What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

Liko and Amethio, Ash and Team Rocket

The trainers use a variety of attacks to break down the blockage of the cave, to no avail. Ash cheks his Rotom Phone, "Shoot, no signal."

Amethio scoffed, "So that's just great." he walked over to the other side of the cave, "So we're stuck in here."

Everyone feels a sudden chill as the temperature of the cave decreases. Floragato gets some grass stalks from on the ledges above. Ceruledge warms up Amethio with the heat from its fiery blades while Tauros also warms up Ash with it's body by nuzzling into him.

Liko spots what the Fire-type Pokemon are doing, then down at the grass stalks in Floragato's paws. "Hey, boys? Why don't we make a campfire? That way everyone can warm up."

"Sounds good to me." Ash said.

Amethio sighed. "Fine."

Everyone huddles together as Creuledge and Tauros set the grass stalks ablaze. They all sit in silence for a long while, wondering how to communicate with people you despise. EVentually a memory comes back to Amethio and he perks up. "Liko, if I may ask. During our battle, you stopped after I Terastallized Ceruledge, why was that?"

Liko thought for a moment "I failed my Implementatio test against Grusha, so I can;t Terastalize outside of those battles." Liko looked down, "Once I saw you had Terastallized Cerueldge, I knew I stood no chance, but I couldn't let you take Terapagos either."

Amethio raised an eyebrow, "Why do you depend on a single school program?"

"Because I want learn more about Terapagos," Liko answered firmly, "So that I can help him get to Laqua."

"So is one setback all it takes for you to give up?" Amethio asked.

"No, it's not. I'll never give up..." Liko insisted, desperate to change the subject. "Why did you save me when we were battling the Black Rayquaza?"

 "I wasn't trying to save you." Amethio insisted.

"But you did!" Liko responded, "You helped me."

"She's got a point," Ash added, "The rest of the Explorers are pretty awful-"

"But not as awful as Team Rocket!" Jessie grinned proudly.

Ash sighed, "Yeah, sure."

"I think Ash has a point." Liko continued the conversation. "There's something different about you, Amethio. Why do you need Terapagos and Rayquaza?"

Amethio looked to the ground "It's all for Gibeon, my grandfather, the leader of the Explorers."

"Your grandpa's the leader?!" Ash exclaimed.

"Huh, wonder if the boss has kid." James muttered.

"Gibeon wants to reach Laqua, and Terapagos and Rayquaza are the ones who can lead him there." Amethio explained. "I wish to fulfill my grandfather's dream and live up to his expectations."

"I'm on an adventure from my grandma actually." Liko said, "Terapagos was the pendant she gave me. I think all of us here are on the same path, we could more than enemies."

Amethio mustered up a small smile, "I never got to know you, I really enjoyed this."

Liko smiled. "Me too."

Ash sees as Liko and Amethio seem to be on better terms now, so he turns to Team Rocket. Thinking that maybe they can come to some sort of truce."Guess since we're gonna be in here awhile, I think you four owe me and Pikachu some answers."

The four Rocket members stiffen at the confrontation, but seeing as though there's nowhere to go, they relent. "Ugh, fine twerp, what do you want to know?" Jessie asked.

"Well first off: my Pikachu, why are you always trying to steal him? Or any other Pokemon or stuff you try to steal?"

Meowth chuckled, "Gee, thought we told ya why when we first met ya. It's for da boss. Your Pikachu is super strong, so strong that it would be the perfect present fo him!"

"And then finally he'll show us some repesct!" James added, "Maybe even a promotion!"

"Wobuffet!"

"So, you just wanna please your boss?" Ash asked.

"Yeah, and take that darn Persian's place!" Meowth exclaimed, shaking his enclosed paw.

"I think that's only a goal for you." Jessie muttered.

Ash sighed, "Oh boy, you may see me as a twerp, but here's some advice: Stop trying to please him! Because it looks like you'll always be the twerps to him. Make your own path, I wouldn't be World Monarch if I was constantly trying to be good enough for Gary or Paul."

Team Rockey stiffen again, glaring at the boy and his Pikachu. Ready to defend their boss, until the words sink in and they deflate. Refusing to admit the Twerp had a good point. "We'll think about that, but you're still a twerp!" Jessie huffed.

Amethio feels a draft and looks up to see holes in the cave ceiling. "Look." he said.

Everyone looked up, "Can we use that to get outta here?" Ash asked.

"If we all combine the skills of our Pokemon." Amethio purposed.

Ceruledge, Pikachu, Meowth and Floragato ride Amethio's Corviknight up to the holes, where they use Psycho Cut, Iron Tail, Fury Swipes and Magical Leaf to widen the gap, but this also causes debris to fall. A large rock is about to crash on top of Liko, but she acts fast and send sout her Hattrem to safely lower it to the ground with Confusion and smashing it with Brutal Swing. The trainers eventually lefit themselves up through the holes and squeeze themselves out.

"Liko, I should warn you, that wasn't the last you've seen of Spinel." Amethio explained, "He'll lay out another trap sooner or later with that Treasure of Eternity."

"Wait, if both the Explorers and Rising Volt Tacklers have the same goal, we should work together!" Liko purposed.

Amethio frowned, "Our goals are the same, but our paths are not. As for me, I'll make my own path."

Amethio walks off as the others watch on. "See?" Ash turned to Team Rocket, "He's making his own path."

Ash: He has a point Liko, and he even makes his own path, see Team Rocket?

Jessie huffed, "Yeah, we know what you said, Twerp. But if the Explorers return, so will we."

"This little truce ends now!" James added.

"And next time, we'll steal it all!  And da boss will adore us then!" Meowth declared.

"Wobuffet!"

Team Rocket run off in a different direction, saying "WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" "WOBUFFET!" While Ash looks on in disappointment. "Guess those guys never change..."

Ash and Liko find the path they're supposed to be on, finding Roy, Dot and even Grusha looking fot them. They all enter the cabin, where Grusha lights the furnace. Liko walks over to Grush as he starts a fire. "Thanks for your help Grusha."

Grush shrugged it off, "No problem, it all worked out in the end."

Ash meanwhile was on a call with Friede on his Rotom Phone, recounting what happened. "So what was Spinel doing out here?" Friede asked.

"I'm not sure." Ash answered, "He made his Umbreon go beserk with some pink shard, called it the Treasure of Eternity."

"I'm familar that the Treasure of Eternity." Friede responded, "Exceed, the company I worked for, kept some, it also goes by the name of Laquium. Did anything else happen?"

"Umbreon didn't go back to normal until Terapagos came out and destroyed the shard." Ash recounted.

"Interesting." Friede mused,  "I'll need all of you to keep an eye out for more activity from the Explorers while I head back and fill everyone in."

"We're on it!" Ash ended the call.

"Well we should proably head back to Naranja Academy." Dot said.

Ash nodded, "Definitely, well head back first thing tomorrow morning."

"You can stay here for the night then." Grusha said.