What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

The Bittersweet Truth

The Brave Olivine docks on the outskirts of Motorstoke, "Bad news, gang." Friede sat at the head of the table in the meeting room, "Trains to Hammerlocke don't leave until tomorrow. We'll just have to hang around here for today."

"if that's the case," Murdock's Rotom Phone floated towards Ash, Liko and Roy showcasing Dot's face on videocall. "I need you guys to visit Motorstoke's Battle Café. I need some Slurpuff cotton candy for my next Nidothing video."

"Sure thing, Dot!" Roy said, "While we're there, I can ask around about the Black Rayquaza!"

"And I wanna visit Motorstoke." Ash added, "I never got a chance to really explore Galar."

"You kiddos shouldn't go into a whole new city alone." Murdock said, "I'll go with you."

The four trainers head into town, stopping a nearby shop so Murdock can buy ingredients that Liko helps him pick out. Ash is soon swarmed by a crowd of fans, although it wasn't the first one today. Still, Ash puts on a smile and takes selfies and gives out his autographs.

"Kid, for the last time I've never seen a Black Rayquaza in my life!" Ash heard from afar, "Now please leave me alone!"

Ash broke away from the fans as Roy walks towards him dejectedly, "Another no, Roy?" Ash asked.

"Yeah," Roy nodded, "Was that another round of fans?"

"Yeah," Ash sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, "At least i'm getting used carrying a pen around."

"Pika, Pi." Pikachu remarked.

"I think I'll just ask Kabu, this town's Gym Leader." Roy decided, "He's from Hoenn, so he's gotta know something."

"Ooo, a Gym Leader?" Ash perked up, "Sweet! Maybe I can battle him!"

"I think that'd be pretty cool!" Roy replied.

Ash felt a sense of guilt wash over him, "Hey Roy? I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise. I didn't have a good way of hiding myself, and I didn't wanna pass up on exploring more of Galar."

"Don't beat yourself up about it, I get it. You're the freaking World Monarch!" Roy responded, "Plus, I know you not someone who can hide away."

The group then arrive at the Battle Café, Murdock grabs a nearby menu and looks through it. "That's odd, the Slurpuff cotton candy isn't on the menu."

Ash spots someone in a baker uniform finishing up a battle with a customer, "Dot must need it cause people like it, so you can;t just buy it. Maybe it's a reward for winning a battle!"

"Hey, Ash's right!" Liko searched up the cotton candy on her Rotom Phone, "In order to get the Slurpuff cotton candy, you have to win a battle against the head chef. But it won't be easy, cause the head chef can only be battled once a day."

"Well, I'll just battle him!" Ash declared.

"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed.

"Did I hear another battle request?" the man in the baker uniform approached the group, gasping upon seeing Ash. "The World Monarch?! In my shop?! Why, normally I only battle one person a day, and I just battled a customer. But, I'll happily make an excaption for you, my good sir!"

Mrudock looked into the man's eyes and recognized him, "Mitchell?!"

"Murdock?' Mitchell responded, his smile quickly forming into a glare, "Actually, I already battled my one person today, so I'll have to decline. You may think you're better now that you're buddy-buddy with the World Monarch, but you're not."

Murdock's Alcremie offers Mitchell some of her cream, "No thank you!" Mitchell exclaimes before storming off. Alcremie shrinks in sadness at the rejection.

"Okay, Mitchell was about to let Ash battle for the cotton candy before he saw Murdock." ROy observed, "Why'd he change his mind?"

"I think he's still angry." Murdock explained, "A long time ago, we used to be friends."

"What happened?"

Murdock sighed, knowing the children would persist until he relented, "We used to run a pastry together. I made ruby-cream cakes while he made matcha cakes. We had a friendly rivalry going on and our mascot Pokemon, Milcery used its whipped cream to help both of us. Then one day, Milcery evolved into a Ruby Swirl Alcremie. My pastries excelled while Mitchell's fell behind. Eventually we had a big fight and I left the shop. I understand now that Mitchell would've wanted Milcery to evolve into a Matcha Cream Alcremie,  but I'm not sure what to say to him now."

Liko notices Mitchell eavesdropping  on them as Alcremie still remains shurnken. "How about you and I battle him together? You'll find what to say then."

Murdock hesitates before nodding, "Alright fine," Mitchell revealed himself, "But I should warn you, I usually go easy on my usual customers. But, I wanted to go all out against the World Monarch, and I still intend to even if I'm not battling him."

Sprigatito and Alcreamie face off against Slurpuff and Appletun. Sprigatito immediately gets immobilized by a Cottom Spore hy Slurpuff and attacked with Appletun's Apple Acid. Alcremie uses Acid Armor to protect herself from Appletun's attack then frees Sprigatito by abosrbing Cotton Spore onto herself. Alcreamie uses Decorate on Sprigatito to power her up. Sprigatito then strikes both of Mitchell's Pokemon with a powered-up Scratch. Slurpuff and Appletun get back up and start pouring out ingredients for Mitchell, which Murdock responds by whisking some of Alcremie's whipped cream.

The children gawk at the adults, "Did the battle just turn into a bake-off?!" Roy exclaimed in surprise.

"Aw man, I was just getting into it!" Ash whined, "But, I am starting to get hungry..."

Liko looks on, seeing how Mitchell and Murdock are much happier baking than battling. Seeing the sight makes Liko smile too. "Liko, top this off with some of Sprigatito's Leafage!" Murdock requested. Liko smiles and shares a nod with Sprigatito. Her partner tops both pastries off with sprinking Leafage leaves.

"Oh my," Murdock and Mitchell began to notice the Pokemon absent on the battlefield and by their side on the baking table. "Looks like we went a little out-of-hand."

"Yeah, but look at how happy Alcremie is." Liko pointed out, "She just wanted bake with both of you again."

"You're right," Murdock realized before facing his old friend, "Mitchell, I never realixed how alone you felt when Alcremie evolved, and I'm sorry for not considering what you were going through."

Mitchell responds by heading back inside and returning whilst holding a slice of matcha cake that Murdock recognizes. "You still bake that matcha cake?"

"We have a secret menu and this matcha cake is on it." Mitchell explained, "Alcremie, would you please dispense some of your whipped cream?"

Alcremie happily obliges, "As I mastered my craft, I realized that my previous inability to blend Alcremie's whipped cream with my pastries was due to my own lack-of skill." Mitchell continues as tears begin to fell from his eyes. "So please Murdock, tell me I don't have to feel bad about this anymore! That we can still be friends!"

Murdock begins to tear up as well, "The past is in the past, old friend!"

The two men share a big hug with Alcremie as they simultaneously sob together whilst the children watch with a mutual smile. "I must say, that was a mighty Leafage." a voice from beind said.

"Well, thank you." Liko said as they group turned around to see none other than Kabu himself standing before them surronded by fans who are there to see both Kabu and Ash, some even egging them on to have a Pokemon battle.

"Gym Leader Kabu!" Mitchell quickly composed himself, "It's an honor to have both you and the World Monarch here!"

Ash and Roy gasped, "That's the Gym Leader?!"