<div align="center">OOC Topic (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=137448.0)<br/><strong>[Cianwood City]<br/>[Mark &amp; Mantine]</strong><br/>(http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/3/3b/Spr_3e_226_s.gif)<br/></div><br/><br/><div align="center"><em>A Delibird delivery for dad...</em></div><em>"Alright, Pops! I'm gonna go out to save the world."</em><br/><br/><em>"You do that, just get my Delibird back and be back by dinnertime,"</em>Mark's dad didn't think his son was serious.<br/><br/><em>"Will do,"</em>and with that, Mark closed the door behind him. A familiar gut-wrenching sense of uncertainty with bits of fear took him over. The familiar feeling was that of going out into the world to become a Pokemon Trainer. However, this was not Mark's goal today.<br/><br/>Mark tightened the toolbelt around his waist and panicked slightly when he was unable to find his Pokeball inside his jacket - the last one remaining in his household. Although untrained, his novice Mantine and Mark had enjoyed a few adventures prior to today. The duo swam around the bay surrounding Cianwood City. Speaking of Mantine, Mark was beginning to feel homesick not two feet from his home. He felt slightly lonely and proceeded to call Mantine out of his Pokeball - the last Pokeball in the Silversteel household and probably one of the few remaining original Pokeballs in all of Johto.<br/><br/>Prior to the Pokemon Purge, virtually everyone upgraded to Champion Balls. And why wouldn't they? They were more economical for the consumer, more convenient for trainers and were supposedly roomier for the Pokemon inside. The incident slightly irked Mark, but he quickly shrugged it off.<br/><br/><em>"Gotta stick to the game plan. I'll get that Delibird back by tomorrow. Come on out, Mantine!"</em>Mark tossed the red and white Pokeball into the air and his Mantine gracefully flew out.<br/><br/><em>"Mantine!" </em><br/><br/><em>"Wait...maybe I better not. Probably not a good idea. Sorry big guy, but you're going back in your Pokeball."</em>he said sympathetically.<br/><em>"Mant-"</em>Mark recalled his Mantine back into the confines of the Pokeball, worried that the recent lack of Pokemon may drive someone to steal his Pokemon. Due to recent events, Pokemon have become a rarity and supply has fallen. Nobody is able to acquire any new Pokemon to replace their kidnapped Champion Ball Pokemon. Reports of Trainers being mugged for their Pokemon or kidnapped by Team Rocket have appeared on the news lately. Mark realized it would probably be best to contain Mantine in his Pokeball for now. The amateur Pokemon trainer strapped on his backpack and pressed the button at the center of the ball and it immediately compressed. He placed his one and only Pokeball into a secret sewn compartment in his coat.<br/><br/>Mark's family cottage was one building east of the Cianwood City Gym. Before Mark realized that he didn't care to be a full-time Pokemon Trainer, the Gym Leader Chuck was somewhat of a mentor to Mark. As a child, Mark attended Gym matches and observed various trainers taking on his mentor - some of them successful, others failing miserably. Although Mark always used Flying Pokemon and put himself at a disadvantage against Chuck's Fighting Pokemon, Mark did win periodically, but for the most part, when the two battled it would end in a tie.<br/><br/><em>"Cianwood City Gym is closed. I'm away on a business call."</em>- Chuck, Cianwood City Gym Leader.<br/><br/><em>"Aw, shit. What am I supposed to do now?"</em>A bit clueless about where to begin his journey, Mark reached the only logical conclusion he could:<em>"Next stop...Olivine City, I guess?"</em>he hoped he was right, although Mark was relying entirely on luck and instinct as he had no idea how he was going to retrieve his father's Delibird and save the family business.<br/><br/>Climbing on his bike, Mark closed his eyes and listened to the Cianwood ocean breeze, perhaps for the last time. The salt in the air was a scent Mark would miss and he inhaled deeply one last time and bid his seaside cottage farewell. His destination, the high-spirited port city of Olivine, was a short bike ride away and a hop on the ferry. On the Northern edge of Cianwood, the S.S. Anne ferry service connected his town with the Olivine City port.