Professor Layton and the Shining Stone

Disclaimer: The Prof and his many friends aren't my property. BTW, good luck with that cool looking crossover, Team Layton…

Rating: PG…dunno, see how the later chapters go…

Summary: The rarest treasure in Scotland, known as the Shining Stone, has been stolen from the house of one of the Professor's colleagues. Together with his self-proclaimed apprentice, Luke, and his unofficial adopted daughter, Flora, Layton has been asked to unravel the mystery…

Hi. This is only my second fic, so PLEASE DON'T flame me or kill me inside your head if it doesn't meet standards…you are however allowed to flame me for not following up with my first. You can continue the story as you see fit…constructive criticism is welcome, though…

Professor Herschel Layton was sitting in his office one morning, shifting through various pieces of paperwork before his morning lecture at Gressenheller University. He was an archaeology professor, and his classes were very popular. He was going over a few notes regarding various types of fossils, with phrases such as 'trace fossils' and 'cast fossils' scrawled out into his notepad in untidy letters.

Professor Layton then heard his office door open, and in stepped a young brown haired boy wearing a blue cap and blue clothes to match; Luke Triton, his 'apprentice' as he liked to call himself (even though he was the only one asserting it). He was holding a stack of envelopes in his left hand.

"Mornin', Professor," he said cheerfully. "Your mail."

"Ah, thank you, Luke," said Layton, and he shifted through them each. Luke always managed the Professor's mail and made the tea, for Layton, despite appearances, was not a well organised man.

Layton continued to look through each one with little interest, but then stopped suddenly, for one of the letter's addresses was written in handwriting that Layton had not seen in a long time. Putting the rest of his mail aside, he opened the white envelope and read the letter inside.

Dear Professor Layton,

I hope that you are well. I am doing well in my studies in Scotland, and I think I am making good progress.

I am writing to you because something terrible happened not too long ago. My great uncle, Jake Hammond, passed away recently, and has left most of his possessions to the Museum of Edinburgh. However, the most important item listed in the will, a treasure known as the Shining Stone, has gone missing, and believed to have been stolen. The will states that my uncle's friend, John Maples, should send the Shining Stone along with the original packaging with which he, my uncle, first received it from Germany. My uncle believed that Maples would recognise the Shining Stone's value and would place it on display at the museum.

I know that you are the finest mind that I know, and news of your accomplishments has reached here, and I need your help. Could you help in the search for the Shining Stone and help to carry out my late uncle's wishes?

I realise of course, you are probably busy, so please carry out my request at whatever time seems convenient to you in the week.

Your student,

May Simpson.

Layton frowned at the letter. May was an old student of his, who transferred to a different university overseas to continue her studies a year ago. But being busy, she had little time to write to him…

Luke watched the Professor's face as he read the letter, and when he placed it on his desk, he asked, "What's wrong, Professor?"

"It seems that an old student of mine needs my help."

"With what?"

Layton turned to look at Luke. "An old family treasure has been stolen, and she requires my assistance in recovering it."

Luke grinned at Layton. "And you're going to help here out, right?"

Layton smiled. "Of course. A gentleman never refuses a request from a lady."

Layton looked over the letter again. Please carry out my request at whatever time seems convenient to you in the week. Well, it was Monday, and he was teaching until Friday, so he would leave with Luke on Saturday. He put on his black coat, straightened his black silk hat, and walked to the door.

"I'm off, Flora," he said to a young brown haired girl, resting on the sofa in his office. She nodded, and waved goodbye as he walked out the room.

That Saturday, Layton, Luke, and Flora were on a ferry to Scotland, looking out on the deck. Luke was walking up and down the deck, checking each view with Flora, while Layton was reading the newspaper reporting the theft of the Shining Stone. As he turned to the next page, he heard a loud groan coming from behind his back. He turned, and saw a tall, muscly man with glasses and a grey moustache wringing his hands in frustration. He was standing next to three wooden crates, stacked beside each other. Layton, being the kind sort, asked, "Is something troubling you, sir?"

"Ohh," sighed the man, "I think I might have messed up." And he pointed at the crates. Upon further inspection, Layton saw that the boxes were labelled 'Apples', 'Oranges', and 'Apples and Oranges Mix'.

"I think I labelled each crate wrong…" groaned the man. "But I can't tell which crate contains what!"

Layton looked at the top of the crates, and saw that each one had a small hole, just big enough for Layton's hand to reach inside, but clearly nowhere near large enough for the man's.

Layton smiled. He was an archaeology professor, but was more famous around London as a master of puzzles. This was clearly no problem to his well-versed mind, and he had the solution in a flash.

"Actually," Layton remarked, "I think it may be easier to re-label them than you think."

The muscly man stared at Layton, amazed. "Y-you think?"

"Certainly," smiled the Professor. "I just need to check the contents of a box."

"B-but I can't just pry them open!" cried the man. "I'm in for it if the boss finds out and makes me reseal the boxes again!"

Layton re-adjusted his hat. "You don't need to," he said. "I just need to examine one box…"

Post note: So, how was it?

Do YOU know how Layton got the answer? If it were a game, I'd say this puzzle's worth about 15 Picarats. Here are the key facts:

There are three boxes, one labelled 'Apples', one labelled 'Oranges', and one labelled 'Apples and Oranges'.

Each box is labelled incorrectly.

You can only take one fruit from one box of your choice.

TASK: Re-label each crate correctly.

Check the next chapter for the solution!