What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

Quaxly, We Can Do It

Liko, Roy, Dot, Ash and Friede decide to begin their counterattack against the thief who took Liko's pendant, but before that...

Dot: Quaxly, I just wanna thank you for being with me.

hearing this, Friede pulls out a Poké Ball.

Roy: Wait What?

Liko: I thought she already caught Quaxly?

Ash: I did too!

Dot: Well, I wasn't interested in being a trainer, but I want Quaxly to be my partner!

She throws the Poké Ball, though poorly that Quaxly has to let itself get caught.

With the culprit behind Liko's pendant still on the run, the Rising Volt Tacklers decide to split up in order to find them before they manage to get away. Wondering how the culprit might make their escape, a billboard advertising a leaving cruise prompts them to head to the docks to intercept the ship, though they are too late to get onboard. Friede manages to drop in with his Charizard, where they're greeted by a mysterious man who pulls out a Bisharp, making Friede believe he's found the culprit. Meanwhile, the other members, barring Ludlow, tell the kids to stay put, the they go off to search.

Liko: My pendant was the one that brought us all together....

The Ancient Poké Ball starts shining, making them realize that her pendant must be nearby. They split to pinpoint the location.

Ash, Liko and Roy are searching, when they see Quaxly's water gun in the air, causing them to go over to the location of Dot and Quaxly.

As the ship is about to leave, Roy jumps on, so does Ash, and Liko, though nervous, jumps for Roy's hand just in time.

Spinel then orders Magneton to use Electro Ball on Quaxly before expressing disappointment in Dot, believing her to be a capable Trainer. Before he could have them finish the pair off, Sprigatito bumps in with Quick Attack, Liko, Ash and Roy making it to Dot's position to give her a hand.

Liko: That's the guy who stole my pendant!

Ash: Oh, you're in trouble now buddy, if you mess with my friends, you mess with me!

Spinel: Ooo, The World Monarch thinks he can do something, you don't scare me, I'll just give Liko here another memory wipe.

Roy steps in and has Fuecoco use Ember. After some encouragement from Roy and Dot, Liko confidently stands up to Spinel, standing together with her three friends and all four of their partners against Beheeyem and Magneton.

Spinel orders Beheeyem and Magneton to use a joint Psychic-Electro Ball attack which hits Quaxly, but then Piakchu hits Magneton with an Iron Tail.

Formulating an idea of how to deal with an attack like that, Liko orders Sprigatito to use Leafage, causing Spinel's Pokémon to flinch and their next combined attack to fail.

Ash and Roy then target Magneton, Spinel orders Magneton to ascend, which Roy has Fuecoco try to hit with Ember to no avail, but Ash has Pikachu use a Quick Attack-Iron Tail combo to gain momentum to reach Magneton and do some damage.]

Roy then brings out his Wattrel to use Peck. In the process, Wattrel steps on Fuecoco's head, angering it as it launches another Ember. As Wattrel prepares to attack, it notices the fireball from behind and dodges it, resulting in Magneton getting hit by the attack instead. Wattrel, upset by the unintentional friendly fire, begins fighting with Fuecoco, forcing Roy to leave to break them up.

Dot: It's over, give back the pendant!

Spinel becomes uncharacteristically angry seeing Beheeyem and Magneton had fainted, this time ordering his Umbreon out with Snarl, which Quaxly tries to stop with Water Gun but it is too powerful for every Pokemon except Pikachu, but he's taken quite a bit of damage.

Spinel apologizes to Umbreon for having to send it out to fight weaklings, while the group note that it's on another level. Regardless, thinking of all the times her pendant has saved her, Liko resolves to do the same for it. while Ash keeps the battle going.

Ash: I've got some Umbreon experience! Piakchu! use-

Just then, the pendant responds to Liko's resolve and determination, shooting up a huge beam of light that Liko follows. Blinded by the light, Spinel walks out of his van with the case in tow, and he ends up dropping it. Sprigatito retrieves the pendant for an overjoyed Liko. Spinel orders Umbreon to intercept, but suddenly Arboliva emerges and angrily stares at him. Spinel, appearing to lose his sanity, is intrigued by what he's seeing before Umbreon begins tugging at his coat sleeve, making him return to reality and realize that he's outmatched, so he backs away.

Ash sees the way Spinel looked when it saw Arboliva, giving him reminders of Lysandere....

Arboliva extends its arms to Liko, who hops on and thanks it. Do, Ash and Roy arrive, and Liko urges them to get on Arboliva. Arboliva then falls into the water and begins swimming back to shore, where they meet up with the rest of the crew.

On the Brave Asagi, Dot goes over to Liko on the deck, while Ash is close by, lost in thought.

Dot: Thanks for coming to save me.

Liko: Of course! That's what friends are for!

Dot: Can I tell you something?

Liko: Sure! What is it?

Dot:.....I'm Nidothing!

This revelation shocking both Liko and Sprigatito beyond words, Ash however...

Ash: Wow, crazy...did not see that coming.

Liko shakes off her shock and goes over to Ash.

Liko: Hey, is everything okay?

Ash: Yeah, just some bad memories of the past came up, that's all.

Liko: Do you wanna...talk about it?

Ash thinks, before saying.

Ash: It was back when I was taking on the gym challenge in Kalos, there was this guy, led his own evil team, and wanted to wipe out the population, I saw him lose his mind for his goal, and when I saw the Explorer guy after your pendant sent out Arboliva, I remembered him.

Liko: But we're still here, you stopped him, didn't you?

Ash: I did, but he went so mad he lost his life....

Liko decides to find a way to take Ash's mind off of it, but how? Liko remembers seeing Roy's new Wattrel, and remembers their bet.

Liko: Say Ash, I saw Roy caught the Wattrel, and it's still the same day we made that bet, so that means...

Ash remembers this and starts to smile.

Ash: Oh yeah! You owe me 20 Pokemon Dollars Liko!

Liko reaches into her bag and brings out the money.

Liko: Alright! Alright! Here!

Liko hands Ash the money and they laugh, Dot smiling as she watches them.

Ash: Hey, Liko, thanks for that, I needed something else to think about.

Liko: Anytime Ash, anytime.