This is a completely different story from my series that I'm currently writing. It popped into my mind, and I had to get it down. Hope you enjoy!

Crysta was minding her own business and doing her work that Magi instructed her to do when she heard the giggle. She closed her eyes briefly, annoyed. Did he have to do that here?

"Oh, Pips. Stop it!" the voice said, with the underlying tone of "don't stop."

"Yes, please, stop it," Crysta muttered to herself. She tried to focus, but it proved useless. Growling in frustration, she whipped back the brush that separated her from the noise and poked her head through. Standing there kissing and carrying on was Pips and his new girlfriend of the week (or was it day?). He caught sight of her upon hearing the noise.

"Are we disturbing you?" he asked, smirking. The girl, Rain, peeked around at Crysta, who gave her the "you've got to be kidding me" look in return. She knew Rain from previous classes with Magi, and Magi had kicked Rain out for not taking the work and lessons seriously. Now Crysta knew why.

"You know very well that you're disturbing me," Crysta shot at him. "Take yourselves elsewhere and do that."

"But this is such a great spot," Pips said, egging her on.

"Maybe you don't care about learning these old spells and being able to look after this forest, but I do," Crysta said angrily. "Now clear off!"

"Or what? You gonna turn me into a toad?" Pips asked, knowing she would bite.

"I should. I'd get more done around here," Crysta replied, putting her hands on her hips. His eyes held that look that she knew well. He would come up with something later to pay her back for interrupting his private time.

"I think we're not wanted, Rain," Pips said, tugging on Rain's hand. "Let's go somewhere more private." He glanced back at Crysta briefly, but she wasn't watching. She breathed a sigh of relief. Now she could get back to work. Magi expected her to be able to grow things soon enough. As she was frequently told, Magi wouldn't be around forever, and Crysta was the last fairy left who was still taking her lessons. No one else seemed interested. Crysta, however, loved the old magic. She loved learning, and she couldn't wait to be as powerful as Magi. Maybe then she'd get some respect.

Pips caught sight of her heading home. He couldn't help but follow her. She was just too easy of a target, and he knew she'd never back down from a challenge. He hovered behind her slightly, seeing if she'd notice. She did.

"What?" she asked, spinning around and stopping abruptly. He almost collided into her, but he managed to stop just in time.

"I get the feeling you're mad at me," he said casually. He crossed his arms and tilted his head at her.

"And why is that?" she challenged.

"I dunno. You tell me," he said.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's because you intentionally interfere with my practice? You parade around with a bunch of different girls and taunt me with them?" she asked coolly.

"I didn't think you noticed," he said, examining his nails.

"Oh, I notice, but I don't care. You can do what you want. It's your life," Crysta added. She glared at him.

"I think you care a little," Pips replied, looking up at her finally.

"Not in the slightest. I'm not interested in you," Crysta spat.

"Ouch," Pips said, feigning hurt. "You got me."

"Oh please," Crysta said, getting ready to move again. "Nothing can hurt you. Players don't feel pain, and everyone knows you're the player." She took off, leaving him standing there watching her fairy dust twinkle and disappear as she got further away.

Crysta entered her home feeling exhausted. The day had taken a lot out of her, and then there was Pips. True, he was supposedly her friend, but they weren't that close. Not anymore anyway. He had discovered that girls were so attracted to him, and it had become known that if you wanted experience in the physical department, he was the guy to go to. Crysta had known a few girls who had interacted with Pips, and they all refused to talk about it afterwards. They said it was their secret and that if Crysta wanted to know, she'd have to see for herself. Well, Crysta wasn't about to do that. She wasn't that curious.

"Hello, love," her mother said as she came around the corner. "Good day?"

"A long day," Crysta replied, hugging her mother.

"But productive I'll bet," Mother said, smiling.

"Always," Crysta grinned. She saw Lily and Fern playing outside the window. They were a few years younger than she was, and she envied that they didn't have to worry about this kind of stuff. Crysta was nearing 16, and she knew a lot of responsibility was going to come her way eventually. Waving at her sisters, she went upstairs to her room. She wanted to rest and think about what Magi had told her that morning. Pips flickered into her head briefly, but she let it slide right back out. She wasn't going to waste her time thinking about him, even if he did look disconcerted by her comment that afternoon. He was the player. If he didn't know that by now, then she wasn't sure what to think.

The next day, Crysta was attempting to rejuvenate a flower when a shadow came across it. Already knowing who it was, she spoke first.

"What now?"

"You need to lighten up," Pips said, settling down beside her.

"Oh really?" she asked sarcastically, turning to face him.

"Yea," he said. "We used to have fun together. What happened to you?"

"I got serious, that's what happened to me," Crysta said. "You should too."

"Where's the fun in that?" Pips exclaimed. She glowered at him. "Oh, come on. Let's skylark. We used to do it all the time."

"Yea, and I've been threatened to have my wings clipped if I do that again," Crysta told him.

"Makes it more exciting," he said, coming closer to her. He was too close. It made her feel very uncomfortable. Whether he noticed it or not, he didn't seem to care. He moved even closer to her until he was right in front of her. She refused to look at him.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm just standing here," he replied. "I'll go away once you agree to race me."

"You're being ridiculous," she said. She finally looked at him. She didn't like his face so close to hers.

"Just say you will," he coaxed. "And I'll be out of your face."

"No."

"You're just afraid I'll win," Pips egged her on. "You can't be beaten at anything can you? If you lost, then what?"

"I'm not afraid," she said hotly. "I can and will beat you."

"Prove it," he whispered, making her shiver.

"All right. But if you lose, you have to take a lesson from Magi," Crysta threw in.

"Oho!" Pips chuckled. "Okay smartie. I'll take your bet, but if I win, you have to kiss me."

"In your dreams," she smirked.

"Better keep up then," he said, stepping back.

"Are we doing this or are we gonna talk about it like a bunch of girls?" she asked.

"Oh it's on," he said. She saw him tense, knew he was going to take off. "NOW!" He bolted upwards with her hot on his heels. They knew the route to take. It was something they used to do all the time before her parents told her to smarten up or else she'd lose her wings. She heard him laughing up ahead of her, and it infuriated her. She couldn't lose. There was too much at stake. She couldn't kiss him, absolutely not. He'd never let her hear the end of it. She pushed herself harder and faster. She would not lose. They flew faster and faster. When she passed him, he stopped laughing. He really didn't want to take Magi's classes. They were boring to him. Plus, he really wanted to kiss her. He knew she'd enjoy it just as much. When they reached the end of the course, he knew he was the loser. She streaked over the finish line and then did a lap around his head, gloating.

"All right, all right," he said, feeling his heart sink. He was in for a boring afternoon. "You win. Congratulations." She lowered herself down until she was standing in front of him.

"You should have seen your face," she laughed.

"I can only imagine," he said, grimacing. "So when do I start?" Crysta stood there, thinking about it.

"You don't," she said. He looked at her, not having heard her correctly.

"What?" he asked.

"You're off the hook," she said. "I think you losing is punishment enough. You'd have done the same for me, right?" She held his gaze, waiting for his answer.

"Right," he lied. Laughing, she flew off to return to her work. Pips stood there unsure of what he was feeling. He believed it was described as disappointment.

Crysta finished off her day feeling glorious. She had beaten Pips. She had successfully gotten the flower to come back to life. Things were good. Really good. So when she saw Pips with Rain again, she couldn't understand why the pit of her stomach felt wobbly suddenly. Just because she had fun with him today didn't mean she liked him, even as a friend. She turned away to avoid seeing him kiss Rain. She headed home and put her focus on her family.

"You weren't skylarking today, were you?" Father Ash asked her. Crysta looked guilty.

"I wouldn't say skylarking," she replied. "More flying fast, that's all."

"You know the price," Father warned her.

"I do! Absolutely," Crysta added, heading to her room so he wouldn't see her face. He just shook his head. He knew when his daughter was lying, but he didn't want to press any farther this time. She looked like she had enough on her mind as it was.

Pips was playing music with Sandy and Wilkea when he saw her go by. He knew she knew he was there, but she was intentionally not looking his way. He fumbled his note, his mind preoccupied. Sandy and Wil stopped abruptly.

"What's wrong?" Sandy asked him.

"Nothing," Pips replied. Crysta was long gone by now.

"Are you good? Focused?" Wil asked. "Or should we leave while you find a woman to satisfy you first?"

"Shut up," Pips growled. Yes, his friends knew he was all about the girls. He was used to their ribbing though.

"Let's get at 'er then," Wil said, gesturing. They started up the song again. Pips shoved Crysta out of his mind. He found he had to a lot lately, and he wasn't sure why.

Crysta had just left Magi's place when she caught sight of Rain.

"Still at it, huh," Rain said, flying alongside of her.

"Of course. It's very important," Crysta replied.

"For you maybe. Honestly, I found it so boring," Rain yawned.

"Pips' mouth is more interesting I suppose," Crysta said pointedly. Rain blushed.

"How would you know?" she shot back. "You've never even kissed anyone before."

"Maybe not, but he certainly wouldn't be my first pick," Crysta laughed.

"Don't knock it til you try it," Rain mocked.

"Oh please," Crysta said. "That is the last thing I would ever do." Rain just shrugged and flew off. Crysta shook her head to herself. Maybe all the other girls loved what Pips was dishing out, but she knew she wouldn't. How could she ever trust him anyway? He moved on from a girl faster than a frog sucked in a fly with it's tongue. No. Pips wasn't her type. He never would be, and Crysta was just fine being on her own. Magi was alone, and she was doing all right. Crysta longed to be like her in so many ways. She would never miss a man if she never had one. She flew on to find vines that needed mending. Her life's focus was more than enough to satisfy her, no matter what anyone thought.

Let me know what you think! Yay? Nay? Keep going? Don't? I will say that I am referring to the book's version of Ferngully more so than the movie. The book has more characters like Crysta's sisters, Fern and Lily, grandmother, and mother as well as Pips' friends Wilkea and Sandy. Just letting you know XD