After a legendary 26-year journey across countless regions, Ash Ketchum—Pokémon’s forever-10-year-old hero—has finally concluded his chapter in the Pokémon anime. But while fans have long accepted that Ash would never officially age up, The Pokémon Company is now taking a bold new step forward with its latest protagonists, Liko and Roy, in *Pokémon Horizons*. For the first time, the series is embracing character growth, signaling a fresh direction for the franchise.

This exciting development was confirmed through a recent CoroCoro magazine reveal detailing the upcoming arc titled “Mega Voltage.” According to the leak, this new story arc will include a **time skip** of approximately three years—allowing Liko, Roy, and their friend Dot to grow both physically and emotionally. The updated character designs reflect this change, showing taller silhouettes and more mature appearances, which has already generated a wave of enthusiasm among longtime viewers.

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Interestingly, Liko and Roy exist within the same continuity as Ash Ketchum. While Ash isn’t currently part of the active storyline, this time skip technically means he—and the rest of the iconic companions like Misty, Brock, May, Dawn, and Serena—have aged off-screen too. Whether we’ll ever see an adult Ash return remains unknown, but the possibility alone has reignited fan speculation about future arcs or potential spin-offs.

The “Mega Voltage” arc also promises a nostalgic return to one of the franchise’s most beloved mechanics: **Mega Evolution**. This revival likely ties into the upcoming game *Pokémon Legends: Z-A*, where Mega Evolution is expected to make a triumphant comeback. In the arc preview, it’s revealed that Liko’s Floragato evolves into Meowscarada, and Roy acquires a shiny Mega Lucario—an impressive addition sure to excite collectors and battle enthusiasts alike.

However, one curious detail stands out: the apparent absence of Friede, the captain of the Rising Volt Tacklers. While his Pikachu partner appears in the promotional material wearing Friede’s signature goggles, some fans have noticed faint cracks on the sides of the eyewear. This subtle visual cue has led to widespread speculation that something may have happened to Friede—a mystery that could unravel dramatically as the arc unfolds.

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The “Mega Voltage” arc is set to premiere in Japan on **April 11**, though English-speaking audiences will have to wait longer due to delays in the dub production. While our previous reviews of *Pokémon Horizons* Season 2 were lukewarm at best—critiquing its reluctance to fully commit to its own potential—we remain hopeful that this time skip will inject much-needed momentum into the story and characters of the Rising Volt Tacklers.