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| Season | Pokémon Horizons: The Series (Horizons Season 1) · Galar & the Galarian Moltres arc (HZ019–HZ023) |
| Episode | Horizons Season 1, episode 23 · English episode 1247 · Japanese episode 1256 · Bulbapedia code HZ023 |
| English title | Fiery Galarian Moltres |
| Japanese title | もえあがるガラルファイヤー Moeagaru Gararu Faiyā — “Burning Galar Fire” |
| First aired (Japan) | 22 September 2023 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 10 May 2024 · Netflix |
| Screenplay | Kureha Matsuzawa |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Dokimeki Daiārī (Heart-Pounding Diary) – asmi feat. Chinozo · RVR ~Raijingu Borutekkāzu Rappu~ (Rising Volt Tacklers Rap), Mollie Ver. – Liko (Minori Suzuki) & Roy (Yuka Terasaki) |
| English opening | Becoming Me – Haven Paschall (version 1, with clips from Heart-Pounding Diary) |
| Previous episode | Charge! Galar Mine! (HZ022) |
| Next episode | Reunion at the Ancient Castle! (HZ024) |
Plot episodeMoltres joins LikoTerapagos stays out
Fiery Galarian Moltres is the 23rd episode of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, the first season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1247th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1256, Bulbapedia code HZ023). It first aired in Japan on 22 September 2023 and in the United States on 10 May 2024. It falls within the season’s Galar & the Galarian Moltres stretch (EP19–EP23).
The last episode of Netflix’s Part 2 (HZ013–HZ023), released in the US on Friday 10 May 2024; Australia’s 9Go! had aired it first, on 29 March 2024, and BBC iPlayer released it in the UK on 27 May 2024, after Netflix.
Synopsis
Instead of defeating the enraged Galarian Moltres, Liko sets out to calm it with Sprigatito’s soothing scent, and with help from Arboliva, Friede and Roy she succeeds, earning its Ancient Poké Ball as the mysterious Pokémon emerges from her pendant and stays out. After fleeing the mine, Liko and Roy have Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Captain Pikachu treated at the Motostoke Pokémon Center, where Friede soon arrives with an injured Charizard. Relaxing over Berries, Friede says that facing a stronger opponent is a chance to grow, and Roy recalls Kabu’s advice about learning from failure. Dot reports that Galarian Moltres is a regional form of the Kanto Legendary about which little is known, except that nearby Pokémon grow lethargic and it is unstoppable when enraged. Roy doubts they can beat it, but Liko remembers Hatenna crying during the rampage and suspects another feeling lies beneath the anger, and Friede concludes that the goal should be to calm Moltres, not defeat it.
When Sprigatito’s relaxing scent settles a squabble between Fuecoco and Wattrel over a Grepa Berry, the group has its plan. Back at the mine, Moltres is waiting. Charizard and Fuecoco draw its attention with Flamethrower while Sprigatito builds up scent, Captain Pikachu blocks Air Slash with Thunder Punch, and Sprigatito rides Charizard to get close enough for a scented Leafage, but a mighty Hurricane blows everyone back. Liko shows Moltres the Ancient Poké Balls of Arboliva and the Black Rayquaza, but it answers with Fiery Wrath, and Captain Pikachu’s Volt Tackle breaks the attack at the cost of recoil damage. Ignoring Friede’s warning, Liko runs towards Moltres, saying she wants to understand how it feels, and shields Sprigatito from an Air Slash; Arboliva bursts from its ball to protect her as the pendant glows, and her feelings link with Arboliva, whose Seed Sower creates Grassy Terrain that heals the team and awakens Sprigatito’s power.
Charizard and Wattrel whip up a wind that carries Sprigatito’s leaves to Moltres, Captain Pikachu’s Double Team confuses its Air Slash, and Sprigatito’s strongest Leafage spreads its sweet scent through the cave until Moltres finally calms. Moltres lands and communes with the pendant, which transforms into the mysterious Pokémon; rain falls inside the mine like tears, and a vision shows Lucius with Moltres and mentions “Laqua.” Moltres drops its Ancient Poké Ball and recalls itself, Arboliva does the same, and Liko takes both balls, sensing that Moltres wants to come with her. Kabu arrives after hearing of the collapse, praises Liko and proposes an official battle someday, and the trio hurries off when something stirs inside Friede’s coat: the mysterious Pokémon has not returned to pendant form. Watching from above, Amethio tells Zirc and Onia that Moltres was never their objective and plans to follow the group to the old castle and seize the pendant Pokémon.
Major Events
- Calming Moltres. Arboliva’s Seed Sower creates Grassy Terrain and Sprigatito’s scented Leafage calms Moltres
- Moltres’s Ancient Poké Ball is entrusted to Liko
- A vision mentions Laqua
- The pendant Pokémon stays out
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Kureha Matsuzawa.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Kanto, Galar and Paldea storyline.
Part of our Pokémon Horizons: The Series guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.