Hey there! :D Here's another chapter for you guys. This time I split up the chapter so that it shows both Taylor's and Oncie's POV. Hope you don't mind! Also, my writing style tends to go a bit fast, I try to put a lot of different events into one, and I tried slowing it down a bit here. Anyways, the first chapter was based off of "i want you", and the next few chapters will be based off of the middle of "A Duet Is Always Better Than A Solo". Towards the end it will become more like "Before The Beginning It Began". ANYWAYS. REVIEW PLEASE? PRETTY PRETTY PLEASE? :3 okay I shall stop talking.


~Taylor's POV~

"Woah", I said, getting up and looking around. The truffulas were swaying gently in the breeze, and some Swamee swans were flying overhead. The sky was dazzlingly blue, since there wasn't a ton of pollution coming from the nearby town. The sun was almost fully behind a hill, the darkness creeping in from the east. Oncie's voice from behind startled me.

"Amazing, right?" He said, looking around. I nod, still speechless from the amazing valley. "Yeah, I was pretty speechless too when I first got here. So, why don't we bring our stuff to my tent and walk around for a bit?" I grabbed my bag and we walked down towards the river, stopping to watch some Bar-ba-loots try to reach some fruit. Finally, we made it to the tent. It was almost exactly the same as in the movie, and inside were a few animals walking around. I put my bag down and sat on his bed, and he sat in his chair and strummed a bit on his guitar.

"Wow… I still can't believe I'm here… this is essentially all I've dreamed about for the past few months!" I say, my voice wavering from the excitement. I had imagined and dreamed about living with the Once-ler for a while, never really believing it would actually happen. Now that I was actually here, though, the fantasy of it all was somewhat lacking. There was something different, but I couldn't quite place it. I pushed that dark thought out of my mind, not wanting to bring down the fun of actually having one of my most improbable dreams come true.

"Well, I'm going to go explore outside for a bit. Want to come along, beanpole?" I say, walking towards the door and looking back to stare at Once-ler. He seemed busy and… possibly even a bit stressed.

"Oh, um, sorry, I sort of gotta work on this plan for sewing the Thneed. We can go sit out by the river for dinner if you want, though!" He said brightly.

"That sounds great." I smile and walk out the door, still mesmerized by the scenery.

~Once-ler's POV~

I watched Taylor walk out the door. I definitely was right. Going into the other universe was definitely better than staying in this strange valley alone with only the really annoying Lorax for company. I looked out the window and saw Taylor playing cards with some Bar-ba-loots. She was just as I had seen her when I looked through the teleporter.I turned back to my desk and continued my sketch of Taylor, suddenly thinking where she was going to sleep tonight. I was just about to think of something when suddenly the door slammed open.

"Hey, beanpole! Thought I'd check in on ya. Hey, didja see the new girl? She's great with the animals. Might consider keeping her around as an apprentice or somethin'." The Lorax walked in and came over to my desk. "Well, I see you've noticed the girl already." He said, chuckling.

"Shut it, mustache," I say, blushing a bit and covering my sketch of Taylor with some blueprints for my factory. "And for your information, I brought Taylor here. I've actually seen her through this strange device that was in my wagon, and I sort of liked her. So I actually used the teleporter to go to her house and she agreed to come with me. But some stuff happened before we left, and I'm just not sure if she likes me. It sort of feels like I… kidnapped her or something." I said, still sort of blushing. The Lorax just stood there laughing at me.

"Wait, you teleported?" He said suddenly, a grave look on his face.

"Yeah. Why?" I said.

"Beanpole, this is NOT good. I may only be some short guardian of the forest, but I know some stuff. You could have teared a hole in space and time and doomed us all!"

"Relax, mustache, we only teleported twice. And I'm pretty sure I've got this figured out." I said, tilting back in my chair a bit.

"Well, I don't even see how ya thought she'd just e willing to go with you the second you showed up. It's not like she even knew you or anything." He said, turning away. I blushed, suddenly embarrassed for believing my plan would work. He had a point.

"Well, you know what, hmm what day is it…" I checked my calendar. It was Friday.

"I bet you that in a week I can get her to fall for me!"

"You sure about that, beanpole?"

"Totally sure. Nobody can resist me when I play my guitar, Lorax." I say, pulling out my guitar and playing a totally awesome riff. I glance outside to see if Taylor had heard. She was playing Tag with some Bar-ba-loots. I stopped still and watched her run for a while, faintly hearing her laugh. I didn't even notice anything until the Lorax closed the door and walked away, startling me.

I sat back down and continued my sketch, pausing occasionally to watch Taylor. Damn, she was totally beautiful, with long, blonde, insanely curly hair, and strikingly bright lime green eyes. As she ran, parts of her hair showed up that were dyed blue and pink. She was sort of tall, maybe 5' 10", but of course I was still taller than her, at 6' 5". She turned to face this way and I looked away. I heard her laugh and say something to the animals. Then I got an idea. I grabbed my Thneed and ran outside.

~Taylor's POV~

I was just eating some fruit with the Bar-ba-loots when Oncie randomly ran outside and over to a Truffula tree. I sat up, still holding Pipsqueak in my arms.

"Hey beanpole! Finally decided to come outside?" I said. He was pulling the tufts off of the thin tree.

"Just had an idea. We still good for dinner?" He said, staring into my eyes with a charming smirk. I blushed, and then he tripped over a rock and rolled down to the river. I ran after him, laughing as I got near. He was completely soaked and was slowly crawling up the bank.

"Mind giving me a hand?" He said, giving me a burning look as I clapped. I laughed harder as I held out my hand. He grabbed it and pulled me in with him. I screamed as I felt the cold water. We were both laughing and splashing water at each other.

"You were planning this the whole time, weren't you?" I said, still laughing a bit.

"Nope, I'm just good at thinking quickly." He replied, "Last one to that tree has to make dinner!" He jumped out of the bank and started running.

"No fair!" I said, getting up and running after him. "You had a head start!" He was leaning against the tree nonchalantly when I got there.

"So, guess that means you're cooking." He said.

"I demand a rematch! You had a head start!" I said, poking him in the stomach.

"Well, hey, if you want me to cook, we're having pancakes for dinner, since that's mostly all I know how to make." He said.

"Nevermind, beanpole, I'll cook you something that definitely isn't pancakes." I say, walking back towards the tent. Oncie started walking with me.

"I have…something to finish making inside. Promise me you won't go look in the little back room while you're cooking, okay?" he says.

"Well, okay, whatever you say." I reply, curious about what he's making. I'll find out sooner, I guess. I head to the pantry and look around.

"Wow, you have all of this and you only made pancakes?" I say.

"Well, that's all I know how to make, Curls. I brought all of this stuff just to experiment, but I never quite got the chance." He said from the back room. I rolled my eyes and grabbed a box of pasta and a pot.

~Once-ler's POV~

Taylor's bed was almost done. I took 2 thneeds and sewed them together, making sort of a cocoon hammock thing. I could hang it on two posts, or maybe just use it as a blanket. I really hoped this would help me win the bet. The Lorax had been keeping a closer eye on me after that bet. He was actually watching from behind a tree during the whole river incident, looking progressively more sad, obviously thinking he was losing the bet.

"Dinner's ready, beanpole!" Taylor's voice was bright, brighter than usual. I could tell she was proud of whatever it was she had made. I put down the Thneeds and walked out, loving the smell in the air. Taylor handed me a bowl with some soup and gestured for us to walk outside.

"Wow, this is awesome, Taylor," I said, looking down at the steaming bowl. "Much better than pancakes."

"Thanks," she replied, blushing. Good, I was getting to her already. I might win this bet way before next Friday. A little voice in my head suddenly appeared.

"You know what you're doing is wrong." The voice said.

"Come on, it's just harmless fun. Anyways I'm pretty sure she already likes me. Why else would she agree to come?" I replied in my head. I sat down on one side of a rock, and Taylor sat across from me.

"You're playing with her heart, and you'll have to admit it to her sooner or later…" the voice said.

"Wow…I couldn't have thought in a million years that I'd be here…" Taylor said, cutting off the strange voice.

"It's just so amazing, and different, and cartoony, and then with you here… It's like paradise. Like you were some sort of angel who took me to heaven." She said, looking at the valley. The sun had set, the moon casting a mystical glow over the valley. Then I got an idea.

"Pfft, I'm no angel, curls. I'm just me." I said, looking out sadly over the river. "Just a weirdo inventor who can't really make anything."

"Oncie, don't be like that." She said, scooting closer. "You made it here, you made your invention! The Thneed will be big one day, I know it will." I tried my best to look sad as she took my hand and we stood up. "People just don't know about it yet. You have to spread the word! THE THNEED IS FREAKING AWESOME!" This last part echoed around the valley for a bit. Then she dragged me up a hill, and we sat there for a while, just chatting.

"Wow, it's really dark out now." She said after a bit of silence. I was laying down and she was resting her head on my stomach. "I wonder what time it is."

"Well, time flies when you're having fun." I said, somewhat absentmindedly. She looked up at me. Suddenly, I took her face in my hands and kissed her. She put her hands in my hair, pulling me closer. The whole time, I could hear the voice in my head getting louder.

"You're messing with her heart you cruel man. How could you do this to her? You're sick. At least tell her what you're doing to her." The voice said. I couldn't take it anymore. I pulled apart, both of us gasping.

"Taylor…" I said. I stopped because the words were suddenly very hard to say.

"What is it?" She said, looking into my eyes. Oh god, I couldn't hurt her. Not yet. This was really all I'd ever wanted since I found the device. I'd tell her later. But right now, I had to finish my sentence.

"I… um… I love you." She kissed me again, and I almost sighed with relief. I could tell her at another time. Right now we should be happy. But that voice still haunted me. It almost seemed like there was something hidden under the voice, as if it wanted me to hurt Taylor... but then I looked at Taylor, right here in front of me, and my thoughts drifted away.