What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

Resonating Spirits in a Challenge to Ryme!

The trainers arrive in Montenevera, Roy and Fuecoco happily sing together while the others take in the sights, "So many candles..." Liko murmured.

Dot casually checks her Rotom Phone, "The web says the candles honor souls that passed on. They also do a lot of other stuff, like concerts. In fact, there's one today and one tomorrow."

The trainers enter the Montenevera Gym, Roy eagerly runs up to the receptionist "We're here to challenge Ryme!

"Oh, I'm sorry Ryme isn't here right now?" The receptionist apologized, "You can find her on the stage in the main plaza."

The group exit the gym and head towards the plaza, but are stopped when a trio of small grey Pokemon pop out of the snow and begin to sniff them like a Yamper would.

"Aw, these little guys are so cute!" Ash immediately picked one up. Liko and Roy do the same, they instantly suddenly feel their energy sipping away.

"Why do I feel so sleepy...?" Roy yawned.

Dot scanned the Pokemon with her Rotom Phone, "I'll find out."

"Greavard, the Ghost Dog Pokémon. A Ghost type. This friendly Pokémon doesn't like being alone. Pay it even the slightest bit of attention, and it will follow you forever. It gradually drains the life energy of those close to it."

The three of them immediately drop the Greavard and the Pokemon run off. Dot leads her friends into a nearby restaurant, one meal and they recover quickly. Liko doesn't notice Terapagos wandering off as she eats, until she spots a pair of Drifloon grabbing it and taking it into the air.

"Oh no, Terapagos!" Liko cried out.

The trainers chase the Drifloon around town, a sudden gust of wind causes them to los their grip, causing Terapagos to plummet towards the ground. Just before Terapagos can hit the ground, he's swept up by a Pawmot's paw. Standing beside that Pawmot is none other than Nemona. 

"Hey Nemona!" Ash greeted, high-fiving the Paldea Champion.

"Ash, Liko, Roy, Dot, good to see you all again!" Nemona exclaimed, "What brings you here?"

"I'm here to take my test against Ryme!" Roy explained eagerly.

"Well you better hurry cause she's about to perform at the plaza." Nemona explained, "Follow me!"

Nemona leads the trainers to the plaza stage, Roy rushes to the front row and looks around the stage, seeing only a beared man setting up equipment. "Where are you Ryme? I wanna battle you!" Roy calls out.

The beared man looks up, smirking at the kid's energy, "Yo little dude, the name's MC Sledge. Ryme's not here, but I'd love to battle you as a rehersal!"

Roy smirked "Deal!"

Roy climbs onstage with Fuecoco while MC Sledge sends out Sableye.Sableye attacks with Shadow Claw and Power Gem, both of which Fuecoco dodges before starting to sing with Roy, firing himself up and defeating Sableye with a Flame Charge. Roy leaves the stage and right then. "Alright everyone, hope you enjoyed that rehearsal!" MC Sledge tells the crowd, "Now everyone welcome the one and only Ryme!"

Ryme steps onstage, "What's up Montenevera?!"

Roy gasped, "It's the woman from the woods..."

"So, anyone wanna join the very Ryme and give the crowd a perfomance?" Ryme asked the crowd.

Roy raised his hand, "Me! Me!"

Ryme smiled, "Alright little man! Come on up!"

Roy gets onstage again, "I'm here for my Terstal Training test!" he explained.

Ryme's eyes widened, "Well then, small world." sending out her Houndstone.

Roy chooses to lead with Kilowattrel who attacks with Spark, which grazes Houndstone despite its attempt to dodge. More Sparks follow, until Houndstone uses Phantom Force, dodging the next attack and striking Kilowattrel, then finishing it off with Crunch.

Fuecoco steps forward to battle and Roy and Fuecoco start off by singing their song, during which Houndstone uses Scary Face, following up with Crunch just as Fuecoco charges in with Flame Charge. The attacks repel each other, and while Fuecoco's second Flame Charge misses due to Phantom Force, but he's fast enough to turn around just as Houndstone reappears and hit it with a Flamethrower to knock it out.

"Alright! We'll win for sure Fuecoco!" Roy cheered.

Ryme sends out her Low Key Form Toxtricity as her last Pokemon. Roy and Fuecoco perform their song again and then attacks with Flamethrower, but Toxtricity uses Overdrive to repel the attack. Roy has Fuecoco use Stomping Tantrum instead, but is blocked by another Overdrive. Fuecoco tries to attack directly with Flame Charge, but Toxtricity's Boomburst repels it as well.

Ryme smirked "Struggling to to get a hit in? That's 'cause Toxtricity's Ability is Punk Rock, which boosts the power of its sound-based moves"

Roy grit his teeth, "That doesn't matter, I'm still gonna win!"

Roy has Fuecoco sing once more and then attack with Disarming Voice. Toxtricity takes the hint without even flinching.

"But, Disarming Voice is so strong, how'd it do nothing?" Liko turned to Nemona.

"Punk Rock also has a second effect that decreases the damage taken from sound-based moves." Nemona explained.

"So Roy's song is working against him..." Ash mused.

Toxtricity decides to counterattack with Hex. An attack Fuecoco dodges by jumping into the air, which backfires as he's hit by an unavoidable Overdrive while mid-air.

"Okay, try to handle this!" Roy exclaimed, impulsively revealing his Tera Orb and Terastallizing Fuecoco into a Tera-Fire type.

Toxtricity blinds Fuecoco immediately with Venoshock and finishes him off with an Overdrive, ending the battle without Ryme terastllzing at all.

Roy collaspes to his knees, recalling Fuecoco. Ryme approaches him, "If you think you passed this test, you're delusional. Come back to me after you've washed your soul."

Ryme walks off to resume her concert, Roy walks offstage to reunite with his friends and figure out what to do next. Ash feels his Rotom Phone buzz, he pulls it out to see he received an email from Director Clavell.

Ash placed a hand on Roy's shoulder, "Hey Roy? I'm sorry man, but Tulip has a modeling gig coming up, and if I don't battle her tomorrow, I can't for a while. So, I have to go."

Roy managed to smile, "I get it, maybe you'll actually pass."

Ash chucked, "We can only hope, don't give up though. I believe you, I know you'll find a way to convince Ryme you deserve to pass."

Ash and Roy fist-bump and Ash runs off, already dialing a Flying Taxi to Alfornada.

 A/N: I know It's repetitive, what I'm doing with Ash's tests, but for me it's the best way to have Ash take his test without making a whole new chapter. Hope you guys understand :)