As the gang passes through Mt. Mortar, just outside is a Tyrogue with a hankerchief around his neck that's apparently worn out. Brock tries to give it some food but the Tyrogue doesn't do much. Just as Brock puts the food away, the Tyrogue swipes three containers of food and runs off with it.
The gang starts to chase after him but the Tyrogue is soon accompanined by a Mankey and Primeape. The Tyrogue tosses the food to them and they all climb up a cliff. On the way however, the Tyrogue tripped a boulder which comes straight down towards the gang! Just seconds away from getting squashed, a man followed by a Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee destroy the boulder. The gang wonders what happened and is greeted by the man who introduces himself as Nobuhiko. He says that the Tyrogue there has been causing a lot of rukus in the area. Not even Jenny herself can handle this. Team Rocket spying on them, comes up with the idea of snatching this Tyrogue to join Team Rocket.
Later at Nobuhiko's place, he explains that he's trying to find and beat that Tyrogue so he knows he's up for the P-1 Grand Prix. So far, it hasn't been very successful. Then he goes on to the time he found the Tyrogue all tired and tried to help it, but the Tyrogue ended up attacking him for a getaway. Ever since, not only does he want to challenge Tyrogue, but help it out at the same time.
Somewhere else in the area, Tyrogue and his group find an apple tree and decide to get some apples from it. The Mankey and Primeape kick the trunk and three apples fall down. When the Tyrogue picks one up, a Hopip, Skiploom and a Sandshrew stand there, wanting an apple. So Tyrogue gives the three Pokemon the apples with no trouble. Then Team Rocket comes in and does the nice asking of if Tyrogue would like to join. Jesse comes towards the Sandshrew and swipes the apple, which makes the Tyrogue angry, and gives Jesse a beating before sending them off into the sky. The group just leave the three Pokemon afterwards.
Out in the open road, Nobuhiko wants to prove himself to the Tyrogue to a battle. He calls the Tyrogue to come out while Ash and the others remain on watch to see if Tyrogue will come. Soon Tyrogue and his group come by and Nobuhiko challenges him to a match, the Tyrogue accepts readily. Nobuhiko sends out Hitmonchan up first for the fight. The Hitmonchan starts the fight by throwing a few Comet Punches to the Tyrogue whom dodges easily. Seeing that the punches don't work, Nobuhiko tells the Hitmonchan to try a Mach Punch. The Hitmonchan does so but the Tyrogue jumps up in front of a rock and headbutts the Hitmonchan, knocking it out in one hit! Nobuhiko recalls Hitmonchan and tries out Hitmonlee. Hitmonlee goes off with a Rolling Kick but the Tyrogue mearly leans back to dodge it! After recovering from the dodge, the Tyrogue does a Double Team and confuses the Hitmonlee. Nobuhiko now finds this a situation that's impossible to get out of. Finally the Tyrogue gives the Hitmonlee a punch taking that Pokemon down in one shot as well.
Now the Tyrogue is expect something else, but all of sudden gets tied up from above, by Team Rocket! Ash starts to chase after them then Nobuhiko, who runs up a hill and jumps onto the balloon. Team Rocket wonders what was the sudden movement and notices nothing. Nobuhiko gives the balloon a punch, making a hole and then goes down to where Tyrogue is hanging from. The balloon soon crashes but Nobuhiko and Tyrogue drop safely to the ground below. A boulder just above them falls down and just in the nick of time, Nobuhiko stops it. He tells the Tyrogue to get out of the way, but Team Rocket come by and prevent Tyrogue from doing so. Before Team Rocket can do anything, the gang catch up and Brock sends out Onix. First Onix takes care of the boulder by pushing towards Team Rocket. Jesse and James send out Arbok and Weezing. Arbok does Poison Pin which Onix blocks easily, Weezing spitting out a Sludge but Pikachu takes care of that with a Thunderbolt. Onix then Tackles the Pokemon back to Team Rocket and Pikachu delivers the final bolt, blasting them off again!
Back at Nobuhiko's pad, Nobuhiko challenges Tyrogue to a duel, just him and Tyrogue. Tyrogue accepts and they begin. Tyrogue attempts to go for a punch but Nobuhiko easily blocks it. With that Tyrogue tries the Double Team trick but Nobuhiko simply sits down and waits for the initiative. As soon as Tyrogue comes out with the sucker punch, Nobuhiko easily blocks that too, sending Tyrogue around. Tyrogue now is fed up and tries a jump kick but Nobuhiko grabs and tosses him to the otherside. Finally Tyrogue tries to deliver yet another blow, Nobuhiko easily makes a counter and punches the Tyrogue to the pond nearby, finishing him off and the hankerchief off. Ash and the others as well as Tyrogue's group are stunned. Nobuhiko runs up to the Tyogue and picks him up, bringing him back to the land. He ties his armband around Tyrogue's neck like his other hankerchief. Nobuhiko asks Tyrogue if he would like to join up with his other crew and comepete in the P-1. Tyrogue accepts the offer and his friends decide to join up with him.
The gang says their goodbyes and wishes Nobuhiko luck in the P-1 as they head off to Mahogany.
Who's that Pokemon?: Tyrogue
To be continued...
Big thanks to Xeno Lugia for writing this review!
