Lucius's Moltres (Japanese: ルシアスのファイヤーLucius's Fire) is a Pokémon that Luciuscaught on his journey to Laqua. It is the third of the Six Heroes that the Rising Volt Tacklers encountered on their journey, and the second one to join them, being placed under Liko's care. Currently, it is roaming the world.
100 years prior to the events of the series, Lucius met and battled GalarianMoltres at an unknown rocky area before catching it in an Ancient Poké Ball. As one of Lucius's Pokémon, it became one of the Six Heroes, being known to "soar through the skies".
Finally having reached Laqua, the Explorers found themselves in trouble after Gibeon meddled with the Laquium crystals found in the paradise. The Six Heroes released themselves from their Ancient Poké Balls and tried to contain the crystals, but to no avail. Afterwards, Rystal's Terapagos, Pagogo, transformed into its Stellar Form and gave some of its energy to the Six Heroes, allowing them to seal the Laquium away. As a result of this, Lucius was trapped in Laqua, Pagogo reverted into a dormant state, and the Six Heroes got scattered around the world, with Moltres and its Ancient Poké Ball ending up in Galar.
According to a miner, Moltres arrived at the Galar Mine the morning prior to the events of Charge! Galar Mine!. It was responsible for draining the energy of several workers there and leaving wild Pokémon frightened by its presence.
At some point after the Black Rayquaza was released from its Ancient Poké Ball in The Ancient Poké Ball, it went after Moltres and passed on the White Zygarde's message to it, asking it to find a worthy Trainer.
Moltres debuted in Charge! Galar Mine!, where it appeared before Liko, Roy, Captain Pikachu, Zirc, and Onia at the Galar Mine. Having followed Kabu's directions, the Rising Volt Tacklers were expecting to find the Black Rayquaza, but signs of it actually being another Pokémon were piling up the further they went in. Enraged, Moltres overwhelmed every one of its opponents with ease, forcing Liko and Roy to retreat on a minecart after Captain Pikachu was injured. The Legendary Pokémon gave chase through the tunnels, but its focus moved towards Amethio and Friede after they attacked it, allowing for the young Trainers to flee. During the battle, Liko's Hatenna shed a tear, sensing an underlying feeling beneath its rage.
In Fiery Galarian Moltres, Liko, Roy, and Friede returned to the mine, this time planning to calm it down with Sprigatito's aromatic Leafage instead of actually defeating it. Moltres, however, was still too far out of their reach, both physically and emotionally, for their plan to work. The tide of the battle shifted once Lucius's Arboliva emerged from its Poké Ball on its own. Initially, Arboliva tried to talk to it, but Moltres, still enraged, would not listen. Upon sensing Liko's determination, Arboliva activated its Ability, Seed Sower, powering up Sprigatito and allowing her aromatic Leafage to actually affect Moltres and calm it down. Now clearheaded, it talked with Liko's pendant, which transformed into the mysterious Pokémon from before, this time for good. Due to Terapagos's powers, the whole group witnessed a glimpse of the past, where Lucius said his last words to Moltres. Soon after, it returned to its Ancient Poké Ball.
Moltres and Lucius
In Lapras's Feelings for its Friends, Moltres and Arboliva emerged from their Poké Balls to see Lapras. After witnessing another glimpse of the past due to Terapagos's powers, one where Lucius promises they will reunite, they mourned together before returning to their Poké Balls.
In Into a New Sky! The Brave Olivine!, Moltres, Lapras, and Arboliva came out of their Poké Balls in their own, wanting to test Liko, Roy, and Dot's strength as Trainers after the end of their Tera Training. Moltres faced Roy and Crocalor and immediately used its Fiery Wrath, but its opponent avoided the oncoming lethargy by working up with Stomping Tantrum. After exchanging a couple of equally powerful moves, Moltres used Hurricane to lift Crocalor off his feet and immobilize it, but he managed to escape and unleashed a supereffective Disarming Voice before Terastallizing. Moltres withstood the enhanced Flame Charge, but seemed content with Roy and Crocalor's strength and returned to its Poké Ball soon after.
Lucius and the Six Heroes' last moment together
In The Three Explorers and The Wonders of the World!, all of the heroes gathered at that point came out of their Poké Balls and reunited with their long deceased friend, Rystal, who was summoned at the Crystal Pool by the Rising Volt Tacklers and Terapagos.
In The Pillar of Fire, Moltres and the other heroes came out of their Poké Balls to reunite with Gouging Fire. After it chose to join them, the five, alongside Pagogo, summoned the remaining hero: the Black Rayquaza.
As the Rising Volt Tacklers traveled up Mount Pericarp in Where the Land Meets the Sky, Moltres was summoned from its Poké Ball by Pagogo to fend off a wildNidoking and Tyranitar. After returning to Laqua in Guided by the Black Rayquaza!, the Six Heroes reunited with Lucius once he was freed from the Laquium cluster by the White Zygarde. Later, Moltres and the other heroes lent Pagogo their strength, allowing it to transform into its Stellar Form and purify Laqua from the Laquium in Where the Adventure Leads. While most of the Laquium was gone, resulting in Lucius and Gibeon fading away, Spinel had managed to store enough of it to use on the Six Heroes, resulting in them all going berserk, except for Rayquaza. In the aftermath of these events, the Six Heroes, minus Rayquaza, were captured by the Explorers.
In The Six Heroes Unleashed!, Moltres and the other captive heroes were forced to battle Liko, Roy, and Ult by the Explorers, who used the opportunity to gather data on their new Super Strong Spheres. With Laquium boosting their power and ferocity, they easily overwhelmed the Rising Volt Tacklers, but Pagogo was eventually able to purify the substance from their bodies. Their victory was short-lived, however, as the Explorers used the Super Strong Spheres once more on them. The battle continued in the following episode and, despite Amethio and the White Zygarde joining in to aid the Rising Volt Tacklers, only ended when the effects of the Super Strong Spheres wore off, after every single Pokémon opposing the heroes had been defeated.
In HZ125, whilst under the influence of a Super Strong Sphere, Moltres was forced to battle against Roy. Eventually, it was defeated after Roy's Kilowattrel Terastallized and dealt a joint attack with Skeledirge's Torch Song. Once the captive heroes were all defeated, the Explorers used Super Strong Spheres on them again, causing them to go berserk and battle each other as enemies. At this moment, Zygarde and Pagogo stepped in and showed memories of their adventures with Lucius and the Rising Volt Tacklers, bringing them to a more lucid state. They fought against the Laquium, and Pagogo changed to its Stellar Form to purify them, which also made Moltres Terastallize into a Darktype. Finally free, Moltres and the other four heroes promised Zygarde they would lend their strength when the time came and went on to roam the world.
Personality and characteristics
Moltres is extremely territorial, stubborn and was full of rage and aggression when it was first found. It wouldn't hesitate to unleash its wrath upon those that provoked it, but it has kind-hearted personality towards its Trainer, Lucius, clearly missing him even after 100 years. It proved to be honorable as seen when it accepted to join the Rising Volt Tacklers mission to search for Laqua, as well as testing Roy and Crocalor in a training battle.
