Piplup, originally a human child transformed into a Pokémon by a storm-tossed shipwreck, finds itself in a world inhabited solely by Pokémon. This transformed Piplup begins an adventure upon meeting Chimchar, forming the exploration team Pokédans. The team later allies with Grovyle, becoming a trio dedicated to the critical mission of recovering Time Gears. These artifacts are vital for maintaining the natural flow of time, which is under threat.

Their primary objective is to journey to the Lost Continent, specifically aiming to reach the Hidden Land and the Time Tower. Restoring the Time Gears there is crucial to prevent a global temporal catastrophe. Their perilous journey includes traversing the sea on a Lapras. During the expedition, the team discovers the Rainbow Stone Ship within ancient ruins, intending to use this vessel to access the Time Tower.

Piplup, alongside Chimchar and Grovyle, faces significant opposition from Zwirrfinst, a powerful Pokémon determined to obstruct their mission to intervene with the time flow. This conflict culminates in a confrontation critical to the future of the Pokémon world. Functioning as a core member of the exploration team, Piplup is driven by the overarching goal of safeguarding the world from temporal collapse. The experiences focus on the trio's collaborative effort to overcome external challenges tied to their quest for the Time Gears.