Jace

  It was a short 15-minute walk from the Goldenrod Police Station to the national park. Jace release Growlithe in a flash of red and a yelping roar of approval from Growlithe.

  “How are you doing little guy”, said Jace as he reached down to pet his Pokémon on its head. Only to receive a nice playful nip on the fingers instead. What are we going to do with you, Jace thought as he played with the baby Pokémon.

  First, I need to download the Pokedex app on his phone to register himself and his Growlithe as new trainers. A quick couple of seconds and a nice chime he was registered. Now to scan Growlithe with the app.

  “Stand still little one”, Jace said as he aims the back camera at Growlite and line it up into frame.

  *Scanning….scanning… bing* *Pokémon: Growlithe, the flame puppy Pokémon. Growlithe has a brave and trustworthy nature. It fearlessly stands up to bigger and stronger foes.* *Would you like to register Growlithe under Pkmn Trainer Jace Hetero?*

  Yes, said Jace.

  *Bing…Growlithe is not register* *Would you like to give it a nickname*

  Jace stopped, “a nickname…I never thought of a nickname…hmm. Maybe something fires based since it’s a fire dog. Like flame.”

  At the sound of that name Growlithe turned away from Jace and produced a judging huff sounds dogs do.

  “Ok not flame, what about Blaze, like a blazing inferno?

  Growlithe howled long into the night in response. “Blaze its is then”, smile Jace as he typed it into his phone as a nickname.

  *Growlithe name changed to Blaze* *Please visit a Pkmn center to reveal the nature and abilities. * *If you would like you can put in a ticket to have a Rotom send to you to possess your phone to give you access to some Poke data, please note that based on region it might take some time for the Pokémon to reach your location.*

  Jace immediately press yes on his screen.

  *Welcome to the Pokedex, please look through the menus for data on your Pokémon and all Pokémon in your region. To access more information, wait until your Rotom arrives at the closes Pkmn Center. Or earn rights to battle the champion to unlock the global Dex options.*

  Jace click on the menu for his Pokémon, and it gave him a list of moves that Blaze should know at his level and what moves he could learn in the future. There was also an exp tracker that updates every time he goes to the Pkmn center so he will know when his Pokémon was ready to evolve.

  There were even training videos, as well as nutrition facts to help grow strong and powerful Pokémon. Right know Blaze only knew Ember, Leer, and Howl and according to the app, bite was next in line after a couple training sessions.

  Now Jace thought, what’s a good team to build around you Blaze. He needed a flyer to get around faster, but Julie is big enough to ride on. So maybe he doesn’t need one right away and can find a strong flyer later to carry him long distances.

  Since I’m going to catch the people that murder my dad, I must choose strong Pokémon that have the abilities to stop humans without killing them as well. My dad had a Pikachu that can paralyze but the Kanto region is too far for me to reach right now. It the same with Elekid and Electrabuzz Maybe I can grab a Mareep, they are native, and they are everywhere in this region. I could catch one on the way to the closest gym that’s not Whitney’s.

  Zuko said I need a Psychic type as well and I already know what I’m getting. Jace rubbed his stomach where Abra punched him. I would if Abra wouldn’t mind leveling up his psychic abilities as well as physical, because he needed those barriers to fight bad people.

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  As Jace was thinking, Blaze had scared a group of Caterpi out of a near by tree. Rounding the up Blaze got confronted by the largest in the group. Jace leapt to his feet ready for a battle. The lead Caterpie started with a string shot covering Blazed and starting to wrap him like a mummy. “Blaze don’t just sit there use ember to burn the strings off.”

  With a bark Blaze set the string on fire. “Use tackle to knock them down”, shouted Jace and Blazed lurched forward. But all the string wasn’t burned off yet and the string wrapped around his paws tripped him up. Blaze slid forward right in front of the Caterpie when it used tackle to stop Blaze advance. Blaze tried to get up but was stunned and was seeing double.

  “Crap, shake it off and use leer to slow them down from attacking.” Blazed looked up and gave Caterpie a look that made it stop for a couple of seconds before resuming its attack. But it was just enough time for Blaze to get its head back into the game.

  “Blaze dodge it by rolling and hit it with ember.” Blazed rolled as another tackle was coming its way. Blaze had rolled around to Caterpie side and let loose a small firework of ember, scorching Caterpie flank. But its wasn’t enough to one shot it, as it shoots another string attack to wrap up Blaze.

  “Blaze use ember again but aim for the string to burn it all up!” Blaze opened his mouth and let loose a couple of embers to intercept the string, but they all missed. Blazed dodged to the side and rushed forward for a tackle attack without waiting for Jace. The impact of the tackle attack knocked the large Caterpie into the middle of the other Caterpie watching the fight, knocking them all over.

  *Beep* Caterpie is now KO, please use a pokeball now for the greatest chance of catching Caterpie. *Beep*

  His Pokedex app chimed in as Jace was calling Blaze back over to him, so he didn’t provoke the remaining Caterpi into attacking. “Great job Blaze, now let’s get out of here before they all decided that to attack.” Jace and Blaze ran all the way back to the check-in station laugh the whole way there, still hype about their first battle.

  It was late, super late when Jace got back to his home. Blaze was still by his side, Jace not wanting to put him in his pokeball while they were still bonding. “Come on Blaze we got to be quiet, or mom will kill us sneaking in this late.” Blaze barked in response on for Jace to grab his snot to quiet him down. Jace stuck his key into the lock every pin sliding into place sounded like a firework going off in his ears. When he turned the lock, Jace could of swore that it sounded like nails scraping against metal and his heart was a war drum beat in his ears.

  Jace finally opened the door after going as slow as possible to make the least amount off sound and walked in. As Jace was closing the door back, Blaze barked again. He whipped around to see Blaze playing with an egg on the floor and all the hair on the back of his neck raised. Sitting in the dark watching him was his mother and behind the door he just closed came a …. Chan….sey.

  Before he could move Chansey pounced on them both and landed on them with a no power body slam. “Where have you been all night Jace”, asked his mom with a dangerous look in her eyes. “I’ve been calling and texting you all day, excited about your present and this is how you treat your own mother.” “Chansey hold them still let me get a good look at these delinquents.”

  Jace mom came closer and shine a led flashlight directly in his face, blinding Jace in the process. “Well, I see no wounds or dirt on him, now what about the pup. Blazed unbothered by the situation continued to play with the egg Chansey left on the ground. Jace mother grabbed Blaze by the face and looked him over with the flashlight too. “Dirt and light wounds on him Chansey, can you please use soft boil to heal him up.” A small light was shone when Chansey created a soft-boiled egg for Blaze to eat. Blazed enjoyed it so much he gave both Jace’s mom and Chansey warm dog licks. Softening Joy’s face.

  Taking advantage of the situation like all son’s do, Jace played the cute factor to get off. “His name is Blaze mom, and he is the coolest Pokémon ever.” “It took me awhile to get home because we were bonding so much, and I had to get him and myself registered with the pokedex and gym challenges.” “Blaze even saved me from a herd of Caterpie in the park, while we were bonding.

  “You never stop getting into fight Jace, and now you brought this poor baby Pokémon into your troubles already”, said Joy. Jace held his tongue, not wanted to throw Blaze under the bus for causing the battle by scaring those Caterpi out the tree. “But are you serious about taking up Chief Zuko offer Jace, with the Pokémon challenges and the police intern program?” “You do know you will be on a dangerous path, in the long run, one that killed your father?”

  Jace stopped and thought about that for a second and then proceeded. “Yea mom, this is what I want. I haven’t always wanted to travel on this path, but after dad died… I knew someone had to find out what happened.” “Now with the help of Blaze, Rich and Chief Zuko, I feel like I can help catch the ones that hurt dad. Maybe if I am strong enough bring them in myself.” Jace pause to catch his breath and think about his next words.

  “Its going to be a long time before that happens mom and I will try to be as safe as possible.” “Chief said Uncle Rich will be my mentor while doing this work, so… I will never be alone.” “I don’t think he would ever let me go like he let my dad work alone” … “He is still torn up about it, Zoey told me.”

  “But I have to do this mom, for dad and to continue his legacy at the department.”

  “Ok son”, said Joy. “But you going to have to prove that to me as well”. “Show me how much effort you put into train before the summer Pkmn conference and place top 3 in the local tournament and you will have my complete blessing.”