Arnold's greatest treasure and the secret of the green stone

New beginning

His eye were wide as a cold chill run down his spine. His heart stood still, frozen at the moment he saw the hidden papers. His hands began to sweat, by the thought of seeing his father's final words after so many years. Maybe there was a message for him, or maybe those papers hold the answers to all of his questions.

"All this time and this letters were hidden inside the journal. I can't believe I never noticed the opening on the cover?" Said Arnold staring at the papers in silence.

"The journal got wet, that's how the cover swelled enough to showed the opening to the cover...What's the matter Football Head?" Asked Helga seeing Arnold lost by the sight

He gulped trying to focus his mind on what was in front of him. "To find this letters it's so....amazing and terrifying." He bit his lips as he unfolded the papers carefully and began reading slowly.

Today I saw Eduardo at the park. He gave us devastating news of an epidemic sleep sickness spreading among the green-eyes civilization. Stella and I are eager to take our medical expertise to help the green-eyes once again. We know, us being there will make a difference between hundreds of families dying or surviving. However now our lives have change. I looked at my little boy and wonder how many father's were watching their children sick tonight. How many children will have to die because a cure is desperately needed. When I became a Doctor, a pledge an oath that I will not brake. Stella feels the same way and with a heavy heart we have decided, to accept this last mission to San Lorenzo. Will have to leave our precious baby Arnold with my parents. I feel safe knowing my son will be in the best hands and I know, my parents will take good care of our son, till our return home.

Arnold's eyes began to water, as he continued to read.

I'm concern, my return to San Lorenzo, may give La Sombra the chance to steal my journal, which holds the green-eyes secrets to enter their hidden valley and it holds the ingredients to all of Stella's antidotes. I can't risk La Sombra getting a hold of my journal and so I will leave my journal behind, hidden in my parent's attic. If for any reason, Stella and I can't return to our dearest Arnold, I leave a message for you, my son.

Arnold gasped for air as he read those final words. Helga grabbed his hand, holding it tight as he continue to read.

Your mother and I love you very much and will always be with you. I apologies for all the sadness and obstacles you had to face, because of our departure. I know my parents, your grandparents, will do their very best, to help you grow so that you can become everything your mother and I expect of you. We love you dearly Arnold and we want you to be safe no matter what. We fear if something should happen to us in San Lorenzo you may try to find answers by traveling to the jungle.

DO NOT TRAVEL TO SAN LORENZO SON!

Now, I understand I may not convince you to stay and so, even against your mother's will I decided to write this and hid it, for if you should ever find it one day. Son, you must have knowledge of the prophecy......

His father wrote about Yeh cocone den and the eagle spirit. Then his father added the following....

The green-eyes wiseman foretold your return to the lands and there will be an area of peace and abundance. Still, before all this happens, the prophecy says, you will have to rise again, be unified with the eye of the forest rock and...find the mighty trapiche rock, the one that holds the highest pure energy and you must conquer it, to be able to command it's force.

You must be careful Arnold, for La Sombra will stop at nothing to find you and my journal. The eye of the forest is at a sacred statue hidden deep in the valley. Find the green eyes first and ask for Naku the wiseman he will direct you in the right path.

The green-eyes village and sacred statue location map is attached. I hope it helps you find what you seek and once you find Naku he will explain the rest.

Son, I hope you come to understand one day why we had to go. Eduardo assured us the sleeping sickness was spreading fast throughout the land and I believed him, he is after all, my most trusted friend. 

I love you Arnold Philip and I know you will grow to become wiser and stronger then I ever was and I hope one day, you too will find the love jewel of your life and find true happiness just like I did, with you and your mother by my side.

Love,
Dad.

Arnold couldn't stop shedding tears with his eyes shut tightly, his father's final words penetrated his chest a thousand ways. He could imagine his father writing the letters not knowing he was headed to a trap with Eduardo working for La Sombra. His breathing had become heavy, his hands wouldn't stop shaking. "Why!? Why did that happen to us!? To my family!! I lost my parents because they wanted to aid the world and instead they got killed for it!!" He shouted in anger and pain.

"Arnold, you don't know if they were killed! What if, they had an accident or if they got ill and died. You and I know, there're a million ways to die in this jungle."

Arnold POV
I stood up and walked towards the waterfall feeling a cold emptiness in my heart for loosing my parents, my family, everything I held dear. Reading my father's final words felt relieving and painful at the same time. It was like, I had gone back in time and I was seeing my father write the letters to me. I wish he could have known some how, about the danger that awaited him in San Lorenzo, if only he could have known his so-called trusted friend was working for La Sombra.

I shut my eyes, trying to think clearly, hearing the force of the water hit the steady stream help distract my tormented thoughts. The splashing cool mist refresh the sultry air with it's sweet tropical scent. Yet, even with the undisturbed nature sounds over my senses, I couldn't ease my beaten sorrow heart.

Suddenly, warm soft arms brushed against my body wrapping slowly across my chest, it was Helga pressing her cheek and body on my back, making me feel loved and cared for. She reminded me I was not alone and I will never will be, for as long as she was with me. She held the most tender, stronger part of me. I caress her hands as I looked up in to the blue sky, inhaling deeply, like if I was breathing clearly for the first time.

The sun shine above us, like new beginning. It was a miracle to have her in my life, from the first time I lay my eyes on her, seeing that scared unsecured little girl grow to become a fierce, smart, confident beautiful woman made my world complete. She was my greatest treasure, I loved her so much, I loved everything about her, but above all, I loved the way her heart spoke to me. Without any words she could heal my heart, making me feel loved and whole again. She had that power over me, she always has. My heart belong to her and her alone. I took another deep breath feeling my spirit full of her, full of her unconditional love, her memories and her warmth, I open my mouth and said............
" Helga will you Marry me?"

Author Notes:
This chapter was short but I wanted to focus more on the before and after the fact feelings for Arnold.

He basically went back in time in his mind and saw his father writing,
re-living the pain of seeing his parents departed once again.

Then he saw and experience his current life and everything good that surrounded him now, which is Helga. The story title emerge in the dialogue once again and I believe it was perfect, everything about this chapter was what I wanted and more.

Gorgeous Art done by Yinller you can find her artwork at DeviantArt

Thank you for reading and for your comment.