BW028

This article is about an episode of the Pokémon animated series that has not been dubbed into English. As such, its coverage may contain romanized Japanese names, rather than dub names.

← BW027 : The Dragon Master's Path!

Best Wishes series

BW029 : Cottonee in Love! →

Oshawott's Lost Scalchop!

BW028   EP685 消えたホタチ！ミジュマル最大の危機！！ The Missing Hotachi! Mijumaru's Biggest Crisis Ever!!

First broadcast Japan April 21, 2011 United States August 13, 2011

English themes Opening Black and White Ending

Japanese themes Opening ベストウイッシュ！ Ending ポケモン言えるかな？ＢＷ

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 武上純希 Junki Takegami Storyboard 古賀一臣 Kazuomi Koga Assistant director 古賀一臣 Kazuomi Koga Animation director 玉川明洋 Akihiro Tamagawa Additional credits

Screenshots on Filb.de

Oshawott's Lost Scalchop! (Japanese: 消えたホタチ！ミジュマル最大の危機！！ The Missing Hotachi! Mijumaru's Biggest Crisis Ever!!) is the 28th episode of the Best Wishes series, and the 685th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on April 21, 2011, and is scheduled to air in the United States on August 13, 2011.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Synopsis

The episode begins with Ash being introduced to a Trainer by the name of Stephan who stated that despite only just starting his journey, is motivated in his abilities as a Trainer and challenges Ash to a battle. Ash confidently accepted Stephan's challenge, pronouncing his name incorrectly. Stephan brushes off this error, and sends out his Blitzle. Ash scans Blitzle with his Pokédex and had decided to use Pikachu, but Oshawott lets himself out of his Poké Ball and begs Ash to let him battle instead. Ash is initially concerned at the type disadvantage, but Oshawott ensures him that he'll be alright with his scalchop to which Ash agrees and lets Oshawott battle. Surprised at Ash's choice in Pokémon, Stephan thought Ash wasn't taking him seriously and ordered Blitzle to use Shock Wave. Oshawott managed to deflect it with his scalchop, catching Blitzle and Stephan off guard but coming as no surprise to Cilan and Iris. Stephan then decided to use a direct attack and had Blitzle use Flame Charge, which Oshawott attempted to counter with Aqua Jet, but still wasn't able to aim properly. Blitzle stops and watches in awe as Oshawott flew straight into a boulder. Ash stated his disappointment in Oshawott as Stephan and Blitzle stood by, clearly confused at Oshawott's strange Aqua Jet. Once recovered, Oshawott used Razor Shell, which Blitzle countered with Double Kick, and ended up sending Oshawott's scalchop flying off into the distance. Horrified, Oshawott ran after it as fast as he could. Ash demanded a time out while he went to find Oshawott's scalchop, and Cilan claims that it's fair that Oshawott fled the battle considering the scalchop is theoretically part of its body. Frustrated, Stephan shouted that he didn't have time to wait for Ash to find it, and Cilan suggested that Stephan go about his business and that he and Ash could pick up the battle the following day. Stephan took Cilan's advice and informed them that he would be camping nearby awaiting a rematch.

Troubled, Oshawott searched the grassy fields at the foot of a mountain for his scalchop when he noticed a twinkle in the corner of his eye. Joyfully, he ran over to the sparkle, but it turned out to be merely a bottle cap. He angrily threw it on the ground just as Ash and Pikachu had caught up to him. He offered to help Oshawott search for his scalchop, which made the Sea Otter Pokémon very happy. As the three of them searched, Ash noticed something sparkling in some tall grass and pointed it out to Oshawott, who went off to fetch it. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a wild Joltik that wasn't happy that Oshawott had picked it up, and zapped him. Ash had Pikachu knock it off Oshawott with Iron Tail and then scanned the Attaching Pokémon with his Pokédex before it retreated back into the grass. Oshawott became saddened that they had yet to find his scalchop, but Ash reassured him that they wouldn't stop looking until they found his scalchop. Cilan and Iris had finally caught up to them, and Ash asked what the situation with Stephan was, which Iris responded that he would have a rematch the next day. Cilan became concerned on the condition of the battle if Oshawott wasn't able to find his scalchop in time, so Iris vowed to help Oshawott out and ran toward some trees. She then called him over and offered an Iapapa Berry to him as a substitute scalchop. Cilan chuckled at the resemblance the Iapapa berry had to a scalchop, and Oshawott agreed to test it out against Pikachu. Unfortunately it wasn't strong enough and ended up being roasted by Thunderbolt. Despite being disappointed that her plan had failed, Iris, Cilan, and Axew took a bite of the cooked Iapapa berry and were surprised that it was delicious once electrocuted. Ash told them to be more serious in this time of crisis, so Cilan offered to let Oshawott use his food cloche as a substitute. This too failed as the cloche was metal and actually conducted the Thunderbolt. Cilan began sobbing over his now scorched cloche, but coped with it quickly and called out his Dwebble. He then asked Dwebble to carve Oshawott a scalchop out of stone for him, and Dwebble immediately got to work, much to Oshawott's joy.

Dwebble made quick work out of a boulder, but the new scalchop ended up being as tall as Oshawott himself. Oshawott was willing to give it a try, so they tried it out against Pikachu's Thunderbolt. However, it turned out that Oshawott could barely even pick up the scalchop, but it did manage to defend him from Thunderbolt. But he quickly became worn out from holding it and fell over, causing the rock to crush him and knock him out. They decided to give Oshawott a break, and Ash stated that nothing but his own scalchop will work with Oshawott despite all their efforts. Iris remarks that maybe Oshawott is too dependent on his scalchop, which hurts Oshawott's feelings. Ash sides with Oshawott, saying that his scalchop is his most precious possession. Cilan then suggests that Ash try to enhance Oshawott's offense rather than his defense, using the adage: The best defense is a good offense. Iris adds that in order to accomplish this, Ash should increase Oshawott's speed. Ash is concerned he won't have enough time to accomplish this task and decides to continue training using the rock scalchop. Oshawott still isn't sure in its abilities, and Iris and Cilan sympathize with him.

Ash and Oshawott then spend the day training together, carrying boulders up hills, performing push-ups, sit-ups, and practicing holding up the rock scalchop. Despite being knocked down multiple times, Oshawott continues to get back up and try his hardest. That evening, Oshawott is taking a break by a small pond, and envisions himself battling against Blitzle without his scalchop. Terrified of being shocked, he breaks out of this vision, and then mistakes the reflection of the moon against the water as his scalchop, and becomes depressed over its loss. He then remembers the inspiration Ash gave him, and he decides to do some private training. Ash and Pikachu are then seen looking for Oshawott, when Pikachu hears something. He leads Ash to a clearing where they see Oshawott training and they decide to join him. They train into the wee hours of the night, until Oshawott finally manages to carry his stone scalchop on his own.

The next day they anxiously wait for Stephan where they met him yesterday. However after waiting for a while, they decide to go look for him. They eventually find Stephan's camping spot where he is riding on what looks like an exercise bike with lighting rods on it. As Stephan pedals faster, the machine charges electricity which is then absorbed by his Blitzle. He stepped off the machine and told Ash he was just finishing his and Blitzle's morning training and that he was about to go looking for them. He then explained that he uses the machine to make sure Blitzle is in perfect form before their day begins. With their morning schedule complete, he challenged Ash to another battle. Blitzle starts off using Shock Wave which Oshawott manages to deflect with his stone scalchop. Stephan then ordered Blitzle to use Shock Wave again, but this time with full power. A powerful bolt of lighting struck the scalchop, and caused it to crack. Blitzle then charged towards Oshawott and used Double Kick, shattering the stone scalchop into pieces. Blitzle then launched another Shock Wave, and Oshawott attempted to defend itself with a piece of the broken scalchop, but his attempt was futile and he was still shocked. With some quick thinking, Ash remembers Cilan's advice from the day before about boosting Oshawott's offense, so he orders Oshawott to use Tackle. Blitzle counters with Shock Wave, but Oshawott quickly dashes towards the Electrified Pokémon, and manages to evade its attacks and land a hit on it. Oshawott takes a moment in astonishment at his new found speed, and Cilan discovers that by training with the heavy stone scalchop, Oshawott managed to increase his speed and power after all. Oshawott continued with numerous Tackle attacks, and Blitzle attempted to counter-attack with Double Kick, but Oshawott easily avoids it. Stephan then has Blitzle use Flame Charge repeatedly, which allows it to catch up to Oshawott. It then corners Oshawott against a tree, and Stephan orders it to finish off Oshawott with Flame Charge. Desperate, Ash commands Oshawott to use Aqua Jet, but he still flies off target. To make up for this, Blitzle followed close behind Oshawott and the two ended up colliding and crash into a large boulder, sending both Pokémon flying and landed in front of their respective Trainers. Blitzle is instantly knocked out, but Oshawott manages to get back on his feet, winning Ash the battle. Ash picks up Oshawott and congratulated him on overcoming his disability as Stephan recalled his Blitzle and thanked it for its effort. Stephan then approached Ash and congratulated him on his victory and vowed to battle him again some day, and the two shook on it, forming a new friendship. Axew suddenly appears from the forest holding Oshawott's scalchop. Oshawott jumped down from Ash's arms and received his scalchop from Axew. Exhausted and relieved, Oshawott collapses into Ash's arms and falls asleep, holding on tightly to his scalchop, ending the episode.

Major events

• The gang meets a Trainer named Stephan.

For a list of all major events in the animated series, please see the history page.

Debuts

• Stephan

Pokémon debuts

• Blitzle
• Joltik

Characters

Humans

• Ash
• Iris
• Cilan
• Stephan

Pokémon

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Axew (Iris's)
• Oshawott (Ash's)
• Dwebble (Cilan's)
• Blitzle (Stephan's; debut)
• Joltik (debut)

Trivia

• There is no Professor Oak's Pokémon Live Caster following this episode.
• Ash and Iris narrate the preview for the next episode.
• When Ash and Oshawott are training, the song is a remix of the opening theme.

In other languages

Language		Title
Mandarin Chinese		消失的扇貝貝！水水獺最大的危機！！

← BW027 : The Dragon Master's Path!

Best Wishes series

BW029 : Cottonee in Love! →

This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.