I apologize to those who are waiting for me to update my Xover story. I'm putting on the back burner for right now. Right now I'm working on this one. A plain Pokémon fan fiction.

This story is a twist of the episode "End of a Journey, yet Beginning of a Journey!" which is the final episode of the Kanto Battle Frontier Saga/Advance Generation. It has not aired in America as of yet.

When Ash comes home after defeating Brandon in the Battle Pyramid and says good-bye to his friends, he finds a huge surprise party waiting for him. Durning the festivities Tracey becomes ill and is hosipitalized. The prognosis isn't good and Ash has to face the fact that he might loose one of his friends and Oak has to face that he might loose his greatest assistant. Just to let you know, this is not an anti Tracey fic. He happens to be my favorite character. I just wanted to try and write a dramatic and touching fan fiction.

The reason why I decided to write this is because I was inspired by another user and her stories. Ilex the Elder. I suggest you read her fan fiction cause they're all really good and there the only ones that I can keep reading the whole way through. Though her stories mostly focus on Ash's mother and Professor Oak and there 'relationship' so if your not a fan of eldershipping, you might not want to read them.

Well hope you enjoy this one I and hope to read your reviews soon.

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Ash's Homecoming

It appeared to be just another normal morning at Professor Oak’s laboratory. Most of the pokémon began to wake and started to explore the ranch. The tauros ran about in a heard, the pidgey were signing, and the water pokémon were splashing around.

It was 7:00 am sharp and Professor Samuel Oak had just woken up like always. Just after waking he would take a shower, get dressed, have breakfast, and then begin to work. After he finished getting dressed he made his way down to the kitchen where breakfast was waiting

“Morning Professor.” said his teen assistant, Tracey.

“Good morning Tracey.” the professor smiled. “Anything good today?”

Just some oatmeal. But if you want something a little fancier, I could try to make it.”

“Oh I’m just kidding! This is fine.” he said as he sat at the table. “I do appreciate you making it for me. It’s nice to have breakfast ready when I arrive down here.”

“It’s no trouble. I realize that you need to work on a lot of things so I thought it might help out a little.”

“It does, thank you.”

As Tracey carried his plate over to the sink, he was hit with a dizzy feeling and fell to the floor, smashing the china plate.

“Tracey!?” Oak yelled in concern. He jumped up from his seat and ran over to the fallen boy who was moaning while trying to get up. “Are you alright?” he asked while sitting next to him.

“Oh…” he moaned while holding his head. “I’m so sorry Professor. I didn’t mean to break the plate.”

“Forget the stupid plate. What about you? Are you hurt?”

“I don’t think so… uh…”

“What happened?”

“I don’t know… I just got dizzy all of a sudden…”

“You shouldn’t work today. Maybe you should go back to your room and rest it off.”

“No… I-I don’t need to rest. I just got up from my seat too fast. Look, I feel better already.” he said as he stood up trying to convince Oak.

“Hmm…”

“I really am okay. Really. Besides, you need help decorating for Ash’s welcome home party.”

“Oh my goodness!” he said as he slapped his forehead. “I completely forgot that Ash was coming home today! I better call in some of the pokémon to help me decorate.”

“Well first they need to eat. I’ll go out and feed them first.”

“Okay… Just promise me you won’t over exert yourself. Alright?”

“Sure Professor.”

After the pokémon finished eating, Professor Oak called in Ash’s Bulbasaur, Bayleef, and Noctowl to help hang the banners and streamers for the party. Tracey had cleared of the dining room table and but a bright green table cloth were the cake, drinks, and other treats would go.

---

10:00 am came around and the door bell rang. When Tracey answered, there was Mrs. Ketchum and Misty standing at the door with a cake and balloons.

“Hey guys!” Tracey greeted.

“Hey Tracey.” said Misty.

“We just picked up the balloons and decided to bring them over.” said Mrs. Ketchum.

“I can take em’” Tracey said as he held the balloons for Mrs. Ketchum.

“Thank you Tracey.”

“That cake looks really good Mrs. Ketchum.” he said when he noticed the cake that Misty was holding.

“I just hope Ash likes it.”

“Don’t worry about that.” Misty added. “Ash’ll eat anything.”

“Oh my… this is so beautiful!” said Mrs. Ketchum as she admired the colorful decorations.

“Thanks!” said Professor Oak who came from the kitchen.

“You’ve really out done yourself Professor.”

“Well, I couldn’t have done without Tracey and the Pokémon.”

“Saur-Bulba!” said Bulbasaur.

“Bay!” said Bayleef.

When Professor Oak looked back at Tracey, he had his hand on his chest and had a look of discomfort on his face.

“Tracey? What’s wrong?”

“Eh-huh?” he said in surprise. “Nothing.”

“It doesn’t look like nothing. Are you feeling dizzy again?”

“What do you mean ‘dizzy again’?” asked Misty

“Are you sick Tracey?” asked Mrs. Ketchum with concern.

“N-no. I’m okay.”

“Tracey, if you’re dizzy you should go lie down.” Professor Oak said.

“I’m not dizzy. It’s something else…” Tracey continued to hold his chest.

“Something else? You mean something else is wrong with you?”

“No. I just have heart burn. I probably downed my breakfast too fast, that’s all.”

“Really…?” said the professor in an unconvinced tone. “That’s all…?”

“Yes.” he nodded.

---

It had now reached 12:00 and Ash was to arrive any minute. Because it was a surprise party, Ash had headed home first not knowing of it. Once there, he saw a note from his mother that said to go to Professor Oak’s lab. Now he was heading up the pathway that led to mansion.

“I wonder why Mom wanted me to come to Professor Oak’s place.”

“Pika…pika…” said his faithful pokémon, Pikachu.

“Maybe he has more information about the Sinnoh League.”

Once he got up to the front door, he was surprised to see it slightly open.

“Huh? That’s sure weird. How come the door’s open?”

“Pika?”

“Might as well go in.” he said as he opened the door wider and went in. “Hello…? Professor…? Mom…?” he called out.

As he walked down the hallway, he noticed that all of the lights were turned off. Even in the living room.”

“Guys…?” he said as he entered the room. He then flipped on the nearby light switch. Once he did, he heard loud popping sounds. “Ahh!”

“PIKA!”

“Surprise!!” he then heard. “Welcome home Ash!!”

“Huh? What’s this?”

“It’s a party silly!” said Misty as she walked towards Ash.

“Party?”

“That’s right sweetie.” said his mom. “You deserve it after becoming the Battle Frontier Master.”

“Think of it as a Homecoming Gift.” said the professor.

“Really? Wow, thanks you guys!”

“Pika-pika!”

“Bay bay!” said Bayleef, happy to see her trainer once more.

“Hey Bayleef UH!” he yelled as he was tackled to the floor by Bayleef. “Haha! Bayleef! Stop it haha!”

“Bay bay!” she said as she nuzzled Ash.”

“Missed you too!” Ash sat up and patted Bayleef on the head.

“Bulbasaur!” said Bulbasaur who was now sitting by Ash as well.

“Hey Bulbasaur! How’s my old buddy doin?”

“Saur-Bulbasaur!” he said happily.

“Your pokémon also helped us out with the party.” said Tracey. He gave Ash his hand and helped him up.

“This is really awesome. Thank you everyone.”

“Pikachu!”

After that, Mrs. Ketchum cut the cake for everyone. Ash then called out his other pokémon, Sceptile, Donphan, Aipom, Swellow, and Corphish, as well as some of the pokémon he had kept at the lab. Misty had her Azurill and Psyduck out and Tracey had his Marill and Scyther out. Mrs. Ketchum made sure to cut a big piece for her little boy.

“Mm…Mm… This is the best cake EVER Mom!” said Ash with a mouth full of chocolate cake.

“I’m so glad you like it.” she smiled. I made sure to make it double-fudge filled, just how you like it.”

“Pikachu!” said a happy Pikachu with chocolate crumbs all over his mouth.

“Open wide…” Misty said to her baby Azurill. She took a tiny piece of the cake and fed it to the pokémon.

“Mm… Azurill!” she said happily.

“You like it too Marill?” Tracey asked his pokémon.

“Marill! Marill!” she said. But then Marill noticed that Tracey didn’t even touch his cake. “Ma-marill?” she asked pointing at the cake.

“Huh? Oh… it’s okay Marill. I’m not that hungry.”

Professor Oak then looked up at his assistant.

“Really?” Ash asked. “How come?”

“Do you still have heartburn?” asked Misty.

“Yeah, a little.”

“Poor thing…” said Mrs. Ketchum. “Would you like me to wrap up your piece so you can have it later?”

“Sure. Thank you Mrs. Ketchum.”

Then, all of a sudden, Noctowl swooped into the window and in to the living room.

“Hooooh! Hooooh!” he hooted loudly. He seemed very upset about something.

“Noctowl, what’s the matter?” asked Professor Oak.

“Pika-pika?” Pikachu asked.

“Hooo, hoooo! Hoooh!” he said. Though this was completely not understandable to humans, Pikachu understood right away.

“Pika!?” Pikachu seemed to be getting angry and concerned now.

“Hoooh!” Noctowl then flew out the window and Pikachu followed.

“Hey… where ya going!?” asked Ash.

“It looks like trouble!” said Tracey. We should follow.”

“Right.” Ash said. “Come on you guys.” he said to his other pokémon.

---

Meanwhile, Pikachu was following Noctowl to where the problem was taking place. All of a sudden, Noctowl stopped.

“Hoooh! Hoooh!” Noctowl pointed with his wing. Pikachu caught up and was shocked by what he saw.

“Pika!?”

He saw a giant robot that was using an enormous vacuum to suck up various pokémon.

“Oddish! Oddish!” cried the tiny Oddish as they tried to run away from the mecha monster.

“Don’t think that you can get away so easily.” said a voice from inside the robot.

“Oddish… Odd! Oddish!!” they screamed while being sucked up by the vacuum.

“Coming here with the Mach Vac 3000 was a brilliant idea Meowth!”

“I knew der by a lot of pokémon here for us to swipe!”

“Pika…” Pikachu had enough of this and was going to do something about it. He ran up as fast as he could and then confronted the robot. “Pika!! Pika-pika! Pikachu!!”

The robot turned around to face Pikachu and revealed a big red “R” painted on its chest. This is obviously the work of the notorious Team Rocket.

“Well looky what we have here!” said the female Team Rocket member, Jessie.

“You spared us the bother of looking for you Pikachu.” said the other member, James.

“Now it looks like we’ll get away with more than just these second rate pokémon!” said the talking pokémon, Meowth.

“Pi-Pikachu!” Pikachu’s cheeks began to spark.

“Pikachu!” yelled Ash from afar. He was being followed by the rest of his pokémon plus all of his friends.

“Pika-pi!”

“Uh!” Ash said when he saw the enormous robot.

“What is that thing!?” said Professor Oak.

“Prepare for trouble, this thing is our invention.” said Jessie, preparing to start the classic motto.

“And make it double, stealing your pokémon is our intention.” said James.

“An evil as old as the galaxy…”

“Sent here to fulfill our destiny…”

“Don’t forget ME!” said Meowth.

“To denounce the evils of truth and love…”

“To extend our reach to the stars above…”

“Jessie!”

“James!”

“Meowth’s the name!”

“Where ever there’s peace in the universe…”

“Team Rocket…”

“Is there…”

“TO MAKE EVERYTHING WORSE!” the said in unison.

“WOBBU-WOBBUFFET!” interrupted Jessie’s pokémon, Wobbuffet.

“Mime-mime mime mime!” James’ Pokémon, Mime Jr., also joined in.

“TEAM ROCKET!” Ash yelled.

“We should have known it was you!” yelled Misty.

“Spare me your annoying babble, twerp.” said Jessie.

Tracey was the last one to arrive at the scene along with Scyther and Marill. By the time he reached the others, he was gasping for air. He didn’t know why, but the run over made him exhausted. Scyther and Marill stayed by him.

“Tanks for bringing us all of ya other pokémon for us to steal!” said Meowth. He then turned the vacuum towards the group and turned it on full power. The bigger pokémon were able to hold there ground but Pikachu couldn’t and was sucked up by the vacuum.

“Pika-pi!!!”

“Pikachu!!” screamed Ash. Team Rocket then laughed at their victory.

“What can we do…?” Misty said in dismay. “We can’t send our pokémon against that thing or else they’ll be sucked up too…”

“Azurill…” said a sad Azurill.

“We have… to find… a way to… plug up that vacuum…” Tracey said while trying to catch his breath.

“But how…?” Ash wondered.

“I… have an idea.” Tracey then put his fingers in his mouth and made a loud whistle. “SNORLAX! DINNER!”

Within seconds the group felt the ground shaking beneath their feet. From beyond the horizon, Ash’s Snorlax came running up expecting there would be food in store.

“Snorlax Snor!” he said happily.

“What are they doing?” James wondered.

“Who cares.” said Jessie. “Let’s just get the rest of their pokémon while they’re distracted.

“Aye aye sir!” said Meowth. He then turned up the power of the vacuum once more.

“Everyone! Get behind Snorlax!” Tracey directed. Everyone followed Tracey’s directions.

“You think that giant blob is going to save you?” laughed Jessie.

“Dinner’s up there Snorlax. Go get it!”

“Snor-snorlax!” Snorlax then jumped up to the nozzle of the vacuum which caused him to block it with his girth.

“Wha!?” Team Rocket yelled.

“Okay Scyther. Slice open that bag!” Tracey pointed out the bag of the machine were all the pokémon were being held.

“Scyther!” He then flew off like lightning and but a huge gash into the bag with his powerful claws. This provided means of escape for all the captured pokémon. They all cheered as they all hopped out of the bag one by one.

“Look’s like we sprung a leak…” said James nervously. Jessie and Meowth then growled in anger.

They then turned off the vacuum releasing Snorlax. The last pokémon to fall out of the bag was Pikachu.

“Pika-pi!” he happily said.

“Pikachu!” said Ash as he held his arms out to catch Pikachu. Once he did, the two hugged. “Are you alright Buddy?”

“Pikachu.”

“That’s so sweet, I might get cavities.” Jessie said with anger. “Enjoy your little reunion because were not leaving without Pikachu!”

“That’s what you think! Pikachu! Thunderbolt, NOW!”

“Piiiikaaa…CHUUUU!”

A large thunderbolt attack struck the robot dead center but had no effect.

“Ahahahaha!!” Team Rocket cackled.

“The Mach Vac 3000 is resistant to all electric attacks meaning that yo puny thunderbolts are useless!” laughed Meowth.

Grr…” Ash growled.

“Hey Ash.” said Tracey. “Trying having Snorlax use Hyper Beam instead.”

“Hey that’s a great idea. Alright then Snorlax, HYPER BEAM! GO!”

“SNOOOORRR!” he cried as he charged up a hyper beam in his mouth.

“Say Meowth… is this thing resistant to hyper beams?” James asked.

“Eeehh… I don’t tink so. I tought all we had ta worry about was electrical attacks.”

“You moron! Why wouldn’t you get a machine that was resistant against ALL attacks!?” barked Jessie.

“We didn’t have enough doe for the Premium Mach Vac.”

During their argument, Snorlax charged up his Hyper Beam and fired it at the machine. Team Rocket screamed from the impact. Then the robot exploded.

“Guess we should start saving up money for the Premium Mach Vac.” James suggested while flying through the air.

“Or maybe we should just sell you stupid bottle cap collection!” said Jessie.

“Eek! Don’t say such things about my precious bottle caps!”

“Hehhhh…” Meowth sighed.

“TEAM ROCKET’S BLASTING OFF AGAIN!!” (ding)

“Thank goodness that’s all over…” said Mrs. Ketchum in relief.

“Tracey, your plan was sheer brilliance!” said Professor Oak. “Using Snorlax to block the vacuum and then having Scyther cut open the bag was the perfect combination.”

“Snorlax…” said a disappointed Snorlax when he realized that there was no food around.

“Thank you so much Snorlax and Scyther. And don’t worry. I’ll be sure to give you all you can eat when we go back to the lab.”

“Snorlax!” he said happily.

“Tracey… thanks a lot. You saved all…” Ash stopped when he saw Tracey collapse on the ground.

“Tracey!” they all shouted.

“Marill!” screamed Marill in horror.

Professor Oak kneeled down and turned over the face-down Tracey. He was breathing erratically and becoming paler by the second.

“Tracey, try to relax!” said Professor Oak in a panic. “Try to tell me what’s wrong!”

“Please… get it off me…” he whimpered.

“Get what off you, there’s nothing there.” Ash, Misty, Mrs. Ketchum, and the pokémon were becoming extremely frightened.

“My chest… Something heavy… on my chest…”

It took a second for Professor Oak to realize what Tracey was talking about. When he thought about what Tracey was feeling, he remembered a similar feeling he had over 10 years ago. That’s when he came to the horrifying conclusion.

“My God… He’s having a heart attack…” They others couldn’t believe what they were hearing. “Ash! You’re the fastest runner. Go back to the lab and call 911.”

Professor Oak’s words were only half heard. Ash was still in shock; his eye’s still fixed on Tracey. Professor Oak then stared into Ash’s dull eyes.

“ASH!” he angrily yelled.

“Huh!!” Ash was then snapped out of his daze.

“Go and call 911 NOW! HURRY!”

“Uh-Yes! Right away!” He then dashed off towards the lab as fast as he could with Pikachu following him. Though he was still frightened for Tracey, he knew that he now depended on him to make that phone call. “Please hang on Tracey…” he thought to himself. “Please just hang on!”

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To be continued...