(Hey guys. I'm back. And this is where everything starts to thicken for the trio. Hope you enjoy it.)
One night, Summer Fun was once again playing a gig at the nightclub where they first performed in Equestria. They were jamming away, while the crowd was loving it. When they finished, the crowd of ponies cheered them on. Vinyl Scratch came on stage and spoke into a mic, "And there you have it ponies, Summer Fun has done it again!"
Sometime later back stage, Cody, Sabrina, Jeremy, and Discord were sitting in chairs while sipping from bottles of water, "A job well done, my friends." Discord said, as he held his bottled water up.
"Cheers!" they knocked their bottles together before taking a drink.
"So where should our next gig be?" Jeremy asked.
"I hear Manehattan's a good place at this time." Cody said.
"And there's Appleloosa, we could do some country rock." Sabrina added.
Cody yawned, "Well, we'll ponder on it after we've had a night's rest."
"Yeah, I'm bushed." Jeremy agreed, while stretching his arms up.
"Quite right. I'll see you all later." Discord opened a door out of the scenery and went inside before it closed.
"Come on, let's get back to the library." Sabrina said, as the three collected their instruments before heading off.
As they walked the quiet streets of Ponyville, Crowl was watching them from the shadows before vanishing off. He returned to Stygian and spoke, "They still remain unaware of what the amulets you gave them are meant for, sir."
"Good, when the time comes for it I will activate them." Stygian answered.
"And what will you make them do once they're activated?" Crowl wondered.
"Anything I want them to, Crowl. For when activated they will become my servants." he snickered.
The very next morning at the library, Twilight, Spike, and their human friends were already up and about. Suddenly Discord appeared in the library, "Good morning, everypony."
"Discord, we have a door try knocking." Twilight told him.
"So, Rainbow Dash doesn't knock." Discord reminded her.
"Except you're not Rainbow Dash." she replied.
"True, but I come bearing exciting news for my band friends!"
"Whatcha got, doc?" Jeremy asked.
"We've got a new gig already!" Discord announced with streamers and confetti raining down on them.
"So where are we going?" Sabrina asked, while shaking some confetti out of her hair.
"To the Crystal Empire, my dear Sabrina." Discord answered.
"The Crystal Empire?!" Twilight and Spike gasped.
"Of course. Why dear Princess Cadence sent in a request herself." he explained.
"Princess Cadence?" Cody asked.
"My sister in-law and old foal sitter," Twilight explained, "She married my brother some time ago, and now they rule over the Crystal Empire."
"We've been requested to play for royalty?" Jeremy gasped.
"Uh-huh." Discord nodded.
Jeremy turned to his friends, "We've really hit the jackpot, guys!"
"Well, we won't be traveling alone," Discord said, as he looked at the letter, "Shining Armor and Princess Cadence have also requested Twilight and the rest of the girls to join us as well, if they wish to."
Twilight smirked, "Like we'd say no?"
Discord smiled, "Never crossed my mind."
"Well, we should probably go tell everypony, right?" Cody asked.
"Right away." Spike agreed, as they headed out.
As they went through Ponyville to gather their friends together, Stygian was watching what was happening through Cody's amulet, "So, the Crystal Empire, huh? Now that's a perfect opportunity." he snickered to himself.
Soon enough after rounding up the rest of the girls, they were all on a train bound for the Crystal Empire. Jeremy was kicking back on the seat, "So this Crystal Empire was once ruled a thousand years ago by some whack job unicorn named Sombra?"
"Yes. When he was initially defeated he caused the empire to vanish into thin air, but a thousand years later it returned along with him." Twilight explained.
"In order to keep it protected we had to find the Crystal Heart which was powered by the Crystal Ponies love in order to defeat him for good." Applejack added.
"And who was it that got the Crystal Heart to Princes Cadence in time to save the empire?" Spike boatsed.
The girls sighed with a roll of their eyes, "You, Spike."
The three humans and Discord chuckled, until the train pulled into the station, "Well, we're here." Discord said.
They got off the train and saw two Crystal pony guards who were awaiting their arrival, "Welcome Twilight Sparkle and friends." one began.
"Her majesty the princess sent us to fetch both you and the band she requested in her letter." the second said.
"That'd be us." Cody said, as he and his band mates stood close.
"Please follow us." the first said, as the two escorted them to the entrance of the empire.
When they pass through the arch they were escorted into the town. The three humans looked around in wonder at the crystal like buildings, and all the crystal ponies with their sparkling coats.
Cody spoke, "Oh, man. Look at this place."
"They don't call it the Crystal Empire for nothing." Sabrina said.
They eventually reached the castle where they saw the Crystal Heart spinning around in it's spot maintaining protection over the empire, "Is that the Crystal Heart?"
"Of course, isn't it marvelous?" Rarity asked.
"It's shiny." Cody said.
"Please, come inside." The second guard said, as the two escorted them inside the castle.
As they were brought into the throne room they saw both Cadence and Shining Armor awaiting them, "Her highness, Princess Twilight Sparkle and friends." an orange pegasus guard announced.
Cadence and Twilight galloped over to each other and began their traditional greeting, "Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!" the two princess sisters laughed.
The three humans looked at each other smiling remembering how they used to have childish handshakes and all before making more mature ones.
Twilight hugged her B.B.B.F.F, before bringing him and Cadence over, "Shining Armor, Cadence, allow me to introduce to your my three human friends. This is Cody, Sabrina, and Jeremy. Guys, this is my brother Shining Armor and my sister-in-law Cadence."
"Hi." Cody greeted them.
"Sup?" Jeremy greeted.
"Nice to meet you." Sabrina finished.
"And it's nice to meet you three too." Shining replied.
"Twilight's told us so much about you in her letters." Cadence said.
"Has she now?" Cody asked.
"Yeah. She told us about how talented you three are with music." Shining said.
"Which is why we'd like your band to perform here in the Crystal Empire tonight." Cadence said in excitement.
"Hmm," Cody pondered with his two pals and Discord, while tapping his chin with his index finger, "Well, we have been looking for a wider audience compared to the ones in Ponyville."
"So then you'll take the job?" Shining asked, as he and Cadence looked hopeful.
The four smiled as Cody extended his hand, "Summer Fun is at your service." Shining held out his hoof as Cody shook it.
"Though would you all mind giving us a little demonstration so we can see how good you really are?" Cadence requested.
"We'd be delighted too." Jeremy answered.
"Just direct us to a stage." Discord said.
"Right this way." Cadence said, as she and Shining Armor showed them all off.
Stygian who was still watching from Cody's amulet smirked, "Perfect. I can use them to the snatch the Crystal Heart. And without it, I can send an army of creatures to the Crystal Empire and take it for my own." he laughed.
Soon enough inside a ballroom located in the castle, Cody, Sabrina, Discord, and Jeremy were on stage with their instruments ready. Cody spoke into a mic, "Testing one two. Testing one two. Good afternoon everypony and welcome the band practice of Summer Fun. I'm Cody Harrison on Electric Guitar, that's Jeremy Price on Flying V, Sabrina Taylor on Keyboard, and finally Discord on Drums! Hope you're ready to rock loud because that's what we're here for. Ok gang from the top, and a one, and a two, and a bibbidi bobbidi boo!" they started rocking out.
As they played, Cadence and Shining were rocking their heads to the rhythm. Stygian watched from the amulet at how happy the ponies looked while listening to the band, "Oh, sure. Enjoy the band, ponies. For soon you won't be enjoying them at all." he smirked.
After their practice performance, they were all in the dining hall eating, "So you really liked our performance?" Cody asked the royal couple.
"Of course." Shining Armor answered.
"You play even better than Twilight told us." Cadence added.
"Yeah, well I admit it's not easy carrying this whole band on my back." Cody boasted.
Jeremy, Sabrina, and Discord hearing that looked to him with glares, "Excuse me?" Jeremy asked.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Sabrina asked suspiciously.
"Are you implying that you're a better band member than us?" Discord asked with a scowl.
"Lighten up, guys, I'm joking." Cody chuckled.
"You better be, otherwise we'd have to take this outside." Jeremy warned him.
"Oh, dear I hope you don't." Fluttershy gasped.
"Relax, Fluttershy. We always joked around like this." Sabrina assured her.
"I knew he was joking." Discord said to preserve his pride, while crossing his arms.
"Sure ya did." Rainbow teased him, and the girls laughed.
Stygian smirked as he watched the scene, "Now it's time. Awaken my sleeper agents and serve your master!" his horn glowed.
Back with the guys, their amulets started glowing, and they froze up, before Cody stood up speaking in monotone, "I need to be excused."
Jeremy stood up next speaking in the same tone, "And me."
"So do I." Sabrina finished, as they walked off.
"Wonder what's with them?" Applejack wondered.
"Yes, that tone in their voices certainly didn't sound like them at all." Rarity noticed.
"They probably just have gas." Pinkie brushed it off. Discord however wasn't so convinced as he squinted his eyes at the three as they left the dining hall.
Outside the castle, the three possessed humans walked up to where the Crystal Heart was as Stygian's voice echoed in their minds, "Take the Crystal Heart my minions."
"Yes, master." they said collectively in monotone.
Cody approached the object before reaching out and grabbed it. When he yanked it out of it's spot, the magical barrier started vanishing. He turned to his friends, "I have it. Let's get going."
The two nodded, as they were about to take off only to be surrounded by Crystal Guards, "Hold it right there!" one ordered.
"Return the Crystal Heart at once!" another ordered.
Stygian was feeding the three his orders, "Don't give them the Crystal Heart. Attack!" his horn glowed.
The three glowed with Stygian's magical aura and started fighting the guards, who defended themselves. Soon enough the group ran outside, as Discord spoke, "I knew something wasn't right with them."
"Cody's got the Crystal Heart!" Spike gasped, as they all saw it in his hands.
"Cody, Jeremy, Sabrina, what're you three doing?!" Twilight asked in outrage.
The three turned to them and spoke with their eyes glowing red, "We must serve our master."
"Whoa nelly." Applejack gasped.
Stygian watching the ponies shocked faces laughed, "Yes. Tremble before my newest minions!" he laughed maniacally.
(And there's the chapter. The amulets Stygian gave the three were no friendship gifts at all. And now that they're under his mind control, can the girls save them? Don't miss next time.)