Hershel had never been so happy to be sitting down in a warm room before in his entire life. Emmy helped lower him into the armchair and hadn't left his side since. He was sure that if she wasn't so concerned about his wellbeing she would actually be sitting upon his lap, so great was her need to be around him after the whole incident. And he didn't want her far off either. She was sitting on a chair at his side whilst holding his hand.

"Hershel! We are so glad you are all right!" A female voice called loudly from the hall, the owner of the voice finally coming into view.

Tonetta Merrin looked like she had run through the town to come and find them; no doubt she had run all the way from her home down to the inn where they were currently seated. It had been the closest place to the exit they had used and Emmy was determined that Hershel was going to rest before anything else. Together they had dragged Petyr's unconscious form out of the sewers and handed him over to Madigan and Maurice who had also found their final missing person, the manager of the now missing fishery. Tonetta must have not bothered with her brother but come here instead.

The woman stopped in her tracks when she saw Emmy holding his hand but quickly she composed herself and crossed to his side. "We heard that you found him and brought him back.. Thank you so much for helping us!"

Hershel shook his head, smiling ever so slightly. "Do not just thank me. Also thank Emmy and-"

"Professor!"

"Luke!" The boy came racing in and flew himself on top of Hershel, the man hugging him tight. "I am glad to see you."

"You did it, Professor! The town is safe again! But, what happened? Everything that was going on.."

It was true, he hadn't told anybody yet how everything had worked. He had explained who it was but not anything else.

"Will you enlighten us all, Professor? Most people are up in my manor if you wish to come up there?" Tonetta gestured to the open door behind her. "We would all love to know what your fantastic mind has deduced."

It took them quite some time to climb the distance up to the Merrin home but once there he was immediately ushered into a chair. He was thankful for the seat and smiled at Emmy who was forever by his side. He had barely been sitting for a minute before Madigan came rushing over, Maurice and Tom not far behind him. The large guard hauled the archaeologist from his seat and embraced him in a giant bear hug.

"Thank you so much, Hershel Layton, for returning my brother to me." The man sounded so choked up and Hershel just patted him on the back.

"You do not need to thank me, I am just glad that I could help reunite the pair of you."

Eventually Madigan let go of him and shook his hand firmly, shaking his whole arm with the force. Then it was Maurice's turn to thank him and before he knew it, Hershel was being thanked by everybody present at the Manor. The fish stall clerk, the fishery manager, even by Anton the butler. He was somewhat overwhelmed but once everybody had had their time with him they all turned attentively to listen to his explanation.

"So, you are all here no doubt to hear about the issues that have been plaguing your town for the past while. As you all know, we captured the culprit Petyr Merrin below the streets of Mespil and have dealt with his dufferins so they shall never bother you again." A cheer sounded out around the room and a quick glance told him that a certain blonde scientist was missing.

"Petyr discovered he had no legitimate claim to this town and set out about taking it for himself in a way that nobody could argue with. We are all lucky that nobody got hurt and that we managed to recover those who had been kidnapped."

"Can you possibly tell us, why were people kidnapped?" It was Madigan who asked such a question and Hershel had been expecting at least one person to ask.

"Well, the whole issue of missing items, animals and people must be addressed from the very beginning. Starting with the missing objects, some more mundane but others I believe were the Merrin's silverware? Well all of these objects were used by Petyr to craft his many marvellous machines. Although quite evil, he has proved himself to be a genius, creating machines capable of producing genetically manufactured monsters from just objects found in this village."

Perhaps his appreciation of the man's abilities would be taken the wrong way but nobody voiced their opinions so he continued his explanation.

"I am afraid that your animals have a more sinister fate. Those who were not taken by the dufferin have probably fled the village. Have faith, those who survive shall probably return within a week or more." This statement in face turned out to be true, almost every single cat and dog that had once lived in the village that had not already left returned within ten days.

"But the choice in people was very interesting, in fact quite logical if one thinks on it for much time. The fish stall clerk was first to go.." A hiccough sounded from the woman in question. "She was taken because of her job, in fact. If Petyr had discovered a way to manufacture his creatures and they had been taking the local animals to eat he had to find a way to feed them all. He couldn't do so in the long term but settled for the short, raiding this young lady's store of fish. It is my guess that she caught him trying to take all of the fish and for that reason he had to take her down into the sewers with him to cover his identity."

"That's right." She sniffed. "He tried to take them all but I found him rummaging through the boxes I had prepared for the next morning.. He had kept me down there ever since. Until they found me."

Hershel smiled reassuringly at the woman, just glad that she was now safe. "Next to be taken was Maurice. Now this choice probably coincided with Petyr's decision to make more of the creatures. To do so he would need more power and to make the power he was using he needed somebody to run on a wheel. Dufferins only have short legs and are not designed for endurance so probably couldn't last long on the wheels. His only choice was to take a young, fit person from the village and Maurice here fit right into his criteria."

"I tell you what, I will be happy to never have to run again in my life!" The guard laughed, as did the little girl who was contently cuddled into her Father's chest.

"Next was the fishery manager, sir, it is good to see you came out in one piece." He inclined his head to the man who he had yet to meet. "Also, I am sorry that your building has gone in its entirety."

"Professor, how did that happen?" Luke had turned to look at him.

"Very good question. Well, to explain the disappearance first, the manager was also taken to provide a supply of fish to the dufferins that were being created. However, the fishery itseld was where the fish was stored and Petyr needed to get into this store on a regular basis. So he dug out beneath it and created a passage. This destabilized the foundations of the building, causing it to collapse through the tunnel he had crafted into a cavern below which in turn filled with water. This water allowed the dufferins access to the surface where we were all congregated."

"What about Arnic Shir?" A voice called and he was unaware of who exactly asked him. "Why isn't he here, I thought he got out?"

Hershel turned and took Emmy's hand so everybody was aware he was talking of her. "My assistant, Emmy Altava managed to rescue Arnic Shir after she herself was taken, risking her own life in the process."

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles causing a murmur to spread amongst those who were present. He realised that this would be the first time Luke would have any real indication of anything between them but he could not hide it from the boy for much longer.

"Where is Arnic Shir now?"

"I.." Hershel frowned slightly and looked around. He had noticed the lack of his presence before and now that it was pointed out he truly had no idea where the man was. "I am not entirely sure."

"No doubt he is fine, in his lab somewhere." Emmy quickly brushed it off, clearly confident in the scientist. "The important thing is that everything is over and has been explained. Petyr will be dealt with?"

"Yes, we have him locked up for now and then he shall be transported to London for processing as we received word that a certain Inspector Grosky wants to see him." Madigan seemed completely unaware of the name but Hershel, Emmy and Luke all laughed.

"Hardly surprising. At least he shall be dealt with somewhere away from this village. He shouldn't be allowed anywhere near it for the rest of his days."

"And I shall make sure that he does not, Professor. My brother shall never harm these people again."

Hershel's eyes drifted over to Tonetta who seemed to have caught hold of her wits again after her previous upset. She was back to being the woman he had first met, very much concerned for her village but firmly in control of it. He had no doubt that these people would be fine from now on. But before another thought could enter his mind there were several screams from outside.

"What the-" Madigan was first out of the doors, quickly followed by Hershel and Emmy. Everybody else started to filter out behind them to form a circle.

Hershel almost laughed out loud at the sight which greeted him. "Arnic Shir, you mad man!"

The scientist was grinning as he climbed the hill towards them, looking grubby and tired but very much alive and amused. And behind him trailed the most extraordinary thing. A dufferin! Only this one was not like the others. The creature was a pale blue colour and somewhat overweight, waddling behind the scientist with her tongue hanging out of her mouth like some sort of pet! Like a dog!

"You have a friend, it seems!" Hershel strode forward and greeted the man, the dufferin coming to a stop just behind him.

"Indeed. I found her when I was escaping, at least I think it is a she, I haven't had much chance to check. She was hiding in one of the rooms. I think she was just left there because she is too heavy, too fat. She was attached to me instantly and I couldn't just leave her there to die."

"So she is to become your pet?" He questioned, crouching to look at the creature.

The dufferin just looked back at him, her head tilted to the side slightly. It was almost as if she were panting from the effort of climbing this hill.

"Why not? She hasn't tried to attack me nor shown any malice to those I have passed on the way here. Although they were afraid of her.."

"Does she have a name?"

"Not yet.. I hadn't thought of one." The scientist laughed and leant down to touch the dufferin's head.

"Can I.. Make a suggestion?" Luke had stepped forwards, ever eager to interact with animals. "Why not call her Zilla?"

The dufferin looked up at the boy in his blue hat and shuffled towards him. Almost every person that had congregated took a step back but Hershel watched in interest as the creature approached Luke. The boy didn't flinch, much to his surprise, instead crouching down to touch her head. Zilla almost looked like she was enjoying the touch, leaning her head into it like a cat would.

"Zilla it is, thank you, my boy." Arnic was immediately assaulted by his eager assistant who clung to him happily. Emmy walked up and slipped her arm around Hershel.

"I think it is time we had a peaceful night's rest and head back to London." She whispered beside his ear.

XXX

"I can never thank you enough, Hershel. You have saved my village and brought peace to us all again.."

The following morning Emmy and Luke were packing the car when Tonetta had suddenly appeared and requested to speak with Hershel. Of course he had obliged and gone with her just a small distance away.

"You do not need to keep thanking me, Ms. Merrin. I am just pleased that I was able to help."

"You have no.. No idea how much this means to all of us." She looked down at her hands which were clasped in front of her. "To me."

Hershel reached out and gently touched her arm. "Just make sure you take care of them all.. You are a good leader and I know this town will flourish again under your care. Don't let this get you down."

The woman lifted her head and smiled briefly at him. Before he knew it she had closed the gap and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I shall miss you, Hershel Layton."

Her voice had been barely a whisper and she suddenly turned and walked away from him. "I hope you have a good trip back! Take care!"

Hershel was a bit stunned but nonetheless turned to the Laytonmobile ready to leave. They had said their goodbyes to Arnic, Rikka and Madigan the previous night so there was nothing really left to do but go home. When he turned back to the car he found Emmy looking at him.

"She fancies you, you know." She said softly, a smile on her face.

"She does?" He questioned, looking over his shoulder to look at Ms. Merrin's retreating back. "Hmm.."

"Are you honestly telling me.." She came up to him and wrapped her arms around him. "That the great Hershel Layton failed to see what was right before his very nose?"

"I failed to see your interest in me also, in case you have forgotten." He wrapped his arms around her in return.

"Ah yes, very good point. Professor." She stood up on her tippy toes to kiss him but their lips did not yet meet.

"Come on! It's time to go!"

The pair laughed and Emmy buried her face against his shoulder. "It seems letting Luke know has given us no more time together. I swear, it has become his personal mission to try and stop every moment we have together."

"Oh, let him be. We will have plenty of time together soon enough." She kissed the underside of his jaw and left him with that promise.

"Well then.. We had better get back to London."

It is done! Lady in Yellow is finished and I hope that you all enjoyed it. I know I enjoyed writing it and also enjoyed reading your reviews. It has been a wonderful eleven months writing this story and I cannot express how much I shall miss it. So, look out on the horizon because, in the style of the Layton games themselves..

TO BE CONTINUED..