What If Ash was in Pokemon Horizons?

Ash & Roy vs. Friede: Wings of Fire!

The RVT gather into the meeting room, Friede slips out of his spacesuit. He enters the room last, seeing everyone gathered around the table, staring at him.

"Alright, where have you been?" Orla asked.

"And why were you in space?!" Mollie demanded.

"Buddy, I think you owe all of us an explanation." Murdock said calmly.

"Ah yes, I'm sure it would be a fine tale." Ludlow remarked.

Freide chuckled, seating himself. "Well, when I was fell from the ship, Charizard was able to catch me and I landed back at Laqua."

"Wait, you were fine?!" Liko exclaimed, "We thought something happened to you!"

"Yeah, why didn't you fly back up to the ship?!" Roy asked.

"We disbanded 'cause we couldn't find you!" Murdock exclaimed.

"Wait, we disbanded?" Friede seemd shocked, "No wonder it looks like everything changed. Now that I think about it, I probably should've. I spied the Explorers as they harvested Laquium, and as I saw the shape of the land, I realized it looked like a crater had crashed there many years ago. But, the Explorers spotted me, so I had to go on the run. I knew I had to figure out if my theory that Laquium came from space. So I traveled to Hoenn, visited the Devon Cooperation and worked with Hoenn's Champion Steven Stone himself."

"Wait, you met up with Steven?" Ash asked, "But didn't Spinel frame us already?"

"Yeah, I explained everything to him, he's gonna make sure all of Hoenn knows the truth." Friede explained, Ash sighed in relief as Friede continued, "I did some training while researching with him, that's how I met Instructor Starmie. Steven gave me a Key Stone and a Starminite. The Explorers eventually found me, one morning I woke up to news about Exceed centers being built in Hoenn. Steven used his funds and connections to get me a rocket and sent me into orbit."

"So, did you find anything?" Dot asked.

Friede smirked and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small vial filled with pink dust. "This seems to be the origin of Laquium. Before it gets crystallized."

"Woah." Ult muttered in awe, "Well we shouldn't expect less from the true leader of the Rising Volt Tacklers."

Friede looked over to him, "Oh yeah, I've been meaning to ask, who's the new recruit?"

"That's Ult." Roy sighed, "He and I met at Lumiose City and he's been following me around ever since, when we all reunited with everyone Ult insisted he joined."

"That's right!" Ult grinned proudly, "And now that you're back, Ash doesn't have to be the leader anymore!"

Roy immediately ellowed him, "Shut your mouth!" he whispered harshly as Ult scowled at him.

"It's fine, Roy." Ash smiled, "Besides, i can't take all the credit, you were the one who started hunting Laquium and brining us back together."

Friede thought for a moment, "How 'bout this? Let me see how strong you two are now, that'll prove who's meant to be the leader. Whaddya say?"

Ash and Roy grinned in an instant, "You're on!"

The Brave Olivine landed soon after, the trainers find a space of flat terrain to perform their battle. Friede sends out his Charizard while Roy sends out Skeledirge and Ash sends out Buizel.

"Alright, Charizard, start with Flamethrower!" Friede commanded.

"Use Flamethrower too, Skeledirge!" Roy shouted.

The two moves clash together, creating a giant spew of fire for all to see. Friede smirked, "Looks like you haven't lost your touch!" Friede then saw the third Pokemon involved in the battle was nowhere to be seen, "Wait, where's Buizel?"