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*Our story begins on a seemingly peaceful day in the Jungle of Nool, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, literally in this case, and there isn't a single cloud in the sky, we then see big tree that overshadows a lake, from one of the branches, we see a tiger with green eyes, a mint green bow, and a matching torn cloth which she uses as a skirt hanging from one of the branches*
*We see her carefully reaching her hand towards a necklace that's floating in the water*
Tiger: Almost… got… it!
*Suddenly, as she's just about to grab it, the branch snaps and falls off the tree, the tiger screams in fright as she falls into the water, the birds stop their singing and gasp at this, the tiger starts violently thrashing around in the water, desperately trying to grab something*
Tiger: Help! Help!! Get me outta here!!
*The birds look horrified by this sudden turn of events*
Bird 1: Oh dear!
Bird 2: Oh! This is terrible!
Bird 3: It's horrible!
Bird 4: It's horrendous!
*The tiger starts coughing as the water splashes against her*
Tiger: Please! Somebody! I can't swim!! Get me out!!
*She keeps clawing at the water, hoping something will happen but to no avail*
Tiger: Get me out..!! *She says in a tearful tone*
*As she starts to tire out, she slips into the water and starts to sink to the bottom, everything fades to black as this happens*
*We then cut to many moons later, we see the same tiger sleeping peacefully in a tree, as she does, we hear the sound of a person narrating*
Narrator: Meet Trinity Tiger, does she look unique to you? The animals of Nool thought so, too.
*Trinity wakes up and stretches like the feline she is, complete with a big yawn as she shows off her fangs*
Trinity: Good morning, Nool.
*She then jumps down gracefully and lands on her feet, she then checks a hollow in the trunk of the tree, we see items of all kinds, including discarded clothes, compasses, watches, and handbags, she looks delighted*
Trinity: Ah! Such beauties!
Narrator: Trinity loves collecting items that humans leave behind. These beautiful things occupy her mind.
*Trinity picks up a camera*
Trinity: Ooh, my newest item! I’d better show this to a…special someone… *She says dreamily*
Narrator: There is something she loves even more than this- or rather, someone, a big, gentle creature who weighs ‘bout a ton.
*Trinity climbs up the tree again and starts leaping from tree to tree, we see the birds from before gossiping with each other, they suddenly turn their heads as they notice Trinity jumping between the trees, they shake their heads at her*
Bird 1: There goes that kooky tiger again.
Bird 2: What’s with her obsession with humans?
Bird 3: She should just forget about them, they’re not even worth anyone’s time.
Bird 4: Also, that outfit on her just looks tacky.
Bird 1: You think she can hear us?
Bird 2: Don’t be ridiculous.
*They continue to gossip among each other, unbeknownst to them, Trinity has heard them, she stops leaping for a moment and her ears droop a bit*
Trinity: I'm not kooky… I just like collecting things.
*Some other birds are soaring through the sky; upon seeing her, they squawk in terror and fly away from her*
Trinity: Wait! I’m not gonna hurt you!
*She sighs, with a disheartened look on her face, she goes to jump to the next tree, only due to losing her focus, she misses the jump and slips*
Trinity: Oh no!
*She starts to fall, screaming in terror as she does so, nearby, we see Horton sunbathing in the grass, his ears perk up upon hearing Trinity’s distressed scream*
Horton: That’s gotta be Trinity!
*He gets up and takes off, following the sound, he soon comes to the scene of the crime and finds Trinity getting dangerously close to the ground*
Horton: Hold on!
*He dives forward, allowing Trinity to land on his back safely, she has a pale look of terror on her face and her fur is standing on end*
Trinity: Horton…you saved me…again…
Horton: I had to, you’re my friend. When it comes to their friends, elephants are faithful, one hundred percent.
*Trinity smiles at him, only for her expression to darken a bit*
Trinity: Yeah…friend… *She thinks to herself*
*She then slides off his back and onto the ground, she clears her throat*
Trinity: A-Anyway, I was looking for you actually, I wanted to show you my latest discovery.
*That's when she holds out the camera, Horton looks intrigued by it*
Horton: Ooh, what does it do?
Trinity: I'm not really sure what it’s for, but it does look fascinating.
Horton: Maybe that button has something to do with that?
*Trinity presses the button, she ends up being affected by the flash, her pupils get really small*
Trinity: Ow!
*A photo comes out the other side, it shows Trinity making a curious expression*
Horton: It created a smaller version of you? How interesting.
Trinity: Oh my gosh, it’s like my reflection in the lake, only it’s solid! How do humans come up with this stuff? It’s impressive!
*She thinks back to what the birds said and her smile fades, her ears pull down slightly*
Trinity: I-I’m sorry, I'm probably acting weird for liking this stuff..
Horton: It may be different, but we all are in some way. That isn’t hurting anybody.
*Her ears perk back up again*
Trinity: You mean that?
Horton: Every word. Besides, you look great in the picture.
*Trinity blushes wildly and squeals, she covers her face with her tail, Horton looks at her with concern*
Horton: Are you ok?
*Trinity lets out a flustered mew*
Trinity: Y-Yes! I'm fine!
*She hears a voice from behind her*
Morton: Oh, yeah, she’s more than fine.
*Trinity turns around and finds Morton looking at her with a smirk*
Horton: Hey there, little buddy.
Trinity: H-How much did you see?!
Morton: I saw enough.
*Trinity hides her face with her hands, just then, they hear Katie’s voice*
Katie: Heeeelp…
*Horton looks up and notices Katie in a tree branch*
Horton: Katie! How’d you get up there?
Katie: Wasn’t looking where I was going.
Horton: You poor thing! Let me help.
*He stands on two legs and picks her up with his trunk, he sets her down in the grass and pats her on the head*
Horton: There you go, sweetie.
Katie: Haaaah…
*She then walks backwards into a bush, Morton looks weirded out*
Morton: Sometimes I don’t know if she’s even a yak at all. I wonder if she’s some kind of frog with fur.
*Trinity smiles at this, she looks smitten by his kindness*
Trinity: He's so great with children… *She whispers to herself*
Morton: Why don’t you just go out and say it? You’re about as subtle as a brick to the face.
Horton: Say what?
*Trinity’s eyes widen*
Trinity: Um…uh…well…er…I…luh…luh…
*Horton tilts his head*
Trinity: I’ll be right back!
*She then dashes off, leaving Horton very confused while Morton just look done*
Horton: Was it something I said?
Morton: You could say that.
*We then see Trinity splashing water on her face from a lake, she takes a second to catch her breath*
Trinity: Oh come on..! He was right there! Why didn't I just say something?! It's like my mind turns into mush every time I get near him!
Morton: I'm gonna have to agree with you there.
*Trinity jolts back in fright, only to see Morton standing next to her with his arms crossed*
Trinity: Morton! What the heck?!
Morton: Is your tongue tied in a knot or something? Just tell him how you feel already!
Trinity: Hey! It's easier said than done, Morton! Believe me, I've tried many times, but I just.. can't! Every time I think I have the words to say, I take one look at him, and suddenly my mind goes blank!
Morton: Then why don’t you show it in other ways?
Trinity: But how?
Morton: Look behind you.
*Trinity finds that there’s a field of flowers nearby*
Trinity: They’re beautiful! Great idea, I owe you one.
*She dashes towards the field and starts gathering some flowers*
Trinity: Daisies, perfect! Sunflowers, perfect! Lilies, perfect!
*She then feels a prick*
Trinity: Meowch! Roses, not perfect!
*She adds some chrysanthemums to her bouquet and sighs happily*
Trinity: He’s going to love this.
Morton: Uh, you might wanna choose different ones.
Trinity: What for? They’re so pretty.
Morton: Well, you see-
*It’s too late, Trinity is already on her way to see her crush, Morton slaps his forehead*
Morton: Dang it.
*Horton is now taking some water from the lake with his trunk, he then sprays it on himself to cool down, and then Trinity taps him on the back*
Trinity: Oh, Horton, I’ve got a surprise for you.
Horton: What is it?
*He turns around and his eyes widen in surprise upon seeing her bouquet*
Horton: Oh! How nice of you! But, uh-
Trinity: Don’t they smell just wonderful?
*She shoves a fistful of flowers into his face, he starts inhaling rapidly*
Trinity: Uh, are you alri-
*Horton then lets out a powerful sneeze, which blows her away, she shouts in fright and ends up colliding into a tree, she grunts in pain and slides down to the ground, stars and flowers circle around her head*
Trinity: Petunias…
*Horton approaches her and helps her back up with his trunk*
Horton: Oh, golly! Are you alright? Gee, I’m so sorry, extra polleny flowers make me sneeze.
*Trinity rubs her head and then averts her glance in embarrassment*
Trinity: Y-Yeah.. It didn't hurt too bad..and if anything, I’m sorry too, I didn’t know you were allergic.
Horton: Well, it’s the thought that counts. They did look very pretty.
*Trinity hears Morton’s voice behind her*
Morton: If you’d just let me finish, it could’ve been avoided.
*Trinity jumps in surprise*
Trinity: Oh! You just keep sneaking up on me!
Horton: Heh, there’s a reason they say “quiet as a mouse”. You’re such a good friend, Trinity.
Trinity: Well, about that…um…uh…you see…it’s…
*Horton looks at her expectantly*
Horton: What’s up?
Trinity: I uh…. Be with you in a sec!
*She dashes off again, Morton gives himself a facepalm*
Horton: That’s the second time she’s suddenly slipped out like that. I wonder if something’s on her mind.
Morton: It’s something, alright. *He mutters under his breath*
*Back with Trinity, she’s pacing back and forth*
Trinity: Ok, the flowers didn't work, I just made a fool out of myself. Now how else can I show how I feel?
*She notices some mangoes in a tree*
Trinity: That’s it! The way to someone’s heart is through their stomach!
*She sticks her claws out and climbs the mango tree, she picks some and then jumps back down, she lands on her feet gracefully, she picks up a huge leaf to use as a makeshift plate*
Trinity: I can’t just stop here, I’ve got to go whole hog.
*A wild pig who’s grazing nearby cocks a brow*
Trinity: No offense.
Wild Pig: None taken.
*She looks at the grass he’s gnawing on and gets another idea, she starts plucking blades of grass*
Trinity: This’ll make a great salad!
*She pulls some melons out of the ground as well and climbs a fig tree, she takes a few*
Trinity: Suh-weet!
*She starts to carry the makeshift plate with all of her gatherings, a deer and a tapir see her and shout in fear*
Deer: It’s a predator! Run!
Trinity: Wait, I’m a vegetarian!
*It’s too late, the deer and the tapir have run away, her ears droop slightly*
Trinity: I wish some other people would give me a chance..
*She presses on and finds Horton scratching his back against a tree, causing it to shake, a bird shakes her fist at him*
Bird: Hey! Careful!
Horton: ‘Scuse me, ma’am.
Trinity: Sorry for the delay, Horton, I wanted to make lunch for you.
Horton: For me? Oh, that’s so kind! And it’s got some of my favorites, too!
*Trinity chuckles modestly*
Trinity: Aw, shucks, I know you well.
Horton: I wouldn’t mind sharing some of this with you.
Trinity: No thanks, I’m not hungry.
*Her stomach then grumbles, she blushes and giggles awkwardly*
Trinity: Well, maybe just a little.
*Horton eats a mango, while she has a fig, the two of them start eating the grass until they both end up biting into the same blade of grass, and their lips end up touching, their pupils shrink into tiny dots*
Horton: Oh my!
*Trinity’s face goes completely red and steam shoots out of her ears, she puts her face in her hands and lets out a flustered scream*
Trinity: Did we just-?!
Horton: Oh, gosh, I’m so sorry!
Trinity: D-Don’t be, that actually didn’t feel half bad!
Horton: What do you mean?
*Trinity realizes what she just said*
Trinity: …Did I say that out loud?!
*Morton is right behind her again*
Morton: Ya sure did, Trin, ya sure did.
*Trinity's eye twitches a bit*
Trinity: I-I have to go!
*She then dashes off once again, leaving Horton looking concerned and Morton looking frustrated*
Horton: Oh gee, I hope I haven’t upset her.
*Morton shakes his head*
Morton: It’s not you, Horton, it’s her.
*Trinity runs back to her tree and catches her breath, she puts a hand on her chest as her heart goes wild*
Trinity: I just keep making a fool of myself! If I can’t do anything right, he’ll never know how I feel!
*She takes a deep breath*
Trinity: Okay, okay, just get it together. There’s gotta be something I can come up with.
*She notices the hollow full of her collectibles, that's when an idea comes to her head*
Trinity: I know! I'll give him one of my collectibles! That should definitely tell him how I feel!
*She jumps down from the tree and starts looking through her collection, so far, nothing seems to be standing out*
Trinity: They’re all fine in their own way, but what’s really special?
*She then finds a radio*
Trinity: My favorite item…
*She turns it on, romantic music starts playing, she sighs blissfully*
Trinity: Such a relaxing sound… This'll be the perfect gift for Horton.
*She carefully takes the radio out of the hollow and walks away; Rudy Kangaroo hears this and his ears perk up, he nudges his mother Jane*
Rudy: You hear that, Mom? It’s…so calming.
*Jane wrinkles her nose*
Jane: What in the jungle of Nool is that?
*She pushes the foliage out of the way and finds Trinity with the radio, her eyes narrow*
Jane: Why am I not surprised? That freak is always hoarding worthless junk.
Rudy: It’s not that bad, Mom, I actually find some of her stuff cool.
Jane: Silence, Rudy, I am going to have a word with her.
Rudy: U-Uh, are you sure about that, Mom?
Jane: Oh, just you wait.
*Back with Horton, he’s holding his trunk out so that a herd of ants can get across a puddle*
Horton: No need to thank me, have a safe trip.
*When the last of the ants get to the other side, his ears perk up upon hearing the music from Trinity’s radio*
Horton: What is that? It feels sweet, like honey or fruit, only it’s a sound. I love it!
*He turns around and finds Trinity with the radio*
Trinity: Hey.. Sorry I ran off earlier, I wanted to give you this. It’s my prized radio.
Horton: Is that what’s been making that soothing sound?
Trinity: Yes.. It's my favorite thing in the world, and I..I wanted you to have it because… Because you're so special to me.
Horton: Aw, I feel the same way about you! You’re a friend like no other!
Trinity: Well, the thing is-
*And just then, Jane comes in with Rudy in her pouch*
Jane: Stop this at once!
Rudy: Aw, boy, here we go.
*Trinity's eyes narrow when she hears Jane's voice*
Trinity: Jane Kangaroo… *She says in an annoyed tone*
*She turns towards her*
Horton: Hello, Jane, lovely day, isn’t it?
Trinity: What is it this time, Jane? Are my stripes too flashy? Are my clothes too ragged? Or are my claws too pointy? *She says in a sarcastic tone*
Jane: While all of those are true, I’m more so put off by that box you’re showing off.
*Trinity looks down at the radio*
Trinity: You mean my radio? What's wrong with it?
Jane: What's wrong with it?! It's repulsive! Along with the other trash you gather, that will surely corrupt the citizens of Nool with interest in those pathetic, inferior humans! We’re better than them!
Trinity: Ok, me collecting things isn't gonna corrupt anyone! It's just something I like to do! Also, you have no room to talk about corruption when you were the one who led an angry mob towards Horton over a clover, all because you couldn't admit that you were wrong about the existence of another world! Yeah! Don't think I've forgiven you for that!
*Horton is visibly worried about this conflict*
Horton: Now, let’s not lose our heads here.
Jane: This is between me and her, Horton!
*Morton comes in and witnesses this altercation*
Morton: …What did I just walk into?
Trinity: Hey! You can't talk to him like that! We were in the middle of something anyway, so just go away!
*Jane huffs and sticks her nose in the air*
Jane: Hmph! Be that way, indulge in asinine hobbies all you want.
*She starts to take off, Rudy looks back at the others*
Rudy: Sorry, guys.
Trinity: It's not your fault, Rudy..
Jane: I’m always one step ahead of people like you, anyway.
*Rudy notices a mud puddle in front of them*
Rudy: Mom, look ou-
*Then Jane slips and falls on her back, landing in the mud puddle in the process*
Jane: Curses!
*She gets up and storms off in defeat, Trinity hangs her head and puts her radio on the ground, looking both frustrated and embarrassed, even Morton looks concerned for her*
Trinity: The nerve of her..! *She says in a shaky voice*
Horton: Trinity, are you okay?
Trinity: No! I’m not! I’ve been trying to show you how much I love you, but it keeps going wrong!
*Horton looks shocked by this*
Horton: Wh-What did you just say..?
*Trinity growls in frustration*
Trinity: I love you ok?! I've been trying to tell you all day! Not just all day, I've been trying to tell you for a long time! But I've never been able to tell you because.. because…
*Trinity starts to tear up, she then run away as fast as she can, Horton holds his trunk out for her*
Horton: Trinity wait!
*He looks saddened for her*
Horton: She’s loved me all this time?
Morton: Well, yeah, how’d you not notice?
Horton: I’m…not sure, actually. Come to think of it, maybe that’s why she’s been acting so strangely today.
Morton: Gee! Ya think? She's been in love with you for as long as she's known you! The question is, how do you feel about her?
*Horton thinks to himself when Morton asks him this*
Horton: I still remember when we first met.
*We go back to the flashback that happened at the start of the story, we see Horton grazing in the grass, and then his ears perk up when he hears Trinity call out in distress*
Trinity: Get me out!!
Horton: Someone’s in trouble! I’m coming!
*He follows the sound and finds Trinity in the lake, thrashing around helplessly, he gasps in horror*
Trinity: Get me out…!! *She says tearfully*
*She finally starts to go under, she is beginning to get limp, but then she sees Horton swim towards her, she squints her eyes in intrigue, and then his trunk reaches out and takes her by the wrist before pulling her to the surface, she gasps for air and starts coughing violently*
Trinity: Am I dead?! Is this heaven?!
Horton: Not at all, ma’am, you’re safe now.
*He takes her to the shore, she looks at him in awe*
Trinity: You saved my life!
Horton: Well, I couldn’t just leave you hanging.
Trinity: I…I don't know what to say.. Thank you.. Most people probably would've just let me drown..
Horton: Why would they do a thing like that?
Trinity: Because, for one thing, I’m a predator. They don’t know I’d never eat meat. They just judge me before they even know what I’m really like.
*Horton looks at her in sympathy*
Horton: Well, I’m getting to know you now, and I like what I’m seeing.
*Trinity looks up at him in surprise*
Trinity: Y-You do..?
Horton: Of course, you can’t judge a book by its cover. Though, speaking of which, what are those things on you?
Trinity: Oh, these? They’re called clothes. I found them somewhere in this jungle. Humans tend to misplace their items, so I collect them. I hope that’s not too weird.
Horton: I’ve never seen anything like it, but you know what? That’s okay. To be honest, you look great with those on.
*Trinity blushes*
Trinity: Th-Thank you… you're so kind and understanding..
*Back in the present, Horton’s eyes sparkle*
Horton: …You know what? I feel the same way about her. There’s nobody else quite like her in the jungle, or even this whole world. I’m gonna go talk to her.
Morton: That’s the spirit! ‘Bout time.
*We then cut back to the lake, we see Trinity sitting on the ground with her head in her arms, crying to herself*
Trinity: I'm so stupid..! Of course this would happen..! I tried so hard, but I just messed everything up..! *She says through her sobbing*
*Suddenly, her ears perk up as she hears a rustling sound, she lets out a saddened sigh*
Trinity: Yeah yeah, go ahead and laugh at me, Morton..! Not like I care! *She says in a shaking voice*
*Horton emerges from the bushes*
Horton: Trinity?
*Trinity turns around and sees him*
Trinity: Horton, it’s you..
*She tears up again*
Trinity: I-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for everything to fall apart like that, I made such a fool out of myself, I'm so sor-
Horton: Don’t be. I can’t believe I never saw it myself, and now, it all makes sense.
*Trinity looks down at the water*
Trinity: Yeah.. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner.. It's just.. Every time I tried to talk to you, I could never get my words out.. It's just.. You make me feel like I actually matter in this world.. You make me feel like I'm not just a freak like everyone says I am, you actually make me feel like a person, and I don't know how I can ever repay you for making my life so wonderful..!
*Horton then wraps his trunk around her in a hug*
Horton: You don’t have to, Clover. Just being with you is fulfilling enough.
*Trinity looks surprised by this, she looks up at him*
Trinity: Clover..?
Horton: Clovers have been precious to me ever since the day I met the Whos, and you’re just as special to me as they are. I guess I just wanna say I love you too.
*Trinity looks surprised by this, she clings onto his trunk and starts gently crying, and this time, it’s out of joy*
Trinity: It worked…it really worked…I’m just so glad, Faith. *She says in a shaking voice*
Horton: Faith?
*Trinity smiles at him*
Trinity: Because you’ve always had faith in me no matter what happens. I can’t thank you enough for that.
Horton: I can’t thank you enough for being a part of my life, either.
*He leans in, and so does she, they try to kiss, but his trunk gets in the way, so he tilts his head slightly, and then they finally smooch, just then, they hear Morton’s voice*
Morton: Aw, yeah, baby! It’s finally happened!
*They both look up, flustered, and find Morton pumping his fist triumphantly*
Trinity: Wh-Wha- Morton?!
Morton: You both finally said it! Now that was a long time coming!
*Horton smiles nervously*
Horton: Better late than never, I guess?
*We hear the narrator speaking*
Narrator: And that’s how the greatest romance in Nool started. From this moment on, Horton and Trinity knew they’d never be parted. The odd couple has been together ever since, and if there’s one thing Trinity learned, it’s that you shouldn’t just rely on hints.
*We then see the Cat in the Hat, who is the one narrating, he’s sitting on a rock*
Cat: What a purrfect couple, wouldn’t you say? They always brighten each other’s day.
*Horton and Trinity are about to kiss, when they hear him, they turn around to face him; Horton looks shocked while Trinity looks indignant*
Horton: What?! You’ve been watching us all this time?!
Cat: Yes.
Trinity: Give us some privacy!
*Cat tips his hat to them and departs, so Horton and Trinity walk off in the distance, Trinity holds onto Horton’s trunk and they smile at each other*
(The end)