[video]

[miniworth]

[ The feed turns on and there is one very upset Plusle. He'd been so excited - so excited! - about returning to Goldenrod and he and Rom and everyone can have fun! But this isn't the time for that anymore, because Goldenrod is the city of sleep for Rem's trainer and his best friend.

He whines, chorused by a small group of Pokémon huddled near a quieter Arcanine. ] Pluus.

[ More sad whining as he turns where he's standing, searching for his trainer. As the camera pans, it becomes clear that the feed is from inside Goldenrod's Pokémon Center, in one of the private wards. Has anybody noticed that - boy - these kids are here a lot? Because they are, and see? There's Miles, standing by the bed. He looks like he's fussing with one of Ken's Pokémon, trying to calm it down, but it's totally not happening it seems. Eventually he settles for letting it curl on the bed as he turns to Remus and takes the camera. ]

I've already heard of a few instances of this happening across Johto. It seems to be different from the week-long comas that were common back in the winter, since he woke up soon after. Does anyone know anything about it?

... Ken is.. acting strange. [ If he could be considered acting at all. He pauses before clicking off the feed. ]

[ Private Audio to Kisa ]

... The room is on the first floor. I thought you might want to visit him.

[ Private Audio to Mitsuru ]

He's not responding at all. I'll try to take care of him - Nurse Joy as well, but she's really busy - but I'm not su--

[ but he's hanging up before he can finish his own sentence. ]

Comments

[video]

[usaginouke.livejournal.com]

Miles. Are you okay?

[video]

[miniworth]

[ Miles and his friend are always in trouble! It's like you can't have them without trouble. ]

... I'm just fine.

[video]

[usaginouke.livejournal.com]

Are you sure?

.... Hey, are you in Goldenrod right now?

[biteisbigger.livejournal.com]

[ Kisa hasn't really budged from Ritsu's side ever since her cousin collapsed, but Miles' message is enough to prompt her to finally move.

... Not without leaving Togezilla to guard Ritsu, though.

Have a knock on the door, Miles. ]

[miniworth]

[ He opens the door for her and steps aside, looking apologetic. He hadn't meant for their reunion to be like this, and neither had Ken. He gestures to the bed. ]

Nemesis was the one who told me.

[biteisbigger.livejournal.com]

[ Kisa steps in quietly, Mogeta clinging to her neck and the baby Eevee in a sleepy ball in her arms. ]

Ken-kun, too...

[audio | filtered]

[bufudyned.livejournal.com]

Amada is--

[frooowning]

Remain calm, Miles. Are you certain this isn't the same sleep that occurred when Amada returned home last time?

[audio | filtered]

[miniworth]

He isn't asleep, exactly.

He's physically conscious, but he's... not responding. [ Miles is familiar with the term "Apathy Syndrome" and it would be the most simple explanation. But there is no way he's going to use that term around somebody from Iwatodai so carelessly. ]

[audio | filtered]

[bufudyned.livejournal.com]

[a very good idea. it would get a gut reaction from Mitsuru, even though she knows (hopes?) that Apathy Syndrome does not exist in Johto]

Conscious, but not responding? Miles, what was he doing beforehand?

[Video]

[youngforhisage.livejournal.com]

I've been keeping an eye on the posts as well. If I hear anything, I'll be sure to tell you.

Is your friend safe for now?

[Video]

[miniworth]

... I appreciate that.

He's safe. We took him to the Pokémon Center.

[Video]

[youngforhisage.livejournal.com]

That's good. It's up to you of course, but you may want to remain there until we find a way to put a stop to these things. Were you traveling with anyone else at the time?

[video]

[lc-whitequeen.livejournal.com]

Miles, young Ken? What do you mean? What happened?

[video]

[miniworth]

Miss Lacus..

He's not hurt I think. He collapsed earlier, and he's acting a little strange..

[video]

[lc-whitequeen.livejournal.com]

Is there a doctor we can call?

This has me a little... afraid, Miles.

[audio]

[useddeathbound.livejournal.com]

[He's not going to get hit until tomorrow, so he can still wonder.]

What happened?

[audio]

[miniworth]

[ Miles is going to end up thinking all of S.E.E.S. is collapsing or something. :T ]

He collapsed earlier. He's not unconscious... but it's hard to say that he's conscious, either. He's completely unresponsive.

[audio]

[useddeathbound.livejournal.com]

[Well.... are the others too? Shinjiro would much prefer not to...]

...what the hell? ... [Yes, this is really worry.]

Did something happen before he fell over?

[Video]

[dragonspeak]

Ken--[Merlin, if possible, looks even more harried when he sees Miles' video.]

You mean this has been happening all around Johto?

[Video]

[miniworth]

... There have been a few I saw on the network. [ Miles looks absolutely miserable about this. Those times when Ken fell comatose can't even compare to how sad he is now.

After all, he and Ken were still fighting when Ken collapsed. ] You've seen it, too?

[Video]

[dragonspeak]

[He shakes his head.] I only just checked the Gear in case...someone had information. We've been traveling all day. [He bites his lip]

The same thing's happened to Rise and Yosuke just now. We can't wake them up.

video.

[recrimination.livejournal.com]

... Miles Edgeworth, I demand to know the circumstances of this situation.

video.

[miniworth]

Fran. [ Nickname: used before he can stop himself. He's so upset. ;; ]

... I've been told that a certain species of Pokémon has been scattered across Johto. A Shedninja; according to the Pokédex, if you look into the back of its shell your spirit - or your soul - gets stolen.

It seems that that is what's happened to Ken.

[Video]

[foolishwren]

... Again?

_{[At this point, Heather's just convinced that a whole bunch of people have all gone into those comas at once... after all, some lasted way longer than others, so it wasn't like they were all identical. ... Of course, she'll soon be proven wrong.]}

[Video]

[miniworth]

[ Miles' first reaction is fdashkfjh. Heather's seen Miles sad and upset plenty of times, but when Ken is in need of someone to take care of him, the last thing Miles is going to do is lose his calm. So there's a few moments' pause while he rubs his eyes and shakes his head and composes himself-- ]

... It's not like before, Heather. [ A pause. ] It was a Pokémon.