What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

As Long as I'm With My Friends

Ash, Liko and Roy head to Dot's door

Ash: Hey Dot, you wanna have a battle?

Dot: No, I'm gathering info.

Going to Mollie for a check up on her Pokemon, Liko tells her that while she is worried about Dot, she still doesn't want to be a bother. Mollie however, believes that overthinking every possible outcome can lead to just doing nothing, and that dealing with problems head-on is the best solution sometimes. As Dot contacts Liko and Mollie to get ready, the latter offers to look after the ship with Diana and Ludlow.

Arriving at the Wild Area, Liko marvels at all the Pokemon around her.

Ash: Impressive Huh? This place is home to Pokemon not just in Galar!

Seeing what looks to be a long snake-like Pokemon in the woods, Roy checks it out thinking it's Rayquaza. However, it turns out to be an Onix instead. Terapagos tries to follow the Rock Snake Pokemon as it leaves, but Liko stops it. Seeing this, Roy thinks Terapagos might be able to tell if Rayquaza is nearby. Roy tries to call Dot, who startles him, Ash and Liko when she shows up behind them.

Arriving near a lake,

Dot: This should be where the person who found the Rayquaza should be.

However, there is no one around, meaning the info was fake. Wanting to keep everyone's spirits up, Murdock proposes having fun while there are here, but Dot wants to go back to the ship. Liko tries to stop her, but Dot points out her shame for letting this happen once before and putting Liko in danger for it. Dot starts to feel mad at herself, and the strong emotions from her fit of frustration causes Hatenna to run off, prompting Liko, Dot and Roy to run after her. Hatenna stops her sprint at the edge of the lake, where she becomes overwhelmed at being separated from the others. Just as the kids arrive to find her, a large Drednaw emerges from the lake. After Liko scans it with her Pokedex, she notices that Terapagos is gone before seeing it go near Drednaw. When the Bite Pokemon opens its mouth, Roy has Fuecoco step in to save Terapagos from its jaws, but it is just yawning. After Drednaw interacts with both Quaxlys and Hatenna, an Ingredients Seller appears, surprised at this normally hostile Drednaw warming up to the kids, and Ash recongizes him.

Ash: Hey it's you!

Seller: Yes it is! I remember you! I helped you and your friend, wow who knew I helped out the future World Monarch, hey I hope you don't mind, but...

The Seller pulls out his Rotom Phone and a photo of Ash with his winning Team, meaning he wants a photo and an autograph

Ash: Oh yeah, of course

Ash pulls out his pen and signs the photo, and he and Pikachu poses for the photo with the Seller.

Meanwhile at the Explorers' base, Onyx and Agate sit quietly at a table while Sango flies around the room on her Glalie. She bumps into Garganacl and falls onto the ground, prompting Onyx to scold her for having no self-control. Spinel steps into the room, revealing that he was the one who gave the fake information to Dot once again, just as Hamber and Amethio arrive as well, Team Rocket listening in through the device.

With the table set up, Murdock is ready to prepare delicious Curry using the ingredients the kids got from the Seller. However, Dot insists that she has her own food to eat. When Roy, Ash and Liko question Dot about not liking Curry, she is quick to admit that she's never had it before, to the shock of Liko, Ash and especially Roy. Hearing this, Liko eagerly insists that Dot lets her make her first Curry, and everyone agrees. Liko starts to feel like she might have scared Dot out of it when she decides to head back to the ship, but quickly smiles upon hearing that she's going to get Mollie, Diana and Ludlow to come down and join too. While peeling some vegetables, Liko notices how Roy cuts his ingredients into tiny pieces, unlike how she prefers using large, chunky pieces, and Ash cuts weird, uneven pieces. Seeing how Liko, Ash and Roy have different tastes, Murdock proposes making Roy's Curry alongside Liko's; a Curry battle. While Roy goes off to get his ingredients, and makes Ash assist him. Liko takes Dot with her for assistance as the others prepare the rice in the meantime. Roy and Ash gather some spicy Cheri Berries from a tree, only for a Greedent to swipe them by fooling Fuecoco into giving it each one that drops. Roy comes down to confront the Greedy Pokemon, and when its innocent eyes don't fool him, it calls upon a Skwovet army that attacks and engulfs Fuecoco. Luckily, Ash calls on his Pikachu and Quaxly to attack, Pikachu with Thunderbolt, and his Quaxly with Water Gun, they drive the skwovet away, although Greedent gets away with the Cheri Berries.

With their Berries gathered, Liko and Roy get to making their respective Curry. They add the ingredients they chopped up before adding the Berries they picked and heating it up. Dot helps out too, stirring the pot as best she can. Liko and Roy then encourage Dot about the last step; lots of love, which makes her blush hard. With both Curries complete, everyone enjoys the tastes of their dishes, making the competition end in a draw. Liko goes for seconds, Dot admits that she never cared what she ate as long she just her nutrients. She points out there was so much she thought she understood and overlooked at the same time. After some reassurance from Liko, Dot tries some of Roy's Curry.

With their Berries gathered, Liko and Roy get to making their respective Curry. They add the ingredients they chopped up before adding the Berries they picked and heating it up. Ash and Dot help out too, stirring the pot as best she can. Liko, Ash and Roy then encourage Dot about the last step; lots of love, which makes her blush hard. With both Curries complete, everyone enjoys the tastes of their dishes, making the competition end in a draw. Liko goes for seconds, Dot admits that she never cared what she ate as long she just her nutrients. She points out there was so much she thought she understood and overlooked at the same time. After some reassurance from Liko, Dot tries some of Roy's Curry.

As Zirc waits outside with Onia, watching a Nidothing video, all of the Explorer admins go over what they know about the pendant that has turned into Terapagos, as well as how it made contact with three of the six heroes. Onyx and Sango suggest taking on the Rising Volt Tacklers, but Spinel, having witnessed the pendant's power, thinks that resorting to force is risky and that they should just monitor them for now. Amethio agrees with Spinel, explaining that Arboliva and Galarian Moltres were not awakened by Terapagos, but rather by Rayquaza. He then proposes making Rayquaza their first priority in order to stay ahead of the Rising Volt Tacklers, which everyone goes along with, they also agree to find away to get Team Rocket out of the picture, seeing them as nothing but useless pests, which angers the eavesdropping Trio.

Walking back to the Brave Asagi after a fun day in the Wild Area, Dot asks Liko why she was acting surprisingly pushy today. Liko bashfully replies that she had to stop her, pointing out that making Curry was her idea of making Dot feel better about the false info unknowingly provided by Spinel. Dot hesitantly thanks Liko for what she did for her. She wanted to be helpful others, but was so hard on herself. Hearing this, Liko just calls it a surprise and compliments Dot on how she was helping them out so much already. Both girls talk about how much fun they had in the Wild Area. Back on the ship, Dot gets to looking over the info on Rayquaza. Liko wonders what they can do, and Roy proposes that this time, they can ask about the ancient Poke Balls. Diana says that she knows someone who runs an antique shop who could help identify them, so the group decides to head there next.

Ash: Um, guys, if we're doing out into the public, I'm gonna need a new pen, mine's out of Ink...