Nightmare Syndrome

By: Chibi-Suiko

A/N: This is part seven of my little AAMRN rendavous and am I lovin' it?! Okay, I think that I've embarressed myself enough now, so on with the story. Please enjoy and review me (Bow to me mortals!) if you like it.

______________________________________________________________________________

Summary: Last chappie, Jessie and James were helped out of a jam by Ash who hoped to get some help with Misty's condition. Team Rocket conceded and decided to call their Boss-not only for an update on their status-but to find some information on the mysterious "illness". Their plan was shot down though, when he stated that if they messed up on the mission, they would undoubtedly be kicked out of the gang that had become their life. Now they are stuck with a certain question and undescribable worry--Are they Ash's comrades in the Lavender Tower excavation... Or his assasins?

______________________________________________________________________________

Ash (Panicking): Pikachu! Hurry it up, already! Their gaining on us!

Pikachu: Pi, pika chu!!! ( Come on! I can take 'em!!!)

Ash: Don't I know it?! Don't forget, your stupid techniques are what got me into this mess!

Earlier, Ash, Pikachu, Brock, and Team Rocket had made their plan to defeat any and every Ghost Pokemon that was inhabiting the Pokemon Tower. Ash had felt that Jessie and James were hiding something because of their unusual silence but they didn't add anything to the conversation and he didn't want to pressure them.

The group of six (Including Pikachu and Meowth) had seperated into two groups of three, only to find that neither investigation was going well. Ash and Pikachu had been left with Jessie, who, to put it lightly, was being (What he thought of as) a royal pain in the ass. This meant that Brock was having to use James and Meowth, who were less than capable of pulling off a stunt such as knocking out about three hundred ghosts.

Never the less, both rounds of trainers/theives were trying there best to make what number of pokemon they could faint. Ash and Pikachu were running ahead about forty feet or so of Ghastly, noting that things weren't going very well for them.

Jessie was shrieking about her own pitiful dead weight, which was much further behind them. Ash pulled back and grabbed a Pokeball, sending out--

Ash (Throwing the poke-capturing device): Go, Noctowl!!! Release your Foresight [Or whatever it was] and locate all of the Pokemon!

Noctowl (Flapping it's wings, eyes glowing ruby): TOWWWLLLL!!! (ON IT!!!)

The Pokemon's eyes started glowing, shimmering a dangerous ruby violet. Everyone held there breath, practically begging the flying type to hurry up. The anticapation was starting to get to them and not until Noctowl screeched and recoiled did they notice that his technique was in motion. The beam was hardly visable, but effective as it flushed out the few Ghastly and majority of Haunter in the area.

Ash, regretting his next move due to his passion for the creatures, pulled out a pokeball and threw it, revealing a Tauros. Jessie couldn't help yelling at the stupid and obvious mistake in his calling.

Jessie: You dumbass! Tauros is a ground type! They don't do any good against a Ghost type! Even I know that!

Ash (Off-handedly): Well, maybe I should give you more credit then. I didn't think you'd catch on to that one--

Jessie: If this is some kind of joke, I WILL KILL YOU!!! Don't try and play me for a fool! Team Rocket aren't idiots--!

(A/N: You sure about that..?)

Jessie: --Get serious about this, you want to save your little girlfriend, don't you?!

Ash: Using Tauros wasn't my plan. At least, not for attacking them... PIKACHU! MOVE AHEAD AND USE THUNDER AGAIN WHILE TUAROS BLOCKS ANY STRAY ATTACKS! GOT IT?!

Pikachu nodded in understanding and threw itself at the ever-growing herd of dark ghost types flooding their space. He jumped into the air and used the height to create a massave Thunder, making it rain fluent electricity on the groups opponents.

Ash pulled Jessie around the corner and held the two of them against the wall.

Ash (Breathless): Don't move until I say to.

Jessie: Don't boss me around, that's my job!

Ash (Becoming aggrivated): Get over it because, while you're with me, I'm in control.

Jessie: ...Bad ass twerp...

But she could see why he was angry, let alone frustrated, almost along the same lines as her. Jessie knew that even though she and Ash were bitter enemies everthing came down to one purpose at the moment: To help a friend. Though she wasn't quite fond of the red-headed twerpette, she knew that she was a good person and--truth be told--these kids were starting to grow on her. At the moment she couldn't really find herself commiting murder. But in the end she knew that she didn't have much of a choice.

Ash: GET DOWN!!!

He threw both of them to the ground and Jessie looked up just in time to see a rampaging Tauros chase after another horde of Ghastly. This battle was becoming more and more like Mortal Combat every second. She got up to say thank you but decided against it. Not only would it damage her reputation but she had a feeling that thanking him and then shooting him wouldn't be a good way to express her gratitude.

Ash (From a few feet away): I suggest that you release one of your Pokemon. I need some help!

She complied in fear of their lives and threw out two pokeballs. Arbok and Wobbuffet appeared before her and head into battle.

Jessie: HEY?! HOW COME YOU NEVER FIGHT LIKE THAT WHEN WE'RE AGAINST THEM?!?!?!

Arbok: CHARRRRLL!!! CHARLBOOKKK!!! (Cause we know in this battle, we can't lose!)

Ash: Pikachu!!!

Jessie: What is it?!

Ash: He's been hit!

Jessie: Is he out?

Ash (Trying to evade attacks and get to his side): No, not completely! But I can't reach him!

*** Flashback ***

Ash and the others were heading back to the room only to see at least ten doctors rushing in and out, voices shouting things like "Hurry Nurse" and "Hand that shock stimulant to me now" and even a "We're losing her!". The group piled through the doors and rushed to Dr. Yomaki's side, who pulled them out of the room a second later by the scruffs of their necks. He sat them in a few patient waiting chairs and looked imploringly into their faces.

Ash: What is it?! What's wrong with her?

Dr. Yomaki shook his head in reply. He obviously didn't know what to say or how to say it.

Dr. Yomaki: As my patient, I could tell you, but as you're not family things this complicated could effect you differently. I'm restricted to give you all of the info unless I have parental or guardian concent.

Ash jumped up readily and dragged the doc over to a video phone. He dialed the Cerulean gym number and waited for a moment as it rang. A second later a picture came up of Violet, who was busy polishing her nails.

Violet: Yes, this is the Waterflower home, may I help you?

Ash stepped to the side and let the doctor take over.

Dr. Yomaki: Hello Miss Waterflower, I'm trying to reach the parent or guardian of Miss Misty Waterflower, are they home?

It took less than a moment for Violet to throw away her nail polish and remove the moisterizer from her face once she realized that it was a guy calling.

Violet: I'm an approved guardian. May I ask what you need? Assistance, a date, a girl, say me?

Dr. Yomaki (Looking extremely flustered): Uh, no, I'm happily married... I just need your concent to let these two know of her condition. You see, she's a patient at my clinic and--

Violet (Yawning and looking extremely bored): Yeah, uh huh, sure. Tell 'em what you want...

There was a click and the line went dead. Dr. Yomaki turned and lead them back to their seats.

Dr. Yomaki: I guess that I can consider that concent... Anyway, we should get on with it.

Ash was on the edge of his seat, waiting with bated breath. The others weren't far behind him.

Dr. Yomaki: While running tests on Miss Waterflower a bizarre change came into effect from the stimulant... As you can guess, it wasn't very good news. She's nearing mental collapse and our equipment isn't up to par, or ready to deal with it in lame-mans terms... At the estimate, we think that she has little more than two days to live... I knew that I should have mentioned the possibility of will failure but...

Ash: You knew?! You knew that she could die by the end of the week and you said nothing to us?!?!?!

Dr. Yomaki: Yes, well, I didn't want to worry you and though this was a possibility, there was still some hope that she'd make it through...

Ash: But now she's not and we've got even less time to try and save her! How could you do this to us Doc?!

Dr. Yomaki: Hold up now! My colleagues are-at this very moment-helping her back to stability. Though, currently I advise that if you know anything, anything at all about a cure, then you should let the professionals know promptly..!

Ash looked to the others, all of which, shook their heads. He looked back at the Doc and swallowed roughly.

Ash: No, I don't know anything sir. Just-just not thinking... I was hoping that there was something we could do in time...

Dr. Yomaki: I suggest that you start setting up a funeral, but hey--That's my opinion...

There was a rush of collapsing implaments from Misty's room and another doctor ran out and up to Yomaki.

Doctor: Reimou, we're losing her!

Yomaki: Did you try the shock treatment?

Doctor: Yes but it's having no effect! At least--not yet! We just can't seem to reach her!!!

Yomaki (Turning back to group): Kids, I've got to be moving along. I'm sorry about your friend but please, just stay out of trouble.

He ran off, following the other back to Misty's side. Ash didn't bother following them, he had a feeling that if he were to see anything, it wouldn't be something that would make him feel better. Instead he turned around to the others and, with a determined frown, signaled them to follow him.

Ash: We're going now! We'll head to the Pokemon Center, heal our friends, and then it's off to the tower... I have a favor to ask you, Team Rocket.

They looked at him, wondering what he could possibly need now.

Ash: Do you mind if we use your balloon?

*** End ***

Ash (Mumbling): I couldn't reach her and I can't reach Pikachu... Now I've almost lost them both...

Jessie (Yelling from his side): Look Twerp, there's an opening and if you're not going to take it--I will!

(A/N: Who saw that one coming?)

She threw herself to the floor and rolled under the dark psychic types and the calves of the Tauros. She reached the other side of the room, pulling the fallen Pikachu into her arms, and waited for another opening. Pikachu struggled in her grasp, obviously not intent on trusting her, and even took the chance of using a Thundershock. She only held him closer as the Pokemon opposing them reared nearer to the the two.

Jessie: Cool it, you Electric Rat... Wait for our chance...

Pikachu: CHUUU! Piiikkkkkaaaaa! (Let go! I said...)

Jessie: ... One more moment...

Pikachu: ... CCCCHHHHHUUUUUU!!! (...LET GOOOOOO!!!)

The thundershock echoed around the walls and a shuddering quake from the ground reached Ash's limp ankles. As for Jessie, if she didn't get Pikachu to Ash she wouldn't live to see how this romance turned out. Electricity raged through her very veins but--oddly enough--this was a good source of adrenaline and she launched herself to the other side of the room, laying Pikachu in Ash's arms. It looked tuckered out but not so much as the Rocket girl herself who seemed to have aquired a new sense of self-confidence.

Jessie: Ah, that rescue felt great! I can feel the guilt of my past felonies fading away like water through my hands!

Ash stared at her with a seemingly new sense of respect. She caught his eye and shrugged.

Jessie: Well, you weren't moving, I had to do something.

Ash: Jessie, I--

Jessie: --Look kid! Just don't get used to it, okay? Saving twerps or their Pokemon isn't going to become a new hobby of mine, believe you me...

Ash:... Uh, yeah-- I mean, of course not... just shocked, I guess... But anyway, you have my gratitude.

Jessie: Yeah... Well... You know, get the damned things all ready--!

Ash: (Grinning like a cocky hero): All right! Go Pikachu, Thunderbolt!

A resounading thrashing was heard and next moment they were both looking at a mass of hovering faints.

Ash: Let's keep going. I don't know how many attacked her before and I don't know how many are here now. But no matter what-- I'll battle them all!

And he started to run off with Pikachu at his heels.

Jessie (Gritting er teeth): Such a cocky little bastard... I'm not sure, at all, about what I should do... I'm gonna hate having to hurt him...

*****_____*****_____*****

Brock: James, would you stop pulling constantly on my arm--! I mean, I know you're gay and all, but I'm not like that!

James: That's not it at all! How can you say such things about a fellow man?!

Brock (Looking at James tightening grip): You want I should make a list..?

James (Getting pissed): Look here, I'm not in love with another guy--! It's not my fault that Satoshi Tajiri gave me such a horrible form, or that the english producer gave me such an ill sounding voice--! I am straight and proud of it, thank you!

Brock (Completely confused): ...Riiggghhhhttttt...

James: EEEP!

Brock: Huh?

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

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A/N: Okay, another chapter done. I'd say about two more and I'll have finished my first chapterized Pokemon story. The idea for Team Rockets deathly attack will probably be continued in a sequel. I can't wait, can you? Plus, to give you all something to look forward to, I'm in the process of inventing about five other Poke-romances! Some of them are AAMRN, some even contain JAJRN! And some of them may be just a little too adult for you...

Anyway, look for the titles of 'Miss Discovery!', 'Stopping Time', 'Wedding Day', and 'Heart and Soul' (Of which the title will be worked on and maybe changed because I know of another Poke fic with the same title and I don't want it to look like I'm stealing any idea's). Some of them are even crossovers with Sailor Moon and maybe Yu-Gi-Oh. Stay tuned for more (As you can tell by the many different chapter fiction titles, Chibi has been very busy while on vacation, as promised)!