Chapter 9: In spite of all the danger (The Mystic Queen)

"I am not crossing that filthy creek" Violet said.

"Me neither" Rhonda snapped.

"Oh get out of the way princess, I'll show you!" Helga pushed away the two girls and walked into the creek until it reached her neck, then she swam to the other side.

"Helga is really worried for Arnold" Stinky said to Sid.

"I know, what's up with her?" Sid replied.

The rest of the crew began to cross motivated by Helga, Eugene lost his shoes after crossing.

"Oh man! My shoes!" Eugene lamented.

"Well, I will not cross, I am a lady" Rhonda said "Harold! Carry me through! Now!"
Harold ran to her as she climbed his back. Violet envied Rhonda's ability to manipulate minds.

"Stinky! Carry me through!" Violet ordered.

"Me?" he widened his eyes.

"Yes you loser, do it now!"

"But.."

"NOW!" she screamed.

Stinky mounted Violet on his back and began to cross but a sneeze made stinky lose his balance and fall into the water along with Violet.

"You stupid jerk! Stupid! Stupid! You stupid prick!" Violet roared with her red face. Helga mocked Violet.

"Shut up Helga! Maybe you are used to live in filth, but I am not. And anyway, I am not the one desperately to find my lost little boyfriend" Violet shouted to attract attention. Helga blushed but soon her blush turned angry red.

"Take that back bucko! Or I will make you shove it up your asshole, you little twit!"

"Oh really? Arnold won't be here to save your sorry ass when I beat the crap out of you!" Violet said still in the water.

Helga gritted her teeth.

"There is no time to lose" Roberto the mysterious guide interfered "your friend may be in great danger, we must hurry the pace!"

"Fine!" Helga gave up and followed the guide.

Nadine was fascinated by the insects she found along the way. She kept some in jars and placed them in her pack. Sheena and Eugene were closer than ever since their almost death experience, they giggled together all the way. Curly strode next to Brainy, he felt jealous of Harold –How can I show Rhonda I am a great guy? I've got to get rid of that fat ass Harold and then I can seduce her- Curly conspired and let an evil laugh out.

Gerald and Phoebe followed behind, Gerald had an awful look on his face, an angry yet worried expression.
-Why didn't you take me along Arnold?- he thought.

"Are you ok?" Phoebe asked.

"Oh.. yeah, don't worry babe, I just hope Arnold is all right"

They hiked a tall mount full of enormous trees, bigger than Mighty Pete. Then, they were walking slowly on an edge of a high rock mount. The height was frightening and Sheena almost fell off. They crossed the dangerous edge and got to a green wall with a heavy waterfall next to it.

"What now?" Helga groaned.

"It's a dead-end" Principal Wartz unpleasantly said.

"I don't understand… the boy came this way" the guide said confused "Maybe he climbed the leafy wall" he continued.

"Wait!" Helga reacted as she focussed her sight on the leaves, they seemed to move. She walked towards the grand vertical structure and touched a purple flower. The leaves sprung wide open showing the flower cave, dark and its fresh smell. Helga entered fearless.

"Helga wait!" Mr. Simmons yelled but she completely ignored him.

"Helga don't go! Wait!" Phoebe screamed as Helga's shadow disappeared in the darkness of the cavern.

The cave became darker and black and didn't seem to end. Helga felt the flowers all around, on her head and on her feet. There was something odd about that place, something mischievous and magical. A great moan emitted behind Helga which made her heart beat raise in a second.

"What the fuck!" Her eyes had a grim look "Who's there?" the moans got louder and closer to her "Shit!"

Helga fled, she couldn't see anything, but somehow, she felt she knew the way, like if she had already been there before. She followed her mysterious instinct. The thing roared with hunger as she spotted the glimpse of light at the end. Helga had no longer fear, her speed increased breaking through the light. The sudden brightness was blinding to Helga's eyes and she fell down hill, hitting all kinds of things along the way.

"Uuugh" she moaned. Helga got on her feet and shook her head. The place she ended up in was indescribable. Long trees that reached the purple clouds, flowers with colours never seen before and a diamond lake. Birds flew and sang, other animals drank peacefully in the lake and others laid resting.

"Wow! This place is so beautiful!" Helga's inspiration vanished when she saw a body far on the ground and instantly recognized it.

"Arnold!" she yelled and ran to his aid "Arnold! Arnold!" she got on her knees and flipped Arnold. There was blood all over the ground and on his clothes. His left arm had a great wound that still bled.

"Oh, my dear Arnold! What happened?" Helga took her bow from her head and tied it on his wound "Wake up football head! Wake up!" she shook him but he did not move, although he was still breathing.

"Oh no!...wake up…please!...I need you…" She shed tears from her eyes "I am too late… I should have told you how I feel, that night of the full moon… I love you… I do!"

"… He… Hel.. Helga?" Arnold tiredly gasped as he slowly opened his eyes.

"Arnold! You're alright!"

"Helga… where am I?... what happened?"

"I… don't know… I found you here, bleeding… your… your arm had a hole… I covered it with my bow"

"Oh… I remember now… something bit me… hard… and I rolled down to this lake, the last thing I remember was looking at the lake… then… there was you… Helga!" he suddenly reacted "You saved me!"

"Well I… yeah… kinda…" Helga blushed twisting her hands and Arnold hugged her tight. She felt her whole body tingle in sweet surrender as she smelled his sent, Helga held him pressing his arm.

"Ouch!" he complained.

"Oops! Sorry" and both giggled.

"Why did you leave?" Helga asked "You know, I kinda… got worried for you Arnoldo" she shyly said.

"You got worried? For me?" Arnold blushed.

"Well… yeah…I mean… no!... football head… yes… no….I hate you!... shut up!" she got pretty nervous, peered to Arnold's face and he smiled.

"Whatever you say Helga" he replied. A moment of silence took place.

"So why did you leave us?" Helga insisted on knowing the reason. Arnold's gesture went from joyful to gray pale and serious. She noticed the drastic change and decided to change the subject "I'm sorry… we could talk about something else if you want"

"No… don't worry, it's just complicated" silence ruled once again and then he continued " The reason I came to the jungle is.. well… my parents"

Helga seemed confused and her eyes twisted "Your parents?"

"Yes… I am looking for them… look.." he took the folded map from his pocket and gave it to Helga, she analyzed it and still couldn't understand. Arnold noticed that so he began "My parents were…."

Helga paid complete attention while Arnold narrated the story behind his parents. She was crushed by Arnold's unfortunate events, she felt guilty somehow.

"Alas, all this time I have tormented your poor soul…" she cried "I'm sorry... I am sorry for all the bad things I have done to you… from now on, I will never treat you cruel… I am such an idiot!"

"It's ok Helga, none of this is your fault" he held her hands "don't weep, or I will cry too"

She stared at him, his eyes were full of humility, and her heart began to burst out on flames.

"I understand if you want to go now… after all, it is a dangerous journey" He said.

"No! I will go with you! I will help you find your parents or my name is not Helga G. Pataki!"

"You don't have to, I don't want you to get hurt or put you in danger"

"Hurt me?" she laughed "Have you forgotten who you are talking to bucko? I am not the one with a deadly wound on my arm Arnoldo"

Arnold chuckled "Ok, alright then, thanks Helga, that really means a lot"

Helga laid on Arnold as they enjoyed the heavenly sight.