Ash's Butterfree: Difference between revisions

The next day, Caterpie was the first Pokémon Ash sent out against the next Pokémon he tried to capture, {{AP|Pidgeotto}}. With a large disadvantage against the {{type|Flying}} Pokémon, it was beaten severely and was quickly substituted for Pikachu. Later, when [[Jessie]], [[James]], and {{MTR}} appeared to attempt to steal Pikachu, Ash sent out his weakened Caterpie against them after they had blinded Pikachu and defeated Pidgeotto. Despite being made fun of by {{TRT}}, it managed to take down both [[James's Koffing]] and [[Jessie's Ekans]] by using {{m|String Shot}} and {{m|Tackle}}, causing Team Rocket to run away. Just as Misty was about to get over her fear and congratulate Caterpie on its victory, it suddenly evolved into {{p|Metapod}}, which bothered her even more.

In ''[[EP004|Challenge of the Samurai]]'', Metapod was sent out in a battle against [[Samurai]]. Despite only being able to use {{m|Harden}}, it managed to defeat his {{p|Pinsir}} by solidifying so much that the Stag Beetle Pokémon's pincers broke. Samurai then decided to send his own Metapod out against Ash's. Neither, however, could attack, and both had to sit stationary and keep hardening. The battle was then interrupted by a swarm of {{p|Beedrill}} that snatched Ash's Metapod away when he forgot to pick it up before running off. Ash felt guilty about this and became determined to get his Metapod back, finding it with a hive of {{p|Kakuna}}. Team Rocket showed up and woke up the whole hive of Beedrill with their {{motto}}, giving Ash a chance to rescue his Metapod. Metapod, however, was unhappy with Ash, but the Trainer tried to make an excuse and claim he didn't abandon Metapod. When Ash tripped on a rock and dropped Metapod, he owned up to his mistake and swore to never leave his Pokémon behind again. Metapod was moved by this and, seeing a Beedrill about to attack Ash, leaped up and took the blow, breaking the Beedrill's stinger and getting a large gash in its shell. Metapod then evolved into Butterfree and stopped all the Beedrill with its {{m|Sleep Powder}} attack.

In ''[[EP019|Tentacool & Tentacruel]]'', Butterfree bore {{AP|Bulbasaur}} into battle with a [[Giant Pokémon|giant]] {{p|Tentacruel}}, but was knocked out by Tentacruel's attack.

The last time Butterfree was seen with Ash was in ''[[EP021|Bye-Bye Butterfree]]''. At the start of this episode, Ash saw a large number of Butterfree flying around in the sky, and Brock told him that it was the Butterfree mating season. Ash realized that his Butterfree would probably want to have {{p|Caterpie|babies}} like the other Butterfree, so he and his friends rented a hot air balloon and watched Butterfree mingle with the others. Despite Brock's encouragement for Butterfree to choose one belonging to a cute female Trainer, Butterfree found its heart set on a [[pink Butterfree]]. It tried to impress the pink Butterfree with some fancy flying, only to be rejected with a slap in the face. Heartbroken, it flew into the woods below, followed by Ash and his friends who tried to encourage Butterfree, telling it to be assertive and tying a yellow ribbon around his neck to help him catch the pink Butterfree's eye. Butterfree tried a second time to impress the pink Butterfree with its {{m|Whirlwind}} and Tackle attacks, but this failed as well. Then, Team Rocket showed up in a helicopter and captured all the Butterfree but Ash's in a giant net. Butterfree pursued them, followed by Ash and friends in their hot air balloon, and they headed into a canyon where the Butterfree were stashed. They broke in and Ash battled Team Rocket while Butterfree used its Tackle against the cage the Butterfree were in, finally getting the attention of the pink Butterfree. It broke open the cage, and the Butterfree all flew free. Team Rocket tried a second time to capture all the Butterfree, only to be stopped by both Butterfree and Pikachu. Afterwards, the pink Butterfree approached Ash's Butterfree and the two paired up. The two departed as Ash watched in tears, remembering what the two had been through together and wishing his dear friend a fond farewell.

====Personality and characteristics====

As a Caterpie, it had a very happy but shy attitude, shown to suffer from low self-esteem if it didn't make a good first impression. He was very hurt when Misty didn't take to it. It was also very brave, squaring up against a Pidgeotto and then both of Team Rocket's Pokémon single-handedly. Its personality mellowed as a Metapod, becoming very laidback, but remained extremely loyal to its Trainer, jumping in front of a Beedrill to save him. As Butterfree, its personality was similar to that of Caterpie, retaining its bravery and positive attitude, but as was seen in ''Bye-Bye Butterfree'', its self-esteem still suffered when it didn't make a good first impression.