What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

For Sure! Cause Sprigatito's with Me!

Liko awakens in her room on the Brave Olivine, remembering the events the night before vividly. She turns to the side and sees Ash haphazardly lying in his sleeping bag, snoring loudly. Liko walks over and gently pokes at her friend. "Ash, can you please wake up?"

"Huh?!" Ash jumped awake before noticing Liko, "Oh good morning Liko!"

Liko gets dressed into her school-uniform, she turns around to see Ash donning his usual journeying attire with the new shoes his mother gifted him before he left. "You had other clothes?" Liko asked.

Ash nodded, "I didn't wanna wear that uniform whenever we're not in school."

Liko pondered for a moment, "Maybe I should get a new outfit."

Ash and Liko step outside and find Orla, Murdock and Mollie on the deck. "Oh great, you're both up!" Orla said, "Friede's out looking for the Explorers so we can get your Sprigatito back."

"Sweet!" Ash exclaimed, "Hear that Liko?"

Liko nodded, "Thank you!"

Friede returns onto the deck atop Charizard soon after, "I managed to follow the Explorers to a nearby port city, but I lost the track of them afterwards. So I've got no idea where exactly they're hiding."

"Alright, I'll help you find 'em!" Ash declared.

"I wanna come too!" Liko said, "I wanna find Sprigatito!"

Friede seemed hesitant, "I'm not too sure you should. You won't stand a chance against the Explorers without any Pokémon."

"I can protect her!" Ash offered, "Pikachu and Quaxly have got her back! At least until she gets Sprigatito back!"

"Still, Liko's mom wouldn't be fond of us if the people she hired let her go against an evil organization with any Pokemon." Friede revealed.

Liko's eyes widened, "What?!"

Mollie, Murdock and Orla glare at Friede for forgetting to inform the client of their intentions. Mollie then sighs before turning to the trainers, "I'll need your help today, Liko. I need to pick up some supplies from the Pokemon Center." she informed, "And if Ash wants to protect you, then he'll have to come with. Friede and Murdock can investigate in the meantime."

The Brave Olivine docks at the port city and the group splits up, Mollie hands Liko a list of preordered items before she and her Chansey walk off, much to the children's confusion. "I know you don't like talking to people, so I can take the list if you want!" Ash offered.

Liko smiled gratefully as she handed him the list, "Thanks Ash."

The trainers enter the Pokemon Center and Ash approaches the front desk, catching the attention of the Nurse Joy standing there. "Oh my, well if it isn't World Monarch Ash Ketchum! What could I do for you today?"

"Hi Nurse Joy," Ash greeted, "Me and my friend have a list of items we need."

Ash hands the list to Nurse Joy just before a girl rushes in carrying a Vulpix. "Nurse Joy! My Pokemon is badly hurt!"

Nurse Joy turned to the girl, "Oh dear!" She turned back to Ash, "I'm sorry, I need to take care of this first."

"No problem!" Ash reassured as Nurse Joy walked off with the Vulpix.

The girl sat down in a chair, "How could I let this happen?" she muttered as she sobbed.

Liko watches the girl shrink into herself, lowering her eyes to the floor in guilt as the memory of Sprigatito from the night before play on repeat in her mind. Ash stares at the girl as well, a familar memory from his first day as a trainer playing vividly in his head.