Paradox Lost: Part 20
I dunno why, but I think I somehow did this while I was drunk... or maybe that was before... I can't remember. Anyway, I'll work on the cover art when my head's not so fuzzy.
Cover Art
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Paradox Lost
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Luke walked down a street in the fog, looking around himself in faint confusion. This was definitely still London, the fog was an indicator and he could see the Great Clock Tower in the distance, but this fog was thick and visibility was almost nonexistent. And there was this strange feeling around him, on him, like he was walking around in a massive sepia-toned photograph brought to life. He stopped at a lamp post and peered up at it, studying the intricate workmanship for a minute before the low, unfamiliar hissing that emanated from it told him that this wasn't an electric lamp.
"Gas?! But this is modern London! We don't use gas in our street lamps anymore!" Luke exclaimed, jumping back from the pole, his hand reaching for his pocket to pull out the Time-Binder, "When am I?!" He clicked open the watch, staring into it with horror as the hands ticked away like a normal pocket-watch... because it was a normal pocket-watch. "No.... No! I can't be trapped here!" the teen cried and looked around frantically. All of this was wrong; he needed to find some help and locate the real Time-Binder, jump out of this period and get back to his mission!
A store with a large glass window seemed to materialize from the fog and Luke only glanced at it in his panic, then stopped when his mind told him something else was wrong. He turned back to stare at the darkened pane; the store was closed, so no lights made the glass mirror-like. One step forward, then another, then another, until he was running to the glass and pressing his hands against it, staring in horror at himself.
He was still himself, the same youthful face, same sapphire eyes, same spiky hair that he always combed out to keep his cap balanced on his head... but his clothes were all wrong, and yet so right. Brown slacks, brown cloak, orange shirt, brown silk top hat... why the hell was he dressed like Professor Hershel Layton?!
"Professor!" a young voice called out and he jerked in response, whirling around in a fury.
"I told you people never to call me-!" he began to yell and choked on his words as young Hershel ran up to him gleefully, wearing an exact replica of his own childhood clothes, down to the blue newsboy's cap and leather satchel, suspenders hanging recklessly at his waist. The boy laughed and did a rather feminine twirl before pointing up at him.
"I got the cap, Professor! Doesn't it look smashing on me?" he remarked brightly. Luke strode quickly towards him and grabbed his hand, walking away from the store and further down the street, swallowing his panic and growing dread.
"Yes, yes. Quite... smashing." he answered absently, "Come on, shortstuff, we have to find the Time-Binder."
The fog continued rolling over the street, producing yet another shadow, smaller than the store. Footsteps sounded as Luke stopped. Hershel stuck by him, clinging to his cloak in fear. They waited tensely while the steps, light and dainty, continued towards them, the shadow growing more defined in face and feature as it drew closer. Finally, the figure became fully visible and Luke gasped softly, a pink color flushing across his face as he took in the sight of Flora Reinhold dressed in a beautiful white silk gown, clutching a bouquet of white roses and lilacs decorated with several sprigs of black mulberry in her hands. Her hair was in her usual ponytail, brushed until it glinted like gold, her eyes dark and sparkling like a mystery entrapped.
"You've arrived, Luke. I'm so glad." she whispered and turned around as the fog produced another shadow that only had to step once to emerge from the mist. Luke stared, shocked while Harold Layton dusted himself off imperiously, brushing lint from the velvet draping on his dark brown cloak, a weathered Bible in his free hand.
"Late as always, Sir Luke." he lectured sternly and sniffed in disdain, pushing his glasses further up his nose, "Acquired the habit from that useless son of mine, no doubt." Luke wanted to snap back at him, but Hershel pushed him from behind with a laugh, sending him stumbling to Flora's side as Harold opened his book. "You don't need all the superfluous fluff. Do you, Flora, take this man, Luke, to be your husband?" he asked stiffly. She smiled up at Luke sweetly, blushing as his face grew hotter.
"Yes. I do." she whispered. Harold nodded.
"And do you, Luke, take this girl, Flora, to be your wife?" he asked of the speechless groom.
"I do." the teen found himself saying without a moment of hesitation and felt his heart jump through his throat to slap his brain for finally getting the message. Harold clapped the book shut and waved a hand at them in dismissal.
"Then by the power invested in me by myself, I declare you man and wife." he announced, "You may now kill the bride." Luke stared at him in horror.
"I beg your pardon? You meant I may 'kiss' the bride, didn't you?" he asked, feeling slightly faint. Harold lifted an eyebrow at him condescendingly.
"No. You may kill the bride. Hurry up, boy, we haven't got all of Time like you." he corrected firmly and Luke gaped at him before looking to Flora, stunned to find her still smiling sweetly and now holding his silver dagger out to him.
"Here you are, Husband." she giggled, "Swift and sure, so my fortune is yours." Luke stepped back from her, eyes wide as he shook from the sheer insanity of the scene before him. Flora's smile faded just a touch, the shimmer in her eyes seeping out. "Luke, don't you love me? You have to do this to complete our marriage." she murmured.
"I'm not killing anyone!" Luke protested loudly, frightened as Hershel darted off into the fog, vanishing into the mist. Another figure appeared at Harold's shoulder, grinning as Flora stepped before them with the dagger in her hands.
"You have to, boy. You were destined to cut out her heart." Don Paolo chuckled, "Take her fortune so that I can take it from my eternal rival!" Luke continued backing away from them, shaking his head in horror as he came up against a solid wall. "Kill your bride, boy... just like you killed your father!"
"That wasn't my fault!" Luke shot back, face paling as he broke into a cold sweat, "He was... he was...!"
The fog rolled again and tiny footsteps dashed rapidly over the cobblestone, followed by the pounding of large steps, moving just as rapidly. Hershel's voice rang out cheerfully, partially obscured by fog and the sound of Don Paolo's booming laughter.
"-prentice saves the day!" the boy finished, leaping into view, clutching his cap to his head as Professor Layton himself emerged from the fog, a determined expression on his face as he clutched his rapier in hand.
"Step away from him. All of you." the older Hershel declared firmly, moving to stand between Luke and the small entourage that had cornered him, "I won't let you harm him." Luke stared up at him in surprise.
"Professor...!" he murmured, trying to step forward to aid him, but discovering that his feet remained rooted to the ground, "What?! No!" He pulled on his legs, trying to move, then waved at the older man's back in an attempt to gain his attention, "Professor, I'm stuck!" Young Hershel ran to stand by him, looking up at him with eyes that seemed far too old and tired for his face.
"The future is what we make of it, but when you really look at it, doesn't destiny play a hand in it too?" he asked, lifting a finger to point at him, "Fix Time, set her hand to lay the cards she wanted, not the cards she was forced by someone like you. Someone here must go." Luke stared down at him, blinking in speechless wonder as the boy backed away from him slowly, his gaze still locked on his face.
"I... I will!" the young man finally cried and Hershel shook his head.
"You are already gone. Someone here must go, or Time will follow the hand that was forced and destroy everything." he told him and turned around abruptly, pointing at the Professor's back. The older man jerked with a startled cry, then crumpled to the ground, facing away from Luke as a crimson pool spread underneath him. The ground began shaking, fissures ripping through the street as Harold, Flora and Don Paolo pointed at the fallen Professor.
"End the line, Layton." Hershel whispered coldly, glaring down at his future self. And a heavy weight slammed down on Luke, pinning him to the earth and crushing him, crushing, crushing....
--
Luke swung an arm aside to topple Hershel off his stomach as he struggled to sit up, the remnants of that strange and horrifying dream already fading away. Thank heavens he hadn't screamed that time or everyone would be rushing in to check on him again. He rubbed at his eyes, then looked around blearily, taking in his surroundings before looking beside himself at Hershel as he lay on his back beside him, grinning impishly.
"Gooood morning, Sir Luke!" he sang. Luke smirked at him lazily, running a hand through tousled hair to try getting it back into its usual spikes.
"You look cheerful, Hershel. What did you do this time?" he asked, eyebrow lifting in mock concern. The boy laughed, stretching his limbs before folding his arms behind his head.
"Not me, per say." he replied with a grin, "The old bloke skipped out on us." Luke froze in mid-rub, blinking at his young assistant.
"He did what?!"
--
In the living room, Young Luke, Flora, Hershel and Luke all sat around the tea table, looking down at the note that had been stuck to the sweets dish by a piece of tape. Young Luke had discovered it when he trudged into the kitchen to start making breakfast, and promptly went into a panic that had woken up everyone in the house except for Luke, who had been caught in the throes of his nightmare too deeply to notice. Hershel went in to wake him up, jumping onto his belly to jolt him out of sleep.
"To whomever is the first to find this letter. I must apologize for having left you all rather suddenly and with no warning, but I have some business to attend to that is most urgent. Sir Luke is more than qualified to look after Luke, Flora and Hershel in my absence, and know that it is with a heavy conscience that I leave this matter to him while I am away. Please don't worry; I will only be away for a few hours. Please enjoy breakfast and tend to your studies until I return. Yours truly, Professor Hershel Layton."
Luke glared at the letter, rereading the words on the sheet. Well, it was official now; if Time didn't kill that man, Luke would... out of annoyance and sheer spite. Snatching up the note and shoving it into his pocket, Luke began tugging on Hershel's cloak to get him to follow.
"Okay, everyone! We have to find the Professor! My mission is to stay by him and observe, and I can't do it if he's gone off on some joyride in London!" he declared, heading for the door, "I've got an idea of where he might have run off to, but we'll have to walk there since he's bound to have taken the Laytonmobile." Hershel tagged after him as Young Luke grabbed his satchel and slung it on, Flora rushing to snatch up a sun hat and her gloves.
"Why can't we use your scooter, Sir Luke?" the young Layton questioned, "The magic one that appears when I close my eyes?" Luke flinched and glanced back at him.
"Because it can't carry more than one person on it, and you can ride it only because you sit right behind me and you're small. More than that is impossible, I'm afraid to say." he explained and opened the door once his younger self and Flora arrived, ready to leave, "Luke, do you have the house key?" The blue-clad boy reached into his pocket and brought out a brass house key, the Layton insignia etched into its head. "Good. Lock up the house when we get out and keep that key safe. I don't have the proper key for this lock." Young Luke blinked in astonishment as they headed outside and he locked the door.
"You don't have the key? Why? You still live with the Professor... right?" he asked in confusion, fear seeping into his voice. Luke twitched the slightest bit before grinning at his younger self.
"Don't be so dramatic! In my time, Professor Layton changed the lock to the front door, so I had to get a different key made. That key doesn't fit this old lock." he answered coolly, "Now, let's get going! To a bus stop!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"And you're quite sure you want to go through with this?" the headmistress asked for what seemed like the hundredth time since Layton arrived at the orphanage and made his request, "We have plenty of other boys and girls more suited for your case." She waved a hand at a group nearby with a smile, "Take a look! These children are more artistically inclined, and over here we have a budding choir."
"My interest is in Luke Penford, no one else, madam, but I appreciate your earnest in helping these children." Layton replied carefully, "As much as I would like to say otherwise, I'm afraid I am here only for Luke's sake." The headmistress sighed and nodded, leading the way to her office to start the paperwork.
"Goodness but I've never seen so much interest in that boy since he first became of age to apprentice. First that bizarre letter stating an internship for quantum theory, then you...." she declared, throwing her hands up at the idea of it. Layton stepped into the office after her, looking faintly alarmed.
"Pardon me, madam, but did you say that someone else had an interest in Luke?" he questioned, taking a seat across from the headmistress as she pulled out a folder and opened it to reveal several documents and a small collection of photos taken of Luke when he was far younger. "May I be so bold as to ask who that was?"
"Normally, I'd say that's not for you to know," the woman purred with a grin as she lifted a letter from the folder and passed it to him, "but you're the Professor; I know you would never use this information to harm anyone. Sadly, the signature is highly illegible." Layton accepted the letter and read through it carefully, one hand curled over his mouth in thought.
"Quantum field theory... isn't that in regards to... time theory?" the Professor mused aloud, eyebrows furrowing together as he tugged at his mind for more information, "How the events occurring in one moment of time affect events that take place later?" The headmistress waved a hand negligently. "And it was suggested that Luke be taken in to study this? At eight years old? That's preposterous!" he exclaimed, "No child can grasp that kind of science so young!"
"Well, apparently, this gentleman was of the mind that he could." the woman returned with a sigh, "I don't blame him for believing that; Luke was the son of the Penfords, scientists who were on the verge of a new breakthrough in their research when they died in a tragic accident. Must have thought he was a born prodigy of some kind. He was only a baby at the time of the accident, hardly remembers his parents now, but he had cried bitterly when he thought he was the only one in a room." Layton handed the letter back, curiosity rising at the story.
"He doesn't remember his parents?" he asked in confusion, "I was under the impression that he had only his father. I don't recall any mention of his mother." The headmistress blinked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"No, good sir. He remembers nothing about them. Both of his parents died together in the same laboratory accident; Luke was found with their nanny at the Penford residence and brought here when no other living relatives were found that would take him in." she corrected politely, "What gave you the impression that he knew his father?" Layton pinched the bridge of his nose as a faint headache began to grow, fleeting thoughts of a bus and running filtering through his mind. "Professor?"
"I'm all right, thank you for your concern." he answered almost too quickly, "Ah, the truth is that the boy himself told me that he wondered about his father's love for him before his death. He made no mention of his mother." He blinked after a moment and covered his mouth. "Forgive me; I shouldn't have said that. Such information was not mine to share." The headmistress frowned and steepled her hands together on the desk, leaning forward to look him in the eye.
"Professor, as much as you'd like to think best of Luke, what he just told you then can not be true. Worrying over his father without a care to his mother when he has been documented and proven to have no memory of either parent whatsoever...." she told him firmly, "That type of statement from him can only be truth if he has known or been in contact with a man whom he regards as his father who has recently left this world. As such, he's only had contact with the staff of this orphanage and you, and I most assuredly can tell you that all such persons are still alive." Layton sat back in his chair, puzzling over this new information.
"Then why say such a thing...?" he murmured softly to himself.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Stop it."
"He started it!"
"I don't care who started it. Stop it. Now."
"But-!"
Luke narrowed his eyes at the two boys sitting across from him on the bus. They'd been muttering at one another over something, then some kind of spat started up and the next thing anyone knew, Hershel and Young Luke were punching each other in the shoulders as hard as they could, sometimes trying to bodily shove one another off the seat. Luke immediately told them to knock it off as Flora sat by him in her seat, hiding her blush by looking out the window. When that didn't work, he glared, and in his own timeline Luke's glare was the second most intimidating thing about him, the first being his full name announced to a crowd of people with which he was not particularly happy.
The boys settled down.
"Um, Sir Luke?" Flora finally ventured in a small voice, turning to look up at him worriedly, "Where do you suppose Professor Layton has gone? And why would he leave us the way he did?" Luke looked back at her, swallowing the lump in his throat as best he could before distracting himself with the Time-Binder, clicking it open to check it. Fifteen 'minutes' left. He clapped it closed and sighed, sliding the watch back into his pocket.
"The Professor went to the orphanage where I lived before I was a-apprenticed." he stammered, blushing, "According to historical data I collected in my time, he was doing an investigation but he wasn't to have gone until tomorrow, so I'm rushing to catch up." Young Luke sat up straighter, eyes widening and turning bright at his future self's words.
"The orphanage?! What kind of investigation is he doing, Penford?" he asked eagerly and Luke shook his head, folding his arms over his chest, "Aw, c'mon! You can tell me! I'm you, remember?"
"Not if I have any say in the matter." Luke thought to himself bitterly, "I won't let you become me." Out loud he only sighed and lectured him, "I am not telling you that because it's future information. I'm compromising things enough as it it just trying to observe you all." Young Luke scowled, balling his hands into fists.
"Liar! You said in the kitchen that you were here to make sure that something that happens doesn't happen!" he growled and Luke glared at him again, "So you must be trying to stop the Professor's investigation!"
"I am not! I need that investigation to carry on, you twerp!" he shot back, "We're almost to our stop so will you please shut your trap?!" Hershel looked between the two of them in confusion, then seemed to light up in understanding. He pointed at Young Luke with a smile at his mentor.
"Oh, I see! He's the boy you were talking about at the manor! The one who's...!" he began to say and squeaked when Luke shot out his hands, scooped him out of his seat, dragged him across to his own lap and hugged him so tight, the poor boy couldn't speak anymore.
"Going to grow up to be that oh-so-loving mentor you have with you now, Hershel? Oh, how right you are!" he declared with false cheerfulness, ignoring the stares he was beginning to get, "Well, here's our stop; everybody off!" And he raced out of the bus with Hershel still in his arms.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Two figures standing across the street from the bus stop watched as the group of children milled about the street corner in their attempts to get reoriented. Don Paolo scanned them over briefly and huffed in annoyance, looking over at his elderly companion with disdain. The other man ignored him, studying the face of his watch with a smug grin.
"I thought you said that your little contraption could locate Professor Layton by his tachyon signature. I don't see that wretched man anywhere!" he griped, shaking a fist in irritation. The elder man clicked his tongue, clapping the watch shut and putting it away.
"Such impatience. It has been my experience to wait for an opportune moment to strike in order to obtain what I desire. The only things that have foiled me thus far are Time and the good Professor." he returned icily, "Time favors her champion, and it was by grace of altered fate that I won over him to make it here; to this time. This era... where I may claim that which is mine and you may claim that which is yours." He lifted his walking cane, gesturing with its brass head towards the tallest of the group, who led the other children as they began strolling down the street. "That young man there... he must be delayed in his venture if you wish to succeed."
Don Paolo gave the group another look, peering through binoculars he borrowed from his partner. After a moment, he switched targets for comparison, frowning deeply.
"He looks like that little brat that follows Layton around. Is he from your timeline, Maestro?" he questioned gruffly and the renamed older Don Paolo laughed heartily.
"Oh, how I wish! No, I am from a further future than even he; a future where the Layton line has ended for all eternity." he purred and reached out with a hand, grasping at the retreating figure as though to pick him up like a small doll and hold him in his grip, "I'm here to correct that slight error so young Luke there will serve you and ultimately, serve me." Don Paolo lowered the binoculars, looking over at his companion with raised eyebrow and calculating stare. Maestro cleared his throat and gestured outward. "Come. We're wasting time and I've learned rather quickly that allowing Time to flow as she wills only gives that boy more power."
"I'd wish you would stop talking so cryptically. You sound like a bloody puzzle!" Don Paolo grumbled under his breath as they stalked through the dark alleys to catch up to the children.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pen scratched over parchment and paper as Layton bent to his task, signing sheet after sheet until he was certain his eyes were going to cross behind his reading glasses. He read through each one before laying his name to the lines, making certain nothing was approved or signed unless it was to benefit Luke. The headmistress seemed to delight in having him sit there in front of her, scribbling away his name like a madman. She smiled brightly, clapping her hands with each newly signed sheet placed before her. And she would sign them as well, with only half the care Layton took to reading it over but it was negligible for now. Her name underneath his meant that the form was approved.
Meant one step closer to securing Luke's future.
He wondered as he worked, mind trailing off in between those few minutes he stopped to rest his hand. Why had Luke lied to him in the study? Had that been a trap to diffuse the situation, easing the tension that had arisen because he had mentioned his own father? Layton winced, mentally retreating from that wound before it could sting him again.
But things were a bit more clear now, or perhaps not. The Professor rubbed his fingers carefully as he turned the previous night's conversation over in his mind. He was curious as to why this future version of Luke had come into the past, potentially skewing all of time in the process, and had carefully probed for information. The conversation danced around the subjects of childhoods and fathers, and then Luke lied about his own father, claiming to wonder about him when all along he had no memory of two parents, not just one.
Layton smiled suddenly as one piece of the puzzle fell into place, returning to signing the papers before him. His trip into the past must have been out of curiosity to see how his life was changed for the better. Not the most intelligent thing to have done with that kind of power, but he would remember to lecture him later on this, when Luke returned to his own time.
Surely he would be waiting at the house with a lesson on why one shouldn't distort time and fate, correct?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Bollocks!"
Luke darted down the sidewalk, Time-Binder in one hand, Hershel hoisted under one arm, and Young Luke and Flora racing after him. He'd been keeping an eye on the time as they walked, and panicked when the minute hand began to accelerate. Layton was moving ahead of schedule again!
"Slow down, you twit! Flora can't run like us!" Young Luke yelled at him and he slowed his pace until he was jogging in one spot. Hershel squirmed violently to be let down until he dropped on his own and straightened his clothes out, scanning the area around him quickly.
"Hurry up! I don't have much time left to get there!" Luke shouted back at his younger self, "Do I have to carry you there, too?!" Young Luke scowled as he picked up his pace and Flora blushed fiercely, holding her dress up to keep it from tripping her feet as she tried to match the boy's speed.
At Luke's side, Hershel spotted a small cluster of boys across the street and quickly tapped his arm a number of times, finishing with a tilt of his hat and a stretch. The boys scattered into the alleys and Hershel smiled to himself. There; now Sir Luke, the other Luke, and the Flora girl would be safe from pickpockets for now.
Wait....
The hairs on the back of his neck rose and Hershel stiffened, wide eyes making another search of the area. Something was wrong, very wrong.
--
Don Paolo examined the length of rope once more before gesturing an 'all clear' to Maestro, who simply grinned hugely and aimed the makeshift Bind Rifle at his target.
"Just a few minutes, boy, and you'll be one step closer to being mine." the elder Paolo chuckled under his breath.
--
Young Luke and Flora finally reached the time-travelers, breathing hard as they rested for a bit. Luke's expression looked somewhat pained as he took in the sight of Flora gasping for air. He reached out to steady her, then looked into his satchel for a small bottle of water.
"I'm dreadfully sorry, Flora, I shouldn't have made you suffer like that." he murmured regretfully, "Honestly, some days I wonder if everything the Professor taught me is just seeping out my head as the days go by." Young Luke huffed as his older self opened the bottle and handed it to the girl.
"Then just have him give you a review lesson! It won't kill you to ask him for one!" he griped. Hershel began tugging on Luke's jacket, trying to get his attention.
"You think I hadn't thought of that already?" Luke growled, pulling out the Time-Binder to check it again, "We don't have much time left." Hershel tugged harder and he looked down at the boy, "What is it, Hershel? Don't you see we're in a hurry?" The boy didn't answer, just pointed down an alley with a horrified look and Luke twisted around to see what was happening.
Two Don Paolos grinned at him as the other children turned to look and yelled in shock and anger, the current time's Don standing by a coil of rope that trailed into a rifle the far future Paolo held pointed right at him!
"They teamed up?!" Luke cried in alarm, eyes widening just before the rifle fired and a strange lasso lashed out at him, weighed once more with the same iron spheres as the previous ropes. He stumbled back, trying to dodge the attack, and ran into another figure, who yelped as the two of them became entangled in the rope and crashed to the pavement.
"Hey! What's going on?! Why's there two of 'em?!" Young Luke shouted, startled by the second Don's appearance.
"Hershel! Take Luke and get out of here!" the bound teen yelled, struggling to get free, "Head for the orphanage up the street! Don't look back; just take him and get the Professor!"
"Owww! Sir Luke! What's happening?" Flora moaned, back pressed to his as she tried to wriggle out of the ropes. Hershel tried to move in as the older men stalked towards them. Luke shook his head at his actions.
"Don't bother! Just go!" he snapped, "The streets are almost deserted; Time played a hand against us, Hershel! Get out of here!" Young Luke grabbed the boy by the hand.
"Come on! The Professor will know what to do!" he exclaimed and, with one last determined look at them, he and Hershel fled the scene, dashing away before Don Paolo could grab them. The scientist growled, shaking his fists as he watched them run too far and too fast for his aged legs to keep up. The elder Paolo grinned smugly, waving a hand in dismissal as he bent to use the rest of the rope to fully bind Luke and Flora together, pinning the young man's feet down to keep him from kicking at him.
"Leave them be for now. They'll come to us with that precious Professor of yours once we deliver a ransom note." he remarked lightly and pulled the bound teens upright, "Once the rest of the historical events fall into place, you will take control of the young Luke." Luke's eyes widened in horror, which made the elder Don Paolo smile all the wider.
"That's what happened! You bloody wank, you're altering this timeline to remake me!" he shouted in a fury, "How the hell did you even make it through the timestream?! I'm the only one with access to the Time-Binder prototype! You'd have to get through Lay-!" His tirade was muffled by a handkerchief pressed against his mouth and nose, a similar one placed over Flora as she screamed in fright. Both struggled against the fumes wafting from the chloroform-soaked cloths before dropping their heads in silent sleep.
"Now what, Maestro?" Don Paolo growled as his elder version stood up and opened his own stained Time-Binder, grinning.
"Ten... nine... eight...." he counted off smugly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"And that's the last one!" the headmistress exclaimed brightly, signing off her name and sliding the form into the folder, "It's all official now! Congratulations, Professor Layton; all you need is an attorney to alter the records to reflect the new documentation and legalize it, and you're all set!" She stood and shook his hand as the Professor smiled warmly at her.
"Thank you very much, madam! I'm sure Luke will be quite pleased when I tell him he no longer has anything to fear in regards to his future." he remarked and picked up his briefcase, tipping his hat politely, "Have a good day, and best wishes to your other charges!"
It felt good, and oddly right, to have all that done. Now to hire an attorney and complete the last few steps. As he headed out of the building, Layton paused for a moment to softly say Luke's name to himself, tasting the strange, yet familiar, new wording. A warmth at the idea of being able to call him that made him blush and he chuckled as he continued on his way, oblivious to the changes in the timestream being made.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Second event, complete." the elder Don Paolo announced as his younger self finished securing the unconscious teens in a car that looked as though most of its parts had been stripped for use in his inventions, "Just a few more events and Layton's legacy will be mine." He grinned down at the golden watch as the hour and minute hands both clicked down to the third hour. "And soon, all of Time's treasures will be within my grasp."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Cover Art
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Paradox Lost
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Luke walked down a street in the fog, looking around himself in faint confusion. This was definitely still London, the fog was an indicator and he could see the Great Clock Tower in the distance, but this fog was thick and visibility was almost nonexistent. And there was this strange feeling around him, on him, like he was walking around in a massive sepia-toned photograph brought to life. He stopped at a lamp post and peered up at it, studying the intricate workmanship for a minute before the low, unfamiliar hissing that emanated from it told him that this wasn't an electric lamp.
"Gas?! But this is modern London! We don't use gas in our street lamps anymore!" Luke exclaimed, jumping back from the pole, his hand reaching for his pocket to pull out the Time-Binder, "When am I?!" He clicked open the watch, staring into it with horror as the hands ticked away like a normal pocket-watch... because it was a normal pocket-watch. "No.... No! I can't be trapped here!" the teen cried and looked around frantically. All of this was wrong; he needed to find some help and locate the real Time-Binder, jump out of this period and get back to his mission!
A store with a large glass window seemed to materialize from the fog and Luke only glanced at it in his panic, then stopped when his mind told him something else was wrong. He turned back to stare at the darkened pane; the store was closed, so no lights made the glass mirror-like. One step forward, then another, then another, until he was running to the glass and pressing his hands against it, staring in horror at himself.
He was still himself, the same youthful face, same sapphire eyes, same spiky hair that he always combed out to keep his cap balanced on his head... but his clothes were all wrong, and yet so right. Brown slacks, brown cloak, orange shirt, brown silk top hat... why the hell was he dressed like Professor Hershel Layton?!
"Professor!" a young voice called out and he jerked in response, whirling around in a fury.
"I told you people never to call me-!" he began to yell and choked on his words as young Hershel ran up to him gleefully, wearing an exact replica of his own childhood clothes, down to the blue newsboy's cap and leather satchel, suspenders hanging recklessly at his waist. The boy laughed and did a rather feminine twirl before pointing up at him.
"I got the cap, Professor! Doesn't it look smashing on me?" he remarked brightly. Luke strode quickly towards him and grabbed his hand, walking away from the store and further down the street, swallowing his panic and growing dread.
"Yes, yes. Quite... smashing." he answered absently, "Come on, shortstuff, we have to find the Time-Binder."
The fog continued rolling over the street, producing yet another shadow, smaller than the store. Footsteps sounded as Luke stopped. Hershel stuck by him, clinging to his cloak in fear. They waited tensely while the steps, light and dainty, continued towards them, the shadow growing more defined in face and feature as it drew closer. Finally, the figure became fully visible and Luke gasped softly, a pink color flushing across his face as he took in the sight of Flora Reinhold dressed in a beautiful white silk gown, clutching a bouquet of white roses and lilacs decorated with several sprigs of black mulberry in her hands. Her hair was in her usual ponytail, brushed until it glinted like gold, her eyes dark and sparkling like a mystery entrapped.
"You've arrived, Luke. I'm so glad." she whispered and turned around as the fog produced another shadow that only had to step once to emerge from the mist. Luke stared, shocked while Harold Layton dusted himself off imperiously, brushing lint from the velvet draping on his dark brown cloak, a weathered Bible in his free hand.
"Late as always, Sir Luke." he lectured sternly and sniffed in disdain, pushing his glasses further up his nose, "Acquired the habit from that useless son of mine, no doubt." Luke wanted to snap back at him, but Hershel pushed him from behind with a laugh, sending him stumbling to Flora's side as Harold opened his book. "You don't need all the superfluous fluff. Do you, Flora, take this man, Luke, to be your husband?" he asked stiffly. She smiled up at Luke sweetly, blushing as his face grew hotter.
"Yes. I do." she whispered. Harold nodded.
"And do you, Luke, take this girl, Flora, to be your wife?" he asked of the speechless groom.
"I do." the teen found himself saying without a moment of hesitation and felt his heart jump through his throat to slap his brain for finally getting the message. Harold clapped the book shut and waved a hand at them in dismissal.
"Then by the power invested in me by myself, I declare you man and wife." he announced, "You may now kill the bride." Luke stared at him in horror.
"I beg your pardon? You meant I may 'kiss' the bride, didn't you?" he asked, feeling slightly faint. Harold lifted an eyebrow at him condescendingly.
"No. You may kill the bride. Hurry up, boy, we haven't got all of Time like you." he corrected firmly and Luke gaped at him before looking to Flora, stunned to find her still smiling sweetly and now holding his silver dagger out to him.
"Here you are, Husband." she giggled, "Swift and sure, so my fortune is yours." Luke stepped back from her, eyes wide as he shook from the sheer insanity of the scene before him. Flora's smile faded just a touch, the shimmer in her eyes seeping out. "Luke, don't you love me? You have to do this to complete our marriage." she murmured.
"I'm not killing anyone!" Luke protested loudly, frightened as Hershel darted off into the fog, vanishing into the mist. Another figure appeared at Harold's shoulder, grinning as Flora stepped before them with the dagger in her hands.
"You have to, boy. You were destined to cut out her heart." Don Paolo chuckled, "Take her fortune so that I can take it from my eternal rival!" Luke continued backing away from them, shaking his head in horror as he came up against a solid wall. "Kill your bride, boy... just like you killed your father!"
"That wasn't my fault!" Luke shot back, face paling as he broke into a cold sweat, "He was... he was...!"
The fog rolled again and tiny footsteps dashed rapidly over the cobblestone, followed by the pounding of large steps, moving just as rapidly. Hershel's voice rang out cheerfully, partially obscured by fog and the sound of Don Paolo's booming laughter.
"-prentice saves the day!" the boy finished, leaping into view, clutching his cap to his head as Professor Layton himself emerged from the fog, a determined expression on his face as he clutched his rapier in hand.
"Step away from him. All of you." the older Hershel declared firmly, moving to stand between Luke and the small entourage that had cornered him, "I won't let you harm him." Luke stared up at him in surprise.
"Professor...!" he murmured, trying to step forward to aid him, but discovering that his feet remained rooted to the ground, "What?! No!" He pulled on his legs, trying to move, then waved at the older man's back in an attempt to gain his attention, "Professor, I'm stuck!" Young Hershel ran to stand by him, looking up at him with eyes that seemed far too old and tired for his face.
"The future is what we make of it, but when you really look at it, doesn't destiny play a hand in it too?" he asked, lifting a finger to point at him, "Fix Time, set her hand to lay the cards she wanted, not the cards she was forced by someone like you. Someone here must go." Luke stared down at him, blinking in speechless wonder as the boy backed away from him slowly, his gaze still locked on his face.
"I... I will!" the young man finally cried and Hershel shook his head.
"You are already gone. Someone here must go, or Time will follow the hand that was forced and destroy everything." he told him and turned around abruptly, pointing at the Professor's back. The older man jerked with a startled cry, then crumpled to the ground, facing away from Luke as a crimson pool spread underneath him. The ground began shaking, fissures ripping through the street as Harold, Flora and Don Paolo pointed at the fallen Professor.
"End the line, Layton." Hershel whispered coldly, glaring down at his future self. And a heavy weight slammed down on Luke, pinning him to the earth and crushing him, crushing, crushing....
--
Luke swung an arm aside to topple Hershel off his stomach as he struggled to sit up, the remnants of that strange and horrifying dream already fading away. Thank heavens he hadn't screamed that time or everyone would be rushing in to check on him again. He rubbed at his eyes, then looked around blearily, taking in his surroundings before looking beside himself at Hershel as he lay on his back beside him, grinning impishly.
"Gooood morning, Sir Luke!" he sang. Luke smirked at him lazily, running a hand through tousled hair to try getting it back into its usual spikes.
"You look cheerful, Hershel. What did you do this time?" he asked, eyebrow lifting in mock concern. The boy laughed, stretching his limbs before folding his arms behind his head.
"Not me, per say." he replied with a grin, "The old bloke skipped out on us." Luke froze in mid-rub, blinking at his young assistant.
"He did what?!"
--
In the living room, Young Luke, Flora, Hershel and Luke all sat around the tea table, looking down at the note that had been stuck to the sweets dish by a piece of tape. Young Luke had discovered it when he trudged into the kitchen to start making breakfast, and promptly went into a panic that had woken up everyone in the house except for Luke, who had been caught in the throes of his nightmare too deeply to notice. Hershel went in to wake him up, jumping onto his belly to jolt him out of sleep.
"To whomever is the first to find this letter. I must apologize for having left you all rather suddenly and with no warning, but I have some business to attend to that is most urgent. Sir Luke is more than qualified to look after Luke, Flora and Hershel in my absence, and know that it is with a heavy conscience that I leave this matter to him while I am away. Please don't worry; I will only be away for a few hours. Please enjoy breakfast and tend to your studies until I return. Yours truly, Professor Hershel Layton."
Luke glared at the letter, rereading the words on the sheet. Well, it was official now; if Time didn't kill that man, Luke would... out of annoyance and sheer spite. Snatching up the note and shoving it into his pocket, Luke began tugging on Hershel's cloak to get him to follow.
"Okay, everyone! We have to find the Professor! My mission is to stay by him and observe, and I can't do it if he's gone off on some joyride in London!" he declared, heading for the door, "I've got an idea of where he might have run off to, but we'll have to walk there since he's bound to have taken the Laytonmobile." Hershel tagged after him as Young Luke grabbed his satchel and slung it on, Flora rushing to snatch up a sun hat and her gloves.
"Why can't we use your scooter, Sir Luke?" the young Layton questioned, "The magic one that appears when I close my eyes?" Luke flinched and glanced back at him.
"Because it can't carry more than one person on it, and you can ride it only because you sit right behind me and you're small. More than that is impossible, I'm afraid to say." he explained and opened the door once his younger self and Flora arrived, ready to leave, "Luke, do you have the house key?" The blue-clad boy reached into his pocket and brought out a brass house key, the Layton insignia etched into its head. "Good. Lock up the house when we get out and keep that key safe. I don't have the proper key for this lock." Young Luke blinked in astonishment as they headed outside and he locked the door.
"You don't have the key? Why? You still live with the Professor... right?" he asked in confusion, fear seeping into his voice. Luke twitched the slightest bit before grinning at his younger self.
"Don't be so dramatic! In my time, Professor Layton changed the lock to the front door, so I had to get a different key made. That key doesn't fit this old lock." he answered coolly, "Now, let's get going! To a bus stop!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"And you're quite sure you want to go through with this?" the headmistress asked for what seemed like the hundredth time since Layton arrived at the orphanage and made his request, "We have plenty of other boys and girls more suited for your case." She waved a hand at a group nearby with a smile, "Take a look! These children are more artistically inclined, and over here we have a budding choir."
"My interest is in Luke Penford, no one else, madam, but I appreciate your earnest in helping these children." Layton replied carefully, "As much as I would like to say otherwise, I'm afraid I am here only for Luke's sake." The headmistress sighed and nodded, leading the way to her office to start the paperwork.
"Goodness but I've never seen so much interest in that boy since he first became of age to apprentice. First that bizarre letter stating an internship for quantum theory, then you...." she declared, throwing her hands up at the idea of it. Layton stepped into the office after her, looking faintly alarmed.
"Pardon me, madam, but did you say that someone else had an interest in Luke?" he questioned, taking a seat across from the headmistress as she pulled out a folder and opened it to reveal several documents and a small collection of photos taken of Luke when he was far younger. "May I be so bold as to ask who that was?"
"Normally, I'd say that's not for you to know," the woman purred with a grin as she lifted a letter from the folder and passed it to him, "but you're the Professor; I know you would never use this information to harm anyone. Sadly, the signature is highly illegible." Layton accepted the letter and read through it carefully, one hand curled over his mouth in thought.
"Quantum field theory... isn't that in regards to... time theory?" the Professor mused aloud, eyebrows furrowing together as he tugged at his mind for more information, "How the events occurring in one moment of time affect events that take place later?" The headmistress waved a hand negligently. "And it was suggested that Luke be taken in to study this? At eight years old? That's preposterous!" he exclaimed, "No child can grasp that kind of science so young!"
"Well, apparently, this gentleman was of the mind that he could." the woman returned with a sigh, "I don't blame him for believing that; Luke was the son of the Penfords, scientists who were on the verge of a new breakthrough in their research when they died in a tragic accident. Must have thought he was a born prodigy of some kind. He was only a baby at the time of the accident, hardly remembers his parents now, but he had cried bitterly when he thought he was the only one in a room." Layton handed the letter back, curiosity rising at the story.
"He doesn't remember his parents?" he asked in confusion, "I was under the impression that he had only his father. I don't recall any mention of his mother." The headmistress blinked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"No, good sir. He remembers nothing about them. Both of his parents died together in the same laboratory accident; Luke was found with their nanny at the Penford residence and brought here when no other living relatives were found that would take him in." she corrected politely, "What gave you the impression that he knew his father?" Layton pinched the bridge of his nose as a faint headache began to grow, fleeting thoughts of a bus and running filtering through his mind. "Professor?"
"I'm all right, thank you for your concern." he answered almost too quickly, "Ah, the truth is that the boy himself told me that he wondered about his father's love for him before his death. He made no mention of his mother." He blinked after a moment and covered his mouth. "Forgive me; I shouldn't have said that. Such information was not mine to share." The headmistress frowned and steepled her hands together on the desk, leaning forward to look him in the eye.
"Professor, as much as you'd like to think best of Luke, what he just told you then can not be true. Worrying over his father without a care to his mother when he has been documented and proven to have no memory of either parent whatsoever...." she told him firmly, "That type of statement from him can only be truth if he has known or been in contact with a man whom he regards as his father who has recently left this world. As such, he's only had contact with the staff of this orphanage and you, and I most assuredly can tell you that all such persons are still alive." Layton sat back in his chair, puzzling over this new information.
"Then why say such a thing...?" he murmured softly to himself.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Stop it."
"He started it!"
"I don't care who started it. Stop it. Now."
"But-!"
Luke narrowed his eyes at the two boys sitting across from him on the bus. They'd been muttering at one another over something, then some kind of spat started up and the next thing anyone knew, Hershel and Young Luke were punching each other in the shoulders as hard as they could, sometimes trying to bodily shove one another off the seat. Luke immediately told them to knock it off as Flora sat by him in her seat, hiding her blush by looking out the window. When that didn't work, he glared, and in his own timeline Luke's glare was the second most intimidating thing about him, the first being his full name announced to a crowd of people with which he was not particularly happy.
The boys settled down.
"Um, Sir Luke?" Flora finally ventured in a small voice, turning to look up at him worriedly, "Where do you suppose Professor Layton has gone? And why would he leave us the way he did?" Luke looked back at her, swallowing the lump in his throat as best he could before distracting himself with the Time-Binder, clicking it open to check it. Fifteen 'minutes' left. He clapped it closed and sighed, sliding the watch back into his pocket.
"The Professor went to the orphanage where I lived before I was a-apprenticed." he stammered, blushing, "According to historical data I collected in my time, he was doing an investigation but he wasn't to have gone until tomorrow, so I'm rushing to catch up." Young Luke sat up straighter, eyes widening and turning bright at his future self's words.
"The orphanage?! What kind of investigation is he doing, Penford?" he asked eagerly and Luke shook his head, folding his arms over his chest, "Aw, c'mon! You can tell me! I'm you, remember?"
"Not if I have any say in the matter." Luke thought to himself bitterly, "I won't let you become me." Out loud he only sighed and lectured him, "I am not telling you that because it's future information. I'm compromising things enough as it it just trying to observe you all." Young Luke scowled, balling his hands into fists.
"Liar! You said in the kitchen that you were here to make sure that something that happens doesn't happen!" he growled and Luke glared at him again, "So you must be trying to stop the Professor's investigation!"
"I am not! I need that investigation to carry on, you twerp!" he shot back, "We're almost to our stop so will you please shut your trap?!" Hershel looked between the two of them in confusion, then seemed to light up in understanding. He pointed at Young Luke with a smile at his mentor.
"Oh, I see! He's the boy you were talking about at the manor! The one who's...!" he began to say and squeaked when Luke shot out his hands, scooped him out of his seat, dragged him across to his own lap and hugged him so tight, the poor boy couldn't speak anymore.
"Going to grow up to be that oh-so-loving mentor you have with you now, Hershel? Oh, how right you are!" he declared with false cheerfulness, ignoring the stares he was beginning to get, "Well, here's our stop; everybody off!" And he raced out of the bus with Hershel still in his arms.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Two figures standing across the street from the bus stop watched as the group of children milled about the street corner in their attempts to get reoriented. Don Paolo scanned them over briefly and huffed in annoyance, looking over at his elderly companion with disdain. The other man ignored him, studying the face of his watch with a smug grin.
"I thought you said that your little contraption could locate Professor Layton by his tachyon signature. I don't see that wretched man anywhere!" he griped, shaking a fist in irritation. The elder man clicked his tongue, clapping the watch shut and putting it away.
"Such impatience. It has been my experience to wait for an opportune moment to strike in order to obtain what I desire. The only things that have foiled me thus far are Time and the good Professor." he returned icily, "Time favors her champion, and it was by grace of altered fate that I won over him to make it here; to this time. This era... where I may claim that which is mine and you may claim that which is yours." He lifted his walking cane, gesturing with its brass head towards the tallest of the group, who led the other children as they began strolling down the street. "That young man there... he must be delayed in his venture if you wish to succeed."
Don Paolo gave the group another look, peering through binoculars he borrowed from his partner. After a moment, he switched targets for comparison, frowning deeply.
"He looks like that little brat that follows Layton around. Is he from your timeline, Maestro?" he questioned gruffly and the renamed older Don Paolo laughed heartily.
"Oh, how I wish! No, I am from a further future than even he; a future where the Layton line has ended for all eternity." he purred and reached out with a hand, grasping at the retreating figure as though to pick him up like a small doll and hold him in his grip, "I'm here to correct that slight error so young Luke there will serve you and ultimately, serve me." Don Paolo lowered the binoculars, looking over at his companion with raised eyebrow and calculating stare. Maestro cleared his throat and gestured outward. "Come. We're wasting time and I've learned rather quickly that allowing Time to flow as she wills only gives that boy more power."
"I'd wish you would stop talking so cryptically. You sound like a bloody puzzle!" Don Paolo grumbled under his breath as they stalked through the dark alleys to catch up to the children.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pen scratched over parchment and paper as Layton bent to his task, signing sheet after sheet until he was certain his eyes were going to cross behind his reading glasses. He read through each one before laying his name to the lines, making certain nothing was approved or signed unless it was to benefit Luke. The headmistress seemed to delight in having him sit there in front of her, scribbling away his name like a madman. She smiled brightly, clapping her hands with each newly signed sheet placed before her. And she would sign them as well, with only half the care Layton took to reading it over but it was negligible for now. Her name underneath his meant that the form was approved.
Meant one step closer to securing Luke's future.
He wondered as he worked, mind trailing off in between those few minutes he stopped to rest his hand. Why had Luke lied to him in the study? Had that been a trap to diffuse the situation, easing the tension that had arisen because he had mentioned his own father? Layton winced, mentally retreating from that wound before it could sting him again.
But things were a bit more clear now, or perhaps not. The Professor rubbed his fingers carefully as he turned the previous night's conversation over in his mind. He was curious as to why this future version of Luke had come into the past, potentially skewing all of time in the process, and had carefully probed for information. The conversation danced around the subjects of childhoods and fathers, and then Luke lied about his own father, claiming to wonder about him when all along he had no memory of two parents, not just one.
Layton smiled suddenly as one piece of the puzzle fell into place, returning to signing the papers before him. His trip into the past must have been out of curiosity to see how his life was changed for the better. Not the most intelligent thing to have done with that kind of power, but he would remember to lecture him later on this, when Luke returned to his own time.
Surely he would be waiting at the house with a lesson on why one shouldn't distort time and fate, correct?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Bollocks!"
Luke darted down the sidewalk, Time-Binder in one hand, Hershel hoisted under one arm, and Young Luke and Flora racing after him. He'd been keeping an eye on the time as they walked, and panicked when the minute hand began to accelerate. Layton was moving ahead of schedule again!
"Slow down, you twit! Flora can't run like us!" Young Luke yelled at him and he slowed his pace until he was jogging in one spot. Hershel squirmed violently to be let down until he dropped on his own and straightened his clothes out, scanning the area around him quickly.
"Hurry up! I don't have much time left to get there!" Luke shouted back at his younger self, "Do I have to carry you there, too?!" Young Luke scowled as he picked up his pace and Flora blushed fiercely, holding her dress up to keep it from tripping her feet as she tried to match the boy's speed.
At Luke's side, Hershel spotted a small cluster of boys across the street and quickly tapped his arm a number of times, finishing with a tilt of his hat and a stretch. The boys scattered into the alleys and Hershel smiled to himself. There; now Sir Luke, the other Luke, and the Flora girl would be safe from pickpockets for now.
Wait....
The hairs on the back of his neck rose and Hershel stiffened, wide eyes making another search of the area. Something was wrong, very wrong.
--
Don Paolo examined the length of rope once more before gesturing an 'all clear' to Maestro, who simply grinned hugely and aimed the makeshift Bind Rifle at his target.
"Just a few minutes, boy, and you'll be one step closer to being mine." the elder Paolo chuckled under his breath.
--
Young Luke and Flora finally reached the time-travelers, breathing hard as they rested for a bit. Luke's expression looked somewhat pained as he took in the sight of Flora gasping for air. He reached out to steady her, then looked into his satchel for a small bottle of water.
"I'm dreadfully sorry, Flora, I shouldn't have made you suffer like that." he murmured regretfully, "Honestly, some days I wonder if everything the Professor taught me is just seeping out my head as the days go by." Young Luke huffed as his older self opened the bottle and handed it to the girl.
"Then just have him give you a review lesson! It won't kill you to ask him for one!" he griped. Hershel began tugging on Luke's jacket, trying to get his attention.
"You think I hadn't thought of that already?" Luke growled, pulling out the Time-Binder to check it again, "We don't have much time left." Hershel tugged harder and he looked down at the boy, "What is it, Hershel? Don't you see we're in a hurry?" The boy didn't answer, just pointed down an alley with a horrified look and Luke twisted around to see what was happening.
Two Don Paolos grinned at him as the other children turned to look and yelled in shock and anger, the current time's Don standing by a coil of rope that trailed into a rifle the far future Paolo held pointed right at him!
"They teamed up?!" Luke cried in alarm, eyes widening just before the rifle fired and a strange lasso lashed out at him, weighed once more with the same iron spheres as the previous ropes. He stumbled back, trying to dodge the attack, and ran into another figure, who yelped as the two of them became entangled in the rope and crashed to the pavement.
"Hey! What's going on?! Why's there two of 'em?!" Young Luke shouted, startled by the second Don's appearance.
"Hershel! Take Luke and get out of here!" the bound teen yelled, struggling to get free, "Head for the orphanage up the street! Don't look back; just take him and get the Professor!"
"Owww! Sir Luke! What's happening?" Flora moaned, back pressed to his as she tried to wriggle out of the ropes. Hershel tried to move in as the older men stalked towards them. Luke shook his head at his actions.
"Don't bother! Just go!" he snapped, "The streets are almost deserted; Time played a hand against us, Hershel! Get out of here!" Young Luke grabbed the boy by the hand.
"Come on! The Professor will know what to do!" he exclaimed and, with one last determined look at them, he and Hershel fled the scene, dashing away before Don Paolo could grab them. The scientist growled, shaking his fists as he watched them run too far and too fast for his aged legs to keep up. The elder Paolo grinned smugly, waving a hand in dismissal as he bent to use the rest of the rope to fully bind Luke and Flora together, pinning the young man's feet down to keep him from kicking at him.
"Leave them be for now. They'll come to us with that precious Professor of yours once we deliver a ransom note." he remarked lightly and pulled the bound teens upright, "Once the rest of the historical events fall into place, you will take control of the young Luke." Luke's eyes widened in horror, which made the elder Don Paolo smile all the wider.
"That's what happened! You bloody wank, you're altering this timeline to remake me!" he shouted in a fury, "How the hell did you even make it through the timestream?! I'm the only one with access to the Time-Binder prototype! You'd have to get through Lay-!" His tirade was muffled by a handkerchief pressed against his mouth and nose, a similar one placed over Flora as she screamed in fright. Both struggled against the fumes wafting from the chloroform-soaked cloths before dropping their heads in silent sleep.
"Now what, Maestro?" Don Paolo growled as his elder version stood up and opened his own stained Time-Binder, grinning.
"Ten... nine... eight...." he counted off smugly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"And that's the last one!" the headmistress exclaimed brightly, signing off her name and sliding the form into the folder, "It's all official now! Congratulations, Professor Layton; all you need is an attorney to alter the records to reflect the new documentation and legalize it, and you're all set!" She stood and shook his hand as the Professor smiled warmly at her.
"Thank you very much, madam! I'm sure Luke will be quite pleased when I tell him he no longer has anything to fear in regards to his future." he remarked and picked up his briefcase, tipping his hat politely, "Have a good day, and best wishes to your other charges!"
It felt good, and oddly right, to have all that done. Now to hire an attorney and complete the last few steps. As he headed out of the building, Layton paused for a moment to softly say Luke's name to himself, tasting the strange, yet familiar, new wording. A warmth at the idea of being able to call him that made him blush and he chuckled as he continued on his way, oblivious to the changes in the timestream being made.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Second event, complete." the elder Don Paolo announced as his younger self finished securing the unconscious teens in a car that looked as though most of its parts had been stripped for use in his inventions, "Just a few more events and Layton's legacy will be mine." He grinned down at the golden watch as the hour and minute hands both clicked down to the third hour. "And soon, all of Time's treasures will be within my grasp."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*