The next morning, while everyone was still asleep, Sonic was the first one to wake up. He stood up, stretched his body out, and headed to the bathroom to get dressed. When he found the bathroom, he was going to go in when he felt a hand suddenly grab his arm.

"Huh?" Sonic said surprised before he felt something soft and firm pressing against his lips.

When he was able to see who it was, it was Rainbow who was kissing him with her eyes closed. Sonic was a little surprised, but then smiled and kissed Rainbow back. After a moment, Rainbow broke the kiss and looked deeply in Sonic's eyes with her forehead against his as she blushed.

"Morning, handsome," Rainbow said.

"Morning, beautiful," Sonic replied, "You really gave me quite the scare."

Rainbow giggled, "I know."

"So, how did you sleep last night?" Sonic asked.

"Like a peaceful cloud," Rainbow said.

Sonic smiled, "Come on, Dashie. We should get ready."

Rainbow nodded, "Okay."

Sonic and Rainbow went to get themselves ready for the day. In Pinkie's room, the others began to wake up. They all yawned from their peaceful sleep.

"Morning, y'all," Applejack said.

"Morning," everyone else said.

"Everyone sleep okay?" Rarity asked.

Everyone else nodded. Tails looked around, "Huh, I guess Sonic and Rainbow already got up."

"Why, of course, darling," Rarity said smiling, "I'm absolutely sure they needed a little quiet time together."

"Hey, everyone," Knuckles said, getting everyone's attention as he then pointed at something, "Look."

Everyone else looked at what Knuckles was pointing at. They saw that Shadow and Sunset were still sleeping, but they were right next to each other. Shadow's arm was softly around Sunset's neck while Sunset had snuggled into Shadow. Everyone giggled at this.

"What do you know?" Manic said, "They're sleeping together."

"Aw," Rarity cooed, "They look so cute together."

"Come on, everyone," Silver said, "Let's get ready."

The girls and Mobians got up and went to get themselves ready for the day. Pinkie tiptoed towards Sunset and Shadow. She gently poked Sunset on her shoulder. Sunset's eyes slowly opened from her sleep. She looked at Pinkie with a yawn, "Morning, Pinkie."

"Come on, Sunset," Pinkie said, "You and Shadow need to get ready."

Sunset nodded as Pinkie hopped her way out of her room. Sunset looked back at Shadow who was still sleeping. She gently embraced Shadow a little. Shadow's eyes opened and he saw Sunset smiling at him. He smiled too.

"Good morning, Sunset," Shadow said.

"Morning, Shadow," Sunset said, "How did you sleep last night?"

"Very well," Shadow said as he sat up, "How about you?"

"The same," Sunset said as she sat up, "Thanks for the company."

"Of course," Shadow said.

Sunset blushed and smiled. Then she slowly leaned towards Shadow and gave him a little kiss on his cheek. When she did that, Shadow was frozen as his cheeks turned a little red. Sunset's cheeks turned really red as she got up and went to get changed. Shadow just stayed where he was. He then placed his hand on his cheek where Sunset kissed him. Then a smile came onto his face.

"You really are an amazing girl, Sunset," Shadow thought as he got up out of his sleeping bag.

A few minutes later, everyone was in the kitchen having breakfast. Sonic, Rainbow, and Sunset were on a couch. Shadow was standing against a wall. Tails, Fluttershy, Silver, Rarity, Manic, Pinkie, Knuckles, and Applejack were at a kitchen table.

"So what's the plan?" Sonic asked.

"I think we should practice the counter-spell," Twilight said.

"Well, where should we practice?" Knuckles asked.

"We can practice at ma family's farm," Applejack said, "They don't mind. But what about your band, Sonic?"

"We'll tag along," Sonic said, "When you're performing, think of us as your audience."

"All right, let's go," Twilight said.

Later, at Applejack's farm, the Rainbooms were practicing their song in the garage. Unfortunately, it wasn't going so great, and Twilight's singing was weak, but she kept on trying. While they were doing that, Sonic and Shadow were outside talking about something.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Shadow asked.

"Something from last night," Sonic answered.

"Well?" Shadow asked crossing his arms.

"When I was heading to bed, I felt some kind of dark energy," Sonic said.

That caught Shadow's ear, "Well, what did it feel like?"

"All I can remember," Sonic said, "It felt like Chaos Energy, but it was dark and pure evil. And it felt very familiar."

"It did?" Shadow asked.

"Yeah," Sonic answered, "But I just can't put my finger on who or what it was coming from."

That was when they both heard the music stop. They both went back in to see how it went.

Spike was the first one to speak, "That sounded better than the last five times you played it," he said with a nervous laugh trying his best to be nice.

"Nope," Big Macintosh said walking by outside with a bucket of apples in his hands.

"How do we put this gently?" Sonic asked, "Guys?"

The other Mobians held their hands up with a worried face, saying they didn't know what to say either.

"I think it's pretty obvious what's going on with this counter-spell," Rainbow said as she put her hands on her hips.

"You're turning what should be the chorus into a five minute solo to impress your boyfriend or to show off for him?" Applejack asked angrily.

Knuckles stepped right in front of her, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, AJ. That's not very nice of you. And I don't think that she was trying to show off for Sonic, AT ALL."

"Yeah," Rainbow said blushing deeply from Applejack's question, "I just have to pick up the slack somehow. Are you girls even trying?"

"I'm trying" Fluttershy cut in whispering.

"Rainbow, easy," Sonic said, "Say sorry."

Rainbow sighed, "Okay, I'm sorry," she apologized to her friends.

"It's fine," Twilight said as she laughed hysterically, "One more time from the top."

"Actually, I think maybe you girls should take a break," Sonic said, "You do know my band needs to practice too, right?"

Twilight sighed, "I guess you're right." She and her band went to the chairs to sit down.

"Great idea, darling," Rarity said, "And maybe while Sonic's band is practicing, how about we girls try on some of the wardrobe choices I've put together?"

Rarity had pulled a rack with a six pares of clothes out of nowhere. She reached for one of them as she said, "I'm particularly fond of this one."

Rarity pushed the rack away revealing that she was now wearing a bright lilac purple band uniform with gold details. The way that it looked with Rarity wearing it caught Silver's eyes. He felt his cheeks turning bright red.

"Of course, we could always go with something a bit more modern," Rarity said looking over herself.

Applejack just looked at Rarity with a face as she said, "We're trying to save our school here. Enough with the costumes."

Rarity was then just randomly wearing a bright, sparkling gold yellow suit with a futuristic helmet on her head. "Oh, you can never have enough costumes," she said with her voice sounding like a robot.

"She just wants to make things fun," Pinkie said, "Isn't that what being in a band is supposed to be?" she did the 'punch line' thing with her drums before she went to the chairs.

Sonic had his medallion guitar. Shadow had a crimson red and ink black electric guitar. Tails had an electric piano on a bipod. Knuckles had a macaroon classic guitar. Manic had his drum set from his medallion, and Silver had a drum set of his own.

"All right, guys, are you ready?" Sonic asked his band.

"We're ready," the other Mobians said.

"One, two… one two three four!" Manic and Silver banged their drumsticks together and began to play a fast drum roll together.

The other Mobians began to play their instruments together and play an amazing song. Sonic sang.

(Reach for the Stars)

Sonic: Take off at the speed of sound

Bright lights, colors all around

I'm running wild living fast and free

Got no regrets inside of me

Not looking back

Not giving up

Not letting go

I keep on running!

I'm gonna reach for the stars

Although they move pretty far

I'm gonna find my own way

And take a change on today

The sky with stars so bright

The colors feel so right

I've never felt like this

I keep on running

The sky with stars so bright

The colors feel so right

Just take my hand

We're gonna reach for the stars

Tonight…

As the Sonic Heroes continued, the Rainbooms were amazed, but Rainbow was astonished and touched by this song, "Oh, Sonic."

Sonic was glowing bright blue as he began to pony up. He gained his hedgehog ears and his blue wings on his back. Somehow, the rest of his band was glowing as well. Tails was glowing bright orange. Knuckles was glowing bright red. Manic was glowing bright green. Shadow was glowing bright grey, and Silver was glowing bright silver. The Sonic Heroes all gained hedgehog ears while Tails and Manic also grew wings on their back. Tails' wings were bright orange-yellow, and Manic's wings were bright parakeet green.

Sonic: Wake up living day by day

Do what I want, and I'll do it my way

The world is flying right below my feet

Got no regrets inside of me

Not looking back (Manic: Not looking back)

Not giving up (Not giving up)

Not letting go

I'll keep on running!

I'm gonna reach for the stars

Although they move pretty far

I'm gonna find my own way

And take a chance on today

The sky with stars so bright

The colors feel so right

I've never felt like this

I keep on running

The sky with stars so bright

The colors feel so right

Just take my hand

We're gonna reach for the stars

Rainbow felt so touched by this song, she didn't know what to say about this.

Sonic Heroes: I got it in my sight

The colors feel so right

Got my feet on the ground

I keep on running

Oh I can feel it now

The colors all around

Just take my hand

We're gonna reach for the stars

Just take a chance (Sonic: Just take a chance)

We'll do it right again

(We're gonna reach for the stars)

Just take my hand (Just take my hand)

We'll take a chance TONIIIIIIGHT!

Reach for the stars

Tonight

Tonight…

(End of song)

As soon as the Sonic Heroes finished practicing, Sonic finished in a pose on his knees with his right hand in the air. Then their new pony powers disappeared while Sonic's guitar and Manic's drum set turned back to their medallion forms. The Rainbooms cheered for them, while Rainbow jumped up in the air for joy, ran up to Sonic, and gave him a really strong hug, which surprised him.

"Sonic. That was SO awesome!" Rainbow squealed, "How are you ever that good?"

"Trust me," Sonic said, "I've been playing with my guitar ever since I was a kid."

Rainbow then instantly kissed Sonic on his lips with her arms around his neck. Sonic was a little bit surprised, but then kissed her back with his hands wrapped around Rainbow's waist. Then they both broke the kiss and smiled while blushing deeply.

"Oh, you two really are meant for each other," Rarity cooed.

"Not only that," Twilight said, "Sonic, you and your friends all ponied up."

"We did?" Sonic asked.

"Yeah," Rainbow said, "That made the song super awesome!"

"Umm, I really hate to interrupt the romance, everyone," Sunset said, getting everyone's attention, "But we don't have a lot of time. You're supposed to check in at the Battle of the Bands in fifteen minutes!"

That was when the Rainbooms gasped. "Uh-oh," Sonic said.

The Rainbooms quickly rushed into gathering their equipment. Twilight was worried, "But… but it's not ready. If we play the counter-spell in the first round and it doesn't work, the Sirens will make sure we don't get a chance to play it again."

"TWILIGHT!" Sonic instantly yelled.

Everyone stopped at Sonic's outburst. Sonic then placed his hands on Twilight's shoulders, "Twilight, stop. You need to calm down," he said as he then turned to the others, "Now, do we have any suggestions?"

"Well, we can probably buy ourselves some time so you can keep working on it," Applejack said.

"And how do you propose we do that?" Rarity asked.

That was when Rainbow spoke out, "We compete in the Battle of the Bands for real! I take over lead vocals again and we stay alive until the finals! We unleash the counter-spell then! You'll have figured it out by the vocals, right?" she asked Twilight.

Twilight was about to speak when Spike spoke, "Of course she will. Twilight Sparkle's never met a problem she couldn't solve! Right, Twilight?"

"Right," Twilight answered, but Sonic could tell that she wasn't sure.

"Then let's go win a Battle of the Bands!" Rainbow announced.

"Shadow," Sonic said.

"I'm on it," Shadow said as he pulled out the purple Chaos Emerald, "Girls, prepare yourselves."

"For what?" Applejack asked.

"This," Shadow answered, "Chaos… Control!"

A bright flash of light appeared as the Sonic Heroes and the Rainbooms had instantly disappeared.

"Hmhmhmhm…" a scary demonic voice said.

A blackish red mist appeared out of nowhere on the floor. Then very slowly, Darkness appeared out of it.

"Oh, Princess Twilight really seems to be a cute little girl," Darkness said.

"Indeed, she does," a strange male voice had said from behind Darkness.

Darkness turned and saw a teenage boy. He had beige tan skin, hazel wood tan hair, and sepia eyes. He wore a fog grey shirt with a slate grey down-vest, wood brown pants, and mocha brown shoes.

"Aw, Boulder," Darkness said, "Good, I've been expecting you."

"So, what is it we will do, High Councilor?" Boulder asked.

"We strike as soon as the Rainbooms get their turn," Darkness said.

Boulder smiled, "I like that. And when we strike, may I have the opportunity to take care of Sonic?"

"Yes, as long as you leave him alive, but weak enough for me to take his powers," Darkness answered, "And I am excited to see what you can do."

"Oh, believe me," Boulder said.

Boulder held his right hand up, and that was when he formed a large grey rock as he said, "I'm gonna love smashing Sonic."

But neither of them knew that Strike and Specter were just outside the door listening. They were both wide-eyed in shock.

"Boulder?" Specter whispered, "How did he get here? And when did he meet Sonic's evil doppelganger?"

"I don't know," Strike whispered back, "But I have a really strong vibe that it's gonna get bad when the Battle of the Bands begins."

"So, what should we do?" Specter asked.

Strike peeked from the door and saw that Darkness and Boulder were gone. "Shoot, they're gone. Quickly, we need to get to Canterlot High, and fast."

Specter nodded. His shoes then had some kind of a glow from underneath them. He rose into the air a little and his shoes had flames coming out of them. He then flew off towards the school. Strike then instantly ran off following him at super speed. He created a blur of cerulean blue energy and lightning that followed him very quickly.

Flashback, a day after the Fall Formal…

Strike and Specter were on top of a building in Canterlot City. They were looking around the place. Their clothes and hair were moving along with the wind.

"It's Canterlot City," Strike said, "Well, soft of, anyway."

"So… a temporal displacement?" Specter asked, "Alternate Earth?"

"Could be either," Strike said with his arms crossed, "We may have jumped to a different dimension. OR perhaps events in our own timeline have changed, and we're in a new altered present time."

"We need to determine which, soon. If Black Ghost and Rainbine had rained destruction to our country, we have to get back," Specter said, "Our friends should've been able to pick up any anomalies, right?"

"Our friends may not exist here," Strike sighed, "I can't make contact. Even with Gideon with us, I can't seem to get any help."

"Then we need to find out if they exist here," Specter said, "So what should we do?"

"Well, it's worth investigating," Strike said, "I'll check things out on ground, and you look around in air."

"Sounds good," Specter said, "But hold on, if we ended up here, do you think that there's a possibility that our enemies are going to try and find us?"

"We'll just have to wait and see," Strike said, "Until then, we're stuck here, and we need to figure this out on our own. Sigh… too bad my brother wasn't fast enough to find us in time."

"Strike…" Specter said as he placed his hand on Strike's shoulder, "Listen, I know how you felt when your girlfriend died, and I know you still want to get faster to defeat Rainbine, but you know as well as I do that revenge will only make you as bad as her."

"I know," Strike sighed, "I realized that long before our battle. I just want to be faster than I have ever been before."

"You know, you did gain so much power from that night," Specter said.

"Specter," Strike said, "Let's just get to work."

"You got it," Specter agreed.