Meanwhile, on board Dr. Eggman's Egg Carrier MK. 6, the mad doctor and Lightning Dust were in the middle of negotiating an alliance.

"So, we are in agreement, then?" Eggman asked the purple clad pegasus. "You help me crush Sonic, his new girlfriend, and their little gang and help me take over this world and in return-"

"And in return I get these Chaos Emeralds... once you've finished with them, of course... however, Dr. Eggman, I have some doubts about your... capabilities," said Lightning.

Dr. Eggman frowned. "What are you talking about?" he asked.

"I've heard things about you, doctor... it seems that despite the fact that you seem to have more weapons than most countries, time and time again you let this blue hedgehog kick your sorry ass. And nearly all of the models I've seen for your battle mechs have a great big 'screw me over' button on them," explained Lightning.

Eggman turned red in the face at this little remark. "And what would a pegasus know about building battle mechs?!" he snarled.

"Enough to know that putting a great big 'Hit Here, Dummy' button on the outside of a battlemech is a sure-fire way to get your ass handed to you over and over again."

“Yes, well… I can’t just have people STEALING my inventions and using them against me, can I? I had to invent SOME form of fail-safe.” Dr. Eggman said nervously.

"Well, that's a fair point, but I think we're straying off of the topic. Let's launch a combined attack tonight," said Lightning.

Dr. Eggman thought about this. "And... where's your part of the attack force?"

Dr. Eggman's question was answered as several more pegasi dressed in a similar uniform to Lightning Dust appeared from a dark swirling vortex...

...

Sonic blinked a bit as he started to wake up. He frowned as an unfamiliar noise reached his ears. Almost like a mixture between a horse making its horse noises and snoring... and it sounded REALLY close... almost like it was right next to him.

A turn of his head revealed exactly where that snoring came from: Rainbow Dash, who was fast asleep... in his bed.

"WHAT IN THE NAME OF-?" yelled Sonic as he fell out of his bed.

Rainbow sat bolt upright in bed. "Huh? Who's there? I have a black belt in karate!" she yelled.

Sonic frowned. How in the multiverse does a pony learn karate, let alone master it? he thought. He then shook his head, returning to the problem at hand.

"What are you doing in my bed?"

Rainbow looked down at Sonic, blushing and chuckling nervously.

"W-well... you see... heh heh... funny story..."

"Rainbow... are you developing a crush on me?" asked Sonic.

Rainbow suddenly got five times more nervous. "W-what? No! Why would I be? I mean, it's not like you're getting a crush on me, are you?" she said, her face as red as an apple.

"Actually, now that you mention it, Rainbow... I kinda think I am."

At these words, Rainbow's jaw dropped like a sack of bricks. "R-really?" she said.

"Yeah... so, what should we do about this?" asked Sonic.

"Well, I think the solution to this problem is obvious: we go on a date," said Rainbow.

"A date?" said Sonic.

"Yeah, just one date, you know, just to get it out of our system."

Sonic thought about this for a moment. It couldn't hurt to just go on one date, could it? If it was just to get it out of their system and move on...

"All right, we'll go on a date," said Sonic.

It felt as if someone had just told her there was a cart full of cider for her and her alone. That was how happy Rainbow Dash felt.

"Cool! So, what time were you thinking?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Oh, I don't know, maybe around 8:30."

"All right, it's a date," said Rainbow.

...

As the bright orange light of a sunset filled Station Square, Lightning Dust and her Shadowbolts lurked out of sight in the sewers.

It's almost time... thought Lightning, as one of her soldiers approached her.

"My captain, I am sorry to trouble you, but I must ask: why are we here? Why must we come to this world?" the soldier asked.

"Two words: manifest destiny," said Lightning, disinterest in her voice.

"My captain, I don't quite-"

"Don't quite what? Understand? Then let me explain it to you," said Lightning Dust. "The Black Queen rules our world and all of its resources, both magical and otherwise. Nevertheless, it is not enough for our plans. So, what can we do? Where can we go to get more? Thanks to Black Dawn's research, we've answered that question. Once we've disposed of this world's heroes and regimes and seize power, it'll be smooth sailing... that, and there's a particular set of gems I'd like to get my hands on."

"But, ma'am, that's not why Her Majesty sent us here." A different soldier said.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, rumor got out that there's a spy in our ranks."

“I see… well, I was sent here to seize new worlds and acquire power. So, until such time as this so-called spy is captured, it’ll be my orders you’ll be following. Is that understood?” said Lightning.

“Yes, Captain,” the soldiers said.

…

Finally, it was time for the date. Rainbow Dash, who was wearing a royal blue dress that she borrowed from Sally, was, as Applejack would put it, “more nervous than a worm in an apple on cider-making day.”

Sonic, meanwhile, was clad in a simple suit and tie as he led the way into the restaurant.

"Well, someone looks fancy today."

"Would you believe me if I said this suit itches?" Sonic said as Rainbow just chuckled at the response.

"Oh, trust me I do. Speedsters like us can't take clothes that restrict us. It's why the Wonderbolts' flight suits always are skin tight yet flexible... you do look nice though." Rainbow got out as she blushed.

"Thanks. You look nice too.”

"Thanks," said Rainbow.

...

As the moon began to rise into the sky, Sonic and Rainbow Dash could easily tell that their "one date" plan was utterly destroyed. But, at the moment, they didn't really care. They were having too good of a time.

"So, after I defeated him again, Dr. Eggman tried to fly away using his jet pack, but I'd taken the exhaust hose, so he ended up falling. The next time I saw him, he only had half a mustache!" said Sonic.

Rainbow Dash was now laughing so hard, tears were starting to form.

"Oh, Sonic! Where do you come up with this stuff?" she said.

"That's the funny part: I don't," said Sonic, chuckling as he spoke.

As the two speedsters laughed, their hands touched. Rainbow was the first to notice and brought her hand away quickly hoping Sonic didn't notice the touch.

"So what about you RD? Any wild tales from your world?" Sonic asked having not notice the touching hands much to Rainbow's relief.

"Well, there was this mare from my world who was a bit off her rocker and, you're gonna love this, she was almost my CLONE. She had a blue coat and a gold blonde mane. Her name was-" before Rainbow could finish an explosion brought her attention to a bright light coming from the distance.

“What in the world was that?” asked Sonic as he looked out the window.

“I don’t know… but, I think we need to find out,” said Rainbow.

With that, the two speedsters paid their bill and set out towards the source of the explosion.

…

“I will give you this much, doc,” said Lightning Dust as she strode up to the big hole in the wall with Dr. Eggman, with a mixture of Shadowbolts and Badniks covering their backs. “You certainly know how to make an entrance.”

“Thank you,” said Dr. Eggman, smiling smugly at his handiwork.

“Now, then where’s that-?” said Lightning, before a shining white light caught her eye. Shifting some of the rubble, she soon discovered a glowing white gem about as big as her hand.

“So… this is a Chaos Emerald. Looks a bit different than I would’ve expected, but beautiful nonetheless,” said Lightning. As she picked up the gem, Lightning felt the small surge of power flow through her, making her feel stronger.

“Captain! We’ve got company!” yelled one of Lightning’s soldiers, before a blue blur knocked him to the ground, swiftly followed by a blur that was a lighter shade of blue. Within moments both blurs had jumped on and kicked the tar out of every Badnik and Shadowbolt that was with Lightning and Eggman.

"Who's your new friend Doc? A circus performer?" Sonic said as he stood atop a destroyed Badnik.

Rainbow Dash’s jaw dropped as she recognized the mare in the flight suit. How’d she get here? thought Rainbow before she stammered out the mare’s name.

“L-Lightning Dust? What are you doing here?”

Lightning Dust frowned. How did this mare know who she was? And why did she look just like…?

“Wait, you actually know who that pegasus is?” asked Sonic.

Rainbow nodded. “Remember that mare I was telling you about? That’s her,” she said.

“I think you have me confused with some other pony because I have NEVER met you before today.” Lightning Dust said as she made a orb of dark energy and blasted Sonic.

“Wait! You never said you could do that!” Eggman exclaimed but Lightning just growled at him.

“We don’t have time for this. We got the Emerald. Let’s leave NOW.”

“Why?! You have power now! Kill the two idiots!” Eggman ordered but was surprised by Lightning’s glare at him.

“You. Don’t. Give. Me. Orders.” Lightning growled as another orb formed in her hand. Before she could fire it at Eggman, Rainbow launched herself at her former wingpony and went through SEVERAL buildings leaving perfect holes before Lightning broke off the engagement. Both ponies stared at each other before Lightning smirked.

“Well, you know how to play… perhaps finding the Emeralds won’t be as easy as I thought…” said Lightning.

“Lightning, you don’t have to do this, you know,” said Rainbow.

Lightning placed a hand on her chin, as thought in thought. “You know, you’re right. I don’t have to do this,” she said, before firing a blast of black lightning at Rainbow Dash, sending her sprawling. “I just want to.”

As the battered pegasus looked up at her former friend, Rainbow saw a cloud of purple-black smoke form, which then condensed into a swirling black portal.

“See ya, faker!” said Lightning, before she and Dr. Eggman retreated into the vortex.

Rainbow watched the two supervillains go. So, Lightning Dust had superpowers AND she was after the Chaos Emeralds. But, that wasn’t the only thing that troubled her.

What did she mean by “Faker?”