After spending a day training in the Valley of Winds, Ash and his friends continued their journey.
Not long after descending the mountain, they came across a Pokémon Center.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" Ash called as they stepped inside.
Nurse Joys were always busy. Even though they were often seen at the reception desk, that didn't mean they had an easy job. Most of the time, they were occupied treating Pokémon and handling emergencies.
"Chansey!"
The cheerful voice belonged to Chansey, Nurse Joy's faithful partner.
A moment later, a "Nurse Joy" appeared before them.
"Nurse Joy just left to make a house call," she explained.
"Huh? But isn't that Nurse Joy?" Misty asked, confused as she looked at the woman.
Ash studied her for a moment before shaking his head.
"No. She's not the real Nurse Joy."
During their travels, they had visited countless Pokémon Centers and met many different Nurse Joys.
Although they all looked nearly identical, the woman standing before them somehow felt different.
Well...
The real reason Ash figured it out was because he had glanced at Brock.
Normally, Brock possessed a miraculous ability.
Despite every Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny looking almost identical to everyone else, Brock could instantly tell them apart and even identify which town or city they came from.
Not only that, but whenever he met a Nurse Joy or Officer Jenny, he would immediately dash over in an instant, either presenting a rose or grabbing her hand before launching into one of his embarrassingly dramatic love confessions.
This time, however...
Brock hadn't moved an inch.
That alone proved the woman before them wasn't the real Nurse Joy.
"Haha, Ash! I can't believe you figured it out. I thought my disguise was perfect."
As soon as she finished speaking, the fake Nurse Joy revealed her true appearance.
"Ditto!"
The young girl called out, and the Chansey beside her transformed back into a Ditto.
Ash immediately recognized her.
It was Duplica, the girl he had gotten to know quite well during one of his previous adventures.
"Duplica! It's been a long time."
"That's right. It's been a while, everyone."
The next second, Ash stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug.
"It's been so long. I really missed you."
Duplica's face instantly turned bright red.
"...I missed you too."
Watching the two embrace so tightly, Misty smiled on the surface, but inwardly she had already imagined putting Ash through every punishment she could think of.
Seriously? Hugging another girl right in front of me... You've got some nerve.
"Duplica," Misty asked after the two finally let go, "what brings you here?"
Pikachu and Togepi curiously walked over and poked Ditto's face, fascinated by how soft and springy it felt.
"I'm here because of this."
Duplica handed them a colorful poster.
"The Pokémon Performance Festival?" Ash read. "Were you invited to participate?"
"Yes." Duplica nodded. "The Pokémon Performance Festival invites performers from all over the nation, and it lasts for an entire week. The main attraction is showcasing all kinds of Pokémon performances and unique talents."
The festival had always been famous.
Receiving an invitation meant that Duplica had already become a fairly well known performer.
"It really does sound impressive," Ash said sincerely. "You've done an amazing job."
Just then, the real Nurse Joy returned carrying a Poké Ball.
"Duplica, your Pokémon has finished its checkup. It's perfectly healthy."
"By the way, everyone, let me introduce my new partner, Ditto Number Two, Mini-Dit."
She released another Ditto from its Poké Ball. This one was noticeably smaller than the first. Unless someone looked very carefully, the difference was difficult to spot.
The four of them sat together in the courtyard chatting.
After a while, Duplica sighed.
"To be honest... this little Ditto has a bit of a problem."
After watching a demonstration, Ash and the others finally understood.
Although Mini-Dit could transform into various Pokémon just like an ordinary Ditto, it couldn't change its own size.
For example, if it transformed into a small Pokémon like Pikachu or Togepi, the difference was almost impossible to notice.
However, when it transformed into Brock's Steelix or Graveler, although the appearance was identical, the body remained much smaller than the original.
It was basically a miniature version.
"You don't have to worry so much," Ash comforted her. "Ditto's only limitation is its size, and that doesn't really affect anything. In fact, being so small might actually attract a lot of people."
"Really?"
"Of course. Kids especially love small, adorable things. A tiny Ditto like this would make a perfect companion."
Just then, a commotion erupted outside. Ash and the others hurried over, only to discover two people standing on the roof.
Their clothes and appearances were identical to Ash and Duplica's.
"Team Rocket... I knew it was you," Ash said helplessly, speechless at the fake "main characters."
"So you saw through us," Meowth said with a grin. "In that case, we're taking that tiny Ditto!"
He pointed directly at the Mini-Dit in Duplica's arms.
"Not a chance."
Without another word, the battle began.
Duplica's two Ditto transformed into Jessie's Arbok and Wobbuffet respectively, making the fight surprisingly difficult to settle.
However, Jessie's Wobbuffet had a mind of its own.
Although Jessie constantly shouted for it to use Counter, Wobbuffet would decide for itself whether to use Counter or Mirror Coat depending on the situation.
Duplica quickly pointed out that flaw.
In the end, Team Rocket was blasted off once again.
Meanwhile, the other Trainers who had gathered became fascinated by Mini-Dit and crowded around to get a closer look.
Inspired by everyone's reaction, Duplica made up her mind.
She would catch more unusual Ditto and create a traveling Ditto performance troupe, putting on special shows for audiences everywhere.
As night fell, Ash and Duplica quietly slipped away to the place where they had agreed to meet.
They shared how much they had missed each other.
Along the way, they also resumed their "research" into the origins of life.
The outcome, naturally...
Duplica was thoroughly defeated once again.
The following morning, after saying goodbye to Duplica, Ash and his friends resumed their journey.
"...Why does Duplica's voice sound so much hoarser today?" Brock asked in confusion.
"Uh... she's probably just not feeling very well," Ash replied with an awkward laugh.
His explanation immediately earned him a hard pinch on the waist from Misty.
Ash silently begged for mercy, promising that he would give her "an unforgettable memory" someday before she finally let him off the hook.
At the same time, atop a tree growing on a nearby cliff...
"Next time, I'll just tell you to use Counter. Then you can decide for yourself whether Counter or Mirror Coat is the right choice."
"Wobbuffet!"
...
RedX43's Note:
➤ Want More? Get up to +25 Extra Chapters on Patreon!
➤ [email protected]/RedX43
➤ +200 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter Drop!
➤ Consider giving a review or leave some comments, it help boost the story!
➤ Thanks for reading! 🙌