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1! Surskit Line
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3!! Morphs [Oak Catalog #]
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5* Surskit [#283]
6Surskit 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 coloration that encases the head and thorax, and a set of four thin, flexible legs that are the Pokémon's means of locomotion on both ground and water. Thanks to the [[SquareCubeLaw legs' micro-scale 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.
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8Although 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 on certain pond-inhabiting microorganisms.
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10A 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.
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12* Masquerain [#284]
13Masquerain is the evolved form of Surskit and is morphologically different from it. This bug-like Pokémon has four small wings that grant it the incredible ability to not only fly laterally without needing to immediately rotate the body, but also to remain stationary in midair. Although lacking in armour 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 a whim to escape predation or [[AttackItsWeakPoint directly pursue the weak spot of its enemy]].
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15The wings are capable of limited rotation that thanks to their thickness allows them to function as sort of quadrupedal legs in certain instances where Masquerain is bound to the ground -- for example, when eating. Due to their shape, they are also very prone to losing their qualities when wet, thus [[InsistentTerminology sharply dropping]] Masquerain's ability to maintain stable flight.
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17On the top of its head, Masquerain sports ''two'' structures, each one comprised of a main antenna and a fold of two-layered, open-to-air membranous tissue ornamented with various eye-based patterns. These patterns with interesting colours have earned Masquerain the common name of the "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owl_butterfly owl butterfly]]" Pokémon and (as of more recent times) the "[[ContinuityNod eye ball]]" Pokémon.
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19!! Notable Biology
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21Surskit's most incredible trait, and the one that will almost instantly catch attention from Trainers, is its ability to move on the water's surface as [[WalkOnWater any other Pokémon would do on ground]]. This is achieved 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 non-permeable 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.
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23By selectively applying pressure to the oil pillows or forcing its legs closer or further 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 approach a nearby object of its interest.
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25Because of all these abilities and even when not explicitly being swim-capable, Surskit is widely considered a ''[[ShoutOut swift swimmer]]'' that can gain enough speed and agility in ample bodies of water as to outmaneuver and move preemptively on most foes.
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27Surskit'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 bathes the cap's hairs; this has an effect of making grabbing a Surskit from above more difficult, thus protecting it from direct aerial predation, and lessening the effects of direct sunlight on its skin. 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. [[MythologyGag Heracross]] and Venonat/Venomoth seem to be more attracted to the syrup-like substance.
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29Masquerain, 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, it 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 deltoidal in shape, made of thick porous tissue and affixed to the lower part of the body just like Surskit's legs were. Small [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calypter calypter]] structures 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.
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31Another 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 [[BizarreAlienBiology confuse with Masquerain's actual wings]] are actually a two-layered membrane that hangs from their long ''antennae''. Made of keratin tissue with vacuoles that connect to the exterior and featuring [[ShoutOut captivating]] designs, these "fake wings" actually function as a device to regulate Masquerain's flight speed; their most important function, however, is that of supporting the offense and defense of the Pokémon with sophisticated and [[OhCrap intimidating]] optical effects, plus their patterns that [[EyesDoNotBelongThere imitate the eyes of other species]]. This works thanks to the microscopic-level, [[http://opa.yale.edu/news/article.aspx?id=7623 3D-boomerang-like design of the cells]], allowing Masquerain to reflect and under some circumstances emit [[AmazingTechnicolorWildlife light in different angles, shades, and even]] ''intensities'' for different adaptation strategies, up to and including: [[RuleOfThree captivation]] of other bugs by the highly-changing designs, distraction of a pursing foe due to the sudden change of the (apparent) colour and shape of its prey, [[OverlyLongGag intimidation]] of a foe by the apparent focus of the "alien" eyes, saturation of 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 displays of visual elaboration.
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33!! Habitat
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35Surskit 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. 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.
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37Due 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.
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39!! Diet
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41Both 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.
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43!! Hazards
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45Surskit and Masquerain are particularly peaceful species -- even considering Masquerain's overall appearance. They make their living by picking observation spots and recurringly reuniting to bait invaders away from their area.
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47As with any Pokémon, though, they are far from innocent. A Masquerain may surreptitiously infiltrate another Pokémon's nest near water and tidy a hidden space for its eggs nearby, taking advantage of the relative protection surface-bound flowers and rocks offer to grant its offspring quick access to food once they develop. Both Surskit and Masquerain will bait a predator to a relatively cramped space where other individuals 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 strangers to attacking a Pokémon's recently hatched offspring to bait or distract larger prey.
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49Surskit 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 of an annoyance due to their relative sense of "entitlement" towards their landscape features, as well as a trained Masquerain's eagerness to [[HeadPet pick its Trainer's head]] as a selected observation spot.
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51Both member of the species are known to steal small, relatively flat objects like photographs, fruit peels, paper clips, and coins that they use to secure their waterbound strongholds as well as augment their overall surface. Because of how structurally important the diverse objects they collect become, they are more than reticent to give them back and will usually gather to defend them fiercely if any attempt to steal back is made.
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53As a particular example of the above, after the release of the Regi Pokémon in Hoenn a couple of years ago, reports indicate that passing Trainers found the ponds near the golem's resting spot almost fully covered with leaves and peeled bark during the course of the autumn.
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55!! Courting and Childrearing
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57In the works.
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59!! Social Structure
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61In the works.
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63!! Training
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65Both 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.
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67Surskit 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. [[AndKnowingIsHalfTheBattle 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.
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69As 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.
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71Trainers should also make an effort to get used to being close to their Pokémon, as while [[BigBrotherIsWatching Big Masquerain Eyes Are Watching]] the Trainer will not want to feel scrutinized by their Pokémon.
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73----
74
75[-Article contribution by '''@/SilentReverence'''.-]
76
77[-See other entries [[JustForFun/ThePokedexExtendedFanonEdition HERE]]-]

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