Drifloon Line
Morphs (Oak Catalog #)
- Drifloon (#425)
- Drifblim (#426)
Physical Description
Drifloon is a Ghost-Flying type Pokémon. It is .4 meters tall, and weighs 1.2 kilograms. It resembles a purple balloon. On its head is a small tuft of white fluff that resembles a cloud. It has two large black eyes, with a big yellow “X” between them. Dangling from it are two tendrils, each ending in a heart-shaped tip.
Drifblim resembles its previous evolution greatly, with only several changes. First of all, it is now 1.2 meters tall, and weighs 15 kilograms. Its body now resembles a hot air balloon as opposed to a child’s balloon, and its “skin,” is much tougher than as a Drifloon. The bottom half of its body is a lighter purple than its upper body, and ends in a large red protrusion. There are several grooves running along its body to decrease air resistance. Its tuft is now much larger, and its eyes are smaller and red. Its tendrils have been replaced with four long flaps, ending in jagged yellow tips, which it uses as rudders and as weapons.
Drifloon have been, on very rare occasions, spotted with yellow replacing the purple, and cyan replacing the yellow. These specimens evolve into Drifblim with a similar coloring mutation, and a green protrusion instead of a red one. These mutations are highly prized by collectors.
Notable Biology
Drifloon, like many Ghost Pokémon, has integrated itself with a foreign object, in this case a balloon. They move by breathing. Drifloon sucks air into its balloon body, inflating, and then deflates, propelling itself through the air like a squid. However, as Drifloon is very light, it is also blown around by air currents, and in general, a Drifloon that is not holding on to something will have very little control over its movements.
Drifblim has added material to its balloon, usually bits of grass and cloth. It now moves by expelling a constant stream of hot air from the red protrusion on its underbelly. Although Drifblim is heavier, and has more control over its movements than its pre-evolutionary stage, it is still susceptible to being blown off-course by strong winds.
Both Drifloon and Drifblim, having absorbed very little in the way of foreign material, have highly developed phasing ability, although Drifblim is not quite as good at it as Drifloon is, the larger and thicker balloon being harder to phase with.
Habitat
Both Drifloon and Drifblim are primarily Sinnoh dwellers, and they are extremely rare. The entire Sinnoh population lives near Floaroma Town, in the forest. From time to time, a Drifloon will be blown into the nearby Valley Windworks. Curiously, Drifblim (although not Drifloon) are occasionally found in areas of Unova. This has led to theories that they migrate, although there is no proof either way.
Diet
Drifloon and Drifblim will both eat Berries. However, like most Ghost Pokémon, they prefer to feed off emotion, specifically fear and confusion. Both members of the line enjoy playing pranks on other beings to evoke the fear response; however, the startling fear of a Drifloon suddenly appearing in front of you is not usually enough to satiate them. As such, Drifloon and Drifblim regularly do something that they have found to be a perfect source of this.
They snatch children.
(For more information on this, see Hazards.)
Hazards
As explained previously, Drifloon and Drifblim snatch children. Younger Drifloon will attempt to physically drag children away, but as they weigh less than three pounds, this usually has the expected result. Adult Drifloon have a much more effective technique. A group of Drifloon will tie themselves together, all but one closing their eyes so as to resemble a cluster of balloons. Young children will follow these, and the Drifloon will lead them deep into the forest, using their combined wind pulses to prevent them being blown off-course, and then leave them there to helplessly wander around the forest, with no clue how to find their way back home, for long periods of time (Usually for around a week, although there are accounts of snatchings lasting up to a month). In the meantime, clusters of Drifloon will flock to the village to feed off the fear and confusion produced by Floaromans over the missing child, while others will follow the child around to feed off of his or her increasing panic and despair. After the child has been returned, Drifloon will not bother them again, as the child will most likely not follow them again.
Drifblim, however, need a great deal more fear to survive. As such, they take a much more active role in the production of fear. From time to time, the Drifblim living in the forest will fly over Floaroma Town, firing down Shadow Balls and chilling, obscura-augmented winds, titled “Ominous Wind” by Trainers. These blitzes produce enough fear for the Drifblim to absorb. Interestingly, there are almost never casualties from these attacks, as Drifblim prefer to leave all victims alive so as to leave maximum fear to absorb. However, the Drifblim have no qualms against damaging property, and will frequently smash objects in order to further startle and enrage Floaroma Town's residents.
As for abilities, Drifloon and Drifblim are not especially powerful Pokémon. As such, it is advised to always carry a strong Pokémon when in or near Floaroma Town, particularly a Dark or Electric-type one.
[Trainer’s Note: Do not keep a member of the Drifloon Line if you are not very easily scared. If their pranks fail to glean them the fear they need to survive, they are very likely to attack you in hopes of food.]
Courting and Childrearing
Drifloon do not breed in the wild. Once a year, male Drifblim will perform a complicated aerial dance. If a female feels that a male’s dance is satisfactory, she will fly up and attack her chosen male. Scientists believe that this battle is a test to make sure that the male is powerful, and will contribute good genetics to their child. These aerial battles have been seen to go on for hours on end. They almost never result in casualties, as the battling Drifblim limit the strength of their attacks. Eventually, when the female decides the male has proven himself, she will call off the battle, the mating pair will link flaps, and they will enter obscura, returning with an egg.
Drifblim care for their children for a week after their birth, teaching them all of the skills necessary to their life. The baby Drifloon will then be released into the world, and will grow up in a matter of days. Drifloon that fail to do this usually die, punctured on branches, sliced apart by careless Flying-types, or killed by humans. (See “In Human Society,” for information on this.)
Social Structure
Drifloon do not often associate with each other outside of a hunt, and Drifblim do not associate outside of a blitz or mating season.
In Human Society
Drifloon and Drifblim have a very bad reputation in human society, due to their feeding habits. For a long time, there were rumors that Drifloon dragged children to the underworld, but this was eventually proved to be an urban legend. However, both Drifloon and Drifblim are unarguably dangerous, and many people have petitioned for their extermination.
Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), many Floaroma residents have spoken up in favor of the ghost-balloons, although not out of any goodwill for them. These people are almost all businesspeople, who take advantage of the tourist trade Drifloon bring (Drifloon and Drifblim are very rare, and many people come to Floaroma in hopes of catching one). Their arguments are that although Drifloon and Drifblim are scary, they have not yet harmed anybody, and that killing them would present a far more difficult task than perhaps first thought.
Despite these arguments, many residents of Floaroma still regard members of the Drifloon line as evil, and will kill them on sight.
Written by memyselfandI2.
