(Author's Note: After receiving a pretty decent amount of feedback from the last chapter, I decided to add a chapter to my original idea for you guys. This chapter's purpose is to both to set the stage for the next/final chapter and to experience the relationship with Greed-ler at his height. Warning: Crappy dialogue is crappy.)

She sat at the foot of their bed, contemplating the anxiety that had hovered over her head for what seemed like an eternity. In doing so she had come to a realization- this Once-ler, the one obsessed with greed and driven by power, was not the same man she had fallen in love with.

Sighing heavily, she slowly rolled up from her spot on the bed and absentmindedly made her way across the room, finally stopping to admire a set of photos adorning her dresser. She lifted up the frame closest to her hand from its position on the dresser; the image revealed a snapshot of her and Once-ler during the early days of their relationship and along with that photo came an influx of memories flooding her mind. Their first date, the first time they kissed, the new found experiences of love-making, multiple anniversaries and birthdays celebrated – all of which seemed to have occurred a lifetime ago.

Her reminiscing was disturbed by the gentle sound of someone clearing their throat. She turned slowly, attention still foggy from the experience of her flashbacks, only to come face to face with the one and only, the legendary Lorax, upon the ledge of her window.

"It's a been a long time", she replied in almost a whisper, eyes welling up at the sight of the creature.

The Lorax nodded and smiled; accepting her greeting, and replied with a statement. One she had almost expected but nonetheless took her by surprise. "Ya need to talk with Beanpole about the state of valley, only you can get through to him now. I've been tryin' for years and see where it's gotten me?" he declared with a heavy heart ,as he swept his hand across the horizon, showing her the absolute desolation left in the Once-ler's wake.

She shook her head in denial of the statement; the weight of the words she was about to speak weighed heavy on her heart, making them almost impossible to reiterate. "No, he won't listen to me… a new idol has replaced me in his heart."


The conversation with the Lorax still fresh in her mind, she made her way to confront the Once-ler. The recognition of her reality and a sense self -constructed confidence compelled her composure as she made the trek from their bedroom down to his office. Determined to keep her head held high, she made her way through the hallway towards his office. Moving past the reception desk, and she only slightly heard the objections of Once-ler's mother. "Oncie, isn't seeing anyone at the moment!" Not meeting his mother's gaze or slowing her pace she replied coldly, "He'll see me", as she opened the massive doors to his office.

Upon entering the room she received the usual verbal barrages that Once-ler gave to anyone disrupting his work; all of which she completely ignored, jumping directly into the conversation she had planned to discuss with him.

Calmly, she met his gaze and spoke; this being her final attempt to appeal to "her Once-ler", not the greed consumed monster before her.

"You need to stop this Once-ler. This business has changed you, you're destroying everything you've ever cared about, and if you can't realize this…then you're truly not the man I fell in love with anymore."

After hearing her words a smile slowly crept up upon his face and a snicker escaped his mouth before he spoke.

"Of course I'm not; I am much more than that weakling ever was or could hope to be!" Finishing his statement with a fist to his desk only to further drive his point. " And how dare you speak to me in that way!" his voice now quaking with rage. "Haven't I given you everything? Provided for you? Shown you every luxury the world has come to know?"He paused to catch his breath before continuing, clearly further enraged. "Well, if you're so unhappy leave…no one is stopping you. There are a million women dying to take your place anyway, I can have my pick."

His words stung hard, fiercely laced with venom. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she spoke a final set of words to him. "I hope this makes you happy now…choosing this. I hope it's finally enough."

And with that he was alone again, but only briefly, for another unwelcome visitor had come to call.

"You've done it now Beanpole, you've lost the only creatures who've ever truly cared about you."

As those words escaped the Lorax, the sound of a lone Truffula tree falling echoed through the valley and with that sound the Once-ler finally had a realization of what he had done.