The group arrive at Glaseado Mountain anf head straight for the Gym,. The group learns that Liko still has some time before her test is due to begin, so they decide to try out Cetoddle bobsledding in the meantime. Liko is a bit hesitant, but eventually agrees. LIko, Roy and Dot rent a Cetoddle and starts sliding down a slope, Ash is about to rent his, but then another Cetoddle runs up t o him, clearly upset with him.
Ash: Well, Hi little guy, do you know me?
Pikachu talks with Cetoddle, and Pikachu uses charades to communicate that to Ash.
Ash: So, you saw my battle woith Grusha, followed me back to the academy, and followed me back to your home, making you upset that following me was for nothing?
The Cetoddle nods
Ash: Why would you wanna follow me though? Did you want me to catch you?
The Cetoddle nods, more happy this time.
Ash: Well, I can't say no to that!
Ash throws a Poke Ball and catches Cetoddle and they go bobsledding, reuniting with the others. Grusha finds them soon after
Grusha: So this is my challenger.
Ash: Yep! This is Liko!
LIko: Hi...
Grusha: You must be pretty skilled if your having fun right before your test.
Grusha walks off, leaving the kids confused.
Roy: Is he always like this?
Ash: I remember him being like this for my battle against him, so yeah!
The trio returns their rented Cetoddle to the sledding center. And they head to the gym, Ash, Roy and Dot are in the stand while Liko and Grusha take the field. Liko chooses Floragato as her first Pokémon. Grusha chooses Cetitan as his lead. Liko utilizes Floragato's high speed to her advantage with Quick Attack, but Cetitan's bulk easily withstands the attack, rendering the strategy moot. After dodging an Icicle Spear barrage, Floragato tries Magical Leaf, only for it to be countered by Cetitan's Ice Spinner, which strikes Floragato at an unexpectedly high speed for such a slow Pokémon. Liko recalls Floragato and sends out Hattrem in her place. Cetitan uses Icicle Spear again, but Hattrem is able to stop and send the icicles back with Confusion. Being hit by its own attack hardly fazes Cetitan, though, and a collision between Brutal Swing and Liquidation ensues, followed by Cetitan dealing the finishing blow on Hattrem with Ice Spinner.
Liko sends Floragato back out, and she outruns another Ice Spinner, Liko waits for the moment when Cetitan opens its mouth in preparation for using Icicle Spear, and has the Grass Cat Pokémon fire a Magical Leaf flurry into the Terra Whale Pokémon's mouth. Unable to protect the inside of its mouth from the attack, Cetitan stumbles and is knocked off its feet. Grusha chooses to recall Cetitan and send out his second Pokémon, Altaria. Floragato uses Quick Attack, but Altaria simply flies up before using Moonblast. While the initial Moonblast is blocked by Magical Leaf, a subsequent rapid-fire series of Moonblasts forces Floragato to take evasive action. Liko tries to think of a way to deal with a flying opponent, then she spots Altaria's feet. Liko has Floragato charge in and wrap her vine around Altaria's feet, pulling it down and allowing Floragato to hit it with Acrobatics. Capitalizing on the moment, Liko takes out her Tera Orb and Terastallizes Floragato. In response, Grusha does the same and Terastallizes Altaria, turning it into an Ice type. Floragato unleashes a Terastallization-boosted Magical Leaf, Grusha has Altaria counterattack with a boosted Ice Beam. After a brief clash, Ice Beam overpowers Magical Leaf, briefly freezing Floragato and causing her Terastallized state to come undone. The ice shatters and Floragato collapses, Liko has lost.
Liko gets her Pokemon healed up, she and her friends awaiting Grush'as decision. Liko's anxiety is to the max.
Roy: Hey, don't worry Liko! You did very well!
Dot: Yeah, and I still passed even though I lost to Larry!
Grusha comes out of the Gym, and everyone waits in silence
Grusha: Liko, you have failed.
Roy and Dot gasp, while Ash puts his head down.
Roy: But Liko did her best!
Grusha: Trying your best isn't good enough! She still lost the battle!
Ash: Okay, Liko failed, that's fine. She can just get a rematch, right?
Roy: Yeah! Like I had with Ryme!
Grusha: No, I'm not doing any rematches, Liko's loss today shows that she failed, and nothing could change that.
Grushas walks off, muttering under his breath "Passing depsite losing the battle, what a frigid joke!"
Roy: Ash, you can talk to him, right? You are the World Monarch.
Ash: I would, if I didn't agree with him.
Dot: What?! But Ash Liko tried her best-
Ash: And I'm proud of her for that, but Grusha;s right, you can't pass just because you tried. She can't excatly stop the Explorers if she's always handed passes like that. I was willing to let that go with Katie and Iono, since those tests should be easy, while these ones should be harder. I even let the battle with Larry go since he's both a Gym Leader and and member of the Elite Four. But Liko lost fair and square here, Grusha's decision makes sense, I'm sorry Liko.
Liko: No, it's okay, I understand.
Ash nods, seeing the tears form in Liko's eyes, He feels bad for her, he still stands by what he said, but Liko's his friend. They'll figure something out.
A/N: There we go! All caught up with AO3! Chapters should come out weekly from now on.
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What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?
FanfictionJust a fun what if senario if Ash was invited to the Indigo Academy and met Liko and Roy, since Ash's last series just ended I thought, Why not? I'm not saying that "This is how HZ should've been" or that I "fixed Horizons" This is just a fanfic I m...
