//------------------------------//
// 22) Jasper and Norman's two Idiot Spouses 
// Story: The Ghost of Cozy Glow the Third Story 
// by SapphireRose87 
//------------------------------//

{Norman}

I was in bed with Jasper in my room. I laid on my back staring up at the ceiling, not thinking about anything except the fact that Robert and Sunset could care less about our marriage. Even though Jasper and I had just had sex, it didn't take my mind off the situation much. It seemed Jasper felt the same way. 

Jasper sighed, "I don't know what we're going to do about those two idiots. If you ask me, they're worse than Elise and Wild Ace! I can't believe they forgot our wedding anniversary!" 

"Not to mention, according to Betty, they don't know how to have a normal conversation without them asking for sex all the time!" I said. "I mean, it's about as simple as asking someone if they want a cup of tea."

"Yeah, it makes me angry, too," said Jasper. "I really don't want to talk about it at the moment."

"Yeah, it's just hard not to think about it when the ones closest to you don't really care about you," I said.

"Anyway," said Jasper, "I saw you training with Betty, Cozy Glow, and Dae the other day. You still keep surprising me at how strong you're getting! Of course, Betty just can't help but overdo it."

I laughed. "Yeah, that's what Dae and I are trying to keep her from doing. It's a good thing she's already dead, or I'd say she's bound and determined to kill herself!"

Jasper snorted. "No kidding!"

I didn't say anything else, I just lay there staring up at the ceiling. Honestly, at this point, I don't think anything could help me actually get my mind off what's happening with Sunset and Robert.


*	*	*


{Betty}

Norman, Cozy Glow, Dae, and I had another practice session in the training area at the Castle on Canterlot. Once again, I pushed them to keep fighting until all of us could barely move. As we were sitting on the ground trying to catch our breaths, I looked over to see that Cozy Glow had a smile on her face.

"Oh, uh, before I forget," said Cozy Glow, "Dad, Dad Robert and Mom have something special planned for you on Hearth's Warming Eve."

Norman gave Cozy Glow a wary look and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, that I don't believe, and I'll believe it when I see it!" 

Cozy Glow tilted her head, "Why?" 

"Because every time they say they have something special planned for me, it wasn't really anything special at all," Norman growled. "Oh, Norman, would you be a dear and step into my office so I can give you a special slap to the face? Why, I'd love to, Sunset!

"Oh, Norman, would you be a dear and step into my office so I can give you some special sex for the 100th time this week? Why, I'd love to Robert!

"I will do anything for you two even though you can't even remember our own anniversary! Oh, yeah, something special alright!" 

At this point, Norman was seething with rage.

Dae's jaw dropped. "Wow, I knew you guys were having issues, but I didn't know it was that bad!"

"Yeah, those two idiots summoned me so I could teach them how to have a normal conversation that doesn't lead to asking for sex!" I growled. "I'm with Norman on this; how on earth does someone forget about their own wedding anniversary?"

"Wow!" Dae and Cozy Glow said.

"I banned them from the observation room and gave them strict orders to stay away from me at the moment," Norman growled. He took a couple of deep breaths to try and calm himself down and it worked a little bit but not by much. I hugged him, and that seemed to help. 

When Jasper came up to us, he had a look of concern on his face. "What's wrong, Norman?"

Cozy Glow frowned. "I'm sorry, but I made the mistake of informing Dad that Sunset and Dad Robert had something special planned for you and Dad on Hearth's Warming Eve! I didn't realize you guys were having problems, I'm sorry!"

Jasper reassured her, "Oh, don't worry about it, Cozy Glow. It's their fault, and not yours. They're selfish in every sense of the word!" 

"I can understand that. I should've picked up on the cues for relationship problems," said Cozy Glow. "I scolded them for missing yours and Dad's birthdays. It's funny because they don't seem to have trouble remembering my and Junior’s birthdays. I don't know why that is."

Jasper shook his head. "I'm just as clueless as you are." 

I shook my head in disbelief.

The watches on Norman and Jaspers wrists beeped.

Norman sighed. "It's time for me to go lower the sun."

"I have to raise the moon and take care of making the first arrangement of the stars for the night," Jasper said. 

After that, we said our goodbyes for the day. Dae and I went back home, and I couldn't help but feel stunned by the way Sunset and Robert were acting.


*	*	*


{Norman}

I woke the next day to another regular day of my hectic job of being the ruler of Equestria. I sighed as I looked in the mirror while I was getting ready for work. I had spent the whole night restless and crying my eyes out over the heartache that's been happening with Robert and Sunset. It broke my heart even more to think that if things didn't work out, I might have to consider divorcing them, and that's the last thing I wanted to have happen. 

Something special my ass! I kept thinking.

After I got ready for work, I left my room and started the day. As I walked to the throne room after raising the sun, I had two of my guards with me to make sure Sunset and Robert don't come near me as much as possible. Knowing Sunset, she would try to pull something by bringing Jacob with her and saying she wanted to spend time with me. I was right about that because when I came around the corner and when I heard my guards move behind me as if they were blocking someone from me, I was livid with rage when I saw Sunset holding Jacob in her arms.

"Exactly what are you trying to pull, Sunset?" I snarled.

"I'm not trying to pull anything!" Sunset cried. "I just thought you might like to see Jacob for a bit, you know, before you start work."

I tried to keep my composure as much as possible, but that was proving difficult because she was already pissing me off as it was. "No, Sunset, stay away from me, and I'll send a nanny for Jacob later! I don't need your help to see him. Stay away from me and far away from me, got it?"

Sunset hung her head. "Oh . . . Okay." 

As Sunset walked away, I wiped the tears from my eyes and went to work business as usual.


*	*	*


{Betty}

A couple of days after the training session I had with Norman, Cozy Glow, and Dae, I was upset with Sunset because Norman had told me that she tried to bring Jacob with her as a way to be around Norman again. I talked to Sunset about this, and she confirmed it. 

She told me that all she wanted was to be around Norman again. She said she wanted to change, but she didn't know where to start. I held myself back from beating the crap out of her because that wouldn't solve anything. 

As I walked around the Castle in Hell with Dae, I knew I was upset because I felt my ears drop on the sides of my head. Dae was trying his best to comfort me, but it wasn't helping. After a while of walking around the castle, we were getting ready to go to the swimming area to relax when we ran into Parada.

Parada looked pissed off and annoyed about something.

"What's up, Parada?" Dae asked. 

Parada sighed, "I'm sorry, Your Highness, but Prince Max has been quite the handful of a jerk to work with. In all honesty, I wish he could be fired from being a Prince."

When I saw Max hiding around the corner, I rolled my eyes at him. 

Parada narrowed her eyes at Max and looked at us. "Could you excuse me for a second, Your Highness?"

Dae nodded. "Sure."

I literally bit my tongue to keep myself from laughing as Parada went over to Max and stomped on his foot, hissing at him. Max said, 'Ow' and Parada laid into him about not doing his job. Afterwards, Max scampered away like a dog with his tail between his legs. 

I couldn't hold my laughter in at that point. Dae sure got a kick out of what he just saw, and he burst into laughter too. Parada came over and smiled when she saw us laughing. "I take it that the discipline I gave Prince Max was entertaining?"

"Oh, yeah, thanks for the comedy, Parada," I laughed. "I wish I could do that to Norman's two idiot spouses, Robert and Sunset."

"Oh," said Parada, "is that why you're upset, Your Highness?"

I nodded. "Yeah, that would be it. I had to coach them for three stinking hours on how to have a normal conversation. Not to mention, they forgot Norman and Jasper's birthdays and their wedding anniversary! I mean, what kind of self-respecting spouse does that?"

I knew I was angry because the castle started to shake right along with me. Dae pulled me into his arms to stop me from shaking. 

"Betty, calm down," said Dae, "I don't know if there's anything we can do about it now. It's up to Sunset and Robert to make the change. They're not your responsibility, okay?" 

I exhaled slowly. "Yeah, I know, I just wish they would stop hurting Norman like this. It breaks my heart to see his heartbreak. Unfortunately, I can't protect him from it."

Dae let go of me and grit his teeth. "Those two idiots are about as dumb as they come! I mean, they locked Norman and Jasper in a room until they confessed their feelings for each other. That was before they were married! That, to me, is a big red flag. If they had done that to me, I would've left them at the altar and wouldn't think twice about it. But that's in the past, and there's nothing we can do to change what happened then."

I looked down at the ground and felt my ears drop again. I looked over to see Parada staring up at the sky thoughtfully. She smiled.

"You have an idea, don't you, Parada?" I asked.

"I was thinking," said Parada, "when are Sunset and Robert's birthdays?"

"Well," I replied, "Sunset's birthday is the 1st of January, and Robert's birthday is January 31st."

"And when is Norman's birthday?" Parada asked.

"Norman's birthday happened three days ago," I said, "Norman's other spouse, Jasper's birthday is a couple of days before Norman's, and Sunset and Robert missed both of their birthdays!"

"When is their wedding anniversary?" Parada asked.

"November 1st," I paused. "Okay, where are you going with this?" 

"I was thinking maybe you could urge Norman and Jasper to forget Sunset and Robert's birthdays just like they did with them. You know so Sunset and Robert can see how it feels?" Parada suggested.

I smiled, and I saw Dae smiling because it seemed we both liked Parada's idea. 

"So, what you're saying is have Norman and Jasper forget Sunset and Robert's birthdays and no presents?" I said.

"Well, duh!" Parada responded. "If they forgot Sunset and Robert's birthdays, why would they have presents for them?"

I smiled and nodded. "You know something, Parada? That's not a bad idea, and I should suggest to Jasper to slap Sunset around a couple of times too. Knowing Jasper, he might just do more than slap her, if you know what I mean. Thanks, Parada!"

Parada chuckled. "It's no problem, Your Highness. You know what they say, what goes around comes around. Now, can I be excused, so I can track down that bug of a prince and make him do his job?"

Dae snorted, "Sure, Parada."

After Parada left, I smirked. "We have a wonderful assistant, don't we?"

Dae laughed. "Yes, we do, indeed!"

Soon after this conversation, I went to the Castle in Canterlot to talk to Norman and Jasper about Parada's idea. This brought smiles to their faces, and it made me happy knowing that I could help them out somehow.


*	*	*


{Norman} 

After talking to Betty about her assistant’s idea for payback on Sunset and Robert, I felt happy about the plan. 

On this day, I was walking around the garden, taking a break from work. As usual, I had my guards with me in case Robert or Sunset tried to pull anything. I really didn't even want to look at either of them at the moment. 

I also brought my notebook with me so I could write my next love letter to Betty. I've also started writing love letters to Jasper, even though I see him pretty much every day. But there's no way I'm writing a love letter to Sunset or Robert. 

I finally picked my favorite spot in the garden and started to pen my love letter to Betty. I groaned when I heard the guards blocking someone from me. I was steaming when I saw Sunset with Jacob in her arms. "I thought we talked about this, Sunset! You just can't help yourself, can you?" 

"But I just wanted to-" Sunset started.

"I don't care!" I roared.

"Please, Norman, you're going to wake Jacob up!" Sunset pleaded. 

"Well, you should've thought about that before you brought him here!" I hissed. "As you can see, I'm taking a break, and I don't want to be bothered by pests like you. Just get out of my sight. I can see Jacob on my own, without your help!" 

I didn't even bother to watch Sunset go away. I sighed and returned to writing my love letter to Betty.


*	*	*


{Jasper}

Oh no, she didn't! Again? That's like the second time this week! When is this girl ever going to learn? She is just as bad as Robert with his creepy bedroom looks he's been giving me lately. I thought. I felt super angry when I saw what Sunset did to Norman. But this time I was prepared for it. 

I had a nanny with me so she could take Jacob from Sunset when I cornered her. I hadn't been talking to her for weeks lately because I didn't feel like dealing with her. But today, I was going to talk to her all right, and she would get an earful of what I had to say. Not to mention I had a 'special surprise' for her. 

Sunset raised an eyebrow. "So, you're talking to me now?"

I nodded and gave her a wicked smile. "Oh, yes. As a matter of fact, would you mind coming with me to my watchtower?" 

I couldn't wait to give Sunset my special surprise. I already gave Robert his. There's no way I'm having sex with him anytime soon. The surprise is actually an Order-of-Protection watch. Once a person puts on that watch, they have to stay ten feet away from the person that gave it to them. If they don't, then they get a nice little electric shock to remind them to stay away. I've heard that some people don't get the point and the watch actually winds up killing them because it electrocutes them to death. I hope Sunset and Robert have enough common sense not to get electrocuted. 

Sunset looked at me skeptically when I asked her to come to my watchtower with me. "Why do you want me to come to your watchtower?"

"I have a birthday present for you," I lied.

"But my birthday isn't for another month!" Sunset exclaimed.

"Well, let's just say this is an early birthday present," I said giving her a wicked smile again. "You never know, I could fall and hit my head and not remember it. Just like you did with mine. I can't see the future. So, let's say I'm doing this because just in case I forget. I'd rather be safe than sorry."

I was trying so hard to keep my composure. Once I got the watch I had for her on her wrist, she would have a birthday present she would never forget, that's for sure. I also had a little something for her to go with it. It's about time Sunset knew what it felt like to get slapped by someone for no reason other than they won't give you what you want. 

As soon as we got inside my watchtower, I grabbed a nearby chair, forced Sunset to sit on it, tied her up in it, and slapped her as hard as I could. The pain from the slap I gave was intense, but I didn't care. Even though it was painful, it felt good to give her a taste of her own medicine. 

"What was that for?" Sunset shrieked.

"That was for being abusive to Norman, you little Snake!" I roared. "I can't believe you would do that to him! Just who do you think you are? Slapping Norman around and bringing Jacob around him just to make him feel guilty, are you nuts?"

"But I just wanted . . . To be with him again . . ." Sunset sniffled. 

I was livid with rage. "Haven't you given Norman enough heartache? Not only did you forget our wedding anniversary, but you forgot Norman's birthday on top of it! Why on earth would you think that Norman would want to be around you? And bringing Jacob as an excuse to be around him, on top of that? Really!"

Sunset opened her mouth to respond, but I wasn't about to let her, so I slapped her again.

"Would you stop slapping me?" Sunset growled.

I responded by slapping her again. "And I got plenty more where that came from!" I held myself from slapping her again. I tried to compose myself as much as possible. "You know, tying you to a chair like you did to Norman and slapping you around was only the first part of my birthday present for you."

Sunset gulped and I grinned. Based on the look of terror on her face, I could tell she didn’t want to find out what the second part of her present was. I went over to the nightstand and got the watch. I untied her and put the watch on her wrist. I already had the setting on the watch set. There was no way Sunset could change it, as that would require taking the watch off. Trying to take the watch off would also fry her, and that was another way that people get killed from it. 

Sunset looked down at the watch. "You got me a watch? That's . . . Awfully nice of you."

I gave a wicked laugh. "Oh, it's nice, all right. This watch is an alarm watch. Let's say it's a restraining order issued to you. If you get within ten feet of me or Norman, an alarm will sound, and you'll get a nice little electric shock. I actually put the same settings on for Jacob, so you won't be able to try and use him as an excuse to guilt trip Norman into doing something for you. Let's see if it works."

I activated the watch settings by pressing a button that was on a remote in my pocket. As promised, because Sunset was standing in front of me, she got a nice little electric shock. She let out a yelp of pain. Normally, I wouldn't enjoy the suffering of my enemies, but in seeing what Sunset had been doing to Norman, I enjoyed her suffering. 

"You know something, Sunset?" I sneered. "I already gave Robert his watch. No, don't worry, it won't electrocute you when you're taking a shower or anything like that. It only does that when you get close to me. I dare you to try and take it off."

Sunset tried to take off the watch, and she shrieked when she got shocked by it. 

"As you know now," I said, "this will ban you from family dinner night for a while. The watch will stay on until Norman or I decide to take it off. You and Robert brought this torment on yourselves."

"But Robert and I have something special planned for you on Hearth's Warming Eve!" Sunset cried. 

"And what might that be?" I snarled. 

"I know it's not much," said Sunset, "but we were going to give you both double the presents this year."

I blinked at first, and then I started laughing hysterically. I finally stopped laughing, and I said, "Let me get this straight, you think that giving us double the presents for the holiday is going to show us that you're changing? You want to know my answer to that? It's a HELL, NO!"

"But-" Sunset started.

"Have you guys lost your damn mind?" I bellowed. "You want to know how you can show us that you've changed?"

"How?" Sunset said. 

"Well, for starters, you can stop asking Norman for sex all the time," I said. "Next, you can start treating Norman and I like humans, and not objects for a change."

"But I don't do that, I just want-" Sunset said.

"I just want this, I just want that," I mocked. "What about what we want? Why don't you ever think about that, huh? Because you're too busy thinking about yourself all the time, then we are objects to you. Considering you don't even know how to have a conversation that doesn't involve asking for sex!" 

Sunset looked down. "Oh."

I wanted to slap her again, but I held myself back from doing it. "Okay, now that that's taken care of, get out of my watchtower so I can get some sleep!"

When Sunset ran out of the watchtower crying, I slammed the door shut. Satisfied by what I had just done, I got ready for bed and went to sleep.