What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

Found You, Fuecoco!

Ash and Liko are sleeping in their shared cabin when they wake up, hearing screaming and the sound of electricity.

Ash: Was that you buddy?

Pikachu: Pika Pika

Pikachu shakes his head.

Ash and Liko go outside, and they see Friede and the rest of The Rising Volt Tacklers, find Roy restrained by Captain Pikachu.

Friede, Ash and Liko introduce Roy to the others as someone they ran into during their time on the island.

Roy: I came here to see that face.

Liko is a bit nervous to think that it's her.

Ash: That face?

Roy: Yeah, Fuecoco.

Friede: Dude, you can't just sneak on board our home.

Roy: I'm sorry,  I just really wanted to spend more time with Fuecoco, eating berries with him and singing with him.

Ash: it seems like like Roy and Fuecoco have quite the bond, I can respect that.

Liko: Maybe they'll be partners.

Friede: It's not enough to just become partners with a Pokemon, their feelings have to be in sync as well. Maybe Roy should stay the night.

Liko, Ash and Roy start looking for Fuecoco. First they search the kitchen, in which Roy tries to sing for Fuecoco to appear. Next they head to the observation deck, where Noctowl scares Roy when he mistakes him for Fuecoco.

Later, the trio are looking up at the stars,

Roy: I wonder if Fuecoco is thinking about me.

Ash: I'm sure he is!

Liko: Yeah, I was the same with Sprigatito.

Roy starts singing Fuecoco's song

Ash and Liko: You're ruining the mood.

Ash: Jinx!

Roy: Oh! You can't talk until someone says your name!

Ash and Roy continue rubbing it in Liko's face as she deadpans at them.

The next morning, Roy slept great while Orla is groggy, having had trouble all night with the patches in the airship. Roy offers to get his Grandpa and the island's Pokemon to lend a hand. Roy takes Liko, Ash and Friede to his Grandpa's house, and Friede is shocked to know that Roy's grandpa is also the village elder.

Liko happily watches Sprigatito and a female Nidoran playing together. She finds it fascinating that island's people get along with its Pokemon without having to catch them, observing Roy and a Psyduck getting along too.

Ash also sent out his Pidegot and Quaxly to play.

Liko realizes something, but remembers she can't speak thanks to Ash jinxing her.

Liko makes hand motions for Ash to say her name, and he finally cracks.

Ash: Okay Liko, I've had my fun, you can talk now.

Liko: Thank you, anyway I remembered that Roy wants to get closer to Fuecoco, but once we leave, Roy won't be able to see Fuecoco anymore.

Ash: Maybe Fuecoco can stay here, it doesn't have an owner.

Liko: But he likes the airship.

Ash: Maybe we can let Fuecoco decide, wherever he is.

Roy notices Fuecoco running by, who warns him about the Explorers. Friede goes back to the ship, leaving the elder in charge of the kids.

Ash: These guys just won't quit.

Roy: The Explorers?

Liko: The Explorers are a group of people that are after my pendant, and I think it'll be my fault if they keep going.

Ash: No, that logic would make it my fault Team Rocket is after my Pikachu, we didn't ask for either to go after us, but it's up to us to tell them off.

Liko: I still want to do something about it.

Ash: Yeah, we all do.

Roy asks the forest Pokemon for help, feeling a bit overwhelmed and afraid for the place Fuecoco calls home. Liko starts trembling too, but Sprigatito places its paws on her hands to reassure her, Ash remains calm.

Likewise, Fuecoco offers to fight by Roy's side, greatly exciting him as the other Pokemon land their support.

When Onia finds them, Liko asks Roy and the Pokemon to leave Onia to her. After seeing Sprigatito glaring at her, Onia begrudgingly declares that they are now enemies, with Liko still refusing to give up her pendant.

Ash: Yeah, get her Liko!

Ash's Quaxly: Quaxly!

Pidgeot: Pidgeot!

Pikachu: Pika Pika!

Liko: You didn't leave with Roy?

Ash: Was I supposed to?

After Liko defeats Golduck, she rides on Ash's Pidgeot as Ash returns Quaxly and gets on Pidgeot as well, and they fly off.

The duo arrive and see Roy struggling to have Fuecoco use ember, and Ash returns Pidgeot.

Ash: This is very familar to me.

Roy: Can you help?

Liko: You have to let Fuecoco know what you feel.

Roy then starts singing to Fuecoco, who starts singing along too. After a little bit of this, Roy commands Fuecoco to use Ember, and Fuecoco shoots a huge fireball, which overpowers Zirc's Rhydon.

Ash: Yeah! That was awesome!

Roy looks over and sees a net headed towards Ash, and he and Fuecoco tackle him away from it, letting themselves be captured.

Ash: What the....

Ash looks up and sees Team Rocket's Balloon,

Ash: You just couldnt leave well enough alone!

Jessie: We had to get our revenge!

James: And those explorers haded it to us, no sweat!

Meowth: They are no threat!

Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!

Jessie: So, twerp, what'll it be?

James: Give up Pikachu?

Meowth: Or save this little boy!

Before Ash can respond, Amethio then flies Corviknight over to the kids, kicking up a tornado of wind and sand before diving down towards Liko with talons out.

Ash stands stunned, he doesn't know what to do, save Roy from Team Rocket, or save Liko from the Explorers.