{Betty}
I was still having trouble learning the second step of the Mirror Technique. When Dae wasn't busy making sure I didn't overdo my training, Norman would help out by making sure I took a break.
As Norman and I walked around the castle in Canterlot aimlessly, we saw Jasper and Robert arguing very loudly.
"We've talked about this before, Robert," said Jasper. "I'm not doing it every time you're in the mood. I'm not in the mood today, so back off!"
"I just want to spend time with you, that's all." Robert pouted.
"I don't need you to spend more time with me just so you can make up for something you did wrong," Jasper said. "Just acknowledge that you messed up and apologize for it already! You know what you did. There's a reason why I have that Tool locked away somewhere special in the first place! It's too powerful for anyone but me to use. You're lucky I took it back from you or you'd be dead now. If you really feel bad about it, just apologize for it and leave me alone! But I guess it's no use reasoning with you and Sunset because you two don't know how to apologize to me. You seem to be able to apologize to Norman just fine."
I looked at Norman in confusion, raised an eyebrow, and thought, What's this all about, Norman?
My guess is Robert took the Dreamwalker Tool again, Norman replied silently.
Dreamwalker Tool?
It's a Tool that Jasper uses to help him walk into someone's Nightmare to help them deal with it. I don't know why Robert keeps taking it because he knows how dangerous that is. Walking into someone’s dream without knowing exactly how to do it can impact someone’s psyche badly. It's just as dangerous if he were to take the watch that I use to control the sun. I wonder if Robert's pissed because I told Princess Twilight to give the job of Taking of the Night to Jasper? He's the only one responsible enough to do it besides Sunset, Norman thought. Sunset didn't want the job, so I gave it to Jasper.
Wow, I thought.
Yup, Norman thought, Robert's an idiot!
Before Robert and Jasper could come to blows, Norman stepped in between them.
"Robert," Norman scolded, "how many times do I have to keep telling you to stop taking the Dreamwalker Tool? You do know how dangerous that is right?"
"Yes, I do," Robert said.
"Then why do you keep taking it?" Norman asked.
"I don't have to explain my reasoning to you!" Robert snapped.
"Fine," Norman said. "Just stop taking it. Or do you have a death wish?"
Robert gave Norman an annoyed look and didn't say anything. He scoffed and stormed off in anger.
"That little brat!" Jasper growled. "I'm getting sick and tired of him taking my things and insulting me in any way he can think of. One would think if he wants to get me into his bed that he would try other ways to do it."
"Yeah, I don't know what's gotten into Robert lately," said Norman. "I wonder if it has something to do with that failed marriage proposal?"
"I don't know, but if he wants sympathy from me, he's going about it the wrong way," Jasper replied. "I think the only reason why he wants me to comfort him instead of you is because I was the only other person there when it happened."
I raised an eyebrow. "Uh, failed marriage proposal?"
Norman nodded. "Yup. Robert's pissed off not just because Jasper's taking care of the moon and isn't always available or in the mood for sex. He's pissed because he can't turn to Sunset, because Sunset doesn't want to be with anyone else but me. If you ask me, Robert targets Jasper a lot because Robert's not been getting into Jasper's bed lately. Not to mention the failed marriage proposal gives Robert even more of a reason to target him."
"Yeah, Sunset and Robert seem to have a bad habit of being mean to me and not apologizing for their actions towards me," Jasper said. "They have no problem apologizing to you Norman. I think I'll steer clear of them until dinner time. Until they can make things right, I don't want to hang around them at the moment. However, they are welcome to swing by the watchtower for a visit if I'm not too busy to visit with them."
Norman nodded. "Sure thing."
I felt bad for Jasper as he walked away while keeping his composure as much as possible.
I frowned. "Poor guy."
"Yeah, Jasper's had some resentment towards Sunset and Robert for locking me and him in a room until we confessed our love for each other," Norman said.
"What?" I gasped. "That's not just offensive, that's mean!"
"Yeah, Robert and Sunset are kind of weird about that. When they approached me about their feelings for me, they pretty much ambushed me. They're lucky it worked in their favor. For some reason, they seem to have it out for Jasper and I don't know why."
"Have you tried talking to them about it?" I asked.
"I did, but trying to reason with those two is pretty much like talking to a brick wall. I wonder if it has something to do with not being able to fight side by side with me during the war with Shadow Mist, as well."
"Now, that's just plain stupid!" I found it hard to believe that someone would be jealous of someone for such a stupid reason.
"I agree. But I don't know how I'm going to help them out or if I'll even be able to."
"Maybe we can lock them in a room until they talk things out?" I asked.
Norman smiled a mischievous smile. "Yeah, know something, Betty, that's not a bad idea. But I have something else in mind. Since Sunset's on bedrest right now, it won't work for her. So in the meantime, I think this will help Robert and Jasper."
I had a feeling I knew what Norman's plan involved. "What do you have in mind?"
"Remember those secret passageways that we went through at the Castle of the Two Sisters when you were still alive?" Norman said.
I nodded. "Yes."
"If I recall correctly," said Norman, "there was one difficult passageway that we couldn't get out of unless we worked together on it. I think that passageway would be the perfect one for those two to work at, don't you agree?"
I loved the idea that Norman had hatched. We exchanged a look and laughed wickedly. Hopefully, this plan will help Robert and Jasper work together.
* * *
{Jasper}
I smiled as I read the note Norman gave me, telling me to meet him and Betty for a dinner date. It said to meet at the Castle of the Two Sisters, so I headed over to meet them.
I didn't know Robert would be there until I got to the steps of the castle. My smile faded when I saw him standing there.
We snarled, and pointed at each other, and shouted, "What's he doing here?"
I saw Norman roll his eyes. "Do you two want the dinner date or not?"
"Fine," I said.
Robert scoffed and crossed his arms. "Fine."
I had half a mind to turn around and leave but I did want to go on this dinner date, so I decided to stay.
We headed up towards where Norman and Betty were waiting and they walked over to meet us. When they reached us, Betty grabbed my hand and pulled me in the opposite direction than Norman pulled Robert.
"Okay," I said, "you know I'm not into women right?"
Betty laughed and rolled her eyes. "That's not what this is about, Jasper. I'm not interested in you in the slightest. If I was, I would've told you by now."
I shrugged. "Well, as long as I'm away from Robert that's fine by me."
Betty smiled as we walked down the steps to a dimly lit hallway. With candles held up by pony legs lining the walls, this hallway was creepy enough to be used as a Nightmare Night attraction. Yeah, this is creepy.
I gave a nervous laugh. "Uh, Betty? Couldn't this have waited until Nightmare Night to bring me down here? I'm not really in the mood for a practical joke at the moment."
Betty snorted. "This isn't a joke, let's just say it's a little gift from me to you."
I raised an eyebrow. "Uh, gift? But my birthday isn't for two more months!"
Betty laughed. "Oh Jasper, you know that you can give people gifts even when it's not your birthday. Norman gave me a gift and my birthday was on Nightmare Night, and that's coming up in another week."
"Why do you say it was your birthday?" I asked. "It is your birthday."
She rolled her eyes. "Because I'm dead now. Duh!"
"Oh," I said. "So what did Norman give you?"
"He gave me this," Betty said. From her shirt, she pulled out the necklace she was wearing. On it hung a silver chess piece; the Queen.
I smiled when I saw it. "It's funny because Norman tends to be sentimental with his gifts sometimes. It's amazing how he knows what to get someone. Although, I'm not really sure if I want to find out what this gift is that you're giving me."
I didn't realize I had stepped in front of a rotating door and, at first, I couldn't see where I was. But when I got used to the darkness, I saw I was in a dark room. This room was just as creepy as the hallway. Not that I'm afraid of the dark, or anything like that. It would be really stupid for the guy that's taking care of the night and the moon to be afraid of the dark.
The lights flipped on in the room and I wasn't happy to see Robert on the other end of it. At this point, I'd rather have the lights off.
"What are you doing here, you hateful brat?" I snapped.
"Me?" Robert growled. "Hateful? All I've been wanting to do is-"
"Spend time with me? Not until you apologize for the crap you've been putting me through lately!" I snarled, glaring at him. "The only reason I'm still married to you is because of Norman!"
Robert crossed his arms and scoffed. At this point, because of his repeated actions towards me, I've had enough of his childish games. I tackled him and was getting ready to beat the crap out of him when I heard Betty's voice over the intercom. "Jasper! Get off of Robert!"
"Why should I do that?" I responded. "If you ask me, Robert deserves a punch to the face! And maybe several hundred more for everything he's put me through!"
I felt my right eye twitch in frustration with Robert. It twitched so bad I couldn't see past my anger in the moment.
Betty sighed. "In case you two didn't notice, you're trapped inside a passageway underneath the Castle of the Two Sisters. The only way you can get out is if you two work together and work out your problems with each other. As it stands right now, Robert, you have a lot of apologizing to do. You should especially apologize for locking Jasper and Norman in a room until they confessed their love for each other."
I panicked when I realized Robert and I might be here for a long time. "Wait a second! What about taking care of the moon?"
"Don't worry about that, Jasper," said Norman. "Remember the plan we have in place just in case something happened to one of us?"
I calmed down and let go of Robert, even though at the moment, I really and I mean REALLY wanted to strangle him.
"Remember," said Norman, "you two can only get out of here only if you work together. Don't worry, we have plenty of time to do this."
After Norman said that, there was silence. I didn't want to talk to Robert. I didn't want to work with Robert on anything. At the moment, I didn't want to be anywhere near him. I walked over to the other end of the room and sat down crossed-legged facing the wall. Since I couldn't see him I'm going to assume Robert did the same thing but I didn't care if he did or not.
"There's no way I'm working with a brat like you!" I turned my head just so I could blow a raspberry at Robert to show my disapproval of him. When I saw him do the same thing to me, I rolled my eyes and went back to looking at the wall again.
"There's no way I'm working with someone who won't even give me the time of day!" Robert said.
"Works for me!" I growled. "We can stay trapped in here for all eternity for all I care! I could care less if we don't have anything to eat because, if all else fails, I can kill you and eat your dead body!"
Another long awkward silence followed and I dragged it out as much as possible. The fewer words I said to Robert at the moment the better.
Robert was the one who broke the silence first. "Look, I'm sorry…"
I turned around and gave Robert a wary look. "What was that?"
"I'm sorry, okay," he said. "There, are you happy now?"
I didn't buy Robert's apology, so I went back to staring at the wall again.
"Do you want to know why I've been so hateful to you lately?" Robert asked.
"Why might that be?" I snapped.
"Jealousy."
I paused. "Say what now?"
Robert sighed. "Before Norman became the ruler of Equestria, he and I were just cadets. I didn't excel at anything, and Norman did. You excelled at things, just like Norman did. You got added to the family and you only paid attention to Norman, and didn't even notice that I was there. Norman didn't pay attention to me, either. He just paid more attention to doing his job until I forced him to notice me.
"That's why I've been such a jerk to you. You don't even notice that I exist. All you seem to pay attention to is your job and Norman."
I rolled my eyes, still pissed off at Robert and his sorry excuse for being so rude and annoying lately. Yeah, that excuse was definitely worth an eye roll. "Wow. So the only way you can think to get someone to notice you is to force them to pay attention to you? You do realize there are other ways to win someone over, right?"
"Like?" Robert asked.
I rolled my eyes again. "Seriously? Wow, you're stupid Robert! Maybe try writing love letters like I did with Norman? Or maybe telling that person upfront how you feel about them? Maybe send them flowers? The list goes on and on…"
"Well, I guess I need a crash course in romance," Robert said.
"Yeah, think?" I growled.
Robert decided to sit down next to me. I still wanted to wring his neck so I glared at him and put some distance between us scooting away a couple of feet.
He sighed. "Okay, I get it, I'm in the doghouse with you for now. But I think maybe we should at least work together to get out of here."
I exhaled slowly. "Fine, I'll take your apology only on one condition."
Robert nodded. "Sure, name it."
"Stop taking my things, especially the Dreamwalker Tool," I said.
"Okay," said Robert, "and I'll try to be more romantic instead of forcing you to pay attention to me."
I nodded. "Works for me. I'm not in the mood to kiss you or hug you for that matter, so I'll just give you a handshake for now."
I shook Robert's hand, and we got to work on getting out of this stupid passageway.