What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

The Truth Revealed!

The Brave Olivine soars through the sky, Rayquaza and Pagogo flying alongside it, having fun together. The kids watch from the wingdeck, excited to finally go to Laqua. Though Friede has some concerns.

"Remember guys," Friede finally said, "This place could be dangerous, the Explorers are also after this place. After Laquium."

"Yeah, and Team Rocket follows Pikachu and I wherever we go." Ash added on, Pikachu nodding in agreement. "Why's Laquium called the 'Treasure of Eternity' anyway?"

"It might have something to do with cell activation." Mollie theorized.

"Maybe." Friede mused, rubbing his chin, "That would explain how Gibeon's still alive."

"But don't they already have some?" Dot asked, "Why would they need more?"

Liko thinks back to when she and Ash saw Spinel use Laquium, "When Spinel used it, his Umbreon broke it into pieces. So maybe it runs out?"

"Or it can easily be destroyed." Ash suggested.

"Didn't Rystal say Pagogo put up a barrier in Laqua?" Roy asked, "So would there be any left?"

"Well, the affects of Laqua isn't seen around the world, so it's hard to know if there is any left." Friede mused. Leaving everyone in a worried silence.

"Y'know what?" Ash finally said, catching everyone's attention, "Let's not think about that. If the Explorers, or Team Rocket show up, we'll be ready for them! But right now, lets get to Laqua first!"

The other Rising Volt tacklers nod, the kids regaining their excitement to reach Laqua, while the adults remember their reasons for adventuring in the first place.

Meanwhile, Amethio, Zirc and Onia sit imprisioned in a warehouse, Poke Balls confiscated. Exceed guards having caught them spying in Spiniel's office. They seem deep into conversation of Spinel's intentions, when the shutter raises, revealing Hamber holding their Poke Balls.

"Hamber!" Amethio shouted, relieved, "How did you find us?"

Suddenly, a Meowth walks out from behind him, "He had a little help!" The Meowth said, though Amethio knows of a Meowth that can talk. Just as a man and woman dressed in white step out from the shadows.

"Prepare for a rescue!" Jessie exclaimed.

"Even if that's not what we do!" James added on.

"Alright! Alright!" Meowth interupted, "Gee, the twerp was right, that motto was getting old." He muttered.

"Still doesn't answer how you found us." Zirc growled, upset a rival team had to save them.

"Oh, of course!" Jessie replied, "Meowth left a little gift on your boss a long time ago!"

Onia pries off a small device stuck to the back of Amethio's shirt like a suction cup. The very listening device Meowth planted a long time ago. Hamber changes the subject by returning the Poke Balls to the three.

"I think it be best to relocate, for our safety." Hamber suggests.

Amethio perks up, "I may have an idea."

A limo pulls up to a mansion, Amethio's mansion. The two teams enter, seeing a large portrait of a woman.

"Woah, who's that lady?" Meowth asked.

"That would be my late mother, she passed away in a car accident when I was young." Amethio replied, walking into another room alongside Hamber, while the others linger by the portrait, shocked Amethio would open up so casually.

Zirc, Onia and Team Rocket eventually follow Amethio into the other room, where Hamber tells the story of Lucius and Gibeon. How they met, then fell apart at Laqua due to Laquium, then his Zygarde betrayed him thanks to Lucius's Rayquaza.

"Zygarde then lost many of its Zygarde Cells." Hamber continued his story.

Zirc perked up in confusion "Zygarde cells?"

"Why yes," Hamber replied, pulling out one, surprising everyon, especially Team Rocket.

"Woah, I haven't seen one of those in a while." James commented, Jessie and Meowth nodded whilist Hamber explained how Zygarde cells worked.

"Gibeon nearly lost his life in Laqua." Hamber finally continued the story, "He discovered how Laquium could extend a person's lifespan and left Laqua with a sample of it, then he founded Exceed in order to preform more research for a hundred years."

"Wow, this guy's older than all fo Team Rocket!" Meowth commented.

"That's surprisng, since the boss said we're the oldest evil organization." Jessie added.

"The Rising Volt Tacklers are making their way to Laqua as we speak." Hamber reported, "And Liko is the descendant of Lucius and Rystal."

Amethio shrugged, "Not surprised." He said, "Zirc, Onia, we're going to Laqua."

The Explorers Trio walk out, send out their Pokemon and fly off, leaving Team Rocket standing alone outside the mansion.

"So, now what?" Meowth asked.

"What do you mean? We follow them!" Jessie shouted, "If Laqua has something that can keep people alive, the boss would want that so that he can rule everything forever!"

James perked up, "And if we deliver it to him, think fo the promotions we'll get!"

"Wobbuffet!" Wobuffet cried, his three teammates already fantasizing their promotions before fueling up the hot air balloon and flying after Amethio.

Back on the Brave Olivine, Rayquaza suddenly roars, attracting the attention of the kids before it flies off higher into the mountains. Leading to them looking for Friede and finding him after a short while of searching.

"Friede! Rayquaza's speeding away!" Roy exclaimed, "Can't we speed up and go after it?"

"I'll see what I can do." He replied, calling Orla. "Hey Orla? Do you think we'll be able to catch up to Rayquaza?"

"No can do." Orla replied, "The ship's not gonna survive going much higher, we're gonna need to dock at Kumuri Town."

As Friede and Orla are talking, Ash suddenly gets a call from Professor Oak, "Hello?" Assh answers.

"Ah, Ash! So good to hear from you!" Professor Oak's familiar voice flooded in, "I heard from your mother that you're about to explore the ancient Laqua paradise, and Professor Cerise and I were wondering if we could send a few people to gather research?"

Ash rubbed his chin, "I don't know professor, we're supposed to be keeping this secret."

"Oh, why yes!" Oak responded, "We'll only be gatherung research for our own purposes, neither Cerise nor I plan to release anything to the public!"

"Alright, then I don't think the other's would mind." Ash accepted, "Just tell whoever you're sending to meet us in Kumuri Town."

"Splendid!" Oak exclaimed, "I'll send them that location, you'll recognize these two, you've traveled with them before!"

Ash perked up, "Well, who are they?" He asked.

"Why, that would ruin the surprise! Best of luck Ash!" And just like that, the call ended.