Ash, Liko and Roy turn and see Kabu with a crowd of fans surronding him
Kabu: That Leafage was pretty powerful, little lady!
As Roy is about to ask about the Black Rayquaza, Kabu goes for a run back to the Motostoke Stadium, with Liko, Ash and Roy following behind.
Roy: Wait! I have something to ask you!
Ash: And I wanna battle you!
The three arrive and are greeted by Wakaba, a Gym Trainer apprentice.
Wakaba: Well, I can't believe my eyes! The World Monarch is here at the gym, but you don't need a badge!
Ash: Doesn't mean I can't fight the gym leader!
Wakaba takes Ash, Liko and Roy to Kabu
Wakaba: Y'know Kabu's someone who works very hard.
Ash: Just like me!
Roy: I can work hard too!
Liko also observes how much in common Wakaba has with Roy and Ash. The group meets up with Kabu at the battlefield, where he is doing some stretches. Ash, Roy and Liko ask about the Black Rayquaza, Roy showing Kabu the Poke Ball it came out of, and Liko wanting to find out more about the Legendary Pokemon for bringing her as far as she's come.
Seeing the resolve of the two young Trainers, Kabu puts them through a training test to strengthen their partners' basic moves in creative ways. Liko and Roy must compete against each other to either extinguish or light up the flames on a group of Litwick, with the one who manages to do so on every Litwick present before the other being declared the winner.
Ash: Hey, why can't I be a part of this?
Kabu: Your the World Monarch, you don't need a training test.
Ash: So does that mean we can battle?
Kabu: I'm not one to deny a challenge, especially from the Monarch, how bout a 1 on 1 after this? only fire types.
Ash: I don't have a fire type with me...
Kabu: Have you ever caught one?
Ash: Yeah I have, loads! let me see which one I'll pick and I'll make a call!
Ash runs off
During the competition, Liko has Sprigatito use Leafage in different ways depending on how fast or tough their candles are to blow out. Kabu, Ash and Wakaba admire Liko and Sprigatito. Roy, noticing the score going down, has Fuecoco keep on using Ember at a rapid pace. However, Fuecoco soon tires out and gets hungry, so a snack break is taken. After Roy gets some reassurance from Kabu, the competition is resumed. Liko has Sprigatito use Leafage like before, while Roy and Fuecoco recover from their struggle, turning the tables on Liko lighting more Litwick candles. Liko sees a bunch of Litwick huddled up together, but after seeing Roy's renewed confidence, Liko stops to admire his progress for a crucial moment, which costs her the competition.
Seeing how Liko and Roy are improving, Kabu challenges them to Tag Battle, with Wakaba as his partner.
Liko: but, aren't you supposed to battle Ash?
Ash: I can wait, the next best thing than being part of a battle, is watching one!
The battle begins, with Liko's Sprigatito and Roy's Fuecoco facing Kabu's Centiskorch and Wakaba's Rolycoly. Fuecoco starts with Ember on Centiskorch, but its Flash Fire Ability cancels it out. After an ineffective Leafage from Sprigatito, Centiskorch strikes back with Flame Wheel and Bug Bite, while an intimidated Wakaba can only watch. Liko commands Sprigatito to blind Centiskorch with a big Leafage and run in with Fuecoco using Quick Attack and Tackle, respectively. However, Centiskorch fires a Flamethrower straight ahead, blowing them back hard and leaving Liko afraid for her partner getting hurt. Roy sings with Fuecoco, giving it the strength to get up as Centiskorch charges for another Flamethrower. Roy commands Fuecoco to counter with Ember, but it uses a newly-learned Flamethrower instead. However, it is still not enough to overpower Centiskorch, whose Flamethrower knocks it out.
Seeing Roy's partner fainted, Kabu leaves Liko to Wakaba. Sprigatito overpowers Rolycoly's Smack Down with Leafage. Next, Wakaba commands Rolycoly to use Rapid Spin, which Sprigatito dodges and hits Rolycoly with a sharp Leafage. Seeing Wakaba's frustration and determination to win, Liko suddenly forfeits the match. Upset by the possibility winning by default without actually getting stronger, Wakaba runs off. Kabu speaks with Liko about her hesitance stemming from her compassion for others' feelings, having noticed that she let Roy win in the training before too. He claims that Liko must also think of how hard their opponent works, not to mention her own partner, who doesn't want to hold back either. With that advice, Liko goes to apologize to Wakaba, who also apologizes for lashing out at her.
Kabu: Alright World Monarch, you have your pokemon ready?
Roy: He probably chose something strong like a Charizard!
Liko: Maybe he's got like an Infernape?
Ash: i have both, but I chose neither! Come on out!
Ash sends out his Torkoal
Roy: Oh...That doesn't look very strong
Kabu: Looks aren't everything, let the battle begin!
The battle begins, and Ash starts things off with Heat Wave, Kabu has Centiskorch use smokescreen to blind Ash and Torkoal, then attacking with a flamethrower, knocking Torkoal down, but Ash recovers by using an Iron Defense to trick Centiskorch into getting a free it, only for him to have Torkoal wait for Centiskorch to get in close and hit it with a point blank Body Slam, dealing damage, Ash calls for Flamethrower, but Kabu has Centiskorch use Coil to trap Torkoal and it uses Bug Bite, Ash uses this to his advantage by having Torkoal use FlameThrower right in Centiskorch's face's throwing both Pokemon back onto their opposite sides of the field, Kabu then decides to Gigantamax Centiskorch, thinking Ash couldn't figure out a way to counter that, but Ash goes into his backpack and puts on his dynamax band and he Dynamaxes Torkoal, and the two Pokemon clash and in the end Torkoal defeats Centiskorch, making Ash the winner.
Ash and Kabu shake hands
Kabu: I expected nothing better from the World Monarch.
Roy and Liko run up to Ash
Roy: Ash that was amazing!
Liko: You're so skilled!
Ash: Thanks guys!
Ash returns Torkoal, and just as he's about to send it back to Professor Oak, he decides to send Pidgeot back as well, he doesn't need it anymore, and he wants a team of new Pokemon to catch, a condition his Quaxly fits nicely under, so he transfers both Pidgeot and Torkal back to Professor Oak, leaving him with just two Pokemon in his party.
Kabu: I did see the Black Rayquaza several days ago during my morning run, flying over Motostoke before heading west, towards the Galar Mine.
When Liko and Roy return to the Brave Asagi, the Rising Volt Tacklers decide to delay their planned trip to Hammerlocke to check out the mine first, while Liko is left in deep thought by Kabu's departing words of finding her own path.
I had a lot of fun writing Ash vs Kabu
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What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?
FanfictionJust a fun what if senario if Ash was invited to the Indigo Academy and met Liko and Roy, since Ash's last series just ended I thought, Why not? I'm not saying that "This is how HZ should've been" or that I "fixed Horizons" This is just a fanfic I m...
