Chapter 1:

"(There, almost finished)." In a stone room filled with ancient machine like objects and scrolls, there was a tan-skinned young man working on a humanoid thing on a table. "(Just some more of these and he should be ready)." He spoke to himself in his ancient native Central American like language.

The man stood up to wipe some sweat from his forehead. He appeared to be in his twenties, wasn't very muscular, but looked rather intelligent. His most distinguish feature about him was his green eyes.

"(Now, let's see how you look so far.)" The man held his hand out and a small glowing sphere appeared. He examined his creation with admiration. It looks like a very small toddler wearing light khaki mask with just black eyes and a mouth. His child-like body was completely black with vine-like appendages covering his chest and his feet appeared shoe-like. His hands had small claws and his back appeared to have small wings like limbs.

"(Yes. Now for the final key.)" The man placed a round shaped object into the chest and laid his hand over the creation's chest, gave a small jolt of electricity from his bare hands only. He did this a few more times and finally the eyes glowed green.

"(Yes …. Yes!)" The man smiled like an overhyped child as he stood back. The creation moved his hands a bit and gazed around its surrounding. The man stepped closer and the creation looked directly at him. "(There, there. I will not harm you. We are family.)" The man carefully picked the creation up like a newborn child. "(You have a great future ahead of you)" The man placed his forehead on the creation. The masked being eyes gaze up at the man, and then smiled.

"(Now to name you, the first of your kind. Yes, you shall be known as …) HEY ARNOLD! HEY ARNOLD!"

In what may be the coolest room in existence, a foot-ball headed blonde boy arose out of bed. He looked over at his potato clock and unplugged it. "That was some dream." The boy, named Arnold stood from his bed. He yawned a bit and stretched. "At least I finally got a good night sleep."

They boy's mind suddenly shifted over something that have been gnawing him away. He walked over to his desk and there sat an old journal. 'Miles Shortman' the name of the owner was written on the inside. They boy flipped through the pages and stopped near the very last one, a skillfully drawn map of a jungle. He gently placed his hand and thought of the owner of the journal and his beloved wife, his parents.

About nine years ago; Arnold's parents, Miles and Stella, had vanished without a trace in the remote jungles of a Central American country called San Lorenzo. Miles and Stella were once scientists, exploring the jungles to discover cures for diseases.

Arnold closed the journal and locked it away in his desk. It has only been yesterday since the anniversary of their disappearance and nothing but sadness was overwhelming him, but then he'd discovered his father's journal. From within those pages he learned more about his parents, especially their encounters with the mysterious race of people hidden in the jungle, the Green Eyes.

Arnold sat down and thought back about how the Green Eyes and his parents have saved each other multiple times. It was that reason that Miles and Stella had left for their final mission, to save the Green Eyes from an outbreak of a disease they once have cured.

"Mom …. Dad." Knowing more about his parents made him feel better about his life, and more honor for his grandparents, the ones that took him in. But when he found that map, he felt overjoyed with hope.

He then recalled him showing the map to his grandparents. They were happy for him, but knew well enough what he was thinking.

(Flashback)

"Arnold, I know you must be thrilled to find this." His caring Grandpa Phil said. "But you know that it's …. Not likely that they're still around." Arnold's Grandma Pookie placed her hand on his shoulder. "And also even if this map might lead to some closure, we simply cannot go. Plane tickets are getting real expensive and we have to support this whole house, and you now."

Arnold knew this very well. But he looked at his grandparents and smiled softly. "I know, but if I ever get the chance. I'll go to San Lorenzo."

The grandparents know enough about their grandson's sense of hope, even if it seems more like daydreams.

"Arnold, I know a lot is on your mind." Grandpa Phil patted the boy on his head. "But you should get some rest now. You have school tomorrow."

(End flashback)

Arnold got dressed for the day and threw on his backpack. He walked out of his room headed into the kitchen with his Grandpa reading the newspaper and his Grandma flipping pancakes, dressed as a cowgirl.

"Morning, Shortman." Phil greeted his grandson.

"Morning, Grandpa." Arnold sat down as he was served pancakes.

"Eat up, Tex'd. You need brain food for some learnin."

Arnold ate his breakfast as his grandpa spoke. "So Arnold, sleep well."

Arnold looked up. "I did; had this weird dream though." Phil and Pookie looked at Arnold.

"Was it about San Lorenzo?" Pookie asked.

"I don't think so. There was this guy that was building some living masked doll or something. He was also speaking some ancient language, but I can still understand him."

"Hm." Phil looked back to his newspaper. "That's weird. But you know what else's weird. Look." Phil showed Arnold an article. The boy looked carefully and was surprised that it was about San Lorenzo. "Says here that they found a Green Eye's temple with some weird masks lying around that wouldn't fit a normal size head. Heck, not even yours."

"Wow, that's really weird." Arnold examined a photo and saw no sign of anything relating to his dream. "Well, I should be going now. I heard there's a big announcement at school." Arnold hopped off his chair. "See you after school."

"O.K. Shortman." Phil waved.

"Go round up them cows!" Grandma said.

When Arnold went out the door, the two looked at each other. "Why he seems happier now." Pookie said with a smile.

"Yeah. Glad that he found that journal." Phil sighed. "And that map …" Phil thought of Arnold exploring through the jungle in search of his parents. "Boy's head are too high in those clouds, just like his dad."

Pookie pecked his forehead. "A true cowboy."

Phil smiled. "They must be so proud of him." Phil skimmed through the rest of his newspaper and found something interesting. "Hey, Arnold's school in the newspaper. Phil read the article thoroughly and his eyes widened. "I don't believe it. Pookie, I think we're in the Twilight Zone!"

Arnold climbed into the school bus to see his classmates acting their usual selves. Harold laughing with Sid and Stinky, Lila is brushing her hair, Rhonda and Nadine talking about butterfly wings patterns, Curly yelling at random pedestrians, and finally his best friend Gerald.

"Hey Arnold." Gerald called out. "How've you been feeling?"

Arnold sat down. "Good, have a lot on my mind."

Gerald recalled what Arnold told him before. "Still thinking about your parents?" Gerald asked; feeling worried for his friend.

"Yes." Arnold smiled. "But you won't believe what I found in my attic, my dad's journal."

"Your dad had a-" Gerald held down a laugh. "I mean you did?"

Arnold grinned with excitement. "You won't believe what I've learned. I need you tell you later."

As the bus traveled around the neighborhood to pick up more kids, Arnold asked Gerald about his day at Dino Land.

"Well, I was still feeling bad about your parents, but to tell you the truth, I've been hanging out with Phoebe all day.

Arnold smirked and playfully punched his arm. "Good going. How was that?"

"Nothing huge happened, but I think it's heading in the right direction." Gerald folded his arm. "Here she comes right now."

Phoebe walked into the bus and noticed Gerald. She smiled softly and sat in the empty seat in front of them. "Good Morning, Gerald. Good Morning Arnold."

"Morning Phoebe." said Gerald.

Phoebe then looked at Arnold, thinking about what happened. "Are you feeling any better?"

Arnold's eyes lit up. "What are you talking about?"

Gerald looked at Arnold with a small guilty face. "Yeah. I sort of told Phoebe why you didn't come. Sorry."

"No, it's o.k." said Arnold. "Nothing to keep secret about."

Phoebe smiled. "Don't worry; I won't talk about it if it makes you uncomfortable." Phoebe said as she faced forward. "Here comes Helga and … huh."

The three kids looked ahead and saw Helga looking tired and miserable. "Here's your freakin money." Helga tossed some coins in the collection bid and walked into the spot next to Phoebe. She looked behind her to see Arnold and Gerald. "Great, Tall Hair boy and Football head."

"Sorry for choosing this seat, Helga." said Phoebe. "Looks like you didn't sleep well."

Helga yawned. "It's bad enough that Oooolga is home for a few months, but for the last couple of days I had the same nightmare."

"Nightmare?" Arnold asked.

"None of your business, football head." Helga slum sank into her seat.

"Did you eat those pork rinds again?" Phoebe asked.

"No, I'm off those for good."

Arnold and Gerald didn't know what they meant by pork rinds, but decided to not ask.

In Helga's head, she started fantasying about what he could have dreamt. "Oh Arnold, your dreams must always be perfect. Flying above the air and observe the beautiful earth below." Helga's thoughts then turned to what she'd found out yesterday. "But alas, nothing is perfect. Your life is incomplete. Your parents have been missing for who knows how long, leaving behind the most perfect boy in this ungrateful world. And imagine what they are like in person. Creating such an angel will need both a balanced mind and heart like a god. Ohhhh, Arnold."

"Helga?"

Helga jolted up. "W-what?"

"We're at school."

Helga looked around and stood up. "I knew that, bucko." Helga marched by and shoved Arnold.

"Whatever you say."

As everyone gathered in class, they wondered about what the announcement will be. Being about just for their class, they couldn't help but guess what it is.

"We're probably going on a field trip to Entomology Lab." Nadine said.

"Or perhaps to New York during the seventh annual European Fashion Show." guess Rhonda.

"Or we are going to do an experiment." said Phoebe.

"Unless it blows up, I'm not interested." said Harold. "I bet we're all going to get ice cream!"

Helga yawned. "If it's boring, I can probably get some sleep."

Arnold glanced at Helga. "You know, this could be a once in a life time thing." Helga looked at Arnold. "You might like it."

"I'll judge it when it comes." Helga looked away, and thought about if it involves the both of them.

The bell rung and came in their now fifth grade teacher Mr. Simmons and Principal Wartz.

"Good Morning Class!" Mr. Simmons said with a huge grin. "We have a very 'special' announcement." He said as he bends his fingers upon saying 'special'.

"We get a vacation?" asked Eugene.

"We're punching something?" asked the Torvald.

"Did you find an ever most wonderful lady in your life?" asked Lila.

Mr. Simmons glanced around suspiciously. "No, but Eugene is close. Principal Wartz, will you…" Mr. Simmons then looked at Torvald. "I forgot you were in our class."

Torvald grunted.

"As I was saying." Mr. Simmons looked at Principal Warts. "Will you tell our announcement? I know you're more excited if we win."

"Win?" the class wondered.

"I will, Mr. Simmons." Principal Wartz faced the class. "Since your teacher had been nominated several times and recently had a promotion as your new Fifth Grade teacher, this class has been elected to take part in a country-wide essay contest. One student will be chosen from this class to write a three thousand word essay of any story about a certain country, whether it is about its modern or ancient culture, rulers or citizens, and even of its mythos. And whoever wins, which better be one of you, will have that student and class experience an all-expense paid trip to that country!"

The students awed.

"Is it France?" asked Rhonda.

"Mexico?" asked Lila.

"Candyland?" asked Harold.

"A remote communist country?" asked Curly.

"Good guesses." said Mr. Simmons, pretending to not hear Curly. "The country the winner will bring their class to and the subject of your essay will be non-other than the country we're currently learning about, San Lorenzo."

After hearing those words, Arnold's eyes widened as his heart beat faster. "Did he just say …"

"Yes, San Lorenzo!" cheered Principal Wartz, who then calmed down to keep his formal pose. "The class will explore some of the most popular cities and travel deep within the untamed jungles filled with ancient ruins and ferocious beasts. And I will be accompanying you all if you win. Win now!"

Arnold couldn't believe all this. "Is this … my chance to find them?"

Helga noticed Arnold getting real excited. "Wow, wonder what makes San Lorenzo special for him. Wait, what am I saying?" Helga thought to herself. "A beautiful Central American Country with exotic cities and majestic rain forests. I cannot think of a more romantic place to be with my beloved. Ohhhh."

Mr. Simmons took out a few sheets of paper. "Now the contest only allows one student to participate. And you have the right to choose, but from our recent quizzes on San Lorezno, I believe the one with the most heart to write a 'special' essay about San Lorenzo will be Arnold."

"Me!?" Arnold smiled while nervousness grew inside.

"Correct, I'd never seen anyone more enthusiastic about San Lorenzo than you, Arnold." Mr. Simmons said. "It's like it holds a special place in your heart."

Arnold looked around the class to see everyone cheering him on.

"You can do this, man." said Gerald.

"I'm sure you'll write an ever most wonderful essay." said Lila.

"Yes, we must travel to those high quality cities and filthy jungles." said Rhonda. "Wait, filthy jungles?!"

"Go Arnold!" said Torvald

"Do they grow chocolate there?" asked Harold.

Seeing everyone cheering him on, Arnold smiled with confident. "I'll do it!"

The class cheered, even Principal Wartz before he shouts at everyone to be quite. "Now Arnold. You have between now and the next two weeks to work on that essay. Don't play, don't eat, don't even sleep until you make that essay of yours so amazing that will blow the minds of the judges!"

Mr. Simmons laughed. "You just gotta love your sense of sarcasm, Principal Wartz."

"My what?" he asked.

Arnold couldn't stop himself from thinking about everything. "After all these years …. I'll find you. I'll find you with your map."

The rest of the class went by normally, they discuss about history, math, science, but Arnold's unusual attitude was quite distracting for the class. They just assumed that Arnold was overhyped, but his face sort of looked creepy at times, but it was not enough for Mr. Simmons to slow down the class.

The final bell rung and everyone ran out of P.S. 118. Arnold and Gerald walked out, heading to the bus. "Arnold, are you O.K.?"

"Yes, is something wrong?"

"Well. You've been smiling like Freddy Kruger all day."

Arnold felt his face and finally wiped it off. "Sorry, Gerald. It's just I'm excited to win a chance to go back to San Lorenzo."

Gerald shook his head. "Arnold. You've been even more interested in that country than Phoebe. What makes this … wait, again?" Gerald raised an eyebrow at Arnold.

"Oh, well … let's just say that country is very important to me."

Gerald noticed the lowered tone in Arnold's voice. Something was up. "Alright. But if you need to talk, I'm all ears."

"Thanks, Gerald." They did their signature hand thing and climbed onto the bus. Arnold's patient almost ran out when it made his stop. He jumped off and ran right into the boarding house, almost tripping on the animals.

"Grandma, Grandpa!" Arnold ran pass some of the boarders and found his grandparents in the living room. "I have great news!"

"Oh boy." They glanced at each other as the Boarders looked into the room. "Is it about some essay contest?"

Arnold blinked a few times. "Yes, how'd you know?"

"It was in the newspaper." Phil showed Arnold the article on P.S. 118's essay contest. "Just noticed this when you ran out. Looks like you entered a contest for a chance to go to San Lorenzo."

The rest of the boarder's heart sank, knowing exactly what this means.

"Grandpa …." Arnold looked at them, waiting for their approval.

"Arnold, we discussed about this." He and his wife held hands. "And we've decided …"

Arnold gulped, believing that they wouldn't allow him to go.

"…. That it will be best for you to go."

Arnold opened one eye and looked at his grandparents. "W-What?"

"You heard us right, Kimba." said Grandma. "We know you'll be heartbroken if we forbid you."

"But." Phil placed his hands on Arnold's shoulder. "Remember what we've talked about. It's been years, we know and we … how can I put this?"

Arnold then embraced his grandpa. "Grandpa, I know. But, I just know I have to go."

"We know, we know." Both his grandparents embraced him. "Promise us you'll be careful and that you will not go out looking for them on your own."

Phil looked at Arnold in the eye. "They flew off into some unexplored area. I doubt that even your class trip will go anywhere near that place."

Arnold's heart beat faster. He'd never thought about where the trip will go exactly. "I …. I promise." Arnold walked out of the room and headed to his bedroom.

The rest of the boarders soon entered.

"So it's true." said Ernie. "Arnold has a chance to go there."

"This is so sad." said Mr. Hyunh. "His heart will be broken."

"You don't think he'll go off on his own?" Oskar asked Phil.

Phil sighed. "I don't know. It's possible. But even if he explored every inch of that jungle unharmed, he probably won't like what he'll see."

Ernie looked upwards. "They were some very great people."

Mr. Hyunh wiped off a teardrop. "I remember when I first met him when I moved in."

"Me too." said Ernie.

"Miles told me to check a lump on my neck, and some doctor got rid of it, which turned out to be a spider bite …. With eggs." said Oskar.

"And don't forget Stella." said Ernie. "Smart and tough. No wonder Miles fell heads over heel for that girl."

Grandpa Phil sighed. "You should have seen him growing up. Always behaves, and somehow got a pet snake. I mean that thing was huge."

Grandma Pookie chuckled. "He'd tamed Quetzalcoatl and ruled the jungle."

"Quetz-what now?"

Oscar laughed, but then looked towards the steps. "So now Arnold has to write a story to win. That doesn't seem bad."

"I dunno." said Ernie. "That contest is country wide. He probably has a one in a million chance to win."

"You're right." Phil started to worry about his grandson. "Hope the boy won't work himself to death."

Arnold sat at his desk and took out his dad's journal. At first he was so excited to finally go to San Lorenzo and finding his parents, but now what his grandparents told them could very well be possible. "I don't know …" Arnold felt scared finding the truth. Are his parents truly dead? Will he even have the chance to find that answer? Arnold laid his head on the desk. For years he had been wondering that question for so long; leaving a void in his heart greater than knowing if they've passed. "But ….. I just have to know."

Arnold looked into the journal's map. He's been studying it last night before bed and found it to be more detailed than any professional map. He skimmed around the map with his finger and pointed out some nearby popular cities.

"Maybe I should just start writing."

Arnold took out some paper and began his draft of his essay. He wants to tell a simple yet well enjoyable story, but what should it be like? Arnold looked at the paper and sighed. "Come on, I need an idea. If only mom and dad were here, they would have told me what it …" Arnold rose his head up and looked straight at the old book. "My dad's journal" Arnold skimmed through the pages, admiring his father's writing skills. "Just submitting this would let me win for sure."

Then Arnold felt his heart sinking a bit. "I can't just copy my dad's journal, his life. He wouldn't like it. Would he let me? I am his son and he and mom …." Arnold closed the book. He's well aware that only he and his grandparents are the only ones who know about the information about the book, but he couldn't find the heart to just rip off a story, even if it was a part of his dad's life.

After going downstairs to eat and coming back to brainstorm, Arnold looked at the clock and noticed how late it was getting. "I should get some sleep."

Arnold changed into his pajamas and looked at his quick notes about his story. He felt uneven knowing that he had nothing original to work with, but the need to sleep overcame him.

Before he shut his eyes, he took out a photo frame of his parents in the jungles of San Lorenzo. "Mom, Dad. Let me find an answer." He put the photo away and slowly drifted off into sleep.

"So what is this called again …. An airplane?"

"Yes. I believe that is what it's named. Or a windplane? Maybe oxygenboat?"

"Ssssss. Ssssss."

"Don't look through there. You might hurt yourself."

"Hey, I think she found something, master."

"For the last time, I'm not ….. wait. What's this? Looks like a …. Clock? Clock, that's what it's called."

"Hmmmmm. We've dealt with modern machine before. I don't think this is supposed to tell time."

"Yes. Like it's a timer ….. why was it here? … I don't like the look of this."

"W-What are you saying."

"…. Oh course this wasn't an accident!"

End of Chapter