Thirty One Truffula Trees

[whichwayyoulean]

[The Once-ler hasn't heard from his mother in a while. This is nothing new, really. She only ever comes to him if she wanted something, it's always been that way, and he doubts she'd ever change, magical castle notwithstanding. But he hasn't heard from her since that dinosaur mess, and eventually, his love for her overwhelms his common sense and desire not to get his heart kicked in, as it always inevitably does. He heads off to her room, finding the nameplate gone.

Well. That was that. She'd left him. Again. Quietly this time, with no harsh words to bite into his memory as she drives away into the smog. Just a door without a name on it. He doubts he'll ever see her again, and he feels guilty for finding some relief in that thought. He exhales, opening his journal. He doesn't even know what to say at first, he doesn't even know if she even HAD any friends here]

For anyone who cares, my mom. [Pause] Flora her name's Flora. Look, I don't know if anyone knew her or not- but she's gone. Back home. So there you go.

[He'll just go try to find somewhere to brood where his friends won't find him now]

Comments

[whichwayyoulean]

There sure isn't anything else to do but rebuild, and just hope it works out in the end.

[He knows he won't live long enough to see the Valley returned to its former glory. It saddens him, but he knows the place is safe in Ted's hands. The kid will grow up with the trees, and it'll be as it should]

[ensorceler]

[ Yes, hope... That is a tricky thing. Paralizing, but also inspiring. She has yet to find her footing in that department. But he is the one grieving now; she had been doing it for long enough on her own, for herself and those caught in her conspiracy. She can no longer help herself, or at least she doesn't know how, but she can still help others that surround her. ]

What else do you think the city is lacking in? We strive for our orphanage, yes, but we need not limit ourselves to only that. While we are here, we will make use of our time. We will not be idle.

[whichwayyoulean]

I like the idea of not being idle. And you know, the townspeople are really great. I've enjoyed working with them, they deserve to have more.

[ensorceler]

I find them a little...odd. But they have been friendly to me oft, and for other cases I cannot fault them for what suspicions they do have.

[whichwayyoulean]

Oh heck no, their suspicions are totally warranted. I mean, think about all the trouble the castle residents have caused them since we started showing up here. I'd be pretty stand-offish, too.

[ensorceler]

I have not been told much of these past troubles... Would you tell me of what occurred?

[whichwayyoulean]

I haven't been around for most of it, but I heard about monsters at one point, who started in the castle and worked down into the city.

[ensorceler]

Who brought them here?

[whichwayyoulean]

I guess it was just regular castle hijinks.

[ensorceler]

They ought not to blame the castle residents for that... We are as much at it's clutches as they. It is the residents who choose to misbehave, they are the ones to blame for this animosity, I fear.

[whichwayyoulean]

Probably. I mean, the castle doesn't just pick the sort of people who'd not hurt anyone. Good people bad people, the people in-between, it doesn't seem to care. So I guess some of them do focus on harming the townspeople.

[ensorceler]

I am not equipped to do anything to assist them if such a crisis were to strike again.

[whichwayyoulean]

You kidding? You look out for them, a few words from you could sway their mindset on something, give them faith, y'know? You've got more going for you than you realise.

[ensorceler]

And I think you offer sweet words, but I doubt they would ever have any real love for my opinions. It matters not, in a time of crisis, they require an army just as we do, and there is none.

[whichwayyoulean]

...No, I guess they don't have that. Only their police, no one to really protect them.

[ensorceler]

So you see, my power is as empty as this glass. Speak all I might, but a voice has no power if none will listen.

[whichwayyoulean]

Then we just have to show them that you're worth listening to.

[ensorceler]

[ What does she even have to say anymore? ]

And how might you suggest that, good man?

[whichwayyoulean]

I don't know, we'll figure something out. I think we're onto a good thing already, helping them out. It's a good start.