Work Text:
After distancing herself from Benthomaar for six months, Scott decided to focus on herself. Of course, Blazey and Rio would still accompany her with work from time to time. She never asked Rio anything about Bentho after learning he was about to be engaged to Clarefie. Scott didn’t want to hurt herself or disturb him anymore, so she threw herself into her work instead.
“How was your work going on now, Scott?” Blazey asked as she was also busy modeling for their next Project on the car. “It's almost done actually, just a little bit of repair should do it!” She exclaimed as she was already done with her job today, and the two then left their workshop and went to meet Rio on their way. “Do you think we can meet Jay and the others today? And maybe perhaps discussing your new potential for a new date?” Blazey teased, but Scott scoffed, uninterested. Though she still held onto a small glimmer of hope for Bentho, and she doesn't even have the heart to really forget about him completely.
She tried to push away the topic but ever since she met with Clarefie and Bentho again, Rio and Blazey insisted she date another guy, but that wasn't going well with her. “I think not in a particular moment now Blazey. Besides, who needs a man now when I can focus on my work? Comeon, Rio is probably waiting for us, we don't want to make him angry at us” She said as the two were now going to meet Rio at the nearby arcade.
“Soo... Benthomaar invited you both—and the ninjas—to his kingdom for a royal alliance announcement party next Friday. It wasn’t his idea; it was the Coral Kingdom’s,” Rio said suddenly.
Blazey choked on her food, and Scott froze mid-game at the claw machine. “Wait, what?” Blazey asked, making sure they’d heard right.
“uhh… bentho invite you guys to his party alliance next Friday? And he wants you all to wear a dress code that the kingdom chooses…” she said hopefully the other two didn't misheard it. “Oh.. okay then? What time.” Scott was surprisingly calm about this as she was sounded didn't give any fuck anymore about it.
“6 pm at the castle. I could just pick you guys up, or maybe you guys could go with the ninjas…” Rio said as she was feeling awkward to tell this to their own friends. Scott just nodded and waved at him. It's an okay sign, sure she may still be hurt but atleast with this maybe she could move on faster and forget about her whole crush on him still. “Then it settles me and Blazey will go with the others. Don't think about it” She smiled at them and just to make sure it was okay with both of her friends.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Friday came, and Scott and Blazey were getting ready for the party. Scott wore the same dress she had on her practice date with Bentho, while Blazey opted for a sleeveless, long dress.
“Oh? You still have that dress! It looks great on you,” Blazey complimented as they were picked up by the ninjas and headed to Merlopia. On the way, Scott couldn’t help but feel her stomach churn with nervousness.
“we're almost there, I'm curious what Bentho wants to talk about to us later?” She could hear Cole ask in curiosity as later he got a small slap from Nya as she shushed him, as if she didn't want their question or topic to be known by Scott herself. Well she didn't care about that, all she wanted was to get this over and go home early.
When they arrived at the ballroom, it was packed with seafolk from various ocean kingdoms. Blazey spotted Rio, and they went over to greet him.
“You made it! I was worried you’d change your mind,” Rio said, concerned about Scott’s comfort. “Of course not, we wouldn't miss this even though he invited us.” she smiled, knowing she didn't have any choice about it. Rio then just smiles and whispers to Blazey about something that made the blonde can't help but to squeal out of excitement.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and a spotlight focused on the merlopia king and the Coral kingdom princess. Both were smiling to their people, with Clarefie hug one of Bentho's arm still showing a sweet smile to everyone that has went to the party, though Scott noticed Bentho’s smile seemed forced. After half a year not seeing him again, Scott can't help but to slowly fall in love with him again. But she knew she can't and it was impossible, she quickly pushed the feelings aside and stepped out for air.
From across the room, Clarefie caught sight of Scott leaving and shot her a menacing smile before tightening her grip on Bentho's arm. Bentho, meanwhile, prepared to address the crowd. “Good evening everyone, welcome to the merlopia gathering party for the kingdom across the sea and my friends from the surface and kingdom of Shintaro. I would like to thank you all for coming here and enjoying the party, there is something I would like to announce for all of you” he then looked around to see his friends from the surface and the queen of Shintaro, but there was someone that he couldn't find amongst the crowd. He didn't see Scott anywhere at the party, he glanced to his side and saw the menacing smile from Clarefie as he clenched his fist secretly.
“You all must have known that I already engaged with the Dolphin princess from the Coral kingdom, Clarefie. But there's something I need to say before we start the party…” he said as suddenly the people in the room began to whisper in confusion and curiosity as to what he was about to say. He could see a thumbs up from the ninjas and an encouraging smile from Vania, and he saw the hype from Blazey and a nod from Rio. “That I would announce that my engagement with the princess of Coral kingdom will be called off! I declare that we are no longer engaged and our alliance is cut off from each other!” He declared as there was a lot of shock and whispers from the crowd. Some were happy and cheering for their king's bold move, while others murmured in disapproval. Clarefie and her father were visibly enraged.
“What?! You can't do that to our long time alliance! You and your dead ill father have been promised to us for your loyalty!” The king from Coral kingdom was angry at this as he scolded Bentho in front of merlopia merfolk and his friends. Unfazed, Bentho replied, “I’ve heard about how you and your daughter mistreat your people, and also you were threatening my people for the past four months. You didn't think I didn't notice how you only chase after the trident and the remaining of the power from the great Wojira just for your own greed and selfishness? And to think that you and your daughter wouldn't act like my evil dead brother. I am cutting you and your kingdom from this alliance, and that is an order from me.” He states to the king as he points the trident at the king, with his authority as to cast out him and his daughter.
Clarefie was shocked hearing this, there was no way that her intention was out like this!? There is no way that Benthomaar would break their engagement off just like that! She was frustrated as she then try to coax her sweet words to him, just like she used to do in the past.
“my love, you must have been joking right for cutting off our engagement, right? There's no way that you would do that to your own lover~ you love me, and you promise me you would be with me forever and loyal to me. To each other and no one would be in our way—” her words then cut off as Bentho pointed his trident at her way with an enraged look in his eyes.
“Silence. I have enough with you and your attitudes and tricks. For what you have done to my people and my friends, is simply unforgivable. I won't stand you or your father to be close to the power or my kingdom, and I won't certainly stand what you did for driving away my best friend six months ago. For making me not amend with her or even contacting her!” He said coldly, with a dead stare to her. Clearly enraged. And Clarefie, she was sweating and panicked as her plan failed.
Clarefie’s true nature revealed itself as she shouted, “T-that's because she was clearly in our way to be together! I see that she liked you! And I wouldn't want any pesky and low life human to be in my way to get closer to you! You're mine! And I'm glad that she is finally away!” She shouts as it just further makes Bentho angry as he can't stand anymore. “Rio and Mallory were right, you are nothing but a heartless twisted dolphin. Guard, kick both of them away from here! I don't want to see any of them near the land or even any kingdom and our kingdom! Our engagement is off and so is our alliance. And that's final.” He said as the guards then kicked both of them away from the kingdom, not welcoming them anymore.
The room fell into an uneasy silence as Clarefie and her father were led away. Bentho took a deep breath before turning back to the crowd. “I am deeply sorry everyone, what I have done was stupid for not seeing the sign of them being a malice and threat to our kingdom. From now on, we will not condone any of their offers or depend on them, and I certainly hope you all can forgive me. For now, please let's continue the party! I have somewhere else to go right now!” he announced before stepping outside.
Scott, enjoying the view outside, was surprised when Bentho approached her.
“Bentho?! What are you doing here?! Weren't you supposed to be inside and having dance with the princess—” Bentho then quickly grabbed her hand, looking into her eyes, “I'm sorry. I'm really sorry for what I did!” He apologises to Scott who were equally confused right now. “About what? If this is about the time when you ask me out for practice on your date, then I was the one who's supposed to say sorry to you–”
“No! I was wrong about that. It was my fault, if only I notice that day when I bring Clarefie to the surface and see you ran away from me after that, and her for driving me away from you or the others. I should have noticed her intent from the start… not only her but also her father.”
“So you kicked them both out then?”
“How did you know about that?” He asked
“I see both were being dragged by the guards, and I saw how her expression was death staring at me. She's saying ‘I'm going to end you and take what's mine’ somewhere in between like that” she said, smirking.
Bentho then instantly went to hug her, making the blue haired girl squeak in surprise. She could feel Bentho buries his head to her neck and apologises repeatedly to her, “I'm really sorry about everything, I should've just broken up with her a long time ago. But I'm to blind to notice that…”
“It’s not your fault,” she whispered.
“How about this, can we rebuild our friendship again? Like the old times…” he asks Scott, to which he doesn't need an answer as she hugs him back, practically squeezing him tight. “You don't need to ask about that”
He sighs in relief, and he pulls away immediately as he was about to say the next line with him stammering all of the sudden. “Great, because I‐i was about to ask you something today! Uhm… can we turn our friendship into something else? I mean– if you don't want to, that's fine!! Like hahaha that was a stupid question to ask, right?” And now Bentho was a nervous wreck as he messed up himself with his words.
Scott giggled softly, placing her hand on his cheek. “You're funny… I think we could try that, and you owe me a date for rekindle our relationship after half a year or so”
Bentho’s face lit up, his tail wagging like a happy puppy. “I'm on it! Then I need to organise my plan to make it perfect and make it up to you. Maybe I could ask Blazey or Rio and maybe Mallory for help or make it special for you—” his words cut off with her cupping his cheeks and smiling softly. “Take it easy, we can plan it later. How about I kiss you and you ask me to dance then? I'm sure the others are looking for their king” She offer the idea and gave him kisses to his face and lips. Enjoying the kiss and their rekindle relationship that has been broken before. It was like the star had been resurface again to the sky.