Styx's POV:
I wake up feeling as if today will not be ending well. I plop out of bed onto the floor, then stand up. We are to join Princess Cadence and Shining Armor for breakfast and then head out with them. Sombra joins me in the land of the living, and we saunter downstairs. Mystel and Orla are already downstairs eating. Mystel is trying to feed Orla but she refuses to eat. Sombra goes over to her and takes over from Mystel, and Orla starts eating. I take my spot in-between Cadence and Sombra. "So Cadence, you said you might know what the friendship problem is?"
"Yes, I believe my subjects and I are the friendship problem. Ever since Sombra's brief appearance in the library, my subjects have been lively, but also disheartened at my ruling. I am hoping that Sombra being here and approving of my rule will they see that they need to change."
"Cadence, it isn't a one way street, it's-"
"Princess, you can't be serious? You must also learn to view these ponies not as subjects, but as ponies worthy of getting to know. I know all of my subjects by name and what they do. While times have changed for professions, no time has passed for any elderly to pass away."
"Sombra is correct, as Rosetta, the librarian is still alive, as if she hadn't aged a day since we last saw her. I would recommend getting to know your subjects before trying to rule them."
"Of course, I guess I should try, will you two accompany me then?"
"Of course, we would love to! Twilight and Starlight can take the girls sightseeing today!"
We finish eating and split up for our tasks of the day. We decided to start with whoever we came across first, which just happened to be the Crystal Corn salespony, Corla. A wonderful mare that has a family consisting of herself and her adopted son, Gelto Berry. As we approach the cart, both her and her son bow.
"Please rise Corla and Gelto, there is no need to bow to your Princess."
They stay bowed, I nudge Sombra, "Corla, Gelto, rise as your King commands."
At this, they rise, "King Sombra, you have returned, will you come back to rule us once again?"
"No, the Crystal Empire belongs under the rule of Princess Cadence now, so I expect you to treat her as such, and listen to her. Now I want you to gather everyone, and tell them to be able to see the balcony in 30 minutes."
"Yes my King."
They scurry off and I address Cadence, "This will be the easiest way to address the ruling situation. Please be patient, however I will say, you need to be more confident when you give commands. If you sound feeble and unsure they will never listen to you."
"Okay, I'll try my best. Thank you Styx. Well, I guess we should head to the balcony."
As we finally make it to the balcony, we see that basically all of the Empire has gathered to listen. Sombra starts, "Citizens of the Crystal Empire, your King has returned, but not to rule you. I pass the ruling onto Princess Cadence, as I was bound to by my return contract from Limbo. I'll still be here to visit and make up for lost time. I'll now let Princess Cadence speak."
"Confidence, Cadence, confidence."
"Citizens, I take this ruling from Sombra and will try my hardest to rule as he did. Give me some time and I will be the ruler you need. I wish to get to know you all better, and you will bow to me and rise as I command. You no longer bow to your King, you bow to your Princess. Thank you."
Instead of cheers, Cadence receives angry yelling, so I speak on her behalf, "Silence!" A hush falls over them. "You need to treat your Princess with respect, she needs to learn to rule as well as King Sombra, so I want you to be there to teach her what you know. King Sombra was raised to lead, Princess Cadence wasn't, she was given this role to play. I want you to be better than this, rise up to help your leader learn how to rule and rule with the same compassion King Sombra did."
Cheers ring out and Cadence steps forward proud and tall. The cheers increase, and I turn to leave the balcony, knowing she can take it from here. As I disappear through the curtain I hear the cheering grow, and I head down the stairs to go meet the girls in the main foyer. My wings start to glow, indicating that the friendship quest is done. As I reach the bottom Orla comes bounding to me, and asks, "Would you have been Queen if Sombra hadn't been banished?"
"Probably at some point yes, but that time is over and now Princess Cadence needs to rule to keep Equestria in balance."
"Dinner is served!" yells a serving pony from the doors of the dining hall. We enter and discuss with the girls about what they did all day. They apparently went to the library, visited Sunburst, and picked crystal berries straight from the bush. They even brought a basket full of them back to take home so I can make stuff with them. Soon the table descends into silence, only an occasional cough can be heard from Shining, who is currently fighting a cold.
"Princess Cadence, would you excuse Styx and I? We have some things we need to discuss about today in private. Food was delicious, thank you so much for being a gracious host even after today's events."
"Of course Sombra, it is my pleasure to have you back. See you two in the morning then."
I take that as my cue to get up and leave. Sombra follows awfully close behind me to our bedroom. When we get back to the room, I enter first, and then Sombra who slams the door behind him. The girls are still at dinner and will be escorted to their room by guards. "What were you thinking today!? What came across to you as saying that ruling is a skill to be learned and bettered everyday? It's not, it is a trait already born into a leader."
"I don't know, what did you want me to do? Let our subjects' think that Cadence isn't even trying to get along with them?"
"No! I don't know! I just thought that there was surely a better way."
"Well there isn't, so I'm not sure that we should stay another day. Since clearly us trying to work as one ruling entity doesn't work. I know the girls will understand. Good night Sombra."
"That's not what I meant. I meant that we should have come up with a better solution, not just-" I tune him out as I have heard enough. I crawl into bed, and fall asleep, not wanting to hear anymore.
I wake up to Sombra getting out of our bed, "Don't follow me Styx." he says, knowing I woke up. Of course I am going to do just that, but I will wait a few minutes. I turn into a mouse and follow his scent, all the way out to the Crystal Gardens. When I arrive, he is sitting on a bench talking out loud to himself. "Why am I so stupid? All I can do is push her away, even though I want to pull her closer! Why can't I just tell her the truth about me, my feelings, us!? ARGH!" He slams his front hooves down on the bench, breaking it in half. He doesn't move, he only sobs as I back further into the foliage of the garden, not wanting to face him. Especially after he told me not to follow him. I sneak my way out of the garden back to our room. Not knowing what tomorrow will bring, I lay back down to sleep.