What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

Guided by the Black Rayquaza!

Jessie and Coral grit their teeth as Wobbuffet and Glalie ignore Pagogo's anger. Intent on beating the twerps once and for all. Only for their hits to be blocked by a Rhydon and Golduck. Revealing Zirc and Onia have seemingly just appeared in between the two groups.

"Hurry, young trainers!" Zirc called out to the kids, "Reunite with the professor! We'll deal with them!"

Ash can only manage a quick nod of respect before Dot and Chloe practically drag the others into running off in the direction Friede had wandered off to. Though Jessie's anger is too much for the two Explorers gone rouge.

"HEY!" Jessie yelled at the top of her lungs, "WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?! GET BACK HERE!" Jessie and Wobbuffet easily push past Zirc and Onia, James, Scovillain and Meowth then go chasing after them, knocking Zirc and Onia to the ground.

Coral also tries to give chase, but Chalce places her hand on her shoulder. "Don't try it. We must prioritize the mission.

Meanwhile with the kids, the group quicken their pace upon realizing Team Rocket are chasing them. The two groups skid to a stop upon a desolate wasteland and Friede standing wth a large cluster of Laquium crystals, alongside a few familiar figures.

"There's Friede!" Roy eclaimed, making the professor turn around.

"Look! Amethio's here too!" Liko pointed.

"And that Spinel guy!" Dot pointed out.

"Is that... Gibeon?" Ash pointed to the elder man, then to his Pokemon, "Is that a Zygarde?! How can another one exist?! And why's it such a different color?"

Tracey and Chloe look to Ash in confusion "Another?" They jinxed. Liko, Roy, Dot and even Friede perk up at that.

"Long story," Ash brushed off, then he points to Team Rocket, "Believe it or not, they understand." Leading to the trio nodding smugly.

"Well, I'm glad to see you all safe, even with more enemies around." Friede spoke up, eyeing Team Rocket, "From what I've seen, Laqua could collapse if the Laquium keeps persisting. The Explorers wish to excavate it, but doing so would put all the Pokemon in danger, we can't let it happen."

Spinel laughs "Oh Friede, it's way too late for that now. We will aquire the Laquium no matter what!" He mocks, enraging Ash, who gets reminded of Lysandre over and over again.

Ash isn't the only angry one, as Pagogo lets out an angry yell, summoning the six heroes from their ancient Poke Balls. Which Gibeon only scoffs at.

"Pay them no mind, Zygarde." He said before pointing to the cluster, "Harvest."

Zygarde slams into the Laquium, allowing it to regain its fifty percent forme. The Laquium breaking it into pieces and revealing someone inside. Someone clad in armor and donning hair a color akin to Liko's.

"Lucius?!" Gibeon gasped, realizing this was a trap set by Zygarde.

"Hello, old friend." Lucius replied, before looking towards Friede and the kids, "And you must be the RIsing Volt Tacklers." Making said group tense up in shock.

"How do you know who we are?" Friede asked.

Lucius chuckled, "Why, with the help of Zygarde, of course! It allowed me to see through its cells in order to see the world over the years. Making me aware of your adventure, and the Explorers plan. And Team Rocket's crimes. As well as the rise of the new World Monarch." Making Ash beam while Team Rocket seethe.

"You traitorous Zygarde!" Gibeon suddenly yelled, pointing to his partner Pokemon, "How dare you keep an eye on me while feigning suppression!"

"Anyway..." Lucius continued, ignoring Gibeon's outburst. "I was asleep for years until Zygarde reached out to me telepathically. It had used all its cells to monitor the ecosystems as it saw the Laquium as a threat. Zygarde also left a message for Rayquaza once it was freed, requesting that Rayquaza find worthy trainers capable of taming the rest of my Pokemon and Pagogo."