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 {{TRT}} appeared to attempt to steal Pikachu, Ash sent out his weakened Caterpie after Pikachu had been blinded and Pidgeotto was defeated. Despite Team Rocket’s ridicule, 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 as both sides could only use the [[move]] Harden. The battle was then interrupted by a swarm of {{p|Beedrill}}, and Metapod was carried off after Ash forgot to recall it. 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 ''[[EP007|The Water Flowers of Cerulean City]]'', Butterfree was used in Ash's [[Cerulean Gym]] battle against Misty, where it faced her {{TP|Misty|Staryu}}. Butterfree managed to hit {{p|Staryu}} with Tackle and then dodged Staryu's. As Staryu landed, it lost its balance, giving Butterfree the chance to hit it with two more Tackles. Staryu then scored a hit with {{m|Water Gun}} and kept firing off the attack. Butterfree, however, dodged them all and crippled Staryu with {{m|Stun Spore}}. Misty had Staryu jump into the water to wash the spores off. When Butterfree went for Sleep Powder, Staryu dodged it by diving into the water and kept using Tackle from underwater. Butterfree was then struck by a Tackle and knocked into the water. With its wings wet, Ash was forced to concede the round and recall Butterfree to the safety of its Poké Ball.

Butterfree battled [[A.J.]]'s powerful {{p|Sandshrew}} in ''[[EP008|The Path to the Pokémon League]]''. Butterfree went for Stun Spore, but Sandshrew avoided it using {{m|Dig}} before pinning Butterfree to the ground to win the round.

In ''[[EP015|Battle Aboard the St. Anne]]'', Ash used it in a battle against a {{tc|Gentleman}} and his {{AP|Raticate}}. Butterfree countered Raticate's {{m|Jump Kick}} with Tackle. After dodging a {{m|Hyper Fang}}, Butterfree crippled it with Stun Spore. As Ash was about to finish the battle, the Gentleman called the battle off and declared it a draw, despite Butterfree's almost certain victory. The Gentleman then approached Ash and asked to [[trade]] the Pokémon. Ash accepted, but quickly regretted the decision after realizing his attachment to Butterfree. Later, Ash managed to exchange the Raticate for his Butterfree. While he was reunited with his friend, the decision led Ash and {{ashfr}} to be left trapped aboard the sinking [[S.S. Anne|St. Anne]].

==Trivia==

* Caterpie is the first of a {{ashfr|main character}}'s Pokémon who had its design changed to match new official game art, despite being introduced before the change. In a flashback in ''[[DP080|The Thief That Keeps on Thieving!]]'', Caterpie's mouth was green as per the official Generation III game art. However, when it was first introduced, Caterpie's mouth was yellow as per the official Generation I game art.

* In the English [[List of Electric Tale of Pikachu monthly issues|monthly issue publication]] of [[The Electric Tale of Pikachu]], the order of ''[[ET02|Play Misty For Me]]'' and ''[[ET03|Clefairy Tale]]'' is reversed. This creates a continuity error, as Butterfree appears in ''Clefairy Tale'', even though it supposedly doesn't evolve until one chapter later.

* Butterfree was Ash's fastest evolving Pokémon, reaching its final evolution two episodes after his debut.