A/N: One year since this story was updated... WOW I AM THE MOST HORRIBLE PERSON EVER. So before getting to this chapter that took over a YEAR to write (so bad, so, so bad), I need to explain why the hell it took so long. 1) I was a BUSY Senior, 2) I have been having problems at home, 3) My crush and I had an emotional roller coaster ride of HELL - Update: We are just friends and won't be dating (it's cool - no hard feelings), 4) Job hunting, and 5) I had to literally write a book (poetry and short stories) for a project in school that took a whole school year to write (6-month-long-project required to graduate), so all my time in writing went into that. Again, SO SORRY for this freakishly, hellishly long update. Life just hasn't been the kindest to me (sigh). Also, my tumblr is now: toying-with-matches dot tumblr dot com (just an FYI). Okay, now, onto this chapter. Read, enjoy (?), and excuse any mistakes I may have missed.

Chapter 7: "That may stop you..."


The smog was horrible, believe me, but the stench of the schlop... just as bad. In no time, the humming-fish were none existent just as the other Truffula creatures. It was empty, and it was quiet. No songs, no joy, and no trees. It was a nightmare come true, the endless stumps and black skies. Disgusting. And just beyond the once forest was Thneedville and all its glory. The shining lights, the thneed clad citizens. Artificially perfect. No one else seemed to care. Disgusting.

Time went on like this, an endless walk amongst stumps and polluted lakes. I was at a loss; what else was there to say, to do, to... fight for? My heart strived to keep that persistent drive, but it wasn't easy. He told the truth: He wouldn't stop. Ever. A dark smile crossed my lips, You'll have to stop. You've killed us all. Sure enough the trees were at their end, a handful at most left. Did he realize this? Did he ever step out of his world and look out here? To remember what this all was, and who it rightfully belong to? I doubted it.

The finale was approaching, so I decided to finish with a bang. To prove to him, and to all of you, that I was still here. Fighting, speaking, and hoping. No evil deed comes without a price.

I am that price.


I didn't care if I got caught waltzing into Once-ler's office this time; I knew I wouldn't be there long. Instead of sneaking in, I climbed up a flight of stairs leading directly to his office's balcony, and gave a final look at his work. My eyes traced giant mechanical arms loading dead Truffula tops onto moving carts. In an orderly fashion, they led into the mechanized factory, working at full capacity 24/7. Their wheels screeched in pain and huffed out something awful.

I sat on top of the golden railing and waited. My mind so calm, yet riddled with anxiety. It was odd looking back to what brought me here. Once-ler here. All of us. The memories seemed so far now, as if it were some cruel dream. I closed my eyes and listened intently as feet approached the door. As it opened, my breath hitched for an instant, and as it closed, my eyes opened in peace.

For a moment no one acknowledged my presence; the only sound made in the room was that of a chair being rolled out and seated upon. I was to start the conversation... The confidence and determination... come back to me, please. Help me speak.

"So how are things?"

No response, but I knew he had heard. I turned to look over my shoulder.

There he was. The friend I once loved. The Once-ler. Baffled at my image and not knowing what to do. He swallowed curtly and eased back into his chair. "What are you doing here?" His eyes narrowed as I retreated myself from the rail and slowly made my way towards him.

"Are you happy yet?"

"What?" He bit; his eyes looked tired, yet oh so aggressive.

"Are you happy yet?" I repeated.

He rose from his chair menacingly, "Delighted. I told you not to come back."

"Were you finally able to fill that hole deep down inside you Once-ler? Your greed and pride? Or do you still need more?"
He laughed, "My greed and pride. Good stuff, Lorax, great. But if we're gonna play this game again, let me ask you a question, yeah?" His body halted a few inches in front of mine, our eyes never breaking. "I can't help but wonder why, if you have a problem with what I'm doing, haven't you used your quote, unquote "powers" to stop me?"

My lips closed in shock. He remembered that? A quiet gasp escaped my lips. In an odd way I felt defeated; his words catching me off guard for an odd reason. I looked to the polished floors. "I told you... that's not how it works."
I flinched as a cruel laugh howled at my face, "Oh right, I forgot." He shook his head, "You're pathetic, Lorax." He grabbed my chin, and though I tried to rip from his grasp he only clenched tighter. "You're nothing but a fraud and a liar sweetheart," he hissed. "You're lucky you caught me in a good mood, or else I'd have you outta here not so nicely." He released my jaw and pushed me a ways back. "Get out of my sight. I won't tell you again."
I could feel the bruises form at my jaw and his words dig into my skin. This person, this human... I shook my head, "Who are you? What are you? All you can do is threaten and beat me, but you know what Once-ler? I see past it. This. This facade, this persona." I dug my heels into the ground, "You know what you've done, don't you? My presence, my words, are a reminder. A consequence that won't go away no matter how hard you try to mask it." One of my hands clutched onto his jacket. "The man you used to be, he hasn't gone away either. No. I'm sure of it. So try all you want, and say all you want, but I'm not going anywhere. You. Will. Remember."

The Once-ler and I remained silent and still. My grip on his coat loosened, allowing him to take a step back.

"You know what...?" Once-Ler's voice echoed.

My head suddenly snapped back in pain. The man's nails pierced into my arm and caused me to yelp out in shock. I looked back at the Once-Ler's madenned gaze as tears began to fall. The madman pulled me roughly back to the balcony and forced me down the steep flight of stairs.
He spoke viciously, "You really need to learn to shut you mouth! All you do is speak when no one, especially me, wants to hear you!" His hands roughly pushed and swatted at my shoulders and chest. "All you do is say that everything I've been doing is bad. That my work is murderous and evil. Well guess what? I have done nothing wrong, Lorax. Nothing! I have my rights and I'm telling you I plan to keep on biggering

and BIGGERING

and BIGGERING

and BIGGERING

by turning more of your Truffula Trees into Thneeds which everyone, EVERYONE, EVERYONE needs! Get it?" With one final push, my body was thrown back from the stairs and onto the barren ground below. Dirt stuck to my tears stained my face and I shook in horror as gloved fingers clawed at my cheeks. "Nothing is going to stop me Lorax!" He screamed.


And at that very moment, my eyes widened in fear.

The loud whack of an axe on a Truffula Tree. That's all I heard. It was all so unreal. That dreaded noise I knew, yet had never heard like this before. It was what I had feared since the beginning, the unthinkable... the very last one of them all...


My eyes flickered just in time to see the last tree falling to the ground. The image, the feeling, it made my body go numb.

That was it. No more.

No more trees, no more Thneeds.

I gave a soft swallow, "Well that's it... the very last one." I turned to look back at the Once-Ler one last time, my head still in his grip. His eyes had not left the final sight of his destruction.

"That may stop you."

I freed myself from his bruising grip and trembled to stand up. The Once-ler looked on in bewilderment, frozen in time. I shook my head and walked off, away from him and his empire.


I walked and walked until I could not longer see the Thneed factory. The miles of barren land, the smog filled sky, the polluted water, the quiet. That was it. That's all that was left of the once great Truffula Forest. Nothing more, nothing less. I sat myself down on a stump, allowing myself to let go... For the first time, I did not cry in sorrow.

I screamed.


A/N: Yay, this chapter is FINALLY published on here. JEEZUS THAT TOOK WAY LONGER THAN NECESSARY. So sorry to all the people who have waited for this. I thank you for following this story and hope to read your comments soon. I can only hope that the next chapter will be out ASAP and not take a year to upload.

Ta-ta.