A/N: Hello everyone! I meant to put this chapter up yesterday, but I was really busy. Just for your information, this chapter here focuses mainly on Horton and the others, because I feel I need to describe the beginning of their journey to Grim Mountain. Don't worry: Jojo WILL be in the next chapter! And speaking of Jojo…May 17 was (according to my fic if you remember) Jojo's birthday! HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY JOJO! By the way, the song in this chapter "Follow Me Now" is from Alvin and the Chipmunks. Another thing…that dream Jojo had and the way he felt under Malkavar's touch in the previous chapter has significance! Enjoy the chapter! (and pachysam, thanks for the ideas! You get a chapter dedication!)
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The rescue party in the Jungle of Nool was finally on track of their destination, thanks to a little help from Bunny Vlad. The rescue party was about 6 miles away from the mountains, and the vegetation was already starting to look less vibrant than normal. However, just because they knew where Grim Mountain was, that didn't mean it would be easy getting there.
"Okay, we're not even close to Grim Mountain, and already I'm dreading going there!" Morton exclaimed as the group tread through the Jungle with their sights set on the looming mountains that were somewhat far ahead of them.
"Morton," Horton said gently, "we have to go there to save Jojo. Do you want him to be hurt?"
"No, no!" Morton said quickly. "Of course I don't want him to get hurt! I'm just saying that all of those mountains look dangerous, that's all."
"I think we all agree with you Morton," Sally said as her voice shook a little. Both she and her husband were even more worried about Jojo, considering he was being held captive at the most dangerous place in all of Nool.
"Well, it's sure not going to be a piece of cake getting there," said Kangaroo in a worried tone. "Grim Mountain is Mt. Nool's opposite. If Mt. Nool's the safest place, Grim Mountain's the most dangerous. That's why they're on opposite sides of the Jungle."
"Poor Jojo," Rudy said softly with a concerned frown on his face. "I hope he'll be okay."
The Mayor and his wife gave Rudy a grateful smile. "That's really nice of you to say Rudy," the Mayor said as he put his hand on Rudy's shoulder.
"Have any of you actually been to Grim Mountain?" Dr. Larue asked as she stared at the mountain range with an inquiring look on her face. She appeared to be studying the features of the large mountains.
"Been to it?!" Kangaroo exclaimed, stopping in her tracks as she whirled around at the Who. "My son and I have never even been within 5 miles of that mountain range! It's far too dangerous!"
"Not many people go into that mountain range and come out again," vulture Vlad said softly.
The three Whos let out a panicked gasp as they whirled around at vulture Vlad.
"Don't tell them that!" Horton said firmly to vulture Vlad. "Can't you see they're in enough distress about Jojo?"
"I'm sorry," vulture Vlad insisted, "I didn't mean to make anyone upset. I was just stating the facts. They have the right to know just how dangerous that place is!"
Bunny Vlad sighed. "Look you guys, if we spend all our time arguing, we'll never reach Jojo in time!"
"You have a point there, Vlad," Horton said as he addressed the rabbit. "We'd better get going to get to Grim Mountain ASAP!"
"You said it!" the Mayor said somewhat enthusiastically. Then he stopped, his voice suddenly lowered with a fearful edge to it. "Even though there's tons of mountains there and they all look treacherous, not to mention Vlad said not many people come out – "
"Hey, I said I was sorry," vulture Vlad insisted, but the Mayor seemed oblivious to what he was saying. Rudy and Kangaroo gave the Whos a sad and sympathetic glance. Rudy in particular looked devastated.
"And to think," the Mayor went on, his voice approaching near hysteria, "my son is trapped there by the most dangerous Who in all of Whoville or Nool, and he could be tortured or – "
At that moment, Sally gently took her husband's hand as she looked firmly into his eyes. "Ned, please," she said as small tears were starting to form in her eyes. "I feel like having a breakdown too," she said gently, "but if that happens, we won't have the strength to go through with this." She comfortingly placed her hand on her husband's cheek. "We have to be strong Ned, for Jojo's sake."
The Mayor paused to wipe the tears from his own eyes. "Right," he said quietly, as he took a deep breath. "For Jojo." He then gently embraced his wife, no longer trying to stop the tears that were flowing from his eyes. The group could see that Sally was crying too.
Bunny Vlad shot a brief "Now look what you've done," glare at vulture Vlad.
"I didn't mean to make them cry!" vulture Vlad whispered to the rabbit. "I was just trying to say – "
"Just don't say anymore right now Vlad," Morton cut the vulture off firmly. "They're worried about their son." That remark made Vlad shut his beak instantly.
Dr. Larue went over two her two friends and placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "We all have to be strong in a time like this," she said encouragingly. "If we stick together, we'll find him."
Ned and Sally both managed brief smiles. "Thank you Dr. Larue," they said at the same time.
"Mind if I ask what's going on here?" a rough but familiar voice suddenly spoke up.
Everyone whirled around to find a group of about 10 purple monkeys staring at them. The largest of them all stepped forward, indicating that he was the one who had spoken.
"Yummo! Wickershams!" Horton exclaimed. "You startled us!"
"Sorry," Yummo said quickly. "Now, what is going on here? And who are they?" The monkey gestured to the three Whos.
"The Mayor of Whoville, his wife Sally, and Dr. Larue." Morton replied.
"Wait a minute," one of the Wickershams spoke up, "so they're from that dust speck world?"
"Yup!" Horton said.
"And to answer your other question, Dr. Larue said, "Their son Jojo," she pointed at Ned and Sally as she said this, "was just kidnapped."
All the Wickershams gasped in unison.
"Kidnapped?" Yummo said softly, "By whom?"
"Some crazy Who named Malkavar over at Grim Mountain," Rudy answered.
"Grim Mountain?!" all of the Wickershams gasped in disbelief.
Everyone else nodded.
"But that's – " Yummo started.
"The most dangerous place in all of Nool," Kangaroo interrupted with a grim expression. "We know."
Suddenly the conversation was interrupted by a small sound. The Noolans turned to look and saw that Dr. Larue had placed the Transmoporter on the ground as a screen expanded and showed several Whos in the Observatory. This included the Chairman and some of the 96 O'Malley daughters.
"Mom? Dad?" one of the elder daughters asked. "Are you there?"
Ned and Sally stepped in front of the Transmoporter screen. "Yeah Holly," Ned replied, managing a slight smile. "We are here."
"We are here! We are here! We are here!" the youngest daughter, Heady, exclaimed with a smile, mimicking the cry that the Whos had shouted to get themselves to be heard. Her parents shared a warm smile.
The Chairman cleared his throat and stepped closer to the screen. "Mr. Mayor," he started hesitantly, "have you found – "
"Not yet," Sally said softly, "but we know where he was taken. He's at a place called Grim Mountain." She moved aside to reveal the foreboding mountains, causing all the O'Malley daughters to gasp.
"That's where Jojo is?!" Holly exclaimed in disbelief, staring in shock at her parents.
"Unfortunately, yes," Horton said with a sigh. "Luckily, we have quite a few friends to help us out!"
"And you can count us in!" Yummo spoke up.
"What?" Kangaroo turned to Yummo with an expression of amazement.
"You're coming?" Rudy asked with admiration.
The Wickersham leader shrugged his shoulders. "Sure, why not?" The other monkeys called out their agreement.
"Alright!" Horton exclaimed. "Welcome to Operation: Rescue Jojo!"
The Whos in the Observatory cheered, but suddenly a faint call could be heard.
"Girls! Time to go back to the house!"
"Coming Mrs. Whonifer!" Holly called back. Mrs. Whonifer had been hired to watch the O'Malley children while their parents were away. With a quick "Bye Mom! Bye Dad! Please find our brother soon!" Holly led her sisters out of the Observatory as the screen flickered off.
Dr. Larue placed the Transmoporter in her black bag, which she had invented to be able to fit a large amount of objects. "We'd better get going," she said softly as she looked at the mountains, getting closer by the minute and with what looked like dark clouds looming overhead.
Horton noticed that everyone was looking a little nervous as they walked, so he felt like they needed some help to get their confidence up (and, to be honest, his own too). After humming to himself for a minute, he started to sing, softly at first but soon growing in volume.
This morning I woke up, and something had changed,
I felt kinda good, and it felt kinda strange.
There's something going on here,
And maybe it's a brand new world,
Or I'm just crazy, insane.
Bunny Vlad, who was now getting in the spirit of things, started to sing, with Rudy soon joining in.
So everything's different,
Well I guess that's O.K.
'Cause those thoughts that used to hold me down,
Have all gone away.
I feel like I can take on the world,
So come along for the ride,
Or just get out of my way.
With everyone's spirits slowly lifting, Morton, Kangaroo, and Vlad joined in the chorus.
Come on! Come on!
Get up! Get up!
Let's go won't you follow me
Let's go won't you follow me now.
Kangaroo and vulture Vlad then picked up the next verse.
So tell me your secrets,
And I'll sell you my soul.
To everyone's surprise, it was the Mayor who sang the next part of the song.
There's a shovel in my heart,
And it's digging a hole.
Sally and Dr. Larue both sang along with the Mayor on the last part of the verse.
The devil and the god in my head,
Are having breakfast in my brain,
And it's driving me insane.
With everyone caught up in the moment, the entire group joined in on the chorus.
Come on! Come on!
Get up! Get up!
Let's go won't you follow me
Let's go won't you follow me now.
With a new air of confidence as they walked on, they all sang the final verse of the song.
Won't someone follow me now?
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A/N: Whew! Finally done that chapter! Hope you enjoyed! Oh, and check out my oneshot, One Small Noise. Remember to review!
