My Little Nuzzle

"Twilight! It's time for breakfast!" Twilight Sparkle groaned and rolled over under the sheets. Was it already morning? And what a crazy dream last night... "Twilight, I'm not calling again!"

"Coming, Mom!" she called after a moment. She scooted the covers off to the end of the bed and then plopped to the floor on all fours. "Ouch!" Twilight shook her hand and sucked on her fingers, as if the act would somehow quell the pain.

Fingers?

Her eyes shot open as she brought her forelimbs to bear in front of her. "H-hands?" She sat back on her haunches and stretched out her hind legs. "Feet?!" A moment later, she discovered the rest of her. What used to be fur was now bare skin. What used to be a horn was now just a forehead. What used to be a tail was now just a bony bump at the base of her back. What used to be a pony was now...

"Human..."

Twilight looked up and around to find herself in an unfamiliar and sparsely furnished room. In front of her was a TV set with a little grey box and controller. To her left, she saw a desk with a computer on it, as well as a small chest of drawers and a bookshelf. The floor was made of wood tiles, and at the end of the room was a stairwell.

Like a sledgehammer to the stomach, Twilight was hit by the realization that her dream was, in fact, reality. There really had been a fight. Princess Celestia really had banished her to the human world. Everything she knew and loved really was gone.

"Twilight? I heard a banging sound. Are you okay?" her mother called, but she couldn't hear. She fell to the floor, curled into a ball and wept silently. The soft sound of footsteps, not hoofsteps, made its way up the stairs, and a woman appeared at the top.

"Twili- Oh, honey!" The woman rushed over to Twilight's side and looked her over frantically for signs of injury. "Did you hurt yourself in the fall? Where does it hurt?!" The woman continued to search, but she found nothing out of the ordinary. No scrapes or bruises, no knots or broken bones. "Twilight, please. Tell me what's wrong."

"M-mom?" Twilight looked up at the woman. Her hair color was white with purple streaks in it, just like her mother, Velvet's. Her skin was a pale white with a slight tinge of lavender, just like Velvet's coat. Twilight knew this woman couldn't be her mother, but the similarities caused her to slowly pick up her hand and hold it just left of the center of her chest. "R-right here... It hurts right here..."

"Oh, Twilight..." Velvet held her daughter close to her chest and rocked softly. "You must have had a horrible dream. Why don't you put some clothes on and tell me about it? It will help to get it off your chest."

"O-okay," Twilight sniffed. Velvet went back downstairs and prepared breakfast while she slowly crawled her way to the chest of drawers. Inside were several fully prepared outfits, complete with a hat and purse. She pulled one out and put it on. It had a light blue sleeveless shirt, a red skirt, striped blue socks, and a matching set of white shoes and bowler hat. A yellow satchel completed the ensemble.

Twilight slowly balanced herself on her hoo- feet, using her hands to hold herself up against the chest of drawers. Getting used to walking on two legs again took her several minutes, but she finally felt like she could brave the stairs. Of course, a little rumbling from her stomach helped to urge her along. She grabbed a hold of the handrail and began to make her way down.

Immediately at the base of the stairs was a small red rug which led into a single large room. Near the steps was a single, yellow draped window. Just beyond it was a TV set, a large glass cabinet, and a sink and stove. In the center of the room stood a wide square table covered by a blue-plaid cloth and surrounded by four chairs, though it could probably seat as many as eight comfortably. Velvet sat in the chair closest to the stairs with a plate of eggs in front of her. Immediately across from her was another plate prepared from Twilight, complete with a fork and a butter knife. Twilight set her bag down next to the table and sat down.

"Please, eat. I'm sure you'll feel better after some breakfast." Velvet couldn't help but watch as Twilight attempted to grab her fork. Reaching for it was easy enough, but controlling her fingers was a feat that seemed beyond her ability at present. For a dream to be so traumatic as to affect her motor skills... Come to think of it, it had taken her a while to get dressed.

After a few tries, she huffed and slammed the table, rattling the dishes and silverware. Then she crossed her arms in front of her and put her forehead between them. She felt a touch take her hand. Slowly it guided her, then soft fingers gently positioned themselves behind hers and pushed them around the fork. When she looked up, she saw her mother behind her with a pitying smile.

"I'm sorry... I can't even grab a fork..."

"It's okay, Twilight. I'm here. I will help you through this."

Once again, the gentle smile graced her with its presence. Twilight couldn't help but allow a tiny smile to escape as she carefully maneuvered the fork to her mouth. A few minutes later, her plate was clean.

"Feeling any better?" Velvet asked.

"A little," Twilight admitted. "Thank you for helping me..."

"It's what moms do." She smiled. Yes, her mother had always been one to help her whenever she needed it, even when it was with the simplest things. "Now then, will you tell me about your dream?"

Only this wasn't her mother.

Her mother lived in Equestria, not here in the human world. The same with her friends, her brother, all of Ponyville, Princess Celestia...

I hereby banish you...

Those words echoed in Twilight's mind, several of Celestia's final words to her before sending her away to this realm. She was banished. She would never see her true family or friends again.

"I understand. We can talk later, if you want."

As painful memories as the memories were, she knew that if she was to survive here, she would have to make do with her new family and friends. Maybe Applejack and the others would be nearby.

"Perhaps after you meet up with the professor?"

She would also have to find this world's version of... Wait, professor?

"Professor?"

"Professor Celestia, of course. You know, our neighbor?" Celestia, a professor?

"I thought Celestia was supposed to be a high school principal?"

Velvet laughed. "Good heavens, no! I can't imagine Celestia of all people trying to manage a schoolhouse!" So this world isn't the world Twilight visited last time.

"I'm sorry, mom. I guess I'm still confused from my dream. It just seemed so real."

"I understand the feeling. Why don't you take a walk outside? Maybe it'll help to clear your head."

"That sounds like a good idea." Twilight stood up and reached for her plate, but Velvet stopped her.

"Don't worry about it, Twilight. I can take care of the dishes." Twilight knew Velvet was probably just trying to avoid an accidental mess, but the gesture was appreciated. She threw her bag over her shoulder and went for the door. "When you get back, I'll take you to the lab. Professor Celestia should be there." She nodded and walked outside.

It was beautifully green. The grass was kept nice and short, perfect for walking on. Twilight took off her shoes and felt the soft earth under her feet, and it was lovely. She grabbed hold of her hat and looked up at the bright blue sky. Not a cloud to be seen. Yes, it was as perfect an outdoors day as a pegasus could make it.

Not that pegasi existed in this world... Twilight sighed.

She turned her gaze away from sky and went about to explore. There were only three buildings in the area, surrounded by tree lines on three sides and uncomfortably deep water on the fourth. A small grassy path led away from the clearing and into more open land.

"And just what do you think you're doing, young lady?" That voice! Twilight whirled to see a tall pale woman with pale rainbow-hued hair striding toward her.

"Prin- Professor Celestia!" Twilight grinned. Finally, a familiar face! She looked exactly like Principal Celestia, only she wore a long white lab coat instead of a suit, and Luna wasn't with her. The professor walked in front of Twilight and crossed her arms.

"Didn't I tell you not to go into the tall grass? You could have been attacked by a wild Pokémon!" she scolded.

"A wild whattawha?" Twilight asked, thoroughly confused. Celestia regarded her closely.

"Hmm... You've never met a Pokémon, have you?" she finally asked. When Twilight shook her head, Celestia nodded. "Come with me." She turned back toward the town with Twilight close in tow.

"Where are we going?" Twilight asked.

"To the lab. If you're going to leave Pallet Town, you're going to need protection. And I have just the solution!"

The pair entered the largest building in the clearing, Celestia's Pokémon Research Laboratory. Immediately upon entering, Twilight's eyes lit up with a sort of giddy glee as her inner researcher leapt for joy. A wall of bookshelves completely filled with books separated the front of the build from the back. Celestia, however, merely passed by them and into a back room, so Twilight followed.

To the left was a large strange device with six circular slots on a panel. Behind the strange object, up against the back wall, was a series of other strange devices next to and on top of a set of long tables. The ones in the far left corner were rather large with many flashing lights, but as the devices approached the center, they grew smaller until they ended with two objects small enough to hold in her hands.

Off to the right and against the back wall were two more bookshelves, also completely filled with books. In the center of the room was a long table with three small red and white orbs on it. Each orb was labeled on the front of the table: Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander from left to right. Near the table, somep- someone was waiting. A blue someone with silvery hair.

"Finally decided to show up, I see. Those who are Great and Powerful do not like to be kept waiting."

"Trixie?" Twilight ventured.

"Sparkle?! What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing!" The two butted head and glared into each other's eyes with low growls.

"Not in my lab, you two!" The teenagers hmph'd in chorus, facing in opposite directions with folded arms and upturned noses. "Now then. I've brought you both here for a reason. You are finally old enough to leave home and start your own journeys with Pokémon!"

"Well, it's about time! Trixie has been ready to be a trainer since she was a child!"

"A trainer?" Twilight asked.

"Of course! Trixie is going to to be the most powerful Pokémon trainer in the world someday, and don't you forget it, Sparkle!" Trixie sneered. "Of course, you've been so wrapped up in your books, you've probably forgotten what Pokémon training even is."

"Hey!"

"I said not in my lab! Trixie, since you are being mean, you will get your Pokémon after Twilight."

"What?! But Trixie has been waiting for years!" Trixie glared at Twilight. Then a glint entered her eye. "Very well. You may choose before Trixie, Sparkle."

Twilight leered at Trixie, trying to figure out her angle. Unfortunately, Twilight couldn't fathom what was going on. Everything was just too new for her to make much sense of anything.

"Go on then." Twilight looked up at Celestia and was greeted with the same smile that Celestia always wore when she was helping her students. "Choose one."

"What am I choosing?" Twilight asked. Trixie snorted in a failed attempt at withholding her laughter.

"There are three Pokémon hidden inside these pokéballs. You may have one of them as your partner," explained the professor.

Twilight regarded the pokéballs. "They must be awfully tiny," she muttered to herself.

Trixie smack her forehead with the butt of her palm. "Did one of your shelves fall and hit you in the head or something?" Celestia just chuckled.

"Okay, um... I guess I'll take this one." Twilight pointed to the pokéball in the center.

"In that case, Trixie shall take this one!" Trixie grabbed the pokéball on the far left.

"Press the center button, Twilight." Twilight did so, and a beam of red light shot from the newly opened ball. A moment later, a blue-skinned, brown-shelled bipedal turtle was standing in front of her, staring up at her with large brown eyes. She knelt to the ground, and the turtle walked up to her, then she took the turtle in her arms and lifted him from the ground in an embrace. He was surprisingly warm, and she couldn't help but smile. "Twilight, you chose the Squirtle. He is a water-type turtle Pokémon. When I found him, he was freshly hatched, so he is still very young. Would you like to give him a name?" Twilight pondered for a moment as the squirtle rested his head against her neck, much like a young colt would with his mother.

"Nuzzle," Twilight finally responded. "His name... is Nuzzle."

"Hmph! The Great and Powerful Trixie does not believe Pallet Town needs two new trainers! Trixie challenges you to a battle, Sparkle!"

"Trixie, what are you doing?!" Celestia exclaimed. "Why would you make such an ultimatum so soon after receiving your Pokémon?"

"Because Trixie refuses to be upstaged by Sparkle anymore! Trixie has been waiting for a long time for her Pokémon, but when Trixie finally had a chance to shine without Sparkle constantly getting in the way, you brought her and gave her that chance as well! Trixie's chance!" Trixie pressed the button on her pokéball, and a small green creature with a large bulb on its back appeared.

"Saur!"

Nuzzle hopped out of Twilight's arms and took a stance between her and the strange creature. Celestia rushed in between the two Pokémon. "Stop this senseless battle! I refuse to have my lab tainted with young blood!"

"Y-young blood?" Twilight shuddered, not wanting to think about what Celestia could possibly mean by those two words.

"Fine. Trixie will wait outside." Trixie strutted outside with bulbasaur close behind trying to emulate her Great and Powerful Swagger. There was a very pregnant pause before Twilight built up the courage to ask Celestia the question plaguing her mind.

"Professor, what did you mean by 'young blood'?"

Celestia looked into Twilight's apprehensive eyes. "Pokémon training is a cut-throat game of survival, Twilight. When a Pokémon goes to battle, it is to the death."

Twilight fell to her knees and stared into nothing. Nuzzle, seeing her distress, waddled over to her and placed himself in her lap for a hug. She held him close, never wanting to let go. She may have only just met him, but he was the closest thing to a friend he had in this world. Too many friends had just been lost due to a senseless fight between her and her world's Trixie.

"I refuse."

"Oh Twilight... I wish it were so simple, but you know how Trixie gets. When she sets her mind to something, she follows through until the end, especially when it comes to getting ahead of you. The only way she'll let you go is if you battle her, or you return your Pokémon. Can you do that?"

Twilight pondered Celestia's question. It was a simple matter, really. All she had to do was let go of Nuzzle, and everything would be okay between her and Trixie. Just open up her arms, put Nuzzle back in his pokéball, and hand him over to Celestia. No one would get hurt. No one would be killed. It was the best, most logical course of action. Yet when she tried to open her arms, they only tightened further. When she tried let go and reach for her pokéball, she held fast.

"...No, I can't do that."

"Then you will have to face Trixie." Celestia's voice was firm. "And I will help you. I can't help you during the battle, but you're a smart girl. Allow me to explain how a battle works."

*****

Twilight and Nuzzle walked outside and found Trixie waiting with her bulbasaur.

"Have you finally decided to fight? There is a way Trixie will let you go, you know. Just return your squirtle to Professor Celestia. You won't have to watch Trixie's bulbasaur kill it, and Trixie will finally be ahead of you. We both win, Sparkle, wouldn't you agree?"

"I'm sorry, Trixie. On most days, I would do the logical thing and return Nuzzle to Celestia, but I can't do that now. Not today, not ever!" Nuzzle ran in between Twilight and Trixie, ready to fight. Bulbasaur also stepped forward, locking eyes with Nuzzle. Trixie's haughty demeanor warped into a wrathful glare, and Twilight prepared herself for the battle ahead.

"Then I hope you are prepared to lose your first and last Pokémon battle! Bulbasaur, tackle her squirtle!"

"Saur!" The little green quadruped charged forward and struck Nuzzle in his soft underbelly, knocked him several steps backward. He clutched his stomach and doubled over.

"Nuzzle! Are you alright?!" Nuzzle brushed the slightly bruised area, looked back at Twilight and nodded. She breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright, time to fight back! Nuzzle, whip that bulbasaur with your tail!" Nuzzle retracted into his shell and spun rapidly toward his enemy.

"Dodge it, bulbasaur!" Bulbasaur leapt out of the way, but just as Nuzzle passed by, he extended his range by thrusting out his tail and lashed bulbasaur's face. The bulbasaur doubled in mid-air and landed on its side. "Grr... Stupid Pokémon!" Nuzzle spun back to his position at Twilight's side and revealed his body again.

"Way to go, Nuzzle!" Twilight patted him on the head, earning her a happy smile. "We can do this!"

"A little tail whip isn't going to win you any battles, Sparkle! Trixie's bulbasaur hardly even felt it! Isn't that right, bulbasaur?"

"Bul-basaur!"

"That's right! Go, bulbasaur! You've already hurt her squirtle! It's only a matter of time until it falls, so keep attacking it!"

"You're turn, Nuzzle! You have the upper hoof, so tackle it head on!" The two Pokémon charged as quickly as their legs would carry them and rammed headfirst into each other like a pair of angry mountain goats.

Bulbasaur flew backward and landed at Trixie's feet.

Nuzzle crashed in a heap at Twilight's.

"Get up! Get up, bulbasaur! Trixie will not allow you to end her career as a trainer here!"

"S-saur..." Slowly the bulbasaur struggled to its feet. It's forehead was bleeding from the impact, and its legs were shaking as it tried to maintain its balance.

"Get up, Nuzzle! Please, don't let me lose you... A little headbutt like that isn't enough to beat a strong little warrior like yourself, right?" Nuzzle rolled off of his back and rubbed his head. After a little shake to re-orient himself, he stood up tall and grinned at Twilight. Twilight bent down and hugged him tightly. "Way to go, toughie. I knew you could do it."

"It isn't over yet, Sparkle! It won't be over until one of us doesn't have a Pokémon to battle with!" Nuzzle looked back and saw the weakened bulbasaur standing there. Suddenly, he leapt from Twilight's arms and rammed it with his shell. The bulbasaur flew backward and crashed at Trixie's feet, where it lay motionless for several seconds before struggling to climb back to its feet. Nuzzle's instinct took over, and he tackled it again. He could sense the battle was almost over, so he sprang forward and charged again.

"Nuzzle, stop!"

Nuzzle slid to a halt just before hitting the bulbasaur. He looked back at Twilight and cocked his head. Wasn't he supposed to end the battle? It was only natural that the stronger fighter should finish the weaker fighter, so why was Twilight making him stop? And why was she crying?

"Stop, Nuzzle. The fight is over. You won, so stop hurting Trixie's Pokémon..." Nuzzle looked back at the bulbasaur. Then he ran up to Twilight and hugged her. Nature called for survival of the fittest, but if it made her sad, then he would never kill another Pokémon.

"Damn you, Sparkle..." Twilight looked up to see a small red beam touch Trixie's bulbasaur and pull it into a pokéball. "Trixie's defeat is not enough for you, is it? You have to leave Trixie's useless Pokémon alive as a constant reminder of her failure."

"Trixie, I-"

"Not a word!" Trixie walked past Twilight and into the lab. To Twilight's surprise, Professor Celestia was standing just outside the doors. "Celestia, I'm using your machine to heal my Pokémon." The doors closed behind her, leaving Twilight and Celestia alone.

"You did well, Twilight. It's a rare thing to see a trainer who is willing to care for her enemy's Pokémon as well as her own."

"I just didn't want anyone to die."

"And that is what separates you from the rest. I'm glad your Celestia taught you to value life as much as I taught my Twilight." Twilight stared, her mouth slightly agape and her eyes a little wider than saucers for a brief moment before she regained her composure.

"How long have you known?"

"Since you first tried to walk into the tall grass. My star pupil would never have done something so foolish."

Twilight blushed. "Sorry. I really didn't know."

"It's okay. Tell me, if you were not trained in Pokémon handling, what were you trained in?"

"Magic! Celestia took me on as her personal protégé and taught me everything I know, even if I can't use it here."

"Don't worry. I get the feeling that an affinity for magic in your world equates to an affinity for Pokémon training here." Trixie emerged from the laboratory, pokéball in hand.

"You will not win next time, Sparkle. The Great and Powerful Trixie will train her Pokémon and make it stronger. She will rise from the ashes of this defeat and become the most powerful Pokémon trainer in the world! Then you will finally acknowledge Trixie as your better!" Trixie ran to the edge of Pallet and disappeared into the grass. Moments later, Twilight could faintly hear sounds of battle coming from that direction.

"How unfortunate. I was going to ask her to pick up a parcel for me from Viridian City, but she ran off before I could say anything. Twilight, would you mind going and getting it for me? The town isn't far, and the route is straight so you can't miss it. This will give you a chance to train your Pokémon as well, and to explore the region." Twilight nodded and began to walk toward the grass, but Celestia stopped her. "And Twilight? Remember that though you care for the lives of others, wild Pokémon won't think twice about fighting like their life depends on it. Be careful out there."