Butterfree easily endured and dodged all of Raticate's attacks, and then paralyzed it with Stun Spore. Before Ash could order the finishing move, however, the Gentleman called off the battle, saying that it was a draw, although Ash was close to winning. As mentioned on the Bulbapedia (and partially in the comments): Ash's Butterfree has since appeared in the tenth opening for the anime, Spurt!, along with his mate, the pink Butterfree. However, he has not returned in any episodes since his last appearance. Ash releases his Butterfree, sending it off toward the flock. His Butterfree performs a dance to attract a pink Butterfree, but is brutally rejected. Ash, Misty and Brock try to encourage Butterfree, but Butterfree can't recover from the shock of rejection. Just then Team Rocket arrives to poach the Butterfree. Ash's Butterfree keeps on trying, but the pink one eventually slaps him across the face with her wing. Being shot down, Ash's teary-eyed Butterfree then flies away into a forest. Eventually, Ash, Misty, Pikachu, and Brock find Butterfree in the forest. Totally surprised, they discuss how they could help Butterfree. Ash and his friends are alerted to a Butterfree migration, and Ash decides to take part. Butterfree sets his sights on an unusual pink Butterfree, but is jilted. Will the interference of Team Rocket jump-start a romance? This episode contains examples of the following tropes.

1. Pink Butterfree
2. Ash's Butterfree Dead
3. Butterfree Evolution
4. Ash Butterfree Goodbye

Season 1 | Episode 20

As they journey toward Saffron City, our heroes come to a path that continues along the side of a sheer cliff. When the party sees a flock of Butterfree flying above the ocean, Brock, as a Pokémon breeder, explains that it is the Butterfree's egg-laying season. In order to continue their posterity, Butterfree find mates during this season and cross the sea together. Ash releases his Butterfree, sending it off toward the flock. His Butterfree performs a dance to attract a pink Butterfree, but is brutally rejected. Ash, Misty and Brock try to encourage Butterfree, but Butterfree can't recover from the shock of rejection. Just then Team Rocket arrives to poach the Butterfree. Ash's Butterfree tries to prevent the capture of his fellow Pokémon with very little success. Determined to free them and win the heart of the pink Butterfree, he battles Team Rocket with the strength and courage of a Pokémon in love. Can Ash's Butterfree rescue his fellow Butterfree Pokémon and win the heart of his pink Butterfree? If so, will he leave Ash, his beloved Pokémon trainer, to follow his love and fulfill the Butterfree destiny?

Ash's Butterfree was the first Pokémon Ash ever caught. He was released during the mating season when he fell in love with a pink Butterfree.

Biography

Butterfree was caught as a Caterpie and evolved to a Metapod in the episode A Catches a Pokémon!. Metapod then evolved when defending Ash from a flock of Beedrill. He caught it only by throwing out a Poké Ball. He once traded his Butterfree for a Raticate, but he missed his Butterfree so much, so he traded back. It seems to be a male Butterfree and was released to start a family with its mate, a pink Butterfree. Before winning the heart of its mate, Butterfree saved a bunch of wild Butterfree from Team Rocket (this caused the pink Butterfree to start having feelings for him.) Butterfree's current location is unknown. It can be presumed that it is still with its mate.

Pink Butterfree

Known moves

Ash's Butterfree Dead

Gallery

• Ash catching Butterfree as a Caterpie.

• Butterfree as a Metapod.

Trivia

Butterfree Evolution

• Butterfree is the first Pokémon Ash captured, the first that evolves, the first to reach his final form, the first to be traded away (Ash still got him back), the first to have a confirmed gender, and first to be released.
• Butterfree is also the first Flying-type once owned by Ash that is not based on a bird; the other two are Charizard and Gliscor

Ash Butterfree Goodbye