What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

A Challenge from the Explorers

Liko, Mollie and Orla exit the shop, finishing up some shopping when they spot Friede, Ash and Roy waiting in a long line. "What are you guys doing?" Mollie asked.

"Waiting for Wiglett Sweet Buns," Friede explained, "Heard they're very popular."

"Only 30 are available a day!" Roy exlcaimed, "Oh, I'm so hungry I can just taste them!"

"Well I guess you're free to do that, as longas you got your shopping list done," Orla said, making the boys tense up.

"Oops," Ash rubbed the back of his head, "The first thing we did was get into the line."

Mollie facepalmed, "Okay, Liko, you go with them and make sure they don't waste their money."

About an hour later, Liko leads the group outside of a different store. The boys struggling to carry the heavy bags. Liko suddenly stiffens, the boys look over to see a old man that is hunched over. "That guy's creepy." Liko whispered.

"Looks like he just hurt his back." Ash observed. "And he can't load his cart, we should help him."

Friede and the kids load the cart while Sprigatito gave the man a back massage. They arrive at a familar shop with a long line. "Dad! There you are!" a young man came out of the shop, "Now we can open!"

The old man finally straightens himself, "My, that massage was the best I've had in ages." he sighed, "I simply must thank you."

The old man goes into the shop and hands them a box of the Wiglett Sweet Buns. "This is the shop they're sold as?!" Roy exclaimed in astonishment as he took the box, "Thank you so much!"

The group heads back to the Brave Olivine, Friede makes his way inside, but Roy stops. "Wait, Fuecoco's not here."

"Fuecoco!"

The trainers turn around to see Fuecoco eagerly running up to his trainer, a strange note tapped to its back. Roy takes the note and begins to read it. "The handwriting is hard to read, but it looks like it says we stole something and wants to meet us by the Snorlax Rock."

"But, we never stole anything!" Liko exclaimed.

"C'mon don't you guys see?" Roy asked.

"See what?" Ash raised his eyebrow, "An old letter?"

"Yeah, my grandpa told me all about these kinds of letters," Roy explained, "They're usually declaring a challenge, let's go meet them!"

The trainers head to the Snorlax Rock, spotting a trainer with thick sunglasses and pink hair. The trainer glares at them, "You! Hand over that box of Wiglett Sweet Buns you stole!"

"We didn't steal anything!" Roy insisted.

"Wait, you just want a Wiglett Sweet Bun?" Ash asked, "We can share! Liko, grab the box!"

Liko smiled and pulled the box out of Ash's backpack. Liko tears open the box as the trainer exclaims, "NO!"

"What wrong now?" Roy asked, clearly annoyed. "We were gonna share!"

"That box is one-of-a-kind! It's super rare sealed!" The trainer growled, "Opening it just ruined all the value!"

"Well that's lame." Ash said bluntly, "What's the good of food if you can't even open the box to eat it?"

The trainer throws off her sunglasses and tosses off her outfit. Revealing herself to be Coral of the Explorers. The trainers gasp, "It's an Explorer!"

"Okay, we've got the type advantage!" Roy grinned, "Fuecoco, let's go!"

Suddenly, Sidian lands beside Coral on his Aerodactyl. Sidian recalls Aerodactyl and sends out his Gargancl. "Looks like you've located some Rising Volt Tacklers, I'll take on the girl."

"Then I've got the Fuecoco trainer!" Coral grinned.

"HOW'D A BOX OF WIGLETT SWEET BUNS LEAD TO THIS?!" Liko shouted in disbelief.

"Don't worry, Liko!" Ash smirked, "I'll help you, and we can take them down-"

Pikachu is suddenly take from Ash's shoulder. The Pallet-Town trainer looks back to see his partner held up by a net with Team Rocket grinning evilly. "Seriously, now?!"

"Why so gloomy, Twerp?" Jessie taunted.

"Finally ready to admit that we've won?" James spat.

"Dat's right!" Meowth smirked.

"Wobbuffet!"

Ash looked back to Liko and Roy, "Sorry guys, you take care of 'em. I'll handle Team Rocket!"

"Good luck with dat!" Meowth exclaimed.

Jessie and James send out Spidops and Capsakid and Ash sends out Qauxly and Dippin. Ash's Pokemon easily knock out Team Rocket's Pokemon. "You gotta be kiddin' me!" Meowth exclaimed as Jessie and James recalled their Pokemon.

Ash smirked, "Guess you can't mess with the World Monarch!"

Meowth hissed, "Oh, we're not done yet! James, Tera me!"

"You got it, Meowth!" James smirked.

James reveals a Tera orb, much to Ash's surprise. The orb begins to light up, causing Team Rocket to panic and toss the orb over Meowth's head. Meowth is suddenly surronded in crystals, soon the crystals go descend into the ground to reveal Meowth gaining a crystal-like texture on his fur and an axe on his head.

"That's it?!"Meowth said in astonishment. "I just get a funny hat?!"

Ash recalled Nemona's teachings of Terstallization, "That's a Steel Tera type, Meowth became a Steel type!"

"Wha?!" Meowth exclaimed.

Pikachu didn't hesitate to strike Meowth with Iron Tail, knocking it out. "Okay, we gotta get out of here!" Jessie ordered as she scooped up Meowth. The two adults running off into the wildnerness.

Ash recalls Quaxly and Dipplin, "Good work, guys!" he looks over to see Liko and Roy holding their own before Sidian recalls Garganacl. "Alright, we've got more improtant business to attend to."

"Ugh, I hate it on the island!" Coral complained, "Can't we just summon the Black Rayquaza later?"

"Keep quiet." Sidian grit his teeth, he sends out his Aerodactyl and he and Corla fly off into the sky.

"Wait, did they say catch the Black Rayquaza?" Roy asked.

"We gotta call Friede." Liko stated.

Friede arrives on the scene in less than an hour, "Okay, what's going on, where are they headed?"

"They said something about an Island." Ash informed Friede, "Is there an island nearby?"

"Well there is an island nearby and there's report of a mysterious tower being built recently." Friede said, "I'll go check it out with Charizard, you guys head back to the Brave Olivine."

"I'm coming with ya, Friede." Ash stated with confidence in his voice. "There's no way I'm letting the Explorers catch Rayquaza, and if I know Team Rocket, they'll find a way to show up there too."

Friede smirked, "I can't say no to the World Monarch, Liko, Roy, head back to the airship."

Ash and Friede get on Charizard and the Pokemon flies off towards the island with a large tower built atop it.