What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

Put Your Heart Into It!

The trainers quickly arrive at Cortondo, Liko doesn't take in the town as her friends do, instead thinking about the idea of battling a Gym Leader and using Terastallization for the first time. Ash suddenly catches a whiff of something sweet, "Hey Liko, hope you can wait on battling Katy, cause I'm starving."

"Oh yeah!" Liko immediately nodded, happy at the idea she doesn't have to face Katy yet.

Ash leads his friends to a restaurant, Dot reads the sign, "That's the Patisserie Soapberry, it's one of the most popular spots in the region."

The trainers reach the front desk after wiating through a long line, finding none other than Murdock behind the desk. "Uncle Murdock?!" Dot exclaimed, "What are you doing here?!"

"Oh, it is so good to see you kiddos again!" Murdock beamed, "I picked up a job here to help get some money while Orla works on fixing up the Brave Olivine."

"I DON'T CARE THAT YOU'RE ALL OUT!"

The group turns to the source of the shout, seeing their classmate Cornbread arguing with a woman. "I've been waiting ages for some sweets! Just 'cause your all out doesn't mean I care! Just make some more!"

"Oh boy, you really don't wanna argue with Katy." Murdock said.

"That's Katy?!" Liko exclaimed.

Katy turns away from Cornbread at the mention of her name, "Ah, you must be Liko."

"Y-yes ma'am." Liko stuttered, "I'm here to take my Basic Test."

"Now hold on!" Cornbread jumped in between the two. "I was here first! I wanna battle too!"

"Well I'm afraid I can only fit one battle into my schedule." Katy said.

Cornbread huffed, "Fine! Then you and me battle it out first!" she glared at Liko.

Liko looked to Katy, "Would it be okay if I used Terastallization? I wanna practice using it before my Basic Test."

Katy shook her head, "Students under Tera-Training aren't allowed to use Terastallization against each other until they complete their course. Perhaps a different mode of confrontation is necessary, such as a cake-baking contest."

Cornbread smirked, "Bring it on! I'll take you down no matter what!"

"Okay, sure." Liko said reluctantly, having never baked a cake before. Murdock patted her on the shoulder, "You'll do great, just remember what I showed you back in Galar."

Liko and Cornbread take their palces at seperate tables, Liko and Floragato create a matcha cake while Cornbread is only left with a messy pile of dough, "Ugh!" Cornbread shouts, "I don't get how to do this! I wanted to have a regular battle, and I'm gonna get one!" she sends out her Glalie. "Glalie! Freeze 'em all solid!"

Katy isn't threatened, instead glaring at Cornbread, "We will have none of that. Please leave immediately."

Cornbread stumbles, seemingly unnerved by Katy's sudden tone. "Alright, I'm leaving." she said as she walked away.

Katy smiled immediately after, "Looks like you're the winner, Liko. Why don't you try out your cake before we have our battle?"

Liko and Floragato take a slice out of their cake and take a bite, "Wow, it's so good!" Liko said with her mouth full.

"You were able to bake an excellent cake by putting your heart into it." Katy remarked, "And I believe the same can be applied to Pokemon battles."

Liko nods as Ash whispers to Murdock, "You weren't kidding when Katy shouldn't be argued with."

Liko and Katy walk to the battlefield of the Cortondo Gym, everyone else watches from the sidelines. Liko sends out Floragato and Katy sends out Teddiursa.

Floragato makes the first move with Quick Attack while Teddiursa uses Charm, which causes Floragato to become flustered by her opponent's display of cuteness and only gently tap it. Teddiursa smirks and lands a Slash. Floragato steps back and tries to attack with magica Leaf from afar, only to lose her focus by Teddiursa's Sweet Scent. Allowing Teddiursa to hit her with another Slash. 

Liko feels anxiety fill her veins, wondering if Floragato will even have the chance to Terastallize, before remmebering what Katy said just before they began. Liko smirks, intending to enjoy the battle no matter what, as long as she's battling with all her heart.

Teddiursa uses Sweet Scent again, Liko tells Floragato to aim her Magical Leaf down, bouncing it off the battlefield and forming a wall of leaves to block the opposing move. Liko pulls out her Tera Orb immediately after and Terastallizes Floragato into a Tera-Grass type. Floragato launches a powered-up Magical Leaf, which blows Teddiursa back. Katy decides to even the playing field and uses her own Tera Orb to turn Teddiursa into a Bug type. Floragato launches another Magical Leaf that doesn;t do as much damage as the previous one. Teddiursa lands a powered-up Fury Cutter to knock Floragato out.

Liko rushes over to Floragato, "Florgato, I'm so sorry!"

Katy walks over to the girl, "You don't have to be sorry, after all, you did pass."

Liko looked up, "Wait, I did?"

"Of course!" Katy smiled, "It doesn't matter if the students win or lose, the Basic Test only looks for trainers being in perfect sync with their Pokemon and perfectedly timed their Terastallization."

"Wow, thank you so much!" Liko beamed, "I'll try much harder from now on!"

The trainers set up camp outside Cortondo that night, bringing out a sense of nostalgia in Ash. Liko is talking with her Pokemon about ways to get stronger while Dot cooks them some dinner. Roy is talking endlessly about how excited he is to battle Brassius again as Ash walks off to get some training done, if Grusha's as strong as they say he is, he can't just sit around. Though he's so fired up from Liko's battle that training was inevitable. He finds a secluded spot to send out Quaxwell and Dipplin, Pikachu climbs down Ash's shoulder and all three Pokemon spar. Not too long into their training, a small white-and-grey Pokemon jumps down, wanting to be part of the battle.

"Who's that Pokemon?" Ash pulled out his Rotom Phone.

"Nymble, the Grasshopper Pokémon. A Bug type, It's highly skilled at a fighting style in which it uses its jumping capabilities to dodge incoming attacks while also dealing damage to opponents."

"You wanna join in to?" Ash grinned. "Then let's battle!"

Pikachu faces off against Nymble, only for a single Thunderbolt to knock it out. Nymble gets back up without issue, which Ash admires. "Y'know you went down quick, but you've got heart. You wanna-"

The Nymble runs off crying before Ash could say another word, "Hey, come back!" Ash chased after in worry. Ash's Pokemon follow suit. Finding Nymble within an inner circle of other Nymble laughing at it and hitting it. Ash doesn't need to take another look to know this is bullying. Pikachu, Quaxwell and Dipplin attack the bully Nymble and send them running off.

"Hey buddy," Ash sat down next to the Nymble he met. "You wanna be stronger so that you could beat them, right?

Nymble looks up at Ash and nods, surprised that a stranger could figure that out so quickly.

Ash chuckled "I've been in your place before, so why don't we show those bullies, huh? Together!" Ash placed a Poke Ball on the ground beside the little Pokemon. Pikachu and the others letting out sounds of encouragement. Nymble taps the Poke Ball and allows itself to be captured. "Nymble's data has been registered to your Pokedex!"

Ash picks up the Poke Ball, "Welcome to the team Nymble, you're gonna fit right in."