A/N: Ya'll this was a long chapter to write lol. I hope you all like it, well…Like is such a strong word for the events of this chapter. Uh, I hope you all will…Let me know what you guys think. Yeah, there we go. But seriously guys, thanks for the R and R and I hope you guys continue to let me know your thoughts! They contribute a lot to writing this fic so thanks so much! Oh also, I'm planning to do a cover art for this story so I wanted to know what all of ya'lls favorite chapter is so far. So far, the votes are for Chapter 13: Wonder, so now I would like to know what scene you all would like me to draw. Leave your suggestions in the reviews and R and R like always! Okay, NOW here we go.
As Arnold stared down the cold hearted, hooded man that snarled viciously at him, he glared back with a vengeance, but also took a moment to analyze him on a deeper level. In his line of work, Arnold dealt with a lot. He understood the misconceptions of the so called "crazy" people in his environment and detested the term. He knew about the differences between bipolar, schizophrenic, psychopathic, and sociopathic behavior and how to tell apart the truly mentally sick and needy. But when it came to this guy, Arnold could tell that he was too far gone. This wasn't just your typical bad guy, fallen victim to a lie that turned his heart bitter over time and hell bent on retribution…
Just from this man's actions alone from what happened in the village, his chilling yet calm behavior, and the many wounds that bled and stung on Arnold's body, he could tell that he was dealing with a miscreant, moral disregarding, sociopath of the worst kind.
And if that wasn't bad enough, he knew that there was no use in talking to this guy.
But being Arnold, he also knew that he had to try.
"Look. You have it all wrong." Arnold started, flinching at the sight of him reaching for his dagger once more. He finished his sentence in a rush. "Whoever told you that I killed your father was a liar! I'm not the one responsible for his death!"
"You were there! YOU CANNOT DENY THIS!" Los Diablos held the dagger up to Arnold's throat. It's sharp edge brushing up against his skin as he gulped for air, determined to continue.
"YES! I WAS THERE AND SAW WHAT HAPPENED, BUT I DIDN'T KILL HIM!" Arnold shouted.
"YOU THINK I AM A FOOL?! THE MAN BORN TO THE SAVIORS OF THE HIDDEN GREEN EYED VILLAGE WHO HAD A LONG STANDING ENMITY AGAINST MY FATHER, THE INFAMOUS SHADOW LEGENED WHO YOU MERCILESSLY SHOVED OFF THE HIGHEST PEAK IN THE JUNGLE-!"
"THAT'S A LIE!" Arnold shouted back, cutting him off.
"WHY SHOULD I BELIEVE YOU ASESINO (murderer)?!" He held the dagger closer, sliding it slowly against his neck, but not enough to complete the job.
Arnold shouted throughout the pain. "BECAUSE I'M THE ONE WHO TRIED TO SAVE HIM!"
Arnold felt the dagger stop its trail against his skin. He took the silence as an opportunity to explain.
"He…took my parents from me…He held them captive in the jungle for years. I didn't want to believe they were dead, but many times I almost did…Until I found them again, prisoners of your father who terrorized the Green Eyes. He wanted the La Corazon, but they wouldn't give it. He demanded my parents to sell out the Green Eyes, stop making cures for their sicknesses, fork over their treasures, and work for him. Their best friend Eduardo chose to give in to his demands, but they refused. He threatened to come after me since I was their son. And he did…I was ten at the time. There was this essay contest at my school that awarded the winner with a trip to any country in the world. I entered, won, and wanted to go to San Lorenzo to find my parents since I believed that they were just lost and not dead! I went with my friends and classmates. Eventually we all found out that it was a setup by your father and his men took us all captive. With the help of the Green Eyes, I was able to reunite with my parents and escape with my friends, but your father would not be defeated…He had a last resort to make us surrender to him and put an end to me for good…"
Flashback to 18 years ago…
All of Arnold's classmates, his teacher, and parents immediately stopped cheering over their victory of escaping the greedy pirate and his henchmen when they looked at the sight before them. What they beheld, rendered them all silent completely, except Mr. Simmons, who in that moment passed out.
Arnold was especially horrified as the pirate's malicious laughter rang through his ears.
There, not too far off from the high cliff's edge, was La Sombra with a twisted expression on his face as he knew he secured an instant victory. For in his grasp was a squirming and fussing Helga G. Pataki, who was trying desperately to avoid the sharp edged machete from coming into contact with her throat as he held her by her hair.
"HELGA!" Arnold shouted in terror. Gerald and Phoebe held him back.
"ONE MOVE, AND SHE DIES!" The pirate shouted.
No one moved a muscle.
"Hah! Oh how the tables have turned, no? Now…I believe…that some negotiating is in order! To put it quite plain and simple, I have some requests that WILL be met, or I will not hesitate to turn little Miss Rosado (pink) into a rojo (red) colored blood bath!" La Sombra growled dangerously in his heavy Spanish accent.
"Alright, Sombra. We'll hear you out, but first…" Miles started calmly, putting his hands up cautiously.
"Let her go! She's just a child!" Stella continued, walking forward cautiously.
La Sombra gave a dead and apathetic expression and held the weapon closer to Helga's throat.
She gulped as all of her vicious protesting was rendered silent by the close proximity by the sharp blade.
"As I was saying, my demands are simple…I was just going to recapture you and do away with these pathetic little pests! But that would take away from the goal at hand. I want what I have always desired. The La Corazon. Now!"
Miles and Stella looked at each other, then at the bushes where some of the Green Eyes hid in the distance, and then finally at their son who looked down in helplessness.
With remorse, the football headed child reached into his backpack and pulled out the shining jewel wrapped in its sacred cloth. With one look at the bushes, he caught the Green Eye's penetrating stare, shook his head, fought off tears, and whispered.
"I'm sorry."
Then he turned and cautiously took an agonizing step forward to the pirate, knowing that he was betraying a civilization who apparently depended on him like he never could have known, along with his friends that also looked up to him to be trustworthy and to do the right thing.
But all trustworthiness and loyalty went out the window when it came to seeing the girl who although had been a torture in his life that he could never understand, was someone he knew he could not live without, nor wanted to; especially since that someone now had a very special place in his heart.
"Wilikers Arnold! Are ya'll really gonna go through with this and give that Sombra Varmint guy that shiny lookin' rock after all?" Stinky asked in shock.
"Yes. I am Stinky…" Arnold replied in a low and heavy tone without looking behind him.
"But ya'll do realize you're kinda goin' on the dark side by doin' this; on account of the shiny rock bein' somethin' special to a lot people who were trustin' you with it and all. I mean by you goin' off and givin' the bad guy what he wants, that kinda' makes you look like a two-timin' Varmint; I mean on the account of you lettin' a lot of people down and us thinkin' you'll do the right thing like you always be fussin' at us all the time.
"I am aware of that Stinky…" Arnold grit out through clenched teeth, feeling worse, but still not looking back as he took another step forward to the pirate.
"I just can't reckon why you would gone and do somethin' crazy like this?" Stinky pressed further, scratching his scalp in utter confusion, before Gerald could snap at him to shut up.
"Because I can't lose her…"Arnold whispered. And with that, he took another step forward.
And another.
And another.
"ARNOLD! NO! FOOTBALL-HEAD, DON'T YOU DARE! NOT FOR ME! WHAT ARE YA' CRAZY?!" Helga shouted.
He ignored Helga's blunt protests and kept walking forward until he was finally in front of the merciless man who held her captive.
"It's yours." Arnold stated firmly as he held out his hands with the sacred object in them. "But first, let Helga go."
"Of course Chico! (Boy) I am a man of my word after all!" La Sombra nodded formerly and released Helga by nonchalantly flinging her out of his grasp where she tumbled on top of Phoebe, knocking her over.
Once Arnold saw that she was safe, he sighed heavily as he knew he had to hold his end of the deal. He wanted nothing more than to sweep kick this guy, grab the La Corazon, and run for safety, but he knew that was impossible, especially with the rather large machete making its point in the pirate's grasp.
Arnold reluctantly extended his arms to the pirate, awaiting him to take the jewel from his grasp.
The pirate greedily extended his hands to take it, until he suddenly paused with an inquisitive look gracing his features.
What happened next, took everyone off guard. Especially Arnold and Helga.
The pirate swiftly grabbed the boy's arms, and held them behind his back, as he took hold of his machete, and put it to his neck.
"ARNOLD!" Everyone shouted in shock and panic.
"LET HIM GO!" Miles and Stella shouted. "THIS WAS NOT PART OF THE DEAL! HE GAVE YOU WHAT YOU WANTED!" Stella roared; she and her husband were ready to charge at the man, but were held back by Sombra's men.
What was worse, more men showed up and quickly bound all of the students with rope, securing their capture and helplessness in the situation.
"Mm Yes, that is true. But you know, I just had a…rather inspiring thought…An 'ah hah', light bulb moment so to speak. Why should I go after some crummy old rock, though very valuable to an ancient legend civilization…When I could have the one they worship instead?! The one whose birth silenced all of nature! With his capture, and by holding him ransom, I can have access to not some but all of the treasures of the tribe! HA HA HA HA!" He laughed wickedly.
"You…YOU BAST-AH!" Miles broke from the henchmen's hold and charged towards the pirate, only to be intercepted by more henchmen who knocked the wind out of him, and delivered a blow that knocked him unconscious.
"MILES!" Stella wanted to rush forward to her husband, but was intercepted by more guards that circled her.
Arnold looked at his parents and friends struggle with the henchmen and struggled to break free from La Sambra's hold, grunting as he tightened his grip on him painfully.
"ARNOLD!" Helga shouted and growled as some henchmen tried to bind her up again. She quickly bit down on one of the men's arms that held her captive, and ducked down before they were able to swipe back at her. She quickly balled up her fists and let one of them have it, going into full 'fight or flight' mode for the ones that tried to ambush her from behind.
Normally it would be considered impossible for such trained men to be overtaken by a mere ten year old little girl, but seeing how this little girl focused on all of the anger from the situation, from the predicament her friends were put in, from the stress of the past events and conditions of the jungle, from the drama of mixed signals from the one she adored most in the world, and most of all, how the one she adored was being threatened to not only be taken away from his parents once more, but from her when something was obviously happening in their complicated relationship, it was safe to say that those men didn't stand a chance against her.
Once she finished displaying the power of Ol' Betsy and the Five Avengers, she rushed over to Gerald and the others who were currently looking at Curly in pure shock and disbelief as he broke free form his binds by chewing through the rope, and ordering a little baboon he found earlier that week to take out the guards.
What was more shocking was how the primate responded and complied immediately with the crazy boy's demands.
"Good boy Smokey! Show them all who's the true man! Now quick! Let us rescue my princess!" Curly shouted valiantly as the primate screeched in excitement.
"I never thought I would say this, but that was actually rather incredible! I don't know whether to yell at you and your disgusting little fur thing for touching me or thank you…" Rhonda said in amusement and slight terror as Curly and the baboon set her free from the ropes.
"I can think of a fitting award!" Curly said smoothly, puckering his lips, only to receive a rather painful slap that nearly knocked him out.
"NOT ON YOUR LIFE YOU DISGUSTING, TWISTED LITTLE FREAK!" She shouted in his face, but then softened as she pat his head. "But thanks anyway though." She flipped her hair and walked off to help her friends.
"I'm wearing her down Smokey!" He gave a thumbs up to the baboon and then passed out.
Meanwhile, Helga quickly took out the guards near Gerald and Phoebe and set them free. Setting the other kids free, everyone quickly took cover behind a bush where La Sombra couldn't see them.
"They got Arnold!" Gerald said in alarm.
"No doi Geraldo! I think we all know that! Question is, what are we gonna' do to rescue him from that lunatic?!" Helga scowled, but matched his tone of worry.
"Whatever we decide to do, we must be swift and discreet about it. I would assume that, that fiend would not be so keen on retaliation and would resort to inflicting serious harm on Arnold!" Phoebe stated in a shaken tone of voice.
"Yeah no kiddin'. The psycho doesn't hold back, that's for sure." Helga grimaced at the slightly bleeding cut on her neck.
"I SAY WE POUND-"Rhonda and Nadine quickly slapped their hands on Harold's mouth and shushed him.
"Are you trying to get us killed?!" Sid hissed.
He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Oops! I mean, I say we pound the heck out of him! But then again, he's got that really big knife thing in his hands and it looks really, really sharp…and Ah mommy! We're all gonna die aren't we?" He cried and curled up in a fetal position.
Helga kicked him in the side, and slapped some sense into him real quick.
"Pull yourself together Pink Boy! We just gotta' catch the Bozo off guard and ambush him! But first, we gotta' make him drop the weapon!"
"And how do you reckon we gone do that Helga?" Stinky asked.
"Yeah he's probably already on to us!" Sid shivered in fear.
"And we're just kids! What can we do?" Nadine said hopelessly, Lila, Sheena, Eugene, and Rhonda nodding sadly in agreement.
"What's the matter with you Losers?! Don't you get it?! If we don't do anything he'll kill Arnold! This Wackjob may be insane, but he'll make good on his threat! Simmons is still out of it, Olga's gosh knows where, Football-Head's parents are most likely down for the count, and we're the only ones who can do something! After everything Arnold's done for us and you guys wanna' chicken out because of some big dumb old looking butter knife?! Screw you all then!" Helga hissed viciously at them, wanting to scream, but not wanting to blow their cover.
"Why do you care so much Helga?" Rhonda raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I thought you plum dun hated Arnold." Stinky added. The others murmured in agreement with his statement.
"Well I-I mean I-"Helga blushed, trying to still keep a tough front as she fumbled for insults to throw back at them.
"I'm with Helga."
Everyone turned to Gerald.
"That's MY best friend he has there and I'll be dang if we just sit here and do nothing about it!" Gerald stated firmly.
"Yeah we can't let anything happen to Arnold! He's our pal!" Harold declared, snapping out of his pity party from earlier.
"I ever so agree. We have to do something!" Lila joined in.
Everyone then courageously agreed.
"I say it's time we put operation: ATD into action!" Gerald declared.
Everyone but Helga gasped.
"Operation ATD! Oh no! Not operation ATD! Anything but operation ATD!" Eugene shrieked, but then turned to Brainy in confusion. "Um…What's operation ATD exactly?"
"Avoid Trash Day." He wheezed in reply.
"Oohh…" Eugene nodded in understanding. "Wait what?"
"Operation Avoid Trash Day was a specific retaliation tactic we all conjured up when we discovered that the Schoolyard tradition of the first Monday in June regarding the ambush attack of fourth graders being abruptly stuffed into garbage cans was continuing on into the next grade, even though we are the ones to assume the position as fifth graders. Since the sixth graders planned to carry on such a tradition with us, we decided to retaliate with a counteractive ambush of our own." Phoebe explained.
"And now we're gonna use that to our advantage?" Nadine asked, making more of a statement than asking a question.
"That's right. First thing's first. We gotta' make La Coo-coo rocha here drop the machete." Helga stated.
"But he can't know we're coming or that would be very bad…" Sheena added.
Rhonda went up to Curly who was still knocked out from her harsh back handed slap form earlier and yanked him up by the hair until they were eye-to-eye. "Curly you're a weirdo, so you must speak freak talk. Do you think you can get your Freaky weirdo Fur ball friend to listen to you like you did earlier?"
"Maaybe I can…Maaybe I can't. What's in it for me if I do? Hmm Gorgeous?" Curly wiggled his eyebrows.
"A saved trip from going to the ER, being bedridden for weeks, and a subpoena from my lawyer regarding how you broke the restraining order guidelines…" She deadpanned as she readied her hand for another slap.
"Say no more my Precious! Smokey's on the job!" Curly rushed and called for his baboon friend who nodded in understanding at his instructions as Curly made monkey sounding chirps.
Meanwhile, the shadow pirate was so caught up in his sudden victory that he failed to see the primate creep up behind him and the boy in his grasp. Arnold raised an eyebrow at the little monkey, but dared not say a word. While La Sombra continued to laugh and revel in pride, his moment was cut short by a painful sensation as the primate suddenly bit down on his leg. Hard.
He shouted in agony, ultimately dropping the large machete on the ground, but refusing to let Arnold go, as he yanked him harshly by the hair, when he tried to break free.
¡MOCOSA! USTED NO ME ESCAPE! (YOU LITTLE BRAT! YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE ME!) La Sombra hissed at the boy.
What happened next was something that he totally did not expect.
"ATTACK!"
¡¿pero qué?! (What the) He screeched as suddenly a bunch of fruits came in contact with his face. Everything from mangoes, papayas, bananas, and especially coconuts were hurled mercilessly at the pirate.
¡¿CUÁL ES EL SIGNIFICADO DE ESTE?! (WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS) He tried desperately to keep hold on Arnold, while removing the splattered fruit from his eyes, as the kids continued to drench him and bombard him with the fruits.
"KEEP FIRING AT WILL!" Gerald ordered as Lila, Sheena, Rhonda, Nadine, Stinky, Sid, and Brainy reached for more fruit ammo from their backpacks of collected fruit; especially Harold's.
"HEEY! THAT WAS MY LUUNCH!" He whined.
"EH SHUT YOUR PIE-HOLE PINK BOY AND START DOIN' SOMETHIN' USEFUL!" Helga shouted as she punched the guards that were starting to wake up.
"OKAY, OKAY! Madame Fortress Mommy…" He grumbled. He wanted to join the others in the food fight of the century, when he suddenly heard Lila cry out.
"We're out of ammo!"
"I got this banana left!" Eugene shouted cheerfully, only to drop it, slip on its peel, and fall down, hitting his head on the base of a tree. "I'm okay…" He muttered before losing consciousness.
Meanwhile, when one of the guards came upon Phoebe, the timid girl took the rather large built soldier off guard as she viciously stomped on his foot, making him cry out in pain. She then took the opportunity to sweep kick him till he fell, took his sword, and started swishing the air with swift and graceful moves she learned form fencing.
"You want a piece of me?! Huh?! DO YA?! LET'S GO! I GOT YOUR PAIN RIGHT HERE BUDDY!" Phoebe shouted valiantly.
The guard quickly scooted away, yelling out how she was crazy in Spanish, only to come in contact with a large frying pan that knocked him unconscious. Gerald threw the pan aside and smirked at his crush as she continued to swish the air with the guard's sword.
"Calm down there babe, I think you made your point." He pat her on the shoulder.
Phoebe blinked as she saw that the guard was knocked out."Oh...S-so it appears!" She giggled sheepishly as she rubbed her neck and blushed.
"Now what do we do?!" Sheena cried.
Nadine watched Rhonda who was checking herself in a mirror she had in her backpack, and snatched it away, throwing it at the pirate and making contact with his forehead, making him cry out in pain once more.
"NADINE! That was my very rare and expensive compact mirror daddy got me from Paris!" Rhonda protested. Nadine ignored her as she reached in the backpack and found a hairbrush and threw it as well.
"JUST THROW ANYTHING!" She shouted at the others.
The kids immediately took hold of any object they could find from books to flashlights, to batteries, and hurled them at the pirate, making Sombra blindly walk backwards in an effort to avoid the onslaught along with Arnold's hair still firmly in his grip.
Once Harold saw where the pirate was headed, he had an idea and immediately charged the pirate with a shout. La Sombra was definitely caught off guard once the large adolescent's weight and head came in contact with his abdomen, knocking the wind out of him, and loosening his grip on Arnold.
However, the impact of Harold's head-butt strike knocked him further back and off the edge of the high cliff. Arnold cried out along with the fruit covered pirate as he also lost his balance and fell off the cliff with him.
That is until his arm was abruptly caught.
"GOTCHA!"
Arnold looked up to see Helga grunting as she tried with great effort to pull him up. With one more powerful yank, she managed to get Arnold back over the edge of the cliff and helped him up.
"A-are you okay Arnold?" She gasped, trying to catch her breath, but asked softly.
He nodded gratefully. "Y-yeah…I-I think so. T-Thanks Helga!" He gasped, also catching his breath from the shock.
"Y-you sure you're okay?" She asked softly again.
He nodded once more. Giving her a smile of reassurance. "Yeah I-I think I'm good."
"Good!" And with that, she punched his shoulder. Hard.
"OW! Helga! What was that for?!" He glared, rubbing his now throbbing shoulder.
"YOU STUPID FOOTBALL-HEAD! WHAT THE HECK DO YOU THINK YOU WERE TRYING TO PULL HUH?! SELLING OUT TO THAT LOSER, TRYING TO PLAY HERO?! CAN YOU BE ANY MORE STUPID AND RECKLESS?! HE COULD HAVE KILLED YOU!" Helga shouted in his face, pushing down the urge to cry in his arms.
"I-I'm sorry Helga…But he had you and I couldn't just let-"
"SO WHAT IF HE HAD ME?! I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF PASTE FOR BRAINS! THERE WAS NO NEED FOR YOU TO PLAY THE BRAVE GUY AND SAVE THE DAY! WHAT YOU ALMOST DID WAS RECKLESS, AND STUPID, AND JUST, JUST PLAIN…STUPID! I MEAN WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THAT GOODY GOODY STUFF YOU ALWAYS BLABBED ON TO US ABOUT HUH?! I MEAN WHY ACT LIKE SUCH A DUMBA-"
All of Helga's scolding, shouting, and ranting fell onto deaf ears as Arnold suddenly heard a cry of distress in the distance.
"Help! Someone help please! Ayuda! (help)"
Arnold suddenly, as if in a trance, walked over to the cliff to see the fallen pirate hanging on desperately to a branch that was not going to hold his weight for much longer. The resulting fall would be long, painful, and most likely would kill him before even coming in contact with the sharp, rocky ground.
"Arnold? ARNOLD?! Man what are you-" Gerald ran up to him to see the sight. He went quiet.
"Football-Head what the?!" Helga also ran up and looked at the pirate without a hint of remorse.
"Hey what's going on?!" Sid asked as he and the others also ran up to the scene. Everyone, including Miles and Stella saw the struggling pirate cry out as he hopelessly hung from the tiny branch off the cliff.
"Well, serves the monster right! Guess that takes care of that. Shows over folks. Let's get movin' already and blow this joint!" Helga stomped away from the scene. Gerald and the others nodded in agreement and moved back onto safe ground.
Only Arnold stayed behind. His green eyes glued and glazed over the monster who hung on the branch.
The monster who kept him away from his parents for years…
The monster who made him believe at a time that they were dead…
The monster who kept his parents from keeping their promise to return to him…
The monster who affected a very good chunk of his childhood by making him believe that he was indeed an orphan…
The monster who terrorized an innocent and loyal ancient civilization…
The monster who captured his friends…
The monster who held him and Helga by blade point…
Who threatened Helga…
Who hurt Helga…
Oh yeah. Arnold had half a mind to sneer at the man, turn around, and join his parents and friends; never looking back, only looking forward.
But he couldn't do that.
And he didn't.
Arnold quickly took off his already tattered flannel button-up shirt, and tore long strips of it, tying the ends together until it resembled rope. He then ran past his bewildered friends and parents and gathered all of the discarded rope he could find and tied its ends together.
"Uh Arnold…Please tell me you're not thinkin'…of what I think you're thinkin'" Gerald raised an eyebrow, reluctant of hearing what his friend had to say.
Arnold sighed, continuing the task at hand. "I can't just let him die like that…"
"Sure you could! I mean we all could!" Sid replied.
"Yeah newsflash Arnold, he's THE BAD GUY? Like as in you're not supposed to you know…help him?!" Rhonda added in exasperation. The girls murmured in agreement.
"YEAH I DIDN'T JUST HEAD-BUTT HIM FOR NOTHIN' YA KNOW!" Harold protested. The guys murmured in agreement as well.
"Okay. I knew you were a hopeless and idiotic Football-Head, but I didn't think you were completely mad! YOU MUST BE, IF YOU WANNA' SAVE THIS BOZO'S LIFE! I MEAN, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO GAIN FROM THIS ARNOLDO?!"
"YOU THINK I'M HAPPY ABOUT THIS?!" Arnold shouted, rendering Helga silent. "THIS…This…man was the reason for why my parents couldn't come back to me! He was the reason why I felt alone for years! He terrorized the Green Eyed people, threatened and captured us, hurt you, and almost killed me too! I can't think of a better and fitting punishment than to leave him there." Arnold muttered darkly, but then sighed. "But I know…that if I don't help this guy especially when I have the ability to do so, and just let him die, that I'll be no better than he is! There's a better way to bring him to justice. Leaving him for dead to fall off a cliff isn't it. So are you with me or not?"
Everyone was silent as they stared at him in shock at his outburst. Yet they never respected him more than in that moment. And his parents especially could not be more proud.
"You're doing the right thing, son." Miles put a hand on his son's shoulder.
"And we never could have imagined that our little baby boy would turn into such a trustworthy, responsible, and brave young man…And that's exactly what you are. We're so proud of you, Arnold." Stella smiled.
"We're with you man…" Gerald finally spoke up.
"Hai. (Yes)" Phoebe joined.
The others murmured in reluctance, but agreed and stood by Arnold. Helga continued to scowl, but softened when Arnold's pleading eyes caught her cold blue ones. She huffed in exasperation, but relented. "Oh alright, alright! We'll save the stupid killer pirate!"
"Thanks Helga." He gave her that smile that was always known to melt her heart instantly.
"Yeah, yeah. Don't get all mushy on me Football Head. I still think you're insane for doing this!"
"Yeah, you and me both, but it's the right thing to do…" He replied.
Making sure the rope was secure, Arnold flung the rope over the cliff to the still crying pirate, who looked up in shock.
"You-you are helping me?" He called out in disbelief and wonder.
"Quick. Just grab onto the rope and I'll pull you up. That branch can't support your weight for much longer and it's only a matter of time before it snaps. This makeshift rope should be strong enough to hold you up until we pull you to safety." Arnold replied firmly.
"Oh, gracias mi buen muchacho! (Thank you my good boy) Truly you are everything the legends said about you and more! So brave, so kind, so loyal!" His voice then went cold and callous. "So easily fooled!" And with that, he abruptly yanked the rope that Arnold held onto, with a force until its impact forced the boy over the cliff.
"ARNOLD!" Everyone shouted in shock and horror.
"ARNOLD NO!" Helga screamed and without a second thought, dove over the cliff after her love.
Arnold cried out as he fell a long ways from the edge, but his fall was cut short once he grabbed onto another sturdy branch that supported his weight.
Until a piercing scream followed after him. Once he realized who the scream belonged to and saw a flash of pink, he quickly caught her by the arm, until she crawled up on his legs and held on for dear life.
The once sturdy branch, was now rather unstable as it supported both Arnold and Helga's weight as they hung there helplessly.
"HELGA?! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! JUMPING AFTER ME?! ARE YOU CRAZY?!" Arnold shouted.
"I'M NOT THE ONE WHO GOT OUTSMARTED BY A LUNATIC AND FLUNG OFF A CLIFF IN THE FOOLISH BELIEF THAT HE WAS ACTUALLY ON THE UP AND UP WHEN HE OBVIOUSLY WASN'T IN THE FIRST PLACE!" She shouted back.
"HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW HE WASN'T BEING SINCERE?!" Arnold shouted back in distress.
"YOU DO NOT WANT ME TO ANSWER THAT! BELIEVE ME!" Helga shouted back.
"Ah young love. How fitting that such legends should die together…" A dark, Spanish accent chortled as it struck fear in both of the blonde children.
Looking to the side of them as they were suspended from the branch, they saw La Sombra cautiously walking towards them on a sturdy rocky platform, dagger drawn.
"OH CRIMINY! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"
"D-Don't worry Helga…W-we'll get out of this…" Arnold replied, though his voice and expression of terror betrayed his words of reassurance.
"WE AREN'T GETTING OUT OF NOTHIN' FOOTBALL-HEAD! THIS IS IT FOR US! IT'S OVER! IT'S OVER! WE'RE GONNA DIE! DIE I TELL YA! AND WHAT'S WORSE IS I NEVER GOT THE CHANCE TO TELL YOU- I MEAN-I MEAN I-"Helga cried desperately.
"T-tell me what?" Arnold asked softly, as he kept looking at the pirate who was getting closer and closer with a twisted smile on his face.
"I-I-About FTI…I-I mean…The-The things I said…I-well they-I mean I-I" Helga stuttered, her words mixing and becoming discombobulated as she knew their death drew closer.
"I-it's o-okay Helga…Y-you can t-tell me…" Arnold tried to reassure, as he shook in fear as the man drew closer still.
Helga wasn't paying attention to the tears that streamed down her face, and continued. "They-well-l-let's just say-maybe-h-hypothetically-that…Umm…Th-they weren't all that farfetched!"
"W-what do you mean?" Arnold asked in confusion, despite his heart beating faster and faster.
"I-I-Oh screw it all! I LIED! I'VE BEEN LYING TO YOU FOR YEARS PASTE FOR BRAINS! THE TURTH IS THAT I-I MAY ACT LIKE A TOTAL COMPLETE CALLOUS AND COLD HEARTED BASKET CASE THAT HATES YOUR GUTS, BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN-I MEAN-I-I'M TOTALLY, COMPLETELY, OVER 10,000%, GAGA, OVER THE MOON, HEAD OVER HEELS, IN L-"
"DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!" Arnold shouted in horror, cutting off Helga's passionate confession.
"Ha-ha! You think that your helpless and futile cries will save you now?! That is rich!" The pirate laughed as he took another step forward, not noticing the small pebbles that fell once his foot came in contact with the shaky platform.
"NO! I'M SERIOUS! I MEAN, DON'T COME ANY CLOSER! THE PLATFORM YOU'RE STANDING ON IS UNSTABLE!" Arnold cried out once more.
"I WILL NOT BE FOOLED BY YOUR DISTRACTIONS LLAMADA ELEGIDO! (SO CALLED CHOSEN ONE)! NOW YOU AND YOUR LOVE SHALL DIE!" La Sombra roared as he held his dagger up and prepared for the final blow.
Only for the rocky ground to fall from under him.
Arnold and Helga then knew his cries were sincere as they, in horror, watched La Sombra abruptly and brutally fall to his death.
Before they could react to the situation, it was their turn as the branch snapped and abruptly made both children fall helplessly towards the ground.
Only for a large net to break their fall.
Hearts racing, the kids looked at each other and then up towards the Green Eyed people who held the net sturdy from their positions.
"ARNOLD! HELGA! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!" Gerald shouted after them.
"HOLD ON! WE'RE COMING HELP IS ON THE WAY!" His parents shouted.
Helga shook in both shock and relief as she came closer to Arnold. "A-Arnold?" She asked timidly and softly. She wanted to finish her sentence with an "Are you okay", but she was still in shock from it all and fell into his open arms instead, her resolve completely broken as she sobbed into his chest.
"I-It's over H-Helga…I-it's over…" He whispered shakenly as he held her tightly, still looking to the ground in horror and shock as they were pulled up to safety.
"It's over…"
End Flashback.
"And that's what happened. I swear. I could have let him dangle there and be left for dead, but I didn't. Despite the bitterness I should have been led by, out of the goodness of my heart, I tried to save your father, but he wouldn't listen to me and in the end…that was the result…" Arnold finished his long story as he watched the dark hooded man look down in complete silence.
Los Diablos then nodded. "I understand…"
Arnold raised an eyebrow, but his green eyes lit with hopefulness. "Y-you do?"
"Sí. (Yes) I understand…THAT YOU ARE AN OUTRIGHT LIAR, TRYING TO MAKE YOURSELF LOOK RIGHTEOUS AND SAVE YOUR PATHETIC WORTHLESS SKIN!" He lashed out, as he viciously attacked Arnold with blows left and right, ready to pull out his dagger once more, until he paused.
"No…A mere death would be a luxury for you…" He spat, as he sheathed the weapon.
"EVERYTHING I TOLD YOU WAS THE TRUTH! I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WON'T BELIEVE ME, OR WHAT I CAN DO TO CONVINCE YOU! YOUR FATHER WAS A VICIOUS AND CRUEL MONSTER WHO TOOK MY PARENTS AWAY FORM ME, WENT AFTER MY FRIENDS, MY WIFE, AND ME! I COULD HAVE LEFT HIM FOR DEAD, BUT I DIDN'T! THAT'S THE TRUTH! NO MATER HOW YOU REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT, I DIDN'T KILL HIM!" Arnold shouted in his face.
"Ok. I believe you." The man shrugged.
Arnold shook his head, and spat out the blood in his mouth as he scolded himself inwardly for thinking he could talk down a dangerous sociopath, fully committed to seeing him suffer for a crime he obviously did not commit.
Los Diablos chuckled and put a hand on Arnold's cheek. "Aw don't look so down mi amigo (my friend). I do believe you actually! Your story was convincing and shed a lot of light on things that were not explained to me from my youth." Los Diablos explained sincerely.
"Then why the he-"
"-Despite the fact that my father so foolishly ended his life by his greed, making you in turn, blameless for his death, well, that just proves that my father was never fit to be a true conqueror of tribes and treasures as his title was so significantly feared…But I am. And with you in my captivity, I shall finish the job that my father was never able to do and have vengeance in his mission and by taking out all who stood in his way!" He laughed maliciously.
"YOU'RE INSANE! ESPECIALLY IF YOU THINK YOU'LL GET AWAY WITH THIS!" Arnold growled, shaking his chains, as he lurched forward.
Los Diablos smiled. "Mm I'd like to think that I already have! Now let's have some fun shall we? GUARDIAS! (GUARDS)"
Los Diablos men came immediately on the scene.
"Take him away and feel free to have...fun with him. Rough him up and engage in activities that, I don't know, will break his will and spirit. Obviously he still has a lot of it since he actually believes that I won't get away with this. I shall let you be the ones to prove him wrong. Oh, but be warned. If any of you come even close to taking his life, I will torture you and serve you with a death that will far outweigh any pain you've ever thought possible." He growled. "¿Se entiende?! (Is that understood)
"Alto y claro gran líder! (Loud and clear great leader)
With that, Los Diablos left, smiling at the sound of Arnold's grunts of pain. "Espero que esté orgulloso de mí papá. Sé quien soy." (I hope you are proud of me papa. I know I am.)
"Uh, excuse me, sir?" A timid guard came behind the dark hooded man.
"WHAT?!" Los Diablos roared as he drew out his dagger once more.
"W-we found s-some of the-the Green Eye's Chosen One's stuff and thought m-maybe you'd like to have a-l-look at it?" The guard trembled.
Once the dark hooded man agreed, and snatched away what looked like a giant backpack of some sort, he looked at what was inside. He found journals, writing utensils, other clothes, and unmentionables, and also a nice looking B-Phone and skimmed through its content.
Once he came across a certain video message, he smiled.
"Stella? Are you okay?" Helga asked softly as she poked her mother-in-law's shoulder, making her jump in alarm.
"Whoa, okay now I know something's bugging you." Helga raised an eyebrow.
"I'm sorry. I guess I'm just…deep in thought." Stella replied.
"Care to share? I've got time." Helga smiled as she took a seat on the couch, and pat the spot next to her.
"Don't you have to take the twins for their play date at Phoebe's?" Stella asked.
"I don't think Pheebs would mind us being a little late. All she's gonna' do is teach the kids how to say big words and read them the dictionary again. I can't say that it's not working. Along with mindless television, the twins are actually rather advanced in learning all kinds of stuff."
"They have a smart mother…and father." Stella replied softly.
"Got that right. And besides, I don't think they're interested in leaving good Ol' Phil's side any time soon." She smirked as she watched the twins waddle after their great grandfather.
"Say, have I ever told you kiddos about the time your grandparents joined the circus and were amazing acrobats that had the ability to tame lions?!" Phil asked with excitement.
"No, tell us da stowy!" Hal and Phil exclaimed in unison, while clapping in anticipation.
"See? Like I said, we're gonna' be here for a while." Helga shook her head with a smile as she watched her grandfather in law pick up the twins in his arms and whisk them away. She turned her attention back to Stella, noticing that her eyes were glazed.
"So what's going on? Are you okay?" She asked with concern.
"Yeah. It's…Well it's not me exactly that I'm worried about…It's Arnold…" She replied solemnly.
"W-what about him? Is he alright?!" Helga asked in alarm.
"I don't know. That's what's getting to me. Remember that feeling you told me you had, yesterday?" Stella asked her.
"You mean the one that everyone keeps insisting is just nerves or gas? Yeah, I think I do." Helga deadpanned.
"Well I can't put my finger on it…But it just feels like…I don't know like-"
"-Something isn't right? Like an unknown fear or uncertainty?" Helga finished.
"Yeah. I guess it's just nerves though. The fact that he's kind of in our position from years ago and how the roles have switched with him being there and us being here is really getting to me. I just hope he's okay there. I mean I know he should be, the Green Eyes' security is pretty top notch for a tribe so ancient, but still…A mother can't help but worry you know?"
"Yeah…I'm the wife so I can understand where you're coming from. If it helps though, I've come up with a plan B that I'm thinking about springing into action…" Helga stated.
"What kind of plan B dear?" Stella raised an eyebrow at her daughter-in-law.
"Oh nothing too drastic, just a little 'pop in and check' kind of deal. Princess, I mean my friend Rhonda has a jet that she's so graciously agreed to let me borrow to fly over to San Lorenzo if need be. So we could always...you know, drop by for a quick hi. For peace of mind's sake anyways." She smirked.
"That sounds like a good idea!" Stella smiled, but then faltered. "But it's a little meddling don't you think? I mean the occasion of why he's there in the first place, isn't exactly a drop by and say hi kind of event. And we don't need to look like we don't trust him just because we're being…well…worry warts…"
"Who says we're being worry warts?" Helga scowled slightly.
"Stella? Helga? Please tell me you two are having a light conversation about recipes or Wrestling or whatever you ladies talk about and aren't trying to devise a plan to fly to San Lorenzo to check on Arnold again…I mean there's no need to be worry Warts! He told us that he can take care of himself remember? I worry too as his dad, but we gotta' trust his word!" Miles' voice sounded from upstairs.
"Oh who asked you?!" The ladies shouted back in unison, but then looked at each other and sighed.
"Okay. So maybe we're a little on the Fritz! But I'm sure it's for good reason!" Helga pressed.
"Are you sure? I mean the festivities had barely even begun in the city! Of course we knew that he would lose contact with us for a while, I just can't place why it's bothering me so much!" Stella sighed.
"Okay look. Let's make a pact. This thing goes on for like what, 4 days? Knowing Arnold, he'll catch on to our worry and do whatever it takes to stay in contact. I mean I wouldn't be surprised if he left the ceremony for a second, hitched a ride into a modern part of the city, and is trying to message me to reassure that he's okay. If we don't hear from Arnold before or after that time, then we'll hop in the jet, and do a quick check." Helga explained.
"Agreed." Stella nodded firmly. "I doubt that he would actually leave an important ceremony to do that though…"
In that moment, Helga's phone buzzed with a familiar ringtone.
Resisting the urge to dive for the phone and bruise her arm once more, she simply picked it up and saw that she had a new video message.
She opened it to see her husband's reluctant yet smiling face.
"Hey Honey! And family if you're with her…Um, I know this message is sudden. I actually meant for this to be a draft or something for me to look over in reassurance for myself. I didn't plan on sending this message since I'm kind of scared of how you guys will react, but, here it goes…I've decided that I'm going to leave as soon as the ceremony is over and come home. I know what you're all thinking. The festivities go on for 4 days total, or why won't you even spend at least 1 night there, but guys I'm sure about this. I have a feeling that makes me uneasy with being here, and I think it has to do with well, me being here instead of at home where I belong. I came here to represent you all to a person that I loved and respected like family and even though I kind of left the beginning of the ceremony to hitch a ride into a modern part of the city, so I can send this message, I feel like it's the right thing to do. I said my goodbye's when I arrived, and I'm getting ready to head back to give my eulogy, but I just wanted you guys to know that I miss and love you all more than words can say. And because of that, I'm coming home. I love you all."
Helga and Stella smiled as the video message ended.
"Hmm well what do you know, looks like we were worry warts after all…" Helga mused.
"Yeah. We should have known that he would do something like this. It's Arnold after all. But it was good that he went to get the closure he needed." Stella sighed with a smile.
"I just think it's funny that he sent this even though he obviously didn't intend to. He's so hopeless sometimes." Helga shook her head with a chuckle.
"Say you know what we should do?" Stella started with excitement. "We should throw a surprise welcome back party!"
Helga raised an eyebrow, but didn't drop the smile of amusement.
"Yeah! Yeah, you know to kind of catch him off guard and celebrate his successful return and breaking the cycle we feared about him not coming back! Besides it'll be fun!" Stella continued.
"Meh, why not, it's free food, free drinks, and a great way to shake up the weekend. Let's do it." Helga smiled.
"Great! Let's see he just sent this message and most likely won't get any replied from us since he went back into the other part of the village, so it should take him, according to traveling conditions, about 2 or 3 days to get back. So we'll have the party at the end of this week! I'll spread the word!" Stella then walked off to tell her husband the news.
Helga pulled out her locket smiled lovingly at the picture that now contained a picture of him with her and the twins.
"Hurry back to me my Love…"
The message was sent my Lord. It would seem that they bought it. The guard bowed respectably to Los Diablos.
"Excellent." Los Diablos smiled as he put away Arnold's phone.
"Who knew the idiot would actually save a video message that we could use to our advantage and dig his own grave!" The guard laughed, but then paused in thought. "Wait a minute, they're under the belief that they're going to see him again by the end of this week…How are you going to keep them fooled if you plan to kill the Chosen one?" The guard asked his leader.
"Oh, but it is exactly as the message says. They will see him again by the end of this week. I fully intend to see to it that they all be reunited." Los Diablos said pleasantly, his sincerity confusing his guards as it caught them of guard.
"Vale, estoy confundido! (Okay I'm confused) I don't get it boss, if you're going to do that, then what's the purpose of holding him captive and beating him up as if you were going to' kill him?" One of his guards asked.
"You misheard me engañar (fool). I said that his family will see him again by the end of this week and shall be reunited with him…"
He turned to them with a wicked and mischievous smile.
"However, I never said anything about him being alive in one piece when that happens…"
To Be Continued…