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Chapter 12: My True Mission
The sun was beginning to set on the excavation site after a full day of exploring and hearing the archeologists explaining how life was like back then, and the class succeeded by breaking absolutely nothing.
CRACK
"Which kid!?" shouted Jozen, glaring around all the children for the culprit, but all fingers points to the wide-eyed Principal Wartz who only had a finger up and the shattered remains of a small statue on the ground.
Mr. Simmons only allowed a few more minutes for the kids to explore the sight as they wait for their ride to come.
"Man, this day was awesome!" Gerald said to Arnold as they head back to the masks. "Mysteries, mummies, some treasure, and these creepy masks." Gerald looked at the old masks. "There's probably more legends here than back home."
"Like Mascasa." Arnold gazed at the masks, which caught his best friend's suspicion.
"Speaking of, what was that all about?"
Arnold sighed. "Well, ….. I kind of didn't tell the whole truth back there."
Gerald raised an eyebrow. "The goodhearted, honest Arnold of Hillwood telling a lie? I should have known you're a crook when we played hooky."
Arnold chuckled. "Well I've told Helga this when she helped with my essay." Arnold rubbed his head as he glance around. "Ever since I found that journal, I've been having dreams."
"Dreams you say?"
"Not just random ones, but it's like a whole story about Mascasa." Arnold then went on to explain his dreams about Mascasa and the Green Eyes to Gerald.
Gerald found this very hard to believe. If this wasn't Arnold, he would have called him crazy. But why would Arnold say all this, what would he gain if he was making this up? Perhaps he'll learn about another legend soon.
"Well that's a lot to sink in, Arnold." Gerald shook his head. "But you were acting very weird when they told us about Mascasa, but seriously, Atlantis out of all counties?"
Arnold sheepishly smiled. "I know, Gerald, but it's just all weird to me."
"Maybe you're psychic?" Gerald smiled. "Come on, think of something else?"
Arnold chuckled at Gerald's playful mood, but something did strike up in his mind that he couldn't just shake off. "Actually, back at the party …. Was Lockjaw there?"
"Lockjaw?" Gerald asked. "Arnold, he's in the middle of the ocean. There's no way we can track him down, let alone carry him on top of the Boarding house."
Arnold looked so confused. "Man, this is really weird."
"Well you did have a heck of a month." Gerald said. "The anniversary, the journal, the essay contest, and our exotic field trip. You need sleep."
"That's probably it." Arnold said as he wishes he could have half a good answer for all of this. "I mean I should really just relax and learn about San Lorenzo and-"
"Your parents." Jozen walked up among them and sat down to look at the masks. "Sorry to interrupt, but you should listen to Gerald." He looked at them and smiled. "Why not tell your own stories at the fire tonight? Olga keeps bugging me on what I know, which isn't a lot."
Arnold thought about his journal and smiled. "That's a good idea. I actually brought my dad's journal along."
"A journal?" Jozen asked with enthusiasm. "From when?"
"When he first met my mother and …." Arnold felt his arm and slowly looked away. "Before they left."
"Oh." Jozen looked away. "I'm sorry for bringing that up."
"No, you're right." Arnold said with his head up high. "I'm going to read the entire thing to the class and villagers tonight."
"Don't start without me." Jozen looked ahead and noticed their ride coming. "You should go to your class, I'll catch up. I'm meeting my Aunt here."
"Sure thing; and make sure she takes care of Abner, and not to hurt him."
Jozen nodded as the kids walked away.
"Arnold … what is happening with you? Jozen looked at the dead masks. "You shouldn't have known that much about Mascasa, nor the Faceless and …. Toma."
"Hey, Jozen." Kisiin sat next to him and looked at the masks. "Overhear anything?"
Jozen glanced around for any listeners. "Arnold said he was having dreams after he found his dad's journal. Dreams that sounds remotely similar to Mascasa's origins. Sadly he's as clueless about this as I am."
"Odd." Kisiin scratched her head. "But even we don't know that much." She looked over at the image of Mascasa. "Our ancestors had to go through his reign, and it left them with scraps. Heck, we don't even know who made them?"
"Itzam." Jozen spoke. "His name was Itzam. He had a wife named Ixch and a son Toma."
"REALLY!?" Kisiin shouted in her nephew's ear. "Where'd you learn that? I've been digging around for years looking for answers! Did I miss something back home?"
"Oh I learned that from …." Jozen hesitated as he glanced at the masks. "A-Aunt Kisiin, this is going to be shocking to hear, but-"
"Jozen!" Olga ran in and picked him up by the arm. "We're leaving now, and Arnold is finally going to tell us all about his parents! Then I can share stories with both my sister and Arnold."
"O-Olga, wait!" Jozen protested in fail as Olga drag him away.
"Well there's that." Kisiin smiled as Abner walked alongside her. She looked down at the pig and patted him. "I know it's been years, but can you wait a little bit longer for me? I have to hear this."
Abner seemed to understand as he ran back to the other researchers.
Kisiin waved goodbye to the pig as she walked away. "But what was Jozen about to say? Did something happen in our hidden city? Or perhaps they finally opened that temple."
Night finally arrived and the villagers made a huge fire in the center of their land.
The class gathered around the fire with snacks as Gerald stood on a log. "Children of P.S. 118. You know Arnold as our guide in life. How he helped us in our darkest hour to see the glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. But how he became like this, you may wonder."
Gerald raised his arms. "We know his grandparents. Steely Phil and Pookie, but who is the man that our favorite elder raised? Who is the lovely woman that the man took for a bride? Who are these two people that gave Arnold to world?"
This was finally it for the class. The subject that they refuse to ask until recently, the true and full story of Miles and Stella Shortman, Arnold's missing parents.
"I am the Keeper of the Tales, but I must pass this onto the holder of the journal, Arnold."
"Oh I see! When I want to tell a story, Gerald refuses to let me speak. But when Arnold has a story, you give him all the glory!" Curly shouted as he turns away.
Arnold walked onto the log as everyone cheered.
"GO MILES AND STELLA!" Olga shouted with Jozen sitting next to him as she wraps her arms around his neck. "Are you excited?"
"Excited? Yes. Can I breath? No."
"Woopsie." Olga giggled lightly as she let Jozen breath.
"Get used to it." Helga whispered to Jozen as she sits right next to him, thankfully not with Olga for this. "I'm going to be a crazy as Olga about them, I already know it."
Arnold sat on the log after everyone stopped cheering. "Well, you've been … interested in knowing about my parents."
"Get on with it!" Harold shouted, before Helga hit him in the gut with her elbow.
"Shut up!" Helga quietly shouted as she turned her attention to her favorite person.
Arnold held up the journal. "This is my dad's journal, I found this on the anniversary of the day they left …. And never came back."
Everyone's excitement died down as they allow Arnold to tell his story of his parents.
Arnold opened the journal and start off in the beginning where his parents first met. They laughed at when Miles fell down, bumped his head, and nearly lost it at the spider scene Nadine wished she was there for, but they felt warmth in their hearts when they shared their kiss soon after.
But when Arnold reached the rapid river scene, everyone was thrilled to know how they will get out of it alive.
After Arnold passed how they were rescued from some fishing nets hidden in a waterfall, he recalled the advice the Minister said to keep his knowledge of the Green Eyes a secret. Thinking quickly, he came up with a different version that doesn't sound like a complete lie.
"From the net and hidden room, they discovered that it was an ancient Green Eyes fishing spot that was abandoned for some time."
Eduardo nodded as all the classmates go 'ooow' at that part. However some of the kids where a bit skeptical.
"A fishing net that lasted for so long outside a waterfall, exposed to the elements and eye witnesses?" Phoebe whispered to Gerald. As he spoke back, Phoebe nodded and remained quiet.
Another skeptic was Olga Pataki, who thought the same thing. She heard stories from Miles and Stella about the Green Eyes, but neither of them said they ever made contact with them, or denied it.
Olga glanced around as she whispered a question to Jozen's ear.
"You shouldn't ask that now, wait until the end."
Arnold then moves onto his parents chasing after La Sombra, the river pirates.
"Arnold, your parents fought pirates?" Harold asked. "That is so awesome!"
"Were there sword rights? Car chases? Explosions?!" Sid eagerly asked as his fists tighten.
Arnold denounces the movie actions, but did say they escaped La Sombra by swinging over the water fall. "Then La Sombra shouted out, 'Stop! You meddling good-doers gringos!'"
All the adults gasped as that last word went over the kids heads.
"'I'll get La-, I mean that treasure back, if it's the last thing I ever do!'"
Everyone cheered for Miles and Stella's heroic action, but Mr. Simmons felt uneasy. "La Sombra wouldn't go after Arnold for this, would he?"
Eduardo shook his head. "We'll be traveling in safe locations far from his territory. We'll be fine."
(Elsewhere)
"I am going to enjoy my meeting with the brat of Miles and Stella!" La Sombra laughed somewhere.
(Back to the village)
"We'll be all fine."
Seeing this side of Arnold's family was all too exciting of the kids, especially the boys. But it all turned to mush when Arnold got to their wedding.
All the girls gushed at every moment as the boys go 'blah'. Helga was trying her best to keep calm, but the holy engagement of Arnold's parents were like the heavens and earth uniting for the first time, especially when the ground shook.
"And then they got Abner for a wedding present, and my Grandpa wanted to eat him." Arnold laughed as he turned the page. "Then … say, there's a page missing." Arnold noticed the torn in the journal. "I'm sorry, I think my Grandpa got rid of this."
"How come?" Gerald asked.
"I dunno. I think it has something to do with my parents that night after the wedding. But what?"
Principal Wartz and Mr. Simmons's eyes bulged out as Eduardo looked nervous.
"A-Arnold. W-We don't have all night to wonder." Eduardo said with sweat running down his face. "The kids need their sleep for our jungle expedition."
"Oh, right." Arnold moved on as the adults sigh peacefully.
After getting through another heroic deed done by his parents, which the kids enjoyed so much, Arnold finally reached the sleeping sickness.
"Then Eduardo here found my parents to warn them that the g… mountain people succumb to a disease called the Sleeping Sickness."
Arnold told his story as Helga thought to herself. "Miles and Stella Shortman. I now know not one, but two others in this cruel world whose heart are nearly as mighty as my beloved. Yet, my beloved is the same flesh and blood as you two. From wherever you are now, above the clouds or miraculously on Earth, I dream you are able to witness your seed sprouting into a-"
Helga's monologue was interrupted by abnormal breath, but it was not from Brainy again.
"The heck." Helga looked next to her and saw Jozen in a cold sweat. "Hey, you O.K.?"
Jozen quickly raised his head, looking as if he forgotten where he was. "I-I I'm fine …. I … I think … I'm just heating up."
Jozen was shocked a bit when Olga placed her hand on his forehead. "Do you need to see someone?"
Jozen turned to Olga. "No, I just need a break from the fire, that's all."
Something wasn't right with Jozen, and both Helga and Olga could feel it. The look in his green eyes could say so much and yet so little to Olga. They watched as Jozen stood up and walked away, telling Arnold not to worry about waiting for him.
Arnold went on to tell the small segments of their journey with some antics from his Dad that got a few good laughs and the loud cheer when Stella found the cure.
As Arnold was describing Stella's sudden condition, he asked all the kids what they think was happening to her.
"She got food poisoning?" asked Nadine.
"Bad bug?" asked Eugene.
"She got punched in the gut?" asked Torvald.
"Oh no!" Harold cried. "She's going to die!"
"Stupid." Helga shouted at Harold. "If she kicked the bucket already, then we wouldn't have-" That's when it stuck Helga. "She's pregnant!"
"Correct!" Arnold smiled at Helga.
"Oooohohoho." Helga mentally sighed to herself, wondering how his birth will happen. But to her surprise, just as much as everyone else, Arnold's detail of how they travel through the jungle into the next town was no day in the park.
"The volcano what?!" Nearly everyone shouted.
"It erupted right there and then." Arnold said as he continues on as his parents and Eduardo were cut off by the flow of lava as Stella's time was nearly up.
Arnold hesitated slightly as to how he'll fit the 'mountain people' into all of this, but came up with something that was truthfully, but not fully explained.
"All seemed lost to them, but then above the jungle trees, they saw a green mist rising. They followed it and found an old Green Eyes temple that was safe from the lava, with a bed."
All the kids oohed as Eduardo kept a close eye on Arnold.
Lila was the next to speak up. "Arnold, do you think they could be-"
"THE GREEN EYES!" Olga squealed loudly, which caught the attention of Jozen who ran out of his tent.
"What, why are they-?!"
"I bet it was the Green Eyes who saved your parents from the lava!"
Jozen glanced at the surprised Arnold who was trying to find the right words. "Well, it's still a mystery." He answered with a calm yet slight nervous tone.
"I've heard so many legends about the Green Eyes from your parents!" Olga shouted. "And I bet they actually did meet them before. Like when you-"
"Huh, O-Olga!" Jozen called out. "You should-"
"And I bet those mountain people were the Green Eyes and La Sombra stole the treasure from them, didn't' he!"
"Uhhhh." To Arnold's rescue, Jozen silent Olga by grabbing her hand.
"H-Hey, they're just uuuh rumors!" Everyone looked at Jozen who seem to be getting worried. "Yeah, rumors. I can tell you all that later. Maybe tomorrow like say for lunch. I know where some good fruits grow."
All the girls gasped.
"Big sister, I think he's asking you out." Lila's statement made all the girls sequel as Jozen and Olga looks flustered.
"Arnold, get back to your story before they start referencing that movie with the singing man in the rain." Helga shouted at the boy.
"Right on it." Arnold got back to the story as everyone turned back to them.
"This is it." Helga leaned in closer and closer as she hears about the violence force of nature, which all stopped. "Wait, what?"
"It all stopped." Arnold answered as everyone became quiet. "The volcano became calm. All the animals froze and looked around. Everything was silent …. All except for a cry of a newborn baby."
Helga's jaw dropped and her pupils grew from what she has just learned. Arnold's birth had silenced all of nature. Arnold's birth, a human birth, shut the yap of a volcano, a volcano out of all things. Everyone was frozen from shock, some even called out he's making up stories, but Eduardo and many of the villagers confirmed Arnold's story.
"It's true; I was there to witness it all." Eduardo walked up to Arnold and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Arnold's birth has silenced all of nature."
All the gasps and cheers of amazement were swept under the rug for Helga's state of mind. God only knows why she wasn't dancing around the fire in praise for the miracle Arnold has done. But her heart just wants to spring out and sing to the heavens. If there was anyone that dare deny that Arnold is pure of heart in any way, this was their ultimate proof. What mortal could have a more miraculous birth than her beloved? No one, no human can hold at least a match of the grand torch that Arnold holds in her heart. Nature itself bows down to Arnold, and no evil shall corrupt his heart and-
"Oooooooh, this is the part when they bring Arnold to Hillwood."
Olga's words penetrated Helga's mind and brought her back to reality. She glanced around and heard Arnold talking about Hillwood.
And the next few minutes where nothing but everyone saying how cute Arnold was when he was a baby, which of course the football head himself couldn't keep a straight face for.
"But then when my parents looked back to me, I was gone."
Everyone gasped.
"Were you ever found?" asked Harold.
Helga was no longer in the mood to slug him as Arnold kept going.
"It wasn't until one baby pointed at the slide where I somehow climbed all the way up."
The class were all just shocked by how much trouble Arnold gotten himself in as a baby. It was surprising that he's still standing with them to this day.
Helga was listening very close and wondered why this all sounded familiar, but pushed that to the side when Arnold got to the part when they tuck him to bed.
She could imagine Arnold's wonderful mother singing her baby boy to slumber as Arnold's dad spoke about how much he cares for his family.
The journal his father wrote was a wonderful story the class had ever heard, but something was wrong with Arnold. They looked and whispered to themselves at Arnold's state. He was just staring at the journal, without saying another word. He didn't give a finishing line, not even another turn of the page. The boy was just looking down at it, deep in thought.
"Arnold?" Mr. Simmons managed to catch his attention to see everyone staring at him.
"I … I …."
"Arnold." Eduardo spoke up. "You don't have to finish the journal for them."
The kids whispered to each other, it was no ancient riddle to the kids as to what the last part of the journal was about. They looked with worry as Arnold took a deep breath.
"No, I want to read this." Arnold looked at the journal and read off the final piece of the story.
"The Sleeping Sickness had returned to them." Eduardo said to Miles and Stella. "You are the only ones they can trust."
Miles and Stella looked conflicted as they looked down at their son who just learned to walk and nearly turning 2 soon. They looked at one another and nodded.
"Eduardo, the Green Eyes have saved us and we've saved them." He smiled as he held onto his wife. "We're going back to San Lorenzo to rescue them."
"It's a new strain, but I'll find the cure." Stella gave him a heartfelt smile. "We'll leave on the 5th and meet you in San Lorenzo."
Eduardo smiled. "Thank you. I promise this will be a quick mission."
Eduardo looked away as Arnold finished up the final part of the journal.
"It's a heartbreaking decision, but the G-Mountain People are like family to us. They saved our lives again and again." Arnold could feel his heart weighing down with every word. "I really don't want to leave Arnold. But our trip back to San Lorenzo will be quick."
The kids sat there silently as Arnold continued to read with a weak voice.
"Mom and Dad can look after him. Be ….. Before we know it, we'll be …. Back. Playing with our boy." He looked around the staring eyes all focusing on him to finish. "I know that the whole time we're there, we'll both miss our Arnold, terribly."
Arnold looked at everyone. There were no more mysteries, no more excitement, no humor, no joy, nothing but patience and sadness.
"M-Mr. Simmons?"
"Yes Arnold." his teacher quickly spoke.
"Can I be excused?"
Everyone stood up, speaking to Arnold and asking if he needs something or wants to talk or just anything. Mr. Simmons calmed the class down. "Please, I think we should give Arnold a rest now."
Mr. Simmons nodded and Arnold walked back to the boy's cabin with the journal in his hand.
Eduardo stood next to him as they looked at the kids with one thing on their minds that needs to be address now.
"Children." Eduardo spoke. "I think it's time you learn why Miles and Stella Shortman have never returned ….. at the very least, what we do know."
In the dark cabin, Arnold just laid in bed staring at the photo of his parents. Reading the final part of the journal was more than he'd expected, we wasn't even sure how'd he would be if he stayed longer.
Looking at his watch, it was getting late, and not a single boy entered the cabin. "Why did I go through with it?"
He looked back at the photo and thought about his stay in this exotic land, where he had hope that maybe his parents are still alive. But when he read that final sentence out loud for everyone, something in his mind just clicked.
Nearly ten years. How can anyone survive in the jungle for that long without finding a way home? His parents, out of all people, could have found a way back if they jumped and parachuted from a plane if it was going to crash. How could they find the Green Eyes and saved them?
Arnold dug into his shirt and took out the Green Eyes necklace he received as a present from the Green Eyes themselves. They're still alive at least, why? They were suffering from the Sleeping Sickness again. Did his parents actually found them? Did they cure them? Then what happened to them if the plane didn't …
Even when his mind sinks into the dark possibilities, more questions rises about their chances of being alive for all this time. But nothing was clear to him.
"I just need an answer." Arnold rolled on his bed and looked up at the dark ceiling. "I just …."
Suddenly he heard a knock on the windowsill. He stood up and looked outside.
"Psssst, you O.K.?"
Arnold looked ahead to see Helga G. Pataki standing behind the cabin. "H-Helga." Arnold wiped his eye. "What are you doing here?"
Helga looked around. "I'm …. I'm just seeing how you're doing?"
Arnold took a deep breath. "They told you what happened, did they?"
Helga gulped. "About the plane … and no trace." Helga noticed Arnold's face and quickly spoke up. "Look, you've been here for a while and Mr. Simmons wants to give you some alone time, but ….. I'm worried about you."
That was the first time he heard Helga say that to him. "Do you want to come in?"
Helga nodded as she climbed through the window. The two sat on Arnold's bed quietly. Helga was deeply conflicted with herself to come up with the right thing to say without messing up.
"My sister Olga really looked up to them." Arnold slowly looked at Helga. "Believe it or not, she used to bring me to your house when we were in diapers to have play dates."
"Really?" Arnold looked at Helga with curiosity. "I didn't even meet Gerald until I was three."
"Well looks like in an ironic way, I was your first friend."
"Wow." Arnold let that soak in. "All this time I mistook friendship with bullying." Arnold let loose as smile, which set Helga to ease knowing he's not feeling too horrible. "Did she say anything else?"
"Please, she sounds like a comic book geek when she talks about them."
Helga talked to Arnold how Olga first met Miles and Stella. The boy was completely shocked that they saved Sheck's life back then, the same evil man that once tried to not just torn down their home, but also tried to run over them.
It was now Helga's turn to tell Arnold stories of how Olga hung out with his parents, and he was enjoying every moment of it.
"I'm telling ya, I bet money that your folks were sick and tired of her, probably even more than me."
Arnold laughed to himself and turned to Helga. "I really needed that."
"No problem." Helga rubbed her arm. "And….. Gerald was talking to Phoebe about the journal and she told me …. She's right, isn't she?"
"Who?" Arnold asked.
"Olga." Her grip tightened on his bed. "The mountain people, they're these …. Green Eyes, are they? I mean the super secret, ancient people that I should be calling all this baloney right now."
Arnold was shocked to hear this, but there was no use denying it to her. "Yes. The Green Eyes exist, and they're still alive."
Arnold held up the Green Eyes Necklace. "With the whip, newspapers, and photos I got, I also received this letter from the Green Eyes' leader himself."
Helga covered her mouth to hide her loud gasp. The actual hidden Indiana Jones-y race, contacted Arnold.
"It was to wish me a happy birthday and letting me know that the chief named his daughter after my mother." He smiled as he glanced at the photo. "They even want to see me if I ever get the chance to find their city."
"Uh oh." Helga thought to herself as she wonders what Arnold will do, but then noticed the necklace Arnold has. "Wait, isn't that-"
"Arnold?"
Helga and Arnold quickly turned to the door as Gerald knocks. "You O.K. in there?"
"Coming!" Arnold called out as he whispered to Helga. "You should go, no girls allowed."
Helga nodded. "And trust me, Pheebs and I won't be spilling the beans about the Green Eyes. Even Eduardo kept his mouth shut on that part."
As she turned to the window, Arnold spoke up. "And Helga." Helga slowly turned around, but was then caught in a tight embrace by her crush. "Thank you."
Helga would normally swoo to herself and quickly shove him away, but instead she actually hugged him back. She didn't know where this courage was coming from, but she wasn't complaining by the slightest.
Arnold himself was kind of surprised to not expect the usual, but this hug; he just wanted it to last longer.
"Arnold?"
The two quickly let go and Helga climbed out the window, but slowly poked her head out to see Arnold opening the door to see Gerald and the rest of the boys being compassionate to Arnold. She softly smiles to herself and slipped away.
"Sweet dreams, my beloved." Helga smiled as she walks away.
"Miles and Stella. To fully hear your tale was a blessing to my soul. But now I can see ever more slightly of the pain of your departure. Without truly bonding with these wonder people." Helga lowered her head as she gazed at the cabin. "But ….. I hope you don't go looking for them, and expect something." Helga said in a dead tone. "Please Arnold, just keep your head close to the ground, please ….. you're heart's too good to see broken."
As she leaves, bright green eyes from the plants watch her go by. "She actually does care about him." Jozen smiled to himself as he walked back into the village.
It was getting late and all the kids were heading to bed. The very few villagers that were up are preparing for the next day as Mr. Simmons and Principal Wartz watches them with Olga, Kisiin, and Jozen.
"I'm back." Jozen glanced at the cabin with only a few lights on. "So ….. you think he'll actually go out there?" Jozen asked Mr. Simmons who looked deeply worried.
"That what his grandfather feels, and so do I." Mr. Simmons clenched his board. "He's a well behaved boy. The only time I ever saw him do something wrong was when he pure paint on Helga."
"WHAT?!" Olga asked loudly.
"B-But it was after she wronged him … why didn't I punished her too?"
"You're getting out of focus." Kisiin tapped his head, which mildly annoyed him. "We're need to talk about how you guys will keep an eye on him." Kisiin rolled her eyes. "I still got work to do and I need to babysit a pig, and a snake."
"Only after our jungle tour and the boat ride." Jozen bowed to Eduardo. "And thank you for allowing me to join your team."
"It is no problem; you've proven yourself to be very trustworthy." Eduardo smiled. "And we'll need to keep our ears sharp for Arnold. After all these years, even I feel tempted to go deep into that jungle."
"Oh that Miles." Principal Wartz shook his head. "I remember when he was a kid in P.S. 118. I'm harsh and all, but I don't want to just crush the boy's dreams like that. No amount of detention can fix this."
"Which is why I propose that Arnold is in eye shot the entire time." Olga folded her arms and smile. "Then during our travels through this beautiful land, we and all of his friends will help him out and support him with smiles and hugs."
"I know this is my first time meeting him, but I would like to speak to him too." Jozen said with a soft voice. "He doesn't have closer about his parents, but I can relate with him in a way."
"What do you mean?" Olga tilted her head.
"Well … you remember when I mentioned I have a half-sister?"
Olga recalled the party and her eyes widen. "Oh, that means ….."
"Don't worry about." The young man held his hand up. "It happened a long time ago." Jozen took a deep breath and smiled. "I'll make sure the son of Miles and Stella is safe."
"Affirmative." Principal Wartz said formally. "But if he does manage to run off, you know what we must do."
The adults nodded to each other and separated to their own sleeping quarters.
"Thank you, everyone." Arnold softly smiled at all his friends.
"You have the coolest parents on the planet, they would be so proud of you." Sid said with a soft smile.
"I'm sure they would be proud of you for all the times you've helped us." Eugene said as Lorenzo and Iggy nodded with agreement.
"And I thought I was tough." Torvald said as he flex. "Your dad must have muscles bigger than mine."
Gerald sat next to the boy and placed his hand on Arnold's shoulder. "They were some pretty bold parents, and Eduardo said that tomorrow we are going to where they first met."
"R-Really?" That was the young enthusiasm they wanted to see in Arnold. "We should really get some sleep."
The others nodded as they wished Arnold the best of sleep.
"Good night, Arnold." Gerald said as he turned the lights off.
"Good night, Gerald." Arnold tucked himself in as he looked deeply into the necklace. "Still, even if you're still alive or not. We still don't have a clue." Arnold held the necklace to his head. "Even with my dad's map, it's going to be difficult. But no matter what happens or did happen, I just want answers."
Jozen walked into his tent to see Coatl slithered in bed. "If they knew that Arnold running off is not my only concern." He sat on his bed with a curious glare as he kicks the ground. "He somehow managed to obliterate that old mask, and now he's having dreams of that dead tyrant's past that only I and the others should know. This doesn't make any sense! I can't even read him." Jozen felt his head. "Can Arnold truly be what my people worship him as, or does he relate to Mascasa more than it appears."
End of Chapter
A/N: Oh boy, in a couple more months, we will finally get the official jungle movie …. And this and many other fanfictions will practically be obsolete.
But for the future of this story. As I mentioned before, this story is canon to my Cross-Over Crystal series (I even plan to mold it a bit to fit the remake), and who knows, maybe the official movie might suck? …. Yeah, I don't think so either.
These stories are just for fun and to see everyone's enjoyment. So as of right now, there are no plans of canceling this fanfiction, even though two years have nearly passed since I started this.
Now I must ask you something. When you leave a review, can you put more of your thoughts into this. Like how you like the settings, the original characters? Are any of the HA! Gang out of character? How you feel about Miles and Stella? Anything?
I would really appreciate any reviews given.

Description
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Chapter 12: My True Mission
The sun was beginning to set on the excavation site after a full day of exploring and hearing the archeologists explaining how life was like back then, and the class succeeded by breaking absolutely nothing.
CRACK
"Which kid!?" shouted Jozen, glaring around all the children for the culprit, but all fingers points to the wide-eyed Principal Wartz who only had a finger up and the shattered remains of a small statue on the ground.
Mr. Simmons only allowed a few more minutes for the kids to explore the sight as they wait for their ride to come.
"Man, this day was awesome!" Gerald said to Arnold as they head back to the masks. "Mysteries, mummies, some treasure, and these creepy masks." Gerald looked at the old masks. "There's probably more legends here than back home."
"Like Mascasa." Arnold gazed at the masks, which caught his best friend's suspicion.
"Speaking of, what was that all about?"
Arnold sighed. "Well, ….. I kind of didn't tell the whole truth back there."
Gerald raised an eyebrow. "The goodhearted, honest Arnold of Hillwood telling a lie? I should have known you're a crook when we played hooky."
Arnold chuckled. "Well I've told Helga this when she helped with my essay." Arnold rubbed his head as he glance around. "Ever since I found that journal, I've been having dreams."
"Dreams you say?"
"Not just random ones, but it's like a whole story about Mascasa." Arnold then went on to explain his dreams about Mascasa and the Green Eyes to Gerald.
Gerald found this very hard to believe. If this wasn't Arnold, he would have called him crazy. But why would Arnold say all this, what would he gain if he was making this up? Perhaps he'll learn about another legend soon.
"Well that's a lot to sink in, Arnold." Gerald shook his head. "But you were acting very weird when they told us about Mascasa, but seriously, Atlantis out of all counties?"
Arnold sheepishly smiled. "I know, Gerald, but it's just all weird to me."
"Maybe you're psychic?" Gerald smiled. "Come on, think of something else?"
Arnold chuckled at Gerald's playful mood, but something did strike up in his mind that he couldn't just shake off. "Actually, back at the party …. Was Lockjaw there?"
"Lockjaw?" Gerald asked. "Arnold, he's in the middle of the ocean. There's no way we can track him down, let alone carry him on top of the Boarding house."
Arnold looked so confused. "Man, this is really weird."
"Well you did have a heck of a month." Gerald said. "The anniversary, the journal, the essay contest, and our exotic field trip. You need sleep."
"That's probably it." Arnold said as he wishes he could have half a good answer for all of this. "I mean I should really just relax and learn about San Lorenzo and-"
"Your parents." Jozen walked up among them and sat down to look at the masks. "Sorry to interrupt, but you should listen to Gerald." He looked at them and smiled. "Why not tell your own stories at the fire tonight? Olga keeps bugging me on what I know, which isn't a lot."
Arnold thought about his journal and smiled. "That's a good idea. I actually brought my dad's journal along."
"A journal?" Jozen asked with enthusiasm. "From when?"
"When he first met my mother and …." Arnold felt his arm and slowly looked away. "Before they left."
"Oh." Jozen looked away. "I'm sorry for bringing that up."
"No, you're right." Arnold said with his head up high. "I'm going to read the entire thing to the class and villagers tonight."
"Don't start without me." Jozen looked ahead and noticed their ride coming. "You should go to your class, I'll catch up. I'm meeting my Aunt here."
"Sure thing; and make sure she takes care of Abner, and not to hurt him."
Jozen nodded as the kids walked away.
"Arnold … what is happening with you? Jozen looked at the dead masks. "You shouldn't have known that much about Mascasa, nor the Faceless and …. Toma."
"Hey, Jozen." Kisiin sat next to him and looked at the masks. "Overhear anything?"
Jozen glanced around for any listeners. "Arnold said he was having dreams after he found his dad's journal. Dreams that sounds remotely similar to Mascasa's origins. Sadly he's as clueless about this as I am."
"Odd." Kisiin scratched her head. "But even we don't know that much." She looked over at the image of Mascasa. "Our ancestors had to go through his reign, and it left them with scraps. Heck, we don't even know who made them?"
"Itzam." Jozen spoke. "His name was Itzam. He had a wife named Ixch and a son Toma."
"REALLY!?" Kisiin shouted in her nephew's ear. "Where'd you learn that? I've been digging around for years looking for answers! Did I miss something back home?"
"Oh I learned that from …." Jozen hesitated as he glanced at the masks. "A-Aunt Kisiin, this is going to be shocking to hear, but-"
"Jozen!" Olga ran in and picked him up by the arm. "We're leaving now, and Arnold is finally going to tell us all about his parents! Then I can share stories with both my sister and Arnold."
"O-Olga, wait!" Jozen protested in fail as Olga drag him away.
"Well there's that." Kisiin smiled as Abner walked alongside her. She looked down at the pig and patted him. "I know it's been years, but can you wait a little bit longer for me? I have to hear this."
Abner seemed to understand as he ran back to the other researchers.
Kisiin waved goodbye to the pig as she walked away. "But what was Jozen about to say? Did something happen in our hidden city? Or perhaps they finally opened that temple."
Night finally arrived and the villagers made a huge fire in the center of their land.
The class gathered around the fire with snacks as Gerald stood on a log. "Children of P.S. 118. You know Arnold as our guide in life. How he helped us in our darkest hour to see the glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. But how he became like this, you may wonder."
Gerald raised his arms. "We know his grandparents. Steely Phil and Pookie, but who is the man that our favorite elder raised? Who is the lovely woman that the man took for a bride? Who are these two people that gave Arnold to world?"
This was finally it for the class. The subject that they refuse to ask until recently, the true and full story of Miles and Stella Shortman, Arnold's missing parents.
"I am the Keeper of the Tales, but I must pass this onto the holder of the journal, Arnold."
"Oh I see! When I want to tell a story, Gerald refuses to let me speak. But when Arnold has a story, you give him all the glory!" Curly shouted as he turns away.
Arnold walked onto the log as everyone cheered.
"GO MILES AND STELLA!" Olga shouted with Jozen sitting next to him as she wraps her arms around his neck. "Are you excited?"
"Excited? Yes. Can I breath? No."
"Woopsie." Olga giggled lightly as she let Jozen breath.
"Get used to it." Helga whispered to Jozen as she sits right next to him, thankfully not with Olga for this. "I'm going to be a crazy as Olga about them, I already know it."
Arnold sat on the log after everyone stopped cheering. "Well, you've been … interested in knowing about my parents."
"Get on with it!" Harold shouted, before Helga hit him in the gut with her elbow.
"Shut up!" Helga quietly shouted as she turned her attention to her favorite person.
Arnold held up the journal. "This is my dad's journal, I found this on the anniversary of the day they left …. And never came back."
Everyone's excitement died down as they allow Arnold to tell his story of his parents.
Arnold opened the journal and start off in the beginning where his parents first met. They laughed at when Miles fell down, bumped his head, and nearly lost it at the spider scene Nadine wished she was there for, but they felt warmth in their hearts when they shared their kiss soon after.
But when Arnold reached the rapid river scene, everyone was thrilled to know how they will get out of it alive.
After Arnold passed how they were rescued from some fishing nets hidden in a waterfall, he recalled the advice the Minister said to keep his knowledge of the Green Eyes a secret. Thinking quickly, he came up with a different version that doesn't sound like a complete lie.
"From the net and hidden room, they discovered that it was an ancient Green Eyes fishing spot that was abandoned for some time."
Eduardo nodded as all the classmates go 'ooow' at that part. However some of the kids where a bit skeptical.
"A fishing net that lasted for so long outside a waterfall, exposed to the elements and eye witnesses?" Phoebe whispered to Gerald. As he spoke back, Phoebe nodded and remained quiet.
Another skeptic was Olga Pataki, who thought the same thing. She heard stories from Miles and Stella about the Green Eyes, but neither of them said they ever made contact with them, or denied it.
Olga glanced around as she whispered a question to Jozen's ear.
"You shouldn't ask that now, wait until the end."
Arnold then moves onto his parents chasing after La Sombra, the river pirates.
"Arnold, your parents fought pirates?" Harold asked. "That is so awesome!"
"Were there sword rights? Car chases? Explosions?!" Sid eagerly asked as his fists tighten.
Arnold denounces the movie actions, but did say they escaped La Sombra by swinging over the water fall. "Then La Sombra shouted out, 'Stop! You meddling good-doers gringos!'"
All the adults gasped as that last word went over the kids heads.
"'I'll get La-, I mean that treasure back, if it's the last thing I ever do!'"
Everyone cheered for Miles and Stella's heroic action, but Mr. Simmons felt uneasy. "La Sombra wouldn't go after Arnold for this, would he?"
Eduardo shook his head. "We'll be traveling in safe locations far from his territory. We'll be fine."
(Elsewhere)
"I am going to enjoy my meeting with the brat of Miles and Stella!" La Sombra laughed somewhere.
(Back to the village)
"We'll be all fine."
Seeing this side of Arnold's family was all too exciting of the kids, especially the boys. But it all turned to mush when Arnold got to their wedding.
All the girls gushed at every moment as the boys go 'blah'. Helga was trying her best to keep calm, but the holy engagement of Arnold's parents were like the heavens and earth uniting for the first time, especially when the ground shook.
"And then they got Abner for a wedding present, and my Grandpa wanted to eat him." Arnold laughed as he turned the page. "Then … say, there's a page missing." Arnold noticed the torn in the journal. "I'm sorry, I think my Grandpa got rid of this."
"How come?" Gerald asked.
"I dunno. I think it has something to do with my parents that night after the wedding. But what?"
Principal Wartz and Mr. Simmons's eyes bulged out as Eduardo looked nervous.
"A-Arnold. W-We don't have all night to wonder." Eduardo said with sweat running down his face. "The kids need their sleep for our jungle expedition."
"Oh, right." Arnold moved on as the adults sigh peacefully.
After getting through another heroic deed done by his parents, which the kids enjoyed so much, Arnold finally reached the sleeping sickness.
"Then Eduardo here found my parents to warn them that the g… mountain people succumb to a disease called the Sleeping Sickness."
Arnold told his story as Helga thought to herself. "Miles and Stella Shortman. I now know not one, but two others in this cruel world whose heart are nearly as mighty as my beloved. Yet, my beloved is the same flesh and blood as you two. From wherever you are now, above the clouds or miraculously on Earth, I dream you are able to witness your seed sprouting into a-"
Helga's monologue was interrupted by abnormal breath, but it was not from Brainy again.
"The heck." Helga looked next to her and saw Jozen in a cold sweat. "Hey, you O.K.?"
Jozen quickly raised his head, looking as if he forgotten where he was. "I-I I'm fine …. I … I think … I'm just heating up."
Jozen was shocked a bit when Olga placed her hand on his forehead. "Do you need to see someone?"
Jozen turned to Olga. "No, I just need a break from the fire, that's all."
Something wasn't right with Jozen, and both Helga and Olga could feel it. The look in his green eyes could say so much and yet so little to Olga. They watched as Jozen stood up and walked away, telling Arnold not to worry about waiting for him.
Arnold went on to tell the small segments of their journey with some antics from his Dad that got a few good laughs and the loud cheer when Stella found the cure.
As Arnold was describing Stella's sudden condition, he asked all the kids what they think was happening to her.
"She got food poisoning?" asked Nadine.
"Bad bug?" asked Eugene.
"She got punched in the gut?" asked Torvald.
"Oh no!" Harold cried. "She's going to die!"
"Stupid." Helga shouted at Harold. "If she kicked the bucket already, then we wouldn't have-" That's when it stuck Helga. "She's pregnant!"
"Correct!" Arnold smiled at Helga.
"Oooohohoho." Helga mentally sighed to herself, wondering how his birth will happen. But to her surprise, just as much as everyone else, Arnold's detail of how they travel through the jungle into the next town was no day in the park.
"The volcano what?!" Nearly everyone shouted.
"It erupted right there and then." Arnold said as he continues on as his parents and Eduardo were cut off by the flow of lava as Stella's time was nearly up.
Arnold hesitated slightly as to how he'll fit the 'mountain people' into all of this, but came up with something that was truthfully, but not fully explained.
"All seemed lost to them, but then above the jungle trees, they saw a green mist rising. They followed it and found an old Green Eyes temple that was safe from the lava, with a bed."
All the kids oohed as Eduardo kept a close eye on Arnold.
Lila was the next to speak up. "Arnold, do you think they could be-"
"THE GREEN EYES!" Olga squealed loudly, which caught the attention of Jozen who ran out of his tent.
"What, why are they-?!"
"I bet it was the Green Eyes who saved your parents from the lava!"
Jozen glanced at the surprised Arnold who was trying to find the right words. "Well, it's still a mystery." He answered with a calm yet slight nervous tone.
"I've heard so many legends about the Green Eyes from your parents!" Olga shouted. "And I bet they actually did meet them before. Like when you-"
"Huh, O-Olga!" Jozen called out. "You should-"
"And I bet those mountain people were the Green Eyes and La Sombra stole the treasure from them, didn't' he!"
"Uhhhh." To Arnold's rescue, Jozen silent Olga by grabbing her hand.
"H-Hey, they're just uuuh rumors!" Everyone looked at Jozen who seem to be getting worried. "Yeah, rumors. I can tell you all that later. Maybe tomorrow like say for lunch. I know where some good fruits grow."
All the girls gasped.
"Big sister, I think he's asking you out." Lila's statement made all the girls sequel as Jozen and Olga looks flustered.
"Arnold, get back to your story before they start referencing that movie with the singing man in the rain." Helga shouted at the boy.
"Right on it." Arnold got back to the story as everyone turned back to them.
"This is it." Helga leaned in closer and closer as she hears about the violence force of nature, which all stopped. "Wait, what?"
"It all stopped." Arnold answered as everyone became quiet. "The volcano became calm. All the animals froze and looked around. Everything was silent …. All except for a cry of a newborn baby."
Helga's jaw dropped and her pupils grew from what she has just learned. Arnold's birth had silenced all of nature. Arnold's birth, a human birth, shut the yap of a volcano, a volcano out of all things. Everyone was frozen from shock, some even called out he's making up stories, but Eduardo and many of the villagers confirmed Arnold's story.
"It's true; I was there to witness it all." Eduardo walked up to Arnold and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Arnold's birth has silenced all of nature."
All the gasps and cheers of amazement were swept under the rug for Helga's state of mind. God only knows why she wasn't dancing around the fire in praise for the miracle Arnold has done. But her heart just wants to spring out and sing to the heavens. If there was anyone that dare deny that Arnold is pure of heart in any way, this was their ultimate proof. What mortal could have a more miraculous birth than her beloved? No one, no human can hold at least a match of the grand torch that Arnold holds in her heart. Nature itself bows down to Arnold, and no evil shall corrupt his heart and-
"Oooooooh, this is the part when they bring Arnold to Hillwood."
Olga's words penetrated Helga's mind and brought her back to reality. She glanced around and heard Arnold talking about Hillwood.
And the next few minutes where nothing but everyone saying how cute Arnold was when he was a baby, which of course the football head himself couldn't keep a straight face for.
"But then when my parents looked back to me, I was gone."
Everyone gasped.
"Were you ever found?" asked Harold.
Helga was no longer in the mood to slug him as Arnold kept going.
"It wasn't until one baby pointed at the slide where I somehow climbed all the way up."
The class were all just shocked by how much trouble Arnold gotten himself in as a baby. It was surprising that he's still standing with them to this day.
Helga was listening very close and wondered why this all sounded familiar, but pushed that to the side when Arnold got to the part when they tuck him to bed.
She could imagine Arnold's wonderful mother singing her baby boy to slumber as Arnold's dad spoke about how much he cares for his family.
The journal his father wrote was a wonderful story the class had ever heard, but something was wrong with Arnold. They looked and whispered to themselves at Arnold's state. He was just staring at the journal, without saying another word. He didn't give a finishing line, not even another turn of the page. The boy was just looking down at it, deep in thought.
"Arnold?" Mr. Simmons managed to catch his attention to see everyone staring at him.
"I … I …."
"Arnold." Eduardo spoke up. "You don't have to finish the journal for them."
The kids whispered to each other, it was no ancient riddle to the kids as to what the last part of the journal was about. They looked with worry as Arnold took a deep breath.
"No, I want to read this." Arnold looked at the journal and read off the final piece of the story.
"The Sleeping Sickness had returned to them." Eduardo said to Miles and Stella. "You are the only ones they can trust."
Miles and Stella looked conflicted as they looked down at their son who just learned to walk and nearly turning 2 soon. They looked at one another and nodded.
"Eduardo, the Green Eyes have saved us and we've saved them." He smiled as he held onto his wife. "We're going back to San Lorenzo to rescue them."
"It's a new strain, but I'll find the cure." Stella gave him a heartfelt smile. "We'll leave on the 5th and meet you in San Lorenzo."
Eduardo smiled. "Thank you. I promise this will be a quick mission."
Eduardo looked away as Arnold finished up the final part of the journal.
"It's a heartbreaking decision, but the G-Mountain People are like family to us. They saved our lives again and again." Arnold could feel his heart weighing down with every word. "I really don't want to leave Arnold. But our trip back to San Lorenzo will be quick."
The kids sat there silently as Arnold continued to read with a weak voice.
"Mom and Dad can look after him. Be ….. Before we know it, we'll be …. Back. Playing with our boy." He looked around the staring eyes all focusing on him to finish. "I know that the whole time we're there, we'll both miss our Arnold, terribly."
Arnold looked at everyone. There were no more mysteries, no more excitement, no humor, no joy, nothing but patience and sadness.
"M-Mr. Simmons?"
"Yes Arnold." his teacher quickly spoke.
"Can I be excused?"
Everyone stood up, speaking to Arnold and asking if he needs something or wants to talk or just anything. Mr. Simmons calmed the class down. "Please, I think we should give Arnold a rest now."
Mr. Simmons nodded and Arnold walked back to the boy's cabin with the journal in his hand.
Eduardo stood next to him as they looked at the kids with one thing on their minds that needs to be address now.
"Children." Eduardo spoke. "I think it's time you learn why Miles and Stella Shortman have never returned ….. at the very least, what we do know."
In the dark cabin, Arnold just laid in bed staring at the photo of his parents. Reading the final part of the journal was more than he'd expected, we wasn't even sure how'd he would be if he stayed longer.
Looking at his watch, it was getting late, and not a single boy entered the cabin. "Why did I go through with it?"
He looked back at the photo and thought about his stay in this exotic land, where he had hope that maybe his parents are still alive. But when he read that final sentence out loud for everyone, something in his mind just clicked.
Nearly ten years. How can anyone survive in the jungle for that long without finding a way home? His parents, out of all people, could have found a way back if they jumped and parachuted from a plane if it was going to crash. How could they find the Green Eyes and saved them?
Arnold dug into his shirt and took out the Green Eyes necklace he received as a present from the Green Eyes themselves. They're still alive at least, why? They were suffering from the Sleeping Sickness again. Did his parents actually found them? Did they cure them? Then what happened to them if the plane didn't …
Even when his mind sinks into the dark possibilities, more questions rises about their chances of being alive for all this time. But nothing was clear to him.
"I just need an answer." Arnold rolled on his bed and looked up at the dark ceiling. "I just …."
Suddenly he heard a knock on the windowsill. He stood up and looked outside.
"Psssst, you O.K.?"
Arnold looked ahead to see Helga G. Pataki standing behind the cabin. "H-Helga." Arnold wiped his eye. "What are you doing here?"
Helga looked around. "I'm …. I'm just seeing how you're doing?"
Arnold took a deep breath. "They told you what happened, did they?"
Helga gulped. "About the plane … and no trace." Helga noticed Arnold's face and quickly spoke up. "Look, you've been here for a while and Mr. Simmons wants to give you some alone time, but ….. I'm worried about you."
That was the first time he heard Helga say that to him. "Do you want to come in?"
Helga nodded as she climbed through the window. The two sat on Arnold's bed quietly. Helga was deeply conflicted with herself to come up with the right thing to say without messing up.
"My sister Olga really looked up to them." Arnold slowly looked at Helga. "Believe it or not, she used to bring me to your house when we were in diapers to have play dates."
"Really?" Arnold looked at Helga with curiosity. "I didn't even meet Gerald until I was three."
"Well looks like in an ironic way, I was your first friend."
"Wow." Arnold let that soak in. "All this time I mistook friendship with bullying." Arnold let loose as smile, which set Helga to ease knowing he's not feeling too horrible. "Did she say anything else?"
"Please, she sounds like a comic book geek when she talks about them."
Helga talked to Arnold how Olga first met Miles and Stella. The boy was completely shocked that they saved Sheck's life back then, the same evil man that once tried to not just torn down their home, but also tried to run over them.
It was now Helga's turn to tell Arnold stories of how Olga hung out with his parents, and he was enjoying every moment of it.
"I'm telling ya, I bet money that your folks were sick and tired of her, probably even more than me."
Arnold laughed to himself and turned to Helga. "I really needed that."
"No problem." Helga rubbed her arm. "And….. Gerald was talking to Phoebe about the journal and she told me …. She's right, isn't she?"
"Who?" Arnold asked.
"Olga." Her grip tightened on his bed. "The mountain people, they're these …. Green Eyes, are they? I mean the super secret, ancient people that I should be calling all this baloney right now."
Arnold was shocked to hear this, but there was no use denying it to her. "Yes. The Green Eyes exist, and they're still alive."
Arnold held up the Green Eyes Necklace. "With the whip, newspapers, and photos I got, I also received this letter from the Green Eyes' leader himself."
Helga covered her mouth to hide her loud gasp. The actual hidden Indiana Jones-y race, contacted Arnold.
"It was to wish me a happy birthday and letting me know that the chief named his daughter after my mother." He smiled as he glanced at the photo. "They even want to see me if I ever get the chance to find their city."
"Uh oh." Helga thought to herself as she wonders what Arnold will do, but then noticed the necklace Arnold has. "Wait, isn't that-"
"Arnold?"
Helga and Arnold quickly turned to the door as Gerald knocks. "You O.K. in there?"
"Coming!" Arnold called out as he whispered to Helga. "You should go, no girls allowed."
Helga nodded. "And trust me, Pheebs and I won't be spilling the beans about the Green Eyes. Even Eduardo kept his mouth shut on that part."
As she turned to the window, Arnold spoke up. "And Helga." Helga slowly turned around, but was then caught in a tight embrace by her crush. "Thank you."
Helga would normally swoo to herself and quickly shove him away, but instead she actually hugged him back. She didn't know where this courage was coming from, but she wasn't complaining by the slightest.
Arnold himself was kind of surprised to not expect the usual, but this hug; he just wanted it to last longer.
"Arnold?"
The two quickly let go and Helga climbed out the window, but slowly poked her head out to see Arnold opening the door to see Gerald and the rest of the boys being compassionate to Arnold. She softly smiles to herself and slipped away.
"Sweet dreams, my beloved." Helga smiled as she walks away.
"Miles and Stella. To fully hear your tale was a blessing to my soul. But now I can see ever more slightly of the pain of your departure. Without truly bonding with these wonder people." Helga lowered her head as she gazed at the cabin. "But ….. I hope you don't go looking for them, and expect something." Helga said in a dead tone. "Please Arnold, just keep your head close to the ground, please ….. you're heart's too good to see broken."
As she leaves, bright green eyes from the plants watch her go by. "She actually does care about him." Jozen smiled to himself as he walked back into the village.
It was getting late and all the kids were heading to bed. The very few villagers that were up are preparing for the next day as Mr. Simmons and Principal Wartz watches them with Olga, Kisiin, and Jozen.
"I'm back." Jozen glanced at the cabin with only a few lights on. "So ….. you think he'll actually go out there?" Jozen asked Mr. Simmons who looked deeply worried.
"That what his grandfather feels, and so do I." Mr. Simmons clenched his board. "He's a well behaved boy. The only time I ever saw him do something wrong was when he pure paint on Helga."
"WHAT?!" Olga asked loudly.
"B-But it was after she wronged him … why didn't I punished her too?"
"You're getting out of focus." Kisiin tapped his head, which mildly annoyed him. "We're need to talk about how you guys will keep an eye on him." Kisiin rolled her eyes. "I still got work to do and I need to babysit a pig, and a snake."
"Only after our jungle tour and the boat ride." Jozen bowed to Eduardo. "And thank you for allowing me to join your team."
"It is no problem; you've proven yourself to be very trustworthy." Eduardo smiled. "And we'll need to keep our ears sharp for Arnold. After all these years, even I feel tempted to go deep into that jungle."
"Oh that Miles." Principal Wartz shook his head. "I remember when he was a kid in P.S. 118. I'm harsh and all, but I don't want to just crush the boy's dreams like that. No amount of detention can fix this."
"Which is why I propose that Arnold is in eye shot the entire time." Olga folded her arms and smile. "Then during our travels through this beautiful land, we and all of his friends will help him out and support him with smiles and hugs."
"I know this is my first time meeting him, but I would like to speak to him too." Jozen said with a soft voice. "He doesn't have closer about his parents, but I can relate with him in a way."
"What do you mean?" Olga tilted her head.
"Well … you remember when I mentioned I have a half-sister?"
Olga recalled the party and her eyes widen. "Oh, that means ….."
"Don't worry about." The young man held his hand up. "It happened a long time ago." Jozen took a deep breath and smiled. "I'll make sure the son of Miles and Stella is safe."
"Affirmative." Principal Wartz said formally. "But if he does manage to run off, you know what we must do."
The adults nodded to each other and separated to their own sleeping quarters.
"Thank you, everyone." Arnold softly smiled at all his friends.
"You have the coolest parents on the planet, they would be so proud of you." Sid said with a soft smile.
"I'm sure they would be proud of you for all the times you've helped us." Eugene said as Lorenzo and Iggy nodded with agreement.
"And I thought I was tough." Torvald said as he flex. "Your dad must have muscles bigger than mine."
Gerald sat next to the boy and placed his hand on Arnold's shoulder. "They were some pretty bold parents, and Eduardo said that tomorrow we are going to where they first met."
"R-Really?" That was the young enthusiasm they wanted to see in Arnold. "We should really get some sleep."
The others nodded as they wished Arnold the best of sleep.
"Good night, Arnold." Gerald said as he turned the lights off.
"Good night, Gerald." Arnold tucked himself in as he looked deeply into the necklace. "Still, even if you're still alive or not. We still don't have a clue." Arnold held the necklace to his head. "Even with my dad's map, it's going to be difficult. But no matter what happens or did happen, I just want answers."
Jozen walked into his tent to see Coatl slithered in bed. "If they knew that Arnold running off is not my only concern." He sat on his bed with a curious glare as he kicks the ground. "He somehow managed to obliterate that old mask, and now he's having dreams of that dead tyrant's past that only I and the others should know. This doesn't make any sense! I can't even read him." Jozen felt his head. "Can Arnold truly be what my people worship him as, or does he relate to Mascasa more than it appears."
End of Chapter
A/N: Oh boy, in a couple more months, we will finally get the official jungle movie …. And this and many other fanfictions will practically be obsolete.
But for the future of this story. As I mentioned before, this story is canon to my Cross-Over Crystal series (I even plan to mold it a bit to fit the remake), and who knows, maybe the official movie might suck? …. Yeah, I don't think so either.
These stories are just for fun and to see everyone's enjoyment. So as of right now, there are no plans of canceling this fanfiction, even though two years have nearly passed since I started this.
Now I must ask you something. When you leave a review, can you put more of your thoughts into this. Like how you like the settings, the original characters? Are any of the HA! Gang out of character? How you feel about Miles and Stella? Anything?
I would really appreciate any reviews given.