DP096: Losing Its Lustrous!

Episode Plot

On its way from Eterna City to Celestic Town, a police plane carrying the Adamant Orb is attacked by a horde of Golbat as well as a Toxicroak. The attack is led by Saturn of Team Galactic who notes that everything is going perfectly to plan.

At the Celestic Town Pokémon Center, Brock and Dawn are packing to head out while Ash is perfecting a technique to counter Fantina's Hypnosis based on Ambipom's Contest battle the previous day. However, the training is put on hold when news soon breaks that the Adamant Orb was successfully stolen by Team Galactic, and the gang learns that the Adamant Orb was on its way to the Celestic Town Historical Research Center, which is currently studying the Adamant Orb's counterpart, the Lustrous Orb. They also learn that Cynthia is coming to Celestic Town, and decide to head to the Research Center to see her. Just then Nurse Joy arrives and Brock begins to hit on her; however, after a few seconds Brock gets the feeling that something is wrong and realizes that Croagunk didn't stop his misguided romantic attempts, instead choosing to stare out the window, a fact which gives Brock slight alarm.

Outside the Pokémon Center, Jessie, James and Meowth plot to steal the Lustrous Orb before Team Galactic can.

At the Research Center, the gang meets up with Cynthia, who introduces them to her grandmother, Professor Carolina, head of the Celestic Town Historical Research Center. On a nearby rooftop, Saturn recognizes Ash and co. as the group that interfered with their plan to steal the meteorites from Veilstone City, and warns Mars about them. Cyrus approaches the Research Center using his cover as a world-famous mogul while Mars and Saturn prepare their attack. As Croagunk once again stares off into space instead of stopping Brock from hitting on Cynthia, Ash and Dawn also take note of Croagunk's strange behavior. Team Rocket disguise themselves as police officers in order to gain entry into the Research Center.

Inside the Research Center, Professor Carolina explains the town's connection to Dialga and Palkia, as well as her own extensive research. Dawn and Ash recognize Mesprit and Azelf from a carving of the lake guardians (though they do not know their names), and relay their experiences with the two Pokémon. Cynthia tells the gang that Mesprit represents Emotion and Azelf represents Willpower. Cynthia also tells everyone that there is a third lake guardian at Lake Acuity near Snowpoint City, Uxie who represents Knowledge. Brock realizes that Uxie is the Pokémon they heard about from May and Zoey during the Wallace Cup. Cyrus suggests that Professor Carolina show Ash and Dawn the Lustrous Orb. In the Celestic Ruins, behind the Research Center, Mars's gang finishes setting up explosive charges.

Team Rocket, still in disguise as police officers, relieve the officers guarding the Lustrous Orb, but before they can sneak into the room, Officer Jenny leads Ash and co. down the hallway. Professor Carolina uses a key card and a palm scanner to open the room with the Lustrous Orb, where both Ash and Dawn examine the item, but feel nothing. This enrages Cyrus, who reveals that the Lustrous Orb may be directly connected to the dawn of time. As Cyrus tries to coax more information out of Ash and Dawn, Mars sets off the explosives, causing a panic within the Research Center. Professor Carolina finds that the door to the room with the Lustrous Orb won't reseal. The security system of the Research Center is revealed to have been compromised, which leads Cynthia to suggest moving the Lustrous Orb. Ash volunteers to help protect the orb, and Officer Jenny recruits the in-disguise Team Rocket to help, as well.

Saturn and his Toxicroak lead a team of helicopters to the roof of the Research Center. Brock's Croagunk releases itself from its Poké Ball and heads down a hallway, causing Brock to chase after it while the rest of the group takes the Lustrous Orb to the main entrance way, where Saturn is waiting. Saturn reveals that his Bronzor has put everyone outside to sleep, while his Toxicroak has taken care of everyone inside. Toxicroak, however, is shown to be in a face-off with Croagunk, and Brock realizes that Croagunk had sensed Toxicroak's presence all along.

Saturn tries to use Bronzor's Hypnosis attack, but Cynthia sends her Garchomp out to face it instead and it defeats it easily. As Officer Jenny and the others try to retreat, they find their path blocked by Mars. Just then, Croagunk falls through the skylight and lands hard on the ground. Toxicroak follows and hits Croagunk dead-on with a Poison Jab, knocking it out while Brock watches helplessly on from the roof. Cynthia tells Team Galactic that they'll never be allowed to escape with the Lustrous Orb and releases another Pokémon for battle.

Debuts

Humans

• Mars
• Cyrus
• Professor Carolina

Trivia

• As of this episode, Together 2008 is replaced by High Touch! as the opening theme.
• This episode marks exactly 60 episodes since Team Galactic's first anime appearance. In it, however, they hired Jessie, James, and Meowth to nab the Adamant Orb from Eterna City, while this time around the group itself nabbed both it and the Lustrous Orb from Celestic Town, which lies on the opposite side of Mt. Coronet and Route 211 from Eterna.
• It is revealed in this episode that Brock's Croagunk is able to sense when Saturn's Toxicroak is nearby, possibly an allusion to its Anticipation Ability.
  • Due to this, it is the first time Brock's Croagunk does not stop him from flirting a girl.
• During the title card sequence, the former title card music from the Battle Frontier portion of the Advanced Generation series is played. The same applies to Double Team Turnover!.
• The dub title for this episode is a reference to the phrase "losing its luster".
• Prior to the next episode's actual dub title being revealed, Cartoon Network had listed this episode's dub title with a "(Part 1)" attached, causing some confusion over the next episode's dub title.
• Team Rocket doesn't blast off or recite their motto in this episode.

Mistakes

• During the episode in a one-second frame, an animation error takes place where Officer Jenny disappears as Ash moves in front of her.
• Croagunk's Japanese voice can be heard in one scene.
• After Team Galactic announces the completion of phase four, Cynthia's Garchomp is nowhere to be seen, despite had been called out of his Poké Ball a bit more than a minute before.

Gallery

The Golbat attack the plane

Saturn came after the Orb

Croagunk did not stab Brock, even if he flirted

Cyrus came for "business"

The statue of Lake Guardians

Team Galactic blast the ruins

Croagunk fights Toxicroak

Garchomp used Brick Break

The heroes get surrounded

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