had to ask others about what Layton was doing before disappearing. One of those others were Link and Cloud, who were discussing Zant's appearance last week in their room.

"I'm starting to think that Zant is working as a close ally of the manor," stated Link, lying on his bed with his arms folded behind his head, while looking up at the ceiling. Cloud, who was on his bed playing with Cloud Jr, gave Link a funny look.

"A guy who told someone from the manor to scram is working alongside that someone and her friends from the mansion?" the swordsman said, raising an eyebrow, before going back to playing with his pet Chocobo. "Makes perfect sense, Link."

"Think about it - that whole scenario could've been a set-up. To trick us into thinking that Zant is our friend." Link turned his head, as he looked at Cloud. "You think that's plausible, right Cloud?"

"I see no reason for Zant wanting to be friends with a guy like me, and a Hylian he feuded with in the past. Seems like a strange change of heart."

"That may be true, I'll give you that..." Link soon sat up on his bed, ready to dig even deeper into his weird theory of his. "But, what if someone performed a talk-no jutsu on Zant, and made him a good guy?"

"Then that would perfectly contradict what you said about Zant working with the manor. Good guys would never work with folks who are seen as bad and evil."

"Zant might not think that the dudes from the manor are bad and evil, but he might think that way about us." Cloud just stared at Link for a hard five seconds, before going back to playing with Cloud Jr.

"Man, you can be so paranoid sometimes..." After Cloud's remark, Link went back to lying on his bed, looking up at the ceiling peacefully in thought. That peace would come to an end, however, when Yu and Detective Pikachu barged inside the room.

"Hey Cloud, Link, can I speak with you both?" Yu asked the swordsmen, with Detective Pikachu perched on his shoulder. "Hope this won't take as long."

"You know, you could've knocked on the door..." Cloud said to Yu, who smiled sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head. "...also, why is Pikachu wearing a detective hat for?"

"That's Detective Pikachu to you!" Detective Pikachu shook his fist angrily at Cloud, as Cloud and Link gave the mouse Pokemon surprised looks. "Here I go again, blowing people's minds..."

"Yeah, I'm just gonna pretend that never happened." Forgetting that Detective Pikachu ever spoke, Cloud returned his attention to Yu. "So what is it, Yu?"

"It's about Professor Layton. Pikachu and I..." Detective Pikachu looked at Yu with a frown, letting him know that he made a fatal mistake. "...erm, Detective Pikachu and I, were informed that you two were the last ones to speak with Layton, before he disappeared."

"Oh yeah, we saw him try to sneak out through the front door that evening on Monday," stated Link, sitting up on his bed as he was ready to give Yu some juicy details. "Said he was gonna get some tortilla chips for dinner."

"Tortilla chips for dinner?" Detective Pikachu raised an eyebrow, before looking at Yu. "Do you believe that, Yu?" Yu held his finger underneath his chin, in thought.

"Not one bit...we had vegetable soup for dinner that Monday. I should know - the horrible taste was too horrid for me to forget." Palutena must've cooked the soup that day. "How was Layton acting when he left?" Yu asked Link and Cloud.

"Very suspicious, like he was hiding something," replied Cloud, taking his mind back to that fateful Monday evening. "His voice was kinda shaky, too - and that's when Link and I realized that Layton was up to no good."

"We would've followed after Layton, but Cloud here was all like, 'NOOOOOOO'," added Link, as Cloud looked at the Hylian. "Could've stopped Layton from going away, but nope! Cloud had to be a party pooper."

"You know I don't know chasing others around. It's just not my style. It's also very stalkerish. And I'm no stalker..."

"You know what, let's dig a little bit deeper..." said Detective Pikachu, smiling as he rubbed his hands together. "...what kind of things did this Professor Layton discuss with you guys? Like, you know...personal stuff?"

"Personal stuff?" Cloud looked up at the ceiling in thought, reminiscing the many conversations he had with Layton. "He does usually talk about his son, Alfendi. And occasionally he'll talk about his daughter...Katrielle."

"Katrielle, huh? Did Layton give any story about her?" Cloud thought to himself for a moment, before looking at Detective Pikachu and shaking his head no.

"Other than mentioning that she was his daughter, not at all. We hardly ever hear a peep about Katrielle - it's mostly just Alfendi we typically hear about."

Cloud: Layton has never been the one to dish out info about his personal life. He's never been that kind of guy. The same way I am. Come to think of it, Layton and I have something in common...not that it should be a good thing.

"What if this Katrielle girl was missing, and Layton set out to find her?" Yu asked Detective Pikachu, who found the young man's theory to be plausible. "He could have left on Monday, to get a head start."

"Perhaps his quest was so personal, that he didn't want to tell anyone about it!" assumed Detective Pikachu, ready to take the ongoing mystery up a notch. "I think we should go to Layton's room, and gather more clues."

"Good thing I know where that is..." Yu and Detective Pikachu left Link and Cloud's room, making their way over to Layton's abode. Link and Cloud just sat there and stared, both in complete disbelief.

"You think that talking Pikachu might know a thing or two about Zant?" Link asked Cloud, who gave his best friend a questioanble glare. "I was just asking an honest question, sheesh..."


Yu and Detective Pikachu went to Layton's room, hoping to find some clues about where Layton ran off to. They looked all over Layton's dresser, as Yu moved around items on the dresser.

"Hey, who sleeps in that bed over there?" Detective Pikachu asked Yu, pointing at a bed on the opposite side of the room.

"That would be Luke, Professor Layton's apprentice," replied Yu, as he opened one of the drawers to the dresser and looked inside. "Luke has been Layton's apprentice for a long time."

"What, that munchkin kid sleeps in that ginormous bed? That's a lot of unused space there! You could literally fit ten Lukes in that bed to make up for the size!"

"Luke isn't that small..." As Yu closed the drawer and opened another one under it, he looked inside the drawer and found a picture, picking it up. "Look what I found - a picture of Layton."

"Lemme see, lemme see!" Yu showed the picture to Detective Pikachu; it was a picture of Layton, holding an infant in his hands. "Soooo where's the detective guy we're supposed to look for?"

"Can't you see, it's him right there." Yu pointed at Layton, and Detective Pikachu for some reason looked confused. "Don't you see?"

"Last time I checked, detectives wear trench coats, and maybe a detective hat on their head. This guy looks like a magician looking for a British nightclub to do magic tricks at. You can't fool me!"

"I can rest assure you that he is Professor Layton..." Yu took a good look at the picture one more time, focusing on the baby. "...but I wonder if the child in the picture is his biological child, or someone else's."

"Could be that Katrielle girl that spiky-haired blonde guy spoke of earlier." Yu looked at the picture one last time, before putting said picture in his pocket. "Question is, how old is that picture?"

"Judging by how it felt, it must be pretty recent. Probably taken two or three years ago. We should go show the picture to some of the others around the mansion, and see if they can give us any clues."


Yu and Detective Pikachu went around the mansion, showing the picture of Layton and the child to the residents; they weren't entirely sure that this tactic would get them anywhere, but it was still worth a shot. One of the residents they interrogated was Mewtwo, whom they spoke with at the Pokemon sanctuary.

"Have you ever seen this picture before?" Yu asked Mewtwo, holding up the picture of Layton and the child. Mewtwo stared at the picture for a couple of seconds, and was looking at it quite intensely.

"Yes, I've seen it before...Layton offered to share it with me," replied Mewtwo, after a few unnecessary seconds of staring at the picture. "Albeit secretly. He said that he could 'trust my eyes' the most."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" questioned Detective Pikachu, as Yu placed the picture back in his pocket. "Is the picture super confidential?"

"Knowing how Layton can be when it comes to his personal life, I'd have to say so. He's always secretive."

Mewtwo: Everyone loves telling me their secrets. Probably because they know I would never tell their secrets to anyone else. Such power should never be entrusted in someone like me.

"But according to him, the infant child he's holding in the picture is his daughter, Katrielle," continued Mewtwo, affirming what Detective Pikachu already believed. "It's the only piece of evidence he has concerning his daughter."

"Great, we were kinda thinking the same thing!" exclaimed Detective Pikachu, seemingly one step closer to starting their full-on search. "About the infant being Layton's daughter. You think Layton went off to go look for her?"

"Provided that Katrielle might be in trouble...I would have to assume that Layton flew back to Britain." That assumption from Metwtwo really got Yu and Detective Pikachu going. "But then again, he would be foolish to leave Luke behind."

"Perhaps Layton left Monday evening to speak with someone about Katrielle, in private," assumed Yu, with a finger underneath his chin. "He could've went to a payphone to speak with someone, but was attacked at the payphone or on his way there..."

"Well we won't know what really happened to him unless we find out," stated Detective Pikachu as Yu turned around, ready to leave the sanctuary. "If Layton did get mugged, then that'll make our search harder!"

"Before you go, I would highly recommend snooping around the King Street Station." Yu and Detective Pikachu both looked at Mewtwo, right before they left. "It's...it's just a hunch I have."

"We'll start looking around there first," Yu informed Mewtwo, as he and Detective Pikachu left the sanctuary for good.


While everyone was concerned about Layton's whereabouts, the blue blur known as Sonic couldn't possibly care less. The hedgehog was ecstatic about Layton's absence, and he was letting the others know.

"This mansion just got a lot more exciting, now that Layton's gone," Sonic told Robin in the gaming room, convinced that Layton would never return. "No more boring Layton sucking up all the fun, amirite Robin?"

"Didn't know that one person leaving affected the entire morale of the mansion," remarked robin, who was seated on a couch while holding the latest edition of Swordsman Weekly. Had the magazine covering his face.

"Why are you hiding your face for, look me in the eyes man!" Sonic reached for the magazine and pulled it down, only for Robin to pull it back up. "What gives?"

"What gives is that my kids from the future have spotted me. My cover was blown! Now I have to continue remaining low, so they won't see me again."

"Dang dude, I've never seen anyone that dedicated to being a deadbeat! Why you gonna hide from Morgan and Marc for? Did they hurt you? Offend you? Or are they bastard children?"

"I don't know what you're talking about..." Robin held the magazine closer to his face, just to be on the safe side. Sonic was left smiling at the mage.

"C'mon Robin, we all know you had Morgan and Marc with another woman. Must've been a real hit with the ladies!" At that moment, Robin lowered the magazine, as he looked at Sonic.

"Where did you got that from? Who told you that?" Robin sounded like he was insulted, like someone had roasted him to oblivion.

"What, you being a hit with the ladies, or you having your kids with another woman? Because if you ask me..."

"The part about me fiddling around with another woman. Who told you that? Tell me now, dang it!"

"I'm just telling you what you probably already know." Sonic leaped off the couch, backing away from Robin while shrugging his shoulders. "Truth you set you free!"

Lucina: It was kinda amusing seeing Robin seeing Morgan and Marc, and seeing him faint immediately afterwards. I thought that Robin would finally come around, and actually hang out with the kids more...knew better than to get my hopes up.

Knuckles: I managed to get my twenty back from Robin, but the man is still acting like a deadbeat towards his kids. Pit is hanging out with Kirby and Incineroar, so I gotta fly solo for today...

As Sonic left the gaming room, he saw Knuckles coming around the corner. The hedgehog stopped in place, so he could speak with his echidna friend.

"Is Robin in the gaming room?" Knuckles approached Sonic, having some things to settle with Robin today.

"Yeah, I just spoke with him a moment ago," replied Sonic, as Knuckles pounded his fists together. "Thought he could hide behind a magazine! Ha!"

"Figured he would do something like that..." Knuckles walked past Sonic as he entered the gaming room, seeing Robin on the couch. Even with the magazine, Robin could still be discerned. Knuckles marched towards Robin, ready to deal with the mage...

...only for a giant hand to grab the echidna and bring him behind a nearby couch. Poor Knuckles didn't get that far.

"Hey man, what gives?!" Knuckles snapped as he faced the man who grabbed him - Ganondorf, who was accompanied by Gil. Ganondorf shushed Knuckles, before looking from behind the couch at Robin.

"Gil and I heard your conversation with Sonic in the hallway," Ganondorf whispered to Knuckles, before looking back at Robin one more time. "You're after Robin too, is that right?"

"Yeah, I'm after him...really, I'm just curious about the man. Does Robin owe you and Gil money too?" Ganondorf shook his head no.

"We are after Robin for a different reason...a reason similar to yours." This made Knuckles intrigued, as his eyes grew wide. "Gil and I think that Robin is keeping a huge secret from the twins, about their birth mother."

"I didn't really think at first, I just kinda agreed with Ganondorf," Gil pointed out, raising his finger; Ganondorf nudged the de fact librarian, hard. "Sorry for stating a mere fact..."

"Anyways, we both believe that Robin is up to no good, and we plan on exposing him. You're after Robin like us, so do you wanna join our pact?"

"Anything better than having to do it alone," replied Knuckles, as he shook hands with Ganondorf. "So, fellas, where do we begin?"


Yu and Detective Pikachu went to the foyer, ready to leave the mansion and begin their search. Around the time they entered the foyer, Joker and Minato appeared out from the trapdoor.

"Thank goodness you're back, Yu," Joker said to the young man, relieved to see Yu in all his bowl-cut hair glory. "Ready to get back down here and finished what you've started? Futaba really came through with the..."

"No thanks Joker - Detective Pikachu and I are just getting started," replied Yu with a smile, effectively bumming out Joker. "The two of us had to go around and gather some evidence. Now, we're ready to search for Layton!"

"Why couldn't you guys do the search earlier..." No need to throw a fit, Joker - Yu's got some important stuff to do. The doorbell suddenly rang, and Minato climbed out of the trapdoor to answer the front door.

Upon opening the door, Minato saw a man in a blue suit standing on the porch. It was the one and only, Phoenix Wright, back in Seattle for who-knows-what.

"Hi there, friend..." Phoenix greeted Minato with a smile, initially appearing friendly and happy enough to unnerve Minato...before shoving a milk carton up in his face. "...WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" Phoenix shouted angrily.

"There's a good explanation..." replied Minato, looking at the missing Layton ad on the side of the milk carton. "The explanation is...is that we don't have one."

"How can you just stand around, and do nothing, while Layton is out there missing?!" Phoenix marched his way inside the mansion, continuing the press the side of the milk carton against Minato's face. "Explain THAT!"

"If it makes you feel any better, Detective Pikachu and I are gonna look for Layton together," Yu said to Phoenix, who took the milk carton away from Minato as he looked at Yu. Eventually, the former attorney started laughing and pointing at Yu.

"You really think that a guy like you is just gonna team up with some Pikachu and find Layton together?" Phoenix was laughing so hard, he had tears running down from his eyes. "Sure, go ahead, have fun in la-la land!"

"Just some Pikachu? Well I never..." frowned Detective Pikachu, as he folded his arms - the fact that he spoke made Phoenix stop laughing. The former attorney gasped, as he looked at Phoenix with shock and excitement.

"A talking Pikachu?! Am I dreaming?" Phoenix ran up to Detective Pikachu, marveling at him. Needless to say, Detective Pikachu didn't appreciate it in the slightest. "This is so cool? Can I pinch your cheek?"

"Keep your filthy hands away from me!" Detective Pikachu frowned at Phoenix, as he slapped his hands away. Phoenix rubbed his aching hand, but he knew that it was worth it.

Detective Pikachu: You know what I hate the most about being a Pikachu? *looks around* Being called things like "cute" and "adorable", and having someone petting my head or pinching my cheek. Women are the worst offenders - one look at me, and then they're all like, "OOOOOH A PIKACHU, I COULD JUST EAT YOU UP!" Sometimes I wish I was a Trubbish instead. Nobody would bother me then.

"The Pikachu on my shoulder is Detective Pikachu - we've only met today," Yu explained to Phoenix, who was too busy fawning at Detective Pikachu. The former attorney was really setting himself up for a Thunderbolt. "So far, we've developed great chemistry."

"I see, I see..." nodded Phoenix, after he was done fawning at Detective Pikachu, as he backed away from Yu. "Well, if you have that Pikachu with you, then I see no reason why you can't find Layton. I'll leave you and your Pokemon at it."

"Very well then." Yu headed towards the front door, and before he could step out, he turned and looked at Phoenix. "Layton will be back at the mansion sooner than you know it."

"Yeah, he better! Layton is a friend of mine, my main man...if I find out that something bad happened to him, then that would be pretty devastating. For me, though. Don't let me down!"

Yu gave Phoenix a thumbs up, as he left the mansion. Once Yu closed the front door, Phoenix looked at Minato, rubbing his hands together.

"So! How about you and I go do some fun stuff together?" Phoenix asked Minato, unaware that the blue-haired fellow was busy at the moment. "My former assistant Maya is babysitting my daughter for me, so I could just chill out at the mansion until..."

"Minato is very busy at the moment," explained Joker, as Phoenix snapped his fingers in disgust. At least he tried. "So you'll just have to wait..."

"Actually, I wouldn't mind taking a little break," said Minato; he could really use some fresh air. Same could be said for Joker.

"That's right kid, stand up for yourself! Show Joker who's boss!" Phoenix walked over to Minato, wrapping his arm around him. "We're just gonna go hang out, the two of us...we'll be right back, okay?" Phoenix said to Joker.

"...sure, go and have your fun," replied Joker, conceding defeat, as Phoenix walked away with Minato. Joker sighed, with his hand on his hip. "Wonder if Yusuke is available..."


Upon arriving at the front yard of the mansion, Yu and Detective Pikachu looked around, before the former saw a certain long tail Pokemon, playing around with a hat on the other side of the street.

"Look over there, it's an Aipom!" Yu said to Detective Pikachu, as he pointed at the Aipom with the hat. "Is he seriously messing around with a hat?"

"Yeah, but not just any hat...that looks like the hat that Layton guy wears!" observed Detective Pikachu, as Aipom put the hat on his head and danced around. "How did that Aipom even..."

"No matter, we gotta get that hat before before something happens to it." So Yu ran to the street, waiting for a car to pass by, before crossing the street and running to Aipom. Aipom, who saw Yu, shrieked as he ran away with Layton's hat.

"He's getting away! After him!" Heeding Detective Pikachu's command, Yu chased after the Aipom, hot on the long tail Pokemon's heels.


Where is the one place in the mansion where anyone could have fun? If you guessed the gaming room, then you are correct! (And if you guessed anything else...shame on you.) Phoenix and Minato went to the gaming room, so they could do stuff together.

"Thanks for being my tag-along, Minato," Phoenix said to the young man, after he got to know Minato a little better. "Can you imagine a guy like me having to spend an entire day at the mansion, all by myself?"

"Yeah that sounds pretty inhumane..." mumbled Minato, who wasn't that used to hanging out much. He could already tell that Phoenix might not be his cup of tea.

"Had Maya or Trucy came along, I could be spending time with them! But, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise...since I got to meet you!"

Minato: Heh, a blessing in disguise? If that's what he wants to call it...

Phoenix and Minato stepped inside the gaming room, as Phoenix looked around wondering what he and Minato should do. The former attorney would soon spot Robin, still seated on the couch with a magazine concealing his face.

"That's not how you play hide-and-seek, Robin!" Phoenix shouted to the mage, who grumbled when he heard his name. "Take it from me!"

"Go away and leave me alone..." retorted Robin, his voice slightly muffled by the magazine. He was holding it pretty close to his face; evidently the mage didn't want to breathe.

"Psst, over here!" someone whispered to Phoenix and Minato, as the two looked to their right and saw Ganondorf, Gil, and Knuckles hiding behind a couch. Phoenix and Minato walked over to the couch, with Phoenix looked at Robin conspicuously.

"What's up with Robin?" Phoenix whispered to Ganondorf and company, before looking at Robin one more time. "What is he trying to accomplish?"

"We think that Robin is hiding a huge secret from his kids from the future," explained Gil, making sure to keep his voice low. "Morgan and Marc."

"Not sure if you're aware, but Robin's been hiding from his kids for months," continued Ganondorf, as Phoenix attentively nodded his head. "We have a bit of a hunch for why he does it.."

"What do you think the reason might be? I can't for the life of me understand why he just sits there all out in the open, with a magazine over his face."

"Our theory is that Robin might've impregnated a woman other than Lucina, and had the twins with her. Of course, nothing has been proven yet, and we don't have any viable evidence...but Robin's shady behavior is all the evidence we need."

"I see..." Phoenix looked back at Robin one last time, stroking his chin with his finger, before returning his attention to Ganondorf and company. "...so what do you think we should do?"

"I think an intervention is needed," suggested Knuckles, wanting to get some of Robin's family and friends involved. "Phoenix, you could take Robin out of the gaming room, and take him somewhere where you can watch him."

"Alright, but then what?" asked Minato, interjecting himself into the conversation. "Taking Robin outta here isn't going to solve anything."

"Will you let me finish? Phoenix will take Robin away, and tie him up and blindfold him. The rest of us will take care of everything else."

"Tie up Robin, and keep him restrained until further notice. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, but it should be worth a shot.."

"You're right, Minato - it is worth a shot!" smiled Phoenix, slapping Minato on the back for no reason. Phoenix just felt like doing that. "Time for us to expose Robin!"

Phoenix: In all the years I've spent as an attorney, I've never had to deal with guys who committed infidelity on their girlfriend, or future spouse. Never would I've expected Robin of all people to be my first victim for such a heinous act!


Yu chased Aipom into a fish market in Seattle, with Detective Pikachu maintaining his hold on Yu's shoulder. Yu had to constantly run into people, just to keep up with the Aipom.

"Sorry! Out of the way! Coming through!" the young man shouted at everyone he bumped into, keeping his eyes locked on the Aipom.

"We almost got him cornered!" said Detective Pikachu, as Aipom was running towards a wall in the distance...but once he reached the wall, Aipom leaped up in the air, and stuck a perfect landing on the building.

"We were so close..." frowned Yu, as he looked up at Aipom who was taunting him. Aipom still had Layton's hat, as the long tail Pokemon scurried away. "...almost had him too."

"Clearly you didn't, since you let that stupid Aipom get away with the hat! Maybe you should exercise some more."

"Yu?...Detective Pikachu?...How's the search for Professor Layton coming along?"

Yu and Detective Pikachu turned around, and the latter feared for the worst as Luke suddenly appeared. The young detective looked like he was ready for a mystery.

"Oh great, it's the munchkin kid..." Detective Pikachu facepalmed, as he couldn't stand the sight of Luke in all his munchkin glory. "...what do you want, kid? Came to play third wheel?"

"No, just wanted to see how you two were doing. I was feeling kinda bored being alone by myself...life without Layton can be stale at times."

"Boo hoo, such a tragic story...go cry somewhere else kid, while we go find your master or whatever. Let's go, Yu!" But Yu wouldn't move, not a single inch.

"Luke, do you mind if I ask you a question?" Yu asked the young detective, as Detective Pikachu impatiently looked at him. "Does this picture ring a bell to you?"

"What picture?" inquired Luke, as Yu took out the picture of Layton and Katrielle and showed it to the young detective. Luke's face lit up in an instant. "Ooh! Yeah, that's the picture of Layton, holding Katrielle! I was there when Katrielle was born."

"You were what?" Detective Pikachu looked at Luke, having to do a double-take. Had a lot of loaded questions right now...

"Yeah, her mother gave birth to her on a boat, and I was there to witness the entire thing." The thought of Luke seeing a woman give birth was enough to make Detective Pikachu nearly puke. "It's...it's a long story."

Pit: Amazingly, I found out weeks ago that Luke witnessed a woman giving birth! Since I'm still growing in my own knowledge of babies and whatnot, I asked Luke to give me the invaluable knowledge he gained about pregnancy from his first-hand experience. Unfortunately, he turned me down. But that's the thing about geniuses - they're always too afraid to give back a piece of their intellect.

"Do you know if the mother was Layton's wife, or another woman?" Yu asked Luke, as Detective Pikachu tried to get the mental image he got from listening to Luke's story out of his head.

"As far as I know, Layton was never married," stated Luke; he went on enough mysteries with Layton to know what the detective's romantic/personal life was like. "So I would have to say that Katrielle was adopted, just like Alfendi!"

"This is great and all, it really is...but there's an Aipom running about with Layton's hat," stated Detective Pikachu, once he got the mental image out of his head. "Are we gonna chase after him or what?" Just then, something spurred inside Yu's head...

"Didn't Mewtwo mention something about a train station?" asked Yu, remebering what Mewtwo had told him and Detective Pikachu. "King Street Station, is that what it's called? We should go there."

"So you think that Aipom is hanging out at some train station in town? I suppose we can check around..."


Robin remained in the gaming room, with the magazine still over his face. The mage could switch up to a better hiding method, but apparently he was content with the method he was using right now.

"Oh snap, is that Morgan and Marc I see?" someone shouted from outside the gaming room, as Robin slowly lowered his magazine. "With their mom Lucina?"

"Welp, time for me to make my move," said Robin, closing his magazine and putting it down as he hurried out of the gaming room. Robin wouldn't get that far upon exiting, as Minato came up to the mage from behind grabbing his torso to keep him still.

"Stay still..." Minato advised Robin, holding an open bottle of chloral hydrate up to the mage's nose. Robin started to feel light-headed, before fainting as Minato gently led the mage down to the floor. Phoenix appeared behind Minato, when the act was done.

"Knuckles said to use a blindfold..." said Phoenix, before taking out a roll of duct tape. "...but I think this might be more effective."


Yu, Detective Pikachu, and Luke arrived at the King Street Station, on the search for Layton...or the Aipom that stole Layton's hat. A train rolled up to the station around the time Yu and company arrived.

"What if Layton is in that train?" asked Luke, as he pointed at the train. The train doors opened, and the passengers filed out of the train...and none of them were Professor Layton. "Oh..."

"Guess we came all the way here, just for nothing," remarked Detective Pikachu. The mouse Pokemon wasn't all that disappointed. "Let's turn back, boys..."

"Wait, is that an Aipom?" Luke pointed at the top of the train, at an Aipom that leaped down to the ground - with Layton's hat! The long tail Pokemon turned to the right, and panicked when he saw Yu and company before running off.

"There he is, after him!" Yu and Luke chased after the Aipom. They kept chasing the long tail Pokemon until they had him cornered, near a wall - and this time, there was no escape.

"Give it up Aipom - there's nowhere for you to run off to," Yu said to the long tail Pokemon, who was holding on to Layton's hat. Little fella didn't want to give up the hat yet. "Hand the hat over, and you can go away peacefully..."

"Hey, is that my hat?" someone shouted out, as Yu and company looked behind and saw a sharply-dressed mustached man walk up to them. He looked at Aipom, spotting the hat in the monkey's hands.

"You sure that's your hat?" Yu asked the man, who walked up to Aipom. Aipom held the hat close to him, but the man ripped the hat out of the long tail Pokemon's hands like it was nothing.

"Yup, this is definitely my hat! One hundred percent!" The man placed the hat on his bed, making sure that it was a perfect fit. "Nearly cost me a fortune to get this hat - thought I had lost it forever!"

"Excuse me sir, can I see the hat?" Luke asked the man, who walked over to the young detective and gave him his hat. Luke inspected the hat thoroughly, before handing it back to the man. "Yeah, Layton's hat is a tad shorter."

"YOU MEAN THAT WE'VE BEEN CHASING AFTER THAT AIPOM FOR NOTHING?!" frowned Detective Pikachu, screaming at the top of his lungs. The man looked at the mouse Pokemon with wide eyes of shock, after putting his hat back on.

"...I should get going, have a good day!" the man quickly replied, before running away. It was good that the man left while he could, since Detective Pikachu was ready to blow a casket!

"Luke? Yu? What are you fellas doing at the train station? I must say, this is quite a surprise!"

Luke and Yu's faces were immediately brightened up, when they heard that familiar British voice. The two looked to their left, and saw Professor Herschel Layton, standing at the King Street Station.

"Professor Layton!" squealed Luke, as he ran up to the detective and hugged him. Layton hugged Luke back, embracing his apprentice. "Oh, how I missed you!"

"I missed you very much too, Luke," Layton smiled at his apprentice, before looking up and seeing Yu walk over to him. "Good to see you, Mr. Narukami."

"Same here - we've been looking all over for you," responded Yu, standing in front of the detective he sought to find. Mission accomplished...

Mewtwo: Did I know that Layton would be at the King Street Station, since I can look into the future. *folds his arms* I can't tell you what I know. I was just doing Yu and Detective Pikachu a solid.

"So that's Professor Layton..." said Detective Pikachu, as he was looking at the legendary British detective. Layton quickly took notice of the mouse Pokemon, after he had spoke.

"Ah, a talking Pokemon - can't say it's my first time seeing one," remarked Layton, as Detective Pikachu gasped in shock. It was an almost happy kind of gasp.

"WHAT?! A person who can not only understand what I'm saying, but isn't flipping out over the fact that I can speak?! It's about time..." Detective Pikachu fainted, falling backwards off of Yu's shoulder as he landed on the ground.

"I think there's a good enough explanation for that reaction," Yu said to Layton, who was a little worried about Detective Pikachu. "So Professor, why exactly did you run away? Had everyone worried!"

"I wouldn't say that I ran away...I have a lot to explain," replied Layton, as he tidied his black jacket. "Someone grab that Pikachu, so we can head back to the mansion. I'll explain everything there."


Robin honestly had no idea where he was...last thing he remembered, he was leaving the gaming room after hearing that Morgan and Marc were on their way. The mage had to make haste, and make his move.

But soon Robin would learn where he was, when Minato ripped the duct tape off his mouth and his eyes, waking him up in the process. Robin screamed in pain, waking up, before realizing that he was in the lounge.

"Why am I even here?" the mage wondered, realizing that he was tied up to a chair. In the lounge was Minato, Phoenix, Ganondorf, Gil, and Knuckles...as well as Marth, Caeda, Lucina, Chrom, Raven and the twins, Morgan and Marc.

"Hi dad!" Morgan and Marc greeted their dad; they were the only ones who appeared happy. Everyone else looked like they had a bone to pick with Robin.

"What's the meaning of this, what's going on?! Marth, Caeda, why are you even here?"

"We're your ancestor in-laws," retorted Marth, with a very fiery response. "Deal with it."

Phoenix walked closer to the mage, looking down at him with a frown. Robin looked up at Phoenix, worried.

"You have a lot to explain for us, Robin..." Phoenix started, as the former attorney walked back and forth in the lounge. "...for I have been told that you've been hiding away from your future kids."

"Um, I can explain." Phoenix would effectively silence Robin, placing his index finger on the mage's lips before taking his finger away. Phoenix then went back to pacing back and forth.

"If you want us to release you, then you'll have to explain to EVERYONE why you've been running away from Morgan and Marc for so long. Better tell us all the details we need to know!"

"Yeah, tell us the ladies you were in love with!" shouted Ganondorf. Robin looked down at the floor, before letting out a heavy sigh.

"Alright, I guess I'll start..." the mage said, bracing himself for how the others might react. "...so there was this girl, in the army, named Sumia. She kinda had the hots for Chrom, as she would make him pies and stuff."

"You know what, bump Sumia, that's not getting us anywhere," said Phoenix, fearful that Robin's spiel on Sumia would lead to a story about pies. "Tell us about another woman in the army that you liked!"

"Before I fell in love with Lucina? Well, there was Cordelia - she caught my attention a few times here and there. Don't know if it was her long, red hair, or..."

"Ugh...you know what, bump Cordelia too. Tell us about a woman that you really, REALLY liked. Someone you would choose over Lucina, if you had the option."

"The only other person I could really think of is Olivia...not that I particularly like dancer girls, but she was kinda an exception. Hard to believe that she's already a..."

"GRAAAAH, THIS IS GETTING POINTLESS!" Ganondorf angrily shouted at the top of his lungs, garnering everyone's attention. "Just tell us what woman you slept with so we can go already!"

At that moment, Robin crinkled his nose, as he looked at Ganondorf in complete and utter disbelief. His ears were still trying to process what the demon lord had just said out loud.

"I never slept with another woman..." stated Robin, as the mage was feeling pretty hurt inside. "...you seriously thought I had Morgan and Marc with a woman other than Lucina?"

"Well, we believed that was the reason why you were running from your twins," stated Gil, feeling dumbfounded. Following up on Ganondorf was a bad move in the de facto librarian's retrospect.

"Really? Good heavens, no, I would NEVER in my life sleep with another woman. I could never disrespect Lucina like that! And you know that too, Lucina, right?"

"I suppose so..." shrugged Lucina, since there wasn't anything else the princess could say.

Marth: Why didn't I ever deal with the whole twins incident? It's because I don't like family disputes. Always messy.
Caeda: You know, you did have that feud with Robin two years ago...ancestor in-law. *smiles at Marth*
Marth: *frowns at Caeda* ...who told you?

"Okay Robin, so what's the real reason for why you were running away from Morgan and Marc?" Chrom asked his best friend, who held his head low. It was a reason Robin was too reluctant to discuss.

"I was hoping it wouldn't come to this..." said Robin, before lifting his head back up at everyone. "Could one of you come here, and pull something out of the left pocket of my robe?"

"I'm on it," volunteered Knuckles, as he walked over to Robin and reached inside the pocket of the mage's robe. He pulled out a double-sided card, which had a message transcribed on the front. "'The Fell Dragon has been revived...'?"

"The Fell Dragon?" fretted Chrom, knowing exactly what monstrosity carried that moniker. "Could it be...?"

"Open it up..." instructed Robin, as Knuckles opened the card up, before turning to Phoenix so he could see. Chrom walked over, as he, Phoenix, and Knuckles saw a message transcribed:

...I'm baaaaack!

- _ _ _ e _ t _ _

"Aw what, whoever wrote that couldn't even write their name!" frowned Knuckles, angrily tossing the card unto the floor for no reason. "How do they expect us to find out their identity?"

"I think that's what they want us to do, Knuckles - find out who they are," stated Phoenix, picking up the card and looking at Robin. "What exactly is that card supposed to entail, Robin?"

"If that card is any indication, the Fell Dragon known as Grima...has been revived," replied Robin, affirming a great sense of worry in Chrom and the rest of the Awakening crew. "Don't know how or why, but he's back - and whoever wrote this card wanted to let me know."

"Is this Grima dragon supposed to be super scary, or what?" inquired Gil, wanting to know about the Fell Dragon that wanted to conquer Yliesse.

"He's very dangerous, and super powerful. He possessed me in a certain timeline, and made me kill Chrom."

"And what does Grima have to do with Morgan and Marc, and why you were intent on avoiding them?" Robin looked at Morgan and Marc, bearing a heavy heart.

"If Grima has control of me...then he will also have control of Morgan and Marc." Morgan and Marc were understandably left afraid. "He'll make those two do their every bidding. And, depending on the scenario...their mom, Lucina, will have to be the one to kill me, in order to kill Grima."

That was a lot for everyone to process, especially for Lucina. The thought of having to kill her husband to dispel Grima was unnerving to the princess.

"That's why I tried to avoid the twins, so I wouldn't feel tempted to tell them about the dire consequences at hand," continued Robin, lowering his head just a little. "I had received that card the day before the twins first came to the mansion...and when I saw the Fell Dragon mentioned, I knew what was up."

"Still, Robin, that is nothing worth hiding from the twins, or from all of us," stated Raven, as Phoenix handed the card to Chrom. "Especially if it involves Grima."

"I know, but I didn't have the stones to tell the twins that their mom might have to kill their dad one day, for the greater good.

"You don't have to hide anything from us dad, we understand," Morgan said to Robin, as she and Marc walked over to the mage. "Sometimes the fate of the world is very important!"

"Thank you for understanding, you two - just made me feel silly, trying to hide from you both." Robin smiled, with a great hint of regret. "Thing is, we don't know if Grima is bidding his time or not - he could possess me at any minute!"

"We'll do everything we can to get rid of Grima, regardless," assured Marc, resting a hand on Robin's shoulder. "No matter the cost!"

"No matter the cost, huh? That's what I like to hear...or maybe it isn't. But again, thank you both for understanding the situation...I love you kids so much."

Robin embraced Morgan and Marc, wrapping his arms around them for a hug. The mage went from running away from the twins, to telling them that he loved them...all he had to do was tell them the truth.

Chrom: Robin was saved once before after being possessed by Grima, in future past times. Please do not ask me what "future past" even means.

Lucina: *holding the card* A card foreshadowing the return of Grima is concerning enough, but the fact that he was summoned by whoever wrote this card has been more concerned. The person who wrote the card didn't even provide their name! It's kinda like that Seattle Stalker thing, what with the anonymous cards and letters.

Shadow: *glares at the camera* ...no, I haven't received any cards about some stupid "fell dragon", whatever that is. Leave me alone! *slams bedroom door*


Mario was sick and tired of calling people about Layton's whereabouts. So tired, that the plumber had to return home to let some steam loose...as well as some gas. Having been scolded by Peach for his flatulence, Mario retreated back to the mansion.

"Dumb-a woman acts like she never farts-a herself..." grumbled Mario, returning to the mansion as he stepped inside the foyer. He saw Joker staring at him from the trapdoor, likely eavesdropping. "...did you hear-a that, Joker?"

"Every single word," replied Joker; Mario knew he could trust Joker enough to not tell Peach what he had just said. "We'll keep it a secret."

"Thanks-a Joker, you're a real bro! So, did Yu and Detective-a Pikachu ever find Professor Layton?"

"Funny you should ask that - it was kinda the other way around. Layton had found the two instead." Mario was left alarmed. "He's in the living room if you want to speak with...him." Mario hurried to the living room, not breaking a sweat.

"Hey Joker, the lights went out again!" Yusuke called out to the young man from the tunnel. Joker sighed as he climbed down, closing the trapdoor.


Mario arrived at the living room, where he saw Layton chilling on a couch with Luke, Yu, and Detective Pikachu. Interestingly enough, the Aipom from earlier was atop Layton's hat, having tagged along with Layton and company. He was looking at the picture of Layton and Katrielle, which Layton was showing to Fox and Falco.

"The baby I'm holding is my daughter, Katrielle," explained Layton, as he pointed at the baby in the picture. "The youngest of my two kids."

"I was only fifteen when her mother gave birth!" Luke randomly expressed this fact, as Fox and Falco gave the young detective dubious looks.

"If you were only fifteen at the time...THEN WHY DO YOU STILL LOOK LIKE A MUNCHKIN?!" questioned Detective Pikachu - that mouse Pokemon will never let go of Luke's appearance.

"Professor Layton!" Mario called out to the detective, waving at him. Layton looked at Mario and smiled, tipping his hat. "So glad you're back-a home, safe and sound. Had to call-a the local authorities about-a your whereabouts!"

"Everyone was ecstatic to see me back, even Master Hand," responded Layton - what would be more surprising if Layton mentioned someone like Samus. "Surprised he didn't throw a huge party! I've been showing the others this picture of my daughter, Katrielle, since I came back."

"We had assumed that Layton left the mansion because of a family emergency," Yu explained to Mario, while Layton let Fox and Falco hold the picture. They were apparently fighting over who got to hold the picture first. "Thought it had something to do with Katrielle."

"Yeah, Layton, why did you leave-a that Monday evening?" Mario questioned the detective, expecting to hear a story of some sort. "Was it really a family emergency?"

"Partly; I had to contact the nanny of my children at a payphone, since the phone service at the mansion was down at the time. I could raise my children here, but raising kids at the mansion is a huge risk..."

"Whaddaya mean, raising kids at the mansion is a huge risk?" questioned Bowser, coming from the kitchen to confront Layton...while wearing an ill-fitting speedo. Everyone had disgusted looks on their faces. "...what?"

Bowser: They can say what they want, but I got that speedo for my birthday, so I'm gonna wear it with pride! Never been so proud of my boy, Iggy - he knows how to spend his money.

"...anyways, I had to speak with the nanny, since the mansion's phone service was down," Layton picked up from where he left off, trying to ignore Bowser. "But on my way back, I fell inside this...weird dimension that took me forever to get out of."

"Can you describe-a what this dimension was like? How did you find-a your way out?"

"It was weird...this strange, pop-up menu just appeared in front of me, out of nowhere, and it transported to some...garden world, or something. Felt like a little bug. Eventually I found my way out - turns out I had to run to the end of the garden to escape!"

"A pop-up menu that appeared-a out of thin air?" That got Mario thinking, as he stroked his chin. "Hmm..."

"You go ahead and think Mario, I gotta go," said Detective Pikachu, hopping off the couch as he left the living room. "It was nice getting to meet you all! Even you, munchkin kid!"

"Why me..." moped Luke, as Detective Pikachu left the living room. "...I'm not even short enough to be a munchkin!"


Elsewhere in Seattle, Nathan was standing near a payphone. Perhaps the payphone Layton had used? The archaeologist was calling someone from the mansion.

"What's good Dante, got some bad news..." Nathan said into the phone, looking around to see if any mansion residents were around. "...that British detective guy, Professor Layton? He escaped."

"So Sackboy didn't get the job done, huh?" said the person on the phone, who was obviously Dante. "Knew sending out that wasteless piece of fabric was a bad idea. Can't have Layton snooping around on us."

"Oh, I'm sure he can redeem himself sometime...but on the plus side, Sir Dan and Toro are getting out of jail real soon. We could definitely use Dan."

"Should've broken him and Toro out of jail, like I suggested...but nobody ever listens to my ideas. What do you plan on using Dan for?"

"I was thinking that Dan could invite a few of his 'friends' over to the mansion...you know who I'm talking about, do you?"

"Aw yeah, I definitely know what you're talking about..." Dante sounded very excited in his response, as Nathan smiled.

Will the mansion be ready for Sir Dan's 'friends', whomever they are? Considering what Sir Dan was like...