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ShiningCadance is the het ship between Shining Armor and Princess Cadance from the My Little Pony fandom.
Canon[]
In IDW's My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #11-12, Princess Cadance and Shining Armor's initial meetings and the beginning of their romance is explored. Both were students at Canterlot Academy, and one day Cadance came to help Shining Armor after he was tripped up by bully Buck Withers. Cadance's kindness and beauty left Shining Armor smitten and unable to engage in conversation with her. However, he soon became determined to ask her to the school's Fall Formal and, hopefully, begin a relationship with her. The pair meet again when Cadance arrives at Shining Armor's house to foalsit his younger sister Twilight Sparkle, and Shining Armor is quite pleased when he manages to actually say hello to Cadance, in spite of his obvious nerves while doing so.
Unbeknownst to Shining Armor, Cadance had also started to become interested in him, and turned to Twilight to learn more about her older brother. After making some promising discoveries regarding their shared or complimentary interests and traits, Cadance likewise becomes eager to start a relationship with Shining Armor, asking Twilight for her help and swearing her to secrecy. Meanwhile, Shining Armor has turned to several of his own friends for assistance, and they seek to impress Cadance by putting on a performance during a polo game at school. Cadance is visibly moved by the show, which includes a song sung by Shining Armor with lyrics obviously inspired by Cadance herself.
Unfortunately, Buck Withers-who is also seeking to win Shining Armor's affections-heckles Shining Armor and his friends, leading to their humiliation as many of the other students join in. Undeterred, Cadance was determined to ask Shining Armor to be her Fall Formal date, only to gain some information that leads her to believe he's going with someone else. Shining Armor, attempting to reach Cadance and ask her himself, finds her speaking to Buck Withers and accepting-though with reluctance-Buck's invitation to the dance. However, Cadance soon enlists two of her own friends in her efforts to elude Buck once they reach the dance so she can find Shining Armor.
Shining Armor arrives at the dance with a date, but Cadance quickly deduces that it's one of his stallion friends dressed like a mare. She quickly heads towards him as Shining's other friends, acting on their own plan, try to dissuade Buck from following her. Cadance and Shining Armor meet up at last, but Buck attempts to ruin their experience after it's revealed that he and Cadance have been voted king and queen of the dance. By this point, however, Buck has disgusted virtually everyone with his appalling behavior, and Cadance is unopposed as she takes his dance crown and places it on Shining Armor's head instead. Now fully aware of their mutual feelings for each other, Cadance and Shining Armor share their first dance-and first kiss.
In "A Canterlot Wedding"-the first media to actually feature the couple-Shining Armor and Cadance are engaged to be married, with Twilight Sparkle and her friends assisting in the proceedings. However, they are forced to contend with the evil changeling Queen Chrysalis, who abducts and replaces Cadance in order to feed on Shining Armor's love for her and open the way for her people to invade Equestria.
In "The Crystal Empire", Shining Armor and Cadance are sent to take charge of the Crystal Empire, a magical city of ponies that has been missing for 1000 years. When Twilight and her friends arrive at the empire to assist, they find that Cadance is faring poorly in her efforts to keep the empire protected from the evil King Sombra. She attempts to downplay her condition, but Shining Armor notes that she's been suffering from lack of sleep and too little food. Much as he wishes to help her, his own magic has been neutralized by King Sombra. As such, he enlists Twilight and the others to find a means of protecting the empire without relying on Cadance's weakening magic.
The Mane Six hold a Crystal Faire in an attempt to raise the spirits of the empire's Crystal Pony inhabitants, but only when the faire is underway do they learn that they are missing a key artifact: the Crystal Heart. Just after Twilight makes this discovery, Cadance collapses from exhaustion, with Shining Armor catching her as she falls. Cradling his ailing wife, Shining turns to his sister for help, only for them both to see Cadance's protective shield failing and opening the way for King Sombra to attack. After briefly laying Cadance down, Shining Armor helps her back to her feet, and with his support she is able to cast her shield once again.
However, it becomes evident that Cadance is desperately weak, and Shining Armor once again catches and cradles her as she slumps in weariness. Shining Armor remains with Cadance as Twilight leaves in search of the Crystal Heart, both of them sharing concerned looks as they watch her go. As the search goes on, Shining Armor looks on helplessly as Cadance continues to struggle, and the pair end up on the floor of the castle balcony with Shining sadly cradling an exhausted Cadance. Sadly, Sombra's magic has already penetrated the empire, and Cadance's strength finally runs out completely.
Upon seeing Spike plummeting from the castle with the Crystal Heart, Shining Armor lifts Cadance onto his back. The sight of their friend and the desperately needed artifact gives her the energy to open her wings, and Shining Armor then uses his front legs to lift her over his head and hurl her towards the falling dragon and precious object. With the Crystal Heart in place, a wave of magic restores the Crystal Empire and apparently destroys King Sombra. Cadance, likewise rejuvenated, flies back to the balcony and is joyfully embraced by her husband, both of them smiling over the victory. Later, the pair escort Twilight and her friends back to the train that will take them home, and Cadance is unamused when Shining Armor tries to cheer up a downcast Twilight with some friendly teasing.
In their new roles as rulers of the Crystal Empire, Shining Armor and Cadance take part in efforts to have it chosen as the site of the next Equestria Games. As such, in "Games Ponies Play", both are visibly pleased when games inspector Ms. Harshwhinny selects the Crystal Empire to host the games in spite of some mishaps regarding her reception in the empire. In "Slice of Life", Cadance and Shining Armor attend the wedding of Cranky Doodle and Matilda in Ponyville, with Cadance having to make explanations for her emotional husband. Fortunately, he regains his composure in time for the actual ceremony, and Cadance leans into him affectionately as he puts a front leg around her.
In IDW comics My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #34-37, a story arc entitled "Siege of the Crystal Empire", King Sombra returns in the company of several other villains, and eventually conquers the Crystal Empire with the aid of his people, the Umbrum. Upon first learning of Sombra's return, Shining Armor rushes to rescue Cadance. Shining Armor, Cadance, and Twilight are all taken as prisoners, and Shining Armor is relieved to learn that Cadance and Twilight are alive when he's brought before them and King Sombra. Cadance and Twilight are soon horrified when the Umbrum threaten to turn Shining Armor into a statue, and Cadance reluctantly discloses the location to which their allies have fled. Sadly, the Umbrum choose to carry out their wicked intentions anyway, and Shining Armor does his best to comfort his wife and sister just before he's petrified.
In "The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows", Shining Armor and Cadance send Pinkie Pie a message informing her that they will soon be having a baby, but she is sworn to secrecy regarding the matter. Despite a supposed delay, the pair arrive in Ponyville early, and set Twilight and her friends on a scavenger hunt across town. Once they arrive at the end, Cadance and Shining Armor explain that each of the places they visited had something to do with their surprise. After putting everything together, Twilight is speechless, and Shining Armor and Cadance excitedly announce Cadance's pregnancy.
In IDW's My Little Pony: Friends Forever #30, Shining Armor becomes aware that Cadance doesn't feel valued as a princess. With help from Twilight, he tries to raise her spirits, but unwittingly compounds the problem when two guards come before Cadance to have a dispute resolve and he takes charge rather than letting his wife have a say. Cadance becomes both frustrated and dispirited, so much so that it even affects the Crystal Heart's magic. Fortunately, Twilight is able to help Cadance see the unique way in which she inspires others, including Shining Armor. In the 2017 IDW My Little Pony Annual, Cadance persuades Shining Armor not to rush out to battle the changelings attacking the Crystal Empire by noting that he runs the risk of being captured and replaced, leaving his wife and their unborn child at the mercy of the changelings.
In "The Crystalling", Shining Armor and Cadance send word to Ponyville and Canterlot that their baby has been born and invite their friends and relatives to join them for a Crystal Empire ceremony known as the Crystalling. Both new parents are seen to be exhausted, and ample reason is given when the newborn is revealed to Twilight and friends to be an Alicorn. With some help, Shining Armor is able to attend to various tasks needed for the event and then proudly informs Cadance of his success, only to be questioned regarding their daughter's whereabouts. Twilight and Pinkie then arrive with the baby, but her parents' happiness is dampened when a magically enhanced emotional outburst from the filly results in the Crystal Heart being shattered.
As the gathered ponies race to find a solution before the Crystal Empire is enveloped by the arctic weather previously held at bay by the Crystal Heart, Cadance passes the baby to Shining Armor. Unfortunately, the rambunctious infant is soon flying around the castle library, defying both parents' efforts to catch her. After the baby's antics result in the destruction of a book the group had hoped would help them repair the Crystal Heart, Cadance suggests that they evacuate the Crystal Empire. Shining Armor willingly takes on the task but expresses confidence that his wife and Twilight can remember the spell they found and successfully cast it.
Fortunately, with some assistance from Sunburst, a new arrival to the Crystal Empire, the ponies are able to both restore the Crystal Heart and hold the baby's Crystalling. Shining Armor and Cadance unite their magic in the endeavor, and both expression their affection for their daughter in the process. When Shining Armor's parents finally arrive to meet their grandchild, Shining Armor and Cadance lock eyes and smile before announcing that they've decided to name her "Flurry Heart" in memory of the rather dramatic events surrounding her Crystalling.
In "The Times They Are A Changeling", both Cadance and Shining Armor react with concern to the news that a changeling has been spotted in the empire, particularly after what they endured during their wedding. Shining Armor's affection for Cadance, and what they both suffered at Chrysalis' hooves, is such that he rejects the notion that any changeling could be a friend. However, both he and Cadance have a change of heart after Spike, who has met and befriended the changeling Thorax, speaks up on his behalf and is supported by Twilight. In "To Where and Back Again", Shining Armor and Cadance are among the ponies abducted by Chyrsalis and her changelings. Thorax's experiences in the empire allow him to inspire most of the other changelings to embrace a new way of life, however, and upon being freed by their captors-turned-friends Shining Armor and Cadance embrace with Flurry between them. The pair stand together before and after the ensuing confrontation with Chrysalis, who flees, and then accompany their daughter, Twilight, her friends, and Princesses Celestia and Luna in visiting Starlight Glimmer's former home village.
In "A Flurry of Emotions", Shining Armor and Cadance leave Flurry with Twilight and Spike-without giving them any notice-in order to enjoy some much belated time by themselves. However, as they attend an art exhibition by Shining Armor's old comrade Spearhead, they keep being reminded of their daughter by various details of the art pieces. This initially sparks fond recollections, but eventually both of them are overcome with missing their daughter and leave the exhibition to go pick her up. Both are disappointed to find that Flurry apparently wasn't nearly as unhappy without them as they were without her, but then amused after learning of the ideal Twilight went through in caring for her. They agree that they'll give Twilight more warning in the future and ask about getting together for dinner-ALL of them-sometime soon.
In "Once Upon a Zeppelin", Shining Armor attempts to put on a brave face regarding the imminent zeppelin trip he, Cadance, and Flurry are taking with Twilight and his parents. However, Twilight brings up an embarrassing incident from a theme park that greatly amuses Cadance, though Shining Armor is quick to claim that he's gotten over such things. Unfortunately, this proves to be anything but the case, and Cadance kindly-and with some concern-tries to save her husband's pride and dignity by asking him to take Flurry Heart below decks, claiming that she fears their daughter may actually be the one suffering from airsickness. Despite Shining Armor's recurring nausea-and some other difficulties-the couple and their family are ultimately able to enjoy the excursion, with Cadance later affectionately leaning into her husband during a family hug.
In My Little Pony: Best Gift Ever, Cadance and Shining Armor bring Flurry with them to visit Twilight for Hearth's Warming, and both of them quickly observe and agree that Twilight is stressing over her holiday preparations with fond amusement. They later both track down Twilight and express disappointment that they've so far been unable to spend time with her. Twilight finally admits to being anxious, and Shining Armor and Cadance note that they would have been happy to help her with whatever she still needs to do. The group and Twilight's friends are soon caught up in a double calamity, as a pudding recipe Twilight had been preparing starts to flood her castle while a gigantic creature known as a Winterzilla cuts off their avenue of escape.
As Shining Armor prepares to leap into action, Cadance passes him the baby with a coy reminder that she is the one in the family with wings. After seeing Cadance swoop to rescue Rarity from the expanding pudding, Shining Armor comments on his wife's impressiveness to their daughter. However, he then executes his own impressive display of both magic and athleticism to reach a balcony that Cadance has flown to with Flurry Heart in tow. Cadance blushes in obvious admiration of her husband's performance, but the pair are soon distracted by the ongoing crisis. Fortunately, both problems are soon resolved, allowing the ponies to enjoy their holiday. Cadance and Shining Armor share an affectionate look during a spontaneous carol sung by Twilight.
In "The Ending of the End", Cadance and Shining Armor receive word from Twilight of a threat from several old enemies and prepare the Crystal Empire against any possible danger. Later, after Twilight briefly takes refuge there, both are willing to join her in traveling to Canterlot to face the foe. However, Twilight convinces them to remain in the Crystal Empire in case the worst should happen in order to protect Flurry Heart. In "The Last Problem, all three attend Twilight's coronation as Queen of Equestria. In IDW's My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #102, Shining Armor tends affectionately to a battered Cadance after both survive the battle with the hostile Knights of Harmony.
Fanon[]
This section is in need of major improvement. Please help improve this article by editing it.
As an established pairing and canonically married couple in the Friendship is Magic franchise, the ship enjoys a fair amount of popularity.
There are 99 works featuring the pairing on A03, making it by far the most popular ship for either Princess Cadance or Shining Armor.
Fandom[]
- FAN FICTION
- Cadance/Shining Armor tag on AO3
Trivia[]
- They were one of the first canon ships in My Little Pony
Gallery[]
Show[]
Comics[]
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| femslash | AppleDash • Appleshy • Autumnjack • Chryslestia • FlutterDash • LyraBon • Moonscout • Octav3 • PinkieDash • RariJack • ShimGlim • SunsetDash • SunsetPie • SunsetSparkle • Templight • Twijack • TwiPie • Twishy | |
| slash | Gallbar • Sporax • WizWinds | |
| family | AppleSisters • RariBelle | |
| CHARACTERS | female | Applejack • Fluttershy • Pinkie Pie • Rainbow Dash • Rarity • Sunset Shimmer • Twilight Sparkle |
| male | King Sombra • Spike | |