What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

Found You, Fuecoco!

Ash and Liko are awoken in the middle of the night to the sounds of screaming and electricity from outside their shared cabin. "Was that you, buddy?" Ash asked groggily.

"Pikachu." Pikachu shook his head.

The trainers head outside to find the rest of the RVT circled around Roy, who is being restrained by Cap. "Roy?" Liko asked, "What are you doing here?"

"He's a kid we met on the island." Friede explained to the others as Roy freed himself from Cap's restraints.

"I just had to see that face again!" Roy exclaimed, making Liko blush as he lookss deeply into her eyes, "Fuecoco's just been on my mind ever since he left."

"Even if that's the case," Friede began, "You can't just sneak on board our home."

"I know, and I'm really sorry!" Roy said apologetically, "But I really wanna spend more time with Fuecoco."

"I can respect that," Ash admitted, "Whenever me and Pikachu are apart, I don't feel the same." 

"Maybe you two can be partners." Liko suggested.

"One interaction isn't enough to suggest that." Friede said, "The feelings between trainer and Pokemon have to be in sync. Maybe you should spend the night and get to know Fuecoco better."

Ash and Liko guide Roy through the Brave Olivine as they find no trace of Fuecoco. Eventually they take a break at the wing deck, looking up at the stars together.  "I wonder if Fuecoco is thinking about me." Roy wondered.

"I'm sure he is!" Ash reassured.

"I was the same way with Sprigatito." Liko recalled. "And we still found each other."

Roy smiles and begins to sing the song, which Ash seems to enjoy while Liko is offput by it, "Hey, you're kinda ruining the mood."

"Aw c'mon, it wasn't that bad." Ash defended, which Liko nervously nodded in response.

The next morning, Roy leads Ash, Liko and Friede to his house to meet his grandfather. Upon entering the household, Friede's eyes widen upon seeing Roy's grandfather, "Roy, your grandpa is the Village Elder?"

"Yeah, you didn't know that?" Roy asked.

The trainers gather outside as Sprigatito and Pikachu play with the wild Pokemon. Liko observes as the village residents live in harmony with the Pokemon without catching them. 

Liko approached Ash, "Hey Ash, remember how Roy wants to get closer with Fuecoco." Ash nodded as she continued, "Well I remembered that once we leave Roy won't see Fuecoco anymore."

"Well, Fuecoco doesn't have a trainer." Ash recalled, "He could just stay here!"

"But he likes the airship, and Friede's Charizard." Liko informed, "He'd never wanna leave."

Suddenly, Fuecoco comes running by, catching the attention of everyone. Fuecoco approaches the children and begins making gestures that Liko recognizes.

Liko gasped, "The Explorers are here?"

"Man, these guys just won't quit!" Ash remarked, "Kinda like Team Rocket."

"Who are the Explorers?" Roy asked.

"They're bad people who are after my pendant!" Liko explained, "I'm sorry, it's my fault they followed me to your island."

"It's not your fault, Liko!" Ash exclaimed, "You didn't ask for this!"

Liko smiled, feeling better. "I still wanna do something about it."

Friede flies off on Charizard towards the Brave Olivine as Ash, Liko and Roy venture into the forest where they run into Onia. She looks down at Sprigatito, who glares back at her, making Onia wince. "Okay then, little lady. We're enemies now."

Onia sends out her Golduck as Sprigatito stands tall, Liko comes up with a plan. "Roy you go ahead and leave her to me. Ash, I need you to back me up if another Explorer plans a sneak attack."

Ash and Roy nodded as Roy runs deeper into forest. Sprigatito takes out Golduck with a powerful Leafage and the trainers run away from their enemy, following after Roy. They find Roy on the beach with Fuecoco battling against Zirc and his Rhydon. Fuecoco constantly exhales and yells in fustration.

"What are they doing?" Liko asked.

"They're trying to learn Ember!" Ash realized, "A friend of mine had the same problem with his Scorbunny!"

"Well can you help us if you've seen this before?" Roy asked.

"You can't force it!" Ash advised, "You gotta learn Ember together in your own way!"

"Yeah!" Liko exclaimed, "Let Fuecoco how you feel!"

Roy begins to sing and the Pokemon begins singing along. Eventually Fuecoco spits out a fireball that overpowers Rhydon and knocks it out.

"Now that's an Ember!" Ash exclaimed.

Roy turns around to thank Ash, but spots a net falling towards him and Pikachu. Without thinking, Roy and Fuecoco rush over and push Ash and Pikachu out of the way, pushing Liko as well.

"Huh?" Ash looked around in confusion after standing up.

Ash looks up to see Team Rocket's hot-air balloon hovering above them, holding Roy and Fuecoco in the net intended for them. "Of course you guys would be here!"

"Who are these guys?" Roy asked.

"It's Team Rocket to you, Twerp!" Jessie snapped, "The best evil organization in the world!"

"And we just had to get our payback after the disrespect on that airship!" James added.

"And you just got in da way!" Meowth concluded, "But da boss will like that Pokemon ya got there!"

"Wobbuffet!"

"What'll it be, Twerp" Jessie asked, "Will you finally give us that Pikachu?"

"Or will we be taking this little one to the boss?" James finished.

Ash looks towards Liko and spots Amethio flying in on his Corviknight. The Pokemon dives towards Liko with its talons out. Ash's eyes dart to both sides in a panic as both of his new friends are in peril from familar foes, unsure of his next move.