Greetings, dear readers. And welcome back to 'All I Want For Christmas is a Pokémon'. *insert one of my old lateness apologies here* So, last time, it looks we learned some rather upsetting news about Squirtle's-or rather, Shelly's-former Trainer. ...But, let's not dwell on that too much for now, as we've got something positive to look forward in AJ and Pikachu having a second day of training. Let's not wait any longer. Onto the new chapter we go! Read on, my dolls, and I hope you all enjoy. =)

(Before I get into the story, I would just like to say rest in peace and paradise to wrestling legend Terry Funk, one of the best to ever step in a wrestling ring. My thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to his family and friends.)

"'No longer with us'? You mean to say that Shelly's Trainer just abandoned it here?" Alex asked, starting to feel a mixture of sadness and slight anger. It wasn't every day you'd hear about Trainers abandoning their Poképartners, so hearing this now served to make her temper rise a bit.

"Oh no no no no, Lexi, Zander wasn't that type of Trainer at all! In fact, he loved Shelly with all his heart," Julie said in defense of Shelly's mystery former Trainer. Taking a breath before letting it out as she began bracing herself for the story to come, the receptionist then said "No, Lexi, you see, …Zander died a little over a year ago."

This wasn't what she was expecting to hear. Alex was feeling ready to launch into a bit of a rant about a Trainer doing something like abandoning their Pokémon-their friends, their partners, and more than that, their family-so to hear about a tragic event like this….

Seeing his younger sister in the state she was starting to slide into now, Jeff couldn't help but move to the younger brunette as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close for a hug. He was aware of how Alex could get when her emotions could flare up at points, so he just wanted to do what he could to help keep her calm.

Deciding to take over for her younger friend, Layla cleared her throat a bit before asking "Um, Julie, was it? You don't have to tell us the story about Shelly's deceased Trainer if you don't want to. I'm not sure how the two young ones here'll take hearing it."

Piping up from where she stood still being hugged by her brother, Alex said "Actually, Lay. I won't …mind hearing this story."

"Alexis, are you sure? I know you're a bit of a tough kid, but do you think you can handle hearing about this poor lad? After all, don't think I've forgotten about when a lot of us watched Grave of the Fireflies."

"Yeah, Lay, I'm sure. I mean, if I managed to make it through that movie without crying …much, I think I can handle hearing the story about Zander," the younger brunette said, even though she still stayed in Jeff's hold. She may not have been showing it, but she was already starting to feel like she could cry at any minute, and that wasn't even counting the sudden rush of memories she had about the movie Layla just mentioned.

Hearing the two talk about this movie almost felt like enough to make Zack cry himself. But, he shook away his slight sudden sadness and instead said "Well, Julie, bro, I guess you can take all of this as signs that we're ready to hear about Zander and Shelly."

Taking a look at the group before her, Julie said "OK, you guys. I was just about to go on break for lunch. Just let me clock out for that, and then, we can have our story time."

Nodding as she watched Julie make her way back to the receptionist's area, Alex turned her attention to where Julie's Eevee stood beside Shelly as she rubbed the turtle Pokémon's back. 'So, it's looking like I'll be learning a bit about you, Squirtle. I wonder just how things were with you and Zander. Guess I'll be finding that out soon.'

…

"Hey, Pikachu? You ready to start doing some training? I was talking with Kelsey about a way she and Chikorita can help you go faster. But only if you'll be okay with it."

This was starting to sound like what he was talking with Chikorita about not too long ago. The speed training. That would mean he'd have to dodge attacks from Chikorita as he ran. …But, it would be okay, as it'd be something that could maybe help him get faster. His mind made up about this, the Electric mouse looked up to the human named AJ and nodded as he said "Ka Pik Pi!"

Smiling at the determination she could hear in Pikachu's voice, AJ turned to look to Kelsey and Chikorita. "Sure, Kelsey. Let's do some more training."

"Awesome! Now, just follow me outside, you two. Day 2 of your training will start now!" Kelsey said with a smile.

Outside in the Normal-type Training Zone, AJ and Pikachu watched as Chikorita used Razor Leaf to make leaf piles at each of the wooden stakes just like yesterday. Seeing this already familiar sight had both potential Trainer and Pokémon thinking ahead to the day's training session.

Seeing that Chikorita had finished the last of his Razor Leaf attacks and she gave him a pat on his leaf, Kelsey then moved to stand in front of the trio. "So, AJ. Here we are again, here to help train Pikachu. Only today, let's try something a bit different."

"'Something different'? Like what, Kelsey?" AJ asked, even though she already had an idea about what was to come.

"Well, AJ, it's like we were talking about earlier. Today, let's have Pikachu practice his runs. But only this time, I'll have Chikorita use Bullet Seed as Pikachu makes his way back to us with each lap. It's like I said it's something I've done in the past when I've helped other Trainers with their own trips here. Now, I don't want you two to think that we're attacking you just for the hell of it. This is just something that I think'll help Pikachu build his speed. Which'll definitely be helpful with some of the moves he knows. So, how about it? This something you both want to give a try?"

Hearing the full layout of this style of speed training had AJ thinking a bit. So, crouching down to the Electric mouse's level, the Latina asked "So, Pikachu, I'm sure you just heard all of that. Now, we're going to do some speed training like with yesterday. Only this time, Chikorita's going to be using Bullet Seed as you run back to us with each lap. He's not going to hurt you, it's just to help you out with getting faster and with seeing how well you dodge attacks. That sound like something you want to try?"

This sounded exactly like what he and Chikorita were talking about. 'And dodging his attack'll maybe help me get faster. …OK. I can do that. I can show everyone how fast I am.' Looking up to the human named AJ, the Electric mouse nodded as he excitedly said "Pika!"

Giggliing a bit, AJ said "Guess that's a yes."

"Awesome! Now, Pikachu, can you come to the line here?" Kelsey asked. Watching as Pikachu did this and Chikorita moved to stand to the mouse's right, the attendant, her equipment at the ready, then said "OK, Pikachu. On your mark. Get set. GO!" And with a blow of her whistle, a new training session had begun as Pikachu took off to the first leaf pile.

Standing to Kelsey's left as she watched Pikachu run, AJ found herself impressed by just how fast he ran. The first lap seemed like a breeze for him as, when he made it back to the line and the attendant clocked the time with a low whistle as she wrote that lap time down, it seemed like Pikachu largely duplicated that first lap for the second with the only hiccup coming from when he stumbled a bit and almost tripped over his feet. The Latina felt almost compelled to run in and help him, so it made her feel relieved to see him recover as quickly as he did.

…And then came his third lap run.

Pikachu had just made it to the third stake and turned to make his run back when, with a whisper, Kelsey said "Now. Chikorita. Use Bullet Seed."

"Ko," the Grass-type nodded with a whisper. Focusing, he then opened his mouth as a near rapid-fire flurry of seeds came shooting out at the incoming Pikachu.

'There it is. Just like Chikorita said!' Pikachu thought as he saw the incoming seeds. Feeling a smirk tug at the corners of his mouth, the Electric mouse quickly dodged out of the way of the seeds as he finished his third lap, something that impressed everyone there. Taking in the looks on their faces with his gaze lingering on the human named AJ for a bit, he then had a feeling that the human named Kelsey was still timing him. So, spinning around, he dashed ahead to the fourth stake.

Whoa, that was amazing! AJ couldn't help but feel a sudden rush of pride over seeing Pikachu dodge the attack and finish his lap. 'Pikachu's doing so well here. If he can keep this up, he could probably dodge anything.' Not holding back the cheer that was building within her, AJ let out a cheer of "Go, Pikachu, you got this! You've only got one more lap to go. You can do it!" as she applauded the Electric mouse as he finished his fourth lap and turned and began his run to the fifth stake.

He had been motivating himself through his laps, so just hearing these cheers from the human named AJ felt like enough to help push him to run through and finish his fifth lap. So, running as quickly as he could in spite of the fatigue he could feel start to settle in a bit, the Electric mouse made it to the fifth stake and then began his run back to the finish line, feeling ready to dodge Chikorita's Bullet Seed at any minute.

Chikorita assumed his stance and was ready to fire another Bullet Seed at the Electric-type when he could see incoming sparks. Shaking away this slight surprise, the Grass-type fired one last Bullet Seed at his training partner.

One more time. One more time. Just one more time! Pikachu kept telling himself as he saw the seeds flying his way. So, with one more push, he dodged the seeds, powered through his slowly settling fatigue, and, for the fifth and final lap of the day, he made it to his starting point, where he then stopped and began to work on catching his breath.

"And, time!" Kelsey shouted as she pressed the Stop button on her stopwatch. "Very nice work, Pikachu! You dodged out of the way of Chikorita's attacks like they were nothing."

"Yeah, I agree with Kelsey," AJ piped up. Walking over to the Electric-type, she smiled as she picked up the lightly panting Pokémon and gave him a hug as she rubbed his back. "I'm so proud of you, Pikachu. You did so great here."

"Kaaaaa," the Electric mouse said around his pants as he relaxed in the human named AJ's hold as he listened to similar remarks come from the human named Kelsey and even Chikorita. 'Wow. Everyone sounds so proud of me. I must've done pretty good with my running. Now, I can't wait to see what we'll be doing next. …But, first, …I need a break.'

Pikazoomies, so cute and impressive! It looks like Pikachu's second day of speed training went pretty well, given how fast he ran for his laps and dodged Chikorita's attacks. And now it's time for him to rest while AJ and Kelsey talk more training. And moving back to what's been happening at the hotel, looks like Alex and the others are going to be in for what may end up being a pretty sad story about Zander. So, now it looks like there are a few questions here. Just what training will AJ and Pikachu try next? What happened to Zander? These questions and more will be answered...next time! Until then, don't forget to RR please. =)

(Grave of the Fireflies. ...*sniffles a bit* Damn, man, that movie'll hit you hard after you've finished watching it.)

(Stay safe, cool, and healthy out there, lovelies. *sends love and positive vibes out to you all*)