My Little Pokemon Silver Spoon Version

With our latest adventure behind us, we began the next leg of our journey. The nearest gym was the Saffron gym. Brock had the map today and we were walking along the coastline.

“Hey, I can see the edge again!” Ash broke out into a run. The road had led us away from the water for a while but now it had curved back to the ledge and we all gathered to look down at the crashing waves below. “Whoa, look at those rocks down there.”

“One wrong step and the ball game’s over.” Misty snarked.

“There’s the ridge that leads to Saffron city.” Brock gasped. He pointed down along the coast. The ridge looked good, decently stable. I’d probably still keep one hand on Fearow’s pokeball the whole time though.

“Hey, look up there. What are those?” Ash pointed above the ridge. A bunch of glittering shadows were flying around, weaving around each other.

“Just a bunch of Butterfree.” Weiss stated.

“Butterfree?” Brock pulled out a pair of binoculars. “Oh, that’s the Butterfree migration! I guess we’re in time for their season of love.”

“Season of love?” Ash’s expression curdled.

“Yup.” Brock nodded sharply. “Every year the Butterfree gather in this spot to pair off and find mates, then they fly across the ocean to lay their eggs!”

“The Orange islands are in that direction.” Weiss added. “After several stops on the islands they’ll fly back to the Johto region before flying over the mountains back to Kanto.”

“Whoa, that’s a lot of flying.” Ash hummed thoughtfully.

“Ah, a round the world trip sounds like the perfect honeymoon, doesn’t it, girls?” Misty sighed.

“Oh, um, yeah. I guess.” I chuckled nervously as Weiss just stared blankly. Romance was really the last thing on my mind after the whole Ghost of Maiden’s Peak thing.

“So, all Butterfree do this?” Ash looked at Brock for the answer.

“If they want to have babies, yeah.” Brock nodded seriously. “In fact, lots of trainers will come here to release their Butterfree so they can start families.” He paused suddenly and turned his binoculars to scanning the area. “Actually, I’d bet you anything there’s—Aha! Hot air balloons! There must be someone renting them out!”

Brock found the salesman and led us to him. We stopped a little ways away when we saw the prices.

“Yikes.” Misty grimaced. “I know it’s a one-day rental but that is steep.”

“I could afford it.” Ash didn’t sound too enthusiastic about it though.

“Better think hard about this, Ash.” Brock cautioned him. “If you just want to get up there to watch the migration, that’s fine. But you have a Butterfree too, remember.”

“Yeah, I know.” Ash pulled Butterfree’s pokeball from his belt. “This migration and this season of love thing is really important to the Butterfree, which means…” He frowned. “I should give my Butterfree the chance to start a family too.” Determined, he walked up to the salesman and used his pokedex to pay for a one-day balloon rental.

“You know, sometimes he can be almost admirable.” Misty huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “Just sometimes though.”

“Heh, right.” I chuckled.

I wasn’t sure we’d all fit at first. Ash had bought a small balloon and I was a little leery of summoning Fearow with all these free bug pokemon around. I figured it might be in poor taste. I didn’t have to worry though. Weiss volunteered to stay on the ground, saying ‘I don’t do flying’. Even then, there wasn’t much in the way of personal space but we all fit in the basket.

“Alright, here we go!” Brock manned the engine and soon had us up in the air.

Flying in a balloon is different from riding Fearow. I feel like I have much less control with the balloon and it’s so much slower. The ride is smoother though and a lot easier on the thighs.

“Check out that view!” Ash looked all around. This was his first time flying somewhere at all. Come to think of it, the times I’ve ridden Fearow I never really had the opportunity to just look around and take in the sights.

“And there are the Butterfree!” Brock grinned. Watching them from the ground was amazing enough. Seeing it all on their level was breathtaking. Most of them were doing courtship dances. Some were showing off their moves like Tackle, Gust, and Stun Spore. The last one required that we all keep some distance between us and the flock but it was gorgeous to watch from afar.

I really wish I had a camera!

“Right.” Ash took a deep breath. “Butterfree, come on out!”

It didn’t take more than a second for Butterfree to realize what was going on. I swear we could see his shock just from the twitch of his antennae!

“Butterfree.” Ash got his attention. “It’s your migration, right? If you want to, then go and find yourself a mate!”

“Free! Free!” Butterfree trilled and happily leaned forward, nuzzling Ash with his antennae as a thank you before flying off to find a mate. Ash looked a little watery eyed for a moment but he quickly blinked it away.

Around us more balloons were releasing their Butterfree. They joined the main flock, showing their dances and moves to attract mates.

“Hey look, Ash’s Butterfree found one it likes!” Misty pointed at a pink Butterfree and presumably Ash’s Butterfree dancing around said pink Butterfree.

“Oh wow, I really wish I had a camera!” I moaned.

“Oh no, it got rejected!” Misty cried out. Butterfree was drifting, falling down towards the forest while the pink Butterfree continued to fly.

“Shot down by its one true love, I know the feeling.” Brock clenched a fist. “How tragic! I could write a book on love and heartbreak!”

“Would it be your auto-biography?” Misty rolled her eyes. “Hurry up and take us down!”

“Right!” He shook himself, working at the engine to bring us down into a clearing.

Ash hardly waited for the balloon to reach the ground before vaulting over the side of the basket. Misty and I followed right away while Brock waited to secure the balloon first. We wouldn’t be able to get Ash’s deposit back if the balloon flew away without us.

“Butterfree!” Ash bellowed.

“Pika! Pikachu!” Pikachu joined him. We all started calling for him.

“Butterfree!” Ash yelled again. He stopped, doing a quick double take in one direction. “Butterfree, there you are!”

“Did you find it?” Misty asked.

Butterfree was on the ground. His wings were limp and his antennae were curled in tight near his forehead. I was pretty sure that position indicated embarrassment.

Poor Butterfree was devastated by his failure. Pikachu even tried to talking to him but that didn’t seem to help.

“Do ya think Dexter could tell us how Butterfree could get that other butterfree to be his mate?” Ash pulled out his pokedex and started searching for Butterfree’s entry.

“Dexter’s never been in love.” Misty pointed out.

“I just don’t get why that other Butterfree can’t see how great my Butterfree is.” Ash glared at whatever the screen was showing him. He shoved the pokedex back in his pocket.

“If the dance didn’t work.” I started, getting everyone’s attention. “I noticed other Butterfree showing off their Stun Spore and Sleep Powder. You should definitely avoid using Gust and Whirlwind, the other Butterfree didn’t like those. Tackle might get the pink Butterfree’s attention, but if your Butterfree can show how strong its Stun Spore is that might convince her to mate with you.” I finished by addressing Butterfree directly.

“Interesting that the wind-based attacks would prove so unpopular.” Brock hummed thoughtfully.

“So we should use Tackle, then Stun Spore and Sleep Powder, right, Sarah?” Ash asked.

“Right. Try going for a large area of effect with the Stun Spore, that seems to be a good indicator of strength without actually hurting the other butterfree.” I finished my observation.

“Right then.” Ash nodded decisively. “Butterfree, we’re gonna win you a mate!”

“Free!” Butterfree got a little spirit back, jumping back into the air with a happy trill.

“Hold on a sec!” Brock hit his fist against his open palm. He dug through a side pocket in his bag and pulled out a length of yellow ribbon.“A little extra plumage never hurts and this’ll help us keep track of you in the flock!”

“You look great, Butterfree!” Misty clapped her hands. “That pink Butterfree doesn’t stand a chance!”

In the air again, Ash commandeered Brock’s binoculars to find the pink Butterfree.

“Where is it? Where is it?” He muttered.

“You’re really serious about this, huh?” Misty commented.

“Of course! I raised that Butterfree and I want everybody else to see how great it is!” He retorted without giving up his search. “Ah, there it is! Butterfree, go!”

I looked up blankly. Far ahead I saw Butterfree pulling off a good sized cloud of Stun Spore. I saw plenty of other butterfree giving him due attention for it but I couldn’t see the pink one’s reaction.

I was a little more preoccupied with the odd noise coming towards us. A whirring chop-chop noise that sounded kinda like that flying contraption Pinkie Pie had a long time ago before that griffon showed up.

“Prepare for trouble!”
“And make it double!”

Like the flying contraption Team Rocket were flying with a big banner with Jessie and James’ faces printed on it.

“To protect the world from devastation!”
“To unite all peoples within our nation!”
“To denounce the evils of truth and love!”
“To extend our reach to the stars above!”
“Jessie!”
“James!”
“Team Rocket, blasting off at the speed of light!”
“Surrender now or prepare to fight, fight, fight!”
“Meowth, that’s right!”

“Not them again!” I wasn’t sure which of us groaned. Probably all of us to be honest.

A long pole was extending out from the bottom with a giant ball at the tip. With a clatter of smoke and metal the ball fell open and a huge net unfolded.

“They’re trying to steal the Butterfree!” Brock cried in horror. “Hey Team Rocket, stop this! You’ll disrupt their whole egg laying season!”

“Can’t you see these Butterfree are in love?” Misty shouted angrily beside him

Team Rocket either didn’t hear or didn’t care. They passed through the flock, catching dozens of Butterfree in their giant net.

Including the pink one.

“Look at Butterfree!” Ash pointed. His Butterfree, identifiable by the bright yellow ribbon around his neck, began using Tackle on the helicopter’s windows.

Butterfree might as well have been a squeaky toy for all the good he was doing.

“It’s not working! Butterfree’s not strong enough.” I grit my teeth.

“Butterfree, try your Stun Spore!” Ash called out. Butterfree heard and flew over the helicopter, dusting the blades with the yellow powder.

“Stun Spore only works on something alive, Ash!” I gripped the edge of the basket.

I just so happened to look down and see we were over the water now.

Team Rocket’s net was full. Butterfree kept on them, throwing Tackle after Tackle at it. Trying to find a weak spot.

“If Butterfree can’t do it then I’ll have to use Pidgeotto!” Ash declared.

“Ash, wait!” Misty grabbed his hand before he could throw the pokeball. “Look at Butterfree! It’s trying its hardest!”

“But Misty, in love or not, those pokemon need all the help they can get!” I argued.

“There’s a fog up ahead!” Brock warned us. Cliffs and bluffs jutted out from the ground.

We’d lost sight of Butterfree but we could still faintly hear the sound of the machine. We followed that as best we could until it stopped too.

“BUTTERFREE!” Ash shouted himself hoarse. “BUTTERFREE, WHERE ARE YOU?”

“…free!” A tiny sounding trill reached us. From beyond a craggy cliff came Butterfree. He was breathing hard and covered in bruises but still looked fit to battle.

“Butterfree, is the pink Butterfree over there?” Ash asked.

“Free.” Butterfree nodded. If he’d had the anatomy for it I’m sure he would’ve growled.

There was a warehouse. The machine was sitting outside and Team Rocket and all the stolen butterfree were inside.

“The doors are locked.” Ash scowled. We had to circle to the side to find the windows.

“Right then.” I measured the height and distance with my eye. Then I hefted up a big rock.

For the record? Turning their motto on them is so satisfying.

“Team Rocket, prepare for trouble!” Ash started us off, posing dramatically.

“And make that quadruple!” Misty chimed in.

“To protect the world from your infestation!” Brock held a flashlight under his chin.

“To save pokemon from across the nation!” I smirked.

“Defending the beauty of truth and love!” Misty pulled out a pokeball.

“To send you flying to the stars above!” Ash and Butterfree looked ready to go to war.

“We’ll send you packing at the speed of light! So give up now or prepare to fight!”

And then? Anarchy.

Butterfree targeted the cage the Butterfree were in, hitting it with Tackle again and again. Misty called out Starmie and attacked Team Rocket directly. I called out Bulbasaur for the same thing while Brock ran to the door, ready to throw it open once the Butterfree were out.

Butterfree shattered the cage. Most of the Butterfree scattered to find an exit but I saw the pink one hovering near him.

“This way! Fly out through here!” Brock directed them towards the big doors.

“No, they’re getting away!” Meowth yowled.

“I’ve had enough of this!” Jessie screamed, hefting a sledge hammer. There wasn’t time for Starmie to dodge before she swung.

“Bulbasaur, give her a Bullet Seed!” I called, giving Starmie time to recover.

Team Rocket’s slippery, I’ll give them that. They threw down some smoke bombs and made a beeline for the machine. We couldn’t get there before they took off again but our balloon was still ready to go. Geodude had been holding it down for us so we didn’t have to worry about tying it down.

“Can’t this thing go any faster?” Ash complained.

“We’re going as fast as we can!” Brock did pull on the rope again though.

“Free! Freee!” The pink one fretted.

“Easy, easy there.” I gently pet her head. “We’ll stop them. Don’t worry.”

But they were catching up to the flock and we were falling behind. They were extending the net for a second round.

“Free!” Butterfree flapped his wings. He looked at Pikachu and repeated himself.

“Pika!” Pikachu jumped from the basket, landing on Butterfree’s back.

“Huh? Pikachu, Butterfree, where are you going?” Ash reached out an arm for them.

“I think they’ve got a plan.” I smirked again, eager for the lightshow to come.

And it did not disappoint.

The Butterfree flock was safe at last. Butterfree brought Pikachu back and we made our way back to the coastline. The other hot air balloons had mostly been returned to the man renting them out. We returned ours, reunited with Weiss and stood on the coast to say our goodbyes.

“Hey.” Ash got down on one knee to address the pink Butterfree. “This is a really good Butterfree, so take care of him for me, okay?” She nodded.

“And Butterfree, you…” Ash sniffed, voice cracking under the pressure. “You take care of yourself. I’ll let the others know what’s going on and maybe we’ll see each other again someday.”

“Free, Butterfree.” Butterfree’s eyes watered. Ash pet him once gently behind his antennae, then the two bug pokemon lifted off to join the main flock.

“Your babies are gonna be beautiful.” Misty’s smile wobbled a little.

“Have fun out there, watch out for any more pokemon thieves.” Brock waved as they left.

I couldn’t think of anything to say. I could barely see anything with the tears in my eyes. I had to settle for smiling and waving and hoping they knew how happy I was to see them off on this next step of their lives.

I remembered Ash catching Butterfree back when he was still a Caterpie. How kindly he’d treated it. The way he’d tried to console him after Misty hurt his feelings. To think that little Caterpie would grow up to be such a strong, confident Butterfree!

Ash was crying now too. Tears streamed down his cheeks even as he kept yelling encouragements.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Misty sighed, leaning against me as we looked over the water. I had to wipe my eyes to see it better but she definitely wasn’t exaggerating. The Butterfree were still throwing Stun Spore and Sleep Powder attacks as they flew and the light of the setting sun glinted off them. I don’t have a camera so I just had to burn it into my memory and hope I never forgot it.

Ash stopped waving. I watched him pull Butterfree’s pokeball from his belt. It was easy to reset a pokeball back to factory default, thus freeing the pokemon registered to it, but he didn’t do that. He shrunk the ball down, pulled out his pokedex and typed something into it, then teleported the pokeball away.

“Ash?” I stepped up beside him.

“I don’t want to free Butterfree because I don’t want anyone else to catch it.” He explained, taking a moment to wipe the drying tears from his face. “So I sent the ball to Professor Oak. I’ll call him and explain in the next town.”

“Pretty smart.” I looked up but the flock was out of sight now. The sun was just barely peeking over the horizon now.

Good luck out there, Butterfree.