Warning: Spoilers for Pokemon Horizons, Episode 64Pokemon Horizons saw the villainous Explorers return in full force, but the enemy team’s efforts weren’t as much against Lyco in this episode as they were against one of their own – Amethio. Although on the same side, Spinel’s plot was aimed at killing his rival, making it one of the darkest betrayals Pokemon Anime history.
The explorers as a team have been set to get Lyco’s pendant, or as it is now known, the Pokemon Terapagos. Amethio has done his best to get Terapagos, but has failed at every turn, and it seems his teammates’ patience with him is running out. Amethio and Lyco encountered each other on Mount Glaceado, which sparked a fight over Terapagos in which Amethio had the edge when Spinel appeared. Using a mysterious substance known as Laquium on his Umbreon, Spinel attacks Amethio out of nowhere, defeating his Seruledge with ease and ending his fight with Lyco.
After the Lakvium was unlocked thanks to Teropagus’ intervention, Spinel made a run for it, with Amethio and Lyco both chasing after him.
Spinel’s betrayal seems intended to kill Amethio
Spinel wants his rival to “disappear”
Spinel led Amethio into a cave system nearby, luring him deep into the cave before triggering a cave-in that trapped both Lyco and Amethio deep inside. Spinel used his Beheim’s teleport to escape, and outside met with another member of the investigators, Chalse, explaining that Ametio had to “disappear”. Chalce seemed quite nonchalant about Spinel’s sudden betrayal of their supposed alliance, more concerned that Spinel had used the lacvium than the fate of Amethio.
While Amethio and Liko will likely escape this dangerous situation in the next episode, that doesn’t change the fact that Spinel was not only willing, but eager to kill a member of his own team. While rivalries in an evil team have been seen before, such as with Butch and Cassidy’s rivalry with Jesse and James, and they have even reached the point of interfering with each other’s plans, they have never tried to actually hurt a fellow member of their team before. This puts Spinel on a level of deviousness that very few Pokemon Villains have ever reached.
What will Amethio do after this betrayal?
Amethio’s ties to the Explorers may be weakening
Fans have long speculated about a potential redemption arc for Amethio, and it’s hard to imagine an incident more likely to get him to break ties with the Explorers than this one. On the other hand, Amethio has blood ties to the explorers’ boss, Gibeon, who is his grandfather; It may be Spinel who has overplayed his hand here, and may face the wrath of their boss. What is clear is that Amethio and Lyco will have to work together to escape the cave, and the situation may force them to see each other in a new light.
Such an unexpected betrayal is certainly an exciting turn for Pokemon Horizons To take, and with any luck, it may just begin to open Amethio’s eyes as to who he is working with.