What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

Charcadet's Wish!

A hot air balloon shaped like the head of a Meowth lands near the porch of a familar mansion. Team Rocket step out, followed by Zirc, Onia, Liko and Ash.

"Woah, this place is nice." Ash commented.

"It's master Amethio's home." Zirc said, "He grew up here."

The group enters the mansion, "Didn't Amethio leave Laqua with you?" Liko recalled, "How's he missing now?"

"He split off from us as soon as we landed somewhere safe." Onia recounted, "Said he knew Spinel would be hunting him down and didn't want us to be targetted as well. He wanted us to stay in the Explorers."

Ash notices a large painting of a woman with grey hair. "I'm guessing that;s Amethio's mom?"

"Yep." Meowth replied, "Passed on while Amethio was young. The kid had only a Charcadet and that Hamber guy."

Ash turned his head toward Meowth. "How'd you know that?" He asked suspiciously.

"We've been here before." Jessie replied rather bluntly.

Ash rasied an eyebrow, "When the heck did you have the time to come here?"

James rubbed the back of his head, "We came here just before departing for Laqua." He confessed sheepishly.

Liko spots some framed photos on a desk. She looks through them, seeing a younger Amethio and a Charcadet. Before spotting one photo that sticks out, a younger Amethio, with a Charcadet and his mother on a beach seemingly located on an island, though it's an island she's never seen before.

"What about here?" Liko asked, pointing to the photo, cauing the others to gather close to her. "Maybe he's hiding out in a place familiar to him."

James took a closer look at the photo. "That looks like a family vacation, perhaps his father would know the location?"

Zirc pulled out his Rotom Phone and Cervantes picked up quickly. "Zirc? Do you need something?"

"Yes sir," Zirc began, "You went on a vacation with Amethio and your wife, where excatly did you go? We believe we have a lead of where Amethio could be."

Cervantes sighed from the other end, "Y'know I'm not sure I should be even talking to you, let alone give you information about Amethio. Spinel would kill me."

Jessie quickly grabbed the phone "Spinel lied to the world and told you that your son died!" Surprising Ash and Liko.

"Wow, how low can Spinel go?" Ash whispered to Liko.

 Ash quickly took the phone from Jessie's hands before she go exploder further. "Sir, I assure you we are on the same side."

Cervantes gasped, "Mr. Ketchum?!"

Ash chuckled, "Yes, it's me, it's an honor. But please, we need your help to find your son."

"He's still out there and even you know it!" Jessie barked as Meowth and James tried to restrain her.

"Point is, we have a lead to where he is, we just need your help." Ash said, "So, will you help us?"

Cervantes sighed, "Alright, I'll text Zirc the location."

The trainers hop aboard Zirc and Onia's boat once Cervantes sends the location. They dock on the island by nightfall, Liko only takes one peek out of her window and sees someone sitting by a campfire alongside a Ceruledge. His hair is disheveled, he's taller now, but it's still him.

"Amethio!" Liko called out from the ship. The boy looked up, seeing the group exit the boat. His eyes widen in surprise for just a moment, before a smile dawns his face. The others join Amethio and Ceruledge by the campfire. The two Charcadet belonging to Ash and Liko excape from their Poke Balls and try to bond with Ceruledge, only for it to shrug them off. Though the humans can sense something isn't right about Amethio either.