Fanfic Recs / Professor Layton

Proof that the remaining 10% is worth 99 Picarats apiece:

These are recommendations made by tropers for Professor Layton Fan Fics, all of which have been signed. After a few samples, you will be able to judge whether you might be interested in the 'fic, based on who recommended it. No-name recommendations will be Zapped!. Nobody would back up the rec. Discussion of the recommendation is welcome on the discussion page. As such discussion is important, do remember to add the discussion page to the watchlist, if need be.

Do warn when a fanfic may head into romantic or non-canon territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business.

For fics dealing with the Ace Attorney crossover, see this page.

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Authors and Websites

Nixi Stasia: An extremely prolific author, she has created an incredible amount of well-written PF fics, of all sorts of genres.

The Mocking J or TheMockingJ3: Has written many Professor Layton fanfictions, found both on fanfiction.net and on Archive of Our Own. One of their most popular stories is recommended below.

General Fics

Stories focused on the family and the friendly relationships of the cast. Plot-focused stories or light day-in-the-life stories. Pretty much anything that isn't focused on romance.

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Scenes From A Hat by GrinnValesty

• Recommended by MidnightStarHunter
• Status: Dead; last updated August 2013
• Synopsis: Professor of archaeology, puzzle hobbyist, proper gentleman, surrogate father, close friend, and more: a collection of the many roles improvised by the man known as Hershel Layton. Drabble collection. No (overt) pairings. Beware spoilers if reviewing; I have not yet played Miracle Mask.
• Comments: By far one of the best Layton fics I have found to date, it's a series of unrelated drabbles that focus on Luke/Emmy/Hershel friendship to great effect—aka Luke and Emmy uniting as gremlin siblings in aggressively taking care of Hershel and ft soft puzzle dad/friend Hershel.

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What He Has by Candaru

• Recommended by: MidnightStarHunter
• Status: Oneshot, complete
• Synopsis: Layton goes to congratulate his old friend Clark, but the visit is more painful than expected. Clark may have never been able to fulfill his dream of becoming a famous archeologist… but he has something Layton never will. (Oneshot, no slash, rated T for safety and brief death mentions. Takes place a few years before Last Specter.)
• Comments: This fic is Layton and Clark—not quite friendship, more like compare and contrast—centric. I quite honestly only clicked because Luke was in the tags (I take Hersh and Luke as a duo or not at all) and I don't regret it in the least! In a practical level it's just Hershel putting the proof on what he said about seeing Luke when he was a baby (Luke himself has no voice in this; understandable cuz he's a baby, but he's there enough to be adorable and his interactions with Hershel precious) but the fact that it's written in first person from a very well done Layton's POV makes it so poignant that even the sharpest of eyes would have to wait till the suspension of disbelief filters out to spot the canon inaccuracy. A brilliant fanfic with a different and original idea that hits in all the feels without being heavy-handed, there's no one to whom I wouldn't recommend reading it.

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It's No Good by Candaru

• Recommended by: MidnightStarHunter
• Status: Oneshot, complete
• Synopsis: The Professor has a bad habit of neglecting sleep in favor of research. Rosa the cleaning lady has noticed this on too many occasions, and wishes there was something that could be done. Luckily for her, children can be quite influential. (Layton & Luke fluff. Oneshot, genshipping [no romance], T for safety.)
• Comments: I'm so, *so* weak for Layton and Luke friendship, it's just my cup of tea (joke on English gentlemen intended), and Candaru pulls it off masterfully. (It also helps that it matches all the ideas I have about Luke and trust in the best way) Fluffy, not tooth-rottingly so, and the seriousness isn't sadness—it feels like quiet realization. I also love how things eventually come full circle—a cliché that will always be my soft spot— and the inclusion of Rosa, and the last lines are INCREDIBLE, in a way I dare not spoil here. To summarize, an incredibly good fic that no one should ever miss out on!

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The Stray by xXastraXx

• Recommended by: MidnightStarHunter
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Luke finds a stray, injured, kitten on his way home from school. He takes it home to nurse it back to health, but how long can he keep it hidden from the Professor? (Luke, Layton, and Emmy dynamic - no ships intended)
• Comments: (on it one sec its 1:30 am and I can't compose a proper comment just yet)

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The Forgotten Village by Nixi Stasia

• Recommended by Captain Cold Cut Cliche
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: A newspaper article reminds Flora of where she came from. One shot.
• Comments: Short, but sweet. It interestingly answers questions that the ending of The Curious Village' left us with.

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Professor Layton and the Mystery of Stone by Abitat Eco

• Recommended by hanazaki462anime
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: "When Luke and Clark uncover a mysterious artefact at an archaeological dig, Luke contacts the professor, Flora, Emmy and Clive to help solve the mystery. However, when a dark being is seen lurking about and turning several people into stone, the professor and his team must solve this strange mystery, which may seem more complex than they could've ever imagined."
• Comments: A fanfiction that follows a traditional Layton game format! An alternative to the nonexistent sequel hinted at after Unwound Future, this fanfiction was one of the more interesting fics I'd read. It offers puzzles you can solve (and the solutions, of course) and a picarat count (though that's just for fun, and you'll have to add them all up yourself). The mystery itself is... Laytonesque, but very interesting! It does delve into some very dark themes of violence, so be warned.
  • Seconded. The author was writing a sequel called 'Professor Layton and the Dark Apple', which I would also recommend! Unfortunately, the author said she won't be able to finish the story in her last chapter, but she had found a co-writer, so there could be hope for the series yet!

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How To Become A Gentleman In Just 100 Days by Nate-kun

• Recommended by totofan4ever
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: "A chapter every day, join Professor Layton and Luke as they go about living their ever-curious London life in a series of quaint yet topical conundrums, and maybe even pick up a tip or two about proper etiquette while you're at it."
• Comments: One of the few actually completed 100 drabble challenges on Fanfiction.net, and boy is it a good one. Most of them involve day to day situations Layton and Luke find themselves in. A great read if you're wanting to take a break from all of their crazy adventures.

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The Six People Hershel Layton Saw In Flora and The One He Didn't by Arachnia

• Recommended by falsefortuneteller
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: “It feels like I escaped one tower just to live in another!" Layton is forced to confront some emotional hangups concerning his daughter.
• Comments: A sad yet ridiculously cathartic Flora-centric fic that, oddly enough, doesn't star Flora. Focuses on the idea that Layton's got major trust/abandonment issues and explores the ridiculous amount of tragedy that's led to his life today.

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Tower of Hanoi by a_mere_trifle

• Recommended by Jillie_chan
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: He's been working on this puzzle for nine long years, and the endgame begins today. He shall not lose. Not this time.
• Comments: A great mystery told in second person pov. Really sucks you in and makes you want to reread as soon as you're done with it.
  • Seconded. This is one of the best Layton stories I have ever read. -Lady Norbert

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Knights and Knaves by Lady Norbert

• Recommended by Jillie_chan
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: One always tells the truth; one always lies. Flora feels like the unfavorite compared to Luke. She finds solace with an eccentric toymaker, but something's not right. Can this fatherless daughter and her childless father find each other?
• Comments: One of the best Flora-centric stories I have ever come across. She is not whiny or useless and the story has great insight into her character.

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Luke Triton and the Illusionary Misgivings by banjkazfan

• Recommended by My-kun, Furor Nocturna, MidnightStarHunter
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: When Luke wakes alone in a strange village with no memory of how he got there, he must uncover the truth behind the village of Validilene. Every aspect of his relationship with Professor Layton will be tested, and Luke must find the truth behind the lies in his faltering memory. But how can he uncover the truth without the professor's guiding hand?
• Comments: This is a rather interesting take on Luke's relationship with the Professor (which is NOT romantic). It also gives insight on said relationship when other characters interact with them.
  • Seconded. This is one of the best Luke-centric fics I've ever read. The "mystery" is a very well executed in Laytonesque fashion, and while the story focuses the most on the bond between Luke and Layton, it also highlights on Luke's other close relationships, including two individuals I don't dare to spoil the identities of here.

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Bonds Left Unbroken by The Mocking J

• Recommended by tiredandtrue, Furor Nocturna
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Glimpses into what life could have been like had they gone together. (AU)
• Comments: An interesting AU in which that Hershel and Desmond are adopted together. The characters are spot-on, and the way Desmond plays off of others and develops is fantastic.
  • I agree. The interactions are incredible, as is the humor. I highly recommend this one.

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The Laytons by moonbird

• Recommended by Jillie_chan
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: One day as Lucy goes to work at the Mystery Room, she finds a peculiar man sitting calmly in the office, a man wearing a top-hat drinking tea. He doesn't look like a suspect, and true enough, he is Alfendi's father, the renowned Professor Layton. these two so different and yet kind of alike, how did they ever manage to become father and son?
• Comments: A great story that goes into Alfendi's back story and his relationship with Hershel and the rest of the cast. There are some spelling and grammatical errors as English is the writer's second language but it's not distracting enough to take away from an excellent story.

Love in Memories Two-Parter by Gentle Aaron

• Recommended by My-kun
• Status: Complete
• Synopses:
  • Love: Set after The Lost Future, 'Memories Of A Time Gone By' explores the life of Hershel Layton after losing his loved one Claire, and his apprentice Luke Triton. With his emotions threatening to consume him, he tries to live life normally, and put on a smile. After all, that's what a gentleman does. But what happens when an old friend comes calling? Can Hershel find it in himself to solve another mystery?
  • Memories: The sequel and final part of the Love In Memories two-parter. The heroes escape from the thrilling finale in 'Memories Of A Time Gone By', but the Heartbreaker's true plan is revealed and Layton and friends are helpless to stop it. How does the Heartbreaker know Claire? This and more will be answered as Hershel solves one last great mystery!
• Comments: A really well-done two-parter that is darker, yet retains its Laytonesque twists. Elements from all six games are nicely weaved into the story, especially the connections with the Azran to the Anderson/Herzen mansion. This is a story that also strengthens the Professor's ties not only with Flora, but also with other characters.

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The Lamplight Letters by missmisthallery

• Recommended by Restoretheheart
• Status: Ongoing, Last Updated March 2021.
• Pairing: Amelia Ruth/Clive Dove, though there's been no 'serious' romance so far.
• Synopsis: Before the Mobile Fortress wreaked havoc upon London, before the Crown Petone set sail on its sole voyage, thirteen-year-old Amelia Ruth and fifteen-year-old Clive Dove were schoolmates at Dreycott School in London. Amelia's first term is only just underway when Clive enlists her help in uncovering a terrible secret lurking in Dreycott's shadows. But Clive has secrets of his own...
• Comments: An incredible story with an unconventional pair of Layton characters - Amelia Ruth and Clive Dove - trying to solve a Laytonesque mystery at Dreycott's School. Both the characters and the friendship of Amelia and Clive are spot on, building on what little we learn about Amelia's life from Eternal Diva. There are lots of OCs in the story (and some cameos from PL characters) but they feel like they've walked straight out of the games. The story is currently incomplete, but updates are quite regular. You won't want to miss them.

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Kintsukuroi by Glowbug 24

• Recommended by Restoretheheart
• Status: Dormant; last updated January 2018
• Synopsis: Five years after the events surrounding the Azran Legacy, a certain ex-assistant comes face to face with her past. Can Emmy face down her demons in time to help Luke and Flora save the professor? (Some Ace Attorney crossover in the early chapters. Beware, here be dark stuff.)
• Comments: One of the best Emmy-centric fics you could hope to find, with reference to her feelings after Azran Legacy. Flora also receives her fair share of limelight that was sadly lacking in the games. As of when I'm writing this, the true 'adventure' aspect of the story has only recently into play, but that's not a complaint!

Shipping Fics

Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.

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Professor Layton And The Anomalous Entity by Larkwings

• Recommended by totofan4ever
• Status: Complete
• Pairing: Hershel Layton/Emmy Altava
• Synopsis: When Layton and Co. receive a letter prompting them to investigate the disappearance of some important artifacts in Monte d'Or, they stumble into a dangerous situation involving relentless thieves, nightmares and an old legend that threatens everyone. To worsen matters something has put Emmy at odds with the case and Layton will need his assistant if he is to succeed.
• Comments: I almost wouldn't dare to put this fic in the shipping section, because although Layton and Emmy's feelings are a fantastic subplot, the main mystery surrounding these artifacts is gripping whether or not you actually ship these characters. Everyone is in character, the budding romance between Layton and Emmy is believable, and the writing is fantastic!

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Unto Us A Child Is Born by misadventuresofnati

• Recommended by totofan4ever
• Status: Complete
• Pairing: Hershel Layton/Mrs. Layton
• Synopsis: Several years after the events of Unwound Future, our beloved characters have continued their lives as usual in peace until one day, Professor Layton gets a call during one of his lectures from Flora. The news kicked in. His wife is in labour.
• Comments: To quote from the author, "We all need something happy, since the games can be so feels-wrecking, so have this. Especially Layton deserves to be happy." And she's right!

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Love Letter by Kyoukalay

• Recommended by Mabel Lover
• Status: Complete
• Pairing: Hershel Layton/Emmy Altava
• Synopsis: "Maybe you could write him a letter? Nice and old fashioned. Something he would appreciate. Just slip it into his coat pocket or briefcase and wait it out."

A suggestion that could make or break Emmy's day.

• Comments: A small, lovely piece from the Layton/Emmy collection Kyoukalay has written so far. I recommend checking out the author!