It was a typical peaceful day in the Sinnoh Region. Ash Ketchum and his friends are finished from their training for the next Pokémon Gym Battle for Ash and the next Pokémon Contest for Dawn. But today was going to be different, as Ash, Brock, and Dawn were on their way to the Pokémon Center.

Miz-K Takase presents:
Pokémon Mecha Trifecta

Part 1: The Jenny and Joy WPCA Mystery

They stepped inside the Pokémon Center and saw Nurse Joy, in her white and pink nurse uniform and her red hair, in hoops. She was standing straight, with a dazed look in her face.

"Hello," she spoke, "Welcome to the Pokémon Center."

Brock blushed and approached her, "WOW! Even with such beauty, with that look on your face, it sends me chills down my spine!"

WHACK!
Crogunk appeared and delivered a Poison Jab to Brock's back. He dragged him away, as Brock groaned, "Of course, my spine is in pain, right now…"

Ash then held his Poké Balls and Pikachu out, while Dawn gave out her Poké Balls and Piplup. Ash said, "Here. Will you take care of our Pokémon?"

Dawn smiled, "Mine, too."

"Shall I take your Pokémon?" Nurse Joy asked.

Ash replied, "Uh, yes. I did kind of said to watch them."

Dawn asked, "What's wrong with her?"

Ash said, "No idea… I think she's acting weird."

Dawn remarked, "Plus, she's talking slower than usual."

Joy responded again, "Shall I take your Pokémon?"

Ash looked closely at her and thought, "Hmm…"

"Pika?" Pikachu asked.

Ash said, "You know, her eyes looked a bit blank."

Joy said, in a stiff voice, "Don't be ridiculous, sir. I must be running slower than usual, today."

They all paused and thought of what Nurse Joy said. Dawn asked, "Was she…?"

Piplup responded, "Pip…"

Pikachu sighed, "Pi, Pikachu."

Ash said quietly, "You know, this sort of reminded me of one Nurse Joy that was hypnotized by a Lunatone."

Brock said, "Yeah. You don't think tha-."

Joy spoke instinctively, "There was no Lunatone today. And even so, there are none in this town."

Ash paused and said, "Uh…"

Brock asked, "Are you feeling okay?"

Nurse Joy then said, "Shall I take your Pokémon?"

He then pleaded, "Oh, please tell me what has made you this way!"

WHACK!
"Before I lose consciousness…"

Crogunk gave Brock a Poison Jab and dragged him away.

Ash whispered to Dawn, "Maybe we shouldn't bug her about this and carry on."

Dawn nodded, "You're right. I think there's something wrong with her. But we better not meddle."

Ash said, "Well, while we wait for our Pokémon to heal, let's look around."

Brock declared, "Maybe we should ask someone to investigate this manner… Maybe someone who has been around Pokémon, more than anyone."

Ash asked, "What are you talking about?"

Brock stated, "Nurse Joy isn't herself, but she was the genuine Joy. I can tell."

Dawn said, "Hey, yeah! Maybe we can ask Officer Jenny to help in this situation."

Brock gave a thumbs-up and shouted, "BINGO!"

Ash stated, "Well, we cannot just nose around the Pokémon Center."

Brock said, "Maybe we can. There's no one around. Maybe they fended off of Nurse Joy."

Dawn said, "That won't work. She's simply too helpful. Everybody goes to Nurse Joy. Right?"

Ash smiled, "Well, yeah. We should look around and see."

They hid behind the column and waited for Nurse Joy to leave, as she was taking six Poké Balls from a trainer.

"Thank you, sir." She spoke robotically, "Please wait, while we heal your Pokémon."

She turned around, as Ash, Brock, and Dawn dove behind the counter. They snuck past her, as they entered another room. When they entered, they found a small room with a small black metal chair, with a cord connected to the wall.

"Whoa…" Dawn whispered, "She must have a private room to take a break."

Brock said, "No, I think it's something else."

Ash silently said, "Well, that's convenient for them."

Dawn shivered, "Well, it feels sterile and scary. I don't wanna stay here."

Brock whispered, "I get it."

Ash said, "You're right. We better leave before-."

Dawn gasped, "Someone's coming!"

They ducked down, behind a table, and viewed another Nurse Joy, who had a smile on her face.

"I feel recharged," she said, as the first Nurse Joy appeared, feeling tired.

The first Joy said, "My shift is over. I must recharge."

The second Joy replied, "You may. I'll take over for you."

The first Joy sat down, as the trainers were shocked.

"Okay! What is going on?" Brock shouted.

Dawn gasped, "Two Nurse Joys… in one Pokémon Center?"

Ash asked, "Did she just enter another room?"

Brock remarked, "Impossible! A Pokémon Center is in regulation of only one Nurse Joy!"

Dawn cried, "QUIET! You don't want them to notice us!"

Ash said, "We better head back, before they catch us."

They snuck off, as the first Nurse Joy sat down, closing her eyes and was motionless.

XXXXX

But when they returned, a few trainers were in line, as Nurse Joy said, "Welcome to the Pokémon Center. We can heal your Pokémon into its full health. Shall I take your Pokémon?"

Dawn said, "Like a broken record…"

Ash groaned, "Oh, man. And with those trainers in plain sight."

Brock whispered, "Let's get out of here, get our Pokémon, and leave. I think that there's something weird about these Pokémon Centers."

Ash said, "Right. Let's leave, without her catching us."

They snuck off, behind Nurse Joy, as she was getting more Poké Balls to heal. However, she turned around and spotted the trainers.

"What are you doing here? You are not authorized to be here. This is for authorized personnel."

Dawn then gasped and laughed, "OH! Sorry, uh, I think I dropped my hairclip here."

Joy replied, with a smile, "Okay. Shall I help you?"

"Oh, no! No, no, no, no… I can find it."

She crawled off, pretending like she lost her hairclip, as Ash and Brock stepped out from behind the counter. Nurse Joy then smiled, "Ash. Dawn. Your Pokémon are ready."

They got their Pokémon back, as Joy bowed, "We hope to see you again."

Brock smiled, all blushed, "We will…"

Dawn dragged him away, "No, we won't."

Brock smiled, "Yes, we will!"

WHACK!
Crogunk dragged him off, as Brock groaned, "Just as soon as my lower half has feeling…"

Ash smiled and said in an embarrassing look, "Uh, sorry about earlier."

Nurse Joy smiled, "That is okay. We hope to see you again."

The trainers left, as Pikachu was worried.

"Pika, Pika?" He asked.

Ash replied, "Got me. I thought for sure there was something strange here."

XXXXX

They were outside, as they were stumped over what went wrong in the Pokémon Center.

Brock pondered, "Something about this Pokémon Center seemed odd. How can there be two Nurse Joys?"

Dawn said, "Well, it's puzzling. I am surprised that she had her own break room, but… Who was that other Joy from the other room?"

Ash said, "Got me. I think we need to find Officer Jenny on this. After that, we can call our friends and see what is going on."

Pikachu cheered, "Pika!"

They agreed, as they headed to the Police Kiosk. However, they were in for a surprise of their own.

When they arrived at the kiosk, Ash called to the policewoman, with blue hair and a blue police uniform. She stood in position and saluted, "Officer Jenny, reporting."

She, too, had a glazed look, while in a stiff stance. Ash asked, "Officer, there's something going on in the Pokémon Center."

Dawn replied, "Yeah! There are two Nurse Joys!"

Jenny said, "That is impossible! Only one Nurse Joy is positioned and employed in one Pokémon Center."

She saluted again, as Ash asked "Listen to us! Can you help us?"

Jenny responded, as she spoke robotically, "Negative! Only one Nurse Joy is positioned and employed in one Pokémon Center."

Brock blushed, "I don't know how she said it, but I love it! Officer Jenny, despite my heart for you, let me help you out!"

Dawn sighed, "I'm beginning to think that it's something else."

Piplup gasped, "Pip? Pip!"

Pikachu sighed, "Pi…"

Dawn asked, "Can you visit the Pokémon Center, at least, and ask Nurse Joy?"

Jenny said, "I'm sorry. But I am on duty. I am always on duty."

She saluted again, as Brock was in awe, "She's so wonderful… I am head over heels for her!"

WHACK!
And again… "Of course, my back hurts, because of that…"

Dawn thought, "This is bizarre… Why is she repeating her salute?"

Ash said, "You know, I think you must've replaced a Growlithe with a Houndour. You know Dark-type-."

Jenny saluted again and said, "Young man, that is illogical. Houndours are nowhere near this city. Houndours are mostly located in Hoenn. Officers on duty are acquired by law to own Growlithes, for important missions."

Ash said, as he stepped back, "Uh… Yeah…"

Pikachu said, "Pi, Pikachu."

Dawn whispered, "Did she say illogical?!"

Piplup shook his head and said, "Pip…"

They stepped back, as Jenny replied, "Now, now. There's nothing for you to see. Please head home, civilian, before I call your parents."

She waved her arms out and set the trainers aside. Ash and Brock were completely confused, as did Dawn, Piplup, and Pikachu, who were scared stiff. Officer Jenny walked back inside, as the trainers headed back to Pokémon Center. However, Dawn was horror-struck, knowing what could be going on.

"Hey… Boys," she said in fear, "You don't think something is wrong with them? Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy seemed quite odd. Very ODD!"

She started to breathe heavily, as Ash comforted her, "Dawn, you're overreacting. They did treat our Pokémon and have been helpful to us. You really don't believe something like that."

Dawn nervously said, "Well, that, meaning Officer Jenny posing in a salute, over and over again, and Nurse Joy saying the same thing, over and over again, and it's like this, doing that, and saying that, and doing this, and-!"

Piplup slapped her face, composing herself, "Thanks, Piplup. I needed that."

"Pip…"

Brock said, "You're overstressing this situation. Even we think that Jenny and Joy are acting weird. We should investigate this further, and then head to the next town."

Dawn sobbed, "I don't know, anymore. You don't think… You don't think…"

She smoked from her head and was dizzy, "I don't know anymore…"

Ash controlled her and shouted, "DAWN! DAWN! Calm down! What were you thinking?"

Dawn said, "It's nothing. But… But if what I think is true… I think we need to view each Pokémon Center, starting from in this town."

Ash said, "Well, that's an easy way to think. Brock and I will investigate the Pokémon Center, while you check Jenny's Police Box."

Dawn sobbed, "ME? You're crazy if I have to do this!"

Ash smiled, "We got our Pokémon for this. You could say that this is a secret mission."

Brock nodded, "I think he's right. This is how we'll do this…"

They huddled together, as they thought of a plan on spying with Jenny & Joy.

Brock continued, "Okay. Here's the idea. Officer Jenny started to repeat some words, all stiff and robotic, while saluting, again and again. Nurse Joy, however, is suddenly repeating words, again, and in one point, a second Nurse Joy said that she felt recharged."

Ash said, "So, this is how it goes. I use my Staraptor to view Nurse Joy, in that room, while Dawn, you and Piplup spy on Officer Jenny. If she sees you, duck down. If she is acting suspicious, run for it."

Dawn nodded, as Ash continued, "Brock, you and I will wait out by the back way. Maybe we can learn of something about this situation."

Brock said, "I know it is not Team Rocket's doing. Last time they posed as Jenny & Joy, I didn't feel it."

Ash said, "Authentic, I bet."

Dawn whispered, "Then, can we do it at night? I cannot afford to stay the night at a creepy Nurse Joy's Pokémon Center."

Brock whispered, "Good idea. We'll camp out and arrive later. Remember, we meet back at Ten at Night. Oh. We have to wear black, in order to sneak in."

Ash said, "I feel like we're Team Rocket…"

He smiled, "But we can do this."

Pikachu smiled, "Pika!"

Piplup saluted, "Pip!"

Officer Jenny returned and saluted again, "Excuse me, kids, but NO loitering in the Pokémon Center's entranceway."

They dashed off, as they cried out, "SORRY!"

They disappeared, as Officer Jenny marched back to her booth, walking like a toy soldier.

That night, Ash, Brock, and Dawn appeared by the Pokémon Center, wearing all black. Dawn then whispered, "I'll see you tonight, at the campsite."

She and Piplup headed to Jenny's Police Booth, as Ash and Brock snuck to the back entrance of the Pokémon Center.

Ash and Brock then approached the back door, as they heard noise coming from inside the Center. They heard few voices from inside.

"Can you make anything, Ash?" Brock whispered.

"No. But maybe we can see what is inside the doors, during the night hours," he said, as he held up a Poké Ball.

He summoned Staraptor and whispered, "Staraptor, dive in and see what's going on, inside. Pikachu, you look on and follow."

Pikachu jumped on Staraptor, as it flew off and headed up the roof. It flew up to a small window on the roof and viewed what was going on. Two men in white were entering Joy's office. They were holding up some bags and clipboards.

Pikachu signaled, "Pi! Pika, Pika! Pi, Pika, Pika!

Ash said, "Good job, buddy! What do you see?"

Pikachu imitated a man in white, walking in place, holding a clipboard.

Ash said, "Whoa! There are men in this building."

Brock was in jealousy, "How dare they come in and see Nurse Joy, even if she is beautiful and weird!"

Ash whispered, "No, Brock! Think about it. How can there be two men in the building, if the Pokémon Center is closed?"

Brock said, "I never knew that…"

"You don't think they are her, I mean, their advisor, right?"

"Why do you say that there are-? Oh… There're two Joys."

"It feels fishy, if you ask me…"

He called to Pikachu and Staraptor, "Hey! Can you see any window?"

Pikachu pointed at the direction that the men were going. He heard a small sound from a vent. He rushed over and heard the noise of metal grinding and sparks crackling.

"Pikachu, what do you hear?" Ash called.

A voice called, as Pikachu gasped, "Welcome… Welcome… Shall I take your… Take-Take-Take-Take…"

Pikachu flew off with Staraptor, back to Ash. Pikachu then explained what is going on… in his movements. He imitated the man in white, as he was using a sander or a blowtorch. Then he imitated Nurse Joy, speaking in loops. Then he motioned a wrench turn he heard, followed by a "CLANG!" noise.

"Are you saying that something is going on in the Pokémon Center?" Brock asked.

Ash said, "I think maybe Dawn might enlighten us, as soon as she finishes up."

Meanwhile, at the Police Booth, Dawn and Piplup went to a small window and saw Officer Jenny sit down, with her hat off. A man in white, similar to the two in the PokéCenter, appeared and approached the officer.

"Who's he?" She thought.

Piplup said, "Pip… Piplup, Piplup."

Dawn shushed him, as they continued to watch. The man approached Jenny's chest and opened her uniform front. He then pulled out a screwdriver and pressed a button on her uniform. It was then, her stomach opened up.

Dawn and Piplup gasped, "WHA?"

The man began to fiddle inside Jenny's stomach, which had gears, wires, and microchips in her. Dawn was flabbergasted and shocked.

Dawn cringed, "It… It cannot be…"

Jenny then spoke, as she was being repaired, "I am Officer Jenny… You're under arrest!"

The man spoke, "Good. One of her speech functions is working fine."

Dawn cringed, "A robot? Officer Jenny is a robot? Then…"

Piplup shouted, "Pip! Piplup! Pip, Piplup!"

Dawn said, "You're right! Then… If what this Jenny I think is true, then Nurse Joy must be…"

She gasped, as she ducked down. The man thought, "Did I hear something?"

He then said, "Oh, well. Now to test her stability in her arms."

Dawn and Piplup rushed off to the front of the kiosk, as they panted.

She spoke, "Piplup. This is a nightmare. We have to warn Ash and Brock. I think Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy are… I KNEW IT!"

She panted, as Piplup covered her mouth. She then said, "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. But I knew I was right."

An Officer Jenny appeared and said, "You were right about what?"

Dawn shrieked, "AH! Uh…"

She nervously giggled, "Uh… Nothing… I was… I…"

Jenny extended her hand, as she saluted with the other, "Young lady. This is no place for a girl like you to be out here, at night. Please come with me."

Dawn gasped, as she stepped away from the Jenny Robot, "No! NO!"

She sobbed, as Jenny said, "Please. Please come with me. You must not be out here, this late at night. This is no place for a girl like you to be out here, at night. Please come with me."

She saluted again, as Dawn stepped back, shaking her head, holding her Piplup tight.

"No. I can't! No! Get away!"

Jenny then spoke, "Please come with me."

Dawn shrieked, "No!"

"Please come with me!"

"Stay away!"

"You must not be here!"

"Uh-uh!"

"Young Lady, this is an order. This is no place for a girl-!"

"SHUT UP!"

"Young lady, do not talk back to authority."

"NO!"

Jenny grabbed her arm and said, as she saluted, "Please come with me."

Dawn shoved her and shouted, "NOOOOOOOOO!"

SMASH!

The Jenny Police Robot fell to the ground, as she was headless. Her body was twitching, as her head rolled to the ground, as she spoke, "I'm Officer Jenny. Jenny… Jenny… I'm Officer… Please come with… Me… Me… ERROR! ERROR! I'm Officer Jenny… I'm… I'm… Error! Error!"

Dawn cried and ran off. She went off to find Ash and Brock.

The Robot Jenny wound down, "I'm Jenny… Jenny… Jennn… nn… n… n… nnn…" and started to smoke profusely.

Meanwhile, Ash and Brock were simply befuddled.

Ash said, "I don't know. I can't tell what is going on. Who were those two guys?"

Brock said, "Hard to say. Maybe we can head back tomorrow, and ask Joy why."

"No. We cannot snoop into her matters. It's got to be something else. Do you think it is machinery that they are testing?"

"You're right. But, something about Joy and Jenny that makes me certain."

Dawn rushed to the boys and cried, "Let's leave! NOW!"

Ash tried to calm her down, "Dawn! What happened?"

Dawn shrieked, "GO!"

Ash replied, "What's wrong with her?"

Brock said, as Dawn ran off, "Whatever it is, we better do as she says! Let's beat it!"

Ash called, "Pikachu! Let's go!"

They all ran off to the campsite, as two Nurse Joys came out, from the Center, in concern over the noise.

The First Joy asked, "What was that?"

The Second Joy said, "Dunno."

Hours later, in camp, Dawn explained what she saw at Officer Jenny's Booth.

"Well, I saw a guy in a white lab coat, and he opened up Jenny's uniform. It was there that… that… OH! I cannot believe that we met a real-life robot!"

Ash and Brock cried, "A ROBOT?!"

Pikachu gasped, "Pi, Pika?"

Ash said, "It all makes sense…"

Brock said, "So lifelike… So genuine… So… So…"

He blushed, "Whoever made them, I want one! I SO WANT A JENNY AND JOY-BOT!"

WHACK!
He groaned, as Crogunk patted his head, "I'll get back to that topic, pretty soon…"

Dawn shivered in fear, "This is sick. No. This is bizarre. No! This is… Oh, I'm too confused…"

Ash asked, "What is it?"

Dawn replied, "Do you think that it was just one city, or… or maybe that all the Officer Jennies and Nurse Joys, all this time, are robots?"

Ash cried, "What? Are you saying that all this time…"

Dawn shuddered, "I feel stabbed… To think all my Pokémon Contests were judged by… (GULP) Automation! I'll bet they recharge, using Electric-Type Pokémon! Maybe Magnezones, Luxioes, Electabuzzes, or even Pikachu Power!"

She then shook in fear, "AAH! I CANNOT TAKE IT!"

Ash held Dawn, "Dawn! DAWN! DAWN! Snap out of it! It was just one city! Besides, there's no way that all those Officer Jennies and Nurse Joys are robots. Maybe they would replace one, since they were sick, or something. Or maybe some Jennies and Joys needed a break."

She shivered, as she was in tears, "I may be losing it."

Brock stated, "This is serious. I think Dawn may be right. In fact, suppose something like this would happen… when it comes to making beauty."

Piplup comforted her, as Dawn asked, "What should we do? It is so sudden…"

Ash said, "Look, tomorrow, we head off to a new city and find a new Pokémon Center. That way, we'll be able to shake it off. We'll call our friends, back at home, and ask what is going on."

Brock said, "Good thinking. We'll call Misty, Tracey, May, Max, and everybody. We'll see if they noticed something strange."

Dawn said, "You're right. I think I must be freaking out. I think I am overthinking this problem."

They prepared to go to sleep, as Dawn grew worried, holding Piplup. She then thought, "How can I sleep, if I knew I was right?"

She fell asleep, as the night grew dark.

To be continued…