After getting cleaned up in the showers and putting on a new tracksuit, Jace was ready to go meet with Uncle Rich. He wondered what the surprise that his father prepared for him could be and why did it take so long to prepare. As Jace ran out the door dodging glares from his mom and Chansey, he when over the possibilities in his head.


    "It could be a police internship. He had been wanting to work with the police force, and he was at the age where he could get a job. It could also be a Pokémon. While he is a bit too old to start his training journey, after finding an interest in the force his father knew he needed a Pokémon partner. It could also be the new Applin laptop that he had been begging for a long time. His parents wanted to get him a cheaper Rotom book, but it was not what he wanted. Plus, it would be only for schoolwork and not for editing, which the hobby needed."


    As Jace walked up to the police station, his Uncle Rich, his father''s partner, and best friend were outside smoking.


    "About time you showed up, Jace. If you were any later, I would have to tan your hide. You lucky your mom called me and explained you got your butt handed to you by an Abra." Rich said, while smiling.


    "How are you, Uncle? I didn''t get beat up by the Abra, I want you to know that I won easily." Jace, cried out.


    "You should have it was an Abra, I''m surprised that it did any damage based on that most in this area would have just teleported away at the sight of you." Rich, laughed.


    "Me too... Uncle Rich that Abra was super weird. I found some where off route and it was doing Karate. Said it took a magazine or a manual from a person the other day and started to practice. It also had a physicals type move that was a punch." Jace, exasperated.


    hmm Rich thought, "we did have a report on a trainer getting robbed by a punchy Abra last month. But it was so ridiculous that we ignored the complaint, thinking it was the kid crying wolf. I guess we have to send a report to the ranger to clear it up."


    "No... don''t do that, I promised that I would be back with the Art of War book my dad gave me in a day or two." Said, Jace.


    "The Art of War? yea that is a very weird Pokémon.. But anyway, hurry up and come inside. The Police Chief himself really wants to see you too. He had a hand with this gift as well. Your father John, really pulled all the stops to get this gift for you." Said, Rich.


    Jace and Rich walked into the police department, with Uncle Rich leading him to the top floor for detectives. As Jace looked around he could not help but be amazed at the sights he was seeing. Conference rooms with police evidence spread, forensic specialists working with DNA in a state-of-the-art lab, not to mention the detectives and their ace pokemon coming in going into the various rooms. He saw sleuth detectives with Raticates, Ghostly, and a rare Kecleon. He saw detectives using a ditto to become a person some a victim can pick out their aggressor. He also saw the leading detectives with Arcanines like his father, Ninetales, Slowking, and... is that a talking Pikachu?


    But of all sights, nothing compared to the Police Chief Zuko as he was coming out of the office. He was a fire-type specialist with burns covering his whole body, but that is not the only thing that was shocking. Because of his training abroad program with Interpol like his father did, Zuko when to Sinnoh and learn aura from a gym leader there during the team plasma events. It was so powerful that even though Jace himself could not see it, he could feel the heat of a volcano radiating off the Police Chief. It was coming off in waves of terror like he was trying to force someone to flee, but Jace held his ground. It is not the first time he felt a fire types fire up close. Julie, his father’s Arcanine had saved him from a wild Pinsir before and he still remember the heat coming of the flamethrower.


    That is when Zuko investigated Jace''s eyes and spoke. "Sorry about that young man, I keep forgetting to turn off my aura when I out of the office. The other officers and detectives have gotten used to it all these years, but I do say it is great to see the new generation is as strong as the old. My... you look just like your father, head of the Goldenrod Police department, please let me express our apologies again. John was one of my favorite and best detectives in this office, other than Rich, and quickly became a rising star in the Interpol agency."


    "It’s no problem, sir, I''ve felt my father''s Arcanine heat before when she saved me as young boy from a wild Pinsir in the bug catching contest. Also, you all have apologized enough and done right by my family. The family readiness group has been invaluable to my mother and I... But Uncle Rich said you also wanted to see me and had a hand in my father as a present to me." asked Jace.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "Well yes, about your gift." Zuko then pulled out two poke balls and released two Arcanine, but one was an unusual color and look. As well as one growlithe of the same distinct color but the original look of a growlithe.


    "Julie", screamed Jace. He would recognize her anywhere. Especially because she has a bow in her hair that his mother made for her. Julie barked with pleasure, being reunited with her trainer’s family. "Where have you been girl, I thought you were lost with all of my father’s other pokemon?" Asked Jace, but all he got was puppy noises, warm nose boops, and kisses.


    Uncle Rich stepped forward and said, "Well, Julie had to go through some grief consulting herself before she could return to duty. To be honest she is still in consulting and in the care of the chief because he is a fire type specialist and knows how to raise powerful fire types. The doctor said that after Julie gets cleared, she can come back home with Joy and live a good retirement life."


    "Ooo... was she that bad", asked Jace?


    "To tell you the truth Jace, Julie here still has nightmares of that day and tends to lash out at random during the night. This is the reason she is with me, a person who is more flame tolerant than most. But she has not been alone, see here this is my Arcanine, Wildfire. " Said Zuko. "I found him while working in Sinnoh, it took me to an ancient city where I found this guy as King. You see the coloring and look difference. It is an old form of this pokemon only available to be found in the forgotten zones in Sinnoh. But nowadays since we opened it up the Hisui variants can be found spread around Sinnoh and maybe other regions."


    "But this is your present... come little one." said Zuko.


    Jace lifted his eyes to look at Zuko at that moment, he forgot about the growlithe stalking around the room. When the chief called it, it came and when and tackled Jace down jumping on him.


    Zuko laughed, "This little one is your gift. Your father and I thought it was time for you to have your first pokemon since he told me you wanted to join the force. He even won a bet with me to get my Wildfire and Julie to make an egg. This is your growlithe, a mixture of the strongest Arcanine in Johto and the fastest. It also has a mix between image of the Hisui form and the Kantonese form, it has Hisui coloring but the Kantonese look. Never before have we seen this in Pokémon breeding."


    "Wow", said Jace while he was scratching growlithe ears and accepting some fiery licks. All of this was making Jace a bit emotional, not only is he getting a new pokemon but also Julie back into the family after she gets better. Jace could not wait to tell his mother, but the look on Rich face while told him she might already know.


    "Also, young man. I would like you to join our young associated program. It has come to my attention from your mother and Detective Rich that you are looking into your father’s murder. It has also come to my attention that you have some private files from your father in your house. Now, I not saying not to investigate your father''s death, but let me and other mentors in the program guide and help you. I want to do this for you because, we let you father go out there alone on a hunch that we thought was safe and it ended in his death. Detective Rich and I could live if we let die as well trying to find out who killed your father. How could we face your mother?


    Zuko paused his speech, letting Jace absorb the information into his brain.


    "Now I propose a challenge, Jace. I hope you are a betting man just like your father. If you agree to join our program and help solve small crime, as well as take the pokemon league challenge and earn at least eight of the 16 badges. I will let you on the case of who killed your father, as an aid to the lead detectives and specialist. If you agree, you will have full support and a small stipend to help build your team and education into becoming a top detective like your father. Now... do we have an agreement, Jace Hetero?" Zuko questioned Jace.


    Zuko took a moment to study Jace during his monolog. He was scanning this young face for any weakness and hesitation. But I saw none in his brown eyes and face. The only thing he saw was a determined look and his eyes and a strong set in his jaws as he made his decision.


    Jace never had to think hard about these answers, it was all his current goals and dreams put into one question. Without a doubt he will never let this opportunity pass him by.


    "Yes, a million times yes, I will do anything to become a detective and avenge my father''s death." said Jace.


    "Good, now your main mentor will but Detective Rich, since you''re family. He can show you the ropes and tell you the does and don''t while working with the police. Please, remember we are police not vigilantes. Once the summer circuit starts, you can report it to the local police station, and they should have some work for you to do. Now, walk wtih me, I must show you where you will be working after school until summer in June." explained Zuko while walking away.


    They passed many different rooms in the department. Jace meet some of the people we will be learning from like Sgt. Eric with patrol, Susan in forensics, Parker in missing persons, and Quinn in Drugs and Organized Crime. But the main room that interests both Jace and his Growlithe was the training gyms. It had a special attack area for range attacks that always had a Pokémon there to place targets and barriers, a track so you and your Pokémon can get some cardio and get faster, a weight room with metal weights for humans and resistant bands for Pokémon, as well as a fly zone for flying types can practice aerial maneuvers.


    As Jace was leaving the department he said goodbye to Uncle Rich again and thanked the Chief for the opportunity. His mind could stop working and he decided he was going to take his time going home, because if he did now his mom would bombard him with nothing but questions. He also had to register for the league challenge and think of his future team and name this little guy following him around.


    A late walk in the park will help him think.