Drifblim
It was a gray dreary day, at least by most opinions. Small raindrops pattered down through the leaves, on the benches, across the lake, off the Drifblim's elastic skin. Although a steady wind pushed him around, his large purple ribbons were wrapped around a secure wooden sign that warned human hikers of wild Pokemon on the pathways. Although it was dim and dreary, it was still daytime. The Drifblim dozed, not entirely asleep.
The various patters of rain could have lulled him to sleep, he considered. There were the plops of the drops hitting leaves, the plips of drops hitting the lake water, the pluffs of the drops hitting his skin and echoing through his balloon body interior. Even though the raindrops were cool, it was soothing too, running down his sides and off his ribbons. And since he wasn't resting near a city, the water had a clean scent, washing away anything that had stuck to him in his travels. He wasn't a ghost of eternal rest, but he could get a temporary rest given by the rain.
Unfortunately, a shrill voice broke the serenity of the rain. "Mom, there's another one!"
Drifblim came alert to that. He caused his body to vanish. When he opened his eyes to look around, there was a pair of humans, a boy and a woman. Even with his limited encounters with humans, he could tell that this pair was overdressed for a walk in the park. Most humans in the wild areas he spent the days in wore simple clothing, maybe layers if it were cold. This pair had fancy shirts, fancy jackets, fancy pants, fancy shoes, fancy hats, and even fancy matching umbrellas. The woman was a great deal frillier than the boy, but his outfit had several different stripe patterns. And despite the rain and mud, they seemed perfectly clean and bright.
The woman looked at Drifblim, where the boy was pointing. "What is it? A Water Pokemon?"
"No, it was another one of those balloon Pokemon," the boy said, glaring at where he had seen Driflblim. "I want one."
"If I knew what these balloon Pokemon were, I'd give you one," the woman said, giving him a reassuring pat on the hand. "But why don't you get an Eevee? I know a breeder, so we can get one easily."
"I don't want an Eevee; I want one of those weird balloons that disappear."
"Or a Magby," she tried. It seemed like she was trying to humor him, but couldn't give him the vanishing Drifblims. "I hear Fire-types are quite popular with boys your age."
"But I want a unique Pokemon! Can't I have a Pokeball to capture one with? I'm sure yours could make them appear. That one was right on that sign there."
"You should get a real Pokemon," the woman said, but she immediately winced as she realized that had been the wrong thing to say.
"You never do what I want!" the boy shrieked, starting to bawl noisily. It was of the precise tone to be as annoying as possible with no real hurt involved.
Feeling the shriek shake his skin, Drifblim winced and tried to pull himself to behind the sign. Although it blocked his sight of them, it didn't block the noise that well. The woman tried to calm him down, but had no authority to her voice. "That's not true," she told him, sounding flustered. "We'll get you whatever Pokemon you want, but I've never heard of this balloon one you've been talking about."
Drifblim hummed to himself, trying to block them out. Eventually, the woman managed to drag the child away. He focused on the raindrops for a while, in order to forget the interruption. When things had calmed down, he became visible again and dozed off.
-+-
As the clouds blocked out the entire sky, the only sign of sundown was an increase in darkness. Drifblim knew it instinctively, though. He opened his eyes and focused his mind. While he did so, he noticed the spoiled boy had come back, this time with a Growlithe. They were trying to sneak up on him.
When it became apparent that he saw them, Growlithe nipped at the boy's jacket and tugged. "I don't think this is a good idea, young master," the canine said. "We should leave him be."
"Get down," the boy said, pushing Growlithe away. Then he grinned at Drifblim as if he had already won. "I've got you now! Even if you vanish, you're mine!"
Drifblim vanished anyhow, not quite ready to take off for the evening. The boy ran over and grabbed where he had seen the ribbons. Since the Pokemon could see them, he let go of the sign and let the wind move him towards the pathway. He took great care to avoid brushing against the boy.
"Growlithe, sniff him out," the boy ordered.
"I belong to your mother, not you," the canine replied.
Although humans couldn't understand Pokespeak, the boy figured it out. "Do it or I'll tell Mom about who's been digging up her garden."
"Oh fine." Growlithe sniffed around, then caught the balloon Pokemon's scent. He grabbed one of Drifblim's ribbons in his mouth, wagging his tail.
"Excuse me," Drifblim said, "but I have to be going."
Shaking his head, Growlithe let the boy take the invisible Drifblim's ribbon. "Sorry, but I've got to do as he says, or he'll whine horribly."
"I've got you!" the boy shouted in triumph, jumping up. "Now show yourself."
"That's not a proper reason," Drifblim said, making himself visible again. No point in continuing to hide.
"Everyone does what the young master says, even my real master," Growlithe replied.
"You're coming with me," the boy said, taking out a Pokeball.
"I won't," Drifblim said. Then he began heating up his interior. You're coming with me, he said telepathically. He flicked the Pokeball out of the boy's hand, latched onto his other wrist, then lifted them both off the ground.
Immediately, the boy began struggling. "Hey, let go of me! You're gonna get arrested for this!"
Growlithe barked and hopped up, but Drifblim was already caught by the wind. "What're you doing?"
"Showing him what's it's like to be taken. I'll put him down a ways off; I don't think that I could stand him for long."
He continued warming up, lifting them above the tree line. Below them, Growlithe yelped and followed, getting the woman's attention. The night air was cool and the rain was letting up, letting a mist grow off the lake. It was quite peaceful and beautiful, the kind of place that Drifblim liked.
However, the boy didn't share the same sentiments. He struggled, thrashing about trying to get rid of the ribbons. "LET ME GOoooo!" he ended the last word in a shriek that reverberated through Drifblim's body.
Don't do that, the balloon Pokemon said. It bugs me. Anyhow, look down.
"Then I won't stop," he screamed with his face contorted in rage. But then he did open his eyes and look down, only to realize just how high up they were.
That fall could kill you. Do you want to be let go right now? He related his thoughts calmly, giving no hint that he wouldn't actually drop the boy to his death.
The boy quieted down to a whimper. He gripped the ribbons tighter and tried to make himself more secure. "You're an evil Pokemon," he grumbled.
What for?
"Taking me away without warning. You're going to be in deep trouble for this."
Weren't you trying to take me away without warning? Without permission?
"That's not the same," the boy said, starting to go into a whine.
How so?
"People capture Pokemon all the time."
We Pokemon allow you to capture us, if we want to. I do not want to be captured.
Over the rustle of the trees, Drifblim heard a call. There was another violet Drifblim rising into the air. Further along, there were a number of Drifloons and Drifblims, all rising up into the night sky. The nearest Drifblim called out telepathically, Aren't you a little old to be kidnapping children?
I'm giving him an object lesson, he replied. Do you think we should take him along?
Ooo, yes! one of the Drifloons called out happily. We might get this one to cross the barrier.
The boy pulled the ribbons close in; he was turning tense in fright. "Where are you going? What barrier?"
We are going to the realm of the dead, the Drifblim holding him said. Sometimes we can cross the barrier between realms with humans in tow. Would you like to see the River Lethe, where the dead come to forget about life and leave it all behind?
He shook his head hard. "Noooo! I'm not dead!"
I told you not to scream, or I'll drop you, Drifblim reminded him. At any rate, I'm a Ghost Pokemon. I can take the living to the realm of the dead if I want.
You can't cross the barrier with an unwilling person, the other Drifblim pointed out.
Right. I suppose I'd better let this one go.
"Don't drop me," the boy said, turning quiet in fright.
Instead of doing that, Drifblim cooled his interior down, letting them drop gently to the ground. They came to the parking lot and were met by Growlithe and the boy's mother. Drifblim let the boy go so that he only fell less than a foot. Despite the lack of risk, he still made a fuss and burst into tears.
"When did you sneak off with my Growlithe?" the woman said, closer to scolding but not quite there. "I told you to stay at the cabin."
"I was trying to catch it and it caught me," he wailed.
Next time, listen to your mother, Drifblim said. He had a suspicion that his attempted lesson might not affect anything. At least he'd tried.
Before the woman could capture him, Drifblim warmed himself up again and rose back up to join his kin on their nightly journey.
...
Drifblim Platinum entry: At dusk, swarms of them are carried aloft on the winds. When noticed, they suddenly vanish.
The River Lethe is from Greek myths, of course.