[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

The Location of the Fly Hidden Machine

Slaking brings Valder a book that's only a few pages long. Nathan has to help him read it, of course.

How to Be a Pokemon Master - Written 2010 - Unknown

"Well...I'm going to try to start this book...I may never publish it, since I'm not sure anyone wants to read about what I have to say, but I'll just try to get my thoughts down onto paper."

"Chapter One. Family Matters! My boy just turned ten. In some regions, that's old enough to start a Pokemon journey...in regions where the fiercest thing around is a Spearow. They normally just journey to a relative's house down the road, and they probably have a Bike, a Potion, and enough Pokeballs to catch the common small-town Pokemon even after losing a battle. Here in Creshire, we wait until at least age 14, sometimes later. My boy grew up around domesticated Pokemon, but I'm afraid he may feel he has big shoes to fill."

"That's what I want to talk about in this chapter, even if this book is never published. Journeying while you have a wife and a kid can be difficult. When I was in my prime, taking on the Elite Four and the Gym Challenge, I was single and therefore able to focus on my battling and raising my furbabies. And my steelbaby. A few tips for balancing work life and family life: lots of communication... Find a partner with the same interests you have... And don't ever shy away from answering your kid's questions about your work with Pokemon...they understand more than you think."

"I'll come back to this chapter later..."

"Chapter Two. Coast to Coast! I've been all over Creshire. Both the historical and geographic beginnings of Creshire are on the southeast coast. In the Nature Preserve, I found a way to cheat, a way to travel through the air at incredible speeds. Even the Gym Leader in the Preserve Station doesn't know about it, but I was at last able to teach my Skarmory....the Hidden Machine Fly. Oz couldn't believe it...in fact it may be a good idea to delete this chapter if I ever publish...keep the HM hidden..."

"Traveling west at high speeds, I skipped over the swamps and the mountains where Luxray struggled. But that might be a good tip...try to use Pokemon in situations where they don't excel, sometimes. I think a part of my reputation is based on how often I use Luxray, even against Ground types. I don't think people realize this isn't 1998 anymore... Pokemon can learn moves of more than one type."

"In Cress City I visited my oldest friends. In Teazel Valley...that's where I caught probably half the Pokemon I own. In fact I first rose to prominence for a win at the Safari Zone Cup. This manuscript is quickly becoming more of an outline. I'll have to come back to this chapter too...flesh it out more...find my box of postcards and memorabilia to get the timeline right."

"To get back to the subject this book is SUPPOSED to be about...I would say becoming a Pokemon Master is all about excelling in every field. Dominate every form of competition! Look within yourself and FEEL that drive...it's a part of all of us, every single trainer. A true Pokemon Master has to understand formal battling within constraints, fighting dirty and adventuring, Pokemon Breeding for that perfect Pokemon, and even soft-skills like diplomacy, etiquette, charisma, leadership. I know a secret about that, too... but I'm even more confident it should not be revealed. This book that will sell for a few hundred Pokedollars isn't gonna cut it."

"Note to self...write about Mt. Molten...Lake Chicory...choosing when to evolve...Technical Machines..."

It ends there.

Huh?

"Valder, let me get a closer look at this book for a moment, please..."

Nathan has a very weird feeling about this book...is the author...who he thinks it is? Are any of these stories sounding extra familiar to him, @Iron?

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Spoiler

Unlike last time, the sociologist is fully paying attention to the Nathan as he informed the group about all the information concerning Genesect, listening to every word uttered by the young scholar with a quiet yet intense scrutiny. He didn't want to miss a single detail, so he commited all of it to amemory and began discetting the various discussed text/explaination for an morsel of useful intel to be gain. 

When Ditto Zangoose came out, Ven looks at them, then at the pair of Kirlia , before turning and raising an eyebrow at Nathan, not confused (Antheneum wierded him out too much for Confusion at this point) but clearly intrigued at this development. If no answers are forthcoming, then the researcher just ends up accepting it and shrugging it all off and resume listening intently to their lecture.

Like as of late, Ventus didn't comment or interrupt the boy's dialogue the entire length of it, but this time it was because he fully understood everything conveyed by them and didn't feel the need to comment, rather than simply being unsociable. That near run in with the Scimitars shook him out of that state rather....rudely, so horray for 'happy' happenstances?

[spoiler]
"Gene...sect? Even I never heard about such powerfull pokemon. Who would dare to weaponized such magnificient being? Thats indeed a good mystery. Although I may have find the location of dive location." Then Heart takes out from his notebook a few notes he have made. "Here, I copy this information from the books Slowking have give to me. Since I want to discover and get all HMs I can find, being Fly my goal, I decided to ask Slowking such thing. If any of your guys could ask too Slowking about the location of Fly (Could you @Nylon?) I would be very much happy. Okay, here what is says:"

(…)

"Apparently, the last place of location was that island called Garlicburg...if I recall in Tandor, there is a Legendary pokemon called Garlikid, a Legendary Pokemon with the Grass/Fighting type. A very much powerfull one. A island with such name...we may have some problems there. Or not. Garlikid is in theory the defender of all pokemon kind, acting as some kind of "super hero" and freeing pokemon from humans hands, according to legends and myths I heard and read. We will problably have to prove our wortly in case meet him. A Glavinug I dont know what is. Problably some kind of rare Water-type in Tandor. I cant fetch with more of information about that."

However, the rare collecter's comment caused Ven to frown deeply, dark displeasure coloring his expression as he looked into the distance at no one in particular, and whispered: "......More people than I can to think about, Heart. Its a horribly explotatively thing to do, but that hasn't stopped those that seek true, unadulterated power for their own ends, nefarious , ill intentioned, unjustified or not...…."

At the reveal of HM Dive possibly being located somewhere in....Garliburg? , the researcher perked up from his melacholoic state and looked questioning at Heart, then at Nathan when he reacted with clear surprise, before asking them both: "......Could either you explain what is this 'Garliburg' place is in detail, and why its so well defended by this region's armed forces? And are you for certain that the HM Dive is there, and more over, that we will have to face another Legendary Pokémon in the process of obtaining it? If we are to begin a quest to obtain or protect that Genesect Fossil, I would rather we do so with all the Knowledge we can gather beforehand, and not put us all in.....undue risk in the process by going into it 'blind' ...." The last sentence was spoken in a dry tone and with a slight grimace, as the THOUGHT of going up against not only the military of the region but ANOTHER Legendary...….it didn't sit well with him.

"My guess is good as yours Ventus. I never heard about such place called Garliburg. Perhaps we should take a look in this library to find any information about that place."

Nathan doesn't quite get the meaning of Ventus's intrigued look.  He just turns to look at Ditto.  "Ditto, when did you get out of your pokeball?"

Ditto curls up on the floor, looking quite content to just take a nap there like a typical cat.  Meow.  Let's just hope no Seviper come a calling.

Anyways, back on track thanks to Ventus...

Nathan opens his journal.  "No need to search the Library.  I've got the basic info here already.  Surprised the Bealbeach Gym Leader paid it an unauthorized visit, though..."

"Garlicburg is a secluded island in Northwestern Creshire, just off the coast of the Camas Desert and Bromeliad Bay.  It's wild, full of rare plants and pokemon (some of which are absolutely massive or not easily findable anywhere else in Creshire.  The most powerful pokemon are typically Ground type), and off limits to most everyone that's not in the military.  Unsurprisingly, Conkeldurr's Conspiracies (as well as many other sources) contains TONS of rumors about the place when it comes to League is doing there and Bromeliad Bay.  The only thing I can guarantee about the rumors is that only the League knows what they're doing there."

"The island is surrounded on all but one side by tall cliffs and sharp rocks, making approaching it without getting spotted near impossible.  The one side that isn't a cliff is actually quite a nice (if craggy) beach, and it's of course the side facing the open water instead of the mainland, just to make things extra difficult.  Most of the island's surface is covered in sand, and there's a lot of caves there with constantly shifting entrances and exits due to that."

"There is one way to get close to Garlicburg, but it's mainly a tourist attraction.  There's a beach atop one of the cliffs, and the sand on it has a tendency to cascade down the side of the cliff somewhat frequently, an event known as a Sandfall.  Provided you're willing to be searched and carry only the pokemon they allow you to, you can take a cruise past the island to see the Sandfall in action.  The only ones who occasionally take up temporary residence on the island are squads of marines.  And they tend to have a lot of explosives, Qwilfish, Voltorb, and Electrode handy just in case something tries to jump them."

"The island's also the only known location in Creshire where Jaw Fossils can be found with any measure of frequency, interestingly."  (This one obviously sounds more like a footnote)

Nathan shuts his journal.

"So...yeah.  It'd be pretty difficult to get that Dive HM if that's where it's hidden.  Sounds like it might be near an underwater cave if a Glavinug was able to use it, though...and to answer your question, Heart, yes, it's a Water type.  Specifically, Water/Ice.  It's not really that rare from what little I've read about it.  Couldn't really tell you much else besides that, though."

He thinks for a moment...

"...reaching that Genesect Fossil probably isn't super dire...we should definitely add it to the list of things we should do, though, in my opinion...we probably won't be able to reach it unless we can acquire Dive or several good sets of Scuba Gear, though..."

Heart nod his head and talk again. "I only know one thing my friend: I may fight a legendary bug, a bunch of Earthpower Ground pokemon, vines or even some Reuniclus. But there is no chance in hell we are going to that Island. At least not until we have some sort of protection of the League or something like that. Maybe we could ask a favor to Dagny to give us some sort of Diplomatic protection? Since we, you know, help to save Star City and maybe all Cheshire from be consumed by those vines? Its just a idea."

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Spoiler

The Location of the Fly Hidden Machine

Slaking brings Valder a book that's only a few pages long. Nathan has to help him read it, of course.

How to Be a Pokemon Master - Written 2010 - Unknown

"Well...I'm going to try to start this book...I may never publish it, since I'm not sure anyone wants to read about what I have to say, but I'll just try to get my thoughts down onto paper."

"Chapter One. Family Matters! My boy just turned ten. In some regions, that's old enough to start a Pokemon journey...in regions where the fiercest thing around is a Spearow. They normally just journey to a relative's house down the road, and they probably have a Bike, a Potion, and enough Pokeballs to catch the common small-town Pokemon even after losing a battle. Here in Creshire, we wait until at least age 14, sometimes later. My boy grew up around domesticated Pokemon, but I'm afraid he may feel he has big shoes to fill."

"That's what I want to talk about in this chapter, even if this book is never published. Journeying while you have a wife and a kid can be difficult. When I was in my prime, taking on the Elite Four and the Gym Challenge, I was single and therefore able to focus on my battling and raising my furbabies. And my steelbaby. A few tips for balancing work life and family life: lots of communication... Find a partner with the same interests you have... And don't ever shy away from answering your kid's questions about your work with Pokemon...they understand more than you think."

"I'll come back to this chapter later..."

"Chapter Two. Coast to Coast! I've been all over Creshire. Both the historical and geographic beginnings of Creshire are on the southeast coast. In the Nature Preserve, I found a way to cheat, a way to travel through the air at incredible speeds. Even the Gym Leader in the Preserve Station doesn't know about it, but I was at last able to teach my Skarmory....the Hidden Machine Fly. Oz couldn't believe it...in fact it may be a good idea to delete this chapter if I ever publish...keep the HM hidden..."

"Traveling west at high speeds, I skipped over the swamps and the mountains where Luxray struggled. But that might be a good tip...try to use Pokemon in situations where they don't excel, sometimes. I think a part of my reputation is based on how often I use Luxray, even against Ground types. I don't think people realize this isn't 1998 anymore... Pokemon can learn moves of more than one type."

"In Cress City I visited my oldest friends. In Teazel Valley...that's where I caught probably half the Pokemon I own. In fact I first rose to prominence for a win at the Safari Zone Cup. This manuscript is quickly becoming more of an outline. I'll have to come back to this chapter too...flesh it out more...find my box of postcards and memorabilia to get the timeline right."

"To get back to the subject this book is SUPPOSED to be about...I would say becoming a Pokemon Master is all about excelling in every field. Dominate every form of competition! Look within yourself and FEEL that drive...it's a part of all of us, every single trainer. A true Pokemon Master has to understand formal battling within constraints, fighting dirty and adventuring, Pokemon Breeding for that perfect Pokemon, and even soft-skills like diplomacy, etiquette, charisma, leadership. I know a secret about that, too... but I'm even more confident it should not be revealed. This book that will sell for a few hundred Pokedollars isn't gonna cut it."

"Note to self...write about Mt. Molten...Lake Chicory...choosing when to evolve...Technical Machines..."

It ends there.

Huh?

"Valder, let me get a closer look at this book for a moment, please..."

Nathan has a very weird feeling about this book...is the author...who he thinks it is?  Are any of these stories sounding extra familiar to him?

Heart look Nathan go in the direction of Valder/ @Nylon, and Heart follow him. "Did you find something Valder?" Then Heart look the tittle. He eyes bug open when he read along with Nathan. "In the name of the might Arceus...is this what I think it is?!"

[Iron]

Spoiler

The Location of the Fly Hidden Machine

Slaking brings Valder a book that's only a few pages long. Nathan has to help him read it, of course.

How to Be a Pokemon Master - Written 2010 - Unknown

"Well...I'm going to try to start this book...I may never publish it, since I'm not sure anyone wants to read about what I have to say, but I'll just try to get my thoughts down onto paper."

"Chapter One. Family Matters! My boy just turned ten. In some regions, that's old enough to start a Pokemon journey...in regions where the fiercest thing around is a Spearow. They normally just journey to a relative's house down the road, and they probably have a Bike, a Potion, and enough Pokeballs to catch the common small-town Pokemon even after losing a battle. Here in Creshire, we wait until at least age 14, sometimes later. My boy grew up around domesticated Pokemon, but I'm afraid he may feel he has big shoes to fill."

"That's what I want to talk about in this chapter, even if this book is never published. Journeying while you have a wife and a kid can be difficult. When I was in my prime, taking on the Elite Four and the Gym Challenge, I was single and therefore able to focus on my battling and raising my furbabies. And my steelbaby. A few tips for balancing work life and family life: lots of communication... Find a partner with the same interests you have... And don't ever shy away from answering your kid's questions about your work with Pokemon...they understand more than you think."

"I'll come back to this chapter later..."

"Chapter Two. Coast to Coast! I've been all over Creshire. Both the historical and geographic beginnings of Creshire are on the southeast coast. In the Nature Preserve, I found a way to cheat, a way to travel through the air at incredible speeds. Even the Gym Leader in the Preserve Station doesn't know about it, but I was at last able to teach my Skarmory....the Hidden Machine Fly. Oz couldn't believe it...in fact it may be a good idea to delete this chapter if I ever publish...keep the HM hidden..."

"Traveling west at high speeds, I skipped over the swamps and the mountains where Luxray struggled. But that might be a good tip...try to use Pokemon in situations where they don't excel, sometimes. I think a part of my reputation is based on how often I use Luxray, even against Ground types. I don't think people realize this isn't 1998 anymore... Pokemon can learn moves of more than one type."

"In Cress City I visited my oldest friends. In Teazel Valley...that's where I caught probably half the Pokemon I own. In fact I first rose to prominence for a win at the Safari Zone Cup. This manuscript is quickly becoming more of an outline. I'll have to come back to this chapter too...flesh it out more...find my box of postcards and memorabilia to get the timeline right."

"To get back to the subject this book is SUPPOSED to be about...I would say becoming a Pokemon Master is all about excelling in every field. Dominate every form of competition! Look within yourself and FEEL that drive...it's a part of all of us, every single trainer. A true Pokemon Master has to understand formal battling within constraints, fighting dirty and adventuring, Pokemon Breeding for that perfect Pokemon, and even soft-skills like diplomacy, etiquette, charisma, leadership. I know a secret about that, too... but I'm even more confident it should not be revealed. This book that will sell for a few hundred Pokedollars isn't gonna cut it."

"Note to self...write about Mt. Molten...Lake Chicory...choosing when to evolve...Technical Machines..."

It ends there.

Huh?

"Valder, let me get a closer look at this book for a moment, please..."

Nathan has a very weird feeling about this book...is the author...who he thinks it is?  Are any of these stories sounding extra familiar to him, @Iron?

Some of these are details you didn't know, but that style of speech and that list of Pokemon sounds extra familiar.

[Dragonstrike]

Some of these are details you didn't know, but that style of speech and that list of Pokemon sounds extra familiar.

Yeah, like the detail that Skarmory knows FLY rather than Fly...

Nathan has no words for this.  He just sits there in shock.

Kirlia walks over, looking a little concerned.  He felt Nathan get SUPER surprised almost instantaneously with no warning...is something wrong?  Weirdly, though, he can't seem to get Nathan's attention...

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Some of these are details you didn't know, but that style of speech and that list of Pokemon sounds extra familiar.

Yeah, like the detail that Skarmory knows FLY rather than Fly...

Nathan has no words for this.  He just sits there in shock.

Kirlia walks over, looking a little concerned.  He felt Nathan get SUPER surprised almost instantaneously with no warning...is something wrong?  Weirdly, though, he can't seem to get Nathan's attention...

Heart aproach Nathan trying to reason with him. "Nathan? Whats wrong? Say something man, you beggining to scare the hell of me"

[Lord Windos]

[quote pid='47537' dateline='1529109904']

Spoiler

Nathan doesn't quite get the meaning of Ventus's intrigued look.  He just turns to look at Ditto.  "Ditto, when did you get out of your pokeball?"

Ditto curls up on the floor, looking quite content to just take a nap there like a typical cat.  Meow.  Let's just hope no Seviper come a calling.

Anyways, back on track thanks to Ventus...

Nathan opens his journal.  "No need to search the Library.  I've got the basic info here already.  Surprised the Bealbeach Gym Leader paid it an unauthorized visit, though..."

"Garlicburg is a secluded island in Northwestern Creshire, just off the coast of the Camas Desert and Bromeliad Bay.  It's wild, full of rare plants and pokemon (some of which are absolutely massive or not easily findable anywhere else in Creshire.  The most powerful pokemon are typically Ground type), and off limits to most everyone that's not in the military.  Unsurprisingly, Conkeldurr's Conspiracies (as well as many other sources) contains TONS of rumors about the place when it comes to League is doing there and Bromeliad Bay.  The only thing I can guarantee about the rumors is that only the League knows what they're doing there."

"The island is surrounded on all but one side by tall cliffs and sharp rocks, making approaching it without getting spotted near impossible.  The one side that isn't a cliff is actually quite a nice (if craggy) beach, and it's of course the side facing the open water instead of the mainland, just to make things extra difficult.  Most of the island's surface is covered in sand, and there's a lot of caves there with constantly shifting entrances and exits due to that."

"There is one way to get close to Garlicburg, but it's mainly a tourist attraction.  There's a beach atop one of the cliffs, and the sand on it has a tendency to cascade down the side of the cliff somewhat frequently, an event known as a Sandfall.  Provided you're willing to be searched and carry only the pokemon they allow you to, you can take a cruise past the island to see the Sandfall in action.  The only ones who occasionally take up temporary residence on the island are squads of marines.  And they tend to have a lot of explosives, Qwilfish, Voltorb, and Electrode handy just in case something tries to jump them."

"The island's also the only known location in Creshire where Jaw Fossils can be found with any measure of frequency, interestingly."  (This one obviously sounds more like a footnote)

Nathan shuts his journal.

"So...yeah.  It'd be pretty difficult to get that Dive HM if that's where it's hidden.  Sounds like it might be near an underwater cave if a Glavinug was able to use it, though...and to answer your question, Heart, yes, it's a Water type.  Specifically, Water/Ice.  It's not really that rare from what little I've read about it.  Couldn't really tell you much else besides that, though."

He thinks for a moment...

"...reaching that Genesect Fossil probably isn't super dire...we should definitely add it to the list of things we should do, though, in my opinion...we probably won't be able to reach it unless we can acquire Dive or several good sets of Scuba Gear, though..."

[/quote]

Ventus' grimace only deepens as he heard more and more about Galicburg and the formidable defenses the Cheshire League Military had erected to keep the island as closed off and isolated as possible. He also was sorely tempted to start scowling at the fact that the reason as to why the island was so heavily guarded was a secret only known to the League and its armed forces. There's also the even direr possibility that a LEGENDARY resided on the island and zealously guarded its charges, which made the prospect of going to the place even MORE unpalatable to the researcher.

After hearing everything about the forbidden isle and the distinct lack of intel + option of safely getting there, Ven was quite firmly of the opinion that he didn't want to go anywhere NEAR it. He'd already risked life and limb several times on the group's current quest ALONE, which had very nearly ended in failure when an ARMY of Scimitars marched down and almost unlocked the doors to Antheneum, and he shan't have a repeat experience like it anytime soon, if ever.

Those sentiments of his were not kept secret/personal for long, as he calmly, politely, yet firmly informed the group his opionin and given course of action. "I speak only for myself when I say this, but in light of what has and hasn't been revealed about Garliburg I refuse to entertain the notion of going to there UNLESS we get the proper authorization to do so. Legendary HM being there and hitherunknown secrets or not, that island is so heavily fortified, inhospitable and difficult to reach, and under intense scrutiny by the Cheshire League Authority that going their unauthorized is foolishness beyond Truth and Belief, so count me 'out' of any plans that involve covertly going there."


He emphatically end his short speal with a sharp shake of his head and crossing of his arms, signally the finality of his statements and unwillingness to budge on them a millimeter. However, after a few seconds he closed his eyes and let out a frustrated *Sigh*, and continued in a much lighter (if wearied) tone.


 "Still, I agree that obtaining and/or safeguarding any remaining Genesect fossil should be a priority of ours at some distant point in time. If we can't obtain Dive or a Pokémon capable of using the move, then we'll have to start hording wealth and resources to purchase Scuba gear and mount an expedition to them. ….*Sigh* The problem with seeking out those fossil, though, is that the Scimitars or otherwise will likely not be far behind us or will interfere with our operations, if they are keeping all of us under as close watch and tight control as they can afford. Whatever means or opportunity to use, we will also have to be on high Alert and ready to face off against them, and after seeing the forces they have marshel as they nearly marched upon Antheneum……."

Ven frowns deepens as he represses a shudder, before he continues.

".....Fighting them without equal firepower or overwhelming advantages is a death wish waiting to be fulfilled. In that case, it might be for the best if we also consider letting the location remain secret, or informing a trust League Offical and have them set up guard or retrieve it themselves to protect it. Given the average Cheshirian's deep respect for their Pokémon and Legendaries, I doubt they will misappropriate such an valuable artifact for evil ends, especially if we can vet someone we can trust within the government before we divulge this information."

At this point, the sociologist goes silent, as he'd said all he wished to at the moment. Now its time to see how the other react, for better or worse....

[Lord Windos]

(Question: Does that Scene with Fly happen before or AFTER the meeting concerning Genesect? Ven's not going to be a part of it either way, but I would like to know still so that we can have a well defined timeline of events.)

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Yeah, like the detail that Skarmory knows FLY rather than Fly...

Nathan has no words for this.  He just sits there in shock.

Kirlia walks over, looking a little concerned.  He felt Nathan get SUPER surprised almost instantaneously with no warning...is something wrong?  Weirdly, though, he can't seem to get Nathan's attention...

Seeing that Nathan failed to react in anyway towards his given opinions, and in fact seemed to be zoned out about something else that wasn't  relevant to the meeting at hand, the sociologist was swift to grow irritated......until he picked up on their tell tell feelings of dumbfoundment and shock. Ven's agitation immediately turn into mild concern and worry as he got up from his seat and stalked over to see just what caused him to become so out of sorts, standing off to the boy's side as he placed a hand on their shoulder and wordlessly shook them to snap them out of it. Whatever the deal is, they need them focused on and topic, and not completely oblivious as he was...


 During this, he also skimmed over what he could see of That Book, and was mildly surprised to find that yet ANOTHER HM could be found in The Natural Preserve (Which, given his authorization to explore and conduct his research in the place, was VERY convenient), but was mystified as to how that could have left the young scholar so thunderstruck. 'Something else about this text is responsible for his shocked state, but just what is it.....?'

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Seeing that Nathan failed to react in anyway towards his given opinions, and in fact seemed to be zoned out about something else that wasn't  relevant to the meeting at hand, the sociologist was swift to grow irritated......until he picked up on their tell tell feelings of dumbfoundment and shock. Ven's agitation immediately turn into mild concern and worry as he got up from his seat and stalked over to see just what caused him to become so out of sorts, standing off to the boy's side as he placed a hand on their shoulder and wordlessly shook them to snap them out of it. Whatever the deal is, they need them focused on and topic, and not completely oblivious as he was...


 During this, he also skimmed over what he could see of That Book, and was mildly surprised to find that yet ANOTHER HM could be found in The Natural Preserve (Which, given his authorization to explore and conduct his research in the place, was VERY convenient), but was mystified as to how that could have left the young scholar so thunderstruck. 'Something else about this text is responsible for his shocked state, but just what is it.....?'

Kirlia helps Ventus and Heart by waving a hand in front of Nathan's face.  Nathan blinks a few times before he partially snaps out of it.  Kirlia looks at him, wordlessly asking what's going on.  "...s-sorry...just...give me a moment, please..."

He starts muttering to himself.  Easily still audible, though.

"...I always thought it was weird you never said you visited Arrowroot Village...particularly since there's a Gym in that area...all the experiences, the pokemon, the phrasing...it...has to be you...it all lines up too well..."

From the sound of things, Nathan knows who the author is.