Ten Truffula Trees

[whichwayyoulean]

[Ted's arrival was unexpected, to say the least. Even more unexpected was the story that came with the boy. Things were not completely lost. They got BETTER. The damage he'd done was beginning to be mended. And he got to live to see it, something the Once-ler had long given up on. Sure, it took a long, long fifty years for someone to come around who cared enough to make things- Oh.

And then, very, very carefully, the Once-ler writes in his journal, as the dawning realisation hits]

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.

It's not.

[The last part, he speaks, with the sigh of someone putting the final piece of a jigsaw together. A piece that has been lost under the metaphorical sofa for a long time, leaving the picture incomplete. Until now. He casts a glance at the nearest wall. The Unlesses are still scrawling their way along the surface. Of course they are. Just because he knows what the word MEANS now, doesn't mean that the message is any less important. In fact now it's more so.

...Besides, he knows only too well it's supposed to be a reminder. He did something unforgivable, and regardless of if it would be fixed or not, that fact remains the same. He can't and won't forgive HIMSELF for what happened to the Valley. It would be doing the Lorax a great disservice if he did. When he finally speaks into the journal again, his tones still have that quiet, underlying sadness to them; that self-loathing that would never go away. But this time there's something else as well. Something almost like hope. A very begrudging hope, as if just having it put everything in danger of falling apart again. But hope, all the same]

So. Someone from my world showed up. From the future at that. I need to remember to ask him if they have flying cars yet. That would be cool.

Comments

dictated;

[wilder]

[Zelos sounds legit in awe]

You figured it out.

forever!

[whichwayyoulean]

[So does the Once-ler really] I had help.

I think we might have tempted fate when we were talking about people showing up who knew us as old people. [Meaning he's perfectly happy to partly blame you for this, Zelos]

[wilder]

Heeeeey, don't blame me!

[cricketycricket]

[SO PROUD OF YOU, YES. Even if he still doesn't know what happened...]

What is it with humans and your strange obsession over flying cars?

[whichwayyoulean]

[It's a big old milestone]

What's not to like about them? They're cool.

[cricketycricket]

Never said I didn't like them, it's just sort of an odd thing to perpetually hope for. What about peace, or an end to hunger, or ways to keep milk from going bad before you use it all up? No, no, apparently flying cars get all the allure.

[heal_theworld]

[She smiles softly to herself, and at him too.] I told you you had to find someone who cared.

[whichwayyoulean]

You did. But he found me.

...

Or will find me.

[heal_theworld]

The future, huh? Now you know how I feel. I have people running around from 4,000 years in my future.

[courageous_wit]

I know someone who has a flying car.

[whichwayyoulean]

Okay now you are officially even more amazing. How do they get it to fly?

[courageous_wit]

I never thought to ask... He likes tinkering with that sort of thing. There's someone with a flying motorcycle in my world, as well.

[cyan_maid]

[Jane reads what was written a couple of times. It sounds like something from a nursery rhyme, but it's...profound, in a way. She wants to ask about it, but she hears Once speak and wow, okay, she's gotta comment on that tone.]

You sound...different today, Mr. Once-ler.

[And then a chuckle.]

Definitely ask him, then. If a certain pair of friends of mine show up, I will have to do the same.

[whichwayyoulean]

[It's the most important message ever]

Do I? [Yep, pretending he's not noticing like a boss]

It's just one of those questions that has to be asked of people who come from the future. It should be mandatory.

[cyan_maid]

Yes, you do! It's a good kind of different, though I can't quite place what it is yet.

I'm sure that when flying cars are finally invented, there will be a tremendous hubbub about it.

[billiardsplz]

Aren't airplanes already flying cars on a technicality?

[whichwayyoulean]

Hush, you're ruining the magic.

[billiardsplz]

Heh, sorry. Didn't mean to.

[kungfuwitch]

[She smiles] That's very true.

I have the opposite problem, myself. I've been further in the future than anyone from my world who's come here.

[whichwayyoulean]

Is it tough for you? Knowing things that the people from your world don't? [Because Ted is just a kid and the Once-ler has a vague idea he should probably try to make the transition a little easier for him]

[kungfuwitch]

Sometimes it is, yes. Though it mostly depends on what their future holds and whether or not they want to hear about it. When my sisters were here we wouldn't talk about it. Well... Paige was curious but Piper didn't want to know. It would be fine then I'd mention something and neither of them would know what I was talking about.

[thebutz]

Wow man! That's great! What's he like? Do you like him?

[whichwayyoulean]

Sure, he's a pretty great kid. [Understatement, kid who saves EVERYTHING]

written; is multithreading an ok thing or

[stillcares]

[Almost as the Once-ler is speaking it, some chicken-scratch kids' writing appears beneath his:]

IT'S NOT
I KNEW you'd get it! I didn't know if I was supposed to tell you but you totally got it on your own. Awesome.

P.S. No flying cars yet. But we have big ones with flames on the side. They're pretty cool I guess. And a ski slope.

It is totally and utterly okay B)

[whichwayyoulean]

[Ted you are the best kid forever]

I don't think I would have if you hadn't shown up. I've been staring at that thing for four months now. [Which is nowhere near as bad as fifty years...wait]

Well, darn. And here's me hoping for a future with cool cars. [PAUSENo who messed around with his town of wonder D:]