Once-ler stared regretfully at the tree stump of the last Truffula tree that once stood proudly. But now it lay among the crippled grass. Its soft colourful tufts were covered in dust and debris. The very cause to this beautiful trees death was because of Once-ler and his invention. The Thneed. The said man raised his gaze to the land that he arrived to not so long ago.
The hills that were once covered with dozens of Truffula trees were now stumps. The once lush green grass was nothing more and the crystal clear river was contaminated with thick oil. Everything was bare underneath the polluted air. The only thing standing on this miserable land was the Thneed factory.
Once-ler glowered at his own success. The Thneed factory was silhouetted among the golden sun that was setting. Once-ler took one more look at the tree stump. In the distance he saw the Lorax who was with the animals of this now polluted land. All felt Once-ler's gaze and they returned it with down hearted looks while the Lorax simply scowled back. Once-ler scoffed to himself and made his way inside the factory up to his own area.
The young man allowed himself to drop into his high chair followed with a defeated sigh. He could not help but look out at the windows at the smog covered sky. 'What have I done?' Once-ler thought to himself. He then turned his head to suddenly come face to face with the Lorax. Once-ler jumped back into his seat, clutching at his chest tightly.
"What are you doing here?" He exclaimed rather furiously.
"There's no need to raise your voice even if I did give you a fright there. I apologize for that and lastly I just thought I'd come and see you before..." the Lorax stopped there and looked down, focusing his gaze to the floor looking full of remorse.
"Before what, exactly?" Once-ler questioned, impatiently. The Lorax looked up at Once-ler.
"Well, you'll find out soon enough when the time is right." the Lorax sighed as he rose to his feet, standing on the desk before Once-ler who furrowed his brow in confusion.
"What? What the heck are you going on about?" Once-ler blared in frustration. He raised a fist though it wasn't hoisted enough for it to drop. Nor on the desk if it weren't for the Lorax and the model set of the city Thneed-Ville blocking the spot.
"You'll find out soon." the Lorax answered, calmly. He then motioned a hairy hand to the window. "You regret it all, don't you?" Once-ler looked out at the window. He eyed that miserable sky once more and snarled as he spun round, raising the same clenched fist which dropped hard on the edge of the desk.
"I do not want to lose my patience with you. So I'll ask you kindly to leave now, please." Once-ler said in a deep vicious tone. The Lorax simply stood there with his arms folded behind his back. Once-ler looked up, only to see the Lorax was still there. Why hadn't he left? "Need I ask you again?" He asked with annoyance replacing his tone.
"Not at all. I'd rather not stay with such a man full of pure greed which sky rocketed as you began to sell your ridiculous Thneed." the Lorax said, sternly. He was about to hop off the desk until suddenly Once-ler stopped him by grabbing at his arm.
"I've done nothing wrong!" Once-ler exclaimed.
"Yes you have! You broke your promise to never cut down any more trees! Do you even care for what you have done? The animals can not live here any more and it's all because of you!" the Lorax snapped, yanking his arm back.
Once-ler could only drop his head into his gloved hands. A deep growl thrummed at his throat as he raised his hands, and with a quick back swipe, he knocked the model city off of his desk. The model fell to the floor and smashed into several pieces.
As the Lorax stared at Once-ler in horror. Outside the animals awaited. They had cringed to the echo of yells from within the factory. The small Bar-Ba-Loot, Pipsqueak looked up to one of the Swamee-Swans and gestured to be picked up and also pointing to the window that led into Once-ler's office.
The Swan flapped her wings, hovering slightly. She then picked up Pipsqueak with her feet at his shoulders. She took off and flew to the highest point of the Thneed factory. Luckily the window to Once-ler's office was open. The Swan set Pipsqueak down on the window sill. As he jumped off the sill the sound of soft sobs had his ears perk up.
It was Once-ler. He, once again, had his head in his hands but was in a sobbing fit. The Lorax eyed him cautiously. He then noticed Pipsqueak whom was slowly approaching Once-ler. The Lorax tried to warn off Pipsqueak. But the young Bar-Ba-Loot didn't heed the Lorax's warning. Instead, he moved closer to Once-ler now standing by his booted feet.
Pipsqueak gently pawed at Once-ler's leg. Once-ler gasped in shock as his leg flinched to the sudden touch by Pipsqueak's paw. He looked down at the young Bar-Ba-Loot. His eyes widened as he looked into Pipsqueak's innocent eyes. But it wasn't just innocence within those brown eyes there was also sorrow.
Once-ler wasn't sure what to do but he knew what to say to the young Bar-Ba-Loot. "I'm sorry, Pipsqueak." Once-ler whispered. His eyes were full to the brim with tears that immediately began to fall from his blue eyes.
Pipsqueak pounced up onto Once-ler's lap whom didn't hesitate to the action. Instead, he pulled the young Bar-Ba-Loot into an immediate embrace. The startled Pipsqueak stared wide-eyed up at Once-ler who began another sobbing fit. Pipsqueak looked up in curiosity to the tears that flowed down along Once-ler's cheeks. He then turned to the Lorax.
"He's crying, Pipsqueak. Only people do this when they're upset. Animals, like you, do not." the Lorax explained. Pipsqueak then looked back at Once-ler who now began to wipe his tears away.
"It's true. He's right." Once-ler muttered under his breath. He then eyed the Lorax. "You needn't say anything else. I would like to be left alone, please."
The Lorax simply nodded as he then hopped off the desk. Once-ler gently set Pipsqueak down to the floor. The Lorax took hold of Pipsqueak's paw and together they left Once-ler to be alone in his office.
Once-ler rose from his high chair and made his way to the window. He stared out gloomily to the land. He could not forget the Lorax's words of warning. 'What can I do? What am I suppose to do?' "I've ruined everything!" Once-ler screamed aloud to the silence.
The Lorax and the creatures outside heard the shrilling, echoing voice of Once-ler from within the Thneed factory. The creatures looked doubtful to the Lorax.
"I stand to what I suggested for you all to leave this land and find a new place to live. I know you may not want to but it's all for the best. I'm sorry I could do no more." the Lorax said in deep sorrow.
The creatures all hung their heads low as did the Lorax. All the creatures then turned around and begun their long yet miserable journey. The Lorax watched them depart in hope that they would find a more peaceful place to live.
Inside the factory. Once-ler watched, from a balcony, the creatures trudge along into the horizon.
"How could I not see? How could I be so blind? Could it really be that I've lost my mind?" Once-ler sung aloud. "Within that final moment, of the last Truffula tree. I was so dominant, which is not the real me."
Once-ler looked down to see the Lorax was glaring up in his direction. Once-ler sneered and turned on his heels. At the far end of his office was a mirror. Once-ler took slow steps until he came close to the oval standing mirror. He scowled at his reflection.
"Who is that I see in the mirror?" He pointed directly at his reflection. "I don't know you. I do not want to see you forever. For there is nothing else I can do." Once-ler then made his way to the balcony once more.
"And now I'm alone, my family now full and gone with the greed. I'm heading into that deserted zone, and all thanks to my Thneed." Once-ler sung aloud raising his arms high. He then allowed them to fall limb at his sides along with a hopeless sigh.
"How could you not see?" a voice also sung rather softly. Once-ler looked behind himself to see his high chair was slowly turning around on its own. Once-ler could only stare as the voice immediately continued. "How could you be so blind? It can truly be, that you've lost your mind." the voice stopped there as did the chair that spun.
On the chair sat Once-ler. The old Once-ler who still wore his old grey fedora, waist coat, and white under shirt that was tucked in his light grey stripped trousers that were lengthened down before the heels of his black boots.
"I must be dreaming! I must be!" Once-ler exclaimed as he gripped tightly at the flaps of his ridicously tall top hat.
"Not really. You've just lost your mind just like you've lost your families... well, just your families respect for you after being so successful. Not to mention you've lost the creatures and the Lorax's trust." said the old Once-ler. He stayed sat on the high chair with his feet on the table; his ankles crossed and fingers entwined.
"You... you're not real! You're a-"
"Your conscience. Although, I see no point on sticking around because you won't listen to me. But seeing as though I'm here. I will stick around."
"This really cannot be happening!" Once-ler then glared at his old former-self. "And get your feet off my desk and get off my chair! This place is for important people which you are not!"
The old Once-ler simply set his feet to the floor and rose up and strolled up in front of the desk.
"That's ok. I actually preferred my old work area even if I didn't have enough space, it was still comforting."
Once-ler kept his glare on his old former-self as he approached his desk.
"You're my... conscience you say?" Once-ler asked. The old Once-ler nodded. "Well, I am, unfortunately, the "Bear of bad news", and you need to leave, now!"
The old Once-ler simply shook his head. His brows were furrowed and his arms folded as he stood in front of the desk. His gesture reminded Once-ler of a certain person and before his lips could move, his old former-self uttered his unspoken words.
"I remind you of the Lorax. That's brilliant that I do. It's about time someone also saw through his eyes and heeded his words."
"Pfft! That little hairy meatloaf? I'm better off without him. While your idea of your little paradise is to be stuck with Mr-I-speak-for-the-trees and the animals this is my idea of my own paradise." Once-ler said with a wide grin creeping at his lips as he reclined back in his chair, laying his head in his hands and putting his feet on the table, crossing his ankles. His old former-self sighed deeply.
"How do you sleep at night?" old Once-ler mumbled under his breath.
"Peacefully now that I needn't share a small hut with animals." Once-ler answered.
"It was a rhetorical question for I already know a man of greed would sleep surrounded by his riches and beloved item; the Thneed." old Once-ler groaned in annoyance.
"Oh, shut up and leave already! I've got enough on my hands right now because-"
"Because there is no more Truffula trees? Because your family left you seeing as you are no longer a success to them?" old Once-ler finished.
"That is not true!" Once-ler exclaimed as his feet dropped to the ground and he rose up now leaning over the desk now close to his old former-self.
"You know it is! They only just accepted you because you suddenly became a success! Now that they're gone and turned you down once more! You have no-one! You will forever be alone until your final days and it's all because of you!" old Once-ler blared.
"Shut up! Shut up! Get out of my office! Just get out! You are not real!" Once-ler screamed as he covered his ears and closed his eyes tightly shut. After what seemed like an eternity. Once-ler slowly fluttered open his eyes as he moved his hands away from his ears.
To Once-ler's relief his old former-self was gone. But the saying, what you don't know can't hurt you, jumps in line for Once-ler was now in that position.
The old Once-ler was standing behind the high chair. He then slowly walked away heading towards the balcony. But he was not yet done with Once-ler.
"Just remember, Once-ler," old Once-ler said aloud startling said name who cursed under his breath. "That if you want to change your ways and that you care a whole awful lot, nothings going to get better. It's not."
"I... I do care." Once-ler whispered, sorrowly. "But... it's too late, now. I can't just fix everything in an instant."
"Then just wait for that day and all shall be well. It is just as they say; only you hold the key to tell. Tell them with the salvation that the world has found. Be full of that determination for that tiny solution that grows from beneath the ground." and there, the old Once-ler disappeared in thin air.
Once-ler was now alone. He stared, for what seemed an eternity, at the spot that his old former-self once stood. He finally snapped out of the trance and immediately stormed out of his office.
