Yes yes long wait I know. I hope everyone had a good xmas, I sure did :P I went away for two weeks skiing :) Anyway, a bit more plot development in this chappie. Enjoy.

Crysta now felt a lot better now she had told someone about her feelings. She was still confused and didn't know what to do but at least she had someone who could possibly help her.

'You WHAT!!!???'

Or maybe not.

'Batty! Calm down.'

'Overload! Overload! Mental overload! Download sequence commencing at 76% capacity, interference with network at-'

In a panic, Crysta grabbed Batty's snout to stop him talking, she knew just how much Batty hated being hit back to his senses and thankfully the sudden lack of air flow had the same effect. She let go once she saw his eyes focus and backed off slowly.

'Better now?'

'Much,' he replied calmly, 'but geez, between a childhood friend and a human, it can't be that much of a difficult decision.'

'What do you mean?'

Batty gave her an incredulous look.

'Er hello? Only one of those two is the same species as you, and besides that who has known you the longest? Loved you the longest? Seems pretty clear to me…and more sensible,' he added.

'Yes I know that,' Crysta huffed, 'But Zack's just different, he's exciting, he's interesting, I can always find something new to talk about and he's so patient with me since a lot of the time I don't know what he's talking about.'

'Well I guess I should give him credit for that,' Batty muttered lowly.

'What was that?'

'Nothing! So what are you going to do?'

'I don't know,' Crysta said dejectedly.

Batty sighed, 'Well I can't choose for you, they're not my species and I'm not homosexual-'

'What does that mean? Homosexual?'

'Err never mind. Anyway I'm no Love Doctor but one thing I can think of that you can do is spend time with the both of them and pick the one you like best.'

'But I like both of them the same.'

'Do you?' Batty challenged, 'do you really?'

Crysta paused, unsure.

'Go find out, go on shoo!' Batty said, shaking a wing dismissively.

Crysta smiled and gave Batty a peck on his snout.

'Thanks Batty.'

'Alright, alright, now go you daft tree imp,' Batty said bashfully.

Batty watched until her trail of blue light faded away into the greenery and then allowed himself to fall backwards and hang upside down. Cocooning himself in his wings, Batty closed his eyes and tried to return to the dream that he was rudely awakened from.

Pips didn't feel like playing his pipes today. He'd been drifting in and out of sleep, unable to escape from the beautiful green eyes that haunted him.

It had hurt.

The shock she'd shown when he finally confessed made him wish he hadn't confessed at all. She had flown in a daze back to her tree and Pips was afraid that he had irreparably severed the bonds they shared.

Pips forced himself to sit up; lying there brooding wasn't going to help. He was going to have to talk to her when he got the chance. Making a quick decision he took off and headed to her tree, unable to wait any longer.

It wasn't much of a surprise when he arrived to find her home empty. After many time of finding her absent to visit Zack, he had predicted it, so he wasn't disappointed. Still, he had had a slight hope that she would still be there.

'Pips?'

Pips jerked his head in surprise. Behind him, hovering silently was Crysta, looking at him just as surprised.

'I didn't hear your music and I checked your tree but you weren't there…I thought you left without me.'

Pips turned his gaze to the empty space before him.

'So did I.'

Pips felt a slight breeze and felt a hand on his shoulder, but he couldn't bring himself to look at her. He placed his hand on top of hers and stayed like that for a moment, thinking it was the only comfort she'd be willing to give. He felt disappointment when she slowly slipped hand from under his and he closed his eyes sadly.

So it came as a surprise as he felt her press up against his back, wrap her arms around his neck and place her chin on his shoulder.

'Crysta?' he breathed.

'I'm sorry…' He heard tears in her voice, '…I've been a really bad friend to you lately and I've hurt you…I am sorry,' she whispered into his shoulder.

Pips removed her arms from his neck and turned around so he could face her. Tears were streaming down her face and her eyes welled up to replace the tears she had shed. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and guided her inside, watching as she furiously wiped her tears away and obviously trying to control her emotions.

Pips gave a small smile at her attempts as she soon stood before him with her face set seriously, however her tear streaked cheeks and moisture filled eyes spoilt the effect.

'We need to talk,' she stated.

Zack couldn't believe his ears.

'You've got to be kidding me.'

'On the contrary, Zack, we are very serious.'

'But this one of the last Rainforests! Hundreds of endangered species inhabit it, not to mention it's the biggest oxygen producing area in the world. At least it was until your company demolished it…'

'Yes, well we're very sorry about that,' the small man said with a dismissive wave of his hand, 'but the fact is, this land is still owned by our company and we wish to develop on it. Your little party is the only thing getting in our way, so just name your price and we can both go home happy.'

Zack glared at the man before him.

'I'm sorry,' he said stiffly, 'but there's no price you can offer that can sway me. This forest has only just recovered from the onslaught it suffered last year. I won't allow you to take it down just to put up a few buildings.'

The little man's eye bulged.

'See here Mr Young! This is a huge financial investment we're talking about, we've already spent a lot on planning and we're not just building a few random buildings! We're building an entire city!'

'All the more reason not to let it happen! We have enough pollution producing cities already; if you build a city here then what's left of this rainforest will die and it won't be able to recover because the land will be poisoned!

The little man shot to his feet, knocking the stool he was sat on to the floor and glared daggers at Zack. He breathed deeply through his nose and looked like he was about to explode when a huge hand came out of the shadows and rested upon his shoulder.

Shortly after, the looming figure of the second man was brought into the light. The sole lantern that rested on the table in the middle of their dark tent cast dark shadows against his distinctive features and made him more terrifying when he peeled his tobacco stained lips into a yellow toothed grin.

His voice was deep and coarse, 'Please forgive my Boss for his untamed temper, perhaps we should continue this conversation another time, when we have all calmed down.'

Zack's hair stood on end as the giant of a man stared at him with his small dark eyes. He seemed to be waiting for approval for his suggestion but Zack also felt a chill in those eyes, they were commanding, threatening and Zack didn't want to know what would happen if he disagreed.

He nodded his head and left their tent.

The large man grinned smugly at the affect he had on the young man and then turned his attention to his still fuming superior.

'There was no need to send him away Mac, I had everything under control,' he obviously lied.

Mac just laughed quietly.

Ooooo I think I've made Mac a little too dark but writing him like that is fun, big contrast to the light and bubbly characters I've got running around. Plz Review :)