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“Where are we going?” Aurora asked.
“Oh, nowhere special”, Emmy replied, but the mischievous twinkle in her eye hinted that something was going on. It hadn't been long since Aurora joined the Professor and his other companions. Every minute with them was a whirlwind of an adventure, and she let herself be willingly swept up in the newness of it all.
“I just thought that maybe you’d like to go shopping again. Who knows how long we’ll get to stay in the city for!” Emmy cried out. “Once the Professor figures out the next clue, we’ll likely be off again, so why not take advantage of being here?”
Aurora could only take Emmy’s word for it and nod along. “Alright. To which shop will we be going this time?”
Emmy grinned and quickly ushered her out the Bostonius. Her job was done.
“Quickly Professor!” Luke stumbled into the now empty space, spinning on his heel to wave his arms like an officer directing traffic. “We don’t have much time”.
Only Layton’s top hat could be seen over the massive cake that he carried and he peeked out from behind it to smile at his young, enthusiastic apprentice. “I think you underestimate Emmy’s abilities”, he chided softly with a light chuckle. “Careful now Luke”, Layton warned. “If I move any faster the cake may slip from my hands!”
As it was, he was impressed with his own ability to keep the cake upright considering how tall it was. It was impressive that Luke managed to pick out the biggest and most elaborately decorated cake in the shop, a fluffy vanilla cake with turquoise frosting. The white buttercream swirls and flowers added an elegant touch. Layton smiled to himself as he remembered the baker’s expression when Luke explained just why, and for who, they were buying such an extravagant cake.
“Slowly now!” Luke watched with bated breath as the Professor carefully set the cake down, as though he expected the icing to slip off at any second. “Steady…steady…perfect!” They both took a sigh of relief.
“Right, now that that’s in place”, The Professor said, righting his top hat. “Hmm, where is-?”
Just at that moment, the door burst open, and in fell a disheveled archeologist. “Ah, there he is.” The Professor cheerfully remarked. “Glad you made it in time, Professor Sycamore.”
Sycamore, better known as Professor Sycamore, who was panting for breath a second ago, quickly straightened himself out, pushing his red glasses up his nose after they’d fallen askew during his entrance. “What is it you say, Layton?” He smirked, “Ah yes, that a true gentleman is always present and punctual?”
Layton replied with a smirk of his own. “Well, that does sound like something I would say.”
“Did you find it?!” Luke asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet with excitement. Layton made a quick mental note to make sure the boy received a small slice of the cake.
“Well my boy, it wouldn’t be a party without decorations would it?” Sycamore reached into the little bag he’d been carrying. Luke gasped. “How did you know?”, he asked, pointing at the turquoise balloons and streamers that Sycamore bought. “We didn’t tell you what color cake we were getting!”
The Professor gave a hearty laugh. “Well, let’s chalk it up to good fortune and put them up, shall we?”
With that, everyone set to work decorating the interior of the Bostonius.
Professor Sycamore had just finished draping and tying the last of the streamers to the Bostonius’ railing when a sudden cry rang out.
“Oh no!”
There was no denying who that voice was. Professor Layton looked up from where he was blowing balloons with a questioning look.
“Luke, whatever is the matter?”
Meanwhile poor Luke looked like he was having an internal crisis. He had plopped down at the little table settled between the two couches. Ten candles were aligned on the table like a row of playing cards with the young boy looking like he’d just lost said game.
“It’s just”, Luke sniffed, “we don’t have enough candles.”
Professor Sycamore blinked, processing that information. “It would be rather illogical to buy a million candles”, he shrugged, “let alone fit them all on a single cake.” His words didn’t seem to cheer up the boy.
Layton fixed his companion with a look as he moved to Luke’s side. He knelt beside his young apprentice and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Luke’s shoulders heaved with another massive sniff.
The Professor didn’t say a word, he just simply sat with the boy as he worked to calm himself down. Luke took a deep, steadying breath. “I just want her to like the party”, he confessed softly. “It’ll be her first party in a million years! Maybe her first one ever!”
Layton considered the possible truth of that; they were still uncovering the mysteries of Azran culture. At the very least, they could confirm Aurora had yet to experience a modern birthday party.
“Luke”, he began, “a true gentleman considers the feelings of others.” Luke looked at him with shiny, wet eyes, perplexed. A touch of pride swirled inside the Professor. “You are working very hard to ensure Aurora has a wonderful birthday. I have no doubts that she will recognize your efforts.”
A smile tugged at the corner’s of Luke’s lips as he wiped his nose on his sleeve. When he opened his eyes, the Professor was holding out a white cloth for him. “Come now, a true gentleman uses a handkerchief.”
Luke giggled, gratefully taking the handkerchief.
“If I may suggest, Sir”.
Everyone in the room turned to the new voice that joined the conversation. Raymond, Sycamore’s butler, had slipped into the room, completely undetected. The older man smiled sagely, holding something in his hand. “Why not use these instead?”
Layton, Sycamore, and Luke moved closer to inspect. All it took was one look between the three of them to know that they’d found a solution to the problem.
Aurora swayed side to side as she walked with the weights of each bag on her arm rocking her like a boat. “Do the people of today usually buy this much?”
Emmy barked out a laugh, swaying under the weight of her own bags. “Sometimes, they buy even more!”
Aurora’s eyes widened. “Goodness, I can’t imagine how they get it all home…” Certainly, the conveniences of modern living were a marvel in itself.
“Chin up, Aurora!” Emmy cheered. “We’re almost back home!” And hopefully, everything is ready. I really bought way too much. She shifted the bag on her shoulder to see if she could alleviate the way it dug into her arm. Professor, I gave you more than enough time to get this done!
“They’re coming! They’re coming!”
“Places everyone!”
“Eh?! Wait a moment! Why are we hiding?!”
“Master Sycamore, do find a place quickly.”
Aurora raised an eyebrow as Emmy trailed behind her. It felt odd being the one leading the way to the Bostonius when Emmy had lived there longer than she had. Maybe. She still had much to learn about them.
I’m overthinking it, she thought as she pushed the door open. The living space was completely empty, though now it sported some colorful decorations. But where is everyone-?
“SURPRISE!!!!”
Aurora gasped in shock as, all at once, everyone popped into view, even Emmy, who had snuck up behind her and grabbed her shoulders; if she hadn’t Aurora was certain she would’ve jumped a mile into the air.
But everyone was grinning, so this was a good thing?
Still not sure what was going on, she asked “What is this?”
Luke ran up to her with a smile as wide as his round face. “It’s a party for you!”
“A party?”
“Indeed”, said The Professor, stepping out from behind the couch (Aurora wondered how she hadn’t noticed him earlier as it did nothing to hide his hat from view). “We thought a celebration was in order.”
“A celebration? For me?”
“Yeah!” Luke shouted, eagerly.
“But what is there to celebrate?” She asked, still confused. Why would they hold a celebration for me?
“Because we’re happy that you’re with us!” Luke said simply.
Aurora froze, taking in the smiling faces around her, including Emmy hanging off her shoulder, and felt a smile of her own slowly grow.
“I am happy to be with you all as well.”
Her grin only widened when Emmy gave her a slight push. “Come on, get in there!” she laughed. “That cake won’t eat itself!”
Aurora made her way over to the table and settled on the couch. She, Luke, and Emmy sat side by side on one while the Professor and Sycamore sat opposite from them. The cake in front of her looked awfully delicious and she couldn’t wait to try a piece.
“One moment, if you please.” Raymond came over with a match, using one hand to carefully protect the little flame so he could light the candles one by one. Aurora’s eyes glittered in fascination as she watched each letter of the candles light up to spell ‘Happy Birthday’.
“It is so beautiful”, she whispered, almost as though if she spoke any louder the moment would shatter.
“Now you blow them out!” Luke informed. Aurora giggled. What a strange tradition, but she was having fun.
“Don’t forget to make a wish now!” Emmy said playfully.
Aurora considered that. What was there to wish for? She thought about it as she listened to the happy voices around her.
“You can do it, Aurora!”
“Think carefully about your wish.”
“Make it a good one now.”
“See if you can get them all in one go!”
She smiled and gently blew out the candles.
I wish to stay with them as long as possible.