Visions of Greed

Chapter 26: A Tree Falls The Way It Leans

Notes:

Let it be known that this chapter was posted on 04/22/25, in celebration of Once-ler's fandom birthday, just as I intended. I missed it last year (didn't know when it was until it was too late). But this year I made it! Yay!

Recommended songs: Freefall-Alesti, American Dream Machine, Tick, Tock- Lolita Ritmanis, Surrogates-Red, Out of Breath-Lolita Ritmanis, UltraViolence- You Me At Six, Pretty Venom (Interlude)-All Time Low, Titan Zombies- Lolita Ritmanis, Perfect (Acoustic Version)- Simple Plan, Love Me Or Leave Me- Three Days Grace

"All right, here we go. About to make a thneed, about to change the world." Once-ler remarked to himself as he grabbed his axe and walked over towards a truffula tree. It had been only a few moments ago that Once-ler had discovered the forest, filled with miles and miles of these particular trees and Once-ler immediatly knew those bright-colored tufts would be the perfect material for his thneeds.

So, As the curious forest animals watched on, Once-ler lifted his axe and then began to slam it into the trunk of the tree repeatedly. The forest animals, now terrified, gasped and ran away as Once-ler continued to chop down the tree until eventually it fell backwards with a loud thud.

Smiling in satisfaction, Once-ler stepped forward to examine the tree's stump, before turning back towards where the animals had been. "Check it out, guys..." Once-ler began before his smile became a look of confusion as he realized the animals were gone. "Wha? Huh?Where did everybody go?" Once-ler asked.

Only a moment later, the sky began to darken as the forest filled with a dark gray mist. And a cold slow-and-sour gust of wind began to blow, chilling Once-ler to the bone. The sudden drop in temperature caused Once-ler to drop his axe, close his eyes, and shiver as the sky continued to darken and the air turned even colder. Then, suddenly Once-ler heard a familiar voice echo through the forest.

"A tree falls the way it leans, be careful which way you lean."

At the sound of the forest guardian's words, Once-ler looked back up as the mist faded away, revealing a now dark and desolate forest full of numerous tree stumps. The only tree that could still be seen was the single one that lay in front of him. The same one that he had just chopped down.

"What? No! That's impossible! I didn't mean...!" Once-ler gasped as he slowly stepped backwards from the shocking scene. Until he somehow stepped over a ledge and began to fall backwards into a vast dark emptiness.

Once-ler continued to free fall for a few moments, until he felt something tug at his wrist, and Once-ler looked up to see Greed-ler above him sporting a wicked grin. Despite Greed-ler's sinister appearance, Once-ler was relieved to see him, hoping that Greed-ler would rescue him somehow, but as they kept falling, Once-ler's fear grew as he became filled with doubt.

"What are you doing? Can't you see the danger we're in?" Once-ler asked desperately "Please! Save me!" he continued to plead in frustration, as he wondered where Greed-ler's dark angel wings were now that he needed them.

Greed-ler said nothing. Instead, he began to laugh as the both of them continued to fall, and Once-ler began to come to a horrible realization. Greed-ler wasn't going to rescue him, he was going down with him. Once-ler closed his eyes and screamed as he braced for impact. Only to open them again and see that things had shifted. Greed-ler was now beneath him, still holding on to his wrist and looking up at him with that same wicked grin. Forever oblivious to the danger they were in. Once-ler continued to stare down at him for a moment as he realized the truth, Greed-ler was pulling them both under, and there would be no way to stop him until it was too late.

Then, with a gasp, Once-ler, wearing his green suit, suddenly woke up panting at his office desk. As Once-ler tried to calm himself down, his eyes darted around to the various objects in the room, including the desk itself, the chair, his computer, the nearby trashcan full of crumpled up papers, a bag of half-eaten marshmallows, and the blueprints and papers that sat in front of him.