One day in the Emerald Hill Zone, Sally Acorn, Johnny Lightfoot, Porker Lewis and Tux encounter a stranger to their Zone, floating above the grass. When asked for his name, the stranger merely calls himself The Mysterious Traveller. Sonic the Hedgehog and Tails arrive, allowing the stranger to present the hedgehog with a gift - a monitor, where stepping on it provides the person with "mega-coolness beyond belief". Sonic refuses, stating he is cool enough and guesses that this "traveller" is just someone sent by Doctor Robotnik to trick him. Tails, however, realises that if he becomes cool, he can help Sonic more often, so jumps onto the monitor. Sonic reacts too late and Tails is sucked through the monitor into the Misery Zone. In the fox's place comes the "deadliest monster" from the Mise