Edited 4-17-15

Disclaimer: Don't own Pokémon besides for a few of the games.

Chapter Twenty Four

Despite wanting nothing more than to head up to my room and crash, I instead headed towards the front desk and ringed the bell to call out Nurse Joy. I rather get the whole mess of having more than six pokémon with me done and over with before it became an unneeded problem.

It took a few minutes and another couple bell rings before Nurse Joy finally showed up, rubbing at her eyes and yawning. Blinking groggily at me, she attempted to smile but gave up soon after. I gave her a guilty look for having woken her up so late at night, to which she waved off as she gave her face a final rub.

"Back from Sprout Tower I see. Your pokémon didn't get hurt too much I hope," she said as if being woken up in the dead of night was a normal thing for her as she placed one of the pokeball holding trays on the counter for me. I had to give her props; she makes a great nurse.

I shake my head as I place the six pokeballs around my waist into the separate holding wells of the tray. I motion for Growlithe to jump up onto the counter, both of us well use to this sort of thing by now.

"No, nothing like that," I answered her comment. "They did quite well against the Gastly's, actually. What I'm really here to talk to you about is this…" I trail off as I pull out the two dusk balls and one regular Pokeball from my pants pocket, placing them on the counter carefully so they would not roll off. "I caught three Gastlys you see, but their pokeballs didn't automatically go into my storage like I've seen other Trainer's do even though I'm already carrying around a team of six. I wanted to know if this is normal or if something might not be working correctly."

Nurse Joy gave the three Gastly's pokeballs a confused look, her nose light wrinkled as she thought of a possible answer.

"Might I take a look at your pokedex?" She asked, now looking at me with her curious gaze.

It was my turn to look confused, tilting my head to the side as I blink at her.

"I don't have a pokedex. I never received one," I answered slowly, silently wondering where she got the idea that I owned one from.

There was a moment's pause between us, I not knowing what else to say while she looked more confused than ever with a touch of shock added in the mix.

"You… don't have a pokedex?" She asked just as slowly, her tone that of disbelief.

I mutely shook my head, my eyebrows furrowed. She was making to sound like not having one was a big deal.

Another pause between us. This time I was the one to break it.

"Is it that uncommon for a Trainer to not own one…?"

The Joy blinked a few times, coming out from her mind and back to the present. "Hmm? Oh, it's not that it's uncommon. There are quite a few who don't, of course, though it's the younger Trainers who don't have one I've found as their parents don't want to pay the price for one until they know for sure the child won't quit their journey or have gotten over their tendency of losing their things in the wild. Older Trainers like you though are more commonly found to have one, which is why I was so surprised. Sorry, I should have learned by now not to judge."

"No, its fine, I'm just still learning and wasn't aware of that. Thanks for letting me know," I smiled and made a mental note to check out pokedex's. "So, does not having a pokedex make a difference when it comes to catching another pokémon when already carrying around six?"

"Yes, actually. When a Trainer has as pokedex, it not only records all of the pokémon that you see or capture, but keeps track of the pokémon inside your storage as well as the one's that you're carrying around. This is done automatically, so when the pokedex records you catching another pokémon when already carrying the legal amount of six it sends the newly caught pokémon into an open space inside your storage which you can access through your Trainer I.D and password from any pokémon center. Don't ask me how the pokedex is able to do such a thing, as even I don't quite understand that. Too much technology for me to get, really."

Looking up pokedex's raised up on my list of things-to-do a few numbers.

I thanked her as she took my pokémon off to be healed. Not likely able to get any sleep any time soon, I headed off over to the computer that doubles as a Trainer's storage, a machine hooked up to it so that one could deposit and withdraw one's pokémon easily. Sitting down in front of the monitor, I turn it on and wait for it to load, drumming my fingers on the table.

Growing bored, I pull out my wallet and take out my Trainer card, having not memorized my I.D. number yet. When the computer was finally well and ready, I type in my Trainer number, scowling at the length of the twelve digit number. One would think that they would make them shorter, or at least more creative for easier remembrance.

When it came to entering the password, I frowned as I tried to remember what my mother had told me. Something about needing to set the password? Not knowing what else to do, and not wanting to bother Nurse Joy again, I tried logging in with just my Trainer I.D. number hoping that it would work until I got a chance to call up my parents again.

To my relief, I was able to log in. The first thing that I was asked to do was to set a password, my mother's vague words now making sense. Mulling it over for a second, I just went with my favorite color, neon blue.

With that out of the way, I spent the next few minutes exploring, finding out which button does what and which link leads to where. The system wasn't all that hard to figure out; it is designed with ten year olds in mind after all.

Depositing my three new Gastlys, I logged off my account and turned off the computer. Standing up with a stretch, I waved goodnight to the Joy as I head up to my room to finally get some sleep. Tomorrow would be a busy day, it being when my package should arrive, and when I would finally leave the city for the next one.

.-.-.-.-.-.

The next morning I was met with Nurse Joy giving me a package that had just been delivered in my name while collecting my pokémon. I accepted it with a smile and turned in my room key, thanking her once again for all her help and information.

"'Bout time it got here," I spoke more to myself than Growlithe, having taken a seat in one of the offered chairs in the lobby. Ripping off the brown paper covering my 'present', I blinked in shock at the item in my hands.

A pokegear. My parents had gotten me a blue pokegear, and knowing my parents it had all of the functions offered as well. Curious, I flipped it open and powered it up. It didn't take nearly as long to load as the PC, the welcome sign appearing on the screen shortly after clicking it on. Much like advertized, one could not only call others, but also have access to a map of the region that pinpointed one's position as well as give a more detailed map of city's and routes. Add on the optional radio and a Trainer could be amused for hours. Grinning, I allowed myself to become just that. My parents might have as well given me a new toy.

I was really getting into it, adding in my friends numbers to my contact list while mouthing along to a song on the radio, when I was brought out of my happy world. Looking up from my pokegear and towards Growlithe, the one who nudged me, I sent it a questioning look.

Glaring at me, it motioned its head to the pokémon center's doors, silently saying that it wanted to leave. Rolling my eyes at my impatient pokémon, I slowly get up, cracking my back from having sat hunched over for so long. Turning off the radio on my new pokegear (the thought alone made me grin) I gave Nurse Joy one last wave goodbye, secured my backpack on my shoulder, and head out, Growlithe trailing after me at a steady pace. Next stop: Bloomingvale then Azalea, and hopefully my next badge while I was at it.