Brock is ready to travel again and has joined up with Ash, May andMax as they continue en route towards Rustboro City. In the forest they encounter a giant Zigzagoon, which they soon realize is actually a Trainer in a Zigzagoon suit. The Trainer is Nicholai the knickerbocker; who believes in becoming one with Pokémon in order to understand them. When Nicholai learns that May is the daughter of the PetalburgGym Leader Norman and instantly asks for a battle, May accepts, however, Brock claims she is not ready as Torchic is still inexperienced.
In the battle Nicholai sends out a Mudkip while May sends out Torchic, Nicholai quickly changes into a Mudkip costume. May uses Emberwhile Nicholai commands a Water Gun that drenches the Ember. May orders a Peck attack, to which Max warns against, but it is too late, and Nicholai commands Mudkip to blast Torchic with a close-range water gun, knocking it out. Nicholai starts to make jokes on how easy it was to battle May and her father may be easier, this makes Max furious but Ash, Brock and May shrugs off the insult.
While having lunch, May realizes Max is missing they go on to search for him. Nearby Max is seen with an handful of berries and drops them on the ground then out of nowhere a group of Zigzagoon comes for the food, when all the food is finished the group of Tiny Racoon's asks for more, but Max says there is no more. This makes the Zigzagoon angry as they start attacking Max. At that point Ash, May and Brock arrives and try to save Max, but before they could do anything a big Zigzagoon appeared, it's Nicholai, Nicholai tames the Zigzagoon and captures one of them.
Team Rocket then attempts to steal Nicholai's Mudkip. However, Nicholai saves it by dressing up in different Pokémon costumes.
After the apology from Max, Ash and Nicholai have a battle; Ash sends out Taillow he caught last episodeand Nicholai sends out his newly-acquired Zigzagoon. The episode concludes as both of them fight with their new Pokémon.
Trivia
1.Jessie and James narrate the next episode preview. Instead of the normal preview music, the music for the Team Rocket motto is played.
2.This is the very last time that Ash and his friends battle Jessie's Arbok and James's Weezing.
3.The English episode title is a pun on the phrase "in the nick of time."
4.This episode is featured on both the Volume 10: Mudkip and Volume 19: Torchic volumes of thePokémon All-Stars series. This is also the only episode to be featured in the Pokémon All-Stars series more than once.5.The costumes worn by Nicholai are the same as those that can be bought in Pokémon Trainer Store at Pokemon.com.
2.This is the very last time that Ash and his friends battle Jessie's Arbok and James's Weezing.
3.The English episode title is a pun on the phrase "in the nick of time."
4.This episode is featured on both the Volume 10: Mudkip and Volume 19: Torchic volumes of thePokémon All-Stars series. This is also the only episode to be featured in the Pokémon All-Stars series more than once.5.The costumes worn by Nicholai are the same as those that can be bought in Pokémon Trainer Store at Pokemon.com.
Errors
2.Nicholai says that he is a Tentacool when wearing a Tentacruel costume.
3.After Torchic faints, Mudkip's and Nicholai's costume's jaws are dark blue, when they should be the same as Mudkip's belly, and Mudkip's and Nicholai's costume's left cheeks are blue instead of orange.
4.When Nicholai walks away after defeating May, his Mudkip is on his right shoulder but when Team Rocket is watching him through their binoculars, the Mudkip is on his left shoulder.
