Finale

Descole snarled, ripped out his sword, and charged. Melina shrieked. All she could imagine was the blade piercing her flesh—

Then she dodged his attack.

Emmy had reflexes like a cat. (Though, it did help that Descole was slightly dizzy from that blow to the head.) Melina was amazed; even before she became poorly, physical activity had never been her strong point. If Melina had been in her own body, no way on Earth would she have been capable of such a level of speed.

"Whoops, missed me," Emmy jeered, darting behind Descole. She tapped him on the back. The scientist spun around and tried to stab her again, with the same result.

Melina found herself joining in with Emmy's taunts this time. "Too slow!" they laughed together.

She was unsure whether Emmy mentally anticipated Descole's strikes, or if this was her body's natural survival impulse kicking in. Whichever it was, Melina was extremely thankful. Without Emmy's coordination they'd be toast. Right now they shared Emmy's potent muscles, Emmy's beating heart, Emmy's sharp instincts...

"Melina!"

"Professor, Luke!" they cried joyfully, noticing the professor's aircraft had landed on the platform.

Descole clutched at his head, grumbling, "Layton...!"

The professor seemed quite surprised at Descole's weakened state, but he paid the villain little heed. He was immediately by their side, checking, "Are you alright, my dear?"

"We're fine, Professor."

"We...?" Luke whispered, though there was clearly relief in his tone.

Layton didn't comment on the strange reply. Instead, he was glaring at Descole. "This has gone on long enough... Descole, you caused all of this devastation, when you only solved part of the puzzle."

"W-what are you talking about?" Descole demanded.

Layton approached the organ's keyboard, gesturing to the music book with the sketch of the Ambrosian seal. "You found the Songs of the Sea and the Stars. However, you failed to notice that the Ambrosian Seal shows not two Songs, but three. You cannot raise Ambrosia..." He picked up the book. "...unless you look at the pattern another way. If you turn the Seal upside down, another melody appears..."

Another round outline could now be seen in the upside down Seal.

"It's the sun!" Luke exclaimed.

"Yes, the final key is... A Song of the Sun. Without that Song, Ambrosia will never appear." Layton then began to play the keyboard and he requested, "Melina, sing a Song of the Sea!"

They nodded. "Right." This time they sang as one. Their voice was beautifully rich, resonating through the stars, the sea, and all the way to the sun. After the first verse, the professor turned the musical score around and also played the third hidden melody. Descole could only watch as Layton outwitted him again.

Beyond, the ocean glimmered with pools of green light, coming together to form a shining arch around the larger side of the island. From below the waves, the ruins of the ancient city arose. The professor and his companions gawked at the glorious sight.

Descole's shoulders shook with raw fury.

The professor turned to the leavers on the machine, intending to shut it down, when a sword flew past him and stuck into the organ. Missing his throat by mere inches.

"LAAAAAYTOOOOON!"

Before he could grab his sword and skewer the professor, Emmy and Melina slammed into Descole. Descole smashed hard against the control panel.

Electrical waves surged through the Detra-Gigant as it malfunctioned. The robot's limbs flailed wildly. It impaled itself with its drill tail, causing an explosion. The control panel sparked and smoked. Lines of fire covered the platform. "What do we do, Professor?" Luke coughed.

Layton had to concede that there was no saving the controls now. The Detra-Gigant tottered towards the cliff side, its reign of terror having come to an end.

"Time to go," said the professor, bounding past the flames. He offered his companions a hand. "Luke, Melina!" The young boy stepped back to let the lady precede him.

"This is no time for chivalry, Second Assistant!" Emmy and Melina declared. They hooked Luke up by the armpits and carried him over the flames.

The professor paused for a second, casting a quick glance at the crushed control panel. He couldn't leave him here to die. Even though the villain had endangered Emmy, even after the terrible crimes he had committed... That was when Layton realized the Descole was gone. Unsure where Descole had disappeared to or how, there was nothing the professor could do. It was too late.

Just as the crag crumbled and the Detra-Gigant tumbled into the sea, the professor leapt off the platform after his companions. They made the jump safely across. Suddenly, another explosion went off behind the trio, sending them flying. Mr Whistler, Inspector Grosky and the others ran out of the forest, through the lingering smoke.

The professor had survived some worse spots than that. Tightly clutching the edge of his top hat, he came to his knees and looked towards his assistants. Despite being alarmed, Luke seemed alright. However— Layton froze when he saw– the lady in yellow was not. She'd curled her body around the Luke, shielding him from the blast.

Luke was shaking her now, wailing, "Wake up! Please, please, wake up...!"

"Melina!" Whistler skidded to her side, concerned only for his daughter's sake. Luke didn't complain as Whistler removed his jacket, creating a softer surface for Emmy's body to lie on. After several suspenseful heartbeats, her eyes fluttered open.

"Emmy...?" Luke tried hopefully.

"No... I'm Melina."

I'm lost. There isn't really a better way to describe it.

I don't recognise this place. (Should I?) I'm on a green cliff by the coast. It's pretty, and peaceful, but it doesn't feel like I've been here before. Actually, I can't recall anywhere I've been before. Weird.

Where do I live? Where was I born? When was I born? How old am I? Do I have a family? Friends? A true love? Any Pets? A job? What are my ambitions? My dreams? What's my favourite colour? Favourite food? Hobbies?

Who... am I?

All these questions appear, but the answers elude me. (Kind of like an irritating itch you can't scratch no matter how hard you try.)

Maybe I should be concerned about this. Who knows—I could be dead right now. The notion doesn't feel very daunting. If I can't remember my life... then there's nothing for me to miss. No regrets, right? I could leave instantly.

Except, I don't think that's my decision to make.

"Emmy... She... She's gone," Melina whispered.

"W-what?" Luke gasped.

Melina frantically searched her head for the slightest peep of Emmy's spunky voice. Emmy? EMMY?! she thought loudly. There was no reply now, only a hollow silence. Melina was definitely alone in her mind. Emmy herself had become a distant memory. Melina told them, "I— I can't hear her anymore!"

Layton breathed, "So, that was why you acted that way... But surely Emmy must still be in there—"

Mr Whistler interrupted, "If Miss Altava is gone then there is nothing to be done." He hugged his daughter gleefully. "You can stay now, Melina!"

"She can't just take Emmy's body!" Grosky barked

"I know, I know..." Melina whimpered. Wherever she went, she only brought sorrow upon people. First, her father and Janice. Now, Emmy's friends...

Janice suddenly stepped forward, taking Melina's hands in her own and pulling her to her feet.

"J-Janice, what should I do?" Melina whimpered.

"I know how hard it is," Janice murmured soothingly.

Melina was too upset to question how Janice sympathised with her. "I don't want to die again!" she cried.

"But what's worse would be stealing another's life to live your own. After a while, you'd begin to feel unbelievably guilty... You don't want to live with that guilt hanging over you day after day, do you?"

Melina sniffled, shaking her head.

"Emmy may have exhausted herself when your personalities fused. So, you need to find her," Janice instructed. "You can do it— look deep within yourself, only think of her personality."

Nodding, Melina took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Janice turned to the professor. "Could you help us, Professor? Tell us all about Emmy."

"Emmy quite literally swerved into my life." Layton smiled, recalling how Emmy had veered in front of him on her scooter and boasted she was his new assistant. He added in a more solemn tone, "Coincidently, I also met her before, years ago, and prevented her from being arrested at Scotland Yard. She doesn't know I remember that day."

"She teases me sometimes," Luke piped up. "But she never really means it. Well, I hope she doesn't. Uh...She's always there to protect me."

Inspector Grosky chuckled slightly. "That woman can become quite scary when she wants to get her point across."

"And above all, Emmy will never go down without a fight," the professor finished.

They waited for a few moments until Melina gasped in relief, "I think... I think I've found her! Just barely..." Melina latched on to the tiny part of Emmy's consciousness that remained; it flickered like a dying candle in the dark corner to her mind.

"Well done," said Janice. "Now you need to release Emmy. Let her return to her own body."

"C-can I just say goodbye first?"

"Of course you can."

"No, Melina. Don't say that!" Mr Whistler implored, capturing her in a fierce hug.

Melina swallowed past the thick lump in her throat. "Dear father, as much as I wish to stay here with you, I can't. Emmy needs to have her life back."

"B-but, Melina—!"

"Even when I am gone, I will still live on in your memory. And I will always be with you... Farwell, father." She moved away from him. It took all her will not to react when he broke down on the ground sobbing.

Next, Melina looked at Luke. "Farewell, Luke. Don't take Emmy's joking to heart. She... she really cares about you."

"I know. Thanks, Melina..."

"Farewell, Professor Layton."

"Melina."

Luke and the professor wanted nothing more than for Emmy to return. But they would never forget Melina's kindness or her bravery.

"Farewell, Janice..." Melina gave her a watery smile. "Please take care of my pendant. And keep the music alive, forever."

As the two friends hugged, Janice whispered in her ear, "Janice promises she will, for the both of us."

With that, they parted and Melina closed her eyes again, concentrating.

Emmy— you need to come back!

I feel a force tug at me, as if I'm attached to a line. There's a voice as well— it seems familiar.

Suddenly, I see someone else standing on the cliff. They're walking towards me... It's a blonde haired girl wearing a turquoise coloured dress. (Have we met before?)

"Who are you?" I ask her.

"Emmy— You need to come back!"

"Come back... Where...?"

"You need to come back, Emmy Altava!"

E-M-M-Y A-L-T-A-V-A...

Emmy... Altava...

Emmy Altava.

Something clicks. I immediately recognise this name.

Memories come flooding back to me. My memories. My personality. ME. I have to come back. The professor and Luke and the others are waiting for me.

The girl— Melina, that's Melina Whistler!— smiles at me sadly. "I'm sorry for borrowing your body... Farewell, Emmy. Thank you." She turns and walks away...

Then the cliff, the sky and the sea all fade into nothing.

"Emmy..." Professor Layton uttered.

Her eyes opened, but they were blank. There was no glimmer of recognition when he gazed into those dark irises that had once been so full of life. The professor pulled down the brim of his hat and bowed his head. Tears rolled down Luke's cheeks.

Then... she blinked, releasing a gasping breath. Layton's head shot up. A grin— her bright grin— crossed her lips. And his assistant assured him:

"I'm right here, Professor."