Slowly they managed to tear down the Thneed factory and they built a house (that they called a Lurkum) at the factory site. Aislinn stayed with Once-ler the entire time and she watched him suffer during that time. He would stare at the word that the Lorax had left.
"Unless," Once-ler would repeat, staring at the word.
Once-ler refused to eat much, and when he did eat it was because Aislinn forced him too.
They lived that way for an entire year.
Aislinn couldn't take much more of Once-ler's suffering.
One day she was upstairs in his room trying to make him eat, but all he did was sit in the chair and stare out the boarded up window. Aislinn put her hands on her hips.
"Once you have got to eat something," she said.
Once-ler looked over at her. Aislinn no longer wore her office attire. She usually just wore jeans and a t-shirt, and today was no exception. Aislinn was wearing dark-blue jeans, a cream color short sleeve top with black words on the front that said 'Bless Your Face!', and she was wearing a pair of black tennis shoes. Once-ler looked back toward the window again.
"I'm not hungry," he mumbled.
Unlike Aislinn, Once-ler hadn't changed his fashion. He wore the same suit he wore when the last Truffula tree was cut. Of course he washed it but he refused to wear anything else; almost like he needed to wear it to remind himself of everything that had happened.
"Once-ler, please!" Aislinn begged. "You're killing yourself! This isn't healthy at all!"
Once-ler's eye twitched and he stood up and turned to Aislinn.
"Healthy?!" he shouted. "Do you think all this smog and chemicals are healthy?! Nothing around here is healthy! And it's all because of me! Why didn't you stop me Aislinn?!"
Aislinn glared at Once-ler.
"I did try!" she shouted back, poking her finger in his chest. "But if I remember correctly, you never liked my idea of trying to save the trees! All you cared about was your money and your business! I tried to warn you! And so did the Lorax!"
"Well you should have tried harder!" Once-ler screamed.
Silence.
Aislinn frowned.
"I did every day," Aislinn whispered. "Clearly, you've forgotten who has been here this entire time. Everyone left but one person stayed. The one person who actually loved you for who you were. But now, I believe you've succeeded in making her leave as well."
Once-ler's anger vanished just as quickly as it had appeared.
"Wh-What?" he stammered.
Aislinn turned and walked toward the stairs that lead to the door.
"You heard what I said," she said, walking down the stairs and walking toward the door. "I'm not staying here while you get angry at me, and I'm definitely not staying and watch you slowly kill yourself! I won't be a part of it."
And with that, Aislinn opened Once-ler's door and walked away quickly. She took a couple of steps then began to run. When she finally stopped she noticed that it was night and the stars and full moon were lighting up the valley.
Aislinn stared up at the night sky.
"Lorax?" she called to the stars. "Can you hear me? If you have the power, can you please turn back time and let Once-ler fix all of this?"
She gestured to the now barren valley wasteland.
"He's suffering so much." Aislinn continued, her eyes scanning the sky. "He's slowly killing himself. If he could somehow go back in time and still have the memories of all this, I know he wouldn't let it happen again. Please Lorax. If you can do something, anything, please help him! I'm begging you!"
Aislinn stared at the stars for a few minutes, hoping that maybe the Lorax would appear, but she saw nothing. She sighed in defeat and turned to head back to Once-ler's house to see if he was alright. Despite what she said about leaving she knew she could never leave him. When she turned, however, she was shocked to see the Lorax standing on a stump, staring up at her.
"What are you doing here?" Aislinn stammered. "I didn't see you come back!"
The Lorax smiled.
"I didn't want you to see me come back," he said. "But I'm only back for a short time. I'm not staying."
"Why not?" Aislinn questioned.
"I'm only here for one reason," Lorax replied. "And that reason is you."
Aislinn cocked an eyebrow at him.
"Me?" she said.
"Yes you," the Lorax nodded. "I heard your wish, and I'm here to grant it."
Aislinn blinked.
"Grant my wish?" she said, kneeling down to be eye-level with the Lorax. "But I thought you couldn't show off your powers?"
The Lorax smiled some more.
"I did say that," he replied. "But I do have the ability to grant one wish to a person with a pure heart. But I, however, get to choose this person. And I've chosen you. I'll make time reverse, but I'll allow Once-ler to remember all that has happened. I, of course, won't be affected by the time travel. I will remember everything that has happened as well."
Aislinn smiled and hugged the Lorax.
"But this has a cost to you Aislinn," the Lorax said, as Aislinn gently let him go. "If I do this, you will lose all memories of working with and being with Beanpole."
Aislinn felt the color drain from her face. She would forget everything? She would go back to her horrible home life, the life she hated with every fiber of her being. But, then she thought of how Once-ler was suffering, and how she wanted him to go back and be himself again. Aislinn looked Lorax in the eyes.
"That's fine," she said, determination in her voice.
The Lorax cocked a fuzzy eyebrow at her.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes," Aislinn smiled. "I want my Once back."
Lorax saw she had made up her mind. He nodded at her.
"Alright then," he said. "The time won't change till you both go to sleep tonight though. I have found that that's easier for you humans."
Aislinn laughed.
"Will I meet you again Lorax?" she asked, smiling sadly now.
"I know you will," the Lorax said. "Because I'll remember you, and probably will come find you."
Aislinn grinned.
"AISLINN?!"
Aislinn stood up and looked behind her. She saw Once-ler stumbling through the valley, calling and looking for her. Aislinn turned back to the Lorax to warn him, but saw that he wasn't there anymore.
"Was I just imagining that?" she muttered to herself.
"Aislinn? Where are you?" Once-ler shouted.
Aislinn turned around in time to see Once-ler stumble and fall to the ground, landing on all fours. Aislinn quickly ran to him and got on her knees beside him.
"Once?" she asked, putting her hand on his shoulder. "Once-ler are you ok?"
Once-ler didn't say anything. He lifted his head and looked at her in amazement, then he wrapped his arms around Aislinn and pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. Aislinn's face became very red.
"Once-ler, what are you doing?" Aislinn squeaked, frozen in place. "What's wrong with-?"
"I love you," Once-ler whispered.
"Wh-What?" Aislinn whispered.
Once-ler pulled back a little so he could see her face.
"I said, I love you," he repeated. "I've loved you since you came in for your job interview. I let you see a side of me that only the animals and the Lorax saw. I let you see the real me."
Aislinn felt tears spring to her eyes. Tears of joy and tears of sadness. She knew that Once-ler would remember this and probably hate her for what would happen soon. Once-ler was startled to see a tear run down Aislinn's cheek and he immediately thought the worst.
"Does that mean you don't love me?" he asked.
Aislinn blinked and did the only thing she could think of; she grabbed the lables of his suit and pulled him to her. Forcing Once-ler's lips to crash against hers. Once-ler sat there wide-eyed. Aislinn pulled away and smiled gently at him.
"Does that answer your question?" she whispered.
All Once-ler could do was stare and open and close his mouth, trying to form words. Aislinn giggled.
"Come on lover boy," she joked. "Let's go back home and get some sleep before the sun comes up."
They both stood up and brushed the dust off of themselves. Then Once-ler laced his long fingers with Aislinn's fingers and they walked back to the Lurkum. When they got there Aislinn said goodnight, kissed Once-ler again and began to go to the couch in the living room, which was where she slept.
Ever since the last Truffula tree was cut down, Aislinn had been living with Once-ler. She would sleep on the couch and he would try and sleep in his bed upstairs. But many mornings when Aislinn would wake up, she would see Once-ler asleep in the chair across from the couch. It always looked as if Once-ler got up during the night and came and watched Aislinn sleep, but in the process, fell asleep himself. Aislinn never said a word about it. She would just get up and make him and her some breakfast and greet him with a smile.
But it seemed this time; Once-ler wasn't going to let Aislinn sleep in her usual spot. She made it within a few feet of the couch, when she was picked up from behind by a pair of arms around her waist.
"What are you doing?" Aislinn squeaked.
"I'm not letting you out of my sight again," Once-ler said, nearly growling and carrying her upstairs.
He dropped her on his unmade bed, and took off his gloves, jacket, tie and shoes. Aislinn just shook her head at him.
"You just don't want to sleep by yourself," she said, slipping her shoes off.
Once-ler grinned and climbed into bed and laid on his side. Aislinn laid down and faced Once-ler, and saw he was still grinning at her. Aislinn rolled her eyes, but moved closer to him and put her face in his chest, and listened to his heart beat and his steady breathing. They stayed that way for awhile.
"You have to promise me something," Once-ler said, breaking the comfortable silence.
"Alright," Aislinn said slowly into his chest.
"You have to promise to never leave me," he said. "I can't lose you like I almost did tonight."
Aislinn's heart dropped and she choked back a little sob. Once-ler had no clue that if the
Lorax really did grant her wish, she would probably be out of his life forever.
"Aislinn you have to promise me that," Once-ler said, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer to him. "I can't lose you. I'll – I'll lose my mind."
Aislinn felt the tears coming but forced them back. She buried her face further into Once-ler's chest. Her hands grabbed handfuls of his shirt and was clutching to it so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
"I promise Once," Aislinn said, muffled by his shirt. "I promise I won't leave you."
"Thank Heavens," Once-ler whispered, hugging her closer.
They stayed that way for the rest of the night. Once-ler holding onto Aislinn for dear life, and she clinging to him. Once-ler had fallen asleep soon after their promise was made, but Aislinn didn't go to sleep right away. She was wide awake; knowing that tomorrow she would awaken with no memory of any of this. She wouldn't remember Once-ler's voice, his eyes, his small gestures, nor their first kiss. But what was most important to her right now, was the feeling of his arms, feeling his warmth, hearing his light snoring, hearing his breath and hearing his heart beat. Aislinn hoped, prayed and wished that when she woke up in the morning, that she would at least remember this night. Aislinn pulled back a little from Once-ler, but his arms tightened around her and she saw him frown in his sleep. Aislinn smiled, then lightly kissed him and simply watched him sleep for awhile. Sleep was calling her name though, and she laid her face back close to Once-ler's chest. Before Aislinn went to sleep, she whispered something that she hoped Once-ler heard.
"I love you Once. We'll meet again, I promise. I am so sorry for what's fixing to happen."
And with that Aislinn closed her eyes and went to sleep.
Little did Aislinn know but the Lorax had heard and saw everything after his talk with her.
"She passed my test," the Lorax grinned to himself. "I knew I chose the right human."
The Lorax then waved his furry orange hand and darkness came over the valley.
Author's Note:
I don't own The Lorax or The Once-ler
I DO OWN Aislinn!
OMG! Thank you TruRebellion, and bellechat for favoriting, watching AND reviewing this story already!
Thank you!
It made me very happy!
Alright guys next chapter is a tiny bit dark. It'll have abuse and cussing so be warned!