Hello all. Here's chapter 19...I'm starting to think I should spend some time on my other story as well, I haven't done much on that in a while :S Anyhoo read and review.

After the overall shock, Zack ushered Pips and Crysta into his tent and sent a reassuring smile to his coworkers. Once they were inside and settled themselves as comfortably as possible in the confined space, the smiling facade was gone and a mixture of confusion, anger and panic all but screamed from his face.

'What the hell are you doing? Do you have any idea what could happen after what you've just done?'

Crysta, who was sitting crossed legged on Pips' own crossed legs, looked up at him in confusion.

'But Pips looks completely normal, he's human size and the other humans mistook his clothing as a costume. What could possibly be wrong?'

Zack tiredly rubbed his eyes with a thumb and forefinger and fought to keep his temper. He knew her intentions were good and that she only wanted to help, but her naivety was testing his patience.

'Not all the humans are that gullible Crysta. Some of them have probably already figured out that they look too real'

'He has a point Crysta,' Pips added, 'those humans were looking at us...or rather me, quite suspiciously.'

Crysta humphed.

Pips sighed, 'Is there any way we can fool the others into thinking it really was a costume, and a plausible reason why I'd be wearing it?'

Zack cocked an eyebrow at him thoughtfully, when Pips wasn't acting like a jealous prick, he was actually quite smart.

'You got any ideas?' Zack asked politely.

Pips gave him a are-you-stupid look.

'I know nothing about human habits, culture or their stupid reasons to dress up. Thats your area.'

Zack's eye twitched. Ok he's smart, but still a prick.

Fifteen minutes later, Zack and Pips (plus a hidden Crysta) eventually emerged from the tent. Zack had changed his top into something fresher and Pips was wearing a white baggy t-shirt to cover his wings...and if anyone had noticed, it was the same top Zack was wearing previously. He also changed into some knee length green shorts and he stood awkwardly, uncomfortable with the material between his legs. Zack had also tied his hair up loosely with some weird complicated twisty thing so to cover up the tips of his ears.

Pips now looked like any other human. The only downside that grated his nerves was the fact that since his hair was now tied up in order to hide his ears, Crysta had to transfer to his nemesis' shoulders.

The story Zack came up with, should anybody ask, was that Pips was an old college friend whom he studied with and had a passionate interest in cosplaying. Pips, having no idea what that was, just decided he'd let Zack do the talking.

'You sure you wanna do this?' Zack asked as they made their way to the negotiator's tent. Nervousness evident in his voice.

'Scared?' Pips smirked.

'Not for myself,' he shot back.

Pips scoffed and pulled back the tent door quite roughly, startling the occupant inside.

Both males ignored the small mans irritated complaints and boldly strode inside. Zack noticed something missing and pinpointed the source for his concern.

'Where's the big guy?'

Roberts was sweating and it wasn't entirely from the heat. Nervous perspiration was still layering his skin even after leaving the tent, the atmosphere in there had been hostile and he hadn't fully shaken it off.

He moved away from the camp and sought out the truck with the newly arrived batch of fertiliser. It was parked further south of the campsite and closer to the areas of forest that were being fertilised. Rope held down the neatly stacked plastic containers of life giving liquid, keeping it firmly secure during the ride here and preventing anyone from simply taking them.

Roberts came here to be alone.

His anxiousness was evident as he fumbled for his satellite phone, checking for signal he dialled a number that he was only supposed to call in an emergency.

It rung once, twice and he was still holding it to his ear as it rung for the seventh time. Then the other end connected.

There was a spark and a crackle as the phone suddenly split in half. He quickly whisked the phone away from his face and clutched the place where it burnt him. Half of the phone fell to the ground whilst the other half was still clutched in his hand.

'I knew I didn't like the smell of you.'

Roberts turned around to the voice and instantly wished he didn't.

Mac stood over him in all his towering glory with his machete firmly in hand and eyeing him like a predator that had cornered its prey.

Roberts visibly paled.

Mac took an intimidating step towards him.

'Now who would you be calling with that nice little toy eh?'

Roberts took a step back, fear completely stealing his voice.

'Hmm? Don't want to talk now? You seemed quite eager to talk with whomever was on the phone. Aren't I a reasonable bloke to talk too?'

Roberts was regretting his decision of going so far away from the campsite. He could run but he had a feeling Mac would strike him if he so much as twitched.

'Clever little rabbit,' Mac grinned.

Roberts was frozen with fear as Mac suddenly flipped the machete and plunged it down, little relief overcame his fear seeing that one strike cut easily through the rope and sunk deeply into one of the containers.

Mac pulled his machete out effortlessly and inspected his now glistening blade. Without taking his eyes off it, he took a lighter from his pocket and flicked it open. He let a smirk freely tug his lips as he noticed Roberts eyes widen in realisation and fear. Mac brought the flame to life with a quick flick of his thumb and slowly eased it to touch the moisture clinging to his blade.

The fertiliser caught instantly and violently, encasing the blade in flame and making Mac look like a demon from hell. The smirk never left his face.

'So...' Roberts shivered at the purr in Mac's voice, 'There was some truth in your words earlier.'

Mac flicked the machete and caused some droplets to fly towards Roberts. He flinched and dodged them and quickly stomped on the ones nearest to him to put them out. The others were too close to Mac for him to dare extinguish. They licked at the air, searching, reaching for more material to burn and found it in the dry grass around it. Mac snuffed them out calmly with his boot before they could gain a good grasp.

The fire on his machete was slowly going out and Mac watched it fascinatingly until the flames finally died and left the metal glowing pink between the cracks of soot that covered it.

'Call your men.'

Roberts tensed at the order, Mac's eyes had now focused on him and were gazing at him threateningly.

'I'll be supervising you to make sure you get the job done.'

'B-but-.'

Like a snake, Mac's hand lashed out and grabbed him by the collar. Roberts didn't dare move or speak. Mac then presented him with the blunt side of his blade and used the material clenched in his hand to clean it, making the weapon come uncomfortably close to his face. He then flipped the now soot-free sharp edge to his ear, millimetres away from his skin. Roberts could feel the heat radiating from it.

'Don't take me for a fool,' Mac said darkly, 'I can smell the fear reeking from your pores. Defying me is utterly pointless.'

Mac shoved him back and he fell over ungracefully, his fear had drained the strength from his legs.

'Call your men,' he repeated.

Muwah hah ha, Mac has taken things into his own hands, dunno why but I luv Dark Mac's character. Whats going to happen now? Will Zack and Pip's get the truth out off Boss and stop Mac in time? Or is Ferngully doomed to have another destructive onslaught. And just who was Roberts calling before he was...er...cut off. All will be revealed soon enough. Keep reading and don't forget to review! They make my day :)