Impressed at how well they had raised their own Pokémon, Nurse Joy enlists Ash and Max to babysit the Treecko, Torchic and Mudkip awaiting a Pokémon trainer who's just about to begin her journey. Torchic proves to be rambunctious of the group, and when Ash sends several of his Pokémon to gently coax it into obedience, he inadvertently causes the troublesome Pokémon evolve into a Combusken.

While Brock and May go shopping, Ash and Max go to the museum, only to find it closed. Max attempts to go in, but is caught by a boy, who claims they are thieves. Just then, Captain Stern arrives and the confusion is settled. While Ash and Max visit the exhibition, the members of Team Magma try to infiltrate the museum to steal Captain Stern's stone he recently acquired.