Butterfly and the Beast

"Butterfly and the Beast" is the twenty-third episode of Butterfly Valley (1998 series). It is loosely based on "Oni," the ninty-sixth episode of the 1969 series.
==Synopsis==
Dr. Flutterstein has created a new monster in his laboratory, but something went wrong when it went through a rampage in Butterfly Valley. Meanwhile, a young butterfly fairy named Spike befriends it, unbeknownst to his sister Bluebell, who seeks to eliminate the creature in no time.
==Plot==
The episode opens with a view over a laboratory somewhere outside Butterfly Valley as lightning strikes and thunder roars. We see a butterfly fairy scientist named Viktor Flutterstein, who is creating something strange as he laughs hysterically. Once he finishes, the complete product turns out to be a huge and ferocious creature, whom he named "Oni."
Meanwhile in Rose and Petunia's house, Rose is reading a storybook about a young girl befriending a rather ferocious-looking creature, then Petunia came and interrupts her. She notices the book Rose is reading, then they hear a ringing sound.
The twins went downstairs and Rose opens the door. They find out that Mackenzie and Ernie are inviting them to a science experiment at school.
Flutterstein tries to feed Oni some grilled salmon, but he throws it away, then he tries to get him to exercise by offering him a dumbbell, but he literally eats it. At the last resort, Flutterstein uses a hammer to check on Oni's knee bone, which actually ended up hurting his leg. Flutterstein still hasn't got the idea to tame him, but when he looks around the shelfs, Oni suddenly went missing!
At the science class in Sideview Beach Middle School, Rose mixes some chemicals while Petunia tries to make an Elephant's Toothpaste, but when she did, it splattered all over the place. Celia cries while the other kids try to clean the cream off themselves.
Meanwhile in Butterfly Valley, Oni began his rampage by jumping over buildings, indulging food and chasing butterfly fairies who are screaming in terror.
Oni soon targeted Bluebell and her family. He peers through the window, noticing Spike walking out of his room as he goes downstairs. Oni then peers through another window as he notices Bluebell and her family having dinner in the kitchen.
When Spike turns around, he literally drops his food, only to be saved by Bluebell with her levitation spell. She tells her brother not to drop his food, but he does not listen to her, as he notices Oni through the window.
Spike walks out the house and greets Oni, who pushes him with his finger. Spike tells him not to act rude to people like him, then Oni tickles Spike, who prompts him to stop.
Bluebell walks out of the house and notices her brother playing with Oni. She comes to confront Spike, but Oni mumbles something like "hello", scaring Bluebell in the process. She runs to the house as Spike and Oni watch her and shrug.
The science class is over and the kids exit the school to return home, then the magic flower in Rose's pocket glows, signaling her and Petunia that Butterfly Valley is in danger once again, so Rose picks the flower up and the twins transport to Butterfly Valley.
They were informed by Bluebell that a monster is invading Butterfly Valley, but they notice Oni playing with Spike. The twins greet Spike and Oni, then Finn came nearby and was initially freaked out when he notice Oni. Spike asks Finn to join him playing with Oni and he unwillingly accepts his request, along with the twins.
Spike tries to get his sister to join the group for playtime, but Bluebell, disgruntled by Oni, refuses to play with him until the monster is gone.
Bluebell, thinking that Oni kidnapped Rose, Petunia, Finn and Spike, returns home to inform her parents and Trent that the twins, Finn and Spike got kidnapped by a monster. Aldith tells her not to worry about the news.
Rose, Petunia, Finn, Spike and Oni are playing hopscotch at the playground when Bluebell finds the group and prepares to eliminate Oni from Butterfly Valley, but the twins stop her and Rose tells her that Oni is their friend, causing Bluebell to realize that Oni, in fact, had his leg hurt due to Dr. Flutterstein, his master, squishing his knee with a hammer.
Bluebell's parents and Trent came and notice Oni, who kisses Aldith to her disgust. Laine told Oni that Aldith is his wife, to which Spike retorted that he is just playing with her, then the butterfly fairies soon gather up taking pictures of Oni and try to feed him food.
Many news stations, including the Butterfly News Network and B-SPAN, and several newspapers report on the sighting of Oni in Butterfly Valley.
Oni soon began to weep due to him missing his master and Bluebell confesses him, then he holds up a picture of him and Dr. Flutterstein posing together and shows her his sprained leg. Bluebell realized that she should never he must make up with his master.
The group sends Oni back to the laboratory, where Flutterstein felt glad that he returned. He apologizes to Oni for not hurting his leg, but also his feelings. The group are also happy and decide to leave the laboratory, so they bid farewell to Flutterstein and Oni, but Spike and Finn began to weep as they started to miss Oni, so Bluebell quickly heads back to the laboratory and asks Flutterstein to give the boys a pair of stuffed dolls resembling Oni. She thanks him for the dolls and delivers them to Spike and Finn, who are now very happy with the dolls.
Spike and Finn play with their stuffed dolls and the twins decide to return home, so they bid farewell to the butterfly fairies and Rose picks up the magic flower so she and Petunia can return to Sideview Beach.
The kids are wondering where Rose and Petunia are, when they notice them running by. The kids are glad that the twins are back home. Petunia shows the kids two additional Oni stuffed dolls, surprising them. Chip grabs one of the dolls while Petunia keeps the other for herself and the kids laugh as the episode ends.
==Trivia==
*This episode is included in the VHS compilation video The Best of Butterfly Valley, Vol. 5.
*The plot for this episode is similar to the plot for "Magic Lessons."
*The title of this episode is a parody of Beauty and the Beast; the word "Butterfly" refers to Spike, while the word "Beast" refers to Oni.
*Viktor Flutterstein is a parody of Viktor Frankenstein, the main character of the 1818 novel Frankenstein, or, the Modern Prometheus.
**Oni could also be a parody of the monster Frankenstein created in said novel.
*Oni previously appeared in the eponymous episode of the 1969 series,
*Strangely, this is the first episode in the whole series (and to the lesser extent, the entire franchise) where the trolls are absent in the story.
**They sometimes make minor appearances in some episodes, but not this one.
*This episode marks Finn's second appearance in the 1998 series, after the series premiere "Welcome to Butterfly Valley."
Category:Episodes