Hey everyone, long time no update huh? Getting close to the end here! But not as close as you think. In this chapter I'll explain why La Sombra wants La Corazón and if the HA! Gang will get out or get shot. What's gonna happen between Helga and Arnold? Will I ever let them kiss?! Will Chal live along with her parents? What did the note say? And will Arnold play the hero? Let's see!

PS. If you're wondering what Chal would sound like, listen to Salma Hayek and imagine what she'd sound like as a kid lol

I don't own Hey Arnold! Just Chaltiquel, Chalchi, Tlacelel, Coyotl, the villagers and pirates :P

CHAL'S POV

"Arnold!" I yelled for my brother, but he could do nothing. I looked at my uncle and his family and they looked alert, ready to attack, but as if there was an endless, invisible wall separating them from me. The three men with guns turned to the villagers as the other two stood by the stairs. I watched five others carry away the teachers and my mom and dad. I looked over to my beloved father's lifeless body. I shivered as La Sombra laughed.

"Oh come on, a little family blood spilt isn't that bad! It's actually kind of ironic, don't you think Princess?" He pulled me up the steps to my uncle's throne. My eyes widened as we came across the gigantic Arnold-like throne.

"Open it!" He hissed in my ear, throwing me into the throne. I wiped the blood from the new scrape on my cheek.

"Why do you need me? Can't you open it yourself? Or did you not think this through?" I glared at him. I wanted to rip that mask off his face so I could see the way his teeth flew from his mouth when I got the chance to smash his face into the stone walls. 'If only…'

"I've been thinking about this for what, ocho, nueve, diez, TEN YEARS! OF COURSE I THOUGHT THIS THROUGH YOU ORPHANED BRAT!" I let out a gasp as he grasped my neck. He let go, causing me to fall back to the floor. He bent down to my level as I coughed and choked on my newfound source of oxygen, "You and I both know that only one of royal blood can open our little treasure box, so I can't do it, the Americanos can't do it, so you're going to do it." He snatched me up by the arm as he hissed his demand and I walked over to the wall. 'Ancestors, forgive me…'

ARNOLD'S POV

I sat on the ground glaring at the dirt until I saw a shining green light approaching us. Everyone gasped as the pirates began to chuckle deviously. I scowled darkly at the man now holding my beaten sister and now, La Corazón. The villagers and royals all bowed and turned, murmuring prayers. I heard Helga's breath hitch in her throat as she finished rapping her soft ribbon around my bloodied hand. Her grip tightened and I hissed in pain. She didn't notice.

La Sombra began his deathly cackle as he dragged my sister to his side, "Well, well, boy, I believe this is it for you and you're little friends. It's a shame you just found your family, but I'm afraid, like Eduardo here, they won't be around for long. And neither will you. I'll be taking the girl! In case anyone decides to be foolish!"

No one said a word. I stood abruptly, "Why?!"

He gave me a bored look , "Why?"

I nodded and continued, "Why do you want La Corazón so bad? Why take it away from its people? Why kill us off? What's so important you'd do something so horrible?"

He shook his head and although I couldn't see it, I swear there was a smug grin across his scarred, tan face. "You really don't get this whole 'evil-river-pirate-gig', do you niño? Do you have any idea what this mere relic can do? Allow me to enlighten your tiny minds on the Legend of the Heart of San Lorenzo. It's said that located in the temple of the Great Creator, there are riches the Great Creator left for his people. Long ago, the Great Creator decided to live with his people, hoping to be of more help by being closer to them. But of course, we all know generosity gets you absolutely nowhere. I mean, look at you!" He laughed at his own cruel joke, " Anyways, the people began to take the Great Creators gifts for granted. They became greedy." 'Like you?' I thought, but decided it was best to keep my mouth shut. "The Great Creator decided to lock the treasures he brought with him in his temple, for the people were to earn them by his next return. He created a key to the treasure and placed it in the Empress's care. A beautiful green-eyed woman with green hair, named Chal." He smirked as Chal's eyes widened, her breath catching. "A great ancestor of the royal family. Thus, your green hair. But to the point, he created La Corazón as the key before he returned to his world beyond ours. Basically, once the key is placed within the temple, the treasure will be open to anyone. A treasure beyond all the riches you can imagine! And I intend to take it!"

"You can't!" I glared, "That belongs to the Green-Eyes!"

He laughed again, turning to say 'he still doesn't get I'm the villain!' to his companions who chuckled in response. I let out a low growl.

"Look, I don't care! I'm evil! But just to please you, I'll leave something in return."

We all looked to each other in surprise at his statement. "W-what?" Helga questioned, biting her bottom lip.

"A lot of human souls." We all began to shout and cry out as he turned and left with two of the men trailing behind, guarding his and Chal's backsides. Brainy came forward yelling for Chal, her calling his name in response as she was pulled away by La Sombra. Brainy was pushed back towards the class by one of the pirates. In less than an instant, Chal was gone from my sight. I felt like crying. Or screaming. Or better yet, fighting. Little did I know, so did everyone else.

Around 20 minutes later, the minions turned to us with their guns, feeling that La Sombra was a good distance away.

"Alright, blondie, you and your football headed friend line up with the rest." A big red headed man nudged Helga 's shoulder with his gun. "We'll kill off the kids first, then we'll get to the Royals."

A bald man with a brown goatee nodded and pointed his gun at Rhonda and Nadine, who whimpered and screamed. A raven haired bandit turned his gun on Sid, Stink, and Brainy.

"You heard the man, four-eyes! Get in-!" Before any of us could register what was going on, the raven hair man was shot in the chest by three arrows tipped with an array of colored feathers. I turned to see the Chief with the bow and colorful golden arrows. Brainy snatched the man's gun as the man fell to the ground with a 'THUD!' Lila and Sheena let out screams as the red head turned to shoot the Chief. Helga snatched the gun from Brainy and took a swing, smashing the redhead into his head, knocking him down. He struggled to get up, but I pulled a swift and brutal axe kick to his back, causing him to slam back down into unconsciousness. The bald man decided to go for my classmates, but was quickly stopped as Curly let out a wail and jumped on the man's shoulders. One by one the warriors began to approach, calling battle cries and attacking the man.

La Sombra had awoken the Green-Eyes. And they wanted vengeance.

The class began to cheer as the tied up the men, Curly laughing maniacally atop a drum yelling, "All hail Curlzan! AH HA HA HA HA HAA!" The women of the village came for Eduardo's body, removing it from the scene. I picked up my dad's notebook that had been dropped in the process. I was about to run into the forest when I was stopped by Gerald.

"Where do you think you're goin'?" He let go of my arm as I turned to him.

"He's gonna kill my family Gerald! And Principal Wartz, and Mr. Simmons, and Ms. Pataki, and-"

"You're gonna get yourself killed going out there alone!" He argued.

"I must concur. The chance of you winning on your own his highly unlikely." Phoebe added, joining Gerald.

"What else am I suppose to do?!" I yelled frantically. "I have to go! I have to save them! I've gotta—" SLAP! I rubbed my cheek and turned to see Helga glaring at me.

"Never thought you'd actually make me hit you. For cryin' out loud Football head! We're gonna save 'em. We just can't do it alone. You guys didn't save the neighborhood without a little help, why not get some help now." She smirked at me and I turned to Brainy who nodded. He actually looked angry, which I just wanna say, is pretty freakin' scary.

"Well, what are we suppose to do, we're just a bunch of kids?" Sid walked up to join us.

"I say we learn how to talk to a bunch of wild animals and go on a rampage and stampede over the temple, them we go swinging from vine to vine like naked apes!" Curly jumped in. We all gave him half-lidded frowns.

"You do that Curly." Rhonda rolled her eyes.

"Maybe we can ask them for help." Nadine nodded toward the Green-Eyes, who were distracted by their prisoners at the moment.

"Yeah! I reckon their ready for a battle or sum'in."Stinky turned to look at them.

"Yeah! And they got weapons too!" Harold added loudly.

"Yeah! You guys are right!" I smiled, "but, how are we going to convince them to go into battle. They've been through a lot because of me and they seem a bit busy.

"You just say what you have to say, Hairboy. Leave getting their attention to me." Helga smirked and walked over to where the prince was standing. We all watched with curiosity, and admittedly, a bit of jealousy. (KT: Nope, just you Arnold XP)

'Just what is she up too?' We all wondered.

HELGA'S POV

I walked up to Prince Coyotl and tapped him on the shoulder. He jumped and turned to me absolutely petrified. 'What. A wuss!' I rolled my eyes and smiled at him. He blushed and smiled.

"Think you can get their attention for me?" I smiled brightly, twirling my blonde locks around my finger as he nodded quickly, turning to his father, the Chief. He whispered into his father's ear and his father looked towards me. I pointed to Arnold and he nodded. He called for everyone's silence. Arnold paled but stepped up on one of the drums to be seen, considering his short stature. 'Oh, he's so cute when he's nervous. NO! FOCUS, Helga, focus! Fantasize later!'

I shook my thoughts clear as he began.

"Um, well, look. First off, I wanted to apologize for everything that's happened to all of you. This isn't what I thought would happen. I'm sorry about Eduardo and Chal, I'm really sorry. But we're gonna get everyone he took back! Alive! We're going to return La Corazón back too, and he will not take your treasure away from you! I promise! I know some of you might not want to help us because of what has happened, but I need your help to save them and return La Corazón." There were some murmurs within the crowd of villagers and warriors. "My parents returned it to you before and have helped you for years. Now they need your help. Our help. Please, I'm begging you, help me save them and La Corazón. La Sombra said nothing good comes from good deeds but I don't think that's true at all. If we all fight together, I'm sure we can finally defeat him and save La Corazón! Who's with me?"

The class and I cheered but the warriors were silent. They looked to their Chief for answers.

"We'll need weapons." Tlacelel smiled.

The cheers from the class and villagers erupted as the Chief motioned for the class to follow. Arnold and Gerald shared their signature handshake as the class ran after Tlacelel. The boys quickly chased after the Chief, Arnold grabbing my hand with his ribbon clad one and pulling me to follow.

I smiled as we ran up those long steps to prepare for the battle over San Lorenzo's heart and all the special people whose lives became tied to it.

A/N: Woooo! I hope that was worth the wait. I figure revenge and riches would be the most likely cause for a river pirate/treasure hunter so yeah. I'll miss Eduardo, he was so cute in "The Journal". Especially when Stella kissed his cheek he was all 'Daaaw, it was nothin'.' XD So the kids are going to war. At ten. O_O Woooow. Nearin' the end! Stay tuned! Any request for this fic for deviantart? Any one make any deviations for this fic? Pretty plz? Lol

Read and Review,

Love Kirei