This article is about an episode of the Pokémon animated series that has not been dubbed into English. As such, its coverage may contain romanized Japanese names, rather than dub names.
(Japanese: 大空へ向かって、再び 後編Once More, To the Skies, Part 2) is the 91st episode of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, and the 1,323rd episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on April 11, 2025 as a one-hour special alongside HZ090.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
Plot
Resuming from the previous episode, Roy and Captain Pikachu arrive at Indigo Academy thanks to Roy's Kilowattrel. Roy reveals he has something to tell Liko but is unable to due to the arrival of some students, including Ann, who greets Roy happily. The two girls bring Roy around the school before they settle in the cafeteria, where Liko and Roy reveal what happened with the Rising Volt Tacklers to Ann. After escaping fromLaqua, they tried to search for their lost member but were unable to find him, with Exceed sealing off Mount Pericarp, preventing them from searching further. Upon further discussion, the Rising Volt Tacklers agreed to disband, causing Ann to sympathize with Liko. Roy then reveals he had been training in Kalos before being interrupted by some students, who wanted to speak with Ann. As Ann leaves, Roy tells Liko about Dot contacting him to investigate a peculiar Pokémon that exuded pink mist, stunning Liko. She is in disbelief as Pagogo had purified Laqua of Laquium that time. Hence, Roy asks for Liko's help, but she is unable to, especially since Pagogo hadn't awakened since it returned to its Poké Ball. Roy takes the rejection in good stride and Ann returns to find them in an awkward tension. She suggests a battle to cheer them up, but Liko's Meowscarada disappeared during their discussion, so Roy and Ann head to the courtyard first while Liko searches for her partner with Hattrem.
Roy and Ann having a battle
In the courtyard, Ann and Roy begin to battle, with Lucario sending a Flash Cannon that is overpowered by Samurott's Hydro Pump. Lucario dodges the attack and returns with Metal Claw. Samurott stops the attack with Razor Shell and Ann has it use Drill Run next. Unbeknownst to the two, the same students from the cafeteria are wary of Roy being a member of the Rising Volt Tacklers. Meanwhile, as more students gather to watch the battle, Liko and Hattrem find Meowscarada on a rooftop, also watching the battle. Liko sees Roy's new partner and becomes crestfallen as she realizes her friends have managed to move on while she is stuck. One of Meowscarada's flowers explodes next to Liko as the Magician Pokémon leaps off the rooftop. Back in the battle, the students are amazed by the battle, with some wondering about Roy. Word then gets around about Roy's affiliation, with Liko listening in. Unaware of the ongoing concerns, Lucario connects with its Trainer with Aura, allowing it to dodge Samurott's Drill Run and defeat it with Close Combat. Liko approaches the two and Roy asks to battle her next.
For his next battle, Roy has Crocalor battle instead and he begins with Flamethrower that Meowscarada evades. Liko has Meowscarada attack with Flower Trick, causing flower bombs to appear in the sky. Meowscarada then catches and starts juggling them, distracting Crocalor which fails to notice one flower bomb still in the air which descends right in front of Crocalor and explodes, causing damage. Crocalor charges in with Flame Charge and Meowscarada avoids it with Acrobatics. Unfortunately another Flame Charge from Crocalor causes some supereffective damage to Meowscarada. She uses Flower Trick to counter, but Roy now knows not to rely on sight and has Crocalor use Disarming Voice to attack all of Meowscarada's flowers at once, forcing them to explode early. Meowscarada tries to land an attack with Acrobatics, but not only did Crocalor evade it, but he retaliates with Flamethrower. The Magician Pokémon throws a smokescreen with one of her flowers to avoid the attack, surprising Liko, whose feelings become in tune with her partner's at that moment. To stop Crocalor from hitting her with Flame Charge, Meowscarada holds Crocalor up in the air with her invisible stem. Unfortunately, Crocalor manages to hit Meowscarada straight on with Flamethrower despite being held in place. At that moment, Roy notices Meowscarada's flower had disappeared, with it reappearing when Liko calls for her Pokémon to use Flower Trick that manages to land some hits. With her confidence restored, Liko and Roy Terastallize their Pokémon and launch attacks at each other, with Meowscarada being defeated as the final result.
Once the battle is over, some students approach Roy to clarify his affiliation with the Rising Volt Tacklers. He doesn't deny it, causing the students to ask Liko for an explanation, which she does by confidently introducing herself as a member of the Rising Volt Tacklers. At the bus stop, Roy, Ann, and their Pokémon are waiting for Liko, who was getting ready in her dormitory, when he muses how the school didn't know about the Rising Volt Tacklers. Ann says it's good for Liko to finally let go of her worries after keeping it in for a year, and Roy agrees. Liko then appears with Meowscarada, ready to take back their truth from the Explorers with Roy. While Ann sees her friends off, Liko remarks she can move forward with her Pokémon by her side as she takes off for her new adventure. Elsewhere, Spinel watches the captured Six Heroes, minus the Black Rayquaza, as he declares the world will bow before the Explorers.
The title text for this episode is shown on screen near the end of the episode, instead of a separate title card segment. Hence, no one reads the title aloud for this episode.
Title card for the one-hour special
For the initial airing of this episode, it aired during a one-hour special with the previous episode.
The recap was skipped and its background music which played a bit beyond the recap was also cut out.
The title was directly shown at the end of the special and didn't include "Part 1" or "Part 2" - treating the special as one episode.
The Mega Nidothing's Mega Mega! Mega Evolution segment is also present after this episode at the end of the one hour special, but is included with the previous episode for VOD releases.
The end of the one-hour special also featured an additional credits segment covering combined credits for both episodes (as listed here), featuring generic animated series music over an out-of-focus shot of the school's clock tower.
For this episode, the Japanese version uses the regular opening theme (GET BACK) as the ending theme.
Despite animated series staff members working for the studio being credited as animation directors, the studio UEC Co., Ltd. itself was left uncredited in the ending credits and added into the listing for clarification purposes.
This episode marks the first time that a main character other than Ash has been seen using Aura.
