"Ah? Butterfree!" Alex and the others rushed over.
As soon as they arrived, they saw a dejected Butterfree weakly flapping its wings, looking utterly forlorn.
"Butterfree, are you alright, Butterfree?" Ash asked with a worried expression.
"Beep~ Beep." Butterfree didn't even lift its head, responding listlessly.
"What's wrong with you? Why do you look so dispirited?"
"Ash, what kind of silly question is that? He got dumped! Of course, that's a huge blow to him!" Alex said, looking at the slow-witted Ash with a black line on his forehead.
"I understand how you feel, I understand. It can't be helped, let's do this: how about I give you a love guidance lesson!" Brock said, putting his hands on his hips.
"Are you going to teach him how to get dumped even faster?" Misty said with a mischievous smile.
After Misty spoke, Brock also became dejected.
"In that case, Haunter, you go and console Butterfree," Alex said, releasing his Haunter.
While the two Pokémon communicated, Ash on the other side took out his Pokédex and said, "Seriously, doesn't the Pokédex say anything? Like, how to make other Butterfree like him."
"There's no way it would say that, Ash," Alex's forehead had even more black lines.
"It feels really unpleasant, you know? How dare she not like my Butterfree, whom I painstakingly raised! My Butterfree is the best Butterfree in the world, isn't it?" Ash said angrily.
"Butterfree, why don't you show her your strengths? For example, you can emphasize how strong your Tackle is, and that you can use Stun Spore," Ash said, even demonstrating the moves.
"Exactly, exactly! You should aggressively promote yourself," Misty chimed in.
Alex stroked his chin, thinking, "Ash's Butterfree's evolution was delayed because of me. I wonder if my appearance affected his courtship process. Sigh, if that's the case, then I'll help him out."
"When it comes to love, it's all about taking the initiative. As soon as the bell rings, throw a punch. While the opponent is off balance, knock her out in one go. That way, she's yours!" Alex said seriously to Butterfree.
"Are you serious?" Brock asked, looking astonished.
"Of course, I'm serious," Alex said proudly. "This is experience I've gained from modern society."
"I see, no wonder I failed so many times," Brock said, scratching his head irritably.
"Anyway, just go challenge her again. Don't get discouraged, okay?" Ash said.
"Wait a moment, I'll get him dressed up first." Alex said, tying a ribbon around Butterfree... "Strange, that pink Butterfree from earlier is gone. I wonder where it went." After the hot air balloon flew into the sky again, Ash said, looking around with binoculars.
"You're too concerned, Ash," Alex said helplessly.
"Of course! That's my Butterfree, whom I painstakingly raised! I must make him get recognition." He then picked up the binoculars again and started searching for the pink Butterfree.
"Sigh, I didn't expect you, as a father, to be so enthusiastic," Misty also said helplessly.
"Alright! Found it! Butterfree, you need to have more confidence in yourself! She's over there," Ash said, pointing in a direction.
"Good, let her see the power of your Whirlwind!" Ash commanded.
"Beep~" Butterfree flapped its wings, creating whirlwinds.
However, the pink Butterfree didn't seem attracted; instead, she looked left and right.
"Now use Tackle! That'll win it for sure! Hurry!" Ash said confidently.
"Beep~ Beep~" Then, Butterfree charged back and forth in front of the pink Butterfree, leaving arcs, but the pink Butterfree didn't show any response; instead, she looked on with confusion.
"Still no good," Ash said, lowering his head.
Suddenly, a helicopter with a large pink 'R' printed on its nose flew up.
"If you ask us so earnestly,
We will answer you with compassion.
To prevent the world from being destroyed,
To protect the peace of the world,
To carry out evil with love and truth,
The lovely and charming Villain characters,
We are Team Rocket, soaring through the galaxy.
White Hole, a white tomorrow awaits us.
That's right, Meowth!"
"Hahahaha, there are so many Butterfree flying around, we can catch a whole bunch easily," Jessie's voice came through.
Suddenly, a super large bug-catching net appeared from under Team Rocket's helicopter and rushed towards the Butterfree.
"Catch them all!" Meowth said excitedly.
"Catch more, catch more!" Jessie said happily.
"What exactly do you want?" Alex said, looking coldly at Team Rocket.
"It's those Little Brats again. Every time we show up, they try to stop us. And that new Little Brat, he even defeated Yamato and the others last time," James said with a laugh.
"Too bad they won't have a chance to interfere this time, hahahaha," Meowth and Jessie said with a laugh.
More and more Butterfree were being caught.
"Stop! The Butterfree are in their important breeding season!"
"The Butterfree are in love, stop it!" Misty shouted.
"Hahahaha, if they lay eggs, their eggs will also be ours! We'll catch both mother and child in one go, hahahaha," James said wildly.
"Brock, aren't you going after them?" Ash asked anxiously.
"We can't catch up. We're a balloon, and they're a helicopter. Our speed is too slow," Brock said helplessly.
The pink Butterfree was also caught. When Ash's Butterfree saw this, it flew over furiously, ramming into the helicopter's shell again and again, as if tireless.
"That kind of attack doesn't even hurt, haha," Jessie said mockingly.
"Ash, I suddenly thought of something. If that's the case, use Butterfree to save them. That way, there might be a hero-saving-the-damsel scenario, and that pink Butterfree might look at your Butterfree in a new light. They might even fall in love," Alex said thoughtfully.
To be honest, Alex was also moved when he saw Ash's Butterfree desperately fighting for its love.
"Alright! Brock, let's go after them!"
"Got it!" Brock said, increasing the heat and chasing in the direction Team Rocket had flown.
But after chasing past a mountain peak, they couldn't find the helicopter.
At this moment, Ash's Butterfree returned, covered in wounds, and chirping "Beep beep."
"Is the one you like also nearby?" Misty said indignantly.
"Alright, Butterfree, quickly lead the way! We're going to save them!"
"88, 89, 90, Meowth."
"Hahahaha, what a huge haul, what a huge haul!"
"You're absolutely right, it seems this is our first time being so successful!"
Team Rocket was happily chatting in the warehouse.
Suddenly there was a noise from behind. Team Rocket suddenly turned around and said, "Who's there?!"
"Since you earnestly asked,
We will answer you with compassion.
We will answer you with compassion.
To prevent the world from being destroyed,
To protect the peace of the world..."
Alex and Ash, with gloomy faces, recited Team Rocket's lines.
"How can this be?
This... Oh my goodness!"
Team Rocket said with helpless expressions.
"Go, Butterfree!" Butterfree charged rapidly, knocking the bug-catching net from Team Rocket's hands.
"Go, Tentacool, give them a good show with Poison Sting!" Alex didn't bring out his powerful Haunter or Muk; he just wanted to hide his strength and also to let his weaker Pokémon gain some experience.
Then, Ash's Butterfree started ramming into the bug-catching net. The pink Butterfree inside began to sparkle.
After more than a dozen fierce Tackle attacks, Butterfree finally tore open the bug-catching net, releasing the trapped Butterfree, who all flew away.
"Don't let them escape!" Team Rocket said, getting back into their helicopter, ready to catch the Butterfree again.
Alex and the others quickly got into their hot air balloon and gave chase.
"Ash, can your Butterfree carry my Tentacool to the helicopter?" Alex asked.
"Alright, go, Butterfree!"
Butterfree carried Tentacool and flew over. Then, Tentacool jumped onto the helicopter's windshield, used Acid attack, and then destroyed the helicopter's entire power system, causing it to fall into the valley below.
Throughout the entire process, the pink Butterfree watched anxiously from the hot air balloon.
After successfully defeating Team Rocket, the pink Butterfree suddenly flew to Ash's Butterfree and performed a responsive dance.
"Here it comes, here it comes! That must be the dance of acceptance for the courtship!" Alex said with a smile.
"Is it? That's wonderful, Butterfree."
In the evening, Ash said to Butterfree, "Butterfree, are you still going to leave?"
Butterfree nodded.
"He's a good person. From now on, I'll leave him to you," Ash said to the pink Butterfree.
"I hope you two can have healthy babies," Misty said.
"Alright, it's time to go," Alex urged Ash.
"Alright, hurry up and go. I'll tell everyone that you went on a journey with your lovely girlfriend," Ash said affectionately.
Butterfree flew further and further away, shedding tears.
At this moment, Ash recalled his journey from catching Caterpie to evolving into Butterfree, and traveling with him. It was so difficult, exciting, and full of memories, that his eyes couldn't help but well up.
"Butterfree, take care! Goodbye!" Ash wiped his tears and shouted to the distant Butterfree.
"How wonderful, I hope my Pokémon and I can also have such a deep bond." Alex looked at the reluctant Ash and his friends, silently making a resolution in his heart: he must become stronger and more experienced.
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