Disclaimer: I don't own Hey Arnold! Unfortunately, nor the Disney movies that will be used in this story, mainly lyrics from The Little Mermaid, and Disney's newest, Frozen. Yes, There will be a lot of Frozen elements. Non of which I'm claiming to have come up with. All rights belong to their respective owners.

Let It Go

Prologue

The Start to the Loss of Innocence

Olga Pataki was a skilled Pianist. As a gorgeous adolescent girl, she was able to play the most difficult of pieces for concerts and competitions, contests that she usually landed first place. When she played, the melody flowed through the house like a pleasant breeze, and it drew her ever adoring baby sister into the room, eager to hear her play.

Baby Helga, at three years of age, had not yet been tainted by the reality of the fact that her parents were indeed more involved in her elder sister's life, than her, and because of that, she adored her sister most of all, who always did shower her with attention, where as her parents did not.

In fact, it was times like this, where Olga needed to practice, that she even incorporated her baby sister. Together the two happily laugh and sang while Olga played along to one of Disney's more iconic movies.

"The seaweed is always greener in somebody else's lake" Olga sang, while her fingers worked the piano keys tirelessly. Helga giggled, and jumped up on the piano bench besides her.

"You dream about going up der, but dat be a big mistakeeeee!" Three year old Helga followed her sister's lead, doing her best Sebastian the crab impression she could and throwing her small arms up in the air to accentuate just how big a problem it would be. Even older sister Olga had to comment to herself that for a baby, her impersonations were quite good, plus Helga's adorable toddlerness made Olga squeal happily.

"Just look at the world around you, right here on the ocean floor. Such wonderful things around you. What more is you lookin' for?"

"Under da seeeeea!" Helga sang happily following her sister, and then twirled around on the piano bench before flopping down besides her. Her eyes upturned, full of that adoration, and just general childhood happiness. "Under da seeeeeea!"

"ARGH. PIPE DOWN"

The piano ceased abruptly at the loud booming voice of the patriarch of the Pataki household. All at once, Big Bob Pataki came stomping in, his hand held to head in aggravation.

"Keep the girl quiet! She's giving me a migraine the size of Texas!" He obviously meant Helga, and this fact was not lost on the toddler, who looked from him to Olga with her eyes brimming with tears. It wasn't as if that was the first knock against her, but every time it happened, she felt a pain inside that at such a young age, she couldn't understand. But all at once things felt bad..

Olga rolled her eyes when he left the room, muttering about how toddlers were annoying, and she then returned Helga's gaze before offering her a warm smile and a tap to her nose.

"Don't mind Daddy, Helga. You know he loves you.." She tried to reiterate for her sake, even if she herself had to wonder. But even still, Olga's words were gold to her younger sister, and Helga was reassured. Smiling widely, she leaned in against Olga's side, and sighed happily.

"You're my favorite sister" She chimed happily, drawing a giggle from the elder, who put her hand atop the girl's head, rubbing her soft blonde hair affectionately.

"And you're my favorite, Helga. My favorite baby sister. We'll continue this later, maybe when Daddy goes to bed." She grinned mischievously, and Helga did too, just because Olga had. Even if her parents made her feel bad, she knew she could always count on Olga being there to make her feel better.

But sadly enough, the time never came to continue their fun. The song was never finished, and Olga was even more intensely engaged in her challenging piano, training for all the more competitions and concerts, the one approaching the most challenging as of yet.

Coincidentally, it was also the day of Helga's first day of preschool, and Olga was practicing furiously that morning, her parents beaming behind her.

No one seemed to remember to take Helga to preschool. Her father had told her "in a minute" but he simply turned back to Olga, and commented to their mother about how wonderful she was. Neither made a move to get the toddler to school.

Helga then looked to Olga, but the look on the elder's face both shocked and upset her. She was smiling, beaming under her parent's admiration. Helga knew Olga had heard her pleas to be taken to school, she had to have. Was she..ignoring her? The realization hit her like a ton of bricks, and if baby Helga knew what a heart was at that time, she would be able to say that it was broken.

She made the decision then that she would get herself to preschool, without any help from any of her family.

Chapter 1

He Knows..

Ten years later and at thirteen years of age, Helga Pataki was a force not to be reckoned with. Well, she was all throughout her elementary school years. Once she hit junior high, she did mellow out. Refraining from bullying as she once had in favor of a more no bullshit attitude. This of course earned her more respect than fear from her fellow classmates. It also happened to catch the attention of a certain junior high boy...

This boy was watching from his table in the lunch room, besides his best friend. Green eyes squinted when she stopped for idle conversation with Brainy, of all people. Who knew that kid could even speak...

"Geez Arnold, in her words you really should take a picture as it will last longer," Gerald announced with a flip of his hand. He was mildly amused with this new found infatuation; Arnold had been pining for the girl for some time now. Actually Gerald couldn't remember when it started anymore, that's how long it had actually been.

To this announcement, Arnold sighed and shot his friend a rather annoyed look. Truth be told, he hadn't actually even admitted to Gerald that he was head over heels for her. He expected once he did, there would be a certain level of ridicule that, while he wouldn't mind, he decided he really wasn't ready for at the moment..Never mind actually telling her...

No that was out of the question.

He was silent on the matter, simply pushing around pasta salad from the cafeteria with his fork. Coming into the lunch room, he was hungry. At the moment, while she chatted on with Brainy, he found himself losing his appetite. Gerald made a note of this, and even if Arnold hadn't admitted it, he snickered just the same.

"Dude, you're turning green over here" He chuckled and slapped a knee, earning him an even more annoyed look from his blonde haired friend.

"Shut up Gerald." He snapped a little too uncharacteristically. He regretted that all too soon after. Especially when Gerald lost that amused smirk. "Sorry..It's just..she's so different.." Arnold murmured lightly to himself, finally putting his fork down and turning his attention back over to her again.

Gerald could see what he was talking about; Different she was. But at the same time not. She was recognizable, less was the scowl, but her strong features still present. She had ditched the pigtails in favor of wearing her long hair down. (Though carefully brushed back so that there was no chance of it ever obscuring hereyes to insure that her secret identity was never recognized) And while most girls in junior high had become fashion obsessed, she had traded in her own dress for a more boyish pair of jeans and a plain pink top; a black hoodie often completed her attire, for the cooler months anyway, which she always zipped up half way.

She was plain, compared to other girls, but to Arnold, she was pretty. Definitely prettier than he remembered her as a child, but then again, he was sure he could attribute that to the fact that she had lost her distinguishing scowl. Without it, her face had taken on a more..angelic appearance, even when she wasn't necessarily smiling. And those eyes...

"Um..Arnold? Earth to Arnold? Hey Arnold!"

"Huh?" Arnold blinked, snapped out of his trance by his best friend's voice again, and when he looked over to him he had noticed Phoebe take a seat beside him. Gerald had his arm around her and had just planted a kiss to her cheek to which she returned with a giggle.

"You didn't greet Phoebe. That's rude Arnold" Gerald joked. Though Arnold only sighed and muttered a slight "Hey Phoebe"

"Greetings you two." But she had picked up on Arnold's somewhat somber mood right away "Is something troubling you Arnold?"

"Yeah, Arnold's got girl problems." Gerald sneered, but Phoebe gave a little gasp eager to know what SORT of girl problems, though she found herself swelling inside with hope.

"Oh? Well do spill Arnold..What sort of girl problems?"

Arnold had been scowling at Gerald now for opening his mouth, since Phoebe was the last person Arnold would want to suspect how he actually felt, well, second to last anyway, besides her.

"Don't listen to Gerald. I'm just a little tired today." Which wasn't entirely a lie. He was kind of tired, tired from stressing so much over how he would never be able to tell Helga how he really felt.

Gerald clicked his tongue at that, and rolled his eyes "no trouble my ass" he muttered and was about to speak further when the girl in question finally appeared besides Arnold, her lunch tray in hand.

"Hey kids, how's tricks" She chirped, unusually chipper, even for Helga Arnold noted bitterly. Must be Brainy. It was his turn to click his tongue, but he did his best to keep his emotions in check. Turning up his own positivity level, he offered her a friendly smile as she dropped her tray besides him.

This new attitude in her could probably be attributed to the fact that the four of them had grown considerably closer as a group. Gerald and Phoebe had started dating, so naturally, each respective best friend was forced into the mix.

Somewhere between the events that took place on the FTi building and when her best friend started dating her secret love's best friend Helga had made a vow to herself to be...considerably nicer at least. She pep talked herself into her abilities at hiding her true self to the point where she convinced herself she didn't need to bully him to keep her affections a secret anymore..And if she still loved Arnold, which she did, this was probably the best decision in her life she could make.

Once she dropped that scowl, she turned many a head, but especially his.

Gerald noticed Arnold tense after they all exchanged greetings, and Phoebe then scooted a bit closer to her as well.

"Did you select your extracurricular yet, Helga?" She questioned excitedly, but the blonde shrugged and sipped at bottled water.

"Donno yet. Was thinking Drama club, but ehhh." She trailed off hesitantly, but Arnold's interested piqued..Still, he shouldn't be surprised. She was an excellent Juliet in the 4th grade..It only seemed natural; though he was surprised it took her this long.

"I think that's a great idea Helga. You seemed to really enjoy that time in elementary school..." Arnold didn't finish that statement, mainly because he found himself remembering it through flashbacks in his own mind. He thought back to their 4th grade play, even when they both won the roles on Babewatch that one summer..She seemed like she was a natural..

She shrugged and looked off to the side, mainly to control the heat that she felt in her face from the blush that was obviously there. Arnold thinks I'd be good? And he remembers Romeo and Juliet...She felt her heart beat faster..Well, I guess I do know what I'm doing after school for the next few months she thought smugly then, and when the heat finally dissipated, she cleared her throat and looked back.

"Well thanks football head. Yeah Brainy thinks I'd be good too. He's going to join the set crew."

Arnold seethed a little inwardly, and slammed down the can of yahoo soda he was drinking, which of course caused everyone to look at him in surprise. He surprised himself too, as he had reacted out of pure instinct. He wasn't actually angry, at that moment anyway.

But he knew what it must have looked like. "Uh.." He blinked, and blushed a little, and tried to laugh it off a little, but when everyone still eyed him in surprised, no one seeming to want to back off it, he excused himself, stated he had to be somewhere, and took his tray and left.

Helga blinked, saddened by his sudden loss, but scowled a little then (hey, just because it wasn't always there anymore didn't mean it did not return from time to time)

"What the hell is eating him?" She demanded, but both Gerald and Phoebe could only shrug.

The rest of the school day passed without incident, and no one mentioned the strange behavior that Arnold exhibited in the cafeteria.

When the final bell rang, Gerald sought out Phoebe, and found her, thankfully alone, at her locker.

"Hey girl" He chimed smoothly, perching himself against the lockers so when she closed hers he was there. She smiled broadly at his appearance, and stretched up on her toes to steal a quick kiss.

"Hey Handsome" She grinned a little, beaming some inward at her own attempt at being more forward. That was a change in her over the years that she liked, and it was all thanks to him.

But once the greetings were settled, Gerald seemed to close up a little, looking over his shoulder, and then the other to make sure neither Arnold nor Helga were anywhere to be seen.

"Can we talk somewhere? There's something I need to tell you, and get your professional input on.."

Phoebe looked worried for a moment, instinctively thinking it was about her, or their relationship. Gerald picked up on that, and waved his hands in front of him.

"It's about Arnold.."

Phoebe visibly relaxed, and then with books in one arm, she held the other out

"Why don't you walk me to your house, and we can speak in private.."

She had a nagging feeling that while this was about Arnold, it was also going to involve Helga in some way, again a thought which she favored.

All too eager to oblige, the boy took her arm in his and started the way.

"As always my lady, a fine idea."

Once safe in the confines of Gerald's room (which Phoebe had suggested rather than her own because there was little chance that Helga would show up there unannounced, which she often did at her own place) Phoebe helped herself to a spot on Gerald's bed, while he flopped down in a computer chair on the opposite side, though he did roll it closer to the bed to have this conversation.

"Now, I know this going to sound crazy, but just hear me out, ok?" He started, Phoebe leaned in, eager to hear, even though she was fairly certain at this point what he was going to say. Phoebe felt her own heartbeat quicken.

"I'm pretty sure..Now, he hasn't admitted it to me yet, but believe me I know the look, and he often has that look..I think..My man Arnold..likes Helga."

Phoebe faked a surprised look, both her hands up to cover her mouth. But she couldn't maintain it. She soon erupted into a fit of giggles.

Gerald cocked an eyebrow. "What's so funny"

Truthfully, she was elated to hear he felt like that. But the reality of the situation was indeed that Arnold had not admitted it. Phoebe giggled a few moments more, but eventually calmed.

"Nothing I just think that would be cute if he did"

"You can't tell her though!" He blurted then "Besides Arnold killing, well, being horribly mad at me I'm sure, Helga would kill him. She'd make his life more miserable than she already has!"

Phoebe couldn't help but roll her eyes at that one, and how untrue it was. But still...could she tell him the truth?
No...

But what if it would help? Maybe if Gerald knew he could push Arnold to make the first move. Heaven only knew how Helga wouldn't do it now..or ever..and frankly, Phoebe was getting sick of the dramatic secrecy. Her resolve was cracking.

"Gerald..I won't tell him..if you promise, promise, promise, swear to me and on my life, promise promise to never, ever repeat to Arnold, or anyone what I'm about to tell you.."

He blinked, forgetting his own issues that he had come to her with, now suddenly curious at what she had to reveal, as if it wasn't blatantly obvious at that point.

"Of course, babe. You know I'd never betray you"

She giggled again, unable to resist that smooth voice. But she cleared her throat then. There was serious business now in front of them.

"Well you see...Helga..already likes him.." She paused, as if in thought, and then swallowed the nervous lump that had formed in her throat. "Well, actually..She loves him. She's been hopelessly obsessed with him since preschool..."

If eyes could go any wider, they'd be dinner plates Phoebe inwardly commented as she beheld Gerald's surprised expression. He opened his mouth to speak, but it was silent for a moment. Until finally he barely squeaked out "Since preschool?"

Phoebe nodded weakly.

"But the bullying, the name calling-"

"Doesn't it make sense?" Phoebe cut him off to state. "It was only.."

"It was only him!" Gerald made the realization just as Phoebe was saying it. She nodded to agree.

"You know how she used to be. She was desperate to keep in secret. It was the only way she felt like he'd never find out..And even now, she may have changed, but she refuses to tell him. If he rejects her, it will kill her.." She continued sadly. But she shook her head of the thought and once again regarded him. "But why do you think Arnold likes her."

Gerald shrugged

"Like I said, he hasn't come out and said it. But he talks about her constantly. He watches her; he's said she's gotten prettier.." He paused, racking his brain for other signs that Arnold liked Helga. Eyes widening when recollection of that day actually hit him. "AND was it just me, or did Arnold seem jealous when she was mentioning Brainy? Not to mention I swear he was staring at them talking.."

Fingers rested against her chin thoughtfully. She had been curious about that instance, and now that Gerald pointed it out, it seemed as if it was the only logical conclusion one could draw. A little hmmm escaped her, but she still looked at him a little sadly.

"You have to get him to admit it. Then you need to convince him to tell her.." She then concluded. She wouldn't dare suggest that he tell Arnold that Helga liked him. Gerald knew that already, and he nodded just the same.

"Easier said than done, I'm sure." He said coolly, while leaning back in his chair. Phoebe chuckled a little.

"Well naturally. They're both stubborn"

Gerald tch'ed at that,

"Please, leave it to me Babe, we'll make it happen"

Happily, the girl clapped her hands together at the thought of her best friend finally getting what she wanted, eventually anyway, and she pounced her boyfriend playfully. Laughing, he caught her, and the two spun around in his computer chair before she leaned forward and smashed her lips against his passionately, excited that Helga could experience the happiness that she had now come to know..

When Phoebe left, Gerald was eager to start the mission to get Arnold to realize his feelings for the girl. Now, he couldn't lie, he had his trepidations. After all, she had made his life hell. He couldn't just forgive all those discrepancies, even if the girl was different now, could he?

He strolled down the streets of the city, hands in the pockets of his hoodie, wondering these things out loud to no one in particular.

"She called him names, but he makes googly eyes all the time at her now. He's obviously infatuated, and I can't stand to see him so mopey." Of all people, to adamantly refuse to actually act on how he feels, it was baffling to Gerald. "mm mm mm..But Helga G. Pataki.."

He kicked an old can, and thought that the rattling was the only noise he heard, but something else caught his ear at that moment. It was someone speaking, a girl even, but the voice..It was a weird voice, not one would use in normal conversation.

Sounded like she was reciting poetry, in a very dramatic sort of way. But as far as he knew, the streets were fairly abandoned as the afternoon melted into twilight. Cocking a brow, he reached the corner where the boarding house now came into view across the street, and he cautiously peered around the wall, unprepared for the sight which he was about to behold.

It was Helga, and she appeared to be..dancing? Or at least spinning around..There was something gold in her hand that glinted as she held it up. But as he leaned in closer, it was what he heard that was truly, truly surprising.

"Oh Arnold, How I wish I could tell you how you made my heart sing today. Imagine, remembering that far away time where we shared that kiss on stage as Romeo and Juliet, if only I could admit how for me it wasn't an act out of a play, but a real true actual dream, a dream come true..If only.." She paused, and he noticed her hold the gold thing out in front of her, "If only you could one day return those feelings..Arnold..If only I was brave enough to tell you for real, just how much..how much I love you.."

That did it; Gerald choked back his gasp, but the sound still reached her ears, and caused her to shoot her head around with a look of pure, unabated terror upon her face, terror that was right to be felt, given just who was gawking wideeyed at her. Now, he already knew this information of course, but the extent to which this supposed love ran...now that was the surprise..The girl was truly, truly obsessed..so it seemed.

She shrieked, shrill, loud and girly as she leaped back, her hand relinquishing the grip it had upon the trinket he witness her gazing lovingly at. It sailed through the air and landed at his feet.

Neither moved for the moment, nor breathed actually, until Gerald broke eye contact so he could stoop over to pick up the lost item, now realizing it was a locket..

Oh my god, it's Arnold's picture..

He shrieked to himself as he stared at the face of his best friend.

All the while time had stopped for Helga, who continued to stare with that deer-in-headlights look, not daring to release her breath.

And just when she thought it couldn't get any worse, the door to the boarding house creaked open. Having heard a yell from up in his room, Arnold peaked his head out, just in time to see his two friends staring at each other in the street in front of his house.

This was fun to write. i've been playing around with this idea for sometime now, and admit it's really a guilty pleasure for me..to combine hey arnold, disney, and otherwise musical theater. haha. Hope this first chapter was enjoyed, and reviews are always welcome ^o^