It getting quite late as Dustin,  Ash, and Misty made quite some distance traveling in the forest. Dustin stopped in his tracks as he took his bag off back.

"We should call it a night and rest you two. Tomorrow going to be another long day, " Dustin said as he set up the tent.

"Yeah good idea Dusk," Ash replied taking off his own backpack.

"That's quite the tent," Misty replied.

"Thanks my mom brought it, but the inside is even better, " Dustin replied setting up a campfire and cooking some dinner."Ash why don't you try making the Pokemon food with that recipe sticking out of my bag pocket," He said sending a brief glance at Ash.

"Sure Dusk," Ash replied taking out the paper and reading the steps as he took out eight bowls.

"Don't skim follow every step," Dustin stated as he began cooking the soup he was making for dinner tonight.

Ash nodded at Dustin's words and carefully read the recipe for the Pokemon food.

"So Dustin what made you travel with Ash despite being three years older?" Misty asked coming to sit near him.

"Ah, we met when we were younger, " Dustin started."He was inspired to be a Pokemon master and he was impressed by my knowledge and I agree to be his mentor."

"I see well he sure doesn't seem to understand the basics of batting pokemon before catching them or making Pokemon food," Misty commented watching Ash making a mess of the ingredients.

"Yeah I admit his stubbornness and hotheadedness in following my advice isn't the best, but he making progress in calming himself to listen and learning, " Dustin said."He will improve time besides I have food prepared if it comes ou that bad and the Pokemon hate it," He commented holding up plastic containers of food with the pokemon types on them.

"I see so you are just making him practice," Misty said looking at the food.

Dustin nodded as he finished the soup and filled three bowls and gave one to Misty.

"Thanks smells good, " Misty said.

"Thanks my mom taught me, " Dustin replied standing up and taking a bowl over to Ash who managed to make a mess of the Pokemon food and the ingredients they bought from the Pokemart.

"Well that wasn't perfect but Empuress eating so must not be that bad," Dustin commented."We keep working on it anyway dinner is ready, " He said giving the bowl of soup to Ash.

"Uh,  guess I should have fully read it as you told me my bad," Ash said sheepishly taking the bowl.

"Yeah, at least you admit your mistake means you are learning."

"I make sure to fully listen next time."

"Good," Dustin said going back over towards Misty and grabbing the remaining bowl to eat before sending out his other Pokemon to eat but sending Aerodactyl to eat in a separate place knowing he was not that friendly yet.

As soon as Dustin was done eating he returned his Pokemon except for Empuress and Mercury and cleaned up the food and campfire.  He then went inside the tent with Ash, and Misty who were impressed by the inside of the tent. It was large with more than five private rooms to sleep inside meaning everyone had their own space.

"Wow didn't know your tent was this roomy," Ash said.

"Yeah it's quite something, " Misty said.

"We used to camp as a family so we always made sure we had space,  and my mother decided it would be nice to have if I and Ash found others to travel with, "Dustin said going into one of the rooms.

"Well guess it's time we get some sleep," Ash said going into one of the rooms and getting comfortable.

"We get some sleep if you shut your big mouth," Misty grunted going to her room as well.

"Don't let the bed bugs bite," Ash grumbled before closing his eyes.

Dustin sighed but was less annoyed to see the fighting wasn't as heated as earlier. He let out a yawn as he lay down comfortably on his sleeping bag in his room.

However, the moment he was drifting off to sleep he heard a noise coming from outside of the tent.

He sat up looking through the tent window to see Pikachu, Empuress, Caterpie, and Mercury conversing with one another. They seemed to be having a fun time with whatever they were talking about,  though Caterpie's attention seemed to be focused on the moon.

Dustin chuckled softly as Caterpie wiggled his little feet as if he were trying to rise up and fly in the air like a Butterfree.  He realized that Butterfree was probably explaining his dream to evolve into a Butterfree someday.

He smiled softly as recalled the day he declared his dream to his father, with a smile on his face Dustin slowly drifted off to sleep.

~~~

As Dustin was beginning to fully doze off to sleep he was startled by a rustling sound. He sat up confused and walked toward the entrance of the tent to see something small and fluffy in the bushes.

His eyes widened at the sight as he walked closer,  but the figure quickly disappeared before he could get closer to check it out.

'What was that?  That fluffiness is familiar but even so, why was that pokemon in the bush?' He thought curious about why that strange pokemon was here and left so quickly.

"Whatever back to bed, "Dustin mumbled walking back to his room and saw Empuress lying curled up near his sleeping back with Nidoran and got inside of it, and went back to sleep.

"Goodnight," He whispered softly as he fell asleep with his pokemon close by his side.

~~~

The next morning...

"AHHHHHHH!"

A loud baring scream was baring scream was heard Empuress growled in annoyance st being woken up by a girl belonging to no other than then Misty.  While Mercury turned and continued sleeping peacefully.

"What's wrong? What's happening?" Ash yelped frantically as he rushed out of the room in the tent.

Dustin then realizes the problem upon walking into Misty's room and narrows his eyes at the scene in front of him.

"Ah,  seems Caterpie woke her up unintentionally scaring her in the process, " Dustin pointed out seeing Caterpie close to Misty's face as Ash walked in confused.

"What thing doing sleeping near me?" Misty shrieked while Ash laughed at the sight.

"Huh?  Haha...!  Caterpie just wants to be your friend!" Ash realized.

"If that thing wants to be my friend,  it can stop bugging me already!" Misty snapped not understanding why Ash found this so funny.

"If you're are Pokemon,  get out of my face,  and get into that Pokeball!" She spat at the worm pokemon.

That seemed to have done the trick,  for Caterpie looked emotionally hurt more than yesterday.  Dustin sighed and shook his head.

"I'm going to get ready to make breakfast, " He said turning around."Feel free to join me when you're done fighting, " He said heading back to his room.

Dustin walked into his room to see Empuress went an annoyed expression on her face and surprising Mercury glaring at a brown familiar bundle of fuff.

"Ah, Eevee so it was you in the bushes, "He said kneeling down and stroking the Eevee. "So you follow us little one?" He asked.

"Eve!" Eevee cried out jumping onto Dustin and sniffing him.

"Hungry for more food well im about to cook some food," He said chuckling as he lifted Eevee off him and grabbed his clothes.

"Ever, "Eevee creed happily as she muzzle Empuress saying hello.

Dustin then headed out to start making some pancakes and gave Pokemon food to Empuress, Mercury, and Eevee before he continued to make breakfast.

Soon Ash and Misty joined him the trio began eating their breakfast as soon as Dustin was done making it.

"Dustin, where does the Eevee come from?" Misty asked.

"It seems Eevee is following us from Viridian City, " Dustin replied.

"Do you think Eevee came to find more food?" Ash asked.

"I don't know-" Dustin trailed off seeing stareing deeply at him."What up?" He asked.

Eeeve suddenly tackled him knocking him back and licking his face.

"Ah, you like me you want to be mine?" He asked.

"What you already got a fifth pokemon and you didn't have to battle this one," Ash said.

"Hey you get a new pokemon soon, " Dustin replied as he got Eevee off him.

Just then a gust of wind blows at them from above.  They turned to see a familiar flying pokemon appear before them landing on the tall grass with an intimidating look on its face.

"Wow! It's a Pidegetto!" Ash exclaimed at the sight of the Pokemon.

T

o be continued...

Dustin's Pokemon:

Pokemon On Hand:

Meowth: (F) [Eumpuress]

Aerodactyl (M) [Aeroblaster]

Vulpix (F) [Kitsune]

Spearow (M) [Gale]

Nidoran (M) [Mercury]

Eeeve (F) [Sugar]

Ash's Pokemon:

Pokemon on Hand:

Pikachu (M)

Caterpie (M)

Question of the chapter: What do you think Eevee will evolve into?

Word Count: 1514