ENGLISH NAME	JAPANESE NAME	POKEMOPOLIS NAME	DODGINESS RATING	ANIMATION	STORY	TEAM ROCKET	MORAL LEARNT
532: Enter Galactic!	537: Suteki Fasshon! Sono na wa Ginga-dan!	Attack of the Bowl Haircuts			Team Galactic attempt to steal some old rocks, the twerps and Team Rocket interfere	When you start a performance, you FINISH a performance!	Old rocks sitting in a park are a super awesome tourist attraction

In the last episode, Ash and Maylene battled to a 3 on 3 draw which was good enough to get Ash his third Sinnoh Region Gym Badge. With that finally behind them, it's time to move on towards Ash's Fourth Gym and (maybe) Dawn's next Contest. But first....



The twerps walk through Veilstone with Reggie who has heard from Maylene all about the Gym Battle. Ash and Brock give credit to Dawn for reigniting Maylene's fighting spirit (making Ash's task MORE difficult) and then Reggie takes them up to Veilstone's "City Landmarks", which Ash rather rudely (but accurately) refers to as "a bunch of rocks." Dawn explains that they're actually meteorites, and Reggie takes them over to a nearby sign which - for some bizarre reason - is written entirely in Japanese! How strange!

The meteorites have been honoured as Guardians since they were first discovered, and as more and more people came to see the rocks (surrounded by velvet ropes and night time lights), a city built up around them that grew up to become Veilstone City. But as the twerps think about the untold stories of the meteorites, far above them helicopters fly through the air. When they land at their destination, the familiar Team Galactic character we've seen before steps out and is greeted as "Saturn", who has brought a metal case with something "special" inside for their Leader.

Sadly, we're not treated to a patented crazy Saturn Team Galactic Fantasy about it.

Back in the Pokémon Centre, Ash is caught up in polishing his latest badge, although he tells Dawn that he can't get too confident since he has five more badges to win, and then points out that he didn't get the third badge from a win, so he has to prove that Maylene was right to give it to him. Brock flicks on a large screen map on the wall as Nurse Joy brings them drinks. Nurse Joy suggests that they head to Pastoria City, on the way there is a little beach resort they can take a break on. Ash thinks the idea is a good one (the Pastoria bit, anyway) and then Brock tries a new tactic with Nurse Joy, going over all feminine in the hopes that she likes carpet for breakfast.

Unfortunately for Brock, Croagunk chooses this moment to remind him that going gay can sometimes be a real pain in the ass.

I am so, so sorry for that terrible pun.

Ash asks Dawn what about her next Contest, and Dawn spills some bullshit about planning a new Contest combination - upsetting Piplup which recognises this bullshit for what it is.

Meanwhile, Team Galactic are preparing for their latest caper, stealing Veilstone's meteorites! They plan to grab them, destroy their own base and head for the hills. But there might be a slight hiccup in their (and their terrible haircuts) plans.... Team Rocket!

Jesse, James, Meowth (and Wobbuffet) have also decided to steal the meteorites because they're just lying there practically begging to be stolen. But as Meowth, Wobbuffet, and Jesse dance in delight, James points out that carrying them away is going to give them a hernia!

But as they're discussing this, Team Galactic show up, Saturn removing from the steel case the small cube they stole from the Temple of Solaceon. It instantly begins to glow, as do the meteorites themselves in reaction. This terrifies Team Rocket so much that Jesse and James grab at each other in fright and Meowth clutches instinctively at James' ass.



Oh like you wouldn't.

The twerps spot the shaft of light from the Pokémon Centre - as does Reggie, Lucario and Maylene from other places about the city. The cube lifts into the air glowing bright, then unravels into "the Spear Key". It lowers down into a briefcase and Team Galactic close it shut, the lights of the meteorite going out.

Reggie doesn't have time to check any of this out further though as he hears his phone ringing. He turns on the videophone in time to see Paul's unpleasant face glaring back at him, immediately launching right into the reason for his call, Reggie has to send him Electabuzz for his Gym Battle in Pastoria. Reggie grins and tells him that his "friend" Ash is here and just won the Cobble Badge, but Paul is unimpressed and uninterested, saying that ANYONE could win a badge in that Gym.

Meanwhile, Team Galactic have activated jamming equipment that blacks out communications for all of Veilstone City. Officer Jenny demands action, which is amusing, while in the Pokémon Centre the twerps ask what is going on and Nurse Joy tells them that all of their equipment is on the fritz, including the medical gear needed to treat Pokémon. Maylene and Lucario show up saying that they sensed something was wrong, so instead of going to Officer Jenny and the authorities, they went to see the local animal nurse.

At the park, Team Galactic's hairdo and fashion sense has caught Team Rocket's attention and derision, although they become impressed when giant metallic claws are lowered from helicopters and tear the meteorites out of the ground.

Maylene is leading the twerps towards the park, meanwhile, telling them that Lucario sensed that whatever was wrong was happening at the park, which must be the reason she went straight to the Pokémon Centre instead of the park. Brock asks if she contacted Officer Jenny, but of course communications are down, so she sent Connelly and his handlebar moustache to do the job for her.

Jesse, meanwhile, is furious that "bowl-headed losers" like Team Rocket are stealing HER meteorites, and they get spotted by Team Galactic and Saturn. Their reaction, quite sensibly, is to immediately launch into their motto!

"Your stupid team has much more to lose!"
"Look in the mirror at the haircuts you choose!"
"Cutting edge?"
"Funny joke!"
"What a ruse!" agrees Meowth, their voices fading in the background as a less than impressed Saturn watches on and finally responds by calling out.... A MONSTER!
"We're bringing chaos at a breakneck pace!" continues Jesse, not noticing the monstrosity.
"Dashing hope, putting fear in its place."
"A rose by any other name's just as sweet."
"When everything's worse, our work is complete."
"Jesse!"
"James!"
"Meowth's da name!"
"Sludge Bomb, Toxicroak," orders Saturn smugly, as Team Rocket STILL are completely oblivious to what is going on.
"Putting the fashion freaks in their place."
"Team Rocket!"
"IN YOUR FACEARGHHHHHHEEEEAHHHHH!" they scream as they're blasted with Sludge Bomb.... but hey, they got the motto in!

The monster, of course, was Toxicroak - the evolved form of Croagunk. As Team Rocket are blasted over by the Sludge Bomb, the twerps arrive. Spotting the meteors are gone and seeing Team Galactic, they ask Team Rocket if these are "friends" of theirs, and Jesse's reaction is... a sight to behold.

"Sure! BEST FRIENDS LIKE YOU!" she screams, scowling and making kissy faces at the horrified twerps. Ash turns his attention to Toxicroak, learning that it apparently has toxic "sacks".

Yeah it sure wasn't creepy enough BEFORE that!

They remember Team Galactic at last, and the trouble they caused in Eterna City. Toxicroak attempts a Dark Pulse which is blasted into negation by Lucario's Aura Sphere, and Saturn tells them that they care nothing for Veilstone's landmarks, they need the meteors to take on their "proper form", a form that will usher in a "new world".

"Sounds bad!" notes Ash.

Bright boy, that Ash.

Just then.... ACTION HERO JENNY ARRIVES! And brings her Action Hero Ass with her!



Yep, that's an ass, alright.

Brock is excited, Saturn pissed, Maylene proud, and Team Rocket whispering amongst themselves that at least the heat is off of them. Saturn seems less than concerned though, even when Jenny tells them that they're well aware of the super secret stuff going on behind the scenes recently, and she knows exactly who they are, TEAM GALACTIC!

Yeah, they're... uhh... they're not exactly being subtle, Jenny, they're flying in helicopters and wearing G's on their uniforms.

As Team Rocket ponder the theft of their own name as well as Galactic's terrible hairstyle choice, Saturn tells Jenny that they won't tell her their plan, just that what they're doing is their plan.... okay? Toxicroak blasts off another Dark Pulse, but Aura Sphere, Thunderbolt and Bubble Beam blast aside the rings of the Dark Pulse, one falling towards Brock who squeals like a girl.... until he's saved by Croagunk, leaping out of nowhere and knocking it aside. Brock thanks it, and it simply sits croaking and looking like a self-satisfied Peter Lorre until..... Toxicroak approaches! The two bizarre Pokémon eye each other up and then.... have a Leer Off!

Saturn has had enough and orders Galactic Grunts to send out their Golbats, which blast at the twerps as Team Rocket try to sneak off. Saturn notices Toxicroak and Croagunk butting heads and orders it to destroy Croagunk, so Brock orders a Brick Break. Toxicroak dodges and smacks Croagunk aside, and the two leering Pokémon end up facing off again... with a very nervous Team Rocket in the middle!

Croagunk uses Poison Sting and Toxicroak Sludge Bomb, and the two moves clash.... on Team Rocket! They're sent blasting off again asking why us? And then they're gone into a twinkle in the sky.

The Golbat meanwhile are blocking off the twerps from Team Galactic, but Pikachu and Piplup are saved by Electabuzz and Reggie. They decide to work together to put paid to the Golbat, and everyone blasts at the bats, knocking them down and giving the twerps a free run. But as Electabuzz and Reggie charge Galactic, Saturn orders Toxicroak to blast Sludge Bomb at them, while Croagunk continues to clutch tenaciously onto its back smacking away at it. Surviving Golbat try to swarm in on Electabuzz but Pikachu saves it, returning the favour from a minute earlier, but Electabuzz doesn't seem too happy about it... until Pikachu is almost blasted by a spare shot and Electabuzz punches it out of the sky, smirks, and then zaps in combination with Pikachu to put down the Golbat.
And then.... then.... Electabuzz and Pikachu do a bonafide X-Men Fastball Special!



Awesome!

Pikachu's Volt Tackle is sent flying into the air alongside a blast of Thunder from Electabuzz high into the air and through the claws holding the meteorites in place. Lucario then smashes them with Bone Rush and Lucario uses Whirlpool to catch them as they fall and lower them gently to the ground before landing on top of one and bravely posing.

Saturn grunts that there is no option but retreat and recalls Toxicroak, causing Croagunk to fall with a surprised croak through the air off of its back to the ground. The helicopters pull away, the twerps attempts to blast after them falling short - Team Galactic get away!

But Jenny is happy, the meteors are back in place (and without any arrests, there is no paperwork to do!) so she thanks them for their help. Croagunk crouches grumpily on the grass, not looking too pleased with Toxicroak getting away safely despite Brock's encouragement that it did great.

Elsewhere in Veilstone, Team Rocket trudge through the streets trying to wrap their heads around Team Galactic, who play tough and left James confused with their "New World" speech. But Meowth suddenly bucks up, declaring that the next time they meet, he'll send them on to the New World himself! They all cheer and tromp forward into the darkness singly happily (and badly!).

As for Team Galactic, Saturn seems unconcerned by the failure to steal the meteorites, saying that they should have sufficient information to make "the red chain", so next stop is "the lake". It's all very mysterious, but as Saturn orders the continued evacuation of the Veilstone Base, we can say one thing for them and their arrogant hyperbole.

At least they're better than Team Magma and Team Aqua.

The next day, Maylene and Reggie say their goodbyes to the twerps. Reggie tells them that Paul is in Pastoria too, and they finally head on out of Veilstone, though with some questions still left unanswered. Such as....

What about Dawn and her next Contest!?!

BEST QUOTES

"Wha?" "Wah?"

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