Pikachu's breathing was labored. The electric mouse had caught a germ somewhere, and was quite sick. His spark was almost gone. As Ash comforted Pikachu, Tracy was preparing medicine for Pikachu's consumption. Misty sat by, helpless, as she watched over the events unfolding.
"Don't worry, Ash! This medicine is sure to bring Pikachu back to the prime of health!" Tracy assured his travelling companion. He lowered the dropper into Pikachu's mouth and squeezed the bulb gently, letting several drops fall out.
Pikachu swallowed the drops, and for a moment was still. Then suddenly Ash's first friend began seizuring, screaming at the top of its lungs. "PIKAAAAAAAAAAAAA! PIKAAAAAAAAAAA!"
"PIKACHU!" Ash cried, helpless. The electric mouse began foaming at the mouth. Its eyes bugged out as the seizures intensified. Misty choked back a sob. Tracy was paging through his medical notebooks, desperately searching for an answer before it was too late.
Pikachu's tongue flopped out of its mouth. A second later, an especially intense seizure caused its jaw to slam shut, severing the little tongue and spraying Ash's face with a mist of blood. Ash was openly sobbing and clutching Pikachu close to him now. Tracy threw his notebooks to the side, frustrated. He knew it was too late.
Finally, Pikachu emptied his Poke-bowels onto Ash's lap. The Pokemon was dead.
Suddenly, a smoke grenade went off. Organ music started playing.
"Prepare for trouble!"
"And make it...oooooh."
Jesse and James' speech ground to a halt sooner than usual as their eyes fell upon the fallen Pikachu.
"Uh. I can see this is a bad time," James said lamely.
Team Rocket left quietly, never realizing that the 'twerps' didn't even notice their entry.
"Oh, Pikachu," Meowth sighed. "I wish I had had the chance to tell you...how much I loved you," Meowth lamented.
XXX
Ash looked upon the grave.
'Here lies Pikachu, a free Pokemon'
Tracy was having a heated conversation with Professor Oak over his Pokedex. Finally, Tracy handed the Pokedex to Ash: Oak wanted to speak to him.
"Ash, first, let me tell you how terribly sorry I am for your loss. It nearly destroyed me when my first Pokemon died."
"Thanks, Professor." Ash's voice was a dull monotone, not really caring what words Oak had to say.
"Ash, Tracy killed Pikachu." That shook him out of his malaise.
"What? Why? How?"
"The idiot didn't realize that Pikachu was simply dehydrated. Water with an electrolyte solution would have perked him right up, but the medicine poisoned and killed Pikachu."
The Pokedex slipped from Ash's hands as he turned to face Tracy.
"Ash, I'm really sorry --"
He was cut off as Ash thrust his fist into Tracy's face, breaking his nose.
"OW! Goddabit, Ash, whad the fugh?"
Ash began pummelling Tracy relentlessly, until he was too exhausted to do anything but kneel on the ground and weep. Misty sat next to him and put her arms around him, drawing him close even as she wept again for Pikachu.
"Tracy, you are a worthless piece of shit."
"Bud Ash --"
"Shut up. You have one hour to leave. I never want to see you again. If I do, I'll fucking kill you."
Tracy stared at Ash, mouth agape. Finally, wordlessly, he packed his things and departed.
"What now, Ash?" Misty finally worked up the courage to say.
"I don't know. I'm going back to Pallet for now."
"I'm coming with you."
XXX