I am so sorry that I have taken this long. Things get in the way. I will finish this. Hey, it is my first fanfic so I should do you guys and gals a favor and have my very first fanfic finished.

Chapter 8

After Tragedy … Comes New Friendships

It was midmorning when Misty and Brock woke up. The pokemon center was empty as it usually was when it came there. It was good that it was because they didn't need a bunch of trainers distracting them, though that is probably what they needed right now. Last night, they kept up checking on Ash and Gary. Nurse Joy finally told them to stop and calm down. Thank goodness that the Mahogany Town's Nurse Joy knew a lot more than treating pokemon but she also knew how to heal humans. Pikachu and Growlithe were also in pretty bad shape. Jessie, James, Cassidy, Butch, Domino and Meowth were also worried. They had gone against the twerp before but this never happened. Finally, Misty spoke her mind.

"Brock, do you think Ash is going to … you know?" Misty asked Brock.

"You mean do you think if Ash is going to … die? Hardly, that was a powerful Thunder Attack, but Ash has been through much worse. I mean Ash has been shocked by Pikachu thousands of times though this time, I don't know how he will survive." Brock said to Misty.

Both Misty and Brock worried about Ash, Pikachu, Gary and Arcanine. They had gone up against Rockets before but never had they gone up against rockets like those two. These Twin Terrors' Pokemon were well trained. The Twin Terrors actually meant business and didn't mess around. Both of them wondered what the Twin Terrors next victims would be.

"I am sorry you had to see that but there was nothing I could do."

Misty and Brock turned around and saw Officer Jenny. For once, Brock didn't have that romantic feeling for Jenny. It was because he was still worried about Ash to even worry about getting a date with Officer Jenny. Misty wondered why Officer Jenny was here, should she be after the Twin Terrors. Finally, Misty spoke her mind once again.

"Officer Jenny, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be after those rockets that hurt Ash, Gary, Pikachu and Arcanine?" Misty asked Officer Jenny in a confused way.

Brock was also confused. Officer Jenny always was on the case of Team Rocket. Why not these two or was there something more? Was there something she wasn't telling us? He waited for Officer's Jenny response.

"The reason why I am not chasing them is that they always get away one way or another. The Twin Terrors are a part of Team Rocket that no one can stop. They are on the Most Wanted List. They are Enemy One but not even the FBI or the CIA can stop these duo terrorists." Officer Jenny explained to Brock and Misty.

Someone was on Team Rocket was very powerful according to Officer Jenny. Jessie and James looked at each other then at Cassidy, Butch and Domino. Giovanni must have sent these two because it would have been them that would be in the spotlight. Going against their judgment, Jessie, James, Meowth, Cassidy, Butch and Domino all agreed they must stop these Twin Terrors. They seemed to go for unfair actions more unfair than any Rocket have ever used. This Twin Terrors might make Team Rocket look like they want to cause serious trouble, more than Team Rocket is supposed to.

"Misty, Brock, we have a proposition for you two." said Jessie to Brock and Misty.

Misty and Brock turned around and saw Jessie and James approach them. What were those two up to? Were they going to steal all the pokemon but leave them unharmed? No, Misty thought, that wasn't the Team Rocket. At it was the way Team Rocket never seemed to go for, until the Twin Terrors did things that she never expected Team Rocket would do. The Twin Terrors were ruthless and didn't care what they did to get pokemon. Sure, Jessie, James, Meowth, Cassidy, Butch and Domino did the same thing but not that way.

"What is this proposition? You want to spare our lives if we give you the pokemon! I am sorry, it is just that what just … happened a couple hours ago … was horrible!" Misty said while trying not to cry.

"No, that is not the Team Rocket way, at least we think we know what boundaries we can't go over. We feel sorry for the twerps; I mean Ash and Gary plus their Pokemon. We have never seen a human and pokemon treated that way. That is why we should work together to stop these Twin Terrors." James explained to Misty and Brock.

Misty and Brock were shocked to hear Team Rocket want to stop fellow members of its own organization but it made sense. These Twin Terrors were ruthless and had to be stopped at all costs. Misty looked around and looked outside. The sun was rising over the hilltops of Mahogany town. The sun lit up Mahogany town like any other town but this one was more beautiful. Misty hoped that Ash would be able to survive to see this even if Ash was a little thick-headed but even Ash deserved to live.

"We have a deal but all we can do now is wait for them to be okay before we can do anything." Misty replied to the group of Rockets.

Everyone started worrying again. Misty and Brock headed their fingers crossed. Jessie and James paced back and forth. Cassidy and Butch looked towards the lake then turning away to forget what just happened. Meowth and Domino were preparing a plan of action just in cause Nurse Joy couldn't do anything. Then the phone rang. Misty ran over to it and picked the receiver up.

"Hello, may I ask who is calling?" Misty asked.

Professor Oak appeared on the vid-phone. He wasn't looking sad. He was actually smiling. Misty knew that he hadn't been informed of the tragic event that happened at the lake. She didn't know how to explain it to him because of his son, but she knew he had to tell him. A force that not even the police hurt his son and his son's pokemon or any government agency could stop.

"Misty, how are you? Last I heard you were going to the Lake of Rage to compete in the Water Pokemon Festival. So did Ash or Gary catch the Red Gyarados?" Professor Oak asked.

Misty paused and started to cry. Professor Oak heard the crying over the phone and wondered what was wrong. Did Gary lose to a better trainer or did something bad happen? No, he couldn't think about that. Gary was careful but still … what if something did happen?

"Misty, what happened at the Lake of Rage!" Professor Oak asked with a tone that scared Misty.

Misty stepped back but she knew that he shouted because he knew something might have happed to his son. She cleared her throat and began to tell everything she knew that happened on that fateful day.

"Well, it started off nice. We thought Team Rocket was going to crash the party, well we thought that when Jessie and James showed up but they were actually obeying the rules for once. The contest just began when … the Twin Terrors showed up." Misty explained.

Professor Oak almost jumped in his chair. He knew that Team Rocket would be attracted to the festival but he didn't think that the Twin Terrors would come. He heard about those destructive duo because of so many of his friends have been robbed but not one had the courage to face them. Why? Maybe his son's encounter with the Twin Terrors would explain it. He urged Misty to go on.

"Well, a pokemon battle between the Twin Terrors and Ash plus your son Gary enraged. Both of them thought they could beat the Twin Terrors but they were beaten. Ash has been up against tough battles before but nothing like this." Misty cried some more while explained what happened next to Professor Oak.

Ash and Gary beaten by skilled pokemon, that was interesting, but something was missing. He didn't think the victims of the Twin Terrors were scared by skilled pokemon. There was something more powerful in this case. He knew he would get the answer. He urged Misty to continue the story but told her to stop if it became difficult for her to finish.

"Well after Pikachu and Arcanine were beaten, Ash and Gary got angry. Suddenly, a helicopter arrived. Just when we thought the Twin Terrors were about to make their getaway, Trevor of the Twin Terrors lifted Max up and flew towards Pikachu and Arcanine." Misty explained.

"By Glider?" asked Professor Oak curiously.

"No, by wings, Trevor is a Dragonite human hybrid." Misty explained.

Professor Oak almost dropped the phone. So that is how the Twin Terrors seem to get away with their crimes. They have power on their side … pokemon power, that is. Giovanni must have allowed several of it members to become Hybrids. That was the best way and with it, the Twin Terrors were formed but he knew that only one was a hybrid so what was the other Rocket's power. He allowed Misty to continue on.

"Then Max focused his hands on Ash and Pikachu and poison came out. It was like that there was poison running through this Rocket's body. Then Ash and Gary ran over to Pikachu and Arcanine. They got angry again and Trevor used the Dragonite's power to shock them with an intense Thunder Attack." Misty explained.

Now he fully understood why this rockets were getting away with their crimes because no one could withstand their power. He hoped that his son plus Ash were all right. He knew that Ash's mother would want to know how Ash was but would be crushed when he had to tell what happened. He told her goodbye and then hung up the phone. He cried a bit and then called Ash's mother to inform her of Ash's tragic event.

Misty put the phone down and then she saw Nurse Joy come out of the emergency room. Everyone jumped up and listened to hear what Nurse Joy had to say. They all hoped that her message wouldn't be something they didn't want to hear but they had to be prepared for the worst.

"Ash, Pikachu, Gary, and Arcanine are recovering well. The poison was easily treated with an antidote and the paralysis was treated with some special medicine which is the same medicine used to treat patients and Pokemon who are effected by Stun Spore." Nurse Joy replied in a cheerful way.

Misty and the rest sighed. She knew that medicine back in the Orange Islands when Stun Spore affected Tracey and Ash. Apparently, so did Jessie because James was looking for the same treatment. Everyone sighed but still was alert to listen to Nurse Joy.

"They need a couple days of rest but should take it easy for a while." Nurse Joy replied while heading back toward the desk.

Everyone started celebrating the recovery. Pop-poppers exploded in the air and miniature fireworks went off. Who couldn't celebrate the recovery of best friends and new partnerships? Plus the revival of rare and talented pokemon was also a celebration. Misty, Brock, Jessie, James, Meowth, Cassidy, Butch, and Domino put their hands together to agree on their new mission to stop the Twin Terrors and they celebrated again.