What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

Special Training with Pikachu and Cap!

Liko stares out into the sky as the Brave Olivine ventures towards Paldea, Roy suddenly bursts into the room with fire in his eye that startles Liko.

"Hey Liko," Roy began, "We should have a Pokemon battle!"

Liko smiled, "Okay, why not?"

The two trainers stop as they hear loud footsteps rushing towards them. Ash bursts into the room with a wide grin, "Did someone say there's gonna be a Pokemon battle?"

"Yeah, me and Liko were about to have one." Roy explained.

"Then I wanna direct!" Ash exclaimed, "And I'm not taking no for an answer!"

The three trainers arrive at the wing deck as Sprigatito and Fuecoco take to the battlefield, both Pokemon end up firing Leafage and Ember at each other until they're too tired to continue.

"Oh," Ash winced, "Guess that's a tie."

Ash's Rotom Phone began to ring, "You have a call from: Friede"

Ash answered the call, "Hey gang, can you come to the meeting room for a sec?" Friede asked. "Just need to do something."

The trainers head into the meeting room and Friede takes their Rotom Phones before handing them back a second later. "There we go, just needed to add the Rising Volt Tackler app." Friede explained, "I also added the Pokedex app to Liko and Roy's phones."

"There's an app?"

Friede nodded, "It verifies your one of us and it lets you message other members."

"Forget the app!" Roy exclaimed in excitement, "I wanna register the Black Rayquaza into my Pokedex!"

"But, where would we find the Black Rayquaza again?" Liko asked.

"You could ask Dot," Friede suggested.

"Who's Dot?" Ash asked.

"Murdock's niece," Friede explained, "She's ten, just like the three of you. She even made the app. But, we don't see her outside her room that much since she's gathering information. That information could contain where the Black Rayquaza is now."

The three trainers head towards the only closed door in the ship. Roy knocks on the door, "Hey Dot, can you help us find the Black Rayquaza?"

The Quaxly belonging to the Brave Olivine hops out of the hatch with a folded piece of paper tapped onto its chest. Roy takes the paper and unfolds it to see a picture of him and Fuecoco losing a battle. "Hey, not cool!" Roy scolded as the Quaxly headed back through the hatch.

"It's okay, Roy!" Ash reassured, "You guys just need a bit of training!"

"Ash's right." Liko agreed, "We just need the help of a strong trainer."

Ash closed his eyes and donned a cocky grin, expecting his friends to turn to the World Monarch. Only for that expression to fall as Liko says, "Let's ask Friede!"

Ash watches from the sidelines as Cap stands before Sprigatito and Fuecoco. "Hey, Friede!" Ash rushed up to the RVT's leader. "Can we make this a double battle?" he asked, "I've been itching for a battle and I wanna give Liko and Roy a challenge just like you are!"

Friede chuckled, "I don't see why not, but Cap and I already have a plan. I'll fill you in."

Pikachu enters the battlefield alongside Cap. Friede and Cap whisper the plan into their partner's ear. "Alright, I gotcha." Ash nodded.

Friede turned to Liko and Roy, "Alright kiddos, if either of you hit Cap or Pikachu once, you win."

"Oh, that's so easy!" Roy remarked.

Sprigatito and Fuecoco launches Leafages and Embers at their opponents, but Cap simply leans to one side or the other to dodge every attack as Pikachu uses Quick Attack to dash along the battlefield. The move catches Sprigatito's attention as she focusses on Pikachu's movements.

"I don't think we can hit Ash's Pikachu, it's too fast." Liko said, "But we could combine our attacks against Cap. Leafage can blind him and Fuecoco can with Tackle."

Roy nodded, "Let's do this!"

Cap easily avoids the Tackle despite the Leafage blinding him. Ca[ uses Double Team to disorient the Paldean Starters. Pikachu sneakily crawls through the wave of clones, trying not to be seen.

Liko focusses on the Double Team clones and sees them in a zigzag pattern, "Roy, follow my lead."

Sprigatito and Fuecoco take out the Double Team clones as Pikachu avoids their attacks. Eventually the real Cap is exposed and Sprigatito prepares to strike with Scratch. Cap jumps into the air and dodges the attack. Pikachu builds up momentum with Quick Attack and joins Cap in the air, catching Sprigatito's attention again.

Liko and Roy wait as both Pikachus land on the ground before commanding their Pokemon to strike, only to see their Pokemon had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

"Well, guess that's the battle." Ash said, "You guys were doing great, though."

"Well you two have learned a lot today," Friede said, "Why don't you two have a battle once your Pokemon get some rest."

That evening, Friede and Ash watch as Liko and Roy stand against each other on the wing deck. Sprigatito starts with Scratch that Fuecoco dodges and strikes with Tackle that is avoided. Fuecoco uses Ember and Sprigatito runs past it, then runs faster as a white energy glows around her.

"Isn't that Quick Attack?" Liko recognized, "Doesn't Pikachu know that move?"

"Yeah! Sprigatito must've learned it from him!" Ash exclaimed.

"Pika!" Pikachu seemed proud.

Sprigatito slams into Fuecoco and knocks it out, Roy and Liko share a fist bump, "Good match, Liko!" Roy praised, "But next time, I'll win for sure!"

Roy's Rotom Phone buzzes, Roy inspects the device, "Hey, Dot messaged me on the RVT app. She wants us back at her door."

The three trainers head to Dot's door once more, her Quaxly comes out carrying a not it hands to Roy before heading back inside Dot's room. Roy unfolds the paper seeing a drawing of the Black Rayquaza with an unkown land underneath it. "I don't recognize that land," Roy said, "Is that where the Black Rayquaza is?"

Liko's eyes widened, "That's Paldea, Rayquaza's in Paldea.

"Sweet!" Roy exclaimed before running off, "Thanks Dot!"

"Yeah, thanks Dot!" Liko said to the door, "I hope I'll get to know you better!"

Liko runs off as Ash yells "Thanks Dot, new region here we come!" before he too runs off to catch up with Liko and Roy.