Doesn’t Cadance’s love help shield her from mind control? She was able to break Chrysalis thing on Shining.

@Masem  
From my side; I understand what you mean, it is sensible, but my problems are meta-textual. Once again when Cadance is involved in something serious in the comics Shining simply does not appear, once again when she is in danger he plays no role to help her, even though this is happening right inside the Crystal Empire. It becomes frustrating how much of a non-character towards Cady Shining appears to be I. The comics, and I just wished that at times he could actually do something, anything, to help his wife. But he is, again, going to be excluded from her story completely, sadly, with likely not even a word exchanged.

@Masem  
Shining didn’t want to meet them? Wasn’t curious about Twilight’s note? Does Cadance even mention him? Also I’m pretty sure the Crystal Empire’s going to notice a giant Cosmos monster suddenly forming within it. Remember you can’t leave the Empire by anything other than train, its surrounded by a huge blizzard, and from the flows of the scenes it looks like Cosmos came across Rarity and co. basically right after they found the star. You’re saying Shining and the Crystal Empire are going to miss a giant monster just forming right near them?
 
In the end though its a bit immaterial to me. Even if it is a credible solution I’m just depressed about Shining always getting excluded from Cadance’s adventures. I just wish he could actually help save his wife rather than be completely left out again when she’s in mortal danger. I just wish he actually was there for her sometimes.

@Background Pony #6F3E  
Again, at this point in the story: nobody outside AJ, PP, CMC and Capper know there’s something wrong with Cele/Luna/Twi/etc. Twi - while possessed by Cosmos, had Rarity/RD/Spike go to the Crystal Empire to look for the stars under completely innocent guises with no hint of an evil plan. So there’s no reason that there would be any concern or warning in the Empire.
 
When Rarity/RD/Spike arrive by train, Cadance is there to causally greet them and help them look. There was no reason for Shining to be present. (And it looks like Cadance drew Rarity/RD/Spike out of the city proper to meet with RD and the rest of Cosmos’ crew, so that the Empire wouldn’t know what’s going on.

@Background Pony #6F3E  
I mean I agree, I’d just like to see Shining actually be acknowledged in the comics as existing for a change.

Y’all taking about wanting Shining to be in the story to save Cadence, but…what about his BABY SISTER

@Background Pony #6206  
Why should being swatted away mean he shouldn’t be in the story? A lot of characters often appear who can’t win or do anything, doesn’t mean they don’t matter. What’s so wrong with Shining appearing to worry about his wife or want to help her?

@Background Pony #6206  
Numerous characters are in this story with ‘no point’ so I don’t think that matters. Shining Armor and Cadance are meant to be incredibly close, Shining has more reason to become involved in a story to save her then anyone else present, so that people feel he should doesn’t really surprise me. Shining and Cadance have almost always worked together in the face of any threat they faced, from Chrysalis to Sombra, it is complimentary to their character arcs.

@Background Pony #84B3  
Yeah but he’d probably just be swatted away by Cosmos as he not of the cast.

@Background Pony #6206  
Villain attacks the Crystal Empire and literally endagers his wife personally. I kinda see two things there that already clearly would give him a point.

@Background Pony #84B3  
Ok can you seriously knock it off with complaining about Shining already? He’s not in this story at all since he has no point in being in said story.

Is it really to much to ask that Shining Armor appear in a story which is set in the Crystal Empire and directly involves his wife? I don’t know, I feel like I should just give up ever seeing Shining Armor in the comics again, its like he doesn’t even exist to Cadance or anyone, he’s an imaginary friend or something.

@Background Pony #6F3E  
I did.

@Masem  
Weren’t they hunting a mysterious artifact? Even so I’d have hoped they’d report Cadance suddenly acting evil to him. Or that he’d notice all four Alicorns gathering in the Crystal Empire. I’m guessing then from what you say the story doesn’t even bother this time to explain why Shining is there we’re just meant to take it for granted by now that if Cadance is somewhere Shining isn’t there.

Welp, who else called it.

@Background Pony #84B3  
At this point, Rarity, RD, Spike, nor Cadence know something bad is happening

Sigh I knew Cadance would get possessed to. Also I see again Shining Armor isn’t even with them when they explicitly said they were in the Crystal Empire. Does Cadance even give an explanation for why he’s not with them this time or is IDW at the point where Shining Armor basically just doesn’t exist anymore even in his own home?