Hey guys!

Yea, I'm horrible at New Year's resolutions. And updating. Ugh.

Chapter 18 is finally up after longer than a month. (My apologies.)

Like I said in Chapter 17, Chapter 18 is the second part of a previous chapter (1-17) and now here's the big reveal!

Chapter 18 is called Fantasy Will Set You Free, a continuation/ re-telling of ...

MAGIC CARPET RIDE!

That's right, Hope is making another appearance, but how? Read on to find out!

I'll try to update sooner. Hopefully.

Enjoy Chapter 18!

(AN: I wrote this song using Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf. I don't own the characters, except Hope...technically...)

(AN: All the italics are thoughts! Bold italics with italics are battling voices. Just so you know. Thanks!)

…That stupid football head with his stupid goody-two shoes ways and his perfect life…

She kicked a can across the sidewalk as she continued to walk down the street after an excruciatingly long day at school. She silently cursed the love of her life when she slammed into what felt like a brick wall. Until she realized that it wasn't something that she had crashed into, rather someone.

"Helga?"

She looked up from the sidewalk into the eyes of none other that Arnold, who had managed to get himself off the ground and stood above her, looking into her eyes with concern.

"Ar…watch where you're going, Football Head! I'd like to be able to not have to deal with your inability to walk every time that I round a corner!"

"Sorry, Helga." He scratched the back of his neck.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah…just watch where you're going."

He turned and continued back down the street and she followed him with her eyes as he turned another corner and disappeared. She fell backwards and slid down the brick wall behind her with a lovesick sigh.

"Oh Arnold, can't you see just how much I love you. How crazy I get, just from the way you look at me. Weak in the knees, I tell you. Hiding everything from you, pretending I don't care, when deep inside, oh deep inside I do. My beloved…"

She heard a small hiss from her and instantly lifted a fist behind her, but felt nothing. She turned to see a small woman standing behind her with a smirk on her face. Helga didn't recognize her, since she pretty much knew everyone in this god forsaken neighborhood since she was born. She was dressed in a deep purple dress, head to toe in gold jewelry that reflected from the sun and left little lights on the sidewalk beside her. She had several other gold decals in her outfit that lined her dress and the bandanna on her head. There were long gray gurls sticking out and curling the sides of her face. But the first thing that Helga noticed were the pair of cat like yellow eyes that matched the smirk she was wearing on her face.

"In love? What a feeling, huh?"

"You know it's rude to listen in on other people's private thoughts." Helga scoffed.

"I can help you, you know."

"I don't need your help. I'm fine on my own."

The woman reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bottle.

"Here."

She pressed the vial into Helga's palm. The silver liquid in the bottle swayed back and forth as it interchanged hands. The old woman closed Helga's fingers around the bottle as Helga kept her attention at the weight in her hand before looking up at the woman. Before she could refuse, the woman spoke up.

"Drink this before you go to sleep. It only lasts one night but I'm sure you are guaranteed a surprise, my dear."

Helga opened her palm and stared at the bottle.

"Yeah, right sure, drink this and all your problems will go away, all will be solved, " Helga laughed, "Look lady…."

As Helga looked back up from the bottle, she realized that it was only her standing in the alleyway again. She turned it over in her fingers before shoving into her pocket.

"Crazy old lady."

+_+_+_+_+kayhampster+_+_+_+

Helga opened her eyes to stare at her alarm clock. 10 pm. She must have fallen asleep. The TV still blaring across the room as two wrestlers jumped on top of each other, her hair was splayed across her pillow and a slight amount of drool across her lips, she managed to turn her head to the other side and stared at the jeans in a ball below her and the quick gleam of silver from one of the pockets. She reached down and pulled the vial out, sitting against the headboard, carefully watching the liquid flow from one end of the bottle to the other before popping it open. With a quick sniff, she let her curiosity get the better of her and tipped the liquid into her mouth. She gagged.

"Oh dear god. Gross."

She wiped her mouth and gagged some more before the room started to spin and she collapsed onto the bed in front of her.

+_+_+_+_+kayhampster+_+_+_+

Helga awoke to a light brush against her skin and heard a small flutter above her. As she opened her eyes, she gasped at the object floating above her. Colored in purples, greens, yellows and pinks, a carpet floated above her head then dashed away. She chased after it before she realized exactly where she was. Arnold's rooftop. And the window was opening. She scrambled behind one of the nearby water heaters as the window clicked open and then clicked closed. She heard footsteps against the pavement and the soft flutter of the carpet as it landed against her feet. She bent down to pick up one end and felt a pull against the other. She stepped out from the dark and looked into a pair of emerald eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, and another, but she kept her composure as she whispered hello. His eyes grew wide.

"You must be wondering how I got up here."

"I…I guess I'm a little…curious."

At that moment, she realized that he had absolutely no idea who she was.

Dense as ever, Football Head.

She moved closer to him, a smile spreading on her face.

Now Helga, this is a brand new start. He has no idea who you are. You can be nice! You can be passionate! You can be…you, all thanks to a stupid little…potion! That bottle from that crazy old lady was a potion? But why? Why help me?

She watched a bright shade of red raise on his cheeks as she continued to move towards him as he tripped backwards over each of his steps.

"You don't wanna go for a ride, do you?"

"I…I guess that…"

She whistled and jumped onto the carpet, surprising herself in the process. But confidently offered a hand to the clearly terrified boy below her. He turned towards the window and then back to her. She smiled as he again turned to the window before reaching up and putting a hand into hers and Helga felt a surge of electricity run through her body. She suppressed a sigh as she pulled him up and raced down the street, speeding by the dark horses and dim streetlights. His grip tightened on her and she giggled.

"Scared?"

"N-n-no…"

"Mhmm…I'm sure." She laughed again.

He turned to watch the movements around him and she took the time to watch his reactions, see the wind move through his hair, the lights brighten and then darken his eyes as they passed each streetlight. She sighed as he turned back to her.

"I…never asked…"

"Never asked what?" He blushed.

"Your name."

She froze a minute.

God damn it. Smooth move Pataki, you never thought of a name. Come on; think!

"My name…my name is…Hope. My name is Hope." She forced a smile.

"Hope."

He smiled, looking bashfully downwards. She sighed in relief.

"I'm…"

"Arnold," he looked back up at her in surprise, " I know already." He grinned.

"Oh, well then… good…I guess." She laughed

"Ever the charmer, huh?"

"You have no idea."

Another strip of red rose to his cheeks as she pulled gently on the edge of the carpet, speeding it up. The wind whipped through their hair and she turned to look at him, a grin plastered on his face. As they landed, he stood beside her as she attempted to flatten out her hair.

"Did you like it? The ride?"

"It was amazing. You're amazing."

She smiled but turned away.

"You're pretty amazing yourself, Arnold."

She leaned over and kissed him softly. It was like she was riding on that carpet again.

Hey Helga, you realize something don't you…it's not…

"Real." She whispered.

She pulled away from him and let go of his hand.

"Goodbye Arnold."

"Wait! Will I ever see you again?"

Will you? Will you?

"Of course you will. I'm always around. You…might not realize it at first. I like to keep to myself sometimes. But you'll know it's me, just by looking into my eyes."

"What do you mean?" She smirked.

"You tell me."

"Hope…I…I just want to stay…stay here, or maybe go with you… see the world…together."

It's all you ever wanted, Helga.

It's not real though, don't believe it.

Isn't this what you wanted. For him to notice you. Maybe things can change now.

He called you Hope. You're not Hope.

"Arnold…I'm not real. I'm not real, Arnold. You're dreaming."

"Dreaming, I can't be dreaming."

"Goodbye Arnold."

"Hope! Wait! I can't be dreaming!"

And maybe you aren't….

+_+_+_+_+kayhampster+_+_+_+

"Arnold!"

Helga woke up screaming his name and falling onto her bedroom floor, rubbing her side. She shot a look towards the clock. 9:15. She rushed around her room, throwing on a pair of basketball shorts and a t-shirt from a pile on the floor, grabbing her baseball glove and ran out the door. As she ran, all she could think of was her dream.

All a dream. Who am I kidding? Stupid potion.

She sighed as she crossed the street and noticed the rest of the gang at Gerald Field and continued to run towards them.

"Sorry I'm late, let's go."

After several hours of baseball, Helga and Arnold were the only ones who remained at the field. She continued to pitch into the gated fence while she watched Arnold out of the corner of her eye as he drifted off into his own little world. A stray ball rolled towards him.

"Arnold."

No response. She called his name again, and again, and again before she lost her patience.

"Hey Football Head!"

He looked up as she started to run over to him.

"What are you, off in La La Land? I asked you for my ball back 5 times!"

"Oh…sorry."

She leaned over him to pick the ball up but looked into his eyes. He looked at her in confusion.

"Hope?" Helga froze.

Oh. Crap.

She felt her grip tighten around the baseball in her hand.

"Hope? What about Hope? Is there someone named Hope? You on some kind of crazy pills?"

Smooth there Helga.

"I'm fine Helga. I'm a lot better actually."

"Uh…well, alright then."

"You walking home?"

"Was about to."

"You think I could join you?"

"Whatever floats your boat, Football Head."

Arnold walked beside her as she felt the smile creep onto her face.

Maybe that old woman wasn't so crazy after all.

And that my dear readers is Chapter 18. I hope you enjoyed.

Here's your preview for Chapter 19!

"And if loving her is heartache for me, and if holding her means that I have to bleed, then I am the matyr, love is to blame, she is the healing and I am the pain..."

Hope to be back to write regularly soon!