The day Once-ler's family arrived seemed to foreshadow the beginning of the end. Only after a week since their arrival, Once-ler had been persuaded to start chopping down the trees, all the while his memory of Norma's kiss slowly fading.
Where before they're arrival, Once-ler would look at the photograph each night, lately he'd let his eyes soften to the picture only once a week.
It seemed soon he would let his memories of Norma fade with the promise he made to The Lorax.
…
A month after the second tree fell; The Lorax was becoming lost on how to convince Once-ler to reconsider his promise. The animals had become worrisome at his growing greed, their tummies now empty of the marshmallows that Once-ler would once shower them with.
Once-ler having moved out of his cottage and into the first section of his factory to be built, the animals invaded the tent, searching high and low for marshmallows.
Pipsqueak being the smallest of the barbaloots opted for searching the floor around the bed. He ducked his furry little head under the bed and pawed for the fluffy morsels of white. His paw touched something flat and he clawed at it until it reached his eyes.
It was a photo, forgotten in Once-ler's rush to move into his bigger home. It showed the tall human in question and a short female, spectacles gracing her eyes.
Pipsqueak sniffed it, his eyes wide in wonder. Soon, many other animals crowded around Pipsqueak, their curiosity getting the better of them.
Finally, after ten minutes of their transfixed gazes, The Lorax found them. Having just entered, forlorn at another attempt to reconcile Once-ler's promise crushed, he almost failed to notice the huddled animals.
And then he tripped over one of the animals' legs, most likely Lou who sat, gobbling up what was left of the food in the fridge.
"Oi! What are you guys lookin' at?" he hollered. The crowd shifted to let him through as he walked up to Pipsqueak who still clutched at the glossy photograph between his paws.
Looking over Pipsqueak's shoulder, his eyes widened at the picture. "Seems beanpole had a lady friend…" he trailed off, the wheels turning in his head. He hummed in concentration, his furry fingers plucking the picture gently from the small barbaloot's paws.
"A lady friend… That's perfect!" he exclaimed, a plan clicking into place. In a hushed tone, he called for all the humming fish, swommee swans and barbaloots to huddle around him. He began whispering his plan to the animals who eagerly nodded to his words.
…
At dawn as the sun slowly rose from the sky, several swommee swans took to the sky, their wings beating with focus. It was as if they were migrating though it wasn't winter for several more months. A single bird in the flock held a photograph in its beak. They flew with purpose, the first stage of what The Lorax called 'Plan B' coming into fruition.
…
A very quiet day graced Norma's flower shop. A total of 3 customers came into the shop and only one actually bought something. Norma was starting to fear that maybe she'd have to sell the shop after only owning it a few months. What had it been now? Three months? Four? She couldn't quite recall.
Just as she was closing up the shop to head off to bed, something caught her eye just outside the store. A swarm of golden birds of great majesty flew overhead, the glowing sunset illuminating their already sun kissed feathers.
She admired them for a moment before turning once again to head upstairs. But just as she turned around, the flock spotted her and flew right at her, their eyes set on the target, her.
Hearing the flutter of wings, she turned once more to see them but a few feet away and before she knew it, she was being lifted into the air by several of them. They flew higher and higher into the pink painted sky. One swommee swan however picked up the keys Norma had dropped in surprise and actually locked up her shop for her and proceeded to fly after the others, key hanging from its mouth.
…
They flew for three days, making several stops for food and sleep. Norma was watched at all times and she felt very confused by being taken captive by birds. She tried to sneak off a few times but to her surprise, they always managed to find her. They flew over desserts and lakes and thick foliage until they reached their final destination: Truffula Valley.
Norma was thoroughly taken aback by the beauty of the valley. "Whoa…" she uttered, her eyes taking in the colors and the sky and finally, the trees. She however noticed that between several trees were tree stumps, obviously chopped by the evenness of the tops.
As she stood in awe, many creatures slowly made their way to her. Pipsqueak was the first to go directly up to her, his little tail wagging and his eyes bright and happy. Looking down at the adorable barbaloot, she swiftly brought him into her arms and hugged him gently, all the while cooing at him to which he happily responded.
"Aw! Aren't you just the most adorable thing? And this place… it's so beautiful. This is all so confusing though…" She trailed off, her confusion evident in the way she spoke. She knew not of how she would return home or whether she even wanted to after seeing this wondrous place. She gently set Pipsqueak down and he scampered off to play.
As she stood there gazing at the mesmerizing scenery, The Lorax took his chance and stepped out from behind a nearby tree. "Hello. I am The Lorax. I speak for the trees. And I believe if you please that there's a way that you might help me." Norma blinked, shock written across her face.
"Did you just… speak in rhyme?" She asked tentatively, somehow more surprised by the fact that he spoke in rhyme rather than that he spoke at all. He nodded.
"Now you know my name and I don't know yours. What is it, might I ask?" He was completely polite to her, something unheard of towards Once-ler who had annoyed him from the beginning. Looking at the short girl, he could already see her love of nature for it radiated off of her.
"I'm Norma. And you said I could somehow help you? What is it exactly you want my help with? Is that why I was kidnapped?" She rambled on and on, shooting off one question after the other.
The Lorax simply said to her, "I'll explain everything. Just thought you might like to know what your boyfriend's been up to here in the valley." With that, her cheeks burned ruby.
A/N: And here's chapter 3! Not so much Once-ler in this chapter since the big focus is on The Lorax and Norma. Hope you enjoyed it! And if you guys will leave 5 or more reviews, I'll have the next chapter up within 3 days of when the chapter receives that many reviews. In fact, I'll add a review chart to see how many reviews equals how many days wait.
5 Reviews- 2-3 days wait
7 reviews- 2 days wait
10 reviews- 1 day wait