While on route to Saffron City, Ash and his friends arrive at the sea and they look down at it from a cliff. Ash notices a flock of Butterfree preparing for the season of love nearby. Brock told Ash that if he didn't let his Butterfree cross the ocean, it couldn't leave any offspring. Ash was determined to be a good 'parent' and told Butterfree to go look for a mate.

Misty was surprised that there was a hot air balloon available as they rented one to go up in the air. Ash's Butterfree was released to go look for a mate and after a few minutes of looking, Ash was surprised it didn't find any other Butterfree that it liked. Brock explains that it could be the fact that there wasn't any that was its type.

A bunch more balloons appear with Butterfree trainers who released their Pokémon to find their mates. Brock explains that this is normal for trainers to come there at this time of year to release their Butterfree. A girl trainer releases her Butterfree and Brock instantly tells Ash's Butterfree to chose her Butterfree as its mate. Misty tells Ash's Butterfree to ignore Brock and just continue looking.

The Pink Butterfree was love at first sight for Ash's Butterfree when it went looking again for a mate in the flock of Butterfree. It tried to impress the Pink Butterfree with its moves and courtship dance but the Pink Butterfree was initially unimpressed and slapped Ash's Butterfree so it would leave her alone. Ash's Butterfree quickly leaves the flock and hides in the nearby forest.

Ash and friends gets out of the balloon and goes looking for his Butterfree. Ash finds it behind a tree sad. Brock sympathies with Ash's Butterfree and he realizes what its going through. Misty is quick to joke at Brock's expense though as he knows his track record when it comes to love and girls. Misty then gives it some advice of her own. Brock then gives Ash's Butterfree a scarf hoping that its new look might help.

Ash's Butterfree goes looking for the Pink Butterfree again and Ash tells it to use its moves to try to impress the Pink Butterfree but its not impressed. Suddenly a helicopter appears and Team Rocket does their motto. They then extend a giant net and begin collecting all the Butterfree in it. Ash's Butterfree tries to stop them but it cannot but it follows after Team Rocket as they make their getaway.

Ash's Butterfree returned to Ash after it found out where Team Rocket went. Ash and his friends bust the window and do the Rocket Gang motto. After the flock of Butterfree got captured by Team Rocket, the Pink Butterfree's attitude towards Ash's Butterfree changed after it saw just how hard it worked for free it and the rest of the Butterfree. Misty's Starmie attacked Team Rocket while Ash's Butterfree released the Butterfree flock.

Team Rocket get back into their helicopter and try to recapture the Butterfree flock but Pikachu got onto Ash's Butterfree. Pikachu then jumped onto helicopter and Thunderbolted it cause it to explode sending Team Rocket blasting off again.

The Pink Butterfree later decided it liked Ash's Butterfree after it realized that was a great Pokémon and the two of them ended up leaving to cross the ocean and have offspring. Butterfree was sad to leave Ash but it was now leaving to start its own family. After releasing Butterfree, Ash and his friends continued their journey towards Saffron City.

English Official Summary

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?

French Official Summary

Lorsque nos amis aperçoivent une nuée de Papilusion planer au-dessus de l'océan, Pierre, en tant qu'éleveur de Pokémon, explique qu'il s'agit de la période de ponte des Papilusion.

German Official Summary

Als die Gruppe einen Schwarm Smettbos über das Meer fliegen sieht, erklärt Rocko als Pokémon-Züchter den anderen, dass die Smettbos zum Eier legen fliegen.

Italian Official Summary

Quando Ash e amici scorgono dei Butterfree in volo sopra l'oceano nella stagione degli amori, Ash decide di liberare il suo. Ma dopo essere stato rifiutato una volta, riuscirà il Butterfree di Ash a trovare una compagna?

Portuguese Official Summary

Quando nossos heróis vêem um grupo de Butterfree voando sobre o oceano, Ash decide soltar seu próprio Butterfree. Após ser rejeitado uma vez, poderá o Butterfree de Ash ganhar o coração de sua queridinha rosa?

Finnish Official Summary

Seurueen nähdessä parven Butterfree-Pokémoneja lentämässä meren yllä Ash päättää vapauttaa oman Butterfreensä. Jouduttuaan jo kerran torjutuksi, saako Ashin Butterfree nyt voitettua vaaleanpunaisen rakastettunsa sydämen?

Spanish Latin America Official Summary

Cuando los chicos ven a un grupo de Butterfree volando sobre el océano, Ash decide liberar a su propio Butterfree. Luego de ser rechazado una vez, ¿podrá el Butterfree de Ash ganar el corazón de su rosado amor?

Spanish Official Summary

Cuando los asistentes a la fiesta ven una bandada de Butterfree volando sobre el océano, Brock, que es criador de Pokémon, explica que los Buttefree están celebrando la estación del amor.

English Great Britain Official Summary

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?

Dutch Official Summary

Als onze helden een groep Butterfree boven zee ziet vliegen, besluit Ash om zijn eigen Butterfree vrij te laten. Hij wordt eerst afgewezen, maar zal de Butterfree van Ash het hart van zijn roze geliefde weten te stelen?

Norwegian Official Summary

I det våre venner ser en flokk Butterfree fly over sjøen, bestemmer Ash seg for å sette fri sin egen Butterfree. Etter å ha blitt avvist en gang før, klarer Ash sin Butterfree å vinne hjertet til sin rosa elskling?

Swedish Official Summary

När sällskapet ser en flock Butterfree flyga över havet, bestämmer sig Ash för att låta sin egen Butterfree bli fri. Efter att ha blivit avvisad en gång, kan Ashs Butterfree vinna sin rosa älsklings hjärta?

Danish Official Summary

Da vore helte får øje på en flok Butterfree, som flyver hen over havet, beslutter Ash sig for at sætte sin egen Butterfree i frihed. Ashs Butterfree er blevet afvist to gange, men kan den vinde sin lyserøde udkårnes hjerte?