You managed to escape the dystopian, all-fake town that was Thneedville, after avoiding security cameras and Mr. O'Hare's goons. You were tired of all the fake things in your home, wanting to see something real, but you knew that even outside the walls the world was no better, if not worse. Nonetheless, you were determined to make the world better and cleaner, and sought out a solution.

That solution would be someone you heard about called "The Once-ler," supposedly the cause of the destruction of trees and pollution of the world. You wanted to hear about what he did, and how you could fix it, with his help.

You go down a path you found once you leave the walls of Thneedville, hoping it will take you to the right place. And you assume it did - as you stumble upon a lone home and spot a sign labelled "The Once-ler." You ignored all the "KEEP OUT" signs, going up to the door and ringing the bell. You hear some whirring behind the door, and have the right mind to step away just as the door turns and a boot springs out (which would have kicked you, had you not moved). But you then feel some sort of claw grabbing the back of your shirt, pulling you up to a boarded up window where you see-

"Who are you?! What do you want?"