Eyes to the Skies Once Again, Part 1 (Japanese: 大空へ向かって、再び 前編Once More, To the Skies, Part 1) is the 90th episode of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, and the 1,322nd episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on April 11, 2025 as a one-hour special alongside HZ091, in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2025, and in the United States on January 6, 2026.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
In a forest, wild Pokémon are watching a wild Slaking warily as it exudes a pink mist. At the same time, Dot is guiding Captain Pikachu and Roy somewhere until Cap notices some footprints and the two pursue it. While they are following the footprints, Roy reveals he had been on an adventure to meet the Black Rayquaza once more when Dot contacted him after a long time, asking him to investigate an abnormality. At that moment, they arrive to find Slaking and find it acting contradatory to what the Pokédex says, leading Roy to suspect the Laquium is at work. Wanting to update Dot, Roy is interrupted by Ult and his Sableye, who cause him to lose sight of the Slaking he was watching a moment ago. Ult tries to declare Rayquaza would be his, but Roy ignores him in favor of finding Slaking and reluctantly lets Ult tag along when he wouldn't leave him alone. From the sky, Roy's Kilowattrel directs the group to the Slaking from earlier. Unfortunately, because of Sableye, the wild Pokémon turns hostile, forcing them to battle it.
Roy sends Cap out with Double Team and determines Slaking is not acting normal. Crocalor charges in with Flame Charge but is tossed into the air. Before Slaking's attack hits the Fire Croc Pokémon, Kilowattrel saves him before the two attack with Electro Ball and Flamethrower respectively, with Sableye following up with Power Gem. Roy notices the other wild Pokémon are in danger because of their battle and sends Kilowattrel and Crocalor to take care of them. While wary of the possibility of the Laquium, Ult snaps Roy out of his depressed thoughts and the latter brings out Lucario. Roy and Ult Mega Evolve their Pokémon into Mega Lucario and Mega Sableye. The two Mega Pokémon and Cap attack Slaking together, but it retaliates with a devastating Hyper Beam. Because of the attack's strength and color, Roy concludes Laquium is definitely involved. Mega Sableye is unaffected by the follow-up Hyper Beam, thanks to its Ghost type, before it and Mega Lucario land more attacks, with Cap finishing it off with a Volt Tackle.
Roy and Ult talking
After the battle, Roy updates Dot on the situation and she agrees with his assessment regarding the involvment of the Laquium, which should have been destroyed by Pagogoone year ago. Before they can ponder on it further, Franka enters Dot's room with some hotcakes, forcing Dot to end the call. Roy declares he needs to tell someone their adventures aren't over and tells Ult to come out of hiding. While he initially agreed to let Ult join him due to their shared goal with Rayquaza, Roy sneaks away during the night, to Ult's frustration at being abandoned.
At Indigo Academy, a class has finished a lesson and the teacher announces the next lesson would take place in the courtyard. The students run out excitedly, including Ann and her Samurott. The last student in the classroom, Liko, remarks how they're energetic before she heads off to her next lesson with Meowscarada. Over the past year, with new students arriving at the school and Ann's skills being acknowledged by not only Indigo Academy but supposedly Blueberry Academy, Liko had adjusted to school life. In their shared dormitory, Liko helps Ann find her toothbrush and remarks on the latter's tendency to put things down without thinking, causing Ann to point out Liko is also unconsciously stroking Pagogo's Poké Ball, with the Tera Pokémon itself not leaving its Poké Ball at all. Ann tries to check in on Liko, but the latter brushes it off. Ann suggests training together tomorrow and Liko agrees. While everyone is sleeping, Liko once again strokes Pagogo's Poké Ball, unaware of Ann being concerned for her.
The next day, Ann watches a Nidothing video, where Nidothing is asking for info on anything unusual, and shows the video to her distracted friend. Liko changes the topic from her not watching Nidothing lately to Ann's idea of training. As their two Pokémon train, Liko clarifies the rumor about Blueberry Academy and Ann confirms it, making Liko happy that her friend is getting closer to her dream while she hasn't made progress since her return. In the cafeteria, Liko overhears two students talking about Spinel's interview and the recent incidents being caused by the Rising Volt Tacklers. Ann tries to stop them, but Liko drags her away as no one at school knows Liko is a member of the Rising Volt Tacklers or the events of a year ago. On the rooftop, someone calls out to Liko, and she is surprised to see Roy and Cap heading her way.
Major events
Following a tip from Dot, Roy discovers that the Laquium wasn't completely destroyed and that it is affecting wild Pokémon far from Laqua.
The title text for this episode in both the original Japanese version and the English dub 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.
For the initial airing of this episode, it aired during a one-hour special with the next episode.
The end credits, the "To Be Continued" text, and the next episode preview were not present at the end of the episode.
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 the next episode at the end of the one hour special, but is included after this 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 the regular release of this episode:
The Japanese release uses generic animated series music during the ending credits, with the credits appearing on a black split screen, with scenes from the episode playing on the other side.
Other language releases use the instrumental version of Evolving Again as the ending theme with the regular animation sequence.
