Losing Its Lustrous! (Japanese:ギンガ団襲撃！！ -前編-Galaxy-dan Attacks!! -Part 1-) is the 96th episode ofPokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl, and the 562nd episode of thePokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on October 2, 2008, as a part of a one-hour special withDP097 and in the United States on February 28, 2009.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
Team Galactic has just stolen the Adamant Orb from a transport plane headed to Celestic Town, and their next target could be the Lustrous Orb stored in the town's research center. The research center is where Ash and his friends are headed, but they're just there to meet Champion Cynthia. She's back in town and meeting with her grandmother Carolina, the head of the research center. Cyrus, a well-known businessman with an interest in history, also joins the group to help protect the Lustrous Orb. But when he finds out that Ash and Dawn might have seen the Pokémon known as Lake Guardians, he has Carolina bring them to the Orb itself, which is under guard by a disguised Team Rocket!
According to Cyrus, the Lustrous Orb is connected to the dawn of time, but Dawn and Ash don't feel anything special when they look at it. Team Galactic chooses this moment to launch their attack, drawing out the security forces with a nearby explosion. They've also taken over the research center's security system, so Officer Jenny and our heroes try to escort the Lustrous Orb to a safer place. As they do, Brock's Croagunk runs away—it senses Commander Saturn's Croagunk and wants to fight.
Commander Saturn himself blocks our heroes' way, but Cynthia calls out her Garchomp to battle Team Galactic's forces and buy the others time to get away. Too late! Another Galactic minion, Commander Mars, surrounds our heroes. Ash and Dawn won't let them take the Lustrous Orb without a fight, but things aren't looking good. Toxicroak and Croagunk come crashing into the room, and Toxicroak knocks Croagunk out with one hit. Faced with Saturn's deadly Toxicroak and the combined forces of Team Galactic, Ash and Dawn might have no choice but to surrender the Orb!
At the Celestic TownPokémon Center,Brock andDawn are preparing to head out whileAsh is perfecting a technique to counterFantina'sHypnosis based on Dawn'sContest Battlethe previous day. However, thetraining is put on hold when news soon breaks that the Adamant Orb was successfully stolen byTeam Galactic, and the gang learns that the Adamant Orb was on its way to theCelestic Town Historical Research Center, which is currently studying the Adamant Orb's counterpart, theLustrous Orb. They also learn thatCynthia is coming to Celestic Town, and decide to head to the Research Center to see her. Just thenNurse Joy arrives and Brock begins to hit on her; however, after a few seconds Brock gets the feeling that something is wrong and realizes thatCroagunk didn't stop his misguided romantic attempts with aPoison Jab, instead choosing to stare out the window, a fact which gives Brock slight alarm. Meanwhile, outside the Pokémon Center,Jessie,James andMeowth decide to steal theLustrous 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 his friends as the group thatinterfered with their plan to steal the meteorites fromVeilstone City, and warnsMars about them.Cyrus, a world-famous businessman who is responsible for many of the buildings and libraries throughoutSinnoh, approaches the Research Center 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 theLegendary PokémonDialga andPalkia, as well as her own extensive research. Dawn and Ash recognizeMesprit andAzelf from a carving of thelake guardians, and relaytheirexperiences 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 atLake Acuity nearSnowpoint City,Uxie who represents knowledge. Brock realizes that Uxie is the Pokémon they heard about fromMay andZoey during theWallace 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, relieves the officers guarding the Lustrous Orb, but before they can sneak into the room,Officer Jenny leads Ash and his friends 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 tothe 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 himself from hisPoké Ball and heads down a hallway, causing Brock to chase after him while the rest of the group takes the Lustrous Orb to the main entrance way, where Saturn is waiting. Saturn reveals that hisBronzor 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 hadsensed Toxicroak's presence all along.
Saturn tries to use Bronzor's Hypnosis attack, but Cynthia sends herGarchomp out to face it instead and she 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 aPoison Jab, knocking him 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.
The episode's English dub title is a reference to the phrase "losing its luster".
Prior tothe 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 theirmotto in this episode.
During the episode, in a one-second frame, an animation error takes place whereOfficer Jenny disappears asAsh moves in front of her.
After Team Galactic announces the completion of phase four,Cynthia's Garchomp is nowhere to be seen, despite having been called out of herPoké Ball more than a minute before.
In the English dub, Croagunk's Japanese voice can be heard in one scene.
In theBrazilian Portuguese dub, when the news is reporting the theft that Team Galactic orchestrated, theAdamant Orb is constantly referred to asOrbe de Brilhante, the same name that theLustrous Orb receives in this two-parter, until the Lustrous Orb itself is presented.
