Warning: Contains spoilers for Pokémon Horizons, episode 64Pokémon Horizon saw the villainous Explorers return in full force, but the enemy team's efforts were not against Riko in this episode, but against one of their own – Amethio. Despite ostensibly being on the same side, Spinel's plot seemed to be aimed at killing her rival, making it one of the darkest betrayals in Pokémon anime history.
The Explorers as a team were determined to obtain Riko's pendant, or as it was now known, the Pokémon Terapagos. Amethio tried his best to obtain Terapagos, but failed at every turn, and it seemed that his teammates' patience with him was running out. Amethio and Riko encountered each other on Mount Glaseado, sparking a battle for Terapagos in which Amethio prevailed, when Spinel appeared. Using a mysterious substance known as Laquium on his Umbreon, Spinel attacked Amethio out of nowhere, defeating his Ceruledge with ease and ending his fight with Riko.
After the Laquium wears off thanks to Terapagos' intervention, Spinel flees, with Amethio and Liko both chasing after him.
Spinel's betrayal seems to be intended to kill Amethio.
Spinel wants his rival to “disappear”
Spinel leads Amethio into a nearby cave system, luring him deeper into the cave before triggering a cave-in that traps both Riko and Amethio deep inside. Spinel uses Beheeyem's Teleport to escape, and outside meets another member of the Explorers, Chalce, who explains that Amethio needs to “disappear”. Chalce seems rather indifferent about Spinel's sudden betrayal of their supposed ally, more concerned about Spinel having used up all of the Laquium than about Amethio's fate.
While Amethio and Liko are able to escape this dangerous situation in the next episode, that doesn't change the fact that Spinel is not only willing but eager to kill a member of her own party. While rivalries within an evil group have occurred before, such as the rivalry between Butch and Cassidy and Jessie and James, and they have even gone to the extent of interfering with each other's plans, they have never actually tried to harm another member of their group before.. That puts Spinel on a level of cunning that very few Pokémon villains can reach.
What will Amethio do after this betrayal?
Amethio's relationship with 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 cause him to sever ties with the Explorers than this one. On the other hand, Amethio is related to the Explorers' boss, Gibeon, as his grandfather; it's possible that Spinel is the one who overplayed his hand here, and may have to face the wrath of their boss. What's clear is that Amethio and Riko will have to work together to escape this cave, and this situation may force them to see each other in a new light.
Such an unexpected betrayal is certainly an interesting twist for Pokémon Horizon to do, and with any luck, it might begin to open Amethio's eyes to the people he's been working with.
