As he stepped into the clear glade he realized at once it was one of the meeting places he and his parents used in previous adventures.

The grass was lush, green, and smooth under his bare feet. Rubble surrounding a circle of painted brick and stone, embellished with decorative murals and design patterns to show it was a place of offering. And it was here that the aroma pots boiled their plants into a green smoke with a sweet scent, drawing Arnold in. Three fire bowls, two at the alter steps and one in the center of the circle, were brightly lit, allowing him to see. This was an offering sight to the Green-Eyed people.

As he walked closer he noticed his shadow was on the opposite side of the alter steps and fire pit. Still, he couldn't make sight of the face to his elusive "friend" if he could see it that way. The only thing he could see was a pair of glowing, green eyes under his hood. The body, half in shadow, showed it was probably a man, an elder even. Without a word the shadow pulled aside a few branches to reveal another Green-Eyed elder, for he too, had the same glow as his comrade. The second elder placed himself on a cushion, showing all his robes and his hands and feet. Once again, the hood made it difficult to see his face, save for the eyes.

Arnold slowly approached and saw neither of them meant him any harm. But why would they? He and his parents have helped them time and again, as well as his birth made him be seen as almost a god to the Green-Eyes. As he reached the top of the steps he saw the elder point to a cushion opposite of him, across the fire pit. Arnold saw himself seated and looked upon the Elder; both knew he needed some answers.

"I know you have brought me here for a reason," Arnold started to speak.

He didn't know if they understood him, but it was too late to turn back now.

"You know I'm willing to help you, but in order to do so, I will need you to answer my questions as well."

As soon as he finished speaking he heard a number of whispers around him. He glanced and saw that more had come to watch this meeting. Everywhere he saw was a pair of green eyes looking at them. Watching them.

As the whispers subsided, the Elder spoke. He spoke in his own tongue, but as he spoke the words could be heard in Arnold's head, clearly as if someone translated it into a pair of headphones for him at a conference.

"We knew you could help us. You have always helped us.

And we wish nothing more than to bring peace and see you be undisturbed, Great One,"

Great One, a title given to him by the Green-Eyes for his bravery in his first quest and to his birth.

"I understand La Sombra has stolen yet another sacred object from you. What is it and why did he steal it?"

The Elder took a pouch from his robe and poured its contents into the fire. Using his hands he showed Arnold visions of a small gem pendant within the fire.

"The Talisman of La Corazon. It is a red gem that is part of La Corazon. It is the La Corazon to La Corazon.

The heart of the heart. With it and La Corazon, great power goes to he who wields it."

"Great power? What kind of power?"

Again the Elder waved his hands, showing a village both in peace and in flames as he spoke.

"The power to do many things. To whoever wields it, can cause great fortune or misfortune to all."

"But I don't understand. I don't recall La Sombra getting the Talisman the first time. Does he know what it can do?"

The Elder continues to show Arnold what he needs to see.

"Yes, he now does; as we have feared.

The first time La Sombra took La Corazon, it was during our time of prayer and sacrifice.

La Corazon is without power as long as the Talisman is not with it. The Talisman is the key to unlock La Corazon's powers."

"But if as long as La Corazon is safe, then isn't La Sombra stopped?"

"No. For the Talisman, it carries its own power. The power of sacrifice.

In order for La Corazon's powers to be unleashed, a soul of pure loving heart must be taken and consumed into the Talisman.

Only then can the Talisman become the key. But this can only be done when the moon is black and red."

"Black and red? You mean the Lunar Eclipse? But that is less than a week away!"

Arnold stands and starts to leave, but the Elder's words stop him in his tracks.

"Great One, the worse is to come. La Sombra knows one of pure loving heart. And he means to use her to bring an end to you,"

He turns back a moment.

"Her?"

Arnold is confused; until the Elder casts another handful of powder to the fire and bring an image of a young woman.

His eyes glow brighter as he tries to bring the vision to focus. Arnold sees him struggling and is worried.

"Stop, you will hurt yourself! Just tell me her name!"

The Elder doesn't heed him and continues. The image starts to come into focus. As the Elder uses all of his strength, Arnold starts to see and hear the apparition's voice:

"Arnold, are you happy with your new life? *Sigh* If only I said something to you before I left San Lorenzo. Then maybe things could have been different…."

"Helga?"

Arnold looks at her, he sees her hair is in the same style but instead of a bow she has on a cap. Her unibrow is gone and she looks different. But he can see it is her.

"Helga!"

In a second she is lying on the floor in a beautiful elaborate gown, dying. The pendant is glowing around her neck. La Sombra is standing over her, laughing.

"…Arnold…" she vanishes into the firelight.

"HELGA!"

He tries to reach out to her. But instead the fire goes out. After his eyes adjust he sees the Elder fallen down, weak. The other is with him. Arnold runs to his side.

"You shouldn't have done that!"

"Forgive me…..But you needed to see…with your own eyes…

the power of the Talisman is great…on its own…

But with La Corazon…it will be much greater…

She will be the first of many….if you don't stop La Sombra…."

He hands Arnold a small parcel wrapped in a purple cloth.

"La Sombra has already gone…Great One,

our sacred magic…is beyond La Sombra's knowledge…

he mustn't…succeed...or all is lost…"

and with that the glowing Green-Eyed Elder passed on.

Arnold looked down into his hand. He began to un-wrap the parcel to find a beat up golden locket with his picture in it from the 10th grade. Inside was a worn inscription; much was lost save for two words: "my heart."

Thunder sounded and rain began to pour. We see a look of determination on Arnold's face as he races through the jungle.

The route he took before had changed so he took a familiar route. Once he came across the old bridge he saw lightning struck it and broke it in half; opening up the ten foot chasm.

Arnold knew he couldn't jump it, but about three feet off from his ledge he saw a somewhat stable vine to swing from.

He knew it was risky; but he didn't care.

After a deep breath he made a running start and with the locket in his teeth he leapt and reached for the vine.

A blinding lightning bolt strikes.


Helga jumped up as thunder clapped and another bolt of lightning shot across the sky. It was morning. And the storm was surging all night.

"What a weird dream..."

Helga got dressed in her jeans and a pink sports shirt. Bagging her spare outfit and gym uniform, Helga slipped on her rain boots and coat. She plopped on her cap and went downstairs to the kitchen.

As usual, Big Bob was laughing and Miriam was complimenting Olga.

"Oh, honey, I can't believe you got to meet the President!"

"Oh, thank you mummy, but it was nothing more than a mere piano recital and a lesson for his two daughters. Although I have to admit, I was pleased to hear the First Lady Michelle offer me a chance to go with her to Russia, I couldn't turn her down."

Olga was home for the next two weeks before she went to Russia for some big charity with the President's wife. And, of course, she was driving Helga nuts before she left.

"Oh, and look who's finally up! Good morning baby sister! I can't wait to go pick up that lovely dress we picked out for you to wear for the prom from the cleaners!"

"Yes, the lovely dress YOU picked out, Olga," Helga mumbled.


So? I hope you're enjoying this! Please R&R!