Nightmare Syndrome

By: Chibi-Suiko

A/N: Okay, this is going to be one of the last chapters to my story, I think. Like I stated before, Team Rocket's master dominance will probably be continued in a sequel, a FAARRRRR off sequel. No offense, but as I've also said before, I've got too many works to be completed before I start anything new, even that of which is being prolonged.

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Summary: Last chapter, both Team Rocket and our Heroes (Minus one Misty) separated into two groups in order to thoroughly wipe the Pokemon Tower clean of any lasting threats having been at the scene of Misty's sudden loss in health. Pikachu was slightly injured, leaving Ash to remember how he had been forced to watch Misty suffer without being able to help her. Jessie took incentive to rush ahead and play the Hero, herself, causing Ash to rethink the Rocket girl's impression on him. One army of Ghost's and Ghouls taken care of, many more to go. Our groups will meet half and half but now we're left with James, Brock, and Meowth to make their own victory... Are they capable of pulling such a task off..?

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Chapter Eight: Rescue At It's Darkest

James (Pointing ahead, terrified): It-it-it-it's th-th-th-them! We gotta fight--!

Brock (Not even bothering to look ahead): What're you talking about man? I don't get what you're saying.

James: JUST LOOK, DAMNNIT--!

And he did. In front of them stood an army of Haunter, twice as many Ghastly, and a few leading Gengar. And they didn't look inviting...

James (Heart racing): What are we going to do?!

Meowth stepped forward encouragingly.

Meowth (Flexing his claws): What'dya think Jimmy?! We're gonna fight! Bring out your Pokemon!

Brock took out one Pokeball and threw it into the air.

Brock: Go... Forretress!!!

A call resounded through the high ceiling and a creature almost completely obscured within its shell emerged slightly. James looked thoughtful and removed his own catching contraption. He proceeded to throw it into the air as well.

James: Time to prove yourself--Weezing!

Meowth advanced towards the opponent like a general and looked them over.

Meowth: CHHAARRRRGGGEEEE--!!!

His comrades responded by breaking into a flight, heading straight to the other end of the hall where the Ghastly readied themselves for battle first.

James (Slightly frightened, placing forward a brave foot): Weezing, use your smokescreen and hide yourself behind the musk!

Brock: Forretress, spin around enough to create a small, clear path then generate an adequate amount of power for a Pin Missile!

Following their masters' orders, the team produced an amazing squadron of power, pressuring the adversary back. Eventually, a few Ghastly and Haunter vanished through the floor, retreating in a dead faint of their own. This left about twenty swarming balls of dust, fifteen claw-catchers, and all of the Gengar.

James: Oh, what're we going to do now Genius?! We only have a few Pokemon that are capable of battling these phantoms! We should have known better than to not distribute the teams more properly--!

Brock: Well, you're the smart one for bringing it up now--! Just do the best you can, I only brought about three super potions and two revives!

James (Ignoring him): Go--! Victreebell! Do whatever you can to help the others! (Murmurs) Ugghhh, I can't believe I'm doing this!

Meowth: Meowth will help too! (Next moment he was hit by a Night Shade technique) Or maybe not..!

Three more Ghastly approached him but, next moment, a Forretress jumped between them.

Meowth (Teary-eyed): I'm so touched! I neva' knew you's cared!

Brock: Forretress, use your explosion and rid us of all this trouble! NOW!

The shell monster in front of them glowed for a second as a noticably large amount of foes came towards them, holding the upper hand, and then--

Meowth: MMMEEEEEEOOOOOOOWWWWWWW--?!

***

Ash (Holding out Super Potion to Pikachu while crouching behind corner): Here, buddy. You're gonna need this. We've still got a few more floors to cover.

Jessie (Finding herself eyeing the two of them): This is a sweet moment, really, but let's hurry this up and everything. James and I have to... Get back to stealing your little rat.

Ash (Sighing and standing beside her): You two wouldn't change for the world, would you..? Do you even think about getting a real career and leaving this whole pilfering Pokemon thing behind? I mean, you always try to hurt people. Doesn't it make your conscience flinch at least? You two could probably do something great if you gave it a shot.

Jessie (Scoffing and sounding cold): Listen twerp, you may not know this since you're always too busy saving the world or helping those in need, and you're invited everywhere you go. You have a place to stay and friends who will always be there for you, even if you lose in the League. You have protection on all sides that surrounds you and keeps you forming seeing what can really happen out there, and just who could possibly be lurking around any corner, thinking of ways to help themselves to infamy. It's a cruel world out there and I, for one, would know. I lived right in the middle of it my entire childhood. Team Rocket is a horrible organization, that I'll admit, but it introduced me to James and Meowth and, though they're imbeciles, they're my best friends. And for once, I didn't have to force them into it.

Ash (Looking kinda sympathetic and everything): I'm sorry you had to go through so much. You're right and everything, and it's true that friendship is a beautiful thing, having James and Meowth by yours side every time you blast off is a gift. But just look where Team Rocket got you, Jessie! I don't like you and, if ever, it would probably take me a good decade to trust you but I'm going to give you advice that might be what you need to hear. Jessie, you, James, and Meowth are a great team. You became that team through your organization but... You don't need that organization to stay a team. You guys may not be the brightest crayons in the box but you could really do something with yourselves if you tried to taste life a little. And somewhere out there, there are more people like James and Meowth. People who wanna be your friends and who will stick by you even when you mess up at the worst possible time. I would know, I've met a couple of those people, if you haven't forgotten. And those people will introduce themselves to you and you'll wonder why it ever took so long to realize that the world isn't a place completely filled with moochers and traitors and self-centered beings. You never know, maybe even me and Misty and Brock will look at you one day and--

Jessie (With a mixed emotion face on): Twerp, I think you've just spoken to me like a friend. And if I were looking for new candidates to fill James and Meowth's spots, I'd care. I don't need the whole world to love me. I just need a good few friends to be there when I need them most. Like I needed them when my mother disappeared. You'll forgive me if I choose to end this conversation here in order to get back to what we were doing.

Ash, Pikachu, and Jessie chose to ignore each other for the moment to keep their eyes and ears clean for the sight or sound of any approaching opponents. Both of them were thinking over their last discussion and both were brewing about the possibility of becoming future friends. Ash and Pikachu may not have notices, or maybe they just chose to let her alone, but Jessie was soon found visibly thinking about what she could do with her companions other than steal. Something that the female part of the Team Rocket team had never done before. Because of her less-than-satisfactory childhood, all she'd ever really known was snow-rolls and stealing. And she was currently unsure whether this was something about herself that she could change.

Ash (Urgently): Jessie--! C'mon, I hear something around the corner... (Starts sneaking along the wall but turns back last minute) Here. I think that you'll need these. I suppose as a thief you don't get much assistance in Centre's and Mart's with aiding your Pokemon so you'll need these. (Hands out two Super Potions and two Full Restores.)

Jessie (Taking them w/absent minded attitude that changes at the sight of friendliness): Well, thanks Twerp--I mean... Thanks--Ash. I suppose you don't have to be such a little brat all the time. Just think, though; won't it blind your conscience or get you in trouble with the law for aiding a criminal..?

Ash (Shrugging nonchalantly): Well, are you committing any crimes right now? I wouldn't say so, so I'm thinking it's just fine if I give you a couple gifts from a... Friend. Just remember this next time you try to hurt me and my friends so mercilessly. (Winks good-naturedly.)

Jessie (Gulping because of reference to Chapter 6): Uh... Yeah Twerp, sure. I-I mean, what makes you think I'd do that?! It's my job to hurt people when they don't cooperate with Team Rocket! I'd be a bad influence to newbies of the organization if I tried being nice to the same three kids I've been following for over four years!

Ash (Sweatdropping about the year-long statement): You-You are a pretty dependable member, a-aren't you..? Eh heh, heh, heh... You three never tried following any of the other people we met along the way? No wonder you guys have been such losers for so long! God, going after only one target! Let me ask you one thing, what happens if you ever catch Pikachu? I mean, you planning on following us then? Or are you going to find some more unexpected trainers to run after for years on end! I mean, if you get what you've been wanting, you don't have any more reason to do the thing you've been doing for so long to get it anymore 'cause you've all ready got it! Kinda pointless to me... I'd of thought that, with all the confusion and the pain and the warnings you get every time you come after us and get your butts whipped, you'd have learned by now that it's not worth it!

Jessie: You wouldn't know, you've probably been stuck on that whole Master dream thing since you were born!

Ash (Half-confused, half-suspicious): What are you telling me..? Have you been keeping surveillance on my house all these years or something?! I don't get how you could possibly know that information!

Jessie (Muttering): Well, you only shout it about ten times every single day of your life...

Ash: Mwaa--! Is that some sort of shot?! Forget it, c'mon; we've still got plenty of ground to cover. (He races up an old flight of stairs.)

***

Meowth (Shrieking): MEEEEOOOOOOOWWWWW--! What's dat up der?!

Brock/James (Both kinda scared, kinda preoccupied w/battle): We don't know and we're leaving it up to you to investigate while we fight!

Meowth: ... I always get stuck wit da durty wouk... Me-Owth...

Brock: Meowth, I can't believe I'm saying this but we're putting all our trust in you to hurry and see what that thing is so go and DON'T STOP UNTIL YOU KNOW--!

James (Holding up pokeball): Weezing’s getting to tuckered out, I'll have to call him back--

Brock (Pulling something from his bag): We can't risk losing one of our members, use this to heal him. (Hands him Full Restore.)

James (Getting really teary-eyed): That's the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me. Thanks, squinty-eyed rock Trainer! I'll never forget this! What can I do to repay you..?

Brock: For one, you can refer to me as Brock and two, you can use it and get him back into the battle! Go, Vulpix, use Flamethrower on that horde of Haunter over there! Geodude, c'mon out and help by using your arms to spread the flames wider! (Releases them both into battle and readies medical aide in case they get wounded.) Then, once you've finished with them, turn your attack on the rest of the room! (Runs over to fainted Forretress and pulls out a revive.) Here, friend...

Forretress emerges from the floor, ready to get back in the battle and Brock pats him gratefully on the back.

Brock: Now, Forretress, use your Pin Missile some more to nail the opponent down! Keep them there until Vulpix and Geodude can get to them and then get out of the way and let them handle it!

James (Having used Full Restore on Pokemon): Weezing, create a Smog again so Brock can get to Meowth and help look at whatever is up ahead! Victreebell, help Forretress, ready a-a... Solarbeam!

Brock (Wide-Eyed): If he's known that powerful of an attack, how come you never tried to use it on us?

James: We're evil but we're not... Evil. Jessie and I know not to kill, just to injure/put our opponents out cold temporarily so that we can get what we need and escape. We do have villainous standards!

Brock (Now eyeing the glowing shadow of Victreebell): Well, thanks... We never did give you two enough credit, did we?

James (Blushing embarrassedly): JUST GO AND FIND OUT WHAT THAT THING IS!