Many thanx to Microseedy and suburbantimewaster for inspirado.
Cool air blew through the town of Greenville. Once-ler went shopping at a farmers market, seeing the harvested crops, all the colors of fall: orange pumpkins, the red and black Indian corn, squash of yellow, apples from red and green and yellow.
He picked a few select items to bring with him to show Fiora, the Truffula forest sprite. He wished she would just come to see the human world. But whenever he offered to take her there, the nature spirit would look so scared. Having been isolated from civilization for as long as when time began, though Fiora learned about Once-ler's world and was getting used to human customs, she was still frightened.
Once-ler had to find a way he could take the forest sprite to see the human world. Just this once. He knew if he were to take her any day of the week, people would find it rather strange to see a green girl with rainbow hair. The last thing he wanted to have was the girl be exposed to jeering and stares. He wanted the girl to be as comfortable experiencing the human world without any consternation. Upon looking at the calendar, he got an idea. He found her outside, doing her usual rounds of speaking to the trees.
"Fiora," said Once-ler. "How about I take you into town...on this day?" He pointed to October 31st on the calendar.
The girl looked at the calendar. "But...why this specific day?" she asked, knitting her brow.
"I thought this would be a great way for you to...er...see the human world...you know, so you'd be comfortable...and people won't find it strange to see a green girl on this day."
"I...are you sure?" Fiora asked, still nervous.
"You never know unless you just try," he encouraged. "There's nothing to be afraid of, Fiora. You know all the stuff I taught you and you read everything."
"Oh...alright," she said. "Should I do anything?"
"No. Not really. Just stay with me and you'll be fine."
When October 31st came, the nature spirit was restless...she played with a lock of her hair. She decorated herself with the most beautiful flowers, a few of them were water lilies. She did want to look her best in the human world. The Lorax saw his young pupil, fidgeting by Once-ler's wagon.
"What's the matter, Green Girl?" he asked. "You're trembling like a leaf."
"Um...well...Once-ler is taking me to see the human world," she replied.
"Really?" said the Lorax intrigued. "
Eventually, Once-ler came out of his cottage, dressed in his costume: a mummy. He used toilet paper to make his costume. When Fiora saw him, she was very scared since she didn't recognize him.
"Relax," Once-ler said. "It's just me."
The Lorax saw Once-ler and was dumbfounded. "What in Nature's breath...?!" he exclaimed, raising his bushy eyebrows. "What is going on here, Beanpole? Why are you dressed like that?"
"It's Halloween," he said. "This is what we do in the human world once a year."
"Jeez. I think you officially went around the bend, Beanpole," laughed the Lorax.
"I don't dress like this all the time. It's only once a year. Plus, I'm taking Fiora with me."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" said the Lorax. "Is there anything dangerous involved on this so-called Halloween?" "Uh...no, not really," Once-ler said.
"I don't understand," Fiora said puzzled. "What does this have to do with me seeing the human world?"
"Like I said earlier. People won't find it strange to see you as you are...it would be like you're blending in with us."
"Oh!" Fiora understood now. "I guess...that does make sense."
"A word, Beanpole," said the orange guardian.
Once-ler groaned, knowing he was getting yet another lecture. Like he got plenty of those for about his promise...and the no-funny-business-with-the-forest-sprite.
"Listen up, Beanpole," he began. "If you're taking her to see your world, I suggest you don't let anything happen to her. If this is going to be her first time venturing out of the forest, I want it to be comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Nothing scary or dangerous."
"Like I'd put Fiora in any kind of danger, Mustache," Once-ler replied. "I do want her to have a good time."
The forest guardian nodded. "You'd better bring her back, safe and sound...unscathed."
Once-ler rolled his eyes. "Yes, Dad. I will," he replied sassily.
Then the Lorax turned his attention to Fiora. "I want you to stay with Beanpole, Green Girl. Don't get overexcited. And behave yourself."
"I...I will," she promised, a slight tremor in her voice.
"Alright, Fiora," Once-ler announced. "Ready?"
Fiora nodded. He helped her climb into the wagon. Once-ler flicked the reins and soon, they were on their way. She watched the Truffula forest get smaller as they drove further away; the tree's fluffy tufts swayed in the cool breeze. She became more uneasy. She had never been this far from home before...yet she was excited about seeing Once-ler's world.
"Alright," said Once-ler. "We're here."
Fiora looked in the front of the wagon and saw that there were a few trees near this human forest. Once-ler had explained what everything was. There were buildings of all shapes and sizes and...humans...dressed in different...clothes. They appeared to be going from house to house, asking for...something.
"What's going on here?" asked Fiora curious.
"It's called trick-or-treating," Once-ler explained. "Kids usually do this, but we can try it if you want."
"What do I do?"
"Just knock on the door, say 'trick-or-treat', then they will give you something. That's it," he said. "Oh and if someone asks you to come in their house, just say 'no thank you'."
"Why? I thought you go into houses after knocking."
"Yes, you do. Just not today," he answered as he hitched up Melvin to a nearby tree. He hopped off the seat and went around to the back. He grabbed two pillowcases. Then he held out a hand to her.
"Well, c'mon out," Once-ler encouraged. "Don't be shy."
Picking up her dress in one hand, she took the young man's hand with the other and stepped out of the wagon. Fiora stared in awe and wonder, still trembling. She looked at the strange ground beneath her bare feet. It was grey and hard, almost like stone but smoother. She was used to walking on grass, the occasional rocks while skipping across the rivers like stepping stones. She looked at the town, curious and fascinated. A few people looked at the green girl that came into their midst. Some were actually amazed at the sight of her.
"Great costume," a woman said.
Fiora didn't know how to respond...
"Just say thank you," Once-ler whispered.
"Thank you," said Fiora shy, her hair turned a slight pink.
"Wow!" said a child. "How did you do that?"
"Um..." Fiora was about to answer.
"It's...just lights underneath a wig," said Once-ler covering for her.
"What are you supposed to be, Mother Nature?"
Another smile from the forest girl. "I'm a sprite."
"Uh...what's that?"
"It's a fairy or an elf that lives in the forest," said Once-ler.
"Well, it looks so real...and you look so beautiful," answered the woman.
"Thank you. I like...your clothes as well."
"Thank you, young lady."
Once the passersby were gone, Once-ler turned his attention to Fiora. "Cmon. Let's go trick-or-treating."
"How did I do?" she asked.
"You're doing fine so far," he said. "Are you ready?"
She nodded, taking a hold of Once-ler's hand. Though the two of them were still getting to know each other and had a few awkward, embarrassing encounters, she really liked holding his hand. She felt much safer with him in this strange new world.
Fiora slowly and hesitantly got the hang of trick-or-treating; humans answered the door dressed up, handing out the most delicious sweets, wrapped in colorful paper in shapes of pumpkins, bats, and Halloween themes. The candy looked so delicious and it smelled quite sweet. She was quite hungry, but Once-ler insisted that they should wait until they got home first. While going door-to-door, she looked at the human houses that were covered in decorations of the strangest things: spiders in webs, black bats...even frightening-looking humans that appeared to be ugly or deformed, even skeletons. Stone tombstones laid on lawns.
Once-ler looked at Fiora, who was staring with wide eyes, filled with a mingle of curiosity, perplexity, and fear.
"Are you alright, Fiora?" asked Once-ler.
"I...I'm scared, Once-ler," she said in a voice like a child.
"It's OK," he assured her, holding her hand. "None of these are real. They're not going to hurt you."
This seemed to comfort her...
...until someone jumped out of nowhere, dressed in scary mask, growling loudly. The forest girl screamed, frightened. The masked person was a teenager, who was laughing hysterically...joined in by some friends. Once-ler glowered at them. Whimpering, Fiora began to cry, bursting into noisy child-like sobs.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Once-ler shouted.
"What's the hell is wrong with your girlfriend?" the teenager shot back. "She's such a baby."
"Look, pal!" Once-ler shouted defensive. "This is her first Halloween! She's never been around people before."
"What is she, one of those creepy religious people that's not allowed to do anything?" a teenage girl laughed.
The teenagers continued to laugh. Fiora kept crying...her tears landed on the grass, making little Truffula trees sprang up. The more her fear grew...the trees grew faster...bigger. The trunks twisted in odd, sharp angled branches, bowing over as if they were protecting her. The tufts were streaked with different colors: orange streaked with purple, red with black, yellow with orange. The teenagers gasped in awe as the trees grew. Once-ler stared with wide eyes. So this was what happened when she...this was why the Lorax wanted nothing scary...
Once-ler led Fiora away from the group of teenagers. Upon finding a quiet spot, the young man held the sobbing nature spirit, feeling her tremble in his arms and tears soak his shirt. He shushed her, stroking her hair. He rested his chin on the top of the crying girl'
"Hey," he said softly, stroking her hair. "It's OK. You're safe now."
"I was so scared, Once-ler," she said. "Why would humans do that?"
"It's called a prank," he said. "Well, it's not funny. This happens sometimes."
He cupped the forest girl's cheek, seeing her wet green eyes. He wiped her tears away with his thumb and kissed her forehead, burying his nose in the soft purple strands of the girl's hair.
"P-please...don't tell the Lorax," she implored tearfully. "He'll be mad if he found out..."
"About the trees? That's what happens when you get scared?"
Fiora nodded, her hair was pink with embarrassment.
"It's happened once...a very long time ago. But not this bad. That's...how Mother Tree was created. I was very young...very scared at the time. The Lorax taught me how to control my magic. But I loved Mother Tree from the moment She was created. She is the most beautiful tree."
Once-ler was concerned. He didn't want the girl to be scared...God forbid have ugly looking trees spring up like that again.
"Do you want to go home?" he offered.
"N-no," she said still tearful. "I still want to try this trick-or-treating. I'm starting to like it."
"Alright," he said with a nod. "We'll do this for a little longer. Let me know if you get scared again."
The girl nodded, sniffling.
The two of them continued their nightly quest...until their bags were so heavy that Once-ler decided to call it a night. The young forest girl was tired, but quite excited to see all the sweets she got. Her feet were sore from walking on the unfamiliar ground. Once-ler and Fiora climbed into his wagon. Upon arriving back at the Truffula forest, the forest spirit and Once-ler looked through their candy.
"Ooh!" he said, seeing treats with marshmallows. "My favorite!"
The two of them enjoyed eating their candy. Fiora was surprised as she tasted each new candy: sticky, chocolate, crunchy...her fingers were sticky, gooey, covered in chocolate and sweets.
"Hey!" Once-ler said as he watched Fiora stuffing herself with candies. "Take it easy. You'll make yourself sick."
He couldn't help but giggle when he saw the green girl smeared with chocolate and sticky...like a little child.
"Did you enjoy yourself?" Once-ler asked. "What do you think of the human world?"
"Well," Fiora began. "It's... hard to put to words. It was a little scary, but I might want to visit again."
"Aren't you glad you tried?"
"Oh yes," she said nodding.
Soon, the forest girl yawned, quite exhausted. She laid her head on Once-ler's shoulder, her eyes fluttered shut. Smiling as he looked at the sticky, tired girl, he scooped her up bridal style and laid her on the bed, covering her with his blanket.