Author's Note: The epic story continues. I just love putting Bridget in my stories. Dunno the real reason is, but I just love it. Do you want to know who plays Arwen in this story? Now here's the answer!
Legal junk: I don't own Hey Arnold, but Nickelodeon does and Mr. Craig Bartlett created it. But this fic belongs to me. Clear? Good.
Chapter 4: The Council of Bridget
After much walking through the mean streets of The City, they began to get bored and tired. Gerald then took out a packet of cheese puffs and started to eat them. The other guys, except for Sid, went up to him and asked for some.
"Guys, we're not stopping until we got there." Sid said.
"How about lunch?" Park asked.
"Didn't we already have it just now?" Sid asked back.
"Yeah, duh!" Park replied back, "but what about snacks between meals?" Sid then rolled his eyes in disbelief, walking away.
"Dude, I don't think he knows about snacks between meals." Robert said to Park, "You know… he's…" Robert glanced quickly at Sid to make sure he wasn't looking at them or near enough to hear them talk, and whispered, "…poor…"
"Ooh…" Park replied back, nodding. They were now in front of a grocery store with various fruits displaying openly outdoors. Then suddenly, Sid tossed an apple and Robert caught it.
Item Received: Apple. +50 to HP
"Dude, I can hear you from a mile away." Sid smiled at them, even though his heart was somewhat bitter at Robert's comment. Robert then hung his head in shame, regretting for saying that about Sid. He then handed the apple to Park and patted him on the shoulder. Another apple flew through the air, hitting Park in the head.
"Say Sid," Arnold said, "Where did you get those apples?" he asked while munching a bunch of cheese puffs in his mouth.
"DIDN'T YOUR MOTHER EVER TEACH YOU NOT TO STEAL?" an angry somewhat overweight old man came running out from the store screaming and began to chase the kids, while brandishing an orange peeler.
+4 Sid's Thievery Skills
"RUN!" Sid yelled out loud, and everyone ran away from the angry old man in panic.
+6 Everyone's Athletic Skills
---
Jimmy Kafka's residence. The old man was in his living room, looking at the fireplace. He gazed intently at the dancing fire, contemplating about something in his mind. Suddenly, the fire turned into the shape of Benjamin Franklin, shuffling his 100 bucks money. Jimmy Kafka widened his eyes, and rubbed them. He looked at the fire again. He still saw Ben, waving the cash in front of him. "You want this, don't you?"
Jimmy nodded his head slowly. Then, the Honeybees Cereal Company CEO joined in and said to Jimmy, "Then build me an army worthy of bringing that ring back to me!" Jimmy closed his eyes, and opened them back again. All the imaginary figures were gone.
"Boy…" he shook his head violently, and wiped his face, "I need to lay off the coffee for a while…" After washing his face in the kitchen sink, Jimmy then walked to the kitchen table, sitting idly. He looked very haunted. And then, his grandchild walked into the room and stood before him.
"Is there something you want, Gramps? What do you want me to do?" he asked, in a deep, grave voice.
"We have work to do!" He got up from his seat, put his hand around his grandchild's shoulder, and walked out of the room. Meanwhile, Grandpa Phil was trapped in a huge traffic jam at some freeway and it would be impossible to get out soon. He could do nothing but to just look at a car in front of him painfully.
Elsewhere, Arnold and his friends were getting weary from the long journey, and asked for Sid to stop for while and rest. Sid was reluctant to agree at first, but he had no other choice but to let them have some rest first before they could continue on their journey. "This was the Great Bench of Famousness. Elvis used to sit here waiting for the bus." The guys could see a buttprint of The King on the bench.
"Wow…" Robert said incredulously, "that's a big butt…"
"Arnold, could you come with me to that store over there so I can buy some snacks?" Sid asked him, and Arnold nodded, leaving the guys to wait outside. And after Arnold done some shopping, he head back out, only to find Gerald, Park and Robert playing with the flashlight.
"The heck you're doing? Switch it off, you fools!" Arnold snatched the flashlight away from them and switched it off himself, "Switch it off! The batteries are about to die!"
"Ah, you're just being stingy with the batteries, Arnold!" Park accused back. And then, all so suddenly, a fifth grader emerged from behind, making the kids jumped up and startled. But then they realized that there not just one, but five fifth graders surrounding them! The vicious and terrifying fifth graders punched their fists into their palms repeatedly, smiling at the terrified fourth graders that were about to wet themselves. Gerald tried a futile attempt to back them off.
Five Wild Fifth Graders appear/ HP 500 x 5 / MP 120 x 5 / Weak against Homework
"Back you devils!" he screamed. He then fought with one of the fifth graders, but was swiftly thrown aside and into the mailbox. Park and Robert closed the gap in front of Arnold, but unfortunately they too were cast aside. All alone now to defend himself, Arnold backed across the sidewalk in fear. He stumbled and all of the sudden, fell, crawling backward until he was backed against a walk/don't walk pole. Immediately, the fifth grader took the opportunity, approaching Arnold while cracking his knuckles. Arnold tried to scramble back, terrified, but had nowhere to go. The fifth grader then punched him in the face, bleeding his nose. Arnold cried in pain.
520 Experience Points Gained! Gerald LEVEL UP! - LVL 5
520 Experience Points Gained! Arnold LEVEL UP! - LVL 5 – HP 12/230 / MP 25/25 – Status ailment: Bleeding Nose
520 Experience Points Gained! Park LEVEL UP! - LVL 5
520 Experience Points Gained! Robert LEVEL UP! - LVL 5
"Man, what did you do?" One of the fifth grader yelled horrifyingly at the guy who just punched Arnold, "you made him bleed!"
"I… I-I…" the guy replied back worriedly, "It was just a soft punch! I didn't mean to punch him that hard!"
"Oh crud, look at him!" Another fifth grader pointed at Arnold frighteningly, "Blood's gushing out of his nose like a fountain!" And everyone looked at kid who punched Arnold accusingly.
"It wasn't my fault!" he responded back worriedly, "How should I know his nose is that fragile?"
"I think we should run…" Yet another fifth grader suggested, and they were all unanimous because none of them want to be the one who's responsible for Arnold's bleeding nose. And at this moment, Sid just got out from the convenience store and he was totally shocked to see the scene in front of him.
"Oh, snap!" Sid said, dropping the bag of stuff he was carrying on the ground and he quickly searched some rocks for him to throw at the fifth graders. Still in pain, Arnold held his nose tightly as he rolled around the ground, yelling in pain.
"Arrgh!"
"Arnold!" And Gerald rushed to his side. "Sid, help me out here man!" And after all the fifth graders finally retreated, Sid came to Arnold's side and inspected him.
"Oh, man! This is bad!" Sid said fearfully. "We're gonna need some bandages here!"
"Grandpa…" Arnold muttered for his grandfather, "Grandpa!" he cried out. But Grandpa wasn't even remotely close to him. He was still a prisoner in the traffic jam, trapped and couldn't find a way out. Grandpa looked around, and saw some lady shouting angrily on her cellphone. This gave grandpa an idea. He winded his window down and knocked on the lady's window. The lady was perplexed when grandpa asked her to lower her window down.
Back to Arnold and friends, his conditions were still not improved. And he was getting delirious.
"Gerald, run back into the store and buy some bandages!" Sid demanded it urgently. Gerald then nodded, and ran into the store, unsure whether he had enough money to buy some. Sid then looked at Park and Robert and said, "Nadine's house is nearby. You guys stay here with Arnold while I ask for some at her house!" Park and Robert nodded, and Sid quickly bolted away.
"Nadine!" Sid shouted once he arrived in front of her house, pressing the doorbell repeatedly. There was no answer. "Yo, Nadine!" Sid shouted again, and there was still no answer. He urgently wanted to save Arnold, so he made a decision to climb up a wooden gate and hopefully he'd find an opened window so he could get in and find it himself. As he was searching for an opened window, he didn't notice a figure behind him, slowly creeping from behind, brandishing a frying pan…
KLONK!
And Sid fell on the ground, creating a loud thud.
"What is this? Is that you Sid? What are you doing breaking in to my house?" Nadine demanded an answer, tightly holding the frying pan. "And why are you wearing your cap right? Aren't you supposed to wear it backwards or something?"
"Remind me never to wear my cap right again!" Sid then sprung up, rubbing the back of his head repeatedly, "Where were you?"
"I was…" she replied embarrassedly. "…In the bathroom… Anyway, what are you doing here?"
"Never mind that! I need your help!"
New Character Adds to Party (Nadine)
Arnold was seen holding a tissue paper up his nose, and suddenly he sensed a light nearing him. He turned towards it, and like a vision, saw Nadine approaching. "Arnold. It's me, Nadine." She spoke softly. "I am here to help you." Sid was right when he told her that Arnold was in urgent need of help. She then applied some bandages on Arnold's nose. Still, the medical assistance was not adequate enough to heal his nose. "We need to get him to a clinic, hospital, anything! Quick!" Nadine spoke in a panicky tone.
Arnold: Status Ailment cured. HP 1/230
"Oh and just how do you propose to get him there?" Park replied, "Haven't you read the papers lately? The whole public transportation network has gone on a strike for a week!"
"Oh… I wish my mom was here…" Nadine sighed, "She could've driven us to the hospital. Don't you guys have any other options?"
"No…" Sid replied, getting desperately worry, "Hey, what about your bike?"
Nadine looked back at him with narrowed eyes, "Sid, I'm not going to take him to the hospital on my bike!"
"I can't believe I'm going to take him to the hospital on my bike!" Nadine let out a frustrated breath, as Arnold climbed weakly on the stand at the rear wheel.
"I'm sorry for troubling you, Nadine…" Arnold apologized weakly to his friend.
"Don't say that, Arnold." Nadine replied, "Be strong. I'll get you to the hospital as fast as I can." She then turned to look at the boys, "I saw them from my room. There are five fifth graders behind you. Where the other four are, I don't know."
"Let me bring him to the hospital. You stay with the guys." Sid replied, "I'll send reinforcements for you."
"No." Nadine protested, "I know the roads around here, and I'm the fastest rider. I'll take him."
"But Nadine, the road is too dangerous!" Sid replied, trying to change her mind.
"I ain't afraid of them." Nadine answered back, looking deeply into Sid's eye. Sid could read it, she was resolute. With a reluctant nod, Sid gave her the go. Nadine nodded back, did a wheelie to gain momentum and cycled away fast.
Quest Updated (Nadine) – Bring Arnold to Safety
"Nadine, ride hard!" Sid shouted at her, "Don't look back!" he could only watch as Nadine rode away, looking at her with a worrying look in his eyes. "Be safe…"
"Sid!" Gerald shouted, "What are you doing? The fifth graders are still out there!"
In the frenetic urban landscape, Nadine rode on as the fifth graders give chase. Amongst the old houses, tall buildings, zooming cars, decayed roads and wall graffiti, they rode in pursuit. Nadine cycled faster, but with the addition of Arnold's weight he was slowing them down. The bicycle was not built for two people. Then, Nadine saw an opportunity. There was a busy road up ahead, and there was a clear way in between the speeding cars. Nadine took the gamble, and it paid off. (Don't try this at home kids! Try it at a really busy junction instead!) She was safely across, but it could take awhile before the road could clear back again for the fifth graders.
+3 Nadine's cycling abilities
"Give him up, girlfriend!" One of the fifth graders shouted at her.
"If you want him, come and claim him! And say that to me again! I dare you!" Nadine retorted back. The fifth graders then pushed the pedestrian walk button and waited for the road to be safe for them. Using the wondrous opportunity, Nadine quickly cycled away, but was not in time to be at the hospital. Arnold began to slip away from the bike and fell down on the sidewalk.
"Arnold!" Nadine screamed worriedly as she jumped out from her bike and ran up to him. "Oh… don't go all unconscious on me! We're so close!" she cried, embracing Arnold tightly, "Somebody! Anybody! HELP!" Arnold's vision beginning to fade to black…
After a moment, Arnold could hear voices, and he could see an image of some grownup girl.
"He passed out just because of this minor bleeding on the nose?" she said in disbelief. "What a baby!"
---
Arnold slowly opened his eyes, observing his surroundings. He was lying in bed. In his sight, he saw his grandfather next to him, looking at him with a relief. "Didn't I tell you to stand up to those bullies?"
"Where am I?" he said, half-asleep.
"You're in a secret base of a certain spy organization, which I am not entitled to say it right now. And it's quarter after two and I've forgotten what the date today is."
Arnold got up, "Grandpa." He spoke softly.
"Yep. Here I am." He replied back, smiling. "And you're lucky to be here to, instead of ending up at a hospital. Do you know how high hospital bill costs these days? I mean, jeez!"
"Wait, if I'm not in a hospital, then who…" he tapped his nose gently, after noticing a large bandage on it, "did this?"
"Eh, some freshman medical student at the local university." Grandpa explained. "Don't worry, you'll be fine. I think…"
"So… what happened, Grandpa? Why didn't you meet us?" Arnold asked.
Grandpa sighed, and replied, "Oh… I'm sorry Shortman. I was kinda delayed." Grandpa then began to flashback, telling Arnold what was his reason for not showing up at Slausen's. "I was in a traffic jam. A huge gridlock. So never, ever drive in this city! Take the public transportation, it's faster. Anyway, while I was trapped in the car, I saw a lady at the side of my car talking with her phone. So I lowered the window down, knocked her window and asked if I could use her phone for a while. I called the diner to ask ya to stay put for a while but the waitress already told me that you guys had already left. And that doggone waitress kept asking me to pay the tab! Ugh! So after I finally got myself out of the freeway, I saw some girls, college girls to be specific, heheh, crowding around at the sidewalk. I was kinda curious so I stopped for a while and I saw you. Then they took me and your friends to their headquarters so they can help ya out."
"Oh… so where are they, Grandpa?"
Suddenly, Gerald entered the room. "Arnold!" he screamed joyfully.
"Gerald!"
"You got me worried, you jerk!" Gerald said, and they all laughed. Sid, Park, Robert and Nadine walked in, happy to see Arnold was in good shape. The joyful scene was being observed by a college girl dressed in some sleek looking dark blue jumpsuit.
"Welcome to our humble headquarters, Arnold." She smiled at him.
"Bridget!"
---
The kids were then given a short tour around the headquarters by one of Bridget's spies. As the tour guide escorted them through various places of the base, they were being observed by Grandpa and Bridget in the security room through the cameras around the base. One of the cameras focused on Arnold, looking cheerfully. Then, Bridget said, "His nose is fully healed."
"Is it just me, or his nose kinda looks like Owen Wilson's?" Grandpa replied, stroking his chin. "I hope that's not permanent."
"Uh… yeah. Still… to come so far, still having the Ring in his Arms, he has shown extraordinary resilience to it's evil."
"Well, he shouldn't have picked it up in the first place anyway. It's a big burden, even for him. We can ask no more of Arnold."
"Phil," Bridget said, "The fifth grader army is moving, and Jimmy Kafka is amassing them to the east. He has brainwashed his grandkid with false ambitions of being rich and famous, while wanting the reward money all for himself."
"Reward money?" Grandpa asked, lifting one of his eyebrow. "I thought we're selling it to some antique store."
"No." Bridget shook her head. "My team had done some research about the Ring, and it appears we've uncovered more than we had expected. It turns out the son of the Honeybees Cereal Co. set up a successor company called The Hive shortly after his father's death. Still, all the riches in the world are not enough to satisfy him. He wants The Ring back, for historical and paternal reasons." She then took out a newspaper clipping out from her pocket and showed it to Grandpa Phil, "He asked that if anyone possesses the Ring of Power, he implores that it should be returned back, and… will be handsomely rewarded."
Grandpa read the newspaper clipping attentively. "So… how much cash we're talking here?"
Bridget looked at him back with an eyebrow lowered, "I dunno…" she shrugged, "more than you can imagine I guess… Anyway, did you know the person who slapped the CEO back in the 30's?"
"No. Who?" Grandpa asked.
"It was the great-grandmother of—"
"Ooh…! What does this button do?" Iggy said cheerfully as he pushed a button on a console near him.
"Hey kid! Don't push that button!" One of the spy girls warned him, slapping his hand away. "Ugh! Why the heck did Bridget invite you anyway?"
Sid was leaning against a pillar, in a Joe Cool like pose, watching Iggy from afar, amused by his antics. Then, Nadine walked in behind him, gazing at him with a concerned look. "Why are you afraid of the past? It's not like you're your great-grandma or something."
"Same blood flows in my veins." He turned to Nadine, "Same weakness."
"Your time will come." Nadine replied back, "You'll face the same evil, and you will defeat it."
---
The following hour, inside of a meeting room in the headquarters, a meeting was about to commence where it was unofficially dubbed as The Council of Bridget. There was Arnold, Grandpa, Bridget, the kids and other ones that Bridget invited earlier sat circling around a large table.
"Kids around the neighborhood, and everyone I have the foremost respect. You are being called here to answer the threat of the fifth graders. None can escape it. Each grade is bound to this fate – this one doom." Bridget said gravely. She then spoke softly under her breath to herself, "I'm so glad I'm in college right now." she then gestured Arnold to the front, "Arnold, bring the Ring to the front."
Arnold then got up from his seat, and ventured forward to the front. There, he hoisted the Ring to show it to everyone, and then placed it on the table. People began whispering. "So it is true…" Iggy spoke. "It is a gift. A gift to our enemies." He got up, pacing around the room, "Why don't we use the Ring against them? We set a trap, use the Ring as a bait, and then wham! The fifth graders are history!"
"We can't!" Sid replied, "It's too risky for us to let it slipped into the enemy's hand!"
"I didn't ask for your opinion, Sid!" Iggy snapped back.
Suddenly, Stinky stood up, defending his best friend, "Shut yer hole, Iggy! His great-grandma was the one who slapped the CEO fella! Show sum respect!"
Iggy was shocked, "Omigosh, really? So this is the great-grandson of the lady who slapped the CEO?"
"That's true. He told me himself." Stinky replied.
"Stinky, please sit down." Sid asked of his friend, and he nodded back.
"The kid is right." Grandpa Phil nodded. "We must not use this Ring."
"Then we have only one choice." Bridget replied.
"So what are we waiting for?" Harold suddenly stood up and jumped on the table, lifting his big hockey stick in the air. He then strikes The Ring with full force, but got repelled back, throwing him to the ground. Even with the powerful strike, it didn't even scratch the Ring.
"We're not supposed to destroy the Ring, Harold, son of Jerry." Bridget said, after helping Harold get back on his feet. "That's why the thing is sturdy. It's supposed to last a lifetime so it can be preserved, to be a collector's item. That's why we need to return it back to its rightful owner: The son of the Honeybees Cereal Co.'s CEO at the other side of the city. One of you must do this."
Then there was a dead silence from the Council.
"One does not simply waltz into the other side of the city!" Iggy protested, "It's way too far to go on foot! Besides, we need to pass through a high crime area in order to go there! Not with ten thousand kids could you do this! It is folly!"
Stinky found it hard to stomach Iggy's lack of bravery, so he stood up indignantly and replied, "Didn't ya hear anythin' of wut Bridget said? The Ring must be returned back so it won't fall into the hands of dem fifth graders!"
"And I suppose you're the one to do it?" Harold replied back angrily.
Iggy too, came into the foray, "And if we fail, what's gonna happen then?"
"I'll be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of a Southerner!" Harold retorted back, and the commotion began to start as arguments erupted amongst the Council members.
"Do you not understand that while you kids bicker amongst yourselves, the fifth grader's power grows?" Grandpa said angrily, trying to make the kids to shut up, "None of you can escape it!"
But Arnold, the only one amongst the Council, still remained seated as he watched The Ring uneasily, as the angry figures of The Council reflected on its surface. The intensity of the arguments increased. Slowly, determination dawns on Arnold's face. He stood up and took a few steps toward the arguing council, trying to make his voice heard above the commotion. "I will take it! I will take it!"
And the argument suddenly died down. Grandpa closed his eyes as he hears Arnold's statement. The members of The Council slowly turn towards Arnold, astonished at his remark.
"I will take The Ring to the CEO's son guy. But… I don't know where his office is …"
Grandpa chuckled slowly at his grandson, and he then walked towards him. "I'm going to help ya out, Shortman. I mean, you are my grandson and all." He then placed his hand reassuringly on Arnold's shoulders.
Sid too, wanted to help his friend out. He nodded approvingly, and said, "I'm gonna help you man. You have my rubber sword."
Stinky stood up, "And my slingshot." He said, walking towards Arnold.
"And my HOCKEY STICK!" Harold said enthusiastically.
Iggy walked over to them and said, "Eh, what the hey, I guess I'll join your guild too."
Suddenly, Gerald spoke to them, "If Arnold's goin', then I'm goin' too!" Arnold smiled at him, and they did their secret handshake together.
Park and Robert too, wanted to join in, "This is interesting! We're coming too, whether you guys like or not!"
"I mean," Park added, "you guys need people of intelligence on this sort of mission… quest thing! I should know. I've being playing WoW, you know."
"Nine companions…" Bridget said, nodding approvingly. "So be it! You shall be The Fellowship of the Decoder Ring!"
"Awesome!" Park exclaimed, "So uh… where are we going?"
New characters add to party (Stinky, Harold and Iggy)
Main Quest Added: Return the Decoder Ring Back to its Owner
I heard that a long time ago someone paired Sid-Nadine in his/her story, and I just picked it up from there. Not much of a big surprise, really. And it seems Arnold took a lot of beating in this chapter, but... that's what you get for being the Ringbearer. Well, thanks for reading and please leave a review.