[It is happening again. It is happening again.]

[Wrong canon. France has never seen The Giant, although he would probably confuse him with Goliath more than anything else. And, characteristically, that would make France return to his roots and completely freak out.]

[Still, it has some relevance here. The 'Gear seems to be picking up flashes of different cities and towns around Johto and Kanto, like someone is teleporting from one to the next without any real goal or direction.]

[After what amount to a few hours of this, the transmission seems to shutter, like the 'Gear has been fumbled, and panting becomes audible as the camera is turned to focus on a very wind-swept France whose expression is a strange combination of badly suppressed tension and far too much excitement.]

Has anyone ever noticed that all the towns around here look exactly the same? They have exactly the same shops and exactly the same standard layouts, just with some superficial topographical variations! I've noticed before, of course, but when you see them all together -

[He makes a wide, wild gesticulating motion with his free hand, unable to communicate how unsettling it is. Sure, France has planned cities, but nowhere is entirely planned like this.]

Also, what is with these crystals? They're all over the place!

[Video/Text]

[France's face comes onto the feed looking... Well, he certainly doesn't look happy. In fact, he looks like he's trying very hard not to be sad, his expression somewhere between painfully repressed panic and abject despair. It appears that he has something he wants to tell the network, but he can't seem to make himself open his mouth. Or maybe he can, but, if he did, he'd probably end up screaming. This uncomfortable moment lasts for a substantial amount of time before France cancels the transmission.]

[A few minutes later, the following open text appears.]

It appears that Romano has left this place. He is, at the very least, missing. He disappeared somewhere in the late evening to early morning hours of this past Saturday to Sunday.

If anyone has more information, please contact me.



[Action]

[France is in the storage room of the Olivine City Restaurant, hiding there until the place closes. His shift is over, but he doesn't want to go back to the hotel, where he's been sharing a room with Romano. All of Romano's personal effects are still there, including the clothes France made for him and the new ones that France had just started working on. There's the premade meals in the mini-fridge for Romano to eat while France is at work, and there's Toro's pokeball on the dresser, which reminds France also of Spain, who's been gone for almost a year now. All those little things...]

[France puts his head in his hands, elbows resting on his knees, and cries.]

[Prose]

( Marianne knows she's not a nice girl. )



[Action]

[The 'Gear comes on to find a very self-satisfied France grinning at the audience of the network. Have you missed this arrogant fail, Johto?]

Today, a milestone has been reached in Johto history!

[The camera shifts around to show one massive Charizard and a glaring Ninetales. If you look closely in the background, you can spot one sunbathing Umbreon as well as a rippling Ditto at her side.]

Louis has evolved into a Charizard, and Marianne has reached her hundredth level nearly a year since my glorious and eventual arrival in this place!

[France shifts the 'Gear back upon himself, wearing his most sparkletastic winning grin.]

I propose this be declared a national holiday, in honor the greatness of France!