Ash, Pikachu, Misty and Brock were about to receive a Master Ball, as a reward for saving Pallet Town's mayor's Herdier. Cold opening, I know, but it's all I got. Anyway, they were going to get a Master Ball from Professor Oak's lab, because he got a shipment of them the week before. The four had turned up five minutes before the mayor, and had time to look around. Professor Oak was obliged to show them some new things while they waited, for the four trainers were eager to see what new things he had created since the last visit.

Oak pulled up a wheeled table with a case on it.

"What's in the case?" Ash asked. Misty tried to make puppy-dog eyes.

Professor Oak smiled. "Well, there are two things in this case." He opened it to reveal a syringe and a jar of a gooey yellow serum.

"The syringe," he explained, "Is a new invention of mine that has a tiny bit sticking out in the neck. I made it because I keep injecting a little too much of that serum there into my pokemon."

He gestured to the three pokeballs on the table, each labeled, 'Master Specimen. Do Not Take'.

"The serum is a mixture of substances that completely rewrites a Pokemon's digital genetic code to strengthen it even more. This particular kind has been suited to a specific Pokemon species, but since it is unstable, it has to rewrite EVERY SINGLE LINE of genetic code to make sure the Pokemon will not combust on the spot," Oak continued, making it clear that this is not a thing to be toyed with.

Oak kept talking, to explain further and, well, advance the plot. He said, "If I were to accidentally inject the wrong species' serum into a Pokemon, goodness knows what would happen."

Oak looked behind him to make sure the Master Ball was still on his desk.

"Allow me to show you how it works. Ash, may I try it on your Pikachu?" He asked.

"Pika!" Pikachu whimpered, for his instincts did not click with the idea of needles.

"Not even for a Pika Snack?" Ash asked, dangling a Rare Candy in front of Pikachu's nose.

Pikachu got onto the table as Oak moved the case and its contents. Ash unwrapped the treat and tossed it to Pikachu. Oak returned with the syringe full of the Pikachu Mega Serum. He adjusted the syringe to lock up once he had injected the exact amount needed to improve Pikachu as much as possible while not putting him in danger of combusting.

At that moment, Team Rocket (accompanied by a Geodude) kicked down the door, marched to the table and took the Master Ball.

Ash sighed. "You again?" He groaned.

"Prepare for trouble!" Jessie grinned.

"And make it double!" James gloated.

"Actually, quadruple, with me and this Geodude!" Meowth added.

"To protect this world from devastation!" Jessie grunted.

"To unite all peoples within our nation!" James cheered.

"To denounce the evils of truth and love!" Jessie hollered.

"To extend our reach to the stars above!" James yelled.

"Jessie!" Jessie boasted.

"James!" James bragged.

"Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light!" Jessie declared.

"Surrender now, or I guess, we'll fight..." James said, losing his enthusiasm.

"Yeeeeah, something like that." Meowth finished.

"Woooooobuffet!" Wobuffet commented.

James showed off his new Pokemon, a shiny Geodude, by giving it an order to devastate the heroes.

"Geodude, Earthquake!" He commanded.

Geodude slammed his fists on the ground.

Ash heard a voice- it was all in an instant, but he heard one.

Ash, this is Mew. I have found out that my life force is tied to you. YOU ARE NOT GOING DOWN THIS EASY. And your friends will survive this also.

Somehow, the shockwave did not affect Ash, but everyone else was sent flying- save for Meowth, who had hidden under a table as the shockwave reached him. His trainers were sent flying.

"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again," he sighed, and left quietly.

Ash was stunned to find he was still standing. The syringe took that opportunity to land and impale itself square in the middle of Ash's forehead. He fell back. The combined energy of him hitting the ground and an aftershock from the Earthquake attack, the pin that would lock the syringe in a safety mode of sorts broke and the air displaced from the sheer speed of Ash's collapsing returned to the spote he was in moments ago, pushing the pump down, emptying the serum directly into Ash's brain.