Visions of Greed

Chapter 20: Clothes Make The Man

As you can probably guess from the chapter title, we have reached a pivotal point in the story! This was one of the earliest chapters I envisioned, and I am so excited to finally be sharing it with you all. It's going to be an extra long one too, since it is an important one and I didn't want to split it into two parts this time. I really hope that you all enjoy it!

Recommended Songs: Something Wicked- Starset, How To Save A Life- The Fray, Perfect- Simple Plan, Do You Want It All-Two Door Cinema Club, Monster- Starset, Voices- Alesti Loveless, Starfire Tells The Truth- Michael McCuistion

It was a beautiful spring morning. Once-ler stood underneath a blue sky, right next to a clear river, in a field scattered with numerous white daffodils, as a few small butterflies fluttered about. However, despite the peaceful atmosphere of the scene that surrounded him, Once-ler still could not help but feel uneasy. For standing right in front of him, just a few feet away, was none other than Greed-ler. Once-ler, despite his fear, found himself unable to move as the green-clad man smirked and gave him a knowing look.

"Yes Once-ler, the time has almost come..." Greed-ler mused as he bent over to pluck a single daffodil from the ground. Greed-ler studied the flower for a moment before he walked over and offered it to Once-ler. "...soon, everything will change..."

Unable to stop himself, Once-ler reached out and took the daffodil from Greed-ler's hand. As Once-ler gazed down at it, a small white butterfly landed in the yellow center of the flower. The insect remained there for a few moments before it flew away and disappeared into the distance.

"...including you!" Greed-ler sneered with a sinister grin as the sky suddenly turned hazy and gray before he suddenly vanished into a puff of smogulous smoke, which then wrapped itself around Once-ler, transforming him.

Afterwards, Once-ler frantically looked around the field, only to see that Greed-ler was gone, the butterflies had left, and that all the flowers in the field had shriveled up and died. Once-ler gazed back down at the daffodil in his hand and gasped in shock when he saw the now wilted flower crumbling away, and that he was wearing Greed-ler's green gloves.

A sense of dread began to fill Once-ler as he turned towards the river to look at his reflection, only to see himself wearing Greed-ler's green suit and top hat as well. As Once-ler continued to stare at his reflection in disbelief, the water in the river turned black with schlop. Seeing this, Once-ler became full of fear and despair, and he fell down to his knees as he cried out into the empty field.

Once-ler gasped as he suddenly shot up in bed. As he took in his surroundings, he began to calm down as he realized he had yet another nightmare. With a sigh, Once-ler got up and walked over to his window, where he saw that the weather outside was just as beautiful as it had been in his dream, with a clear blue sky and a few butterflies fluttering about. But Once-ler feared that just like in that dream, things would soon change, and that this idyllic scene would someday turn into something out of a nightmare.

Once-ler sighed again as he looked over at his alarm clock. Since it was Sunday, he had allowed himself to sleep in a little since he didn't have to go to work, but there was another appointment that Once-ler did not want to be late for. So he quickly began to get ready, because today, Once-ler would be meeting his family at a restaurant in town for brunch.

After Once-ler eventually sobered up after the incident at the party, he was finally able to tell his mother about all the great business deals he had made. Isabella was thrilled to hear the news and wanted to celebrate. Once-ler suggested going to out to brunch, which Isabella and the rest of the family readily agreed to.

After Once-ler had a small snack, got cleaned up, and got dressed, he walked over to his vanity table to grab his fedora, which sat next to his sketchbook and a truffula floral arrangement that he had picked up from the party. Once-ler picked up his hat and put it on his head, then he glanced down at the sketchbook. Once-ler picked up the sketchbook and turned to the page that featured the drawing of Greed-ler that bared his own name. As Once-ler looked down at the drawing, his mind became full of uncertainty and dread. He gazed at the picture for another moment, then set the sketchbook down and began to exit the bedroom, but before Once-ler made it out the door, he heard a familiar voice echo inside his head.