PH008: The Door That Never Opens

is the 8th episode of of , and of .
==Synopsis==
After finishing a meal cooked by Murdock, Liko notes that Dot never eats with the group. Murdock says he just needs to make something tasty enough, but he seems to be hiding something when Mollie mentions they're running low on certain ingredients. Friede proposes a shopping trip, and Liko stays behind to watch the ship. She delivers lunch to Dot and tries to chat about Nidothing, who's about to start a livestream, but Dot hurriedly brushes her off. Later, Liko and Roy meet up outside Dot's room, and although Dot is annoyed, she starts to open up a bit. Meanwhile, Murdock has a new recipe to try…
==Episode plot==
In the middle of the night, Roy and his Fuecoco wake up and stumble upon Professor Friede and Murdock in the kitchen. Murdock is about open a secret cupboard when Friede senses someone coming. Friede sends Roy back to bed and tells Murdock that the coast is clear, and Murdock checks a plate of donuts. Sadly, they were uneaten, so Murdock and Friede have them instead. Friede tells Murdock not to throw in the towel, and Quaxly is listening in on their conversation.
The next morning, the Rising Volt Tacklers have breakfast. They notice Dot's empty chair, and Friede points out that she's never been interested in eating with the rest of the Rising Volt Tacklers, her diet usually being nutrient-rich gummies. Nevertheless, Murdock plans to make something tasty enough for Dot to like. Mollie notices that there have been food shortages lately, particularly sugar, Moomoo Milk, butter, and dried fruit, leading the girls to believe that someone's been making sweets behind everyone's backs. They immediately suspect Murdock, and when Friede tells them that blaming won't solve anything, they start to grow suspicious of him too. Friede and Murdock nervously agree to go to a town to get sweets. 
Liko gets ready for remote classes, being greeted by Anne. Anne tells Liko that Nidothing will be doing a livestream today. Classes begin, with Liko joining remotely. On the Brave Olivine's wing deck, Roy just finishes up his classes. Friede notices Roy trying to look for Rayquaza, telling him to keep looking higher. Roy lifts his head up and up until he falls over. Friede laughs and tells Roy that Rayquaza is in the stratosphere, a place high above the clouds beyond the reach of humans. Friede tells Roy that they aim to reach places like that, only to see that Roy has gone to see the approaching land. They dock at the town, and Friede proposes rock-paper-scissors, like the Rising Volt Tacklers usually do to see whoever has to watch the ship. Everyone throws paper except Roy, who throws rock, making him the one to stay behind with the ship. As the rest go to get food from the town, Roy asks Liko to cover for him. Liko happily accepts Roy's offer, thinking now she'll have time to watch Nidothing's livestream. Roy goes with the Rising Volt Tacklers into town, and since it's his first time off his island, he is immediately amazed by the new people and Pokemon. With that, the group gets to shopping while trying to avoid impulse buying while Roy wants to get answers about Rayquaza. 
Meanwhile, Liko does chores around the Brave Olivine, feeding the Pokémon, hanging the laundry out to dry, taking out the trash by feeding it to the Alolan Muk on board, and scrubbing the deck. Afterwards, she tries to get a peek in the secret cupboard she heard about from Roy before he left. When Liko opens the cupboard however, she gets surprised by Alcremie, who attacks and covers her in cream. Upset by this experience, Liko wipes herself off just as Murdock calls in, causing her to panic and frantically apologize. Murdock is confused for a moment before telling Liko that there are lunchboxes on the ship to eat in case she gets hungry. Liko thanks him before hanging up, thinking she's not cut out of secrets and sneaking around. Liko and Ludlow get their lunchboxes, and Liko notices a third one for Dot. Ludlow has no problem with Liko bringing Dot her lunch, before saying "A good lunch, a good hunch", making Snorunt sigh cold air that makes him shiver. 
Liko brings Dot her lunch, knocking on her door only for no one to answer. Liko is about to walk away when she hears the Nidothing theme coming from Dot's room again. Thinking she must be another fan of Nidothing just like her, Liko speaks to Dot again. When Liko brings up Nidothing and her livestream, she is surprised when Dot finally speaks, although it comes in the form of a nervous and frustrated shout. This leaves Liko confused as to why Dot doesn't want to watch the livestream with her. Thinking Dot is trying to test her, Liko tells her how much she admires Nidothing, how knowledgeable she is about Pokémon, and how fun it is to watch her. Liko tries her best to relate to Dot, but then Dot panics about the time. Hearing this, Liko realizes she's going to be late for the livestream. An overwhelmed Dot abruptly blames Liko, telling her to go away. Liko wonders why Dot never wanted to be with the other Rising Volt Tacklers, and Dot claims that she doesn't have the time since she's busy. Liko respects Dot's schedule, apologizing for bothering her and leaving her lunch by her door. With Liko gone, Dot pulls back the hair cover her purple eyes and puts on the Nidothing suit. 
In town, a salesman using a rag to shine his Spoink's pearl. Friede wants to avoid impulse buying like Mollie said, but Roy asks the man about Rayquaza. The salesman then tricks Friede and Roy into getting the rag. Meanwhile, Liko is excited for Nidothing's livestream in a few minutes. The livestream starts and Nidothing gets ready to read the comments left by other streamers. Eventually she gets to Liko's comment, to the latter's shock. Nidothing herself, who is actually Dot under the costume, becomes extremely embarrassed that Liko's comment is about wanting to befriend her. An embarrassed cry from Liko startles Nidothing and Quaxly and can be heard throughout the ship. Liko freaks out that Nidothing actually read her comment. Nidothing, trying her best to contain herself, says to change the environment and that making friends is like Pokémon battles. This inspires Liko to try even harder. 
Meanwhile, Roy and Fuecoco due battle against a wild Spearow. Waiting for the right moment, Roy calls for Ember as Spearow is about to use peck, defeating it. Friede and Roy head back to the ship. At sunset, Roy tries to thank Dot for the helpful advice about Rayquaza, Liko having told him that Dot spoke to her earlier. After Roy tells Liko about the wild Spearow he battled, he suggests that they have a battle. Liko initially thinks Roy wants to battle in front of Dot's door before he disagrees. However, after remembering Nidothing's advice about her comment, Liko decides to battle where they are after all, prompting Dot shout at her again. Roy, excited to hear Dot's voice for the first time, tells Dot about the cloth and the wild Spearow, but she is not interested in that. Liko asks what Dot is interested in, and the latter says that she is into "an ancient Poke Ball housing a shiny Rayquaza", in other words, mystical things no one has seen before. Noticing Roy's ancient Poké Ball as well as her own pendant, Liko remarks to Dot that they might be closer than she thinks as she and Roy share a laugh. Liko tells Roy when she tried to get a peek into the secret cupboard, Alcremie was there and cover her in cream. Roy likes this and rushes over to get some too, though Liko didn't like it one bit. Liko thanks Dot before walking off. Dot thinks that everyone on the ship is a weirdo before smiling, touched by Liko's kindness. She then gets a text from Murdock about a recipe book he got in town. Later that night, Dot heads into the kitchen and looks at the secret cupboard. Afterwards Friede and Murdock are happy that Dot actually took the donuts made for her. 
As the sun rises, Friede and Captain Pikachu are asleep at the steering wheel when Cap sees land. The Rising Volt Tacklers have arrived in Paldea. 
==Debuts==
===Character===
*Dot
==Trivia==
*"Professor Friede's Pokémon Seminar": Spearow
**
===Errors===
*When kneeling down, Liko's leg line wasn't fully drawn.
==Gallery==
==References==