Ash's Butterfree: Difference between revisions

'''Ash's Butterfree''' (Japanese: '''サトシのバタフリー''' ''Satoshi's Butterfree'') was the first [[wild Pokémon]] that {{Ash}} {{pkmn2|caught}} in the [[Kanto]] [[region]], and his second Pokémon overall.

[[File:Ash Caterpie.png|250px|thumb|left|As a Caterpie, with Ash]]

Caterpie first appeared at the end of ''[[EP002|Pokémon Emergency]]'', staring at the group as they passed by. When {{an|Misty}} freaked out about its type and told Ash to do something, Ash pulled out a [[Poké Ball]] and threw it at Caterpie, hoping to catch it. In [[EP003|the next episode]], Ash managed to catch the Worm Pokémon, being the first [[wild Pokémon]] he ever caught. Ash remarkably caught him without a [[Pokémon battle]], which Misty attributed to Caterpie's weakness. Caterpie was quite fond of Misty, but, much to Caterpie's misfortune, she wanted nothing to do with him because it was a {{type|Bug}} Pokémon, which she feared. At night, Caterpie and [[Ash's Pikachu]] talked to each other, and Caterpie revealed its desire to [[Evolution|evolve]] into a {{p|Butterfree}}. It became very sad as if it was not sure it could do it, but Pikachu encouraged it.

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.

Ash's Butterfree has since appeared in the tenth opening for the anime, [[Spurt!]], along with its mate, the pink Butterfree. However, it has not returned in any episodes since its last appearance. Ash has, however, flashed back to having it several times, such as in ''[[DP080|The Thief That Keeps on Thieving!]]'', ''[[DP099|A Trainer and Child Reunion!]]'', ''[[BW130|Butterfree and Me!]]'', and ''[[SM042|Alola, Kanto!]]''.

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.

{{anmov/h|Bug|Flying|Ash {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 4}}|0=Caterpie String Shot|1=Butterfree Brock Zubat Whirlwind|2=Metapod Harden|3=Caterpie Tackle}}.png|Using {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 4}}|0=String Shot as<br>a Caterpie|1=Whirlwind|2=Harden as<br>a Metapod|3=Tackle as<br>a Caterpie}}|image2=Ash Butterfree {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 3}}||0=Sleep Powder|1=Stun Spore|2=Tackle}}.png|caption2=Using {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 3}}|0=Sleep Powder|1=Stun Spore|2=Tackle}}}}

{{anmov|bug|String Shot|EP003|Ash Catches a Pokémon}}

{{anmov/f|flying}}

[[File:Ash Butterfree M20.png|thumb|250px|Ash's Butterfree in ''I Choose You!'']]

[[File:Ash Caterpie M20.png|thumb|left|250px|As a Caterpie]]

Metapod would eventually fully evolve into Butterfree while battling a bunch of angry {{p|Primeape}} and subduing them with {{m|String Shot}}. After evolving into Butterfree, he put the Primeape to sleep with {{m|Sleep Powder}}. A short while after that, Ash and Butterfree encountered a [[pink Butterfree]]. Ash's Butterfree defended the pink Butterfree from a {{p|Fearow}}. The two Butterfree bonded but would later part ways. Not long after, the Butterfree reunited when Ash came across a herd of Butterfree, which included the pink Butterfree. Seeing how happy the two Butterfree were together, Ash decided to let his Butterfree go and said a tearful goodbye as he departed.

{{anmov/h|bug|flying|Ash {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 3}}|0=Caterpie String Shot|1=Butterfree Sleep Powder|2=Butterfree Gust}} M20.png|Using {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 3}}|0=String Shot<br>as a Caterpie|1=Sleep Powder|2=Gust}}}}

{{anmov|bug|String Shot|M20|I Choose You!}}