What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

The Lonely Hatenna

Ash and Liko sit at a table on a video call with Ann before class starts. "Oh, and by the way I caught another Pokemon!" Ann announced, a Sandshrew appeared on camera.

"Oh wow, a Sandshrew!" Ash beamed, "Congrats, Ann!"

"Yeah, that's really cool." Liko responded, feeling unsure of herself as she only has Sprigatito.

After class ends, both trainers join Roy and Friede as they all head to the Galar Mine Kabu had told them about. "I'm gonna catch the Black Rayquaza for sure this time!" Roy eagerly planned out.

"You think so?" Ash asked.

"Yeah, I do." Roy nodded, "Do you not believe in me or something?"

"No, I do." Ash explained himself, "It's just that another friend of mine wanted Mew to be his first Pokemon when he was starting his journey."

"Mew, as in the Mythical Pokemon?" Friede asked, "And he wanted it to be his very first Pokemon?"

"Yeah," Ash nodded, "He's more skilled now and he still hasn't caught it. So I'm just saying it's okay if it doesn't happen today."

"But, your friend's not here." Roy pointed out, "He could've caught Mew by now!"

"Well if he did, my Rotom Phone would be going crazy right now." Ash explained, "Trust me, he would want everyone to know."

The trainers soon come across an arrow sign, "So which way do we go?" Roy asked.

"Maybe that way?" Liko pointed to the right, the others believing in her judgement and heading in that direction.

As the trainers are walking, it starts to rain. The trainers duck into a nearby mountain hut to avoid being soaked. As the trainers wait inside, Liko hears something coming from a crate. She peeks inside to find a scared Pokemon colored pink-and-blue whilst donning a small hat hiding away.

"Who's that Pokemon?" Liko pulled out her Rotom Phone and scanned the Pokemon. "Hatenna, the Calm Pokémon. A Psychic type. It can pick up on the feelings of others. Sensing strong emotions for an extended period of time can leave it exhausted, so care is recommended."

the other trainers peek into the crate and see the Hatenna, Ash makes eye contact with it and recognizes the Pokemon instantly. "Hey, it's you!"

"Pika!" Pikachu seemed happy to see an old friend.

The Hatenna smiles at Ash and lets out a happy noise,  "You know the Hatenna?" Liko asked.

"Yeah," Ash nodded, "This Hatenna helped me out when my friend Brock got hynotized by a Hatterene!"

Liko looks at Hatenna, "I think something's wrong." She concluded, "We should take it to Mollie."

"Doesn't that mean we'd have to go through the rain to get back?" Roy asked.

"Yeah, but if the Pokemon needs help, we should get it help." Ash responded.

The trainers dash through the rain to make it back to the Brave Olivine Liko shelters Hatenna in her jacket as she and Ash enter the infirmary and hand Hatenna off to Mollie for examination.

"Hatenna seems fine, at least physically." Mollie concluded, "It just seems a little sad. Ash, you said you befriended it before, right?"

Ash nodded, "Yeah."

"Then you should look after it until the storm dies down," Mollie suggests.

Ash thinks for a moment before smiling at Liko, "Actually, I think Liko should look after it."

"Really?" Liko asked.

"I mean, you were the one who thought Hatenna needed help." Ash pointed out, "And you carried Hatenna all the way back here."

Liko smiled, "Well, in that case. I'd love to look after Hatenna."

The trainer hear shouting from Dot's room and go to investigate, "Is everything okay, Dot?" Liko asked as she opened the door.

"Yeah," Dot sighed, "It's just these hate comments I'm getting are so- ugh!"

Hatenna whimpers at Dot's emotions and runs out of the room. "Wait, Hatenna, come back!" Liko calls out as she, Ash and Dot chase after it. Soon, Hatenna is out of sight as they run into Roy.

"What's going on with you guys?" Roy asked.

"Hatenna ran off," Liko explained, "Can you help us look for her?"

"Yeah, of course." Roy thought for a moment, "I actually have an idea to make her come to us!"

Roy sets a box trap filled with Pokemon food, "Hatenna will get hungry, smell the food and I'll drop the box onto her."

The box falls not too long after Roy sets it up, "Yes, I got her!" Roy lifts the box only to see Fuecoco innocently munching down on the Pokemon food. "Fuecoco!" Roy scolded his partner Pokemon.

Liko watches as Roy scolds Fuecoco and Dot tries to calm him down, she begins to walk off which Ash notices. "Hey Liko, where're you going?" Ash asked.

"Just somewhere to think." Liko answered, "C'mon, I think we need a break."

Ash and Liko arrive at the observation deck, "I remember how overwhelmed I was when we arrived on the Brave Olivine during the storm."

"Yeah, that was a rough day," Ash reminisced.

"So, I understand how Hatenna feels. Being in a whole new place with new Pokemon and people she doesn't know." Liko said, "I hope I can show her that."

Liko suddenly feels added weight in her hood as a Pokemon jumps onto her, she looks in her hood to find Hatenna resting happily inside. "Hey, you brought Hatenna to us!" Ash exclaimed, "I think Hatenna realized how much you understood her!"

Ash, Liko, Roy and Friede stand outside the Brave Olivine the next day. The sun shines above them alongside a clear sky as they send Hatenna off. Hatenna begins to walk away before Sprigatito stops her and begins to meow at her, causing Hatenna to respond.

"What's Sprigatito doing?" Liko wondered.

"Talking to Hatenna," Ash answered.

Hatenna suddenly jumps into Liko's arms. "Wait, do you wanna stay with me?" Liko asked.

"I knew it!" Ash exclaimed, "The way you helped her come out of hiding by sharing your own feelings told me you two are meant to be together! All you need now is a Poke Ball!" Ash hands her one of his spare Poke Balls in his bag, "Here!"

Liko takes the Poke Ball from Ash and Hatenna presses the center button, the Poke Ball shakes thrice before clicking shut. "Hatenna's data has been registered to your Pokedex!" Liko's Rotom Phone said.

"You've got a knack for understanding what Pokemon feel, Liko." Friede remarked.

"Really?" Liko asked, "Then, maybe that's the kind of trainer I wanna be. A trainer that understands the feelings of Pokemon."

"Sweet!" Ash exclaimed, "You wanna master understanding how Pokemone feel, and I wanna be friends with every Pokemon to be a Pokemon Master! We can help each other out!"

Friede chuckled, "Well for now we should check out what you guys said is in the Galar Mine."

With that, the trainers set off for the Galar Mine to find out what Kabu said may be inside, Meanwhile, up in Galar's skies, a hot-air balloon in the shape of a Meowth flies with the wind.

"Finally!" Jessie exclaimed, "Back in Galar to steal from some twerps!"

"Yes!" James added on, "It's only a matter of time before we defeat those twerps and steal not only Pikachu, but the new Twerpette's pendant and those Ancient Poke Balls!"

Meowth rolled his eyes, "We woulda got here sooner if your little Capsakid didn't use dat little tooth of its to pop our balloon every five seconds!"

"Well how was I supposed to know when it found a way to come out of its Poke Ball?!" James responded defensively.

"Wobbuffet!"