What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

Lapras's Feelings for its Friends

Terapagos lets out a happy sound as it spots Lapras. Lapras seems to react to Terapagos, comfirming to Liko that this Lapras is one of the Six Heroes. Lapras turns away from them and has its crew board the Brave Olivine. Ash, Liko and Roy share a nod before confronting the intruders.

Sprigatito uses Leafage, Fuecoco strikes with Ember and Pikachu unleashes a Thunderbolt. The opposing Pokemon endure the attacks before Diana's Arcanine enters the battle and strikes with Extreme Speed. Friede's Charizard lends a hand by using Air Slash on Toadscruel and Ambipom, Arcanine strikes Slowbro with Flamethrower, Cap uses Thunder Punch on Vigoroth, Fuecoco and Sprigatito strike Bibarel with Tackle and Scratch, and Pikachu uses Thunderbolt against Octillery and Barbaracle.

Lapras scoffs as the Rising Volt Tacklers hold their own. The Hero Pokemon lets out a cry and its crew begins to hop off the ship and retreat.

"They're not getting away," Friede declared, "We're going after them."

"I have an idea," Ash suddenly said, "Liko, Roy, I'll need you with me. C'mon!"

Ash leads Liko and Roy to the edge of the deck, finding Ash's own Lapras waiting beside the Brave Olivine awaiting Ash's commands. "We'll get closer to Lapras if we use mine! Let's go!" Ash jumped onto Lapras' back and Liko and Roy mimic his actions. "Alright Lapras, after them!"

Ash's Lapras lets out a loud cry and swims after Lapras as Ash calls Friede so the two groups can stay connected. The Brave Olivine begins to follow Ash's Lapras as Friede does some research aboard the ship. "Lapras is usually known to help lost voyagers, but this time, it was deceiving them instead."

"That appears to be the case," Diana added on, "It must've used Mist to make ships get lost at sea."

"But, didn't Lapras save us with its song?" Roy asked.

"That must've been part of its plan too!" Ash exclaimed.

"We also found evidence of a Wailord nearby. Looks like Lapras was using that song as a distraction so that its crew can sneak onboard and steal our food." Friede declared.

Liko gasped, "A Hero Pokemon would steal?!"

Ash's Lapras lets out a sad noise, making Ash wince on her behalf, "Never meet your heroes." he muttered.

"That crew we meet earlier never realized that Lapras was behind their lost cargo." Friede continued, "Even though the Pokemon with Lapras aren't even native to the sea."

"And thar shaking they felt after Lapras arrived must've been the work of Waillord." Diana added. "I must say, it's impressive Lapras was able to gather all those Pokemon from different regions. Those Lapras Pirates have some good teamwork."

"Cool name!" Ash chuckled.

"But why would Lapras even do someting so bad?" Liko asked.

"Maybe you should find out how Lapras feels." Diana recommended.

Both Ash's Lapras and the Brave Olivine catch up to the Lapras Pirates. The crew stand off against the Rising Volt Tacklers and fire off a Water Gun at the group, Ash responds by having both his Lapras and Quaxly use Water Gun as a counter. Ludlow's Quagsire suddenly jumps out of the ship and blocks the opposing Water Guns with Surf, allowing the Rising Volt Tacklers to get closer. Before Lapras calls off the attack and retreating with its crew before freezing the Brave Olivine in place with Ice Beam.

"No, come back!" Liko cried out.

"Coward!" Ash exclaimed. "At least tell us why you're doing this!"

"The Brave Olivine's stuck!" Roy exclaimed. "Friede, what do we do now?!"

Friede placed his hand on his chin, "Lapras is out on the ocean, but it could be anywhere by now."

"Lapras did look away from Terapagos, so they have some history." Liko said before noticing a floating crate nearby, as well as many more floating crates. "Is that a trail?"

"Looks like the Lapras Pirates were in such a rush they left a couple crates behind." Ash inspected. "We could follow on my Lapras."

"I wanna do something before we do." Liko said, "I'm gonna grab something on the ship, be right back."

Liko hopped off Ash's Lapras and headed back inside the Brave Olivine and quickly exciting wearing Lucius's belt with Friede alongside her. They hop back onto Ash's Lapras and Liko grins, "Alright, we're gonna understand Lapras."

Lapras swims into an party-submerged cave by the layer of rocks Liko had seen before. The lapras Pirates stand in shock as Ash, his Lapras, Roy, Liko and Friede stand there, having been waiting for them.

"I hope it's okay if we stay," Liko greeted the Hero Pokemon, "I justed wanted you to see Terapagos."

Liko places Terapagos on the ground and it swims over to Lapras, the Lapras Pirates eagerly welcome their new member. "Terapagos wants to go to Laqua, the Pokemon paradise you found with Lucius. And I wanna help Terapagos get there even if I don't know what Laqua's like. Please Lapras, help us get to Laqua."

Terapagos begins to glow, causing Arboliva and Moltres to be released from the ancient Poke Balls in Lucius's belt. Lapras looks at its old teammates and then at Liko before singing a song. Terapagos createa a ball of light that surronds the trainers. The group sees Lucius smiling at them, which they assume is because they're viewing a memory from Lapras's eyes.

"Thank you, all of you. You're the best Pokemon a trainer like me could have. I won't die, I'll just live on in Laqua."

The vision ceases and grounds the trainers back in reality. Arboliva, Moltres and Lapras tear up as they mourn their trainer. Arboliva and Moltres recall themselves back into their ancient Poke Balls. Lapras has Vigoroth and Barbaracle get the trainers some berries as the Brav Olivine arrives, the ice being melted by Arcanine's Flamethrower. The other trainers join in on the makeshift picnic, Murdock even brings some dounuts from the ship.

"Is this how Lapras has been living?" Liko wondered out loud, catching the attention of her grandmother.

"It's just how Pokemon live in nature, not all people in Pokemon stand side by side." Diana explained.

"Well, maybe that can change!" Ash perked up, "Once I'm a Pokemon Master, every Pokemon will see I'm their friend."

Diana chuckled, "Well it's a good thing Pokemon trainers like you help bridge that gap."

The group finishes their meal by sunset, Liko approaches Lapras, "Will you help us reach Laqua?"

Lapras seems to hesitate, but the other Lapras Pirates reassure Lapras they'll be okay without it. Ambipom hands Lapras its ancient Poke Ball and Lapras recalls itself into it. The Lapras Pirates sail off into the distance atop Wailord, Wailord using Mist in Lapras's place.

"Well now we've got half of the Hero Pokemon," Roy observed, "Which means we're one step closer to the Black Rayquaza!"

Ash walks over to his own Lapras as the other discuss the Black Rayquaza. Ash's Lapras waits on the shore beside the cave, "Well Lapras, thanks for all the help. You must be all grown up now if you left your herd."

Ash's Lapras turns to leave, but suddenly stops and turns back towards Ash, "You wanna come back with me?"

Ash's Lapras nods, Ash smirks and pulls out Lapras's old Poke Ball and recalls her. Ash pulls out his Rotom Phone and thinks of where to transfer her. He doesn't want Professor Oak to place her in a small pond in his lab. Alola suddenly comes to his mind, remembering the vast oceans right beside Professor Kukui's home. He transfers Lapras to Professor Kukui and sends him a text with details about what's going on.

Ash walks over to rejoin the rest of the Rising Volt Tacklers. Terapagos suddenly looks up and lets out a happy sound. the trainers look up and see the Black Rayquaza flying above them.