A/N: Hi guys! (Thanks to Angelmail for reviewing Chapter 2 and SunDaughter [my fabulous beta for another story :D] for reviewing Chapter 1!)
Tada! I finally started writing the third chapter.
I've been really busy lately, so I've been writing (a lot) less, but I was sick yesterday and made to stay home today, so I managed to come on to write :) I'm (much, much, much) better now, by the way.
So I made some slight amendments to the second chapter, but it's nothing. Except the big mistake I made in which Angelmail kindly pointed out for me XD (Ahem, you were supposed to guess Crystal's companion species, not Connie's. Oops!)
And anyway no one (exactly that- no one- only one person reviewed Chapter 2 XD) got it right. Read on to discover Crystal's *exciting game show music* COMPANION SPECIES!
Okay, that was a little over the top, if you ask me. :P Enjoy this chapter!
"Hey," Col replied casually.
"Hi," Connie smiled.
"Okay, I'm guessing you're Col," Crystal laughed, facing Col, then turning to Connie, "and you must be Connie."
"What species are you a companion to?" Col asked curiously.
Connie frowned for a second, before brightening up.
"I'm a-" Crystal began.
"That's nice," Connie smiled at her. "Col's one, too."
"What?" Col and Crystal asked at the same time, confused.
"Crystal's a Pegasus companion like you, Col," she explained. She was no longer as shy about her powers as she used to be. The change she had gone through that night in the refinery had made her more confident and sure of herself, Col reflected. That was a good thing…right?
"Hey, that's cool," Crystal grinned. "How did you know?"
"Connie's a universal," Col explained. "And it's nice to have another Pegasus Companion in the region," he laughed.
"Erm, okay…" Crystal replied, unsure. "I still don't know how Connie knew, but that's really cool for me to be meeting the world's only universal."
Connie thought of George and his own mismatched eyes. Nope, she wasn't the only universal in the world anymore. She gave a little half-smile to herself, closing her eyes for a few seconds.
"Well, anyway, do you two want to go riding sometime?" Crystal suddenly piped up. "I'd go on my own companion, Cloudless, and Col and Connie could go on Col's companion or something."
Col and Connie looked at each other.
"Why not?" Col finally spoke up. "But when?"
"Maybe after the meeting," Connie suggested. "I don't have much to do afterwards."
"Sure," Crystal smiled.
"The meetings seemed to have become shorter and happier," Col remarked to Connie.
"Yeah," Connie agreed, smiling.
Before Connie had defeated Kullervo, the meetings had been sober, mostly discussing about how to be ready for him- the biggest threat ever. Col was proud-and at the same time, jealous- of Connie. She had probably been the youngest universal to have faced Kullervo, and had been the one to have escaped his clutches- what, three times? -and succeeded in defeating him.
Col was definitely ashamed for being jealous of Connie, but he couldn't help it- Connie was a universal and the only universal ever to have defeated Kullervo- Col was just a Pegasus companion. No doubt, he was on the British squad, which gave him a sense of pride every time someone mentioned it, but his own achievements definitely paled in comparison to Connie's. But he knew that he shouldn't compare himself to Connie like this- she definitely wouldn't like it.
Anyway, he was lucky to have her-
"Col?"
Col snapped out of his train of thoughts and looked at Connie.
"Hmm?" he asked, draping his arm around her shoulder.
"Nothing," Connie replied. "You just seemed to be lost in thought."
Col laughed, but reddened slightly.
"Hi guys!" Crystal waved. She was standing some way in front, with a Pegasus, with a blanket draped over it. It was dark now, but you could never be too sure.
"Hello," Connie replied.
Col whistled for Skylark, and he soon appeared.
Connie was stroking Cloudless, who had taken a liking to her immediately.
"She likes you," Crystal smiled. "Hey, that's Col's companion, right?"
"He's Skylark," Col told her, proudly. Skylark gave a neigh in response.
After a few short minutes of introductions, in which Skylark and Cloudless greeted each other and the humans connected with the Pegasi, they decided to start flying.
Col helped Connie up- which made him think of their date the previous day. Connie obviously was thinking about it too, since her cheeks were slightly red.
Crystal got on to Cloudless, and the two Pegasi started flying off.
A/N: Read and Review? Please? :D
I hoped you liked that chapter- there wasn't much in it, though. :P
So what do you think of Crystal? Do you like her? Hate her? (It's okay if you hate her- some of you might in the later chapters anyway- hint, hint! XD)
I know I haven't brought Rat in, yet, but soon, 'kay? I personally like Rat's happy-go-lucky personality, so he'll definitely have a part to play.
I'm also going to bring in another male character, but not yet- maybe after a few more chapters. You can start guessing now, but I'm not gonna tell you if you're right. It could be a CQ character or an OC… you never know :P (I do, though XD)
Oh yeah- please suggest an appropriate title for this story, since I don't really want to stick with Afterwards. Just tell me what you think, though- whether you think Afterwards is appropriate or not, and give suggestions for New Titles.
Well anyway, like I've said before, Read and Review! :D Much appreciated if you do.