Hands pointed skyward. A wave of gasps and curious mumblings moved through the students of Naranja Academy. A Dragonair, its flight labored and awkward, was soaring right towards them.

"There's someone on its back!" one of the students called.

"They look hurt."

"Quick! Someone call for the nurse!"

Several students sprinted for the door, others pulled out their rotom-phones to record what was happening, but many just stared at the sight.

A moment later, the Dragonair crashed down into the training field. Its trainer, a young woman wearing the showy clothing of a dragon tamer, was thrown from it and went skidding across the turf.

Looking between the trainer and the Pokémon, it was difficult to tell who was in worse shape. Scrapes and bruises ran down the entire length of the Dragonair's body and it looked as though it had been burned by a fire-type attack. The tamers also looked as though she also participated in the battle. Her clothes were torn, half her cape was missing and what remained was singed around the edges. Most concerning though was that one of the sleeves of her clothing had been torn off and a large purple bruise bloomed angrily across her skin.

"Is? Is she?"

One of the morbidly curious of students went over and rolled the dragon tamer onto her back. She made a pained groan, which was quickly followed by many relieved sighs of the students.

"She's alive."

"But what happened?"

"Hassel," the tamer moaned, "I must speak with Hassel."

The students gathered closer to hear what she was saying, but quickly had to move back. The Dragonair's eyes snapped open at the sound of its trainer's voice and it let out a threatening growl as it rushed to her side. It coiled protectively around its trainer and hissed at anyone who tried to draw near. As wounded as it was, it was prepared to battle with all the strength it had left.

"Let me through!" an upperclassman student called out as she took a Pokeball from her belt, "Slowking, I choose you!"

There was a snapping sound and a flash of light as the pink Pokémon appeared between the students and the Dragonair. It tilted its head to the side and hummed an inquisitive "slow?" at the other Pokémon. For its part, the Dragonair growled and curled more tightly around its trainer.

"Easy, easy," the student said in a calming voice as she finally pushed her way through to stand beside her Slowking, "we don't want to hurt you. We want to help."

Deep purple eyes stared up at the pair, shining equal parts with fear and hope.

"We will show you. Slowking, use Healing Pulse."

"King," Slowking barked in affirmation.

It raised its paws to the gem on its Shellder crown and an orb of warm, pink light formed between them. The Slowking then pushed its arms outwards, causing the orb of psychic energy to expand. The energy washed over the Dragoniar, soothing its pain as the minor scratches on its body faded.

"Is that better?"

The Dragonair didn't say anything but continued to look up at the trainer.

"We aren't going to hurt you. Please, let us help you and your trainer."

"Draaair," it responded.

Slowly, it uncoiled itself.

"Thank you," the trainer said.

With the Dragonair no longer over her, the tamer again called out.

"Hassel," she moaned, "where is Hassel?"

"You can see Hassel later," the student said, "but first you need to see Nurse Miriam."

"No, I need to see Hassel. There is something I need to tell him."

"After you rest," she turned to her partner, "Slowking, please help me move her. Use Psychic and be as gentle as possible."

"Slow-ow-wow."

Bright blue light shimmered around the Slowking's eyes and the body of the dragon tamer as she was levitated into the air. Dragonair let out a concerned whine but did not interfere.

"Come on; let's go to the nurse's office." She said to the tamer before turning to the other students, "Alright, make some space. You, open the door, please."

"Hassel, please, must see," the tamer continued to mumble.

"No, later. You and Dragonair need medical attention."

Dragonair pushed its snout into its trainer's hand as it slithered alongside them.

"Dragonair," the tamer said, "yes, heal Dragonair, but then I must speak to Hassel."

"You will, I promise."

"He needs to know, there is a strange Pokémon and it is dangerous."

The student cast her Slowking a concerned look and it gave her back one just as uneasy. The school's Treasure Hunt was already underway for the semester and she did not like idea of an unsuspecting student stumbling into a mysterious, viscous Pokémon's lair. If whatever it was was able to do this to a trainer with a Dragonair, what would it do to young trainers only starting their journeys? A shiver ran down her spine.