What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

Farewell, Sprigatito?

Stationed near Tetsuron Town, the Rising Volt Tacklers patch up the holes in the Brave Olivine made by Orthworm. Tinkatink runs off with Dot following behind. Friede and Murdock see this, the latter tearing up at how Dot has grown up, prompting Orla to tease him. Liko's Sprigatito is laying down next to her trainer, who is giving Hatenna and Terapagos a bath. Liko wants to give Sprigatito a bath as well, but she just walks away. Just then, she sees a house with cat ear-like windows in the nearby forest.

Just as Liko finishes washing her Pokémon friends, Roy comes over wanting to battle, which she accepts.

Ash runs in

Ash: I call dibs on directing!

Fuecoco starts off with Ember, which Sprigatito dodges. As she is about to use Quick Attack however, Fuecoco keeps her back with Disarming Voice. Sprigatito uses Scratch to cut through Fuecoco's following Ember. Terapagos and Hatenna see the battle and come out onto the wing deck. Liko commands a big Leafage, but as Fuecoco dodges, Hatenna and Terapagos end up in Sprigatito's line of fire, prompting Liko to shield them. Getting blown down, Liko lands on her wrist, injuring it to Sprigatito's horror. Sprigatito tries to apologize, and her trainer says it's fine. Ash and Roy take Liko to the infirmary to have Mollie look at the injury. As Mollie patches up Liko's sprained hand, a guilt stricken Sprigatito can only watch before walking away from the door. Soon, Sprigatito decides to head over to the house she spotted earlier. Mollie gives Liko a brace for her left hand and informs her not to use it to hold anything heavy. After reassuring Terapagos and Hatenna, Liko notices that Sprigatito is gone.

Sprigatito arrives at the gates to the house, spotting several other Sprigatito playing together. Sprigatito walks through the gates. The person inside spots Sprigatito and recognizes her. Meanwhile, Ludlow tells Liko that Sprigatito went towards the house in the forest. Liko tells Hatenna to watch Terapagos for her while she goes to find Sprigatito, Ash joins her. However, Hatenna panics when she turns and sees that Terapagos has instantly vanished. As Ash and Liko look for Sprigatito in the woods, Liko wonders if this is her fickle side showing again, though she's never wandered so far from the ship before. Ash and Liko arrive at the house, hesitantly wandering inside before spotting a Sprigatito, running after it thinking it may be hers. However, she becomes overwhelmed running into more Sprigatito before being greeted by Manya, the owner of the house. Liko frantically apologizes for trespassing. But as she's about to introduce herself, Manya reveals that she already knows Liko and Ash from the Indigo Academy, which shocks them.

Manya: You think I'd not know the World Monarch?

Ash: Oh my Arceus how'd you know?!

Liko stares at Ash with a bit of annoyance

Liko: Ash, your title is publicly known

Ash: Oh yeah....

Manya shares with Ash and Liko that she is a Pokémon Breeder and shares Liko's love for cat Pokémon. Liko asks how Manya knows her, and she says that she never forgets the Pokémon that head out into the world, or the people who pick them as their partners. Liko becomes excited to know that her Sprigatito was raised here. Manya says that she also helps with helping Indigo Academy students find their partner Pokémon, and she remembers Liko particularly well. Manya shares how Liko's Sprigatito was unique with its fickle and carefree nature, even more so than the rest of its peers, and had trouble fitting in. Liko hears that Sprigatito didn't look to happy when Manya spotted her earlier, saying that she suddenly ran off. Manya tells Liko that it's rare that a Pokémon leaves its partner and comes to her place by itself. Manya shares a sad truth about a Pokémon and its trainer not getting along and having to stop being partners. Liko is horrified to hear this and insists that she and Sprigatito are doing fine before going off to look for her partner.