• Surskit [#283]

Surskit is a small water-bound bug Pokémon with a simple body yet efficient for quick motion. The body is comprised of a main round body of light blue colouration that encases the head and thorax, and a set of four thin, flexible legs that are the Pokémon's means of locomotion in both ground and water. Thanks to the legs microscale design and its overall weight distribution, Surskit can not only walk on water but also literally skate on it as it performs near-instant, short distance dashes.

Although Surskit's main body is heavy enough to sink on water, it still gains enough from buoyancy and the ability to “stick” to the water surface that Surskit can risk letting itself be bathed and covered by water completely for short lapses of time – among other things, this is how it feeds of certain pond-inhabiting microorganisms.

A yellow cap of hairy tissue ornaments the Pokémon's head, surrounding a single antenna that secretes substances to help Surskit protect itself and that gives it an identifying aroma. Surskit has two small eyes of limited, but still good peripheral vision.

• Masquerain [#284]

Masquerain is the evolved form of Surskit and is morphologically different from it. This buglike Pokémon has four small wings that grant it the incredible ability to not only flight in any lateral direction without need to immediately rotate the body but also remain stationary in midair. Although lacking in armoring or offensive capabilities that other Pokémon have, the short-range advantages of Masquerain's design make it capable of changing its direction, speed and orientation at whim to escape predation or directly pursue the weak spot of its enemy.

The wings are capable of limited rotation that thanks to their thickness allows the wings to function as sort of quadrupedal legs in certain instances where Masquerain is forced to the ground, like when eating. Due to their shape they are also very prone to losing their qualities when wet, thus greatly difficulting Masquerain's ability to maintain flight.

On the top of its head Masquerain sports two structures comprosed each one of a main antenna and a fold of two-layered, open-to-air membranous tissue ornamented with various spoteye-like patterns. These design patterns with interesting colours have earned Masquerain the common name of “owl butterfly” Pokémon or more commonly “eye ball” Pokémon.

Surskit's most incredible trait, and the one that will almost instantly catch attention from Trainers, is its ability to move on water surface as any other Pokémon would do on ground. This it achieves thanks to the interaction between the tips of its legs and the very surface of water, as well as the way the legs are affixed to the body. Surskit's legs are made of a nonpermeable skin that is uniform at microscale and can be bathed by an oil the legs secrete from glands near the bottom of the thorax. At the bottom of each leg there is a set of microscopic structures of folded tissue that collect some of the oil and form a sort of “oil pillow” atop of which the leg itself stands while the Pokémon strides on water. This provides a double-layer mechanism (oil density plus surface tension) that grants Surskit mobility on top of even soft currents of water.

By selectively applying pressure to the oil pillows or forcing its legs closer or farer from each other, forming elastic arcs, Surskit can change its direction almost instantly while walking on water. The oil pillows provide enough contact surface that the Pokémon can, under certain circumstances, let the main body “press” against a wave crest in order to pull objects nearer.

Because of all these abilities and even when not explicitly being swim-capable, Surskit is widely considered a “swift swimmer” that can gain enough speed and agility in ample bodies of water as to outmaneuver and move preemptively on most foes.

Surskit's cap antenna helps the Pokémon measure the time of the day as well as the atmospheric pressure, two key factors in its ability to stride on water. It also secretes an oily substance that baths the cap's hairs; this has an effect of making grabbing a Surskit from above fairly more difficult, thus protecting it from direct aerial predation. The oily secretion is essentially made of nutrients and gland secretions that Surskit is in need to dispose of quickly and thus it can still attract a number of Pokémon that happen to like its taste. Heracross and Venonat/Venomoth seem to be more attracted to the syrup-like substance.

Masquerain, just like its preevolution, is a strange Pokémon whose most interesting traits are related to its incredible mobility. Despite its small wings relative to the body size, Masquerain can move swiftly and consistently even when pushed by air currents. More importantly, Masquerain can literally hover in place and rotate its body in any of the three axes in calm enough winds. The mystery lies in the disposition and shape of the wings which are deltoideal in shape, made of thick porose tissue and affixed to the lower part of the body just like Surskit's legs were. Small calypter surround the base of the wings and push some air out of the way, helping cancel the lateral currents from one wing that may affect the others and providing extra stability.

Another particular characteristic that may seem to strongly clash with the above for the uninitiated in Bug Pokémon physiology is the large wing-like structures that emerge at the sides of Masquerain's thorax. Those structures that many people confuse by Masquerain's wings are actually a two-layered membrane that hangs from their long antennæ. Made of cheratin tissue with vacoulas that connect to the exterior and featuring captivating designs, these “fake wings” actually function as a device to regulate Masquerain's flight speed, as well as contribute to the offense and defense of the Pokémon with luring and intimidating optical effects added to its sophisticated design that imitate the eyes of other species. This works thanks to the microscopic-level, 3D-boomerang-like design of the cells allowing Masquerain to reflect light in different angles, shades and even intensities in order to use different environmental adaption strategies up to and including: captivation of other bugs by the highly-changing designs, distraction of a pursing foe due to the sudden change of the (apparent) color and shape of its prey, intimidation of a foe by the apparent focus of the “alien” eyes, saturation the sight of a nearby opponent by quickly shuffling the frequency of light reflected and emitted towards the opponent and, of course, attraction of potential sexual partners by arranging public displays of visual elaboration.

Surskit mostly inhabits water ponds in near-tropical areas. As they need a firm surface to both feed and rest, they are easier to find in thickets or nests of other Pokémon that are already close to water, like Wingull. Masquerain also inhabit near-tropical areas, but spread over a large area and move quickly, as they need to avoid both intense rain and intense sunlight.

Due to their need to protect themselves from rain and cold in order to be capable of flight, Masquerain gather around man-made constructions like churches and boulevards when they sense rain is coming. For this very reason, it is also unwise to try and shoo them if they come to a building all of a sudden, since if they have chosen to do, so rain is close enough that they'd rather fight for their spots than try to find another one.

Both Surskit and Masquerain feed off of small insects, flowers and nutrients that are found floating in the water, and decaying fruit that has recently fell from trees. Surskit can also feed itself from the microorganisms that live in small ponds, and it is not uncommon in the city outskirts that after a long and rainy night, ponds born from street holes and gardening arrangements are boiling with competing Surskit that sometimes appear to have come from nowhere. Masquerain, like Beautifly, sometimes snipe other bug Pokémon.

Surskit and Masquerain are particularly peaceful species – even considering Masquerain's overall appearance. They make their live by picking observation spots and recurrently reuniting to bait invaders away from their area.

As with any Pokémon they are far from innocent though. A Surskit may subrepticiously infiltrate another Pokémon's nest near water and tidy a hidden space for its eggs nearby, taking advantage of the relative protection surfacebound flowers and rocks offer to grant its offspring quick access to food once they develop. Masquerain will bait a predator to a relatuvely cramped space where other Masquerain may be waiting, ready to strike on spots in the opponent's body they have studied already during their younger age. Most importantly, Masquerain are not stranger to attacking a Pokémon's recently hatched offspring to bait or distract larger prey.

Surskit and Masquerain pose no immediate danger to a human Trainer or any person who spends most of their time close to their habitat; if anything, they will rather be more an annoyance due to their study of habit as well as a trained Masquerain's eagerness to nest on its Trainer's head as a selected observation spot.

Both member of the species are known to steal small, relatively flat objects like photographies, nut carcasses, paper clips and coins that they use to secure their waterbound strongholds as well as augment their overall surface. Because of how structurally important these elements are. After the release of the Regi Pokémon in Hoenn a couple of years ago, passing Trainers found that the ponds near the golem's resting spot had grown almost fully covered with leaves and peeled bark during the course of the autumn.

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Both members of the line can be easily trained, although the relative uniqueness of their type traits makes it a surprise to novice trainers as to what attacks can a Surskit or Masquerain learn, or how they move to evade attacks.

Surskit can be highly elusive on water, and because of their nature, they like to play fetching games (so long as you allow them to keep the prize when they need it). It can be sometimes frustrating to a Trainer swimming in a pool or a river who after coming back to the surface can not find their Surskit no matter how much they try. Here is a quick advice to locate your Surskit: he is always watching you; let yourself be submerged again and repeatedly tap the surface of the water with your fingers while underwater. After a while (support yourself on another, trusted Water Pokémon to provide extra oxygen if needed), you'll notice your Surskit drawing spiral-like curves as it closes to your position.

As Masquerain can use their visual patterns for a diverse array of both battle and non-battle strategies (very appreciated in Contests), it is recommended for Trainers looking to specialize in Masquerain to acquire the standard-sanctioned Technical sets that teach and train a more fine-grained usage of the visual patterns.

Trainers should also make an effort to get used to being close to their Pokémon, as while Big Masquerain Eyes Are Watching the Trainer will not want to feel scrutinized by their Pokémon.

Original article by VeniaSilente (%userpage(Venia Silente)%). Contributions pending.