After finishing a simple round of special training and adjustments, Red accompanied Ash and the others as they set off on their journey once again. According to the changing of the seasons, it was now the time when Butterfree laid eggs. Most Trainers who cared for their Butterfree would release them, giving them the chance to reproduce.
"Wow! The force of this is terrifying!" Ash exclaimed.
The group had arrived at the edge of a cliff. A refreshing sea breeze blew toward them, and before their eyes stretched the boundless ocean. Surging waves crashed against the rocks below from time to time, making Ash and the others fully aware of the sea's overwhelming power.
"If you fall from here, you're definitely done for~" Misty teased.
Brock took out a map, nodding as he looked toward the distant road.
"Follow the path along this cliff, and we'll reach Saffron City!"
"All right! Let's hurry and challenge it!" Ash said excitedly.
"Ash, if you had to make a choice, would you give your Pokémon freedom, or restrain them for your own sake?" Red asked, though it sounded more like he was speaking to himself.
"What are you talking about! Every Pokémon is a partner I trust. How could I ever restrain their freedom!" Ash replied, confused but answering nonetheless.
"Do you know what season it is?" Red turned to look at Ash, who wore a puzzled expression. "It's Butterfree's mating season—the time to reproduce."
"Reproduce?" Ash suddenly understood. He realized what Red meant—whether or not to release his Butterfree.
"That's right. It's exactly the egg-laying season for Butterfree!" Brock added, pointing at the swarm of Butterfree flying in the distant sky.
"So many Butterfree, they're so beautiful!" Misty said happily. Though she was afraid of Bug-type Pokémon, she was captivated by the breathtaking sight of the Butterfree migrating along the coast. Girls loved charming scenery, and Misty was no exception.
"Every year at this time, Butterfree gather in groups to migrate across the sea. If they don't cross together, they won't be able to leave descendants!" Red explained, looking at Ash and waiting to see what choice he would make.
"Then my Butterfree definitely has to reproduce too!" Ash said anxiously, looking like an over-worried father.
Soon, Red and the others rented a hot air balloon. It had been specially arranged for Trainers, and the price was quite affordable.
"Go, Butterfree!"
Ash threw the Poké Ball in his hand, releasing Butterfree.
"Go find yourself a good partner!"
"Butterfree, do your best!" Misty cheered.
Butterfree darted around like an inexperienced young boy, searching everywhere for a mate that matched his aesthetic standards. But so far, he hadn't found anyone satisfactory.
"Could it be there's no type he likes?" Brock wondered.
"But is there really a difference?" Misty asked in confusion. "I think all Butterfree look the same!"
"That's just a misconception of human vision," Red explained. "In Butterfree's eyes, each of their own kind looks different. Some fly gracefully, some are strong and sturdy, some have unique body shapes, and there are even rare shiny Butterfree!"
"I see…" Misty nodded vaguely. Meanwhile, Ash simply let the explanation go in one ear and out the other. Since it had nothing to do with battling, why bother understanding it in detail?
More Trainers released their Butterfree one after another, all for the sake of reproduction. Among them, a beautiful girl dressed in purple caught Brock's attention, instantly making his eyes turn into hearts. Though her Butterfree wasn't particularly dazzling, in Brock's eyes it was a treasure destined to tie the red string of fate.
"Listen carefully, Butterfree! Go find that girl—no, the Butterfree she released. That must be your perfect match," Brock said excitedly, pointing at the girl's Butterfree. "If you get along well with her Butterfree, then the Trainer will… I mean, the related people can also strengthen their relationship!"
"Is he always like this?" Red asked.
Misty shook her head helplessly, then knocked Brock out with a punch.
Soon after, Butterfree fell in love at first sight with a pink shiny Butterfree. Coincidentally, this shiny Butterfree was female—the ideal partner in his eyes.
Unfortunately, Butterfree's appearance wasn't outstanding enough. Even after performing a courtship dance, the shiny Butterfree didn't think much of him. To shake him off, she even slapped him hard across the face, breaking his heart.
Heartbroken, Butterfree hid in the forest. Ash, acting like a worried father, panicked. He quickly guided the hot air balloon down and ran to Butterfree's side.
"Butterfree, are you okay? Don't look so down!" Ash said anxiously.
"He just got dumped. Of course that's a big blow!" Brock explained. As someone experienced, he understood that feeling well. "Butterfree, I understand you very well. Let me give you a lesson in love!"
"Heh~" Misty smirked mockingly. "Are you going to teach him how to get dumped quickly?"
That remark instantly depressed Brock, leaving him hanging his head in silence.
"It's actually very easy to make a Pokémon of the opposite sex like you," Red said. "In the Pokémon world, strength is admired. As long as Butterfree shows his strength, he'll attract her attention."
"I see. But that Butterfree actually looked down on the one I worked so hard to raise. That's just too much!" Ash complained, believing his Butterfree was the most charming of all.
To make Butterfree more attractive, Brock even put a yellow scarf on him, giving him a distinctive flair.
Butterfree repeatedly showed off his proud moves in front of the shiny Butterfree, but even then, she barely spared him a glance.
"Strange. Why hasn't Team Rocket's assist plan shown up yet?" Red muttered.
What Red didn't know was that because of his overwhelming strength, Team Rocket had chosen to relax for a few days upon seeing him accompany Ash and the others. With no budget wasted trying to steal Pikachu, the trio even managed to enjoy a full meal.
"Looks like I'll have to intervene personally," Red said calmly as he threw a Poké Ball. "Charizard, I'm counting on you!"
"What?!" x3
As the white light faded, the massive, dragon-scaled Charizard appeared in the sky. The overwhelming dragon aura instantly weakened the surrounding Butterfree.
"Charizard, put on a show for Butterfree!" Red instructed, then used his psychic power to notify Ash's Butterfree in the distance.
(If you want to win her heart, face Charizard's attack with everything you've got!)
"Gulp!" Butterfree trembled as he turned toward the approaching Charizard. How could he possibly block such a giant?
"Isn't this too dangerous?!" Ash cried out in panic. His Butterfree couldn't withstand even a casual flame—what if he was gone before getting the chance to reproduce?
"Don't worry, Ash. Red is always careful!" Brock reassured him.
Since it was just acting, Charizard refrained from using flames. Instead, he flapped his wings and unleashed Air Slash, countless wind blades rushing toward Butterfree.
For the sake of his beloved, Butterfree didn't flee like the others. He charged forward, using Gust to resist the incoming blades.
"Pokémon are influenced by their Trainer's personality," Red teased, glancing at the embarrassed Ash.
"Ash, hasn't your Butterfree mastered psychic power?" Red asked curiously. Although not a Psychic-type, outstanding Butterfree could skillfully use moves like Confusion and Psybeam.
"Huh? Butterfree can learn moves like that? I thought he only had Tackle, Gust, and Stun Spore!" Ash said in disbelief.
"..."
Red chose silence. Expecting his silly little brother to grasp knowledge on his own was his own foolishness.
To enhance Butterfree's strength, Red used his psychic power to stimulate Butterfree's brain, carefully explaining how to use Confusion and Psybeam.
Sure enough, after a brief moment of enlightenment, Butterfree's eyes glowed blue as he used Confusion to resist Charizard's light Air Slash.
Seeing Butterfree's newfound composure, the protected shiny Butterfree began to feel affection.
'Good kid!' Charizard grinned, releasing a mild Dragon Breath to broaden Butterfree's horizons.
The Dragon Breath instantly shattered Butterfree's Confusion and struck him head-on, causing the shiny Butterfree to panic. But Butterfree didn't retreat. He used Psybeam to continue confronting Charizard.
"Excellent character. You've raised your Butterfree well, Ash!" Red praised, making Ash jump around excitedly. Praise from his older brother meant more than anyone else's.
"Roar—"
Charizard roared as green energy covered his claws—he was using Dragon Claw.
Ignoring the shiny Butterfree's attempts to stop him, Butterfree resolutely used Tackle to clash head-on, bringing tears to her eyes.
"Roar!"
Another roar suddenly echoed. From the sea emerged a massive crimson Gyarados, glaring at Charizard with hostility. Unable to tolerate such provocation, Charizard abandoned Butterfree and flew toward the crimson Gyarados.
"What a performance!" Brock praised.
First, Charizard drove away the other Butterfree, then attacked to create fear, then Butterfree resisted with Red's psychic assistance, and finally the crimson Gyarados appeared to divert attention. It was a flawless act.
"Thank you…" Ash said guiltily. Even though Butterfree was his Pokémon, he still needed Red's help to win him a partner.
"What are you saying?" Red flicked Ash's forehead. "You're my brother. Why be so polite?"
At dusk, Red and the others came to the cliff to bid farewell to the two Butterfree preparing to leave. Ash, who had been smiling foolishly earlier, now stood silent and subdued.
In the end, he smiled and said to the shiny Butterfree, "Butterfree is an outstanding guy. I'll leave him in your care from now on!"
"May you have healthy babies!" Misty added.
"It's about time to leave!" Brock reminded them.
The shiny Butterfree flew into the air, ready to migrate. But Ash's Butterfree hesitated, reluctant to leave his sight.
"Don't worry. I'll explain everything to everyone. I'll tell them you found a cute girlfriend and went traveling!" Ash comforted him, urging him to go.
"Hurry up, your girlfriend is calling you!"
After saying that, Ash stood up and lowered his head so Butterfree wouldn't see his expression.
They were the last to leave. Pikachu, who had known Butterfree since the beginning, waved goodbye through tears.
Ash said nothing. Red stepped forward, letting Ash lean against his shoulder and gently patting his back.
Ash recalled the moments when he first met Butterfree. Back then, he was an inexperienced rookie Trainer who had entered Viridian Forest hoping to catch a Pokémon, only to encounter an innocent Caterpie.
Without even battling, he had casually thrown a Poké Ball—and to his surprise, Caterpie was caught just like that.
He had shared the joy of gaining a new companion with Pikachu, letting Caterpie sit on his shoulder. Through continuous battles, Caterpie evolved into Metapod and then Butterfree.
Butterfree was the first Pokémon Ash had truly raised with care, and the one who had witnessed his growth along the journey. It held extraordinary meaning in his life.
"Brother… my heart hurts… I don't want Butterfree to leave…"
Ash sobbed, trembling as he cried.
"You've grown wonderfully, Ash. I'm proud of you," Red said, gently wiping away his tears.
"Ash, say one final goodbye to Butterfree."
Ash wiped his tears, ran to the cliff's edge, and shouted at the distant figure,
"Goodbye, Butterfree! Goodbye! You have to become even stronger! I'll be waiting for you in Pallet Town!"
Butterfree gave Ash one last look, engraving him deeply in his heart before flying away with his partner.
"They've flown far away…" Ash smiled faintly.
"Ash, people can raise Pokémon, but they can't create life," Brock said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I know," Ash replied, sharing a smile with Pikachu.
"Look, it's beautiful!" Misty exclaimed, gazing at the glowing sunset.
"Don't worry, Ash. That kid Butterfree will definitely return to Pallet Town," Red promised. When he infused Butterfree with psychic power earlier, he had firmly etched Pallet Town's location into his mind.
"Yeah!" Ash nodded heavily, looking forward to the day they would reunite in Pallet Town once again.