For all of you Pikachu haters out there:
That little mouse isn't going anywhere except with Ash (and possibly Misty) anytime soon. Age isn't a factor in the show. As far as the show's concerned, Ash is STILL 10 years old. Nobody's aged, not even Pikachu. Why? The producers hope that the series would last a very long time. And at this rate, it sure looks bright for them.
Sure, time IS involved, but age is never mentioned, except for the introduction of the character.
Anyways, Pikachu will never pass away, as long as the show exists. Besides, I'm pretty sure America won't be the only one censoring out such episodes. Maybe Pikachu might have a NEAR-death experience, but never actually dying.
I do, however, have a story in my mind: (the end of Pok?mon, although I hope it really doesn't end this way.)
Ash got all the badges in the world. (yes, our contries too) Pikachu's gotten exponentionally stronger since both met each other. The only thing Ash has to do is defeat the Elites. (Kanto's, Johtos's, Hoenn's, other regions) Problem is, Giovanni somehow found Mewtwo again and somehow got it under his control. Team Rocket then defeats all the other Teams out there and the Elites as well. Threatening to destroy the world with some device, Ash hurrys to challenge Giovanni to foil his plan. He, Misty, and Brock, along with a bunch of other trainers, head towards the place. Ash, Misty, and Brock got through the blockade by letting the other trainers take care of them. To their suprise, the Elites, who are now under Giovanni's control, stop the group in their tracks. All three defeated the Elites, but during the battles, Ash lets Misty take Pikachu to stop Giovanni since he believes in her skills. After Ash and Brock defeat the Elites, Brock stays behind to stop others that might stop Ash in his tracks. Ash hurries to Misty, hoping that she didn't need help. Too bad she did. When Ash got there, she and Pikachu were stuck in a contraption in which a magnet was strapped to Pikachu. When time runs out, the magnet charges up, causing Pikachu to overload its cheek pouches, letting out lethal amounts of electricity. Misty is in the vicinity of Pikachu's range. Ash hurries and tries his best to defeat Mewtwo, but fails to stop him in time. He hurries to Misty and tries to set her free, but it was no use. The massive voltage sets both Misty and Pikachu free by breaking the restraints. Pikachu, barely concious, realized that it had just hurt Misty, possibly even killing her, and gets quite angry. It charges up, completely ignores Ash's commands and attacks Mewtwo. Although Mewtwo easily stopped a few attacks. Pikachu wouldn't let up, and eventually started to damage Mewtwo. Both threw attacks at one another, damaging the world-destruction device to a count down. Realizing that Pikachu has no other choice to end the battle as well as save the world, it lets out a massive Thunder. The lightning bolt creates thunderclouds. In turn, the clouds created multiple bolts that merged together to form a massive Thunder attack. The attack demolishes the device, disabling it. Mewtwo somehow doesn't get incinerated by the attack as well as Pikachu, Ash, and the now lifeless? body of Misty. Not so with Giovanni. Both Mewtwo and Pikachu stand, staring at each other. Mewtwo falls. Pikachu, grinning, then falls itself from pure exuastion. It used up so much power that the muscles in its body ceased to work, one by one.
No, Pikachu doesn't die. That isn't the end of Pikachu. However, it is the end of the story of Ash Ketchum...
Maybe I should write this story as well as its sequal?