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{{EpicodePrevNext|
prevcode=HZ125 |
prevtitle=Battle for the Six Heroes! |
nextcode=HZ127 |
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series=Pokémon Horizons: The Series |
colorscheme=Z-A}}
{{EpisodeInfobox|
epcode=HZ126 |
altepcode=EP1358 |
colorscheme=Z-A |
title_en= |
title_ja=負けられないバトル！試される絆！！ |
title_ja_trans=A Battle You Can’t Afford to Lose! The Bond That’s Put to the Test!! |
broadcast_jp=February 6, 2026 |
broadcast_us=<!--Do not assume an air date. If you have an air date you should also provide a title and a source.--> |
en_op=<!--[[TBA]]--> |
ja_op=[[Iolite|アイオライト]] |
ja_ed=[[Asleep or Awake|ねてもさめても]] |
olmteam=Team Kumemura |
scenarion=1 |
scenario=永川成基 |
storyboardn=1 |
storyboard=清島ゆうこ |
directorn=1 |
director=岩田義彦 |
artn=12 |
art=WUXI HUAXIAN ANIMATION PRODUCTION CO.LTD |
art2=sun qiang |
art3=fan dong dong |
art4=liu qi qi |
art5=zhang qian ru |
art6=li jie |
art7=HYUNGRAK |
art8=APELIN |
art9=チェ ウンオク |
art10=キム ヒョンス |
art11=Wuxi Liangdu Graffiti Culture Media Limited Company |
art12=Wei Xulonmg |
morecredits=yes |
epstaffpage=HZ121-HZ130 |
footnotes=* {{BMGf|309660|Preview thread on BMGf}} ''Closed''
* {{BMGf|309734|Original review thread on BMGf}}
<!--* {{BMGf||Dub review thread on BMGf}}-->
}}
(Japanese: '''負けられないバトル！試される絆！！''' ''A Battle You Can’t Afford to Lose! The Bond That’s Put to the Test!!'') is the 126th episode of ''[[Pokémon Horizons: The Series]]'', and the 1,358th episode of the [[Pokémon animated series]]. It first aired in Japan on February 6, 2026<!-- and is scheduled to air in the United States on *day*-->.
{{spoilers}}
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==Blurb==
Official Blurb from Pokémon.com goes here, with source link-->
<!--Please do not alter the blurb to fix any errors, they are meant to be presented as they are on the official site.-->

==Plot==
With the public release of the [[Strong Sphere]] coming soon, [[Exceed]] increases its promotion campaign, which includes asking {{an|Iono}} to advertise it on her channel. The Exceed representative tells the popular streamer it would be a win all around, especially with the trouble the [[Rising Volt Tacklers]] are causing, unaware said group is right beside Iono. While the [[Brave Olivine]] is hiding in [[Levincia]]'s dockyard with Iono's help, the younger members of the team are having a training {{pkmn|battle}} elsewhere. [[Dot]] then arrives with the news that they would be able to meet with [[Clavell]] and [[Geeta]] at [[Naranja Academy]] with [[Penny]]'s help.

In the director's office, [[Jacq]] presents his findings using the data that Dot and Penny [[HZ120|obtained from the Exceed Museum]]. While the information proves useful, Geeta and Clavell explain that it is not something they can act on directly. The main issue is that the data comes from the Rising Volt Tacklers, who currently have a poor public reputation. Additionally, the data was obtained through hacking, which further undermines its credibility, something the [[Explorers]] are well aware of. Despite the group’s good intentions, Clavell and Geeta point out that people tend to act on emotion rather than logic. Because of the Rising Volt Tacklers’ reputation, the public would likely distrust their claims, potentially escalating the situation beyond simple skepticism. Even so, the group agrees that it is worth the risk if it can somehow prevent the launch. As a compromise, Clavell proposes banning Strong Spheres at Naranja Academy, and everyone agrees. Meanwhile, [[Dash]] leaves her friends feeling dejected after watching them battle, believing she is far behind them in terms of strength. When she returns to her room, she finds a Strong Sphere from Exceed, given as a gift for participating in their [[HZ095|demonstration]]. Excited, Dash heads out to battle using her newly acquired Strong Sphere, only to be devastated when she sees the notice announcing the ban posted in the entrance hall. After overhearing [[Liko]] and the others talking about successfully getting Strong Spheres banned, Dash confronts them. They attempt to explain the harmful effects of the Strong Sphere, but Dash refuses to listen to reason and instead challenges Liko to a battle with the ban on the line, which Liko accepts.

At the school battlefield, the battle is spectated by the Rising Volt Tacklers and various {{tc|student}}s including {{an|Nemona}}, Penny, [[Niko]], and [[Rob]]. Dash's {{p|Swanna}} makes the first move with {{m|Water Gun}}, which {{TP|Liko|Meowscarada}} dodges before sending {{m|Magical Leaf}} at the {{pkmn|category|White Bird Pokémon}}. Swanna then dives in with {{m|Wing Attack}}, but gets hit with {{m|Acrobatics}} instead. Dash sees her partner refusing to give up and has it use {{m|Feather Dance}}, which causes feathers to be stuck on Meowscarada. Swanna goes in for another Wing Attack while Meowscarada is distracted, but is forced to stop when she uses {{m|Flower Trick}}, and manages to avoid {{m|Quick Attack}} as well, surprising Niko and Rob with Dash's battle. At Liko's command, Meowscarada avoids all of Swanna's attacks with Quick Attack, removing all the feathers stuck on her in the process, and counters with Flower Trick that manages to deal [[damage]] to the White Bird Pokémon.
[[File:Dot team HZ126.png|thumb|left|250px|Dot and her Pokémon ready to train]]
When she realizes her friends are watching her battle, Dash expresses her desire to win so that things would go back to how it was. As a result, she uses her Strong Sphere on Swanna against Liko's protest, causing a wave of reactions among the students. Dash becomes amazed by Swanna's new capabilities while Niko and Rob support her. Meowscarada continues avoiding Swanna's attacks while Liko tries to make Dash see what the Strong Sphere is doing to her partner, which she does when Swanna keeps hurting itself while using Wing Attack. Dash desperately tries to [[recall]] the White Bird Pokémon, but it refuses to listen, so Liko steps in by having her partner use her stem to stop Swanna once it is weakened from Flower Trick. Dash tearfully apologizes to Swanna once the effects wear off. When asked why would she resort to Strong Spheres, Dash says she did not want to be left behind by Niko and Rob. When Niko and Rob approach, Dash tries to leave out of shame, but Liko convinces her to stay before she is filled with regret for not talking sooner. The three friends then sort out their feelings about each other and apologize for their failure to talk about it earlier. Dash promises Liko not to use a Strong Sphere anymore before leaving with her friends, who suggest she try [[Tera Training]] again.
[[File:Liko and her Pokémon HZ126.png|thumb|300px|Liko and her Pokémon ready to train]]
In the cafeteria, the Rising Volt Tacklers hold a meeting to discuss their next steps. Although they succeeded in convincing Dash to stop using a Strong Sphere, they realize that other {{pkmn|Trainer}}s will continue to use them despite the ban. Because of this, they conclude that the [[Laquium]] Core must be eradicated in order to halt production entirely. With the Explorers maintaining control over [[Mount Pericarp]], [[Ult]] suggests having the Brave Olivine fly over it. However, [[Roy]] points out that [[HZ083|it will not be able to handle the altitude]]. [[Orla]] then arrives with news that she has been working on a way to improve the “Brave Olivine: Infinite Rising” ever since [[HZ089|what happened at]] [[Laqua]]. In the meantime, the younger members decide to focus their efforts on finding Pokémon with eighteen Tera [[type]]s. Nemona and Penny arrive after the meeting and volunteer to help oppose the use of Strong Spheres, having witnessed what happened with Swanna earlier. When Nemona mentions battling alongside the four of them, the group becomes confused, prompting Penny to realize that they had never counted themselves among the group. [[HZ125|Having saved the]] [[Six Heroes]] and witnessed their growth since they [[HZ010|first met]], Nemona and Penny are confident that they have grown stronger themselves. This realization leaves them happy as they reflect on how far they have come.
{{-}}

==Major events==
<!-- This is not for summarizing everything that happens in this episode. Only events pertaining to the series as a whole, such as catching and releasing Pokémon and obtaining Badges, go here. -->
* The [[Rising Volt Tacklers]] travel to [[Paldea]] again.
* [[Liko]], [[Roy]], [[Dot]], and [[Ult]] meet [[Geeta]], [[Clavell]], {{an|Nemona}}, and [[Penny]] again.
* After analyzing the data that Penny and Dot [[HZ120|stole]] from the [[Exceed|Exceed Museum]], Clavell and Geeta ban the use of [[Strong Sphere]]s in [[Naranja Academy]].
* Liko, Roy, and Dot meet [[Jacq]], [[Dash]], [[Niko]], and [[Rob]] again, while Ult meets them for the first time.
* Liko has a {{pkmn|battle}} with Dash and wins.
* Nemona and Penny team up with the Rising Volt Tacklers to purify the [[Laquium]] Core.
** In the process, Nemona's {{p|Pawmot}} and Penny's {{p|Sylveon}} represent {{t|Fighting}} and {{t|Fairy}} of the eighteen required {{Tera|Tera Types}}.
* Liko, Roy, and Dot include their own Pokémon, {{TP|Liko|Meowscarada}}, {{TP|Liko|Hatterene}}, {{TP|Roy|Skeledirge}}, {{TP|Roy|Kilowattrel}}, [[Captain Pikachu]], {{TP|Dot|Quaxwell}}, and {{TP|Dot|Tinkaton}}, to represent {{t|Grass}}, {{t|Psychic}}, {{t|Fire}}, {{t|Electric}}, {{t|Flying}}, {{t|Water}}, and {{t|Steel}} of the eighteen required Tera Types, leaving only four types still unaccounted for.
{{animeevents|HZ}}

===Debuts===
====Pokémon debuts====

==Characters==
===Humans===
* [[Liko]]
* [[Roy]]
* [[Dot]]
* [[Ult]]
* [[Mollie]]
* [[Orla]]
* [[Ludlow]]
* [[Murdock]]
* [[Geeta]]
* [[Clavell]]
* [[Jacq]]
* {{an|Nemona}}
* [[Penny]]
* {{an|Iono}}
* [[Niko]]
* [[Rob]]
* [[Dash]]

===Pokémon===
* {{p|Meowscarada}} ({{OP|Liko|Meowscarada}})
* {{p|Hatterene}} ({{OP|Liko|Hatterene}})
* {{p|Terapagos}} ([[Liko]]'s; [[Pagogo]]; {{form|Terapagos|Normal Form}})
* {{p|Armarouge}} ({{OP|Liko|Armarouge}})
* {{p|Rotom}} ([[Liko]]'s; [[Rotom Phone]])
* {{p|Skeledirge}} ({{OP|Roy|Skeledirge}})
* {{p|Kilowattrel}} ({{OP|Roy|Kilowattrel}})
* {{p|Lucario}} ({{OP|Roy|Lucario}}; {{Shiny}})
* {{p|Pikachu}} ([[Friede]]'s; [[Captain Pikachu]])
* {{p|Rotom}} ([[Roy]]'s; [[Rotom Phone]])
* {{p|Quaxwell}} ({{OP|Dot|Quaxwell}})
* {{p|Tinkaton}} ({{OP|Dot|Tinkaton}})
* {{p|Gholdengo}} ({{OP|Dot|Gholdengo}})
* {{p|Rotom}} ([[Dot]]'s; [[Rotom Phone]])
* {{p|Sableye}} ([[Ult]]'s)
* {{p|Rotom}} ([[Murdock]]'s; [[Rotom Phone]])
* {{p|Bellibolt}} ({{an|Iono}}'s)
* {{p|Rotom}} ({{an|Iono}}'s; [[Rotom Phone]])
* {{p|Pawmot}} ({{an|Nemona}}'s)
* {{p|Sylveon}} ([[Penny]]'s)
* {{p|Roserade}} ([[Niko]]'s)
* {{p|Darumaka}} ([[Rob]]'s; flashback)
* {{p|Darmanitan}} ([[Rob]]'s)
* {{p|Ducklett}} ([[Dash]]'s; flashback)
* {{p|Swanna}} ([[Dash]]'s)
* {{p|Brionne}} (Student's)
* {{p|Croconaw}} (Student's)
* {{p|Mudbray}} (Student's)
* {{p|Gloom}} (Student's)
* {{p|Clefairy}} (Student's)
* {{p|Houndour}} (Student's)
* {{p|Petilil}} (Student's)
* {{p|Piplup}} (Student's)
* {{p|Gligar}} (Student's)
* {{p|Chimecho}} (Student's)
* {{p|Breloom}} (Student's)
* {{p|Sableye}} (Student's)
* {{p|Pawmi}} (Student's)
* {{p|Pawmi}} ([[Rising Volt Tacklers]]')
* {{p|Shuckle}} ([[Rising Volt Tacklers]]')
* {{p|Snorunt}} ([[Rising Volt Tacklers]]')
* {{p|Tatsugiri}} ([[Rising Volt Tacklers]]'; ×3; {{form|Tatsugiri|Curly, Droopy, and Stretchy forms}})
* {{p|Spoink}}

==Trivia==
* [[Mega Nidothing's Mega Mega! Mega Evolution]]: {{p|Audino}}
* For the initial airing of this episode, the Mega Nidothing's Mega Mega! Mega Evolution segment was replaced with a present campaign commercial.
* The first [[List of Pokémon Horizons: The Series eyecatches|eyecatch]] features [[Liko]] with her {{TP|Liko|Meowscarada}}, {{TP|Liko|Hatterene}}, [[Pagogo]], and {{TP|Liko|Armarouge}}, and the second features [[Roy]] with his {{TP|Roy|Skeledirge}}, {{TP|Roy|Kilowattrel}}, {{TP|Roy|Lucario}}, and [[Captain Pikachu]].
* Roy, [[Ult]], his {{p|Dragonite}}, [[Dot]], {{TP|Dot|Quaxwell}}, Liko, and [[Ann]] narrate the preview for the [[HZ127|next episode]].

===Errors===
* When [[Niko]] and [[Rob]] are praising Dash after her battle against Liko, Niko's hair is long like it was prior to the timeskip, rather than all up in a bun.
<gallery>
HZ126 error.png|Niko's incorrect hairstyle
</gallery>

===Dub edits===

==In other languages==
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{{EpicodePrevNext|
prevcode=HZ125 |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:1358}}
[[Category:Pokémon Horizons: The Series episodes|126]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Naruki Nagakawa]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded by Yūko Kiyoshima]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Yoshihiko Iwata]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Wuxi Huaxian Animation Production]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Sun Qiang]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Fan Dong Dong]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Liu Qi Qi]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Zhang Qian Ru]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Li Jie]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Hyun Grak]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Apelin]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Choe Eun Ok]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Kim Hyeon Su]]
<!--[[Category:Episodes animated by Wuxi Liangdu Graffiti Culture Media Limited Company]]-->
[[Category:Episodes animated by Wei Xulong]]
[[Category:Episodes by one-time animation directors]]
[[Category:Episodes by multiple animation directors]]
[[Category:Episodes focusing on Liko]]
[[Category:Episodes in which a Legendary Pokémon appears]]
[[Category:Episodes in which an alternately colored Pokémon appears]]
[[Category:Episodes in which a Champion appears]]

[[de:Makerarenai Battle! Tamesareru Kizuna!!]]
[[es:EP1362]]
[[fr:LH126]]
[[it:OP126]]
[[ja:2023年版第126話]]
[[zh:宝可梦 地平线 第126集]]