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Today on their adventure, Ash & Co. are passing through Catallia City; a place famous for it’s fascinating buildings and the exploits of a legendary thief. As they walk down one of the streets, a police car speeds past. Thinking Officer Jenny may be in the car, Brock runs off, only to be tripped up a few feet away by an invisible thread. As they walk over to Brock, a green smiling face lowers itself in front of Misty. At first she thinks it's cute, but it then reveals itself to be a Spinarak, much to her horror.

Somewhere outside a large house, three familiar thieves, dressed in black outfits, attempt to break into one of the out buildings. Meowth tries to pick the padlock, but only manages to break a claw. He starts to scream, but Jessie and James shut him up. She berates him, saying that "The Black Arachnid" managed to open thousands of locked doors, but he can't even open one. While they argue, James manages to pick the lock. They go inside and begin to look through the objects stored inside the building. James finds a very precious bowl to steal, but they are soon discovered. Jessie introduces them to their discoverer as "The Black Arachnid II", but James tells her that they had best be making their getaway. Meowth pretends to use Pay Day, as James throws some bottle caps as they flee.

Later that day, Officer Jenny is investigating the crime scene. Two other officers approach her, saying that it's the third house that week to be robbed. The other officer comments that it seems to be someone imitating the crimes of The Black Arachnid, but that they still don't know who. She tells the officers to have the Spinarak reinforce their webs; she is making The Black Arachnid their top priority. As she finishes speaking another officer approaches, telling her that he thinks they have caught them. He walks her over to Ash & Co. trapped inside a giant ball of Spinarak silk. She comments that they don't look like criminals. Brock tells her that they aren't.

A little while later, Officer Jenny has released Ash & Co, from the ball. She apologises, telling them that they made the webs so that they could catch the thief imitating The Black Arachnid. Ash asks who The Black Arachnid is. Brock explains that The Black Arachnid was a master criminal who lived in the city over 100 years ago. After noticing the Pokémon Ash and Misty are carrying, Officer Jenny asks if they are the professional Pokémon Crime Fighters that she has heard about. Ash asks why she would think that, so she explains that she got a letter recently from her sister in New Bark Town telling her that three Pokémon Trainers had helped her crack a Pokémon burglary case. Ash realises that she is referring to the time they rescued the Totodile. Brock tells her that they are who she thinks they are. Suddenly Spinarak drops down right in front of Misty. Officer Jenny tells her not to worry. Ash asks her why she uses Spinarak, not Growlithe in her police work. She explains that it's a long standing tradition to use Spinarak in Catallia City because of The Black Arachnid.

The Black Arachnid was a criminal mastermind, as famous for his stealth as he was for his stealing. Whenever it looked like he was about to be caught, his partner, a Meowth, would use Pay Day and scare the police off. But one day they met their match; Officer Jenny. Or at least this Officer Jenny's ancestor from eight generations ago. She and her faithful Spinarak waited as The Black Arachnid made his escapes from the scene of a burglary and trapped him in Spinarak's web, wrapping up the case once and for all.

Officer Jenny then tells them that her Spinarak is descended from the Spinarak that assisted her ancestor all those years ago. As she tells them the story, she walks them through the Police Station, into a room filled with Police Officers and Spinarak. Jenny tells them that until she caught The Black Arachnid, her ancestor was the only officer on the force who used Spinarak, but since then all the Jenny's of Catallia City have built such close relationships with their Spinarak that they became their most valued partners. Ash offers to help her catch the thief as it's their duty to show them that it's wrong to use Pokémon to commit a crime. Jenny accepts his offer.

That afternoon, at the top of a clock tower in the city, Jessie is telling James and Meowth that if they want to become legendary criminals they have to make a bold move and pull off a bigger heist than the ones they have so far. James doesn't seem to be listening; he's too upset that as his bottle cap collection is dwindling. He asks her if they have to use them. She tells him that they must, unless Meowth learns Pay Day. He asks if they can only use one or two, but she shoots this idea down. James, already in a bad mood over his bottle caps, yells at Meowth for eating out of the priceless bowl they had only recently stolen. Jessie chimes in, saying that instead of eating he could be learning Pay Day. Angered, he starts scratching at her face. James says that after another robbery or two, his collection will be gone completely. Jessie tells him to stop whining. She then comes up with a plan for their next heist. They will send a letter to their next victim telling them what they are going to steal, something previously used be the original Black Arachnid.

Back at the Police Station, Brock is trying to act serious and professional towards Officer Jenny regarding the case, and failing, when another officer enters the room telling them that The Black Arachnid is planning another robbery. She asks him where he got the information.

At the scene of the next possible robbery, a mansion, the owner is explaining to Officer Jenny about the letter he received. She says that she should have expected it as the original Black Arachnid sent letters too. Ash says that they won't let the thief get away with it. The owner of the mansion asks who they are, but Officer Jenny tells him that they are professional investigators. He seems a little reassured by this and asks them to teach the copycat thief a lesson.

Later that day, guarding the object, a trophy, due to be stolen, the man if getting worried again. Officer Jenny tells him that nothing will go wrong while they have Pokémon covering their backs. Ash tells him that they have never lost a single case, which seems to impress him.

That evening Ash sends out all of his Pokémon to act as guards in case the thief arrives. Officer Jenny orders her Spinarak to keep guard as well. It climbs up a tree and uses String Shot, forming a web all over the garden. She then tells Spinarak that they will be in the mansion waiting for midnight, when the thief said they were coming.

Night, and all seems quiet outside. Inside, and Ash is having trouble staying awake. He comments that the thief must not be very polite as he is keeping them up way past their bed time. Midnight arrives, and still nothing. The mansion owner bursts into to room, relieved that nothing has been stolen. As a gift, he presents them with a meal. After eating all the food, the lights suddenly go out. Bottle caps fall from the ceiling as Team Rocket lower themselves into the room, reciting their motto, and nabbing the trophy. Ash asks how they got in, so they explain that they've been hiding out in the attic since they delivered the letter earlier that day. Ash asks them why they didn't arrive at midnight like the letter said. Meowth confesses that they fell asleep. He then orders Pay Day, so James, reluctantly, throws his bottle caps at Ash & Co. distracting them as they make their escape.

They take off from the mansion roof as everyone runs outside. Suddenly the balloon stops ascending; it's caught on Spinarak's web. As a last ditch attempt to escape, they each use a large fan to waft themselves away. Ash orders Squirtle to use Water Gun, soaking the Trio, Bulbasaur to use Razor Leaf, popping the balloon and Charizard to use Flamethrower, accidentally burning the web and causing the balloon to fly away. Officer Jenny orders Spinarak to help them, so it uses String Shot on the balloons basket, stopping it from flying any further. Ash orders Charizard to use Tackle, sending them blasting off again and causing them to drop everything they had stolen, along with James' bottle caps. Then everyone, human and Pokémon alike, runs around catching all of the falling items to stop them smashing. Officer Jenny thanks Ash & Co. on a job well done.

The next morning, as Ash & Co. prepare to leave, Officer Jenny informs them that everything that was stolen has been returned to it's rightful owner. She then wishes them good luck as they continue on their journey, waving them goodbye.

And in a forest no far away, Jessie is shouting at James and Meowth, telling them that it was all their fault. This seems to be the last straw, as they both end up ganging up on her.

This episode guide has been written by The Librarian.

Characters appearing in this episode

Ash

Misty

Brock

Jessie

James

Meowth

Ash's Pikachu

Pokémon appearing in this episode

• Pikachu belonging to Ash
• Meowth

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