Once-ler One Shot Collection

Saving the Forest. (Once-ler x Reader)

Wanted to try an xReader in first person. So I hope it's not terrible. Let me know what you think!

Since the thneed factory opened there have been relentless protests. But the Once-ler didn't seem bothered by them. In fact he often instigated arguments with the people. And I knew this because I was one of them. We would just chant with signs in hand, but it never did anything. But things didn't stay peaceful for very long. One day eggs flew overhead as we watched them hit Once-ler's back. I remember the look on his face when he turned around. I froze in my place as the hired guards quickly rushed the crowd. Most of the people tried to fight back, but it was a moot point. The police showed up and started arresting people. I wanted to get out of there, but he set his sights on me. I took a few steps backwards. He was storming over. He looked so upset but I hadn't done anything wrong. Before I knew it he was right in front of me. His hand grabbed my arm tightly.

"Did you start this?" he asked.

"N-no, I would resort to such a childish tactic. I mean, it's only made you mad. How will that change anything?"

"I always see you at these things. Who are you?"

"My name is _____," I said, "and the reason you see me here is because we are tired of you cutting down trees and destroying our home."

"You don't live in the forest, right?"

"Well, n-no, but-"

"Then get out of here before I have you arrested too."

"No! We may not live in this forest, but this is our home. You aren't even trying to keep this place like it was. We don't mind you keeping the factory, but you have to make changes before it is too late."

"I haven't done anything illegal, I'm well within my rights-" he started.

My body reacted without a thought. It happened in an instant that my hand reached up to his face, slapping him as hard as I could. Once-ler was shocked that anyone would have hit him. But he pulled me toward an officer and had me arrested. I was so mad with him. He wasn't from here, he didn't understand what it was like to see the place we grew up destroyed. My hands were roughly pulled behind my back as handcuffs held my arms in place.

"You're making yourself looks worse. All you had to do was listen, Mister Greed-ler,"I shouted before being shoved in the back of a wagon with the others.

"Did you really hit him?" one of the others asked.

"I'm not going to answer that with all the police around," I said smiling as confirmation that I had.

The entire van erupted into cheers. It was so loud even Once-ler heard their happiness. He frowned recalling the name she called him. Greed-ler, he thought, why would they call me such a stupid name? He turned to walk back into his factory. When he neared his office his mother appeared by his side.

"Wuntsy," she drawled his name out, "do you hate me?"

"What? No I don't. Why would you ask me that?" he responded immediately.

"Because what you just did is all over the news now. Sales are going to drop now unless we do something."

She ushered him into his office where she flicked on a large television. News reports had clips of the people being arrested. There was no mention of the egg throwing, or the girl who slapped him. His mother glared at him. Once-ler couldn't pull his eyes from the television. The report ended and his mother flipped to another channel. The story was everywhere. And each report questioned why there were no repercussions for what Once-ler had done.