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.
One Step Closer (Japanese: 頂上決戦！メガシンカ！！Showdown at the Summit! Mega Evolution!!) is the 134th episode of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, and the 1,366th episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on April 17, 2026.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
Plot
Roy, Friede, and Ult's Mega Evolution showdown against Coral, Sidian, and Chalce continues, with the Rising Volt Tacklers continually on the defensive due to their opponents' relentless attacks. A Blizzard from Coral's Glalie ends up freezing Roy's Lucario's hands, preventing it from using its fists for combat. Ult suddenly gets an idea and has Sableye use its gem shield to redirect Glalie's Blizzard at some nearby rocks. Friede realizes what Ult is planning and declares that their counterattack starts now. He orders his Starmie to start charging power for a big Psybeam, which Coral's Glalie and Sidian's Aerodactyl try to stop. When they try to dodge Sableye's incoming Confuse Ray, the Darkness Pokémon uses the frozen rocks to bounce the light on them anyway, causing them to get confused. Starmie fires its Psybeam and lands a hit on both Glalie and Aerodactyl, hitting the latter by bouncing its attack off of Sableye's gem. Meanwhile, while Lucario struggles to fight Chalce's Medicham without its hands, Roy tells his Pokémon to use its aura instead, allowing Mega Lucario Z to control the appendages on its head and land a Close Combat with them. Medicham responds with Zen Headbutt, which Lucario blocks with its hands, shattering the ice covering them and allowing it to use Aerial Ace. Medicham's Mega Evolution runs out just before Lucario's attack strikes, dealing a big hit.
Surprisingly, Coral suddenly starts laughing, saying that she's having fun. Even Sidian can't deny that his blood is really pumping from a great head-to-head fight. Coral says that all the PR stuff and Strong Spheres haven't felt fun to her and declares she'll continue to have fun, sending in Glalie to use Self-Destruct. Figuring Sableye can block the Normal-typemove, Ult tells his Pokémon to guard the others, but Friede spots a flaw in this idea and has Starmie rush in front of Sableye with Double-Edge just as Glalie explodes, striking every Pokémon in the battle, including Sableye. Friede explains that Mega Glalie's Ability is Refrigerate, which turned Self-Destruct into an Ice-type move, allowing it to hit a Ghost Pokémon like Sableye. Recalling his fainted Aerodactyl, Sidian acknowledges that their frequent use of Strong Spheres has damaged their bond with their Pokémon to such a degree that they weren't able to utilize Mega Evolution to its fullest extent, having suspected this ever since their battle against Hamber, and admits that they and the Strong Spheres have been defeated. Chalce, however, refuses to accept defeat and uses a Strong Sphere on Medicham as it gets back on its feet. She says that Medicham wanted this, but Roy rebukes this claim, saying that what Medicham wants is Chalce herself. Roy declares that he's not afraid of the Strong Spheres, which make Pokémon fight on their own, as he and Lucario are fighting together. During an exchange of blows, Chalce notices how Medicham's fighting style has changed, moments before it is defeated by Lucario's Aerial Ace. Chalce finally understands how much her Pokémon has done for her and embraces Medicham while the Rising Volt Tacklers move on.
Meanwhile, Liko, Ann, Diana, and Captain Pikachu reach the center of Laqua, where the area surrounding the Laquium Core has been fenced off by an Explorers facility. Amethio appears, joining the group alongside Zirc and Onia. Spinel observes this reunion through a surveillance camera and activates the devices used to agitate the Laquium Core. While Pagogo is able to protect the group from the Laquium mist, many wild Pokémon are affected and start rampaging. Captain Pikachu busts through the fence, causing the Explorers agents to attempt to fight back, but the Laquium mist's effects force them to retreat. To help the suffering Pokémon, Liko, Ann, and Amethio send out Armarouge, Sandslash, and Zygarde, respectively, to join Arcanine, Rhydon, and Golduck. When their Pokémon start struggling, Zirc puts his lesson from Nidothing to use and has Rhydon use Sandstorm. Ann and Onia contribute to the effort by having Sandslash use Sand Attack and Golduck use Hypnosis to incapacitate more Pokémon. Taking a calculated risk, Liko sends out Meowscarada and Hatterene to heal the weakened Pokémon.
Spinel responds to these efforts by agitating the Laquium Core further, driving the already calmed Pokémon berserk again with even more mist. Amethio recognizes that the devices used to agitate the Core must be stopped, so Captain Pikachu hops on Pagogo's back, having it protect Cap from incoming attacks while the Mouse Pokémon starts destroying the devices with Volt Tackle. A sudden attack by an Onix and a Gliscor results in Armarouge and Arcanine being defeated when they are forced jump in to protect Meowscarada and Hatterene, and as the sandstorm subsides, Ann notices that her Sandslash has also gotten knocked out. Some of the berserk Pokémon are flying too high to reach, so Amethio raises the Zygarde Cube and prays his grandfather for assistance. The Zygarde Cells he has collected and the ones that Zygarde previously left behind in Laqua all coalesce together, allowing the White Zygarde to transform into its Complete Forme. In this Forme, it is able to fly up high and help pacify the rampaging Flying Pokémon. With Cap finishing off the last of the agitator devices, Pagogo is able to purify the Laquium infecting the wild Pokémon. Zygarde changes back to its 10% Forme and sends out its Cells to carry the pacified Pokémon away. Zirc and Onia join in on the effort as Dot, Nemona, Penny, Roy, Ult, and Friede join the group, reuniting all the heroes at their designated meetup spot. Spinel appears nearby with Indi and Rubina, seeming amused by the heroes' efforts as he makes his presence known to them.
In Pericarp Town, the effects of the Laquium mist have reached the area and are causing some of the local Pokémon to rampage as well. The townspeople are quick to start blaming the Rising Volt Tacklers, but their attention suddenly shifts elsewhere as from the sky descends the legendary hero "Mighty G", who starts calming down the agitated Pokémon with friendly hugs while Wy-Yes and Perrin take photos of him. The other Rising Volt Tacklers are also playing their part, with Mollie healing the Pokémon affected by Laquium, Murdock directing yet-unaffected Pokémon to stay away from the pink mist, and Orla telling people to take any affected Pokémon they have for treatment aboard the Brave Olivine. Seeing these actions, the townspeople start realizing that the Rising Volt Tacklers aren't bad guys, after all, much to the delight of Yuha. Atop Mount Pericarp, the Black Rayquaza and the other Six Heroes arrive, meaning that all 18 Tera Types are now gathered in one place. The rest of the 18 Pokémon are sent out as Liko declares that the time has come to erase the Laquium Core.
For the initial airing of this episode, the Mega Nidothing's Mega Mega! Mega Evolution segment was replaced by a special trailer for the upcoming episodes.
This episode marks the first time in the animated series that a Mega Evolution has become undone before the end of a battle. In all other instances, a Mega-Evolved Pokémon has only transformed back once the battle ended or it was defeated, or it wasn't able to achieve Mega Evolution at all.
Sidian remarks that the Explorers weren't able to fully utilize the power of Mega Evolution due to the Strong Spheres having weakened their bonds with their Pokémon. Notably, however, his Aerodactyl had not been previously seen under the effects of Laquium, only his Garganacl.
This is the first episode where Ludlow appears only as Mighty G.
