A/N: Hi, guys. Had to write this. Thought it'd be cute. I assumed that the Once-ler would be hesitant about calling the Lorax his friend after what happened the first time.


"Ted…" The Once-ler put a hesitant hand on the Lorax's furry back, pushing him closer to the boy across from him.

For his part, the boy looked a little bit freaked at being introduced to a two-foot-high, bright orange furry peanut, and the guardian huffed. He would have loved – or more like, been interested – to hear Beanpole's description of him.

"I promised you to introduce you two to each other, as you both remember. Mustache, this is Ted. Ted, this is…my acquaintance—

"Friend," the Lorax interrupted, blurting it out before even really knowing what he was saying. Beanpole gave him a very strange look, withdrawing his hands and simply gazing at the forest guardian. They were friend though, weren't they? The look that his old companion was giving him was making him rethink this, and he was determined to fix this blunder. "I…I didn't—

"Thank you." For a moment, a shadow of the boy that he had been stirred in Beanpole's face, in his soft, warm smile.

"Don't get too comfortable," the Lorax warned, scowling. "And I can introduce myself, thank you very much."