What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

The Door That Never Opens!

The next morning, the Rising Volt Tacklers have breakfast, and Ash notices Dot's empty chair.

Ash: Say, will Dot join us?

Friede: Well, she's never been interested in eating with the rest of the Rising Volt Tacklers, she just eats nutrient-rich gummies.

Ash can't help but feel concerned, you don't just not spend time with people you live with, not even your uncle.

Murdock: Well I plan to make something tasty enough for Dot to like.

Mollie: You know, I noticed we were short on sugar, Moomoo Milk, butter, and dried fruit.

Orla: Seems like someone's making sweets, Murdock, you having anything you want to say about this?

Friede: Hey now, blaming people won't slove anything.

Mollie: Why would you be the one to say that?

Friede: We'll go to a town and get sweets.

Murdock: Yeah...

Ash and Liko get ready for they're remote classes, being greeted by Anne.

Anne: Nidothing's doing a livestream today!

Ash: Who?

Liko: You've never heard of Nidothing?!

Ash shakes his head.

Classes begin, with Ash and Liko joining remotely.

They dock at the town,

Friede: How about rock-papers-scissors, like we usually do to see whoever has to watch the ship.

Everyone throws paper except Ash and Roy, who throw rock, making them the ones to stay behind with the ship.

As the others go into the town, Roy talks to Liko

Roy: Liko, can you cover for me?

Liko: Sure!

Ash: It's so you can watch that livestream, right?

Liko: Yep.

Roy goes with the Rising Volt Tacklers into town.

Meanwhile, Ash and Liko do chores around the Brave Asagi, feeding the Pokemon, hanging the laundry out to dry, taking out the trash by feeding it to the Alolan Muk on board, and scrubbing the deck. Afterwards, they try to get a peek in the secret cupboard they heard about from Roy before he left. When Liko opens the cupboard however, she gets a surprise curtesy of Alcremie, who attacks her and covers her in cream. Upset by this experience, Liko wipes herself off just as Murdock calls in.

Liko: Ah! Oh my Arcues I'm so sorry!

Murdock: Um, there's lunchboxes on the ship if either of you get hungry...

Ash: Thank you Murdock, bye!

Ash hangs up the call.

Ash, Liko and Ludlow get their lunchboxes, and Liko notices a fourth one for Dot.

Liko: Ludlow, should I bring Dot her lunch?

Ludlow: Of course, after all, A good lunch, a good hunch.

Ash: What?

Ash and Liko bring Dot her lunch, knocking on her door only for no one to answer. They are about to walk away when Liko hears the Nidothing theme coming from Dot's room again.

Liko: Dot, are you watching Nidothing?

Both are surprised when Dot finally speaks, although it comes in the form of a nervous and frustrated shout.

Ash: I think's it's best to leave her alone.

Ash's request falls on deaf ears, again.

Liko: Y'know I really admire Nidothing, she's soknowledgeable about Pokémon, and it's so fun to watch her.

Liko tries her best to relate to Dot, but then Dot panics about the time. Hearing this, Liko realizes she's going to be late for the livestream.

An overwhelmed Dot abruptly blames Liko, telling her to go away.

Liko: But why aren't you with the other Rising Volt Tacklers?

Dot: I don't have the time, I'm busy.

Liko respects Dot's schedule, apologizing for bothering her and leaving her lunch by her door, Ash following.

Later, Liko is excited for Nidothing's livestream in a few minutes, Ash having nothing else to do.

The livestream starts and Nidothing gets ready to read the comments left by other streamers. Eventually she gets to Liko's comment, to the latter's shock. Nidothing herself, who is actually Dot under the costume, gets very embarrassed that Liko's comment is about wanting to befriend her.

An embarrassed cry from Liko startles Nidothing and Quaxly and can be heard throughout the ship.

Liko freaks out that Nidothing actually read her comment, Ash trying to calm her down.

Nidothing: Try to change the environment, making friends is like Pokemon battles.

This inspires Liko to try even harder.

At sunset, Roy tries to thank Dot for the helpful advice about Rayquaza, Liko and Ash having told him that Dot spoke to her earlier.

After Roy tells Liko and Ash about the wild Spearow he battled, he suggests that he and Liko have a battle.

Liko initially thinks Roy wants to battle in front of Dot's door before he disagrees. However, after remembering Nidothing's advice about her comment, Liko decides to battle where they are after all, prompting Dot shout at her again. Roy, excited to hear Dot's voice for the first time, tells Dot about the cloth and the wild Spearow, but she is not interested in that.

Liko: Hey, Dot, what are you interested in?

Dot: an ancient Poke Ball housing a shiny Rayquaza.

Ash: I think that's a way of saying she's into mystical things no one has seen before.

Liko: We might be closer than she thinks!

Our trio of heros share a laugh.

Liko tells Roy when she tried to get a peek into the secret cupboard, Alcremie was there and cover her in cream. Roy likes this and rushes over to get some too, though Liko didn't like it one bit.

Liko thanks Dot before walking off, Ash following.

As the sun rises, Friede and Captain Pikachu are asleep at the steering wheel when Cap sees land. The Rising Volt Tacklers have arrived at Paldea.