RS005: In the Knicker of Time!

In the Knicker of Time! (Japanese: ジグザグマと短パン小僧！ハルカはじめてのバトル！！, Hepburn: Zigzagoon and the Youngster! May's First Battle!!) is the 5th episode of Pokémon: Advanced.

Synopsis

Brock is ready to travel again and has joined up with Ash, May and Max as the journey on towards Rustboro City. In the forest they encounter a giant Zigzagoon, which they soon realize is actually a trainer in a Zigzagoon suit. Nicholai the Knickerbocker is a trainer that believes in becoming one with Pokémon in order to understand them. While battling, he wears a costume of whichever Pokémon he is using. When not dressed as a Pokémon, he wears knickers in order to be closer to nature. Nicholai is very excited to learn that May is the daughter of the Petalburg Gym leader. He challenges her to a battle and quickly defeats her. Nicholai taunts her for losing, saying that he doesn't think her father will be difficult to beat since she is such an inexperienced trainer. Brock, Ash and May shrug off the defeat and continue on their way, but Max is furious. Without telling anyone, he goes off in search of Nicholai to defend his father's honor—but what will happen when he gets in trouble with a pack of angry Zigzagoon?

Episode Plot

Ash battles a trainer who has got a Beedrill. Beedrill uses Twineedle, hitting Pikachu, who attacks back with Thunderbolt and defeats Beedrill. The trainer lets Ash know that Bedrill will be fine. After the battle, Max complaints about how Ash should have used Quick Attack, avoiding Twineedle, but reminds himself Ash is still in training, annoying him. Suddenly, a Zigzagoon runs in front of them. Max notices that it is quite larger than a normal Zigzagoon should be. As they notice a pack of Zigzagoon, a man comes, removing his Zigzagoon disguise. May thinks that Zigzagoon evolves into humans, making Max doubt they are related to each other.

The man is bringing Mudkip out, but May comes to analyze the man, marking him as a human, however, the Zigzagoon flees away. The man yells at May and Max, but notices they have knickers, so he introduces himself - wearing many costumes, he can be a Tentacruel, Zigzagoon or any other Pokémon, but says that his true name is Nicholai. He mistakes May and Max to be Knickerbockers (people who expose their knees to nature). Nicholai is then introduced to the gang, but pays attention only to May and Max, who claim they wear shorts. Brock asks why is he wearing a Zigzaoon disguise, so Nicholai answers that he wears Pokémon suits to feel what it is to be a Pokémon so he may capture them much more easily, allowing him may challenge the Petalburg City's Gym Leader.

As Nicholai hears that May and Max are Norman's children, he challenges May to a fight. May acts reclusive, even if Max tells her to show what a daughter of Petalburg Gym Leader can do. Nicholai says she's afraid, so she accepts the challenge. Nicholai brings his Mudkip out to fight and dresses as a Mudkip. May brings her Torchic out. Max sees that Nicholai has the advantage and doubts Ash's claim she has a strategy. May announces the Torchic to fight, but Torchic is confused as it does not know which attack to use. Torchic uses Ember while Mudkip uses Water Gun, negating Ember. Torchic uses Peck, but Mudkip blasts Torchic with Water Gun, ending the battle.

Nicholai thinks that when he captures a Zigzagoon, he'll beat Norman as easily as he beat his daughter, then goes away, making Max angry. Team Rocket spies on Nicholai, planning to take Mudkip. May is depressed by the defeat, but Ash and Brock cheer her up a bit. However, Max is gone for some reason. Max spies on Nicolai and sees (in his costume) he is spreading some fruit to attract the Zigzagoon. Ash sends Taillow to search Max. Max has captured a lot of fruit to attract all Zigzagoon, in order to foil Nicholai's plan. However, he is surrounded by a lot of Zigzagoon. Ash's Taillow spots Max and the gang comes to him. Ash's Pikachu attacks the Zigzagoon with Thunderbolt. Max gives the fruit to Brock who turns on Zigzagoon, but one of them sprays him with some sand because they are angry for being interrupted.

Nicholai appears in his costume, causing the Zigzagoon follow him. Mudkip uses the Water Gun to fall down the fruit from the trees. The heroes thank Nicholai for saving them. Max apologizes to Nicholai for plotting revenge against him. Max asks how is he able to communicate with Zigzagoon so well, so Nicholai makes an example - he will battle one of the Zigzagoon. Nicholai transforms into a Mudkip and orders the Mudkip to attack with Water Gun. Zigzagoon evades and tackles Mudkip, knocking it out. Mudkip strikes again, hurting the Zigzagoon. Nicholai uses a Poké Ball, capturing Zigzagoon.

However, Team Rocket appears, stealing the Mudkip. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, but Team Rocket negates it by using a satellite dish and reflecting the attack back. Nicholai transforms into an Aipom and climbs the mountain quickly. The Zigzagoon then dig holes. Nicholai transforms into a Gligar, taking the Mudkip with himself from James's hands. Ash brings Taillow out, who pecks the balloon. Team Rocket land in the hole Zigzagoon were digging. Jessie and James send Arbok and Weezing out. Arbok uses Poison Sting and Weezing Sludge, but Pikachu dodges using Quick Attack, knocing them both out. Pikachu strikes Team Rocket with Thunder, blasting them away.

Nicholai is impressed by Ash, even if he is not a Knickerbocker. Nicholai sees Ash has not earned a badge from Norman, so admits it may be harder than it seems. He challenges Ash to a fight with Zigzagoon. Ash brings his Taillow out, who attacks Zigzagoon.

Debuts

Human

Nicholai

Quotes

"I didn't know that Zigzagooon could evolve into humans."

"Are we really related?" - May and Max

Trivia

The "Who's that Pokémon?" is Yanma.

Mistakes

Max said Zigzagoon's weight is 8 lbs, when it is actually 38.6 lbs.

Gallery

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