The first thing Once-ler noticed when he woke up was that Aislinn wasn't in the bed. Once-ler forced his eyes half-way open and looked around. Yep, Aislinn wasn't around, that meant he could sleep a little longer till breakfast was ready. Once-ler sniffed the air to see if she was making pancakes. He didn't smell pancakes, what he did smell however, was butterfly's milk. Once-ler's eyes shot open and bolted upright in the bed. He was expecting to see the Lurkum, but what he saw was his old tent, which was currently occupied by all the animals. This was felt oddly familiar. Once-ler looked beside him and saw the Lorax sleeping. He stared at the Lorax for a few minutes. Then Once-ler yelled. The Lorax yelled, shot up and punched Once-ler in the nose out of reflex.
"Ow!" Once-ler yelled.
The Lorax looked at him.
"What's your deal?" he snapped.
"What do you mean?" Once-ler responded, rubbing his nose. "What are you doing here? You left! I saw you! What are the animals doing here? What am I doing in my old tent?"
The Lorax frowned.
"Easy Beanpole!" he said. "One question at a time!"
Once-ler looked around again and saw the animals were waking up and looking at him.
Then he noticed that he couldn't see Aislinn anywhere in the tent.
"Where's Aislinn?" Once-ler asked, looking at the Lorax.
Lorax looked away and Once-ler frowned at the action.
"Where's Aislinn?" he asked again, being a little more forceful.
"She's not here kid," Lorax replied, looking up sadly at Once-ler.
"What do you mean?" Once-ler said.
He didn't like where this was going.
"Aislinn saw you suffering," the Lorax explained. "And she made a wish to send you back in time, so you could correct what you did wrong."
"But I remember everything that happened," Once-ler said slowly.
"That was part of the deal," Lorax said.
Once-ler raised an eyebrow.
"Deal?" he asked.
The Lorax looked down at the bed, staring at his fuzzy orange hands.
"I granted Aislinn's wish," he said. "I have that power. I can grant one wish of person that is pure of heart. So I granted her wish. But part of the wish was you and I kept all our memories."
Once-ler didn't understand.
"Ok," he said. "What does that have to do with Aislinn not being here?"
The Lorax sighed.
"Kid," he said. "I took us back two and a half years. Today is the day after the waterfall incident. Aislinn wasn't here then. She is currently at the place she was two and a half years ago."
Once-ler's eyes widened.
"But I'll see her again right?" he said, starting to panic. "She'll remember everything like us right?"
The Lorax shook his head.
"I'm not sure if you'll see her again Kid," he said, sadly.
Once-ler frowned.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked.
"Another part of the deal was," Lorax explained, "That Aislinn had to give up her memories of you and everything that happened."
Silence.
Once-ler just stared at Lorax.
"You're lying," he said. "I bet she's outside. You and her put this little joke together to get back at me."
The Lorax frowned and shook his head.
"I'm not joking Beanpole," he said. "She's not here and you probably won't see her again."
Once-ler wasn't liking any of this. He threw off the covers, jumped out of the bed, and dashed to the door. He flung open the door and was met with sunlight and Truffula trees.
Everything was the way it was supposed to be.
Except for Aislinn not being there.
"Aislinn?" Once-ler shouted. "Where are you?"
His voice echoed throughout the valley.
"It's not funny anymore!" he continued to shout. "You can come out now Aislinn!"
The Lorax and the animals were walking outside the tent, watching the distraught man pacing.
"Ais, I'm serious!" Once-ler yelled. "Please come out!"
Once-ler was only met with his voice echoing back at him from the valley. All the animals looked on sadly at Once-ler as realization was slowly sinking into him.
"Ais!" Once-ler shouted, his voice cracking. "You promised remember?!"
Once-ler stopped his pacing and slowly sank to his knees.
"Aislinn you promised!" he whispered, as he hung his head.
Pipsqueak slowly pushed his way through the animals and walked toward Once-ler. The little Barbaloot put a fuzzy paw on Once-ler's arm. Once-ler looked up at Pipsqueak with tears in his eyes. Pipsqueak pulled his paw out from behind his back to reveal a marshmallow in his paw. Once-ler looked at the marshmallow, then back up to Pipsqueak's face. The little Barbaloot moved his paw closer to Once-ler, silently offering Once-ler the marshmallow. Once-ler smiled and took the marshmallow.
"Thanks buddy," he said, as he wrapped Pipsqueak in a tight hug.
After that, Once-ler knew it was no good just sitting around. So he got up and changed out of his bunny pajamas and into his stripped pants, white shirt, his vest and his fedora. Once-ler spent the day hanging out and playing with the animals, and even playing cards with the Lorax. He didn't try to go sell his Thneed. In fact, he put his Thneed in a chest, and then put the chest in a corner in his tent. Once-ler actually enjoyed the day, even though all the animals could tell he was still depressed about Aislinn. Once-ler hoped though, that he would see her again soon.
Night soon fell over the valley and Once-ler made pancakes for everyone to have for supper. After about ten servings each, the animals fell asleep in Once-ler's tent. Once-ler however, couldn't sleep. He walked outside in his bunny pajamas and sat by the river, listening to the water flowing by. The full moon had the valley lit up.
"Not going to sleep?"
Once-ler turned to see the Lorax walking up to him.
"Can't sleep," he replied.
"You haven't even tried," the Lorax retorted.
Once-ler sighed.
"I've gotten use to the fact that Aislinn was always there," he said. "I had trouble sleeping after you left. And watching her sleep was the only comfort I had, and many times I would end up falling asleep watching her. Heck, she was actually the ONLY comfort I had."
The Lorax just stood there and listened to Once-ler.
"It's funny," Once-ler continued. "I never wanted to listen to you about the trees; I didn't think I was doing anything wrong. But when Aislinn would say something about the trees, I would actually feel a little guilty. I don't know what came over me to make me break my promise with you. I'm truly sorry."
The Lorax smiled.
"I know," he replied. "You're forgiven, as long as you don't make the same mistake."
"I won't," Once-ler smiled.
They both looked up at the clear night sky and stayed that way for awhile.
"Do you think I'll see her again?" Once-ler asked, still looking at the sky.
The Lorax looked at Once-ler.
"I'm not sure Beanpole," he replied.
Lorax stayed outside a little while longer. But then excused himself and went back inside the tent to go to bed. That left Once-ler by himself, sitting by the river.
"Beautiful night, huh?"
"Yea," Once-ler replied, not thinking about who could have said that.
He suddenly realized that the voice was feminine.
Once-ler turned around slowly and saw Aislinn standing three feet away from him, with a brown suitcase and pale pink duffle bag on the ground at her feet.
Once-ler stood up and faced her. Aislinn's wavy dark blonde hair was down and she was wearing light faded jeans and a short sleeve hot pink top with black roses on it. Her golden eyes were shining with tears as she was smiling at him. Once-ler then noticed a bruise on her left arm. He frowned and looked more closely at her face. He felt his face grow pale. Once-ler saw that her right cheek was bruised, swollen, and had a cut that had dried blood around it. Then he saw that there was a bruise at her hairline above her left eye, and it too had dried blood around it. Before he could say anything though, Aislinn ran and leapt into his arms. Once-ler wrapped his arms around her waist; she wrapped her arms around his neck and they both crashed to the ground with Aislinn on top of Once-ler.
"Aislinn?" Once-ler said. "What happened to -?"
He never finished his sentence.
Aislinn's lips met his in a hungry and desperate kiss. Once-ler's eyes widened but soon he closed them and relaxed. Aislinn pulled away and looked down at Once-ler.
"I've been waiting to do that all day," she whispered, smiling.
Once-ler couldn't help but grin.
"I thought I would never see you again," he said. "Lorax said that you had to give up your memories of me. So how did you remember me?"
Aislinn shrugged.
"I don't know," she answered. "When I woke up this morning, I still had all my memories."
"That's because I let you keep them."
Once-ler and Aislinn turned their heads and saw the Lorax standing there smirking. The couple blinked at Lorax.
"You let me keep my memories?" Aislinn asked.
"You told me you took her memories away," Once-ler said.
The Lorax's smirk grew bigger.
"I was testing you two," he said.
Aislinn and Once-ler glanced at each other in confusion.
"You were testing us?" Aislinn asked.
The Lorax nodded.
"That's right," he said. "I was testing you both on how much you love each other, and need each other."
Once-ler raised an eyebrow.
"Aislinn," the Lorax continued. "I was seeing how much you would sacrifice for Once-ler. You were willing to give everything you knew about him and the life you had together, so that he could be happy."
Once-ler looked at Aislinn, as her face started to turn red.
"I don't approve of that by the way," Once-ler said. "I thought we would stick together?"
"I know," Aislinn sighed. "But I just couldn't stand it! I couldn't keep watching you slowly punish yourself for everything. I had to do something."
Once-ler tightened his hold on her.
"Well from now on," he said. "We are sticking together like glue."
Aislinn giggled.
"Alright, sounds wonderful to me," she said.
The Lorax waited till they were finished resolving that half of what he was explaining, then he continued.
"Now Beanpole," Lorax said, getting Once-ler to look over at him. "I wasn't really testing you, but making you see how much you needed Aislinn in your life. She helps keep you grounded and she makes you happy."
Aislinn's face was getting red again, as Once-ler was starting to grin. He knew that the Lorax was speaking the truth. He wasn't too happy at all today without Aislinn there.
"I realized I needed her before today," Once-ler said. "But today confirmed it even more."
"What do you mean?" Aislinn frowned. "What happened today?"
"He was a mess," the Lorax teased. "He was crying and yelling for you and looking for you and so sad and depressed."
This time it was Once-ler's face getting red and Aislinn was smirking at him.
"I didn't think I was that bad!" Once-ler defended.
"You were," the Lorax smirked.
Aislinn laughed, as Once-ler huffed in defeat.
"Well I'm happy we both passed," Aislinn said.
"What makes you think you passed?" the Lorax said.
"Because you gave me the map to get here," Aislinn smirked, as the Lorax's orange fuzz for a little darker. "Why else would you do that?"
"You got me," the Lorax mumbled.
Aislinn grinned, as Once-ler chuckled.
"Thank you," she said.
The Lorax smiled but then frowned suddenly.
"Aislinn what happened to you?" he said, quickly coming over to the couple.
Once-ler then remembered how Aislinn had looked when he first saw her. Aislinn suddenly buried her face into Once-ler's chest but he felt her flinch.
"Ais?" Once-ler said, his voice rumbling in his chest.
Aislinn shook her head.
"Aislinn," Once-ler said. "I saw what you looked like before you tackled me."
Aislinn still refused to look up.
"Ais please," Once-ler quietly begged.
Aislinn felt Once-ler's arms tighten around her waist, and then felt the fuzzy hand of Lorax touch her shoulder softly. Aislinn took a deep breath and slowly lifted her head up. The full moon showed everything. Once-ler saw again the bruises and dried blood on her right cheek and at her hairline. He unwrapped one arm from around Aislinn's waist, and gently touched her hurt cheek. Aislinn flinched at the touch.
"What happened?" Once-ler whispered, shocked at what he was seeing.
"My Dad," Aislinn whispered, averting her eyes away from Once-ler and the Lorax.
Once-ler gripped Aislinn tighter. He had remembered that Aislinn had said her father was an alcoholic and abused her and her sister. Yet, he never knew that it was ever this bad. Once-ler felt like killing the man.
"What did he do to you Aislinn?" the Lorax asked.
Aislinn glanced at the Lorax.
"He-he grabbed my arm when me and Melody were leaving tonight," she explained slowly. "He then asked where we were going and I said we were leaving and never coming back. He said something about leaving our 'father' behind, and I said he wasn't our 'father'. I then called him a worthless piece of trash."
"That's all?" Once-ler growled. "I would have said something else."
"I did," Aislinn said. "Can't remember what all I said but he didn't like that too much. He then punched me."
Aislinn pointed to her cheek.
"I crashed into the wall and fell to the floor," she continued. "Then he tried to take the only picture I had of my Mom. But I tried to get it and he stepped on my hand to stop me."
Aislinn lifted her left hand, which had a bruise in the shape of a shoe. Once-ler was getting angrier by the second.
"Then Dad broke the picture frame over my head," Aislinn said, pointing at her hairline. "Then he laughed and walked away saying that I now had something to remember my 'father' by."
Once-ler was gritting his teeth. He wanted to hurt Aislinn's father, but he knew that wouldn't help Aislinn at all. So he would let it go for now, but if he ever saw the man, Once-ler was going to give him a piece of his mind.
Once-ler gently sat Aislinn off of him and stood up. Aislinn stood up as well and looked at him.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
Once-ler went over and picked up Aislinn's suitcase and duffle bag and gestured toward the tent.
"It's not the Lurkum," he said. "But you can clean up in there and have a nice bed to sleep on."
Aislinn smiled.
"I think it's perfect the way it is," she replied.
Once-ler, Aislinn, and the Lorax walked into the tent and the animals had woken up and were curious about Aislinn. She was introduced to them and Pipsqueak instantly took a liking to Aislinn, just like he had with Once-ler.
Once-ler showed Aislinn the bathroom and then gave her a washcloth and towel, then left her alone. Aislinn took a shower and cleaned the blood off of her face and hair. She got out of the shower, dried her hair and put on her pajamas, which were pale blue shorts with white clouds on them and a white tank top. Aislinn found the bandages and brought them to Once-ler and asked for his help bandaging her cuts. Once-ler helped bandage her cuts and helped her put her things where she wanted them.
After that, the animals fell asleep again and the Lorax fell asleep on some pillows Aislinn had put down in the floor for him. Once-ler and Aislinn were lying in Once-ler's bed facing each other. Once-ler had wrapped his arms around Aislinn and had pulled her close to him. Aislinn was holding onto his bunny pajamas for dear life and had soon fallen asleep.
Once-ler didn't go to sleep right away though. He glanced up above Aislinn's head to see Pipsqueak curled up on the pillow, snuggled up to Aislinn's head and being careful to avoid the bandage on her head. Once-ler smiled. He was happy right now. He had the trees back in the valley, the animals, Pipsqueak, the Lorax and he had Aislinn.
Once-ler kissed the top of Aislinn's head and felt her snuggle up closer to him and give a contented sigh.
"I won't repeat the mistakes I've made," Once-ler whispered, mostly to himself. "I've got too much to lose now."
With that, he pulled Aislinn closer and went to sleep.
Author's Note:
This is the chapter that I added more too then the one on my DeviantArt.
I don't own The Lorax or the Once-ler.
I DO OWN Aislinn, Melody and Gran.
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