Hi everyone. So the next three stories are all related to each in both theme/subject, as well as consequences, but divided into three parts, each with their own titles. Each story concentrates on one character. This first part will revolve around Arnold.

Because these stories are all part of the same series, it may become difficult for the average reader to fully understand what is going on. To help with this, I will be listing all previous stories in chronological order at the beginning of each chapter, so any reader that wishes to know what happened in previous stories can see their titles and read them prior to the current one. I hope this helps.

1. HA! Season 6: Helga vs. Rodrigo - Rodrigo Castile starts grade six at PS 118. He is introduced to Arnold and his friends and everyone quickly warms up to him, except Helga who think he is not who he claims to be and attempts to find out what he is hiding.

2. HA! Season 6: Los Tres Caballeros - (The Three Gentlemen)After his fight with Helga, Rhonda shuns Rodrigo and avoids him. But when she unexpectedly invites him to her upcoming party, she delivers a bombshell offer that even Rodrigo cannot afford to refuse. Will he be able to get back on Rhonda's good side and become friends, or is this the beginning of a long standing rivalry?

3. HA! Season 6: Salsa vs. Jazz - Rodrigo and Arnold are paired up to go a musical project presentation. However, they soon begin to clash when their bias prevents them deciding which genre to choose. Will they be able to put their myopic tendencies aside and work together, or are they desinted to fail?


It was an early morning day. The Sun was not particularly shining. It was actually a bit cloudy. The weather report said that there could be a chance of light drizzles later in the day. But that didn't matter to anyone in the city of Hillwood. And it especially didn't matter to the students arriving at PS 118. To them, it was just another typical day of going to school. And to Arnold, Gerald, Helga and Phoebe, as they got off the bus and made their way up the stoop and into the school, it had became typical, almost normal, at the almost daily event that takes place whenever Arnold enters the building every morning.

"Hey Arnold, you gotta help me man." A highly weary and fearful Sid approached Arnold as soon as he walked inside.

"Morning Sid." Arnold politely greeted his friend. "What's the problem?"

"I uh, I think I'm in trouble." Sid trembled in fear.

"Did you get involved with Big Gino again?" Arnold asked him with a frown.

"No, no." Sid quickly countered. "I learned my lesson with him. It's about our assignment. I uh, I completely forgot about it."

Helga could not believe how Sid would have forgotten about their assignment. Mr. Simmons made a big announcement about it and he kept on reminding his students for days since. But, instead of berating him, she just quietly allowed Arnold to handle it.

"How could you have forgotten about it?" An equally surprised Arnold asked. "Mr. Simmons made a big announcement about it and kept on reminding us for days since."

"I know, I know." An almost panicking Sid quickly said. "I just kept on pushing it off day after days, until I completely forgot about it. You gotta help me Arnold. This is a big assignment and a good chunk of our marks. I can't afford to fail this one."

"Well, why not tell Mr. Simmons the truth?" Arnold suggested. "Tell him you forgot and ask for an extension."

"Are you crazy?!" A shocked Sid exclaimed. "He'll never allow it, not with my excuse. That's the best suggestion you can come up with?"

"What choice to you have?" Arnold rhetorically said to him.

"I could just 'borrow' one of the projects from someone in the class." Sid suggested with an innocent smile on his face, but Arnold merely looked at him with a serious look.

"Alright, alright." Sid finally relented. "I'll go and apologize and ask for an extension. I just hope he'll give me a chance. Thanks Arnold." A grateful Sid said and quickly left to head off to their class to talk to Mr. Simmons.

With Sid now out of the way, Arnold, Gerald, Helga and Phoebe began to make their way to their locker. However, after only taking a few steps,

"Arnold, I need your help!" Until a distressed Rhonda promptly approached them. "Good morning, by the way." Forcing the four pre-teens to stop once again for Arnold to do his 'thing'.

"What's wrong, Rhonda?" Arnold calmly asked her.

"I need to know," Rhonda quickly began to explain as she showed Arnold what her predicament was. "What dress do you think is better?" She pulled out two distinct dresses, much to Helga's annoyance.

"Well, that depends." Arnold said to her. "What's the occasion?"

"Pfft! If I need an occasion to dress fashionable." Rhonda snobbishly responded.

"Okay, well what theme were you thinking of going with?" Arnold then asked her.

"That's just it; I don't know!" Rhonda almost hysterically exclaimed. "I kept thinking about it over and over this whole morning at home until I thought, 'Hey! Arnold is great in giving suggestions. He can definitely help my problem.' So I brought this urgent matter to your attention." She said with a smile.

"Well, thanks." Arnold thanked her and then suggested to her, "Well, we're in the early autumn, so why not go with that yellow dress on your right? You can add an orangey/reddish thin sweater over it, or something else with those two colours."

"Of course!" Rhonda excitedly exclaimed when she 'saw' what Arnold was suggesting and it was brilliant! "How could I have not seen that? I won't go with the thin sweater, but I have just the thing that has the colours you suggested. Thank you so much Arnold. You really saved me."

"You're welcome, Rhonda." Arnold said back to her with a smile as Rhonda smiled back at him and then immediately left her friends to go put on her yellow dress.

Arnold and his friends soon began to walk to their locker room, hoping that finally they would be able to make it there on ti-

"Arnold, Arnold!" Peapod Kid then suddenly approached them from behind. "Quick, I need your advise on something."

Gerald then spoke to Arnold before Peapod Kid could explain what he needed advise on. "Hey Arnold, if it's alright with you man, you go do your super hero thing and we'll meet you at your locker."

"Sure, Arnold." Arnold agreed and the proceeded to give Peapod Kid his full attention.

Gerald, Phoebe and Helga took this as their cue and quickly made their way to their locker. Once they were some distance away,

"Man, as much as I love the guy for what he does," Gerald then began to talk, "having to constantly stop to help someone out almost everyday is a pushing the boundaries and definition of a 'good Samaritan' to a whole new level. I dunno how he does it. Actually forget that, I dunno how he handles getting hounded all the time for help and still manages to get to his locker and to class on time each and every day."

Phoebe then added. "I would add to that logic that he quite possibly also managed to redefine the concept of 'the popular kid. It is exceedingly rare to see someone so sought after for his wisdom. I have only read about such cases when reading a bit about ancient Greek and Eastern Philosophy."

"Hm hm, you said it, babe." Gerald agreed. "It would only be a matter of time before he obtains what only the Buddha was able to achieve; pure wisdom."

"I believe the term if called 'Nirvana'" Phoebe interjected.

While Gerald and Phoebe commented and praised on Arnold's new found fame and destiny, Helga just quietly continued to walk with them to their lockers. Throughout the whole time since they entered school, actually even since on the bus since, as Arnold was being peppered by students who were seeking more of his wisdom, Helga had remained very eerily quiet and calm. She made none of her usual sharp, witty or sarcastic remarks about the whole thing, nor did she let out her frustration on not being able to spend some alone time with her beloved Football Head. No. She would do no such thing, nor discourage him from ever trying to help those for any other reason than from the bottom of his heart. For you see, this was when Arnold really shined and showed his true self, and why she had fallen so madly in love with him. And it wasn't just the fact that she didn't want to put him on a leash, nor the fear of changing him into something else. From an artistic perspective, it was just another way for her to flaunt her dearly beloved to the whole world without her actually doing it, for everyone to appreciate what she appreciates, to love what she loves. A masterful tactic if one thought about it. However, it would be a lie if this whole 'crusade' to help those poor, lost souls was not starting to get under her skin.

It was never a secret that Arnold had always had a good heart and a natural gift for helping out who are need, not matter who they were. It wasn't particularly uncommon for kids or even adults to seek him out for advice or guidance from time to time. But it wasn't until their return back from the deep, dark jungle of San Lorenzo that things began to take off. Arnold returned home and made every attempt to move with his life as any normal kid. News of his and the class' escape quickly caught the media's attention and they soon swarmed the boarding house, hoping for an interview and publish his miraculous escape. Arnold however, politely declined, stating only that he wished to continue with his life without all the attention and fame. However, he wasn't adverse to telling his story to any passerbyer who came and asked him. And it was his telling of his story where things really began to take off. Arnold made no attempt to seek out fame or fortune for what he went through on that fateful summer. While many didn't see it, Arnold came out of that place with more than what he had when he arrived. To him, that was more valuable than anything material this world could offer. But it was that sense of humility that only added fuel to his growing sage persona. Many kids saw in him not only this source of wisdom, but a strong foundation that they felt they could lean on for support whenever something went array in their lives.

It wasn't immediately instant, but as soon as school started in September, kids began to seek him out. As the weeks went by, Arnold's popularity grew immensely. It wasn't long before it became typical, almost normal, to get stopped by some random kid at the bus or in school asking for some help or advice. And Arnold, ever the good Samaritan, always obliged to help.

Helga did her best let Arnold do what he was good at and remained in the sidelines. But as the autumn season came rolling around, she was starting to feel his new popularity and call in life a bit frustrating. As more and more kids sought him out, that meant less and less time alone for them and right now, they needed all the time they could muster to form any strong, everlasting bonds in their relationship. As Helga finally arrived in her locker in utter silence, she wondered how much longer this can go on. After all, there was only so much advice Arnold could give out and it was becoming apparent that some of the questions the kids were asking Arnold were not really 'life-altering' questions, but simple concerns that they could potentially take care themselves, if they just use their brains a bit.

"I dunno babe," Gerald continued to talk to his girl as he got his things for class, "you really think Arnold is pushing the boundaries of the concept of the 'popular kid'?"

"Well, it is a bit early to make any confident conclusions," Phoebe somewhat admitted, "but at the rate Arnold is going, I believe it won't be long before other popular kids may start to compete against him. I would even suspect they may attempt to copy him and be the 'new wise guru'"

"Ha! That'll the be day." Gerald exclaimed. "There's no one in this entire school that can ever compete what's in that kid's heart. That guy's got the heart of gold."

Helga said nothing but merely glanced over at Gerald when he said that, finding the comical irony of his words.

"Well, if you what say is true, Phoebe," Gerald continued as he closed his locker, "about Arnold, then it looks like it's going to be smooth sailing for us from here on in. I mean, if Arnold is gonna be the new cool kid on the block, just imagine our standing by our association with him. Given his growing popularity he's gonna need a manager and who's a better fit for that role than yours truly?" He said with a smirk.

"Role for what?" Arnold asked as he approached his best friend from behind.

"Hey Arnold." Gerald just calmly turned around to face him. "Just in time. You didn't take too long with Peapod Kid. I'm surprised you didn't get held up by any other kid."

"Well, I was stopped a few times after Peapod." Arnold explained, "but I told them I had to get my things for class and promised to help them out later at recess."

"Never one to say no, eh?" Gerald remarked with a smile on this face.

"Nope." Arnold replied back as he then went to his locker to his things. "So what role were you talking about?" He then asked again.

Gerald replied. "Just talking about your future role in this school and me helping you manage things. Phoebe and I were talking and it looks like you are making quite a name for yourself as the 'wise kid' of P.S. 118."

"C'mon Gerald." Arnold humbly remarked, "I think you're exaggerating a bit."

"He's not." Helga finally spoke with a neutral look in her face as she closed her locker. "I'd never thought I'd say this; but Gerald's right on this one, Football Head." Helga said as she walked past him and tipped his small blue hat down in front of his face, walking away and headed straight to class, leaving Arnold, Gerald and Phoebe.

Arnold immediately adjusted his blue hat back and looked at Helga as she walked away, thinking about what she said.

"Do you really think so, Gerald?" Arnold asked him as he got the last of his things.

"Absolutely!" Gerald confidently exclaimed.

"Phoebe?" Arnold then asked her for further confirmation.

"Given your rapid pace as the 'go-to person for advice'," Phoebe confirmed, "it may only be a matter of time before your popularity level exceeds that of other popular kids. I even suggested to Gerald that it will not surprise me if some of our fellow students may attempt to mimic you just to take some of – that is that popular expression? 'Thunder'?"

"Wow." Was all a somewhat surprised Arnold could say. "I didn't think thing got so out of control. I was just trying to help people."

"Out of control?" An equally surprised Gerald remarked. "Arnold, you coming down with a cold or something? Didn't you hear what we said? YOU are becoming popular. That means YOU are in control."

"Yeah, I get that." Arnold said as he finished getting his things and he and his friends began to walk to class. "I meant to say that I wasn't looking for popularity or fame. I was just doing what is natural to me."

"But do you like it?" Gerald, with some eagerness, asked. "Becoming the center of attention?"

Arnold took some time before answering it.

"Well, it feels a bit strange, but I guess it's okay." He cautiously answered.

"Good attitude!" Gerald said to him as he placed his arm around Arnold's shoulder. "Be sure you keep that mental mindset. You're gonna need it later on as I'm sure things will get tense."

Arnold said nothing and just smiled at Gerald, but his mind wondered over to Helga and began to think how she felt about all of this.

"But you've pretty much got this under wraps." Gerald continued. "Practically every kid in this school has come to you for help, save for Wolfgang and the rest of the 8th graders and Rodrigo."

"Rodrigo?" Arnold asked as his name caught his attention.

"Yeah." Gerald replied. "He's the only person in our grade who hasn't yet come to you for help."

Arnold hadn't realized that and wondered for a bit.

"I hadn't noticed. Why do you suppose that is?" Arnold asked Gerald.

"I dunno." Gerald replied with a shrug.

"Do you think he's maybe shy or too insecure to ask for help?" Arnold asked.

Gerald replied. "Beats me. Maybe he just doesn't want any help or even doesn't have any problems in his life. If the latter is true, that is some lucky kid."

Arnold however, wasn't so sure about that. Everyone has problem, including him. And he figured Rodrigo was no exception.

Just as they approached their classroom, Arnold spotted Rodrigo to the side, talking and laughing with Lorenzo and Peapod Kid. He glanced at him and began to study him, trying to detect any kind of worry or concern in his expression. But it was hard to detect anything worrisome when he seemed to be happy talking to his friends. From the outside, it looked like Rodrigo hadn't had a care or problem in the world.

But, maybe he's covering it. Arnold thought. Not everyone can so easily show what they are truly feeling. It can be scary.

As he, Gerald and Phoebe began to enter the classroom, Arnold stopped for a few seconds at the entrance to continue glancing at Rodrigo.

Maybe he does need help, but doesn't know who to talk to. Arnold thought. Perhaps I should let him know I'm always available for him. It wouldn't hurt.