Friends as Two, Me and You – Pokémon Horizons Season 3, Episode 18

Plot episodeMega DragoniteUlt rescued

Friends as Two, Me and You is the 18th episode of Pokémon Horizons: Rising Hope, the third season of the Pokémon anime, and the 1331st episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 1340, Bulbapedia code HZ107). It first aired in Japan on 22 August 2025 and in the United States on 20 March 2026. It falls within the season’s Allies, Amethio & Mega Dragonite stretch (EP101–EP108).

Released on Netflix in the US on Friday 20 March 2026 with the rest of Part 2; BBC iPlayer had premiered it in the UK on 27 February 2026.

Synopsis · Major Events · Trivia · Dub Changes · All episodes

Synopsis

Captured while spying on Spinel, Ult is rescued by Roy, and when Rabsca’s Gravity pins both their teams, Ult’s Dragonite — once his father’s — finally answers him and Mega Evolves into Mega Dragonite. In a forest, Diana and Hamber, who has just helped her catch a mysterious new Pokémon, part ways at a crossroads; repaying Liko’s help with Amethio, Hamber shares what he knows about Spinel holding the Six Heroes, and both agree that the keys to Spinel’s downfall are those who inherited the wills of Gibeon and Lucius: Amethio and Liko. Meanwhile Ult follows Indi and Rubina into an Explorers base and watches them report to Spinel, until Spinel’s Beheeyem catches him and an oppressive force pins him and Sableye to the ground. Spinel assumes he is the Tacklers’ newest member; Ult shoves Sableye away so it can escape and is taken prisoner, glimpsing captured Pokémon in boxes, including Lucius’s former partners. Sableye fetches Roy, Crocalor and Captain Pikachu.

Watching on camera with Chalce, Spinel says that the Tacklers are growing stronger and that Amethio is working behind the scenes, and that he means to eliminate all opposition quickly rather than repeat Gibeon’s mistakes. In his cell, Ult misses Sableye and pleads with the Pokémon in his Dusk Ball, which does not respond, and regrets running away. Then the door is smashed in by Lucario, with Roy behind it; the boys talk awkwardly and escape together, only to be caught by Indi and Rubina, whose Darmanitan use Zen Mode to become Galarian Zen Mode Darmanitan and are boosted by Strong Spheres. Rubina adds four Laquium-affected Rabsca, whose Gravity drops everyone — even Kilowattrel — to the ground, while the Darmanitan keep moving with Psychic. Roy’s Pokémon shield Sableye so its Shadow Sneak can interrupt, and Cap’s Gravity-accelerated Volt Tackle knocks out a Darmanitan, only for a Rabsca’s Revival Blessing to revive it.

With his friends overwhelmed, Ult takes out the Dusk Ball and pleads with Dragonite, remembering his father’s words to it. Dragonite emerges, is immediately crushed by Gravity, but rises at Ult’s encouragement, and as it and his Mega Ring begin to glow, a surprised Ult Mega Evolves it into Mega Dragonite, whose Dragon Rush defeats all four Rabsca. With Gravity gone, Roy Mega Evolves Lucario and the two Mega Pokémon defeat both Darmanitan. Outside, Roy congratulates Ult on earning Dragonite’s approval, but Ult disagrees: he believes he must become strong enough to protect the people he cares about to truly earn it, and promises to protect Roy. Back aboard, Mollie gives him advice from her own experience, Ult thanks her for not telling anyone that he ran away, and he begins to feel at home among the Rising Volt Tacklers. Mega Dragonite is the first Mega Evolution to debut in the anime before appearing in a game; Gravity is used for the first time, and a trailer for Episode: Mega Evolution replaces the end segment.

Major Events

• Mega Dragonite. Diana and Hamber catch a mysterious Pokémon
• Spinel captures Ult, and Roy rescues him
• Rubina’s Rabsca use Gravity, its first anime use, and Revival Blessing
• Ult’s Dragonite, once his father Sault’s, Mega Evolves — the first Mega Evolution to debut in the anime before a game
• Galarian Zen Mode Darmanitan and Rabsca debut
• A trailer for Episode: Mega Evolution replaced the end segment in Japan

Pokémon making their anime debut

• Rabsca#0954 · HZ107

Captures and evolutions

• Pecharunt#1025 · Diana · a mysterious Pokémon caught in Kitakami with Hamber’s help, identified as Pecharunt later in the season

Trivia

• The screenplay is by Kureha Matsuzawa.
• This is a plot episode: it advances the Rising Volt Tacklers storyline.

Changes in the English Dub

• Ult calls Dragon Rush by its Japanese name, “Dragon Dive” (correct on the BBC iPlayer and CBBC masters)

Part of our Pokémon Horizons: Rising Hope guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.