Artful Training in Vermilion

David, elated by his very first victory against a wild Krabby, headed enthusiastically towards the Pokémon Center, with Chaplin cheerfully perched on his head. The excitement of his first victory was palpable, and a new adventure was already awaiting them.

Upon their arrival at the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy greeted them with a warm smile. Her pink hair and pristine white uniform made her instantly recognizable in the crowd. Beside her stood Chansey with a jovial expression.

"Hello! How can I help you today?" she asked in a soft and soothing voice, while Chansey chirped joyfully.

"Hello, I'd like to sign up for the Indigo Plateau Conference," replied David, handing her his Pokédex.

Nurse Joy nodded and began enrolling him while explaining the conference rules. "The first phase of the conference lasts for eight months. You must obtain eight badges from Kanto or Johto by defeating the Gym Leaders. Once you have the eight badges, you can participate in the conference tournament. The winner of this tournament gets the chance to challenge the Elite Four of Kanto. If you manage to defeat each Elite Four member, you have five years to challenge the Champion. Winning against the Champion gives you the opportunity to take their place."

David listened attentively, absorbing every detail. "Thanks for the information. Are there any available rooms where I can stay for a few days?" he then asked.

"Yes, of course," replied Joy, handing him a golden key along with his Pokédex. "Your room is on the first floor. Have a good night's rest," she added, bowing slightly, followed by Chansey.

"Mime Jr.!" Chaplin said joyfully, grabbing the key with his tiny hands.

On the way to their room, Chaplin happily hopped off David's head to enjoy some candies placed on a table. After a refreshing shower, both quickly fell asleep, ready for a new day of training.

---

The following three days were filled with exploration and adventures in Vermilion City. Under a bright, shiny sun, David and Chaplin discovered the beauties of the city. They visited iconic places like the Pokémon Fan Club, a colorful building bustling with enthusiastic discussions from the members.

There, a cheerful woman with curly red hair welcomed them, enchanted by Chaplin's cuteness. "Miime! Miiime-mii!" exclaimed Chaplin, delighted by the club members' attention, while enjoying the offered treats.

One sunny afternoon, while they were strolling near the Pokémart, David locked eyes with a local young trainer. Mina, a girl with short, messy blond hair, dressed in paint-stained overalls, approached with determination, a brush in hand and a dreamy glint in her eyes.

"Hi! My name is Mina. I challenge you to a battle at the small local arena," she declared with a teasing smile.

David, a bit surprised but intrigued, accepted the invitation. "Alright, why not. Follow us, Chaplin!" Chaplin confirmed enthusiastically, "Mime Jr. Mime!"

The transition was quick and sharp. The small local arena, located not far from the Pokémart, seemed to be an improvised venue with a terrain scattered with colorful paint splotches, giving the ground a chaotic yet vibrant appearance.

"I suppose you had nothing to do with the state of this place?" David said sarcastically as he observed the apparent mess.

Mina responded with a mysterious smile. "It was already like this when I arrived."

David shrugged and adjusted his sunglasses. "Alright then, let's go."

The tension rose as the two trainers took their positions. Mina sent out her Jigglypuff onto the field, and Chaplin took his place in front of it. "Jr. Jr. Mime!" said Chaplin, ready to fight.

"Chaplin, be ready," murmured David.

"Mime-mime!" replied Chaplin, determined.

Mina, almost lost in her thoughts, softly murmured: "Jigglypuff, let the colors inspire you. Use Sing." Hypnotic sound waves headed towards Chaplin.

"Chaplin, cover your ears and use Confusion!" ordered David. Chaplin, while covering his ears, released a wave of telekinetic energy that hit Jigglypuff squarely.

"Jigglypuff!" Jigglypuff cried out, disturbed by the attack.

Seizing the opportunity, Jigglypuff attacked with Pound. "Evade and counter with Pound!" David replied. Chaplin narrowly dodged and counterattacked with force, creating a shockwave colored by the paint on the ground.

Mina, still dreamy, instructed Jigglypuff to use Defense Curl. "Chaplin, use Ice Punch on the ground!" David ordered. "Miiiime!" Chaplin responded, striking the ground with his icy fist, creating a layer of ice which made Jigglypuff slip, unbalancing its Defense Curl.

"Jigglyyy!" cried Jigglypuff, trying to maintain balance.

Mina, mesmerized, ordered a Disarming Voice attack. "Evade and use Pound!" David ordered again. Chaplin dodged the notes and struck Jigglypuff with precision.

Observing Jigglypuff disoriented, David seized the opportunity. "Now, Confusion!" Chaplin released a telekinetic wave, plunging Jigglypuff into confusion.

Mina, not losing her calm, ordered Jigglypuff to use Metronome. The bright light revealed an Ember attack. "Quick, dodge it!" cried David. Chaplin narrowly dodged the flames.

"Jiggly!" cried Jigglypuff, disappointed by its missed attack.

"This is our chance, Chaplin! Use Pound!" ordered David. "Mime-mime!" Chaplin jumped and struck Jigglypuff, leaving it on the ground for good.

David and Chaplin, victorious, received congratulations from Mina, who, with a dreamy smile, shook David's hand. "Well done. Your Mime Jr. is really talented," she acknowledged.

"Miime-mii!" Chaplin said, proud of himself.

Pride emanated from David as he shook Mina's hand. Suddenly, she pulled out a small canvas and brushes and started painting the scene. "I want to capture this moment," she murmured, her eyes shining with inspiration.

David, a bit puzzled, watched Mina painting. "Uh... okay," he said, trying to understand the situation.

However, Mina's expression suddenly changed from tranquility to panic. David turned to see Officer Jenny, the local policewoman, running towards them with her Growlithe.

"Mina! Causing trouble with your paints again?!" exclaimed Officer Jenny, visibly annoyed.

Mina gave David a quick wave before darting into an adjacent alley, leaving splashes of paint behind. Chaplin, wide-eyed, watched the scene while David stood perplexed.

"Mina has a habit of dirtying various infrastructures with her paint. This isn't the first time she's been warned," Officer Jenny explained, passing by David with a resolute and exasperated expression. "Sooner or later, I'll catch her and bring her to Surge to make her understand that the city isn't her canvas. You'd think she was raised by Smeargles."

Growlithe barked again before following Jenny into the alley where Mina had disappeared, leaving David shaking his head, still a bit confused by the events.

---

The rest of the week was also marked by special and fun training. The goal was simple but demanding: Chaplin had to try and knock David's sunglasses off using his psychic powers within a given time frame. David, on his part, had to counter with his own telekinesis while staying fully focused. If Chaplin failed, the duration of the challenge increased by one second, starting from five seconds initially. On the other hand, if he succeeded, David would reward him with berries.

Chaplin became more skillful and persistent in his attempts each day, while David constantly refined his concentration and telekinetic control to thwart his Pokémon's efforts. "Oh, you really thought that would work? Too slow, Little One!" he would say, laughing.

Encouraged by David's taunts, Chaplin doubled his efforts. Little by little, the training became harder and more competitive, strengthening their bond. David, having to remain constantly alert, developed sharpened reflexes.

This new skill was put to the test during battles with other trainers. In every fight, Chaplin tried to steal David's sunglasses, and David would relentlessly tease him when he failed. And Chaplin wouldn't hesitate to do the same when he succeeded.

However, not everyone appreciated this behavior. During a battle against a local trainer and his Bellsprout, Chaplin tried once again to steal David's sunglasses telekinetically while dodging a Razor Leaf attack. The visibly irritated trainer exclaimed: "Hey, could you take things a bit more seriously?"

David and Chaplin exchanged a knowing look. Without a word, they understood each other perfectly. Their expressions turned towards the trainer, as if saying: "We don't give a fuck" Chaplin then refocused on the battle.

"Chaplin, let's finish this. Use Ice Punch!" ordered David. Chaplin, focused, struck Bellsprout with his icy fist, quickly ending the match. The trainer had no choice but to acknowledge his defeat.

Despite the seven times his glasses had been stolen by Chaplin since implementing this training, David greatly appreciated the exercise. "That's the spirit, Chaplin! For now, it's glasses, but one day we'll be levitating mountains!" he said confidently, offering a berry to Chaplin.

On the morning of the fifth day, David headed towards the Vermilion City Gym with determination. His heart pounding with excitement, he pushed open the heavy doors of the gym. With Chaplin on his shoulder, he calmly declared, "Today, we give it our all." "Miiiime!" Chaplin responded with determination.