The conversation that split the world.

Shockwave awoke to hear the sound of arguing coming from below him. Two mares voices, one accompanied by a hard metal track, the other by a slower but equally powerful orchestral piece.

"Oh not again." He thought as he rolled over and put a pillow on his head.

After a few minutes when it became apparent that the row wasn't going to stop without him he grudging got out of bed. He shuffled downstairs to find the exact scene he expected. On one side of the room stood his wife Vinyl Scratch with a boombox behind her. The other side of the room held his wife's childhood best friend, Octavia Melody, accompanied by a record player. As he walked in Octavi turned to him.

"Oh and here he comes, look at this scruffy oddball, was he really the best you could do?"

"My husband has nothing to do with your hatred of a little hard work!" screamed Vinyl.

"Mares please lets be civil about this." Shockwave strode in trying to come between them.

"And just what the hay would you know about being civil?!" Octavia half shouted, half laughed from across the room.

"Well for a start I'm the only one hear not screaming his head off." Shockwave retorted coldly.

Octavia started to answer only to be cut short by a frantic knocking at the door. All three ponies stopped and frowned towards tthe font of the house. Octavia quickly turned her music off and Vinyl reached behind her to do the same. Shockwave walked to the door and opened it to find Rainbow Dash  with her hoof raised as if to knock again. Shockwave started to smile in relief only for Rainbow to step aside and reveal what was behind her. Shockwaves smile fell as he beheld Blitzberg standing there looking a bit battered and shaken up. And draped across his back was Princess Luna. If Blitzberg looked a bit bruised it was nothing compared to the state Luna was in. Her mane and tail were both disheveled and full of twigs, her eye shadow was all but rubbed away on one side of her face and she was covered in bruises and cuts all over her body. Shockwave quickly moved aside as Blitzberg stumbled forward into the house. He heard a gasp from the living room meaning Vinyl and Octavia and seen Luna. Well it was one way to get them to stop arguing. Octavia ran to get some towels and a first aid kit and Shockwave helped unburden his brother as Vinyl turned to Rainbow Dash.

"What the hay happened?" she asked.

"Dunno." said Rainbow. "All I know is Blitzberg showed up at my house 'bout an hour ago carrying Luna. He asked if he could lay low for a while and I said why not. Then about 15 minutes ago some of Celestias guards showed up outside my house asking if I had seen the Princess. I was gonna say yeah until I noticed one of the guards had a poster sticking out of his saddle bags. it had a picture of Blitz on it and something like public enemy or something. Soon as I saw that I sent those guards away then got Blitz and Luna out of there as fast as possible. this was the only place I could think of to go."

"Right then" said Shockwave after helping Blitzberg lay Luna on a towel that Octavia had delivered. "We need an explanation Blitz and we need it now."

Blitzberg seemed to take a moment to find his voice. "I was flying my patrols around Cantorlot." He started. "When I heard a commotion behind. Next thing I know Princess Luna is flying past with several Solar guards chasing her. I didn't know what was going on but I know my duty as a Lunar guard is to protect princess Luna. I followed the chase and saw one of the Solar guards tackle the Princess straight down into the forest around Cantorlot. Then they sort of did a little victory cheer and I seized my chance. I dove in and grabbed the Princess before thy had time to figure what was going on. then I got out of there as fast as I could. I knew Rainbow and was closest so I headed there. You know the rest, although I didn't know about the public enemy thing till just now. Guess one of those Solar guards had better night eyes than I though."

Just then Luna opened her eyes and slowly raised her head. She took in her surroundings carefully before turning her attention to the five ponies now looking at her with concern.

"Where am I?" she asked slowly.

Blitzberg immediately got down on one knee. "Your Highness, I am lieutenant Blitzberg of the Lunar guard. I rescued you from the Solar guards that assaulted you last night. You are currently safe within the residence of my brother here." He lifted a hoof to point out Shockwave. "This is Shockwave. beside him is is wife Vinyl and his wife's friend and lodger Octavia." He pointed to them each in turn. "I believe you are already acquainted with the element of Loyalty, Rainbow Dash?"

At the mention of Rainbows name Luna's eyes diluted and she started frantically backing away.

Rainbow cocked her head. "Is something wrong Your Highness."

Luna's breathing slowed again as she looked between them. "You don't know?" She asked. The five ponies just looked at each other and shook their heads. Luna visibly calmed down. "This may come as a shock to you but my sister isn't the ruler we thought she was. She's actually-"

"A tyrannical empress, we know." Said Vinyl

"What!" Blitzberg shouted.

"We figured it out recently" said Shockwave. "We were going to tell you on your next leave of absence."

"That's the craziest thing I ever heard!" Rainbow Dash piped up.

"That's what I thought as well." Luna said from the floor causing everyone to look round. "But I am afraid they are right. I was being chased by those guards because I refused to join Celestia on the throne. Now do you see why I was scared of you, bearer of Loyalty Rainbow Dash?"

"Don't worry Princess." Rainbow said, recovering quickly. "I may have been loyal to Celestia in the past but if what you say as true then that loyalty has shifted to you. Not to mention the fact that I'm still loyal to Shockwave and Blitz as well."

Luna nodded "That is good to hear Rainbow Dash. Thank you."

"I'm with you to." said Shockwave.

"As am I" said Vinyl

"You didn't even have to ask for my allegiance Princess." Blitzberg said.

"What about you Octavia." Said Vinyl, who then turned when she got no reply. "Hey where is she?"

Luna started to panic again. "She must have gone to alert the guards. We need to get out of here now!"

"But where can we go?" asked Blitzberg.

"Let's head to Fluttershy's house, she's sure to help." said Rainbow.

Shockwave nodded. "And it's close but still well outside of Ponyville. Perfect."

"Alright lads, let's move! C'mon times wasting!"