Artwork by D685ab7f
Story and characters by me

A little off shoot story of our favorite police dog Axel. Axel is one Alister and Chip's classmates who while attending Bangam Academy had also been moonlighting as a police dog in training. After finishing Bangam he planned to go full time and follow in his families paw steps. Though as that time drew closer Axel began having doubts about his life goals...

This story is not directly about this picture but will build its way to it by the last part. This is a story that builds on the character of Axel.

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Axel lets out a loud sigh as he returned home from his shift at the station, today had been anything but enjoyable for the Growlithe. He had been assigned to patrol the park and some of the surrounding areas which normally wouldn't be an issue since it was a very chilled assignment. But today it was too chilled and his entire eight hour shift was just boring...down right...BORING. Axel had to entertain himself by getting his nose into everything, he talked to as many Pokemon as he could, went into all of the different shops to see how everyone was, stopped by the small battlefield in the park to make sure no one was acting up and did everything in his power to not be bored. Guard duty was boring, so boring and this was going to be his future as a police dog.

A future he was starting to regret deciding to take before he knew everything about it.

Axel was working to become a forth generation police dog. His great grandfather was the first to do it, in fact he was the dog that had stood up the police academy that was here in Noble Highlands and worked alongside some of the city leaders to make the police force what it was. His grandfather took it a step further and got the guild and city guards(police dogs) intergrated together so that they shared some of their training courses. His father spent some time as a police dog though he left Noble Highlands shortly after Axel was born and no one has seen him sense. Axel was instead raised by his Uncle Casper who ironically was the leader of Noble Highlands Guild and was one of the most famous guild master's the city has ever had. Axel had thought about being like his Uncle and join the guild but he didn't know if it was the right thing to do, their family wasn't known for being great guild Pokemon but great police dogs.

Axel turns on the lights to his apartment, the Growlithe had moved out of his uncle's a while ago and got his own place during his last year at Bangam Academy. The place was a one bedroom, one bath with a small living room and kitchen. It was all he could afford since he didn't get paid that well for his services. The Growlithe had thought about taking on a second job at one of the clubs just so he could get a little ahead. Club work is not the most worthy profession but there was no denying those Pokemon brought in some coins when it mattered. Plus he gets commented about his ass so much that the Growlithe has been tempted a few times to show it off for the right price.

But that wouldn't be right, police dogs swear off such thoughts in pursuit of justice...

"Alister your home." A grunt came from the kitchen and Alister saw that his uncle was there. The Growlithe had been so into his own thoughts that he didn't notice the smell coming from the kitchen, his uncle had been making him dinner.

"Uncle Casper? Huh what are you doing here?" Axel asked. The large Arcanine bellows a laugh. His Uncle was a large stout canine, his fur was golden instead of red, his tail was dark and he wore a golden collar around his neck with the guild crest on it. He was bigger than a normal Arcanine by possibly a foot.

"In fact how did you get in here?"

"I am paying for half of your apartment so...I should have a key to it." Uncle Casper chuckles. "Plus I am good friends of the owner here and I've asked him to keep tabs on you. He says you've been working extra shifts lately and get back so late that you are not eating so I decided to come in today and do some meal preping for you."

"Thats kind of you..." Axel was tired though the smell of...baked chicken made his stomach growl. "Oh wow I'm hungry..." Axel says as he hears his stomach start growling. "Um...how do I thank you?"

"I'm your caretaker Axel, kind of raised you." The Arcanine says. "Its only the right thing to do, keep tabs on my pup."

"Thanks..." Axel sighs while walking into his bedroom, the place had been cleaned up since the last time he had been here. Normally his nest was a mess though it was now tidied up, the hay had been cleaned out while his room had been dusted, wiped down and sprayed with something that smelled very nice.

"My room?"

"I took the day off and I've been here all day." Uncle Casper says from the kitchen. "Can you please learn to start cleaning out the hay in your bathroom, its not hard and it'll make your place smell better."

"Um...you...you went in there?" Axel gulps as he took off his hat and jacket.

"I cleaned your entire place Axel...everything." his Uncle sets the food on the table, the Arcanine used a small cart to bring their food over to the table. Axel sits with him the Growlithe looked at his food, there was plenty of chicken and vegatbles on his plate. "Don't be ashamed Axel, I knew you liked to keep certain things around your room when you still lived with me." Uncle Casper smiles as he takes a seat at the head of Axel's tiny table. "I won't judge you."

"Um...thanks..." The Growlithe was tired though his stomach's growling reminded him that he needed to eat.

"Axel have you thought about possibly coming to the guild?"

"Me?"

"Well is there someone else in here named Axel Firebrand?" His Uncle chuckles. "Yes you. We've talked about this before."

"I know Uncle and...I want too but...the city has always had a Firebrand protecting it. Its my duty too--"

"So the Pokemon of the guild are not protecting this city?" Uncle Casper asked in a stern tone. Axel gulps as he wanted to make sure his next words were choosen carefully.

"Thats not what I mean. The Pokemon of the guild are doing good work but your work takes you away from the city and--"

"Should something happen to this city there is no city guardians or guild Pokemon, we will all work together to protect our home." Uncle Casper's tone became softer. "I see my brother in you Axel, you have a strong heart though you are misguided just as he was. The city guards are needed though its not for everyone and I believe that our family no longer belongs with them."

"What do you mean Uncle?"

"Your heart is telling you that you belong out there, that your duty belongs beyond these walls." Uncle Casper smiles as he points to the window. From Axel's home he can see to the edge of the city and a little beyond. "Why do you think I got you this apartment with a view of the world beyond? Because you long for it just as your father did. Though I do not believe you'll be like him."

"What do you want me to do Uncle?" Axel asked as he stares at his food, there was a few nibbles in his chicken but he had been too into his talk for him to eat.

"Why not you come to the guild tomorrow and I'll show you around." Uncle Casper says.

"I've been there before."

"Not as a guild member. We'll put you through the ringer and see how you fair, never know you might like it." Uncle Casper smiles. "Plus if you join the guild will pay for you living. Plus I'm sure you can do more than just...make love to your little plushies."

"Oh why did you have to mention that..." Axel groans.

"I mean...your pretty creative with them, making a little hole in the back and finding a way to attach....accessories to them. I guess when you work so much you have to relieve yourself some way." Uncle Casper says.

"Can we please drop it...please." Axel blushes, the Growlithe had plenty to think about. He had for the longest time thought that his path was clear but now...now he didn't know who or what he was nor what he wanted to do. Though one thing was clear, tomorrow was going to be an important day for him no matter what.