A/N: Gah! Why does it all have to end? Lol okay, maybe not completely but forreals, last chapter in San Lorenzo then an epilogue. Thank you all for sticking with me and reading this all the way through. I worked really hard on this and appreciate all of you! Look out for more of Curly's Angels and my girl Panfla and I are currently working on a fanfic for Brainy and Chaltiquel. I'm really hoping you guys are interested in 'Chrainy'. Or at least we got some Brainy fans! Woo woo! … Okay, I'll never do that again…Anyways; look out on deviantart for a clue on my upcoming AxH fic!
Enjoy the last day in The Heart of San Lorenzo!
I still don't own Hey Arnold! but I do wish Craig would read this! Pretty please? Lol
ARNOLD'S POV
The next few days all seemed to go like a blur. Between our adventures with the Green-Eyes, spending time with my parents, and keeping the gang out of trouble, the weeks been pretty exciting. I can't lie when I said I was a bit sad to hear that the plane had arrived Friday morning. Then again, I can't wait to take Mom and Dad back home to Grandpa and Grandma. I exited the palace we were allowed to stay in. I found my parents waiting outside with the rest of their stuff packed. The adults and some warriors (surprisingly) left the village to help us load our cargo.
"Ready to head out, son?" My dad grinned at me and patted my back. I gave him a calm half-lidded smile as my mom smiled at us.
"Yeah, I've got everything, the gangs waiting for us at the wagon with the our teachers."
"Wait, wait, wait!" My mom yelled, stopping us as we began down the stairs. We turned to look at her and received one of the happiest smiles I've ever seen on anyone. 'I wonder if that's what I look like when I smile…'
"Let's go down like a family!" She grabbed my and my father's hands. I blushed and we were all beaming brightly.
My parents and I waved goodbye to the villagers. I could sense a hint of sadness from my parents about leaving. After all, they've been here for 9 years. It's like me leaving Hillwood.
"Man! I can't wait to see Grandma and Grandpa! They're gonna be so happy! Can you imagine it?" I grinned at them. I really missed my grandparents, and as crazy as they are, the boarders. They helped raise me when my parents couldn't. They're my family just as much as Mom, Dad, and…
"Chal! Where's Chal?!" I looked up at them as we boarded the wagon taking us to our plane.
Mom and Dad looked at each other with a slightly worried face.
"Should we, um, tell him Stella?" Dad rubbed the back of his neck as the wagon began its trail. Mom pushed her hair out of her face and let out a sigh, Um..."
"She's not coming?!" She has come! She helped me with Helga and La Sombra! She's, she's my sister! She's my family!
"We have to go and convince her to come back!" I stood but was pulled back by my parents.
"Honey, be careful, you'll fall!" Mom scolded.
I sat back down with my face in hands. I began to feel a little sick. How could they just leave her?
"What's wrong, Arnold?" Helga nudged me. I turned to see everyone looking at me. I frowned and Helga's look softened.
"Chal's not coming home with us…"
"What!?" Everyone gasped and chatter and yells of disapproval.
"But, who's gonna go shopping with me?" Rhonda gasped.
"We were all supposed to go see Rats! when we all got back!" Eugene sighed in defeat.
"Yeah, and we were all suppose to go to Dinoland with Chal." Sid frowned.
"Aw man, this really bites!" Stinky cried, throwing his hand over his eyes.
"Mm, mm, mm. After all we done been through." Gerald shook his head sadly.
"We're all ever so sorry Arnold." Lila added, her delicate face, for once, full of sadness.
I looked over at Helga; she just stared up at the cascading green canopy that flowed over the multiple thick branches. A small smirk planted on her face.
"What's so funny?" I asked, a hint of anger in my voice.
"You're all morons." She winked at me, causing my face to flush. Brainy smiled from his spot in between Curly and Sid.
"You know, you're going to run out of tree limbs at some point or another." My parents smiled as a giggle echoed through the jungle as none other than Chaltiquel came out of the trees and landed in the middle of the wagon.
"Haha, miss me?" she grinned, her accent melting the hearts of our classmates.
"CHAL!" They all yelled.
"The one and only!" She smirked at me.
"We thought you weren't coming!" I grinned, hugging her.
"Do you think I'd look like this if I wasn't?" She put on her best modeling pose, extracting a giggle from our peers. She had a point. She wore one of dad's old blue jean shirts, underneath it a mango yellow-orange half-top with white trimmings. Along with it she work a pair of pale blue shorts. I smiled when I noticed her brown moccasin boots and her lime green bracelets. The most catching thing was the white bandana on her head, which was covered with red polka-dots. She mentioned that she found it in Eduardo's room. Mom said she had given it to her before Chal was born.
"I love it! Its totally city-chic meets jungle-cute!" Rhonda squealed.
"It's what? Okay, even I think that sounds kinda lame, Rhonda." Nadine giggled, as Rhonda 'hmphed'. I chuckled as we came to a stop in front of the plane. 'Thank you La Sombra.' (A/N: Remember La Sombra had brought them here by plane, which turns out his brother had taken from the United States :P) I hopped off as mom and dad helped off everyone else. I could see the Chief and his son, along with another thick man from the village. As I got closer, I recognized him as Matlal, the baker of the village that Chal liked to steal from. I smiled as everyone caught up, most began boarding the aircraft.
CHAL'S POV
I smiled as I notice Tío Tlacelel and Coyotl standing near the plane. I ran up next to Arnold.
"Tlacelel! Coyotl! Matlal?" I looked on surprised. He was…crying?!
"Matlal?" I frowned at the round, tan man in his messy little apron.
"I'm gonna miss you, little rebel!"
"Oh, Matlal! You old coot!" I hugged his round belly as my parents nodded at him.
"Here, a gift from me. You don't have to steal it this time." He handed me a woven basket. Out of curiosity, my family peeked inside. It held enough baked goodies for our trip back for everyone.
"Oh my! Matlal!" Mom gasped, eyes glistening. "Thank you!"
Matlal smiled, "And no raspberries for Señor Miles!" He gave dad a rough pat on the back, "I remembered this time! Sadly, it is the last." Dad chuckled as Matlal pulled a loaf of bread from his rusack. "Here, for old time's sake. In honor of Eduardo." He smiled softly at Chal, handing the loaf to her. She smiled and nodded , "Thank you. I will miss you, my old friend. One day, maybe we can play our game again. Five gold pieces says I'll still fit through your window!" The old baker laughed cheerfully.
Coyotl stepped up, "When you come back, I might be chief…" he looked down at his feet, "Chal, I'm so-!" Chal interrupted his apology with a swift and tight hug.
"It's okay. I understand, my cousin." They parted and shared a smile, "But just know I can still kick your ass when I come back, chief or not." She smirked, giving him a playful punch to the arm. He laughed before turning to Helga.
"I wish you could've stayed longer, your company was enjoyable." He smiled, a small blush on his cheeks.
"Ah, thanks. Same." Helga blushed, and swallowed hard out of embarrassment as Sid, Stinky, and Harold laughed as they boarded, mocking them with kissy faces.
"But, alas, my heart belongs to another within the village. My apologies for leading you on." I wanted to laugh at Helga's reaction. Her face was a mix of disgust, embarrassment, disbelief, but you could tell she was slightly amused and wanted to roll over laughing.
"It's okay. I have someone else I like anyways." She and Arnold glanced at each other before looking away. Tlacelel was next to approach our family and Helga.
He approached Helga first. "We were able to recover these for you." He smiled, handing her her bow and arrows from the battle. She beamed brightly taking them back. "You have done well, and we owe you all our lives." He turned to all of us and then to Arnold, "You gave us back our hope and strength. If you ever need anything, do not hesitate to ask, young hero. You are all welcomed in our village at anytime. You are Green-Eyed family now." He looked up at Stella and Miles.
"You have saved us from the sleeping sickness twice. You have brought a blessed child into our world and saved our greatest treasure." He smiled at me, making me blushed. "We will miss you old friends. I know our paths will intertwine once again someday, whether it be our souls, or our future generations to come. I thank you one last time, for now, until we see each other again." He shook hands with Dad and hugged my mother. He turned to me, a bit of sadness in his eyes.
"My beloved sobrina. You will be missed. Though troublesome, and veeery mischievous, you have brought life and adventure to us all. You are much like your mother. Kind-hearted, giving, daring, sneaky," he grinned widely, "and loved by everyone who meets you. You are our treasure, but your place is no longer with us. Now, you will make your own path. When you were born, your mother chose to raise you with Eduardo and our American friends. She chose to protect you and she knew what that would lead to. Same with your father, Eduardo. I know you've learned of your birth father, La Somba. Though he was not the best man, you do have his one quality he was respected for before he left the village; his dedication. I know you will do well in this place you will travel to and call your home. Before you leave, a gift to you." He pulled out a necklace with the symbol of the Green-Eyes as a charm. At the center of the eye was a glowing green rock for the pupil. I handed the rest of my gifts to mom and dad before gasping, "Tío! La Corazón!"
Everyone behind me gasped. The center of the necklace was a piece of La Corazón! 'Oh my gosh!'
"Yes," he smiled softly, "this was your mother's royal necklace. She never took it off. Now it is yours." He gently put it over my head and onto my tan shoulders. I marveled at the charm, speechless as I ran my delicate fingers over the stone.
"Now you will always have a piece of San Lorenzo with you." With that he embraced me in a tight hug as my eyes began to water.
"Goodbye, for now, Tío, Coyotl, Matlal, San Lorenzo. I will miss you, and you have my love forever." I let go of my uncle and we all bowed one last time. I smiled and wiped my eyes as the last of us boarded the plane. Everyone was shouting and talking as Mr. Simmons tried to calm them down. Mom and Dad headed to the front, preparing to fly the plane. I looked back at my uncle, the chief of the Green-Eyes, my cousin, Prince Coyotl, future chief, and our baker, Matlal. I gasped as I noticed something else: hundreds of bright green eyes in the trees and greenery behind them.
I smiled and waved before turning and moving to find a seat.
"Mmm, mm, mm. I cannot believe it. We did it, Arnold." Gerald grinned as him and Arnold did their little handshake. I grinned as I took them all in. My parents preparing to fly us to America, happy and teasing each other; Arnold watching Helga sit down; Helga in a blissful state; Phoebe smiling at Gerald as he thought over their adventure here; Mr. Simmons making sure everyone was buckled before sitting down next to a snoozing Principal Wartz; Lila and Olga giggling to themselves; Rhonda yelling at Curly (still in a loincloth) from her seat next to Nadine; Sid, Stinky, and Harold laughing and joking around; Eugene being tended to by Sheena; and a quiet Brian Bartlett staring out the window.
I smiled to myself. I don't know what this new life will bring me, but so far, I love it just as much as I love San Lorenzo. 'I'm ready for you Hillwood.'
I made my way down the aisle, playfully pushing Arnold into the seat next to Helga.
"Chal!" he grinned.
"You know you wanted to sit next to your girlfriend." I laughed as everyone rang out with 'Ooos!'
My heart began to speed up as I jumped into the seat next to Brainy, or as I like to call him, Brian. He blushed red against his pale cheeks.
"Hey, mind if I get to know you a little better?" I questioned, giving him a half-lidded smile.
"Not at all."
It was around 9 PM that we all arrived at the 'airport' as they called it, in 'Hillwood'. I was so huge and busy. Everyone was quick to find their parents, heck, Olga cried when she saw her parents. Helga just rolled her eyes. Many stared at mom and dad wide-eyed. Some had their mouths wide open.
I felt nervous as we looked through the crowd of families, watching as some said 'hello' or 'welcome home' and on occasion 'What happened to you guys?!' to my parents.
"Chal, are you okay?" Arnold asked as he waved goodbye to our classmates.
"I'm…afraid. What if they don't like me?"
"Are you kidding? They'll love you! I have a feeling especially Grandma. You're pretty similar."
Mom and Dad laughed at the thought of my new abuelita. I smiled as the crowd began to clear.
"Miles?" We all turned to see a boney old man with a cleft chin standing by with a nervous and worried expression. With him, holding his hand, was an elderly woman in a green dress, a man with black hair and glasses, a blonde woman, a man with pink skin and brown hair, and a stocky short man with red hair.
"DAD!" I gasped at what papa Miles called the boney man.
"It is you! It's him! I don't believe it!" All of them erupted in cheers and tears as the old man, I'm guessing Phil Shortman, my new abuelito, and the elderly woman, I'm guessing was Grandma or Pookie embraced in tears and joy, hugging it out.
"You did it, Arnold! You really did it!" Grandpa Phil grinned, hugging Arnold.
"Well, we couldn't have gotten back without a little help." Stella smiled as they all turned to look at me. I blushed, feeling awkward, yet not completely out of place.
"My, my, who's this young lady. Are you a friend of Kimba's?" I blushed, remembering Arnold telling me about her nicknames for everyone.
"I'm his little sister."
"Sister?!" The blonde lady, which must be Suzie, looked at the pinkened man who I was told would be Mr. Kokoshka, her husband.
"This is unbelievable!" The dark haired man cried. He must be Mr. Hyunh.
"You can't be serious!" The short man, Mr. Potts, added.
"Oh no, Miles! What did I tell you in high school! Always use a- daawww, now Stella's gonna kill you in your sleep!"
"Phil! She's Chalchi and Eduardo's!" Stella interrupted.
"Ya don't say!" Grandpa grinned.
"Yes, my true parents are Princess Chalchi and La Sombra, but I was raised by my 2nd father Eduardo, Mom, and Dad."
"Well where is the old cowboy?" Phil grinned, looking around. We all frowned a little.
"We lost Eduardo in San Lorenzo…" Miles stated.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry dear." I was engulfed in a hug by Grandma Pookie.
I smiled. I think I love this woman already. "Well then, let's get home to the boarding house, I'm runnin' on empty! Judging by the whip attached to her hip and the sword on Shortman's back, not to mention the weapon's your little friend with pink bow and one eyebrow had, you've all got an interesting story to tell!" Grandpa smiled. I joined the group as we began to head out.
"Helga doesn't have a unibrow…" I whispered as we got outside.
"I gotta show you our school yearbooks." Arnold laughed.
)O(
I gasped as we began driving into the city. There were so many huge buildings and stores. There were cars I had only seen in books and pictures. I smiled as Arnold pointed out Green's Meats, Mrs. Vitello's flower shop where he said he and Gerald worked, Slausens', Dolly's Donuts, Stoop Kid's stoop, the park, Mighty Pete, Bi Bob's Beeper Emporium, where Helga's dad works, Dinoland, the movie theater, the Vacant Lot, aka Gerald Field, and P.S. 118. I smiled as we came upon a big, red building with a green door.
"Whelp, welcome to Sunset Arms!" Grandpa turned to me. I grinned widely.
"Come on, Freckles! Let's get you a room!" Grandma jumped out the car with a "Yahoo!" jumping into Grandpa's arms. He rolled his eyes playfully before following the boarders inside after a hoard of animals ran out.
I picked up a cute little pig that came running up to us. "You must be Abner." I cuddled him as mom scratched his ears.
"Aww, my little Abner's all grown up!" He squealed and I handed him to mom, who cuddled him.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" Miles grinned hugging us all. "Home, sweet home!"
I followed them in as we walked inside. It smelt of watermelons and sweet wood. It made me feel cozy, as if I was getting a warm hug from the home. I loved it!
"Come on Chal, welcome home. Let's get you a room." Miles grinned.
I smiled and followed my family upstairs.
"This is our old room here. You can have the room across from us. We'll decorate it however you like!" Stella smiled, hugging me.
"And my room is up here!" Arnold pulled down some stairs and we followed him up.
"Oh wow!" I grinned, looking through his skylight. He pulled a remote out of his desk as he set his bag and sword on the floor. He pressed a button which turned on some smooth music with a chilled beat, which he called 'Jazz'. A red couch flipped out from his wall.
"Aw, nice! I could never get that to work!" Miles said, "You know, this use to be my room growing up."
"Really?" Arnold beamed.
"Yep." Dad smiled and fell back on Arnold's bed, "Come on, get over here, Shortmans." We laughed as Stella put down Abner and flopped on the bed next to Miles.
"I can't believe you're all here." Arnold smiled, taking me hand.
"I can't believe I'm here." I grinned at him, squeezing his hand in mind.
"Attack um?" I grinned.
He nodded as we yelled, charging and leaping onto the bed with my parents. We all let out a shout as Abner joined in. 'Yeah, I love Hillwood.'
NO ONE'S POV
It's been 9 long years, but for once, in a long time, you could here pure joy and fulfilled laughter coming from the Shortman home. Complete and sweet.
A/N: GAHHH! FINISHED! SORTA. One more chapter left. It'll be kinda short, but it'll involve Helga and Arnold fluff and Chal meeting Wolfgang! Haha! Help you enjoyed the fic and I hope you'll love my next one too! Stay tuned for that and the last deliciously fluffy chapter! Also, watch my deviantart for an update to find out about my next fic! Thanks to all those who've read this and stuck with me! Love you guys and see ya soon!
Love, KireiTsuki!