What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

Ice Battle! Cold-Eyed Grusha

The trainers take in the sights of Glaseado mountain, "Man, I wasn't gone for long, but I kinda missed this place." Ash remarked.

"So, when do you have to take your test with Grusha?" Roy asked Liko.

"Not for a little while," Liko checked her Rotom Phone. "We've got some time to kill."

"Then what should we do?" Dot asked.

Roy spotted a sign advertising Cetoddle Bobsledding, "How about that? It looks fun!"

Liko hesitated for a moment, now wouldn't be a good time to try something new, "Alright, let's try it!"

The trainers enter the building, Everyone except Ash rent a Cetoddle and begin sliding down a hill. Ash is about to choose a Cetoddle to rent, when the shopkeeper approches him.

"Excuse me, Mr. World Monarch," The shopkeeper began, "I think there's a Cetoddle that'll be perfect for you."

"Oh really?" Ash perked up.

The shopkeeper leads Ash to a Cetoddle in a little pen, the round Pokemon sees Ash and begins jumping around in excitement. "This little one's never been popular with the locals, too energetic for a simple bobsledding trip." The Shopkeeper explained, "Then it saw your battle with Grusha and liked you ever since, so I was wodnering if maybe you'd want to take this little one with you."

"You mean, catch it?" Ash asked and the shopkeeper nodded, the Cetoddle jumped up with excitement "Well, of course!"

The shopkeeper handed over Cetoddle's Poke Ball, "Y'know trainers who own members of the Cetoddle line don't have to rent one."

Ash and Cetoddle sled down the same hill his friends went down earlier, the two of them laughing and enjoying each other's company as trainer and Pokemon. When Ashr eaches the bottom, he sees Liko and the others staring at him impatiently.

"What took you so long?" Dot asked.

"Oh, long story, but I got a Cetoddle as my own Pokemon!" Ash explained.

"Oh, that is so cool!" Roy exclaimed.

"The kid's got a point, a Cetoddle was how I became a Gym Leader." A voice from nearby said, the trainers turn to see Grusha standing nearby, "So, this must be Liko, Ash's friend and my challenger."

"That's me." Liko nervously shakes Grusha's hand.

"You must be pretty skilled if you're having fun right before your test." Grusha remarked.

"Oh!" Liko got flustered, "Well, it's just some sledding, I was gonna train-"

"I'd be careful if I were you," Grusha interrupted, "Just one break could turn into a lifetime of nothing."

Grusha walks off, leaving the kids confused. "Okay, what was his deal?" Dot asked.

"I wouldn't get too upset, he's a guy who really likes results." Ash explained, remembering the stories he heard before his own match. "He used to be a famous snowboard racer, until a Cetoddle interrupted the race and he injuried himself. Grusha ended up quitting snowboarding since he didn't wanna do it if he couldn't win, he caught that Cetoddle and raised it into a Cetitan and became a Gym Leader."

Ash palced a hand on Liko's shoulder, "I don't wanna scare you, but if you want Grusha to pass you, your best chance is to beat him. He's obsessed with results."

The trainers go to the Gym, Liko enters the battlefield while her friends watch from the stands. Grusha appears from the Gym and stands opposite of Liko. Liko sends out Floragato while Grusha chooses Cetitan. Floragato strikes with Quick Attack, but Cetitan's bulk easily withstands the attack.Cetitan uses Icicle Spear which Floragato is able to dodge. Floragato tries Magical Leaf, only for it to be countered by Cetitan's Ice Spinner, which strikes Floragato in an instant. 

Liko recalls Floragato and sends out Hattrem in her place. Cetitan uses Icicle Spear again, but Hattrem is able to use Confusion to stop the icicles and send them back towards Cetitan, striking it instantly. Cetitan doesn't seem to react to being hit with its own attack. Cetitan launches a Liquidation while Hattrem uses Brutal Swing to counter it. Hattrem pauses to catch her breath afterward, which Cetitan uses as an opening to strik with Ice Spinner, knocking Hattrem out. 

Liko sends Floragato back out, and she outruns another Ice Spinner. Cetitan opens its mouth in preparation to use Icicle Spear, Floragato uses that moment to fire a Magical Leaf into Cetitan's mouth. Cetitan stumbles and is knocked off its feet. Grusha recalls Cetitan and sends out his Altaria. Floragato uses Quick Attack, but Altaria simply flies up before using Moonblast that Floragato blocks with Magical Leaf. Altaria unleashes countless Moonblasts in response, forcing Floragato to evade every since one of them.

"I need to find an opening..." Liko muttered, wanting to win more than anything. Liko spots Altaria's feet and gets an idea.

Floragato charges towards Altaria, wrapping her vine around Altaria's feet and pulling it down. Floragato strikes Altaria with Acrobatics right after, Liko brings out her Tera Orb and tosses it above Floragato, transforming her into a Tera-Grass type. Grusha responds by doing the same and Terastallizes Altaria, transforming it into an Ice type. Floragato unleashes a Terastallization-boosted Magical Leaf, Altaria counterattacks with a boosted Ice Beam. Ice Beam overpowers Magical Leaf, knocking out Florgato and winning Grusha the battle. The tension in the room suddenly rises ten-fold.

Liko retrieves her Pokemon from Nurse Joy, she sits with her friends, anxiously awaiting Grusha's decision.

"Y'know, I lost against Larry, but he still passed me." Dot tried to reassure her.

"Yeah, but Ash said Grusha's all about results." Liko muttered.

Grusha enters the Pokemon Center, finding the trainers easily. "Liko, I'm sorry to say you didn't pass."

Roy and Dot gasp, while Ash puts his head down. "But Liko did her best..." Dot tried to reason.

"Unfortunately, trying your best won't be good enough now, in the end she still lost." Grusha replied.

"Well, when can Liko have a rematch?" Roy asked, "Ryme let me battle her again when I failed."

"Liko's loss today showed that she failed, and nothing will change my mind on that" Grusha concluded, "So I will not be accepting any rematches."

Grusha walks off, muttering under his breath "Passing depsite losing the battle, what a frigid joke..." thinking that he wouldn't be heard, but the trainers heard him loud and clear.

"Ash, you can talk to him, right?" Roy asked. "You are the World Monarch."

"I could..." Ash began, "But I think he has a point."

"But, Liko did her best-" Dot tried to reason.

And I'm proud of her for that, really I am." Ash interrupted. "But Grusha's right, you can't just pass just because you tried. She can't exactly stop the Explorers if she's always handed passes like that. Liko losing to Katie made sense since those tests were the beginner's, btu Grusha's supposed to be harder. while these ones should be harder, I thought the same thing when Dot lost to Iono, and Dot losing to Larry made sense since he's an Elite Four member. So he's stronger than any Gym Leader. But Liko lost fair and square here, I'm sorry Liko."

"No, it's okay, I understand." Liko sighed, seeing Ash's point, though a little saddened her own friend won't stand up for her.

Ash nods, seeing the tears form in Liko's eyes, "But don't worry, I know you'll never give up and we'll take down the Explorers together, even if you can't use Terastallization when our Tera-Training is over."

A/N: There we go! All caught up with AO3! Chapters should come out weekly from now on.