Title: Confrontations

Author: Stormy1x2 (traveling_storm)

Pairings: Ace/Teddy, implied past Ace/Starlight, Teddy/Sweetheart

Word Count: 1451

Notes: Continues pretty much directly from chapter 3. The character Lickity-Split is the name I gave to the nameless pony in the series – best seen in the episode 'Just For Kicks' (which is, ironically, a canon Ace/Starlight episode). She has an ice cream on her flank. I remember G1 Lickity-Split being a fan of ice cream as well. That and I like the name, and the powers of author-ship let me choose whatever I want.

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The bell chimed; Starlight looked up with a welcoming smile that immediately went sour when she saw who it was. "You have a lot of nerve coming here." Ace glanced around the cafe as he walked towards the counter, and she let out a loud sigh. "She's not here. You're safe."

"Why are you so mad at me?" Ace edged towards the raised stool, giving her a wary look. "This is not entirely my fault, and has nothing to do with you."

Starlight thought about that for a minute. True. As much as she hated to admit, he had a point. It was a minuscule one, but a point nonetheless. She stared at him for one more minute anyway, just to make him squirm, before nodding at the chair. "Sit. Stay."

"Woof," Ace replied sarcastically, and seated himself. The wariness was still there, though, which made Starlight smile slightly. "A Squash Squish please."

"Just one?" Starlight made sure to keep her voice neutral as she started pouring ingredients into the blender. "Not two? Not to go?" She hit the button and took a mean little nugget of pleasure in the startled look he made at the sound of the high-pitched whine.

Ace fidgeted on the stool. "I was hoping to get a chance to talk to you."

"So I figured." Starlight stopped the blender and poured it into the plastic cup. "I have a break in half an hour. I'll talk to you then."

Ace nodded, taking the cup. "No rainbow straw?"

Starlight rolled her eyes. "The way I feel right now, you're lucky you get one at all." She shoved a non-bendy, plain white straw at him and jerked her head at the door. Ace took the hint and disappeared.

There was no one left in the cafe, save for a couple of ponies giggling over a fashion magazine in the back corner, nursing a couple of strawberry floats. Starlight gave them a low-level glower at the innocent happiness they exuded. At one time, she had felt like that. Like there was nothing wrong in the world, that everything was sparkles and light. They all had.

'They' being all of her friends. Of which Ace used to be that and more. She liked to think that was all in the past – that she and Ace had resolved their differences, and most of the time that was the absolute truth. But then something would happen – like getting a call at eight-thirty at night to come and pick up an emotionally distraught best friend who had walked in on her boyfriend snugging with her ex – and then all her buried frustrations would come swirling back up to the surface.

Starlight gave the gleaming counter-top a final sweep before chucking the towel at the sink behind her. Lickity-Split gave her a questioning look. "If my mom comes in, tell her I took my break early, okay?"

"Sure thing."

"Thanks." Untying her apron, Starlight pulled off her hat, stowed them under the counter, and then headed for the door.

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Ace was sitting on the curb a few meters down from the cafe. His knees were pulled up to his chest, and his eyes were blank, gazing down the street sightlessly. It was such a stark contrast to his usual confident air that it made her halt for a minute. The anger that had been threatening to boil went back to a low simmer,and she took a deep breath. "So... you wanted to talk?"

Ace's head snapped around. "I thought you said in a half hour."

Starlight snorted and plopped down on the curb next to him. "What, you need an extra thirty minutes to finish concocting the perfect story to feed me?"

"That's not fair."

"I find nothing in life ever is," she retorted. The hurt look on his face made her relent a little. "Look, I'm sorry. But I had to spend most of last night consoling Sweetheart while she sobbed her eyes out, and that makes me feel bad for her, not you."

"I understand that." Ace ran his hoof over his hair, grinding it into his eye for a minute. "I do. Really. Starlight, believe me, I didn't orchestrate last night."

The funny thing was she actually did believe him. Ace was a lot of things, but deliberately cruel was not one of them. "How long?"

Ace looked uncomfortable. "A... while."

"A while," Starlight parroted. "And you were planning on - pardon the pun - coming straight with Sweetheart, when, exactly?"

Ace sighed. "Look, we should have told her before now, I know this. I just want to know if Sweetheart will be willing to talk to him in a couple of days."

"Don't ask for much, do you?" she muttered disbelievingly. She shook her head. "You broke her heart last night. Can't you give her some time before you drag her through the mud?"

"I'm not asking for me!" Ace snapped. "Damnit Starlight, I told Teddy what happened last night. He was so upset that he threw up all night. Remember the day before our final exams last year? He spent lunch hour puking from stress. On top of everything, he had to deal with his father yesterday. He's a mess, just like Sweetheart. Blame me if you have to, I know it's partly my fault." He ran his hoof over his face again. "It's actually more my fault then Teddy's, considering that it was me who pursued him. But he needs to talk to her. And it sounds like she needs this too."

"She does. She will. But not now." Starlight sighed, slumping back and stretching her legs out. Emotions were exhausting. So was dealing with churned up, half-forgotten memories. "How did we get past this? I think I've forgotten."

Ace chuckled softly. "You were much nicer to me then I deserved," he said, sidling closer to her. "I mean, after the whole 'slapping me silly' bit was over."

"And the groveling," Starlight said, nodding. "I remember there was groveling involved."

"Is that what you called it? I thought it was called bribery."

"No, the expensive gift-giving was merely a nice gesture on your part," she said, laying her head down on his shoulder. It was warm and solid as it had always been. And like before, and as it would forever be, it was available to her. She closed her eyes. "She'll forgive him, you know."

"You think so?"

"Mmmmm. I forgave you, didn't I?" She laughed quietly. "And Sweetheart's much nicer than I am."

Silence fell over the two of them. It was still daylight – traffic still flowed in the street before them, ponies of all sizes and colors trotted past them on the sidewalk, intent on their own goals and destinations in life.

Ace nudged her. "Seeing anyone yet?"

"Why do you care? Jealous?" She pinched him in retaliation. "And uh.... kinda. Logan's been coming over a lot." She blushed. "He wants to take me to the movies next week."

"He's a good guy," Ace said, nodding with approval. "Tell him to behave or I'll break every bone in his body."

"Whatever." A few minutes more passed, before Starlight raised her head and looked him in the eye. "Are you happy?"

He looked surprised. "Well, not real--"

"Not about this situation," she cut him off. "I'm referring to the cause of this situation. You and Teddy. Are you happy?"

Ace blinked at her as he thought about the question, and Starlight had her answer a second later as a soft, fond look appeared in his eyes, and a faint blush on his cheeks. "Yeah."

"Tell him to behave, or I'll break every bone in his body," she said evenly, and grinned when she felt Ace's body shake with restrained laughter. It would be hard. Life was rarely ever easy. But she and Ace had been able to stay friends, despite everything. Starlight had no doubts that Teddy and Sweetheart would be the same. "Go home to him. With his stomach, he's probably paying homage to the toilet again. I'll talk to Sweetheart about it tomorrow."

"Thanks Starlight." He wrapped an arm around her and squeezed gently. "From both of us."

Starlight watched him leave, and felt better about what the future held for her friend for the first time all day.

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End

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