Knuckles first discovered a Portal Ring whilst examining damage created by the Death Egg's disintegrator arrays. On the outskirts of the Mushroom Hill Zone, the ship had created an enormous crater that had unearthed an odd piece of debris. Knuckles glided down to inspect it and attempted to translate the ancient writing on it, believing it to say it was a "gateway to a dream country". Whilst moving rocks away from it, Knuckles accidentally touched it. Immediately, the ring began to glow and levitate before sucking the echidna through its hole. Knuckles disappeared and the ring reverted to its normal state. On the other side, Knuckles emerged from a random structure in the Special Zone, realising the texts spoke of a "nightmare country".