It was a beautiful day in the jungle of Nool. It was summer after May.
In the trees, Horton and Kangaroo were all asleep together, comfy. Rudy and Alexa were all asleep too in their mother's pouch.
Moments later, Rudy woke up slowly and snickered, leaving Alexa sleeping in their mother's pouch. He took a random clover from the sticky ground and tickled his mother on the nose, and did see her stir, but continue to sleep. Rudy shrugged but walked over to Horton's side, but could hear how soundly Horton slept dreamingly; Rudy continued and tickled Horton on his trunk, causing the elephant to sniff, but start to sneeze,
"ACHOO!"
Kangaroo yelped, so did Horton, awake. Rudy laughed, as if it was very funny.
"Rudy, it's not funny," Horton sternly told Rudy.
"Sorry, but I tried not to crack up," Rudy replied with a giggle.
Kangaroo facepalmed herself, and picked up Alexa after feeling her stir in her pouch. Alexa whined tiredly, but Kangaroo grinned as she nuzzled her little girl while saying,
"Good morning, little flower!"
Horton grinned while blushing and tickled Alexa with his trunk, making her giggle. Rudy felt awed at what he had seen.
As a result, the four were all up and ready to start the day. Rudy was holding his little sister Alexa in his arms while in their mother's pouch.
"Hey, Kangaroo!" a voice called.
Horton and the kangaroos turned; there flew Vlad Vladikoff and his daughter Mallory Vladikoff.
"Mr. Vladikoff!" Kangaroo called as Vlad came into view.
Mallory approached suspiciously as Vlad told Kangaroo,
"This is my daughter Mallory Vladikoff. She's been long-lost since the elephant has been speaking with the people in the clover until now."
"Wow, well, how old is she?" Horton asks.
"She's 18 years old," Vlad replied.
Rudy was frightened at the sight of Mallory, but Vlad reassures him that none of themselves will take a lunch out of Rudy or his family. Kangaroo was soothing her son with comfort, and motioned Rudy to release Alexa from his arms as she told Mallory,
"This is mine and Horton's daughter Alexa Clover. She's my Rudy's little sister and was about 6 years old."
Mallory glared at Alexa coldly, as if she wasn't fond of her new friend. Vlad told Mallory,
"Now, Mallory, be nice to Alexa. And don't even think about your antics on her or else. Understood?"
Mallory sighed and replied,
"Yes, father."
Vlad nodded and told Horton and Kangaroo,
"Now, it'll be appreciated if you can keep an eye on Mallory for me when I go do some errands."
Horton and Kangaroo nodded, and waved goodbye to Vlad, who flew off, leaving his daughter with them.
Horton told Rudy and Alexa,
"Now that Mallory will hang out with us, I asked the mayor and his son Jo Jo if they can come, and they did approve."
Rudy cheered,
"Yay! Jo Jo is coming!"
Alexa cheered with her older brother as well, but Mallory asked,
"Who's Jo Jo?"
"He is Ned's son, and they are all Horton's best friends who live in Whoville on the speck," Kangaroo replied,
"And we must treat them with respect."
"Oh," Mallory muttered suspiciously.
In reaction to Mallory's attitude, he told Kangaroo,
"It's Mallory's first time meeting the mayor and his family. He told me that he and his son Jo Jo can only come because his wife had to take care of their 96 daughters."
Kangaroo was impressed of how big Horton's friend Ned's family was.
"That was a busy family, Horton," she said,
"Well, the first time they saw Alexa is actually when I birthed her in the Whoville hospital, with a veterinary center alongside it."
Horton nodded, but as he turned and saw Ned and Jo Jo here, he smiled and came for an embrace. He had Kangaroo, their kids, and Mallory come for there.
As Horton and Kangaroo introduced Mallory to Jo Jo, he was eager.
"What kind of a being are you and your father?" Mallory asked, in attempt to make rude remarks.
"Now, Mallory, you be nice to them," Horton said to Mallory sternly,
"These people do exist from another world that came from a speck."
Mallory rolled her eyes in annoyance, and made a handshake with Jo Jo, but as she did so, her talons squeezed force on Jo Jo's hand.
"Ow!" Jo Jo yelped, shaking his hand away from Mallory.
"Mallory!" Kangaroo scolded,
"Apologize to the person, now."
Mallory scoffed as she crossed her wings,
"How come that? You kids look BORING."
Alexa whimpered after hearing what Mallory called them. Rudy comforted his sister as Ned did the same to Jo Jo.
"Mayor, I'm sorry about Mallory. Mr. Vladikoff told us to keep an eye on her, because he told us that Mallory is his daughter," Horton told Ned.
Ned understood, and asked the rest,
"We can go to the park, can we? But I'm not sure if there is in this jungle."
"Oh, yes. Nool has a park," Kangaroo replied,
"Follow me."
Once she had Rudy hold Alexa in her pouch, Kangaroo hopped along the way. Horton, Ned, Jo Jo, and Mallory who was full of suspiciousness followed along.
"Horton! Horton!" the voices called from behind.
There follow behind the kids who appear to be Horton's students— Tommy Bear, Jessica Quilligan, Angela Glummox, and Katie.
Later…
Horton, Kangaroo, and Ned had Rudy and Jo Jo taken to the park in Nool to keep an eye on Alexa, except for Mallory, who was doing nothing but saw Tommy, Jessica, Angela, and Katie going to the park. She suspiciously snickered, up to no good.
"Now, Jo Jo, me and your friends' parents will have a chat when you play along," Ned told Jo Jo,
"And please be on your best behavior."
"Don't worry, dad, I will with Rudy," Jo Jo replied.
Rudy nodded in agreement while holding his sister's hand.
"Also, your new friends Tommy, Jessica, Angela, and Katie came to hang out, too," Horton added in.
Jo Jo, Rudy, and Alexa smiled and went off in the park to find Tommy, Jessica, Angela, and Katie to play with.
As Horton and Ned faced Kangaroo, they began the chat.
"I'm pretty sure Mallory will come along while Mr. Vladikoff is busy on time," Kangaroo told them, but noticed Mallory nowhere.
"Hey, where's Mallory?" she asked.
As Jo Jo, Rudy, and Alexa spotted Tommy, Jessica, Angela, and Katie, they were in shock at what they saw: Mallory was picking on them!
"Give me your flowers right now, or I'll kick you on your meek little bird rear end!" Mallory scolded as she shoved Jessica who yelped.
"Ow! Cut it out, Mallory!" she cried.
"Tweet! Tweet!" Mallory imitated as she snatched the flowers from Jessica, including Tommy, Angela, and Katie, who were all shocked,
"Whatcha gonna do? Cry?!"
"Hey!" a voice yelled.
Mallory and the kids turned; there stood Jo Jo and Rudy holding Alexa.
"You heard my classmates, cut it out," Rudy told Mallory sternly,
"You're lucky we're not in school until the next weeks for the first times there!"
Mallory snickered, and glared at Alexa,
"Oh, well, how come is this little kangaroo different from other animals?"
"She's an elephant hybrid," Jo Jo replied, trying to be brave,
"Don't even judge."
"Then why would my father invite me to play with you like these freaks here?!" Mallory questioned again, gesturing to Tommy, Jessica, Angela, and Katie.
Then, she shoved Jo Jo down.
Rudy was trying to help Jo Jo stand up, but Mallory shoved him down as well while saying,
"Out of my way!"
Alexa was stepping back, trying to fight her fears,
"Mallory, what are you doing?"
"I dunno," Mallory sneered,
"Just having a good time with you of a twerp!"
After these words, Mallory brutally shoved her down one at a time, causing Rudy, Jo Jo, and the kids to feel scared.
"Jo Jo, what are we gonna do?! Mallory's bullying my sister!" Rudy cried out, but noticed Jo Jo recording with his phone, as if he'll get evidence needed to stop Mallory who was brutally hurting Alexa, making her cry.
"How will our parents find out?" Tommy panicked.
Jessica and Angela were thinking until Katie chimed in,
"I got it… we get Horton!"
The kids looked at Katie, and nodded. Katie smiles, and says weirdly,
"Ahh."
Then, they ran to get Horton who was talking with Kangaroo and Ned.
On the other hand, Mallory laughed rudely,
"Look at you, you little crybaby of a twerp."
Alexa managed to hold back tears because how badly she was bullied.
"I can relate to when the elephant has been playing with the flower the whole time," Mallory continued with a sneer.
"You're lying!" Jo Jo cuts off after finishing the recording of the evidence from his phone,
"He's helping me and my family, and we've got proof of what you did."
"My friend is right. They are living on a speck, until it is back to its safest place. And why won't you leave my sister alone and get a life?!" Rudy snapped as well.
"SHUT UP, YOU FREAKS!" Mallory screeched at Jo Jo and Rudy, causing them to yelp in fear.
Mallory sneered at Alexa,
"And by that, the elephant is a total troublemaker, ain't he? And I'm gonna give you a wonderful lash for this."
"That's a lie," Alexa growled a bit,
"My father is always right, and now my mother understands, and he is NOT a lying troublemaker!"
Jo Jo and Rudy felt relieved at what Alexa said while trying to stand up to Mallory, but the two noticed their real parents and even Horton coming back from behind with the other kids.
"Try and hurt me all you want, but you'll never have proof that you're getting along, just like my brother and cousin have been doing. My parents told me to treat each other with respect, like my father has to my mother," Alexa continued as she stood herself up, making her pose brave.
"Then where is your mother and father now, huh?!" Mallory interrogates,
"It's just only you and me! So let's have a little fun."
As Mallory squeezed Alexa with her talon, Alexa whimpered back, on the verge of tears. But when Mallory lifts her other talon with sharp claws popped out and was about to strike at Alexa once again, a hand grabbed Mallory's clawed talon. It was Kangaroo!
"Her parents are right here!" she yelled at Mallory.
Once Kangaroo grabs Alexa from Mallory, Ned came into view, so did Tommy, Jessica, Angela, and Katie, too. Horton came into view as well and grabbed Mallory by the body.
"Nobody messes with our sweet little angel like that!" he yelled,
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself!"
Ned checked on Jo Jo and Rudy if they're okay, and as Kangaroo comforted Alexa, she told Ned,
"Ned, call Mr. Vladikoff, and tell him that there's a troublemaking lunatic of a daughter like Mallory, going around bullying children!"
Ned nodded, but as Jo Jo and Rudy managed to come with him, Ned told them to stay, because the turf where Vlad lived— Kangaroo talked about— is very dangerous.
"I'll do it, Kangaroo, but it'll be dangerous," Ned told Kangaroo, and ran to find Vlad's turf.
"Rudy, sweetie, are you and your friends okay?" Kangaroo asked her son.
"Yes. Mallory hit my sister a few times, bur we didn't let her break our spirits, and even hers," Rudy replied to his mother.
"Yep! And we're not scared of her," Jo Jo added.
"Great! I'm glad you didn't let hatred win over love," Horton told Rudy and Jo Jo while getting a grip on Mallory with his trunk,
"Rudy, I'm impressed of you and Jo Jo taking care of your sister. And as for you, Jo Jo, your father, mother, and sisters will be so proud!"
Mallory scoffed,
"These little twerps have a family?"
"Shut your trap!" Horton hissed at Mallory,
"I'm not finished with you, yet. I'm gonna make sure you get in trouble until you have learned a lesson."
"Who do you think anyone will believe?!" Mallory said back,
"A bunch of childlike freaks, or an innocent carnivore?"
"Oh, don't worry, Mallory," Ned said as he came back in a knick of time,
"I already told your father, overheard my son doing an impressive job of watching Alexa with the other kids here in Nool. Now we have all evidence needed to let your father know."
Jo Jo nodded with his father, so did Kangaroo and the kids. Horton faced Mallory and told her,
"Now come on! Let me get you to where your father will see us!"
Horton shoved Mallory with his trunk holding her as his friends came along.
"Mallory, stay still right in my trunk this instant!" Horton snapped.
"Lemme go!" Mallory screeched.
"You beat our daughter just because you met us for the first time, but that doesn't mean that you act like an 18-year-old troublemaker!" Kangaroo chimed in.
As Horton found a spot, he sat down with Mallory stuck by his trunk.
"Sit down!" Horton hissed at Mallory.
Kangaroo sat down while holding Alexa and Rudy was back in his mother's pouch. Once she noticed Willie, Tommy's father; Mrs. Quilligan, Jessica's mother; and Mrs. Glummox, Angela's mother, Kangaroo mouthed at them to stay put until it's the time.
Ned and Jo Jo did the sat down, including the other kids.
"Even with that evidence against me, you'll never win a trial, okay?" Mallory sarcastically says,
"I know that you are liars about the people and specks and your children are twerps!"
"Mallory! I really don't know why you have so much disbelief in your heart," Horton snapped again at Mallory,
"But love will always win over hatred. We told you to be nice with our children, but you ruined their fun! Now stay still and shut up!"
"Us, including Mr. Vladikoff, were all running out of patience with you!" Kangaroo agreed with anger.
The kids nodded in agreement.
"MALLORY VLADIKOFF!" a male voice shouts.
"Hey! The bird is here!" Ned says.
Vlad flew down with pure anger in his eyes. Mallory turned and gulped as Horton released her from his trunk.
"Mallory, I can't believe this; I thought I raised you better than this!" Vlad snapped at Mallory,
"You just caused trouble to the children like it's no problem. That's it, young lady, we're going home now!"
Vlad grabbed Mallory by the leg with his talons and, before flying off, told Kangaroo,
"Hey, Kangaroo, I'm sorry about my daughter. She'll learn better than this."
"Mallory should better do that," Kangaroo replied with a glare.
The carnivorous bird nodded, and flew away with Mallory.
Horton and Kangaroo reassured Alexa that Mallory won't be able to bully her or her friends again. Alexa felt better, and started to tire out. Rudy picked up his sister and told Kangaroo,
"My sister's naptime is now."
Kangaroo nodded, and noticed Willie, Mrs. Quilligan, and Mrs. Glummox coming to pick up their children. They waved goodbye, and left. As the others noticed Katie there, she stood up on her legs, walked backwards with her eyes going derpy and said,
"Ahh."
Then, Katie hid inside the bushes, not seen there.
Horton, Kangaroo, and Rudy holding his sister who fell asleep made their goodbyes to Ned and Jo Jo, who were disappearing back to Whoville with their goodbyes. Then, the animals went back to sleep in their home spot.
From nowhere, Morton looked for Horton and spotted him asleep with Kangaroo and their children sleeping in her pouch. The mouse smiled in awe and had the letter with him. It read:
I have a child! Alexa may have a new friend to play with.
Signed by Morton
Morton crawled onto Horton's wrist with the letter in his hands for the next morning. He laid down and slept.
Everything was quiet in Nool as night continues passing.
Fin
