Truffula Tales-Dance

Fiora was excited about the next human custom she would learn from Once-ler. Just any moment now and he'd be home from shopping.

Once she heard Melvin's clopping hooves and the rickety creaks of his wagon, she was happy he had finally arrived. She was ready for this new human custom.

"Hey," he said with a smile, seeing Fiora waiting eagerly on his lawn. "Just give me one moment, I'll be right there."

He went inside, carrying his shopping bag.

Once-ler had to admit this new thing he was going to show Fiora made him nervous. Though he had done it plenty of times...mostly alone and he was good at it. This would be his first time with someone else.

His first dance. With a girl.

He recalled how shy he was with girls. He had always wanted to try and meet one. But they were a totally different species: how they huddled in packs, giggling and staring, whispering. He couldn't even talk to them! He ended up stammering idiotic sentences, his tongue felt twisted and swollen...even tripping over his clumsy big feet, making a fool out of himself.

Fiora was different though. Sure, she was a girl...but it seemed easier to talk to her. She wasn't human...she didn't think like them. She did think he was funny with his clumsiness and stammering...only because she had never been around humans before. She was curious about the human world. He often wondered what it would be like to take her there.

Fiora watched as he carried a small silver box. She had never seen this before. She observed as Once-ler placed something on the box, then pressed a button. Music played from the box! Ooh! It was smooth and steady...

"It sounds like...the flow of a river almost," she said.

"It's called Blue Danube..." he said. "And yes. That's exactly what it sounds like. It's called a waltz. It's a dance. It's pretty easy."

"So...how does one...do this?" Fiora asked a bit scared.

"Well, uh..."

Now it was his turn to be scared. He had NEVER been this close to a girl before. Sure, it was just Fiora...but she was still a girl, even if she wasn't human.

"This...may require invading personal space, if you're OK with that," he said, his voice trembling.

"Well, if you wish to show me this...dance...then I guess it's is."

Once-ler was red from his ears to his neck, sweating and shaking. Fiora was nervous herself, she had never been close to a human man before. Well...there was that time when she slept in his bed...only he was very angry and embarrassed.

She felt Once-ler cup her hand like they did when they shook hands.

"OK," he continued. "You can put your hand on my shoulder."

Fiora reached a very hesitant, trembling hand towards Once-ler's thin shoulder and planted it there, feeling the texture of his shirt and vest. Once-ler's cheeks were burning now. He cleared his throat staying focused on the task at hand and swallowed. Fiora felt something touch her waist, which made her jump...

"It's OK," he said reassuring. "It's my other hand."

"Is this...normal for humans to do so?"

"For this dance, yes," he said. "Don't worry. I won't touch anything else."

This touch was very unfamiliar with Fiora...she was slowly getting used to these human customs. She liked how Once-ler's hands felt. Soft and gentle, the palm so smooth, his fingers were calloused at the tips, his nails were clean and well cared for. Fiora's hand was very smooth and soft, he felt the bumps from the vines and the glossy leaves.

"OK...it goes like this. I will lead and you follow, OK?" he said.

He started counting...which was strange...she didn't understand why.

"Why are you counting, Once-ler?"

"It's called a rhythm...a beat...the speed you're supposed to follow with the music."

"Oh, I see."

She felt his feet begin to move...then they started to rotate in a circle, Once-ler's feet seemed to step towards her...then back. He told her to step in the opposite direction with his foot. It was confusing and Fiora was a bit clumsy, tripping over Once-ler's feet, but just laughed. Still, this dance got a bit smoother...better...once Fiora got used to it. She started getting it, Once-ler was pleased of course. She liked this waltz.

Then, they were staring into each other's eyes...mossy green and sky blue...a warm, fuzzy feeling...Fiora was completely lost in the music...and Once-ler. His speckled cheeks flushed again. She felt a bit...dizzy. So did he. Their hearts were fluttering. Was it from dancing...or being near each other?

"I feel...strange..." she said. "Like...I have been spinning..."

"M-maybe we should...stop..." he said, still staring at the green girl, lost in her eyes...seeing how pink her hair was. He saw her dress strap had slid a bit off her graceful green shoulder. He evaded his eyes from the exposed area to the flowers in her hair, her elegant neck, glittering cheeks...those green eyes...

The two of them...feeling uncomfortable...yet unable to stop staring at each other, lost.

"F-f-Fiora?"

"Yes?"

"Um...I have to tell you something..." he stammered, rubbing his neck with flush. "Th-this is my first time...dancing with a girl...I've...never been with a girl before...and...er..."

"Yes?" Fiora was curious what Once-ler had in mind.

"Well...if you were...say, in the human world...would you...ever...want to be with...someone like me?"

"Of course, Once-ler," she said; her green eyes shined with kindness. "I...like you."

More flushing. He saw...surrounding them...were flowers! All in the path where they had danced. She looked at the flowers, smiling and giggling. It was acting funny. It always did...around Once-ler. She didn't understand why though. Perhaps Once-ler had his own magic.