Inside the Black World—
As Ash's Butterfree performed its courtship dance, the pink Butterfree didn't hesitate for a second before flying up to snuggle against him! Off to the side, Brock's perpetually squinted eyes revealed a faint flash of envy. "Man, Ash's Butterfree sure has some charm. How come that pink Butterfree agreed to him right away?" Misty frowned, equally puzzled. "Yeah, there were a ton of suitors around her just now. Why'd she fall for Ash's Butterfree in one glance? Is it because he has a Trainer?" Ash rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "To be honest, I don't really get all that love stuff."
"But I once read a line that said, 'Only the strong are worthy of beauty!' And, you know, I think that actually makes sense." "So maybe… my Butterfree gives off a stronger presence than the others, and that's what attracted her." Sure, his Butterfree hadn't fought in a ton of official battles, but that didn't mean it lacked experience! Did everyone really think its "training" was just flying around with weights on its wings every day? No—internal sparring was the main part of Ash's training regimen! Endless physical conditioning couldn't prove results; actual battle could. But finding opponents of equal strength wasn't always easy—so they sparred among themselves instead! Those bouts usually stopped before anyone got hurt, but it was more than enough to toughen them up.
At this point, Butterfree could easily be described as a veteran of fifty battles. Compared to wild Butterfree, it wasn't just stronger—it exuded confidence, strength, and command. So of course the pink Butterfree was attracted to it. After all, in both human and Pokémon worlds, attraction isn't only about looks—it's about strength and spirit.
[Ash: Ugh… that stings a little. My Butterfree worked so hard to win over the pink one and still got ignored, while Black Ash's just dances once and wins her heart? That's rough!]
[Misty: Well, think about how much harder his Butterfree trains. He earned that happy ending.]
[Lance: Exactly. That line—'Only the strong are worthy of beauty'—might sound childish, but it's not wrong.]
[Lance: In the Pokémon world, what draws attention—besides looks—is sheer strength.]
[Lance: Black Ash's Butterfree is the same individual as White Ash's, so appearance isn't the factor. That means it's all about its power.]
In the Pokémon world, survival followed the law of the jungle. White Ash's Butterfree even had a stylish scarf—so from an aesthetic standpoint, it might've had the edge. Which meant there was only one real difference—strength.
[Ash: Still… he's gonna have to make that choice, isn't he? Can he really let Butterfree go for love?]
[Misty: Hmm, hard to say. Black Ash treats his Pokémon more like family than anyone else. He said it himself—each one he catches, he treats as kin.]
[Brock: Yeah, this goodbye could be permanent. He might not be able to go through with it.]
The two Butterfree twirled joyfully in the air. But peace never lasted long—Team Rocket showed up to ruin it again. Ash's Butterfree immediately dropped its weights, unleashed a Hurricane attack, and blasted Team Rocket off into the sky without mercy. The pink Butterfree, seeing this display of strength, grew even fonder of him. Brock, however, looked uneasy. "Ash… are you going to let Butterfree migrate south with the rest of the swarm?" "Huh? Why migrate south?" "They just said it, didn't they? Butterfree migrate south every year to breed and raise their young." Ash didn't show any hint of conflict. He looked from the two dancing Butterfree to Brock, scratching his head.
"Hey, Brock, I've got a question—do Butterfree have to migrate south to breed?" "Not exactly. It's just that, when the season comes, most of them fly south as a group to lay eggs there." "But that's for wild Butterfree, right? And not all of them do that anyway! Otherwise, where do all the Caterpie and Metapod in Viridian Forest come from?" He pulled out an empty Poké Ball and waved it toward his Butterfree. The two Butterfree landed gently in front of him. "Hey, Butterfree, do you like her?" His Butterfree nodded.
"And you?" The pink Butterfree nodded as well. "In that case… I'll ask Professor Oak to build a cozy area behind the lab for the two of you. You can live there and raise your family safely." He smiled at the pink Butterfree. "So, would you like to become my Pokémon—for the sake of the one you love?" He set the Poké Ball before her, letting her choose.
If she refused, he'd figure something else out—but migrating south wasn't the only option. Ash believed there was no need to force himself into painful goodbyes. The moment he set the Poké Ball down, the pink Butterfree tapped it without hesitation.
Click! Capture complete. Ash quickly blocked the Poké Ball's automatic transport with his Pokédex. While a Trainer could only carry six Pokémon, the system allowed a short grace period before an automatic transfer. If the pink Butterfree got sent away immediately, his Butterfree would probably cry its eyes out. He released her again and tossed the Poké Ball lightly in his hand, grinning. "See? Problem solved. I really hate having to choose." "Because making a choice means giving something up—and that's why I've always tried to be someone who keeps it all!"
Author's Note:
That last line doesn't just refer to Pokémon~
As for what else it might mean… heh, I'll let you guess.
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