In case it isn't clear, I'm just going to say that this chapter starts at the night of the same day that the last "Pokémon world" chapter took place. Okay, get it? Right, sorry to hold you up, let's move along.

Chapter 26: Paging the Dream Doctor

-Mel's POV-

I opened my eyes and found myself in a flowery glade in a forest. The scents blended together and it was a place that I would love to call my home.

I spoke out loud, "You don't have to tip-toe around to get on my good side. I'm not mad or scared."

Looking around, I saw Vlad float down from one of the trees. He seemed a little nervous, "You're not?"

My mind drifted to what happened during the day, before I went to sleep.

*Flashback*

We found the outlaw at the tenth sublevel of the Concealed Ruins. With Vlad's assistance from my shadow, and my new Stone Edge move, it had been a pretty easy run through the dungeon.

The Magneton turned and said, "ZZZT! You have come to apprehend me; to take me back. ZZZT! I am not going back. I refuse to work under that foolish Magnezone anymore. ZZZT! It should have been me that was promoted to chief! ZZZT!"

Having nothing to say, even if I could, I dropped into my opening stance.

"ZZZT! What's wrong? Nothing to say? ZZZT! Or are you just the strong, silent type? ZZZT!"

In response, I jumped forward, my arm stretching out with a Mach Punch. The Magneton's three eyes widened right before it was hit. My attack sent it into the wall, but it peeled itself out and zapped me with Thunderbolt. It didn't hurt that much, but my mouth still opened in a silent yelp.

"ZZZT! I see; you can't speak. Pity. ZZZT!"

The six magnets pointed forward and I saw a cursor appear on my chest before Magneton glowed, firing a Mirror Shot at me. I readied a Stone Edge and intercepted the shot, but the cursor didn't go away. The Magneton was also gone.

"ZZZT! You should have let that hit. Now I have something far worse. ZZZT! I'll never be caught, Mutie. ZZZT!"

I turned and saw Magneton with its magnets pointed forward, a massive ball of energy gathering for a Flash Cannon. But as the energy grew, the shadow the Magneton was casting grew larger around him.

Suddenly, Vlad leapt out of Magneton's shadow and my vision of it was blocked until the light faded and the Magneton fell over asleep. I walked forward, but then the Magneton started shaking violently. Starting to run, I went to Vlad's side and noticed his eyes were glowing as he glared down at the Magneton. Shaking his shoulder, the glow faded and his eyes widened, like he just realized what he was doing.

The Magneton's eyes shot open and he screamed before moving behind me, apparently hiding from Vlad. "ZZZT! I surrender! I surrender! I'll come quietly! Just keep me away from him! ZZZT!"

I looked back at the Magneton and then back to Vlad, but he was already gone.

"I'll admit I was shocked at first, and I still think you went a little overboard on something I've heard all my life, but I'm not mad."

Vlad looked visibly relieved, "Thank you. But others called you that in the Final Maze? And you just took that?"

I sat down, "No. They got a lung-full of Poison Powder. Incidentally, what nightmare did you give that Magneton?"

Vlad sat next to me and casually said, "Being torn apart and having each piece melted whilst he felt the whole process."

"Yikes. I can see why he kept jumping at shadows on the way back." I pinched his cheek, "And all this on my account?"

He moved out of my grip, "He was about to severely injure you. I stopped him."

I raised an eyebrow, "Vlad, is everything all right? You're acting funny, and not in the 'ha-ha' way."

He sighed, and gave me a sideways glance, "I don't have that many friends, all right? Sure, I have the team, but nobody I can really talk to. Everyone I ever knew before is either dead or terrified of me as I am now. I was just scared that I was going to lose you the first way, then that I'd lost you the second way."

I slapped him on the shoulder, "Vlad, I'm not going anywhere, so get used to me."

He grinned, "Thanks."

"But that does raise the question, how old are you?"

He waved his hand, "Meh, I lost count. I died when I was around twenty-three, but it's been a long time since."

I turned to him, "So young? I'm-"

He shook his head, "Don't be. I picked a fight which, given a few decades' retrospect, I probably shouldn't have at the time. But I just couldn't let it slide." Smiling again, he said, "But then, if I hadn't died and become a ghost, I would've never met you and the others."

I was a little disconcerted with how casually he talked about death. As an exploration team, we face danger all the time. But, since we always pull through, death doesn't seem real.

There was one more question on the tip of my tongue, but I didn't ask it. Now is not the time. We spent the rest of the night just talking about random things.

-Rio's POV-

Once Meowth and I had turned in for the night, I found myself in the same rainbow dreamscape that I had been in before.

Sure enough, Cresselia appeared in front of me again.

"Cresselia, please tell me more… about what you said last time. You said that my existence is driving the world toward ruin. What did you mean by that?"

"You are a human who came from the future. You are not of this world. That is creating the distortion in the fabric of space."

Distortion… in the fabric of space?!

"And if this distortion of space were to expand… This world would be ruined. You are… a presence that must not exist in this world!"

Her form started flickering, "You must… not… be here…"

I held my hand out, "W-wait! Please, tell me more!"

Cresselia vanished and the dream started dimming. I can't… Fading away…

-The Next Morning-

"Oy, Rio. C'mon! Don't think I won't pinch ya again! 'S already mornin'."

I woke up and Meowth was standing over me with a smile. He walked over to the mouth of the bluff, "Ya've gotta take a look at dis; da weather's perfect again."

I was too busy thinking about the dream that I'd had to look at the weather. It felt strangely real… Cresselia… She told me I can't exist in this world. She said if the distortion expands… the world will be ruined.

My eyes widened. The distortion of space! We heard that at Luminous Spring! I was told that I was somehow connected to that distortion. But that means… that what I heard about my existence ruining the world… It might be true. Maybe just by existing here, I might cause the world's destruction. Is that all I am…?

"Rio!"

I jumped and turned, "Huh? What?"

Meowth had an eyebrow raised, "You were going 'think mode' on me again. What's da matta?"

I shook my head, "N-nothing. Just a bad dream." I turned to walk towards the stairs, but I felt something hold me back. Turning around, I noticed that Meowth had my tail.

"Uh, Meowth? Can you please let go of my tail?"

He suddenly had a serious look on his face, "Ya sayin' ya had a dream, and it's gotcha thinking about it. I've seen a pattern wit' dese things, an' you're not goin' anywhere 'til you tell me what's eatin' ya." (AN: Another example of how Meowth isn't as naïve as the regular partner Pokémon.)

I looked away, "Well…" I turned back to Meowth, and he let go of my tail. "The past two nights, I've been having these really weird dreams and, to be honest, they're freaking me out. A Pokémon called Cresselia keeps telling me that I'm not supposed to exist in this world, that I'm causing a distortion in space that's leading the world to ruin. She says that since I'm a human from the future, I don't belong and I'm-"

"Rio, dat is a load of baloney." I looked at him shocked, but he went on. "Not what you're sayin'; I believe ya. But dis Cresselia, she's been in my head too. Dese dreams, she told me dat I don't belong eitha, wouldn't tell me why though. Now you an' I both know that it's true I'm not from dis world, but I don't buy that I don't belong here an' neither should you."

I started, "But-"

"But nothin'!" Meowth cut me off. "Listen; dis Cresselia don't know anythin' 'bout us. Who can say whether or not we belong here? Everythin' dat's happened seems ta say that we do. Also, even if we were causin' trouble for da world, we could find another way. We were told that we couldn't save da world an' both come back, an' we did. So don't let it getcha down. We'll cross dat bridge when we come ta it, 'kay?"

Taking in Meowth's speech, I slowly smiled, "Thanks Meowth. You're right; we don't know for sure, so we'll just keep moving forward."

"Dat's da spirit!" He led the way up the stairs, "Now let's get-"

"Hello! Hold up!" Meowth was cut off and we both looked up from the hole in the ground. Bidoof was running over to us, seeming panicked. "There's big trouble, by golly!" He stopped in front of us and caught his breath, "I'm glad I caught you! I reckoned you were about ready to go out for the day. Huff-puff…"

I tilted my head, "What's going on Bidoof? What happened?"

Bidoof looked up, "Th-there's trouble afoot! Little Azurill… The little Azurill is in trouble!"

We were both shocked, and Meowth said, "Say what?!"

Bidoof continued, "They brought the little feller to the guild!"

I nodded, "Let's hurry then!"

We all ran off to the guild and went down to the guild infirmary. Azurill was asleep on the bed and everyone from the guild, along with Marill and Deputy Magnemite, was gathered around. (AN: In the game, it's actually in your characters' old room, but since I've said there's an infirmary, they're using it.)

Meowth and I stopped next to Azurill and Meowth said, "Alright, what's da info? Is Azurill okay?"

Sunflora said, "There seems to be no danger to his life, but…"

"But what?" Meowth asked, when Sunflora didn't continue.

Marill turned to us, "He's been sleeping and sleeping and sleeping… But he won't wake up."

I balked, "He won't?!"

Marill nodded, "Yes… I tried waking him over and over, but he's still asleep. I got worried, so I brought him to the guild."

Azurill mumbled in discomfort as he tossed and turned.

Meowth looked on, "It looks like he's havin' a nightmare…"

Marill turned to look at Azurill again, "He's been like that the whole time he's been asleep. It's like he's suffering…"

Corphish added, "Hey, hey. That could be it; what Meowth said. The way the little fellow is tossing and turning, it looks like he's having a nightmare, hey, hey."

Meowth turned to Chatot, "Is dere any kinda cure for dis? Like wit' da Phione Dew?"

Chatot looked down and thought about it, before saying, "Unfortunately, I'm fresh out of ideas too. To be locked in a nightmare… unable to wake for days on end… I've never heard of such a thing."

Meowth crossed his arms and looked down thinking, while Chimecho added, "Since he's asleep, we can't feed him anything like berries. We're at our wit's end trying to come up with the cure."

I turned to Meowth and whispered, "Have you heard anything about stuff like this, Meowth?"

He whispered back, "It sounds familiar, but I can't quite put my claw on it…"

Corphish said, "Who'd know of a way to get rid of a nightmare…? Hey, hey, hey…"

"Did somebody say 'nightmare'?" a new voice said. "I might be able to help."

Everyone looked around and Vlad slipped through the wall facing outside. Meowth raised an eyebrow, "Vlad, what're ya doin' here?"

"I was looking for you, since you were taking a long time to come meet up, but I actually might be able to help with this unending nightmare." He floated over to Azurill, hovering slightly over him. "If I can use my own Nightmare move to take control of the dream, I can dispel it and he should wake up. With your permission, of course." He said the last part facing Marill.

After Marill nodded, Vlad put his hands on either side of Azurill's head and his eyes glowed. He stood motionless for a moment. Then his eyebrows furrowed and his eyes glowed brighter.

"Vlad?" I asked.

Soon, Vlad's hands started trembling and he broke away, shouting in pain.

"Vlad!" Meowth and I ran over and helped him up. He was shaking from exhaustion. Meowth asked, "What happened?"

Vlad said, "Whatever made that nightmare is powerful. It was so twisted and malevolent. Not only could I not control it, but if I hadn't pulled away when I did, it might have trapped me as well."

I patted his shoulder, "Thanks for trying, though."

Vlad rubbed his head, "Right. If you'll excuse me, I need to go find somewhere to rest. The effort gave me a headache."

After Vlad left, Meowth crossed his arms and looked down, "Back to da drawing board…"

"Um…" Bidoof said, "Uh, everyone, can I say something?"

Everyone turned and Loudred said, "What is it, Bidoof?"

Bidoof said, "I got to thinking… Since we can't make the nightmare go away… If we somehow figure out what kind of nightmare he's having… Maybe we can figure out why that little Azurill can't wake up, by golly."

Loudred replied, "Oh! RIGHT! So we should look into Azurill's dream!" Then leaned forward, shouting, "How do we do THAT?! Look inside a DREAM?!"

Bidoof cringed, "Yipes! Gosh, I'm sorry."

"Actually…" Chatot said, "that might be possible."

Everyone in the room, including Meowth and I, shouted, "WHAT?!"

"Hey, hey!" Corphish shouted. "How do you do that?!"

Chatot replied, "We find Drowzee. If anyone can do it, Drowzee can."

Drowzee? Why does that sound so familiar?

Suddenly, I felt a wave of aggression from right next to me, and I turned to see Meowth looking angry. I wondered why for a moment before I made the connection. Drowzee was the first outlaw that we ever caught.

Meowth was speaking through grit teeth, "Are ya sure that dere's no otha way, Chatot? Why Drowzee?"

"This is just a rumor, mind you… But they say that Drowzee has the amazing ability to enter other's dreams, unlike your recruit that can only control them from the outside."

My eyes widened, "You mean he can physically enter a dream?"

Chatot shook his head, "It's strictly rumor. I couldn't vouch for its truth. However, the possibility exists."

Meowth growled, like he was at odds with himself, before saying, "Alright." He turned to Magnemite, "Where's Drowzee now?"

Magnemite answered, "Zzzt! Drowzee was subjected to intense grilling by Officer Magnezone. Zzzt! He expressed remorse. He vowed never to break the law again. Zzzt! So we released him. Zzzt!"

Corphish said, "Hey, hey! But did he really straighten out? Sounds really sketchy, hey, hey?!"

"Corphish." Sunflora said, "Now is no time to be quibbling over that." She turned to Magnemite, "So… where is Drowzee now?"

"Zzzt! He has gone away to cleanse his mind and spirit. Zzzt! He stated that he would study self-discipline on Mt. Travail. Zzzt!"

"Mt. Travail? That would be in the mountainous region," Chimecho supplied. She opened her Wonder Map and pointed to a mountain in the range that had several plateaus on it. I marked it on our map.

With Meowth still silent, I said, "All right. So that's where Drowzee is now. Let's go, Meowth."

Before leaving I said to Marill, "Don't worry. We'll be back with Drowzee."

Marill started tearing up, "You always, always help us… Thank you so much."

Wigglytuff called out, "It's decided then! We'll leave this matter up to Team Righteous! Everyone is worried about Azurill, but let's have Team Righteous handle it. Everyone else should go on as usual!"

As we left, Chatot called, "All right, everyone! Time for work!" We heard them cheer before they were out of earshot.

We went up the ladder and walked outside. Once we were at the entrance of the guild I stopped, Meowth stopping with me. Still feeling waves of anger coming off of him, I turned around.

"You don't have to come with me to get him. I can handle it myself or with one of the other recruits."

Meowth shook his head, "I don't trust Drowzee. Havin' ta ask 'im for help makes me wanna puke. But I'm not backin' out of dis. We'll hafta go alone, though. Drowzee'll be super-careful after the scratching up I gave him last time. If we go wit' recruits, or pretty much anyone he don't know, he might just run away."

After we told this to our recruits, they agreed to look out for and do missions on their own for today. A few were heading out now, the others decided to train at the dojo until they found a mission they could do, and then head out.

The two of us headed to Kangaskhan Storage and prepared our items for exploration. We passed by Hogan, Damus, and Dash, who were each going on their own missions, and Rose and Cathy, who were doing one as a pair, as they were on their way to Kangaskhan Storage as well.

As we passed by the Marowak Dojo, and I saw the rest of the team going into the dojo, I noticed something weird. There seemed to be a semi-transparent shape floating behind them, trailing a few feet behind. I stopped as Meowth went on, and rubbed my eyes. Looking again, I didn't see anything.

I shrugged and ran to catch up with Meowth. Must've been my imagination.

Once we were outside of the city, Meowth and I turned to each other and nodded before heading towards the mountain range in the far distance to find Drowzee.

-James's POV-

I heard everything. While they're looking for this Drowzee, I'll tag along to wherever their other recruits are going and see what I have to work with in Pokémon and train with them. However, I'll need to make sure that I'm alone. Can't have a repeat of what happened when I first got here.

*Flashback*

I looked around, "I remember this place. This is the last place I saw in my visions; where I cheered Rio up."

Looking at my hands, I continued my soliloquy, "I still appear to be a spirit. So nobody can see me." As if to drive my point home, a Krabby walked by, looking where I was, but not making any signs of seeing a human in a world of Pokémon.

I saw my Poké Balls, which was the only part of me that wasn't outlined in blue. Noticing that one of them was shaking, I took it off my belt and expanded it. Immediately popping open, Growlie appeared right in front of me.

"GREAT GYARADOS OF THE DEEP!" I turned at the sound of the sailor-like shout and saw the Krabby staring wide-eyed at Growlie before running off.

Not paying attention to the Krabby freaking out, Growlie just shook his fur out, as he usually did when he came out of a Poké Ball. I looked down at my other Poké Balls wondering why I had six when I only had three Pokémon with me in town.

Suddenly, I heard a voice, "Ugh, always hate it in those things."

I looked up, shocked. The only one around since that Krabby left is Growlie. I tentatively said, "Growlie… did you just talk?"

Growlie looked up, "This is how I've always talked. You can understand me now?"

"Why can you see me, but others can't?" We both looked at each other, before I said, "Perhaps we shouldn't think about it too hard. There's clearly something bigger than us, pulling strings to allow this."

"Agreed."

Growlie was not happy that I had to return him to his Poké Ball to look for Meowth. I found them walking down the stairs from the guild and listened in on their plans. After confirming where the others went to train, I left back to outside town and waited in a tree for there to be no one walking by.

I looked around, "All clear." I drifted down from the tree. "Let's see who the three mystery Pokémon are. Come on out, everyone!"

Letting out all six Pokémon at once, my eyes widened as they took physical form. Growlie, Carnivine and Mime Jr. were expected. What I did not expect was to see some old faces, one of them older than I remember.

Said older face immediately tried to tackle me into a hug, "JAAAAAMES!" I braced myself, but he passed straight through me and hugged the tree behind me.

"Sorry, Cacn- No, Cacturne, but I'm just a ghost in this world. From what I can tell, we're all just spirits, but because you're all Pokémon, you adjusted and got solid bodies. But I'm not a Pokémon, so I stay like this."

Cacturne turned around, looking sad, "No hugs…?"

I smiled, "Tell you what, I've left Team Rocket, so I can visit you in Eterna City when this is over." Note to self: buy Kevlar vest.

Cacturne jumped up, "Yay!"

I walked over to the other two, Weezing and Chimecho. Weezing looked so happy to see me that he could cry. I smiled at both of them. "I'm happy to see both of you, even if only for a short time."

Addressing all six of them, I said, "For one reason or another, we've been brought here to this world to help prevent some catastrophe from happening. Now, I don't quite know what it is, but I do know that if we stay close to Meowth, we'll be ready to help."

Weezing spoke up, "Meowth's here too?"

"He disappeared many months ago. I guess this is where he went." Mime Jr. answered.

I continued, "I haven't worked with some of you in a long time, and Meowth and Rio are probably a league above our own right now, so we're going to go in for training at this place called Marowak Dojo. Now, if anyone asks, we're a vigilante team that helps others traveling from a far-off, no-name village to get stronger, got it?"

They all answered, "Got it!" Chimecho added, "I guess it would be better to avoid suspicion from others, since we're not from here."

I nodded, "Then let's go."

I've been on a good updating roll, but I still have work to do, and my first Italian test to study for. I'll probably be busy, but I'll still update ASAP.