What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

Quaxly, We Can Do It

"Thanks for being there for me, Quaxly." Dot seemed grateful.

Friede perks up and hands Dot a Poke Ball, "You'll be needing this." he smirked.

"But, I thought you already Quaxly." Ash said.

"I wasn't really interested in being a Pokemon Trainer until now." Dot explained before tossing the Poke Ball and capturing her own Quaxly.

"Quaxly's data has been registered to your Pokedex!"

"Alright, I say we split up, cover more ground." Friede suggested, spotting a billboard advertising a leaving cruise ship. "I'll check the docks, you guys search the rest of Levincia."

As Friede flies off on Charizard, Roy's Ancient Poke Ball begins to glow. "Hey, Ancient Poke Ball glowed when Liko's pendant was nearby last time." Roy recalled, "Liko's pendant must be close!"

The trainers split up and search around Levincia, evntually the trainers spot Quaxly's Water Gun shotting into the sky like a beacon. Ash, Liko and Roy follow it and find a different ship leaving port and hop onto it.

The trainers see Dot and Quaxly facing off against a Magneton. Quaxly is about to be defeated by an Electro Ball before Sprigatito strikes it with Quick attachk as Dot's friends arrive on the scene.

Liko recognizes the man standing beside Magneton, "Hey, that's the guy who stole my pendant!"

Oh, you're in trouble now buddy!" Ash declared with a glare, "If you mess with my friends, you mess with me!"

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

Beheeyem prepares to hypnotize Liko again, only for Fuecoco to use Ember to strike it. The Paldean starters and Pikachu stand tall against Beheeyem and Magneton. The opposing Pokemon strike with Psychic and Electro Ball that strikes Quaxly. But, Pikachu recovers for the team and jumps into the air to land an Iron Tail on Magneton's head. Sprigatito then uses Leafage to disorient Spinel's Pokemon and causes their next combined attack to fail and knocking Beheeyem out.

Magneton ascends as Fuecoco misses his Ember, Pikachu gains momentum with Quick Attack and jumps up to land another Iron Tail. Roy sends out Wattrel and has it use Peck, but it steps on Fuecoco's head in the process. Fuecoco prepares to use an Ember as revenge, Wattrel sees the fire ball and dodges it, allowing Magneton to take the hit. Wattrel and Fuecoco begin attacking each other, forcing Roy to step out of the fight to break them up as Magneton falls to the ground with spirals in its eyes.

"It's over!" Dot exclaimed, "Give us back Liko's pendant!"

"I will not stand for this!" Spinel shouted, rage clear in his eyes. He recalls his Pokemon and sends out his Umbreon.

Umbreon strikes the four Pokemon with Snarl, Quaxly attempts to stop it with Water Gun, but Snarl overpowers it and knocks out the Paldean Starters, only leaving Pikachu standing.

"Jokes on you. I've battled an Umbreon before!" Ash declared.

Before Pikachu can attack, Liko's pendant suddenly shines from within Spinel's pocket, making the Explorer-member stumble backward and drop the pendant. Pikachu scampers over and grabs it before returning it to Liko, much to her delight. Umbreon attempts to get the pendant back, only for Arboliva to reveal itself and glare down at Spinel.

"Fascinating..." Spinel said as his pupils dilated and be began to cackle again.

Ash pales upon seeing Spinel's facial expression, reminding him of how Lysandre lost his way. Umbreon and Spinel back off as Arboliva acts as a boat and sails the children away from the ship.

The children reunite with Friede on the Brave Olivine as it flies away from Paldea and begins its voyage to Galar. Dot and Liko sit on the deck as Ash sits nearby, clearly lost in thought. "Thanks for coming to save me, Liko." Dot said.

Liko smiled, "That's what friends are for!"

"Hey, can I tell you something?" Dot asked.

"Sure!" Liko replied.

"I'm Nidothing." Dot said bluntly.

Liko laughed, believing it to be a joke, but when Dot's facial expression doesn't change, she realizes Dot is serious. Liko and Sprigatito immediately scream, as Dot covers her ears. "Ash, can you help me calm her down?"

Dot looks over and sees Ash staring off into the sky, "Pika..." Pikachu seemed worried. Dot shushes Liko and draws her attention to their friend. "Hey Ash, are you okay?" Dot asked.

Ash perks up, immediately pasting a fake smile onto his face, "Oh yeah, I'm fine!"

"You don't seem fine." Dot responded, "Wanna talk about it?"

Ash sighs, "That Spinel guy just reminded me of someone. Someone I met when i was doing the Gym Challenge in Kalos. His name was Lysandre and he lead an evil team called Team Flare. he wanted to wipe out everyone because he wanted to create a new world. And I saw him go crazy, and when Spinel saw Arboliva, I remembered him."

"But, we're still here, aren't we?" Liko asked, "That means you stopped him!"

"Yeah," Ash nodded, "But he never changed, i think that'll happen again."

Liko places her hand on her chin, thinking of a way to take Ash's mind off this. "Hey Ash, i saw Roy caught that Wattrel, does that mean you won the bet?"

Ash perks up, "Oh yeah! That means you owe me 20 Pokedollars, Liko!"

Liko giggles and hands Ash the money, the World Monarch smiles gratefully, "Thanks for that, Liko."

Liko smiled, "Anytime, Ash."