Burying the Hatchet
[The scene opens with a shot of Cedar Harbor as the sun is setting down over Toon City. Several ships and trampers are moored up along the quay as their freight is being unloaded by the cranes; Cranky is shown lifting a large crate from Bulstrode's hull while Bill and Ben are nearby waiting for their flatbeds to be loaded. Salty passes by the twins with a train of fish vans ready to be added to the Flying Kipper]
[Transition to a shot of the canal bridge as Molly is shown crossing over the bridge with a passenger train, below in the canal, Hercules and Zebedee pass one another]
[We transition to a shot of "The Olden Days" pub as Homura, Madoka, Sayaka, Kyoko, and Mami pass by it on the right side while Belle and Beast pass by on the left side. We cut to the interior of the pub as several patrons are sitting around the building; Waul and Jenner are on the high tops at their own table, while Pamela and Beryl are also sat on high tops]
[We're shown Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed sharing a booth, to their left, we see that the Eds have taken on a similar approach, how they're sitting at a pub with no legal guardians is left up to the viewer, although they're not the only ones as found out later on]
[The Military Trio of Colonel, Tibbs, and Captain are sharing a table while behind them is the Mystery Inc Gang, with Scrappy rather comically sat up on a booster seat, while behind them are Haru and Juno]
[We are then shown the bar where the likes of Fat Cat, Martin Torque, Jessie, James, Meowth, Ace London, Courtney, and Diaspro are sitting, with the latter sat near the end of the counter. The Princess of Eraklyon is taking a sip of her wine when a younger blonde girl donning a yellow shirt and black pants suddenly pops a seat next to her with a tab in her hand towards the bartender]
[Diaspro raises a brow at this]
Diaspro: Aren't you a little young to be sitting at a bar?
Chloe: Aren't you a little old to be asking stupid questions?
Diaspro: Excuse me? That's not a stupid question, you hardly appear to be the legal drinking age.
Chloe: Then perhaps it's a good thing I've got contacts that'll get me what I want. Read the card.
[Chloe picks up her card and shows it to Diaspro. She looks at the card with an expression of disbelief]
Diaspro: You're eighteen?
Chloe: The prettiest-looking eighteen-year-old, am I right?
Diaspro: …Sure. Anyways, what are you doing in a place like this?
Chloe: You know, trying to find any sort of solace in the hellhole that is my life.
Diaspro: That bad, huh?
Chloe: It's alright for some, you're not in a position where you feel like the world is constantly out to get you, regardless of what happens.
Diaspro: And who's to say I've never been there?
Chloe: Well, have you?
Diaspro: As a matter of fact, yes, I have.
Chloe: Go on, divulge the murky details on us.
[Before Diaspro can give her rundown, Bloom is shown coming into the pub and is about to take a seat when she overhears the conversation]
Diaspro: Here's a good one for you; take a scenario where you've been trained in etiquette since childhood to become a prince's wife, given the illusion that no one really cares about you beyond the title, you spend all this time making sure everything is perfect for your eventual marriage, only to find out that guy you were supposed to marry was seeing someone behind your back, after he committed himself to you with some bullshit lies.
Chloe: …Oh…that explains a lot.
Diaspro: Hmm-mmm, and since you asked me the question, I've gotta ask you, what makes your life so hard?
Chloe: How about dealing with a childhood friend who constantly ghosts you in favor of a literal stalker, and said stalker acts like she's the most holy shit imaginable? And then, you get your mind screwed with on top of that?!
Diaspro: You've seriously had to deal with that?
Chloe: Oh, trust me, that's not even the half of it. You wanna go real in-depth, consider the fact that some stupid mad scientist keeps screwing with people's minds, and no one is catching onto this crap? I swear, if you saw half of the shit where I come from, you'd lose your goddamn minds.
[Diaspro blinks, as do some of the other patrons sitting nearby. Chloe sighs as she regains her composure]
Chloe: Look, either way, I've seen and been through a lot of shit that's left me bitter, and for good reason.
Diaspro: …Huh, something I can oddly relate to…I don't suppose there's any support on your end?
Chloe: If you consider dealing with a group of idiots and superficial parents "support."
Diaspro: …Point taken.
Chloe: Not to mention, there's this random fatass who keeps giving me this look, like I did some stupid crap to him or whatever.
[It's at this point that Courtney chips into the conversation as she puts her drink down]
Courtney: Excuse me, I couldn't help but overhear. Can you give me a description of this man?
Chloe: What are you, connected to the police?
Courtney: Not exactly, but I was CIT, and have extensively studied law. Perhaps I could get a little more context of your situation?
Chloe: Well…okay. He's a big round man who usually wears a bulky red shirt, jeans that are gonna destroy his waist, a scraggly beard of brunette, and these…really creepy eyes…swear to God, he looks like 40-year-old pervert.
Courtney: Um…okay, that's harassment. That's definitely worth a lawsuit.
Chloe: Wait, would you really be willing to pursue one?
Courtney: I've dealt with insane older men before, this is nothing new to me.
Chloe: Wow…that's…actually kinda sweet.
Courtney: Well, after hearing about what happened with the two of you, I can safely say that I've been there…love triangles are a son of a bitch.
[Courtney takes a sip of her drink]
Ace: Humiliation is a son of a bitch.
Diaspro: Oh, and what's your story?
Ace: To be honest, my story feels like a drug trip looking back on it.
Courtney: How do you mean?
Ace: Picture this; you're a top-notch pilot who's got good reason to flex his talents, but then some twat bag comes along and acts all offended because of it, and then somehow, you end up gettin' the short end of the stick because only one person can show off.
Chloe: Ugh, don't even get me started on that crap. "Oh, I can act like a jackass, but if you do it, you're the worst!"
Courtney: Trust me when I say I've encountered that crap, really damn annoying.
Ace: [groans] Feels almost yesterday when that stuff was as commonplace as migraines.
Diaspro: That's not even the worst of it, when it feels like you're constantly being put down just for existing.
Courtney: I guess life just has a way of throwing a giant middle finger at you.
Diaspro: Especially when it happens on repeat…
[It is at that point that Diaspro notices Bloom sitting on the far end of the bar trying to look casual, and failing at it]
Diaspro: [sighs] What is it with you Winx and eavesdropping on everything?
Bloom: Uh, sorry about that, I was just…interested in getting a drink and overheard your conversation.
Chloe: Do you always do that?
Bloom: Would you believe I can also read people's inner thoughts?
Courtney: …You know, I would consider that as strange, but at this point, nothing is surprising me.
Bloom: Um, Diaspro? Could I…speak with you in private?
Diaspro: So long as you're not going to jump me again.
Bloom: [sighs] You know I won't.
[Diaspro stands up from her seat and sits to the right of Bloom at the end of the bar]
Diaspro: So, what did you need to discuss?
Bloom: Well, I was just…curious to see how you were doing.
Diaspro: I've been serviceable, been busy with a few projects of mine.
Bloom: Projects?
Diaspro: Yes. Fashion sketches and jewelry composition. I've been handing them out to retailers to see if they'll take my commissions.
Bloom: Oh…I never knew you dabbled in fashion.
Diaspro: Well, what did you think I did with my spare time, sit around in a palace doing nothing all today?
Bloom: I…actually, if you're talking many years ago, I would have thought something along the lines of sitting and seething, not that I think that now, of course.
Diaspro: Hmmm…might I ask, how's Sky been doing?
Bloom: Well, he's been healing well, you two seen each other recently?
Diaspro: We have, and…admittedly, it's been a little…awkward all things considered.
Bloom: How so?
Diaspro: You do know we used to be engaged, right?
Bloom: Ah-huh…yeah, I see where you're getting at.
Diaspro: The thing, even if I still feel hurt over what happened, for some reason, I can't stay mad at him…
Bloom: Maybe you're just letting the past run its course?
Diaspro: Perhaps…but at the same time, I can't help but wonder…
Bloom: …Do you think you would have been happy together?
[Diaspro looks towards Bloom, a rather solemn look on her face]
Diaspro: …When we were children, I was told that I'd be married off to Sky once we were at the right age. At first, I didn't like the idea of essentially being owned by a prince, but Sky tried to convince me it wouldn't be that way, that there would actually be love in our marriage…and with no one else to turn to, I had nothing better to believe…do you see why I was so insistent on keeping him? Without Sky, I would have meant nothing…
[Bloom pauses, truth be told, she had never really asked about Diaspro's history with Sky, let alone ask anything about her personal life. She feels a weight hitting her like a brick as while she'd felt heartbroken at the revelation during the Day of the Royals, she'd known Sky for a few months, while Diaspro knew him for years]
Bloom: …You know, this just makes me realize how…irrationally I acted when we first met. I don't know what I was thinking, attacking someone unprovoked, even if I thought the Trix were somehow behind it.
Diaspro: Even so, I acted out of desperation to get Sky back, so much so that I laced a drink with a potion from Valtor…not like it did any good for me, following my banishment from Earklyon…I was so…angry, yet hurt at the same time…
Bloom: Maybe it's best to say that we were both in the wrong back then, just in different ways…Diaspro, I'm…sorry…for everything you had to go through…
Diaspro: And I…apologize for how I acted in response…really, what were we thinking, fighting over a man who two-timed us?
Bloom: Well, yes, Sky did lie…but only because his life was in danger and he didn't want to be tied to an arranged marriage…
Diaspro: But if he had just told me, I would have understood, why did he have to keep it a secret?
Bloom: Because…because…I don't know…maybe he just didn't want you to be worried…
Diaspro: All I would have asked for is a talk…[groans]...this entire situation was a blow…
Bloom: It's ironic, had we just…talked, things might have been different…
Diaspro: I suppose I can't stay mad at him forever, I'm just too tired to be involved in petty drama anymore…
Bloom: Why does that sound like a good portion of my life?
Diaspro: I think it's a little something called "age".
Bloom: …Yeah, that sounds about right.
Diaspro: Either way, all I want to do is move on from the past and just focus on the now.
Bloom: Well, that's something we can agree on…at least you seem to be doing better than me.
Diaspro: Pardon?
Bloom: It's…a little hard to explain, but recently, I've just been feeling…low, like there's in the back of my head telling me that I'm doing something wrong…
Diaspro: …Have you considered seeing a therapist? Lightrock Monastery did me some good in that regard.
Bloom: It's…a consideration, I'll give you that…
Diaspro: Whatever it is…feel better soon?
Bloom: Thank you…um, Diaspro?
Diaspro: Hmm?
Bloom: Are we…cool? Like, amicable or something like that?
Diaspro: Well, you did give me an apology, and seeing you like that has given me some thought…I suppose we could be considered "cool".
Bloom: [sighs] Well, that at least lifts a giant weight off my shoulders. This one feels years overdue…
Diaspro: I'll take the peace between us, regardless…
[Diaspro takes a sip of her drink and Bloom follows suit with her own]
Bloom: You know, if someone told me several years ago I'd be sharing a drink with the person sitting right next to me, I'd have looked at them like they were crazy, but now…it's weird how times change.
Diaspro: And yet somehow it feels…natural…
Bloom: Either way, I think it's nice…huh…I feel a bit better now…
Chloe: [off-screen] YES!
[Bloom and Diaspro suddenly turn to face the direction of Chloe's voice as we cut to the young blonde looking ecstatic while Courtney has an expression of pure confidence]
Chloe: I can't believe this is actually happening, I'm finally gonna get some compensation for all my suffering!
Courtney: Trust me when I say this case is open and shut, after all, harassment and neglect of a minor is a criminal offense. So, consider your future assured.
Chloe: Okay, I don't say this often, but I will unironically give you anything you want in return; my pearl necklace, my limousine, my bank details!
Courtney: Hmmhmm, slow down a bit, we'll discuss compensation in due time.
Ace: Ya' reckon you could assist me in a little dose of karma as well, ma'am?
Courtney: Oh, no need to worry, when I say someone goes down, they go down.
Diaspro: Well, good to see everyone's getting a little relief this evening.
Courtney: Oh, trust me, we're just getting started.
[Courtney points back as Dr. Martin, Jessie, James, and Fat Cat are shown with expectant expressions. Diaspro gives a smirk as she raises her class]
Diaspro: In that case, to retribution!
Patrons: Here, here!
[Bloom, deciding to give a little support, raises her glass as well, for the moment, this is the most energetic she's felt in a long while as the song "Won't Get Fooled Again" plays in the background of the pub]
[At the far back of the pub, Patch and Boomer can be seen isolated from the rest of the crowd, sipping glasses of wine]
Patch: This entire place is mental, no mistake about that.
Boomer: Could say the same about yourself.
Patch: [muttering] Tais-toi, salope qui pleure...
[We transition to Bloom and Diaspro leaving the building, nodding to one another as they go their separate ways. One last focus on Bloom as she passes by a sign on a lamppost, advertising an upcoming festival decked out in rainbow lettering]
Character Guide:
Bloom, Diaspro, Sky - Winx Club
Chloe Bourgeois - Miraculous Ladybug
Courtney - Total Drama
Ace London, Dr. Martin Torque - Talespin
Patch D'Coolette, Boomer Walrus - Sonic the Hedgehog
Belle, Beast - Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Cat R. Waul - An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991)
Ed, Edd, Eddy - Ed, Edd, N' Eddy
Fat Cat - Chip N' Dale: Rescue Rangers
Haru, Juno - Beastars
Jenner - The Secret of NIMH (1982)
Jessie, James, Meowth - Pokemon
Madoka Kaname, Homura Akemi, Sayaka Miki, Kyoko Sakura, Mami Tomoe - Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Pamela Bondani - Patrol 03
Queen Beryl - Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon
Scooby-Doo, Shaggy Rogers, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, Fred Jones, Scrappy-Doo - Scooby-Doo
Sergeant Tibbs, Colonel, Captain - 101 Dalmatians (1961)
Shenzi, Banzai, Ed - The Lion King (1994)
Bill, Ben, Salty, Cranky, Molly, Bulstrode - Thomas and Friends
Hercules, Zebedee - TUGS