Taking the Next Steps (Japanese: ダイアナ・カムズ・バック！！！！Diana Comes Back!!!!) is the 108th episode of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, and the 1,340th episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on August 29, 2025, in the United Kingdom on February 27, 2026, and in the United States on March 20, 2026.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
Blurb
The Rising Volt Tacklers have a visitor—it’s Liko’s grandma, Diana! Back from her own adventure, she shares shocking news about Terapagos and the Six Heroes, then asks for a battle against Liko’s Charcadet. Will it be a washout for the Fire type?
Plot
Liko and Roy are waiting for someone as the former received a message from her mother to do so. Dot, after gathering a lot of Gimmighoul Coins with Quaxwell for Gimmighoul, joins her friends just as the trio hear the sound of an engine from somewhere. Turning to the source of the sound, the trio are pleasantly surprised to see Diana arriving in an automobile with a Revavroom attached. Diana reveals during her adventures, she had caught other Pokémon and met people, including Hamber, whose gratitude to Likofor her help withAmethio is passed on along with the agreement to provide information from within the Explorers.
Ult meeting Diana
The group heads to the observation deck where Ult manages to hit it off with Diana, who decides to get straight to the point of her visit. She summarizes the events onLaqua based on what she heard from her granddaughter while the others inform her of the devices that uses the Laquium, Strong Spheres. Since taking on Exceed is difficult, Diana proposes they completely eradicate the Laquium with Pagogo once more. She points out a certain illustration of Terapagos in the Scarlet Book she brought, revealing the name of its unknown third form to be the Stellar Form, and theorizes Pagogo didn't have enough power to eradicate the Laquium both times when it was with Lucius and Liko. However, the context of power is not the strength of the Six Heroes but rather the number of Pokémon providing power to Pagogo. With references to Pagogo's Stellar Form and research materials, Diana speculates if Pagogo is able to resonate with Pokémon of each of the eighteen types, then perhaps the Laquium could fully be eradicated for good. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee her theory would work, so Liko, Roy, and Dot decide to call Briar for her input, only to have the call cut off shortly due to the teacher's urgent need to finish her book before her fast approaching deadline. Leaving Briar to call them once she's finished her book, Diana suggests they gather the Six Heroes again. While they know the Black Rayquaza is resting, Liko's grandmother reveals the Explorers have the remaining Six Heroes in their possession. Ult asks about two of the Six Heroes, and when they confirmed it's Lucius's Kleavor and Lapras, he divulges he saw them in the base when he was captured. Roy quickly reassures his frustrated friend by saying they at least have some new information to work on, and everyone decides to get back the Six Heroes from the Explorers.
Just then, they hear an explosion and went to the wing deck to see Charcadet and Crocalor having a battle with Captain Pikachu as the referee. Crocalor uses Flamethrower to counter Charcadet's Ember, only for the latter to take no damage power up due to its Ability, Flash Fire. Charcadet almost unleashes a powered-up Ember when Cap ends the battle. Upon seeing the look in Charcadet's eyes, Diana proposes a training session for the Fire Child Pokémon. In a more open area for their Double Battle, Liko is ready with Meowscarada and Charcadet while Diana has her Arcanine out. Initially assuming she would battle with Revavroom, Diana instead calls out Wash Rotom. Cap declares the start of the battle, and Liko has Meowscarada attack Wash Rotom with Flower Trick and Charcadet attack Arcanine with Clear Smog. Arcanine retreats to the back, allowing Wash Rotom to block both attacks with Discharge. Charcadet protects Meowscarada from Arcanine's Flamethrower, allowing it power up once more. Its Ember gets dissipated by Wash Rotom's Hydro Pump and the Plasma Pokémon sprays water everywhere, but it ends up getting hit by Meowscarada's supereffective Flower Trick. Charcadet prepares a Clear Smog, but a Flare Blitz from Arcanine makes the Fire Child Pokémon step in and protect Meowscarada. However, Diana anticipated this and has Wash Rotom use Hydro Pump on Charcadet, making Liko order Meowscarada to save Charcadet and leaving herself open to the supereffective attack which knocks her out of the battle.
Diana pauses the battle by approaching Charcadet and advises it to begin trusting its team members in order to protect better. Meowscarada also interacts with Charcadet, and with renewed vigor, the latter is ready to resume the battle. Arcanine rushes to Charcadet with Extreme Speed, only for Charcadet to jump onto the Legendary Pokémon and blind it. After using Clear Smog to envelop Arcanine, the Fire Child Pokémon then evades Wash Rotom's Hydro Pump while getting close to it, managing to grab the hose and swing the Pokémon around. When it lets go, Liko has Charcadet use Take Down, successfully knocking out Wash Rotom and leaving only Arcanine to defeat. Arcanine attacks with Flamethrower, and Charcadet takes it to power up. Liko calls for a lot of Embers, but it changes into Fire Spin which traps Arcanine. It escapes the ring of fire with Extreme Speed and defeats Charcadet, making Diana the winner of the battle. After the battle, Liko asks her grandmother if she had Arcanine use Flamethrower intentionally, but she says it was all on Liko for helping Charcadet learn Fire Spin.
During her welcome back party, Diana announces her departure from the Brave Olivine and promises to return next time. While deciding their next move to be looking for the Six Heroes, Dot asks if Hamber gave any insight on their location. Diana reveals while he couldn't give the exact location due to being spied on by Chalce, he suspected they're in one of the Exceed buildings. At the mention of Exceed, Liko suggests they ask Amethio's father, Cervantis, since he was the former director and would probably have an idea. With no objections to the idea, the night continues as Liko vows to make sure the Six Heroes return safely.
Major events
Liko, Roy, and Dot reunite with Diana, while Ult meets her for the first time.
