Japanese Title: I Found You, Hogator
Original Airdate: May 5, 2023
UK Airdate: December 1, 2023 (special airing)
US Airdate: March 7, 2024
The Rising Volt Tacklers are still on the island because of damage to their airship. However, during the night, Roy sneaks onto the ship but is caught by Captain Pikachu. Roy explains to Liko that he came to the airship in order to see Fuecoco again and ask it to be his partner. Liko helps Roy to look for Fuecoco, but they failed to find it. The next day, Roy offers his help to his new friends in repairing the damage to their airship by asking his grandfather for help. However, Friede knows Roy's grandfather as he is the island village's elder. Meanwhile, Fuecoco finds out through Mollie that Roy came onto the airship in order to see it. Hearing this, Fuecoco leaves the airship in order to find Roy. Through Roy's grandfather's help, Friede figured out the solution to help the airship.
Meanwhile, the Explorers have followed the Rising Volt Tacklers to the island and are prepared to attack them. However, little did they know, Fuecoco overheard them and went to find its friend in order to warn them of incoming danger. Fortunately, Fuecoco was able to find his friends and reunite with Roy as it warns them to the direction where the airship is. Realizing that something is wrong, Friede leaves the kids with Roy's grandfather in order to investigate. Fortunately, Friede arrived back to the airship just in time for the Explorers to arrive as they battle each other. Liko and Roy asked the forest Pokémon to help the Rising Volt Tacklers repair their airship, which they accept. During the battle, Roy witnesses Fuecoco's determination to become a strong batter like Friede's Charizard. Wanting to help Fuecoco achieve its dream and protect his new friends, Roy decided to take a stand and battle the Explorers. Through Liko's help, Roy was able to help Fuecoco use its first move.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- The Ace: In a clear demonstration of this compared to his teammates, Friede is the only one of the Rising Volt Tacklers who can hold his own against the Explorers, since their respective partners are handily injured. Only Liko comes close thanks to her offscreen defeat of Onia's Golduck (though in fairness, she did have a type advantage).
- Adaptational Wimp: In Pokémon canon, the Metagross species is a pseudo-legendary with incredibly powerful attacks and stats, making it highly sought after by trainers (to say nothing of it being the Signature Mon of Steven Stone, the Champion of Hoenn). Orla's gets handily bested by the much more common Rhydon and Golduck, though its Justified due to it being used for repair work and not battling.
- Call-Back: Fuecoco going out of his way to find Roy again is similar to Goh's Scorbunny in Pokémon Journeys: The Series.
- Cliffhanger: Amethio moves in to grab Liko and her pendant while Friede is momentarily distracted.
- Continuity Nod: Onia is still gushing over Sprigatito, but when the cat handily destroys her Golduck, that affection is all but destroyed.
- Epic Fail: Fuecoco's first attempts at using Ember are...rather pale to say the least. Luckily, with Roy's encouragement, it's able to master it.
- "Eureka!" Moment: Roy's Grandfather serves up some snacks for Friede, Liko, and Roy, all of which are themed to Caterpie and Weedle. The group gets the idea to use those Pokémon to help them patch the holes in the ship.
- Foreshadowing: Liko's pendant and Roy's Ancient Poké Ball start glowing at the same time. Almost as if the two are connected somehow...
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Despite his ornery demeanor and seemingly hostility towards Friede, Roy's Grandfather doesn't hesitate to serve them up a snack, and even invites the three for a community lunch.
- Offscreen Moment of Awesome: Liko successfully bests Onia in a one-on-one battle, though only the aftermath of the fainted Golduck and the distraught Onia is actually seen.
- Scissors Cuts Rock: Fuecoco's Ember is able to do serious damage to Zirc's Rhydon, despite it normally being quad resistant to fire attacks.
- Spanner in the Works: The Explorer's assault on the Brave Olivine would have been by complete surprise to everyone had Fuecoco not overheard them scheming, and runs off to warn Roy.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: As pointed out by Friede In-Universe, Roy's desire to make Fuecoco his partner isn't going to work if Fuecoco doesn't feel the same way, since the bond between trainer and Pokémon is two ways. That said, Friede is willing to let Roy stay overnight to see if that's what Fuecoco wants to do.
- Stealth Pun: Fuecoco falls asleep in a crate full of food sacks. That's one way to "hit the sack" there, little guy.
- Took a Level in Badass:
- Liko is able to defeat Onia in a battle by herself, albeit offscreen.
- Thanks to Roy's encouragement, Fuecoco masters its Ember attack.
