

Gaia sends the Planeteers to Doctor Rice's lab where the animals were stolen and they discover glowing footprints that Linka and Gi recognize as one of Lori Saunders' makeup products leading them to believe she is involved.

She sends groups of thieves to zoos, research labs and other places to steal animals, even taking Ma-Ti's pet monkey to use them for experimental animal testing for a makeup entrepreneur, Lori Saunders who is actually firmly against animal testing. Once again, Doctor Blight has hatched an evil scheme, this time focusing on animals instead of the environment. The evil rings are destroyed and Commander Clash rallies the enemy soldiers to replant the forests they destroyed. He drags Captain Pollution through the elements of the Earth and forces him to surrender. Commander Clash - an ally to the Planeteers - explains the dangers of pollution to an enemy army that the pollutant villains have amassed, inspiring them to throw down their weapons just in time for Captain Planet to return and save the day. He gets into an epic battle with Captain Pollution, but is injured and weakened in the fight. The Planeteers work together to get their rings back and summon Captain Planet. By their evil powers combined, they create Captain Pollution, the evil version of Captain Planet. She hatches a plan with Verminous Skumm, Looten Plunder, Sly Sludge, and Duke Nukem (no, not that "Duke Nukem") to steal the Planeteers' rings and create evil alternate versions of them with the powers of Deforestation, Smog, Super Radiation, Toxics and Hate. "Mission to Save Earth" was the series' first two-part episode and the first major team-up of villains led by Doctor Blight.
