DP096: Losing Its Lustrous!

is the 44th episode of Pokémon: DP Battle Dimension.
==Synopsis==
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!
==Episode plot==
Officer Jenny and her police crew fly towards Celestic Town, delivering an orb. However, they are stopped by some Golbat and a helicopter above them. Inside the helicopter, Saturn sends Toxicroak, intending on taking the Adamant Orb. Meanwhile, Dawn and Brock pack their stuff, the former going to get Ash. Ash is training with Pikachu, who is using Thunderbolt around himself. Dawn comes, but Ash asks if they can wait, for he may have found a way to defeat Fantina. Ash admits Dawn's Contest gave him an idea to attack their opponent and counter their retaliation. However, Ash knows well ghost-type Pokémon are tricky to battle against, so he devised a strategy to attack and defend at the same time. Brock reminds that worked because Ambipom has two tails, so Ash shows the strategy. Buizel jumps and spins, using Aqua Jet to release water around himself. Dawn is pleased their tactic evolved.
Since Ash needs time to prepare, Brock waits in the lobby. Happiny raises the bag, causing the items inside to fall down. As Brock tries to get the things back into his bag, he hears there was an attempt to steal the Adamant Orb. It is reported that the organization that mounted the attack is Team Galactic. Luckily, the Adamant Orb is safe, being transported from Eterna City to Celestic Town's research center, where the Lustrous Orb is studied. However, with the recent attempt at theft, the security around the research center is much tighter. Nurse Joy thinks Cynthia will arrive soon, for this is her homeland and is where her grandma lives and works. The heroes decide to visit the research center. Brock flirts with Nurse Joy, but realizes Croagunk has not attacked him, for he seems to anticipate something. Team Rocket plans on taking the Lustrous Orb before Team Galactic.
The heroes visit the research center and meet up with Cynthia (with Brock trying to flirt with her) and her grandmother, Prof. Carolina, the head of the research center. Far away they are watched by Team Galactic. Saturn contacts the others, warning them the children, who interfered with the Veilstone plan, came here. Ash admits since he came here, he met new people and battled many trainers, including Paul, but lost to him. Carolina encourages Ash to go on, even if he cannot beat her granddaughter. Suddenly, a man named Cyrus appears and greets the group. Saturn observes this and informs Mars about this. Cynthia remembers Cyrus is the owner of the industrial complex, even helping to construct libraries throughout Sinnoh. Cyrus replies he is but an amateur scholar, for he came to see the Lustrous Orb. Brock admits he came here to protect the Orb and the Champion, trying to flirt with her, but sees Croagunk is still doing nothing.
Team Rocket comes as security officers, trying to get inside the complex. The group comes into the research center. They find a giant slab, from which Ash and Dawn notice Azelf and Mesprit carved into it. Prof. Carolina and Cynthia are shocked and hear Dawn encountered Mesprit at Lake Verity and Ash found Azelf at Lake Valor. Cynthia tells these are Lake Guardians, along with Uxie at Lake Acuity. Cynthia and Carolina recall these must be spirits of the Guardians they saw, guarding the humanity. Brock notices an object in the middle, presumed to be the Lustrous or Adamant Orb. Per Cyrus' advice, they all go to see the Lustrous Orb. Meanwhile, as Team Galactic arms the complex with explosives, Team Rocket switches the guards, trying to get inside.
However, the group arrives and Team Rocket (still dressed as guards) report nothing unusual. Prof. Carolina places her keycard and is scanned to open the door, revealing the Lustrous Orb inside. Ash and Dawn gaze at the Orb, but don't feel anything. Cyrus is annoyed at them, but apologizes after being reminded they are seeing this Orb for the first time. Cyrus explains the Lustrous Orb is connected to time. Cyrus explains time and space existed from Mt. Coronet, a place untouched by wars. He reminds Ash and Dawn never to forget difference between battles and wars. Cyrus asks to hear what happened with their encounters with the Lake Guardians. Suddenly, Team Galactic blows up the ruins (making Cyrus pleased) and send out Golbat. The group leaves the room and as Officer Jenny dispatches police officers, Carolina is unable to lock the door. Since the doors cannot shut, the heroes decide to protect the orb from Team Galactic.
At the rooftop, Saturn and the grunts arrive and Cyrus nods at him. Toxicroak is also present, causing Brock's Croagunk to come out of his Poké Ball. As Brock follows Croagunk, the group enters a room, surrounded by Saturn and Team Galactic members. Cynthia sees blasting the ruins was a diversion, but Saturn points out while Bronzor has disabled the security system, Toxicroak has defeated the police force and is facing Brock's Croagunk. Ash and Dawn decide to battle to protect the Orb. Bronzor is about to use Hypnosis, so Cynthia sends Garchomp, hitting Bronzor with Brick Break. Cynthia dismisses Officer Jenny, her grandmother and Cyrus to look after the Orb, but Mars and more grunts arrive, making Cyrus pleased.
From the ceiling, Croagunk falls down and is hit by Toxicroak's Poison Jab. Saturn replies they don't want violence if they give the Orb to them. Cynthia disagrees as she goes to send a new Pokémon.
==Debuts==
===Character===
*Mars
*Cyrus
*Professor Carolina
==Trivia==
*As of this episode, Together 2008 is replaced by High Five! as the opening theme.
*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" and the Lustrous Orb.
*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.
===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 her Poké Ball a bit more than a minute before.
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:Episodes featuring Champions
Category:Episodes focusing on Team Galactic