What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

The Wild Pair, Friede and Cap!

As the Brave Olivine heads to Paldea, Friede discusses taking a job to raise funds. Roy asks if adventuring is the Rising Volt Tacklers' job, but Friede says adventuring doesn't put food on the table. Murdock thinks he could deliver sweets while Orla asks her old work buddies who know anyone in need of mechanical repairs. Mollie asks Dot to make her a publicity video for medical consultations, and Murdock asks for one about his sweets, which Dot thinks is too much work. Roy volunteers to do heavy lifting. Liko says that she'll do anything, so does Ash, but Friede reminds them that they have classes. 

As Terapagos sneaks into Liko's backpack, Liko has a talk with Ann, who is amazed that she caught a Hatenna in Galar, and is amazed that Ash caught an Applin. Classes begin, with Liko's homeroom teacher giving out an assignment. Students are to pick a trainer and their Pokémon partner they know and look up to and write a report on them. Looking at Sprigatito, Liko thinks on who to write the report about. Hearing Friede's voice, she gets an idea. Friede has found a friend who wants them to find their lost Pokémon. Friede offers to go alone, until Liko and Roy offer to come with him, the former wanting her report to be about Friede and Captain Pikachu

Ash: Well, I know who I'm gonna choose!

Liko: And who is that?

Ash: Me and Pikachu of course!

Liko: Oh, I was gonna do the same thing, guess I better find another duo.

Looking at Sprigatito, Liko thinks on who to write the report about. Hearing Friede's voice, she gets an idea. Friede has found a friend who wants them to find their lost Pokémon. Friede offers to go alone, until Ash, Liko and Roy offer to come with him, Liko wanting her report to be about Friede and Captain Pikachu

Friede and the kids arrive at a shack in a desert. Friede tells Ash, Liko and Roy to stay close to him. The man at the bar comes over and greets Friede. Liko and Roy introduce themselves, as does the man, whose name is Shine.

Shine: My goodness, Friede! How come you've never told me you knew the World Monarch?

Ash: We learned he likes to hide important info...

Liko: And save it for "Later" but Later never comes.

Friede: You kids know I'm right here.

Roy: Yep!

At the table, Shine shows the group a picture of his Pokémon he wants them to find, a Bramblin that he caught in Paldea. He also tells them to be wary of Pokémon poachers who have been sighted snatching up random wild Pokémon out there. Friede tells Liko that Shine works as a protector of wild Pokémon, and catching Pokémon stealers is part of his job. Liko is amazed by how reliable Friede and Cap are.

The group thinks that finding a tumbleweed looking Pokémon that blows in the wind will be difficult. Cap spots Bramblin behind a nearby bush, and Roy calls out to it. The Tumbleweed Pokémon is picked up by the wind and rolls away, Friede and Liko following behind. Cap tries to catch it, but misses. Bramblin goes behind a large rock, and Roy tries to catch up to it. However, he runs into the back of something gray and a herd Rhyhorn glare at the group before they are are chased out of their territory. Although they lost track of Bramblin, Friede looks at a sign that shows a desert to the left and an oasis to the right. He proposes heading left since Brambalin don't like getting wet, but Cap thinks it went the other way. As the two start to butt heads about which way Bramblin went, Liko acknowledges that they do have their differences. 

Roy: Can't we check both ways?

Ash and Pikachu exchange an awkward glance, they're glad they're not like this.

Pikachu spots Bramblin hanging from a tree on the high cliff above

Ash: Great job buddy! Guess they were both wrong!