EP089

Shell Shock! (Japanese: カブトのかせきのひみつ！ The Secret of the Kabuto Fossils!) is the 89th episode of the Pokémon anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on March 25, 1999 and in the United States on March 4, 2000.

Blurb
''Aboard Lapras, the group follows a news crew to an uninhabited island, where a scientific expedition is underway after the discovery of a fossilized Kabuto. A series of natural disasters place our heroes in mortal danger, with only the power of their Pokémon to help them. What is the secret of the Kabuto, and who wants that secret to remain hidden?''

Plot
While aboard, and  follow a news crew to Fukuhara Island No. 4, where an excavation is underway after the discovery of a fossilized. While on the island, they are shocked to learn that Nurse Joy is the director of the excavation. She tells the new reporter that the excavation hopes to study the habitat of the extinct Kabuto. She also remarks that they would like to find out the veracity about the claims about Kabuto oil, considered a youth elixir and health medicine. After hearing all of this, Ash and ask if they can help. Meanwhile, watches the whole scene from their  submarine. As Jessie wonders why a television crew would be on the island, says that they could be on TV as well if they hurry and capture.

Nurse Joy leads a group of explorers, the news crew, and Ash's group to the digging site. A group of also accompany the team, while  are seen carrying some equipment and several  for drilling holes. As they pass by, a mysterious silhouette of a man is seen behind a tree. As they reach a small cliff path, Team Rocket is shown following the same path on a lower section of the cliff. As Nurse Joy's team moves on, the Growlithe start to growl at a large boulder on a hill, but Nurse Joy dismisses the alarm. Suddenly, the boulder falls and starts racing towards them. While the group runs down the hill, Ash suggests that Nurse Joy use the Machoke's strength. They Pokémon succeed and the team is saved. Unfortunately for Team Rocket, the boulder then rolls off the side of the cliff and knocks James into a canyon.

As the team continues to walk, the same silhouette is seen behind a rock. Pikachu catches a glimpse and looks over, which catches Ash's attention. Ash turns around to check, though he sees nothing suspicious. Eventually, the team reaches their destination, a hidden bay on the island's desolate northern shore. The crew and their Pokémon start to excavate. As Ash, Tracey, Pikachu, and dig, several boulders start falling onto them. Nurse Joy commands Rhydon to use, which shatters the boulders.

Afterwards, Misty mentions that she thinks that someone is responsible for all of the incidents. Tracey refutes her claims and clarifies that the island is supposed to be deserted. Just then, the silhouette is seen running from behind a tree; Pikachu notices and starts chasing after him. Ash follows suit and ends up jumping on the man, bringing them both to the ground. As the rest of the crew catches up, the identity of the man is revealed to be Umberto. He sternly tells them to leave the island, and admits that he has been pushing the boulders onto them, clarifying that he was only trying to keep them out of harm's way.

Umberto then tells them of an ancient prophecy, which implies that anyone who comes to the island to disturb the Kabuto will cause the island to be swallowed up by the sea. At that moment, an explorer comes running into the forest, ecstatic from finding another Kabuto fossil. He leads the others into a cave, where they find walls of Kabuto fossils at the other end. Just then, Team Rocket arrives, causing the cavern walls to crumble. James then throws a bomb that gets passed around until Ash catches it and throws it at the wall of Kabuto fossils. The fossils then explode off the wall, allowing Team Rocket to wrap them up in a net. As the trio tries to get away in their hot-air balloon, the Kabuto suddenly come to life as moonlight hits them. One ends up popping Team Rocket's balloon, which leads to them blasting off.

It is soon apparent that the Kabuto were Fukuhara Island No. 4's foundations, and the island begins to flood as the fossil Pokémon become more disturbed. As the island starts to collapse, the team decides to head for the boat, but Umberto insists that the prophecy advises trespassers to run into the forest and make a raft. They listen to him and start building a makeshift raft. As the island sinks, they all jump onto the raft, and Ash sends out Lapras and, while Misty sends out and  to help pull the raft. They all make it out to sea and watch as the island completely sinks. Joy remarks that maybe the Kabuto oil does cause them to live forever. She then apologizes to Umberto for not believing him, and the news reporter says that she thinks it is best if no one finds out the Kabuto's secret. Later on, the Kabuto are seen swimming towards the moonlight, looking for a new home.

Humans

 * Jessie
 * James
 * Nurse Joy
 * Umberto
 * Cameraman
 * Expedition crew
 * Umberto
 * Cameraman
 * Expedition crew
 * Expedition crew

Pokémon
Who's That Pokémon?: (US and international),  (Japan)
 * (expedition crew's; ×2)
 * (expedition crew's; ×2)
 * (expedition crew's; ×2)
 * (multiple)
 * (expedition crew's; ×2)
 * (expedition crew's; ×2)
 * (expedition crew's; ×2)
 * (multiple)
 * (expedition crew's; ×2)
 * (expedition crew's; ×2)
 * (multiple)

Trivia

 * Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture:
 * Pokémon senryū summary: A back of mushrooms, raised to grow;.
 * This episode's dub title is a reference to the illness shell shock.
 * This episode's title is formatted as Shell Shock on the DVD menu of Australian DVDs.
 * This episode shows 's dormant form, only awakened due to a blood moon. This is the only time a fossil Pokémon is shown to have a dormant form.

Errors

 * 's Pokédex refers to Kabuto as the Ancient Pokémon, as opposed to the Shellfish Pokémon.
 * When Fukuhara Island No. 4 is falling apart, some of the Kabuto appear as fossils as opposed to Kabuto.
 * When the expedition team is being chased by the boulder, the reporter's microphone is gray.
 * When the island starts sinking, water splashes onto 's feet. However, when the camera cuts, there is still a small cliff above water.

Dub edits

 * Pikachu's Jukebox: Double Trouble

In other languages
Auf der Suche nach Fossilien EP091 EP089 EP089 無印編第89話 精灵宝可梦 第90集