"I can come back later", Shining Armor said, hastily averting his eyes.
Princess Luna shook her head, mane billowing around her with the movement. "No, that is quite alright. Big Macintosh here was just leaving." She looked pointedly at her guest.
The red stallion nodded, giving the princess one last kiss before heading for the door. He brushed past Shining until he was trotting down the passageway away from the princesses door. He paused to say a quick hello to Cadence before continuing on his way out of the castle.
As soon as Big Mac came near him, Shining stiffened. His horn flared up, tingling and his whole body shook with the presence of strong magic. The current soon subsided and he was able to focus on Luna again.
Luna was putting her armor back on and was just setting the tiara atop her head when she noticed Shining Armor's rigidity. Again, she blushed furiously. "I apologize for that...event. I thought I had given the servants orders that I was not to be disturbed, but it must have slipped my mind." She curled up on her bed, inviting him with a sweep of her hoof to join her.
"Er, no, that's quite alright, princess", the white unicorn said, still standing where he was. "I was just coming to tell you that Cadence and I had arrived, but I guess you know that now. When is the parade?" He thought guiltily of the servant who had, in fact, warned them not to disturb Luna.
The princess looked apologetic. "It already happened. I'm sorry you missed it. What happened?"
"The mail was late", Shining answered simply. The princess nodded and an awkward silence settled over the pair. "Well...I'll just be going. It's too bad we missed the parade", he commented. Then he turned to leave, waving a goodbye as he did so.
Cadence looked up as her husband came trotting swiftly out of the princess' chambers. "What happened? Why was Big Macintosh in there?" she asked.
"He and the princess were...busy", Shining Armor told his wife. "I was right about being late, though. We've missed the parade."
She shrugged. "There's always next year", she told him. "Anyway, we should be getting to Twilight's soon. I can't wait to see her!"
Shining nodded enthusiastically. At that moment he would have taken nearly anything to get away from the castle. The couple again plunged into the twisting labyrinth of hallways and doors. It took a couple questions and a few wrong turns and dead ends before they emerged into the outside world once again. Once there, Shining asked one of the doormen to get them a carriage and the pony dashed off willingly.
Soon the two were seated comfortably in a plush transport rolling over the uneven cobblestones on the path to Ponyville. They chatted quietly about their wedding and about Twilight, but this time they avoided the subject of Canterlot. Cadence knew her husband had a good reason for not telling her what he had seen in Luna's room, though she was curious.
Eventually the pulled up to the tree that housed their little sister's library and house.
Twilight was rearranging a bookshelf when there was a polite knock on her door. She sighed. How many more times would she be interrupted today? Turning smartly she resolved to get rid of the visitors as quickly as she could-until she opened the door. "Cadence! Shining Armor!" she squealed. She leaped into her brother's hooves and he enveloped her in a massive hug. The lavender unicorn hugged Princess Cadence next, a big smile on her face. "How was the ride? Why did you two miss the parade? You wouldn't believe the day I've had!" she babbled.
"Woah, Twily, slow down!" her brother laughed. "The ride was fine, the mail was late, and what happened?" As he fell silent he noticed both his wife and his sister were staring at him, gaping.
Twilight gulped. "I don't exactly know. But I think it's happening again."
A glowing purple matrix was enveloping Shining Armor and he squeaked as he felt his manhood slowly disappearing. His mane grew out, getting longer and his eyes suddenly sprouted eyelashes. His hooves shrank down to the size of a mares and he grew slender. Eventually the transformation was finished and the magic sparks dissipated. "Twilight", he said, glancing over at her. "What. Exactly. Did you do?"