Chapter 1

It had been at least a year since Horton and the Mayor of Whoville, also known as Ned Mcdodd, had met and saved Ned’s world. The days after that were boring and everything was safe. Ned was tapping his pencil to the beat of a song – Can’t Fight This Feeling – and daydreaming slightly.

Something came across his mind, though, while he daydreamed. He had never really met Horton eye to eye at all. He had always wanted to, for he had risked his life to save Whoville, but didn’t think there was a way. But maybe, the scientist, Dr. Larue, could make something for him that could make it possible. Who knew?  

Ned got up and gathered his papers, putting them into a pile and putting the pencil inside of it. He checked his fish beforehand. Then, he walked out of his office and towards Dr. Larue’s room.  

He got to the office of Dr. Larue and noticed she was having trouble lifting some kind of machine. Ned jumped in and easily helped her lift it onto the table. “Oh thank you…” she looked at Ned and gasped. “Mr. Mayor!” He smiled. “That’s my name, don’t wear it out!”  

She rolled her eyes. “How can I be of asshistance?” she said. Ned lost his smile for a moment. Then he said, “Y’know it’s been around a year since Horton helped us?” She seemed confused. “That long?” He nodded. “Well, I was thinking. I haven’t even seen him before. Just talked to him.
  
  “What I’m saying is…do you have anything that I can use so that I can meet him in person?” The doctor looked down to think. But there was a weird look on her face.

She looked up finally and said, “I think I do have shomething…” Ned’s face lit up. The doctor’s voice suddenly had a twinge of regret in it. “But it’s a proto type and it may not work. It may do shomething elshe. I’m shtill working on it.”  

Ned sighed  looked up. “When will it be ready?” She shrugged. She motioned to the machine on the table. Ned looked at it. “Is that it?” he aandsked. She nodded. “This ish The Magnitude Machine. It can shrink you or increashe your height. But thish ish just the charger.” Ned sighed with relief. “Where’s the actual thing?” he asked. Larue took out what looked like a weird calculator or something and handed it to Ned.  

“Thish has a few shwitches on it. One ish to turn it on, another ish to adjusht the height, etc.” She took the time explaining how to use the machine and told Ned which knob was which. When she was done, Ned asked a very important question, “I got this, but how can I resize myself without destroying Whoville.”  

Larue nodded and went to the closet. She took out a square chip – like a computer chip – and gave it to Ned. “You have to inshert that into the devise and on the shcreen, it will say where to go.” Ned looked at her. “How’d you know?” he asked. She smiled. “I new one day you’d want to meet him, which ish why I invented thish. And I invented one for your friend too. Here.”  

Ned smiled, taking what looked like a collar from her, and then hugged the doctor. “Thank you! You don’t know how much this means to me.” She laughed and Ned let go. “You take care and be careful.” Ned nodded and left with the machine and collar.
  
  He headed to the chairman’s office. He knocked on the door. No one answered. When he opened the door and saw no one was there, he wrote on a note:
  
  “I’ll be gone for a while. Maybe a few days. Please take care of everything while I’m gone. I’m going to visit Horton.”
  
  Then, he left and went back to his house to inform Sally, his wife. He opened the door. There, in the living room, was his wife. She was playing with some of their kids.
  
  She looked up. “You’re home early.” She said. He nodded and walked over to her and whispered something to her. She looked at him and said, “But what about your work and the children? What about all of us.” Ned sighed. “I’m not going to be gone that long.”

After a discussion with Sally and then the children, Ned said goodbye and left. He went to the outskirts of Whoville and took out only the Magnitude Machine and followed the instructions. He turned it on, selected the place – above Whoville – selected the size of a human – he still didn’t know how Dr. Larue had gotten that – and pressed go.  

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Chapter 2  

Ned felt the machine vibrate in his hand. After about five seconds, he felt himself vibrate and soon enough, he was somewhere else…lus, he felt bigger. He tried to move, but was stuck. He looked around and saw a sunflower. On that sunflower was the speck – Whoville.
  
  He sighed, took one last glance, and wriggled through the hole to the outside of the cave. When he got out, he gasped. It was amazing. This whole place...what did Horton call it…a jungle? Yeah, that’s right! It was beautiful. There were no houses or buildings or anything like that – just wildlife – the trees and plants – were covering the whole place; it was wonderful.
  
  Ned was looking down when he heard someone talking. He looked down and saw what looked like a grey thing. He looked closer and noticed the big ears and long trunk. It had to be Horton. He smiled. He would surprise Horton.
  
  He put the machine away and walked slowly down the mountain towards the elephant. He hid behind trees and bushes until he got to the place where Horton was. He looked so depressed, looking down like that.  

Horton sighed. “I don’t get it…I’ve been so lonely. The Mayor of Whoville had always been the perfect friend to talk to.” Ned smiled, though he was upset to see that his friend had been so sad all this time. “Horton,” came a voice out of the blue.
  
  Ned looked around. He looked back to Horton, who was looking down at something. Ned looked where Horton was looking and saw something blue. It was a blue mouse on top of Horton’s stomach. The mouse continued, “I’m really starting to get a little worried about you. Although, I’ve been worried for past few MONTHS! You have been frowning a lot this whole year.”
  
  Horton looked away. “I just can’t help it…he was like family to me, only smaller, much smaller.” Ned knew this was his chance. “Until now…” he said, slightly coming out of his hiding place. Horton got up, putting the blue mouse on a log next to him.

“I know that voice…” Horton said. “Is that...M…m…” Ned came out fully and said, “Yep, it’s me, Horton!” Horton smiled. “MAYOR!!!!!” Horton jumped up and grabbed Ned and gave him a bear – or in this case, elephant – hug. “I can’t believe it! You’re here! You’re actually here! I’m so happy to see you, Mayor!” Ned smiled, though he was being crushed in Horton’s strong grip. “I’m happy to see you too Horton, but can you put me down now. You’re crushing me.”
  
  “Oh,” Horton said, releasing him. “Sorry.” Ned smiled at his friend. “Horton, I’ve been waiting to meet you in person. Ever since you saved us, I wanted to meet you in person.” Horton smiled. “How’d you get here?” Ned showed him the devise. “Dr. Larue gave me this. It teleported me out of Whoville and then it increased my size.”  

Horton smiled. “Wow, I never expected you to come. I didn’t think it would be possible.” Ned nodded. “Neither did I. But I guess it is.” Horton nodded. The two of them walked for a while and talked until Horton realized he had a class.
  
  “Oh!” Horton said. “My class!” Ned cocked his head to one side. “Class?” Horton nodded. “I teach.” Ned hid his amusement. He didn’t expect Horton to be a teacher…the way he knew him. Horton clapped his hands together. “I know, you can meet my students.”
  
  Ned nodded. “Of course, why not?” Horton led Ned back to the stream to find Horton’s students. Ned was eager to meet Horton’s friends. Ned was betting that there was more to his place and Horton than he gave him credit for…  

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Chapter 3

Ned and Horton waited by the stream. They were still talking when they heard, “Hey Horton! Who’re you talkin’ to?” Horton and Ned looked up. There were what must be Horton’s students. Horton smiled up at them and said, “Hello class, you ready to begin? I have a special treat for you today!”  

The young animals jumped down one by one. Horton said their names as they came down. “This is Jessica, Tommy, Mimi, Rudy, and…” Horton looked around. “Where’s Katie?” he asked the others, who were now on the ground. They shrugged.  

Ned looked around and suddenly screamed and jumped, grabbing Horton’s trunk. Horton looked at where Ned was looking. It was Katie. Katie smiled, “Ahhhh!” Ned gulped. Horton then said to Ned, “Mayor, calm down, this is one of my students, Katie.” Again, Katie went, “Ahhhh!”
  
  Ned shivered. “Why does she keep doing that?” Horton laughed and then said, “I don’t know.” Ned nodded and slowly got down and brushed himself off. Horton turned to his class. “Class, do you remember, about a year ago when I found that speck on the clover?”
  
  They nodded. “Well, this is one of the people who lives on the speck. He’s the Mayor.” Ned smiled kindly. “Hi.” The students nodded and said, “Hi!” Horton smiled. “Good. Now, we’re going to learn a little bit about the Mayor today.”

Ned looked at him. “What?” Horton smiled and winked. Ned nodded, a little hesitantly. The lesson went by quickly. Horton and the others asked Ned questions and Ned answered them. Ned seemed to really fit in. But the problem was, the Kangaroo was close by and when saw Ned, well…
  
  “Horton,” she said, hopping over. “Who’s that? I’ve never seen anyone like him here in the jungle.” She seemed pretty kind, but there was sternness to her, like she had some sort of authority, kind of like the chairman in Whoville.
  
  Horton smiled. “This is the Mayor of Whoville. You remember, don’t you. He’s the one who I was talking to on that speck a year ago.” The Kangaroo eyed Ned. She hopped over and started to inspect. She grabbed his arm and looked at it. Then, she looked at his feet. Then, she looked at his hair, nose, and clothes. As she did this, she made noises like, “Hmhm” and “Yes…” and that kind of stuff.  

Horton and the children watched as she did all of this. “He seems fine to me.” She said when she was done. She eyed him. “Just make one promise to me.” Ned was a little scared. “What’s that?” She crossed her arms. “You are not to harm anyone or anything, try to change anything, or anything like that.” Ned nodded.
  
  She smiled. “Have a nice day!” Ned nodded and she hopped off. Ned shivered when she was out ear range. “Who was that?” Horton walked up to him. “Oh that’s just Kangaroo, Rudy’s mom. She’s the one who tried to destroy speck because she didn’t think you were there. But she’s softened up since she found out.” Ned nodded. He believed Horton about this, but was afraid of what she used to be like.  

Horton smiled and said, “Well, we better get on with the lesson!” He said and continued walking. Ned was looking around and didn’t notice that Horton and the others had moved along. And by the time he looked back, they were gone. Ned looked around. Where could they have gone?
  
  Ned started searching, but went in the wrong direction. Around him, he saw all different kinds of things. There were creatures of all sorts – the ones from the movie – and they all were staring at him. He even started running when a giant creature with a long neck started sniffing him.  

He ran all the way past everyone and came to patch of dark trees. He looked around. Where was he? He kept moving and found himself by a bunch of dead trees, including one that was a big hole with thorns around it.  

Ned walked over and looked inside, but when he bent his head over, he fell. Thorns covered him and he found himself trapped within their grasp. “Ugh! What?” He tried getting himself out, but it was no use. He tried again, but hurt himself on the thorns.
  
  An evil laugh came out of the ‘dark grey’. Ned gasped. He looked around. Then he screamed when he saw a giant black bird. The bird laughed. Ned finally stopped screaming – because he lost air and needed to breath – and started hyperventilating.
  
  “Ha, ha,” the bird said. “Lunch is served.” Ned gasped. What had he gotten himself into? The bird came closer. Ned finally spoke, “Who are…you?” The bird smiled. “My name is Vlad, but why should I tell you that. You’re my lunch.”
  
  Vlad got closer and Ned closed his eyes. But, for some reason, no pain came. Ned opened his eyes and gasped. Horton had planted himself in front of Vlad. He had a very angry look on his face. Anyone would shutter at the expression Horton had on his face. Plus, the fact that Horton is very big is intimidating – but then again, aren’t all elephants large?

“What do you think you are doing?” Horton asked, his voice also full of anger. Vlad shrunk back. “I…was just about to have lunch…” Horton growled. “You are NOT eating my FRIEND!!!” Vlad looked at Ned and then back at Horton.
  
  “This…um…thing is your friend?” he asked. Horton grit his teeth. “He’s not a thing. He’s a Who. He’s from Whoville. He’s visiting.” Vlad’s eyes widened. “Oh! This is your friend from the speck! So sorry, bro!” Horton narrowed his eyes and snorted once before turning to Ned and releasing him from thorns.
  
  Ned exhaled loudly. That was too close! Ned looked up at Horton and said, “Thanks. I owe you big time.” Horton smiled. “You don’t owe me anything. That’s just what friends do.” Ned smiled and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
  
  “Yep, that’s what friends do…”

----To be Continued.--