Disclaimer: Don't own Avatar, Lovely Ladies from Les Miserables, or For Good from Wicked. I do however own Kila, Melia, and this lovely tissue box. Ah, sweet relief from colds.

So, I'm definitely listening to my "Wicked" soundtrack right now. I honestly want to be in this play someday. You just wait, you're gonna go see Wicked, and there I'll be, right up on stage…except you probably won't know it's me, cause you don't know what I look like…except for Kate.

Ok, I'm rambling now, cause I'm sick. Forgive me. –Coughs- -blows nose-. So, here's a story for ya'll. I have been sick, and loosing my voice on and off for the last few days. Today I had to audition for my musical show production class. I sang "I could have danced all night", which is a pretty soprano song. (It's from My Fair Lady if you didn't know that. And if you didn't know that, then I suggest that you trot off and rent it now.) (And soprano means you sing really high.) And guess what? I totally rocked it. I got a loud applause at the end and everything! (Cause you sing it in front of the whole class.) Oh I'm so happy.

Ok, on to the reviews! I got so many this time!

hppartygirl- Was that last chapter long enough for you: Sorry I don't update very quickly, but yea, I know how you feel about that. Yea, it wasn't my best, but it was long! And it got out much needed info, so I really didn't care.

Petitio Principii- … I don't think I have a seventh cousin. But I better update so nothing happens to this person, if I do have one huh? Glad that you were laughing about her dying. I was really bored, and just felt like putting that in there. I know, I'm weird.

Lin13- Wow…don't give me those time travel theories, that hurts my head! What's UEA weekend? I've never heard of it. Spagettios are yummy.

Indil Culfindel- I love Pirates Of The Caribbean. It's my second favorite movie…no…third…oh, who cares. It's one of my favorite movies. DID YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE MAKING A SECOND AND THIRD? Oh yes my friend, Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man's Chest. It's too early to know the title of the third one. Exciting? Yes, totally. Thank you for the grammar check. I hate that stupid word. That and 'course'. GRRRR. How did you do on your homecoming?

Angela- Glad that you don't think I'm racist, because I'm really not. I'm going to live in China next year for goodness sake! How could I be racist if I'm gonna live there? I know, but people still think I'm racist, so whatever. PS. Good use of foreshadowing. And I love long reviews.

o-dragon- No, it's not over, far from it. Don't worry; I'll let everyone know when it's over.

Ok, the thing about Germany: Most of the people that live in Germany or are of German descent are Arian, IE Blonde hair, blue eyes, what Hitler wanted the world to be during WWII. Melia speaks Germankin, or an early form of German, because she is from Germank, or Germany as we now call it. Does that kinda explain it?

ElvenArcher0310- Melia's character strikes me as someone who's rational and such, so it takes a lot for her to get mad. The song was "Defy Gravity" from the Broadway musical "Wicked". And I don't know if it's playing around where you live, cause I don't know where you live. But I suggest that you run out right now and buy the cd, or at least the book, because it is God. –Nods head-

Zulaya- Girl, why haven't you written a new chapter for your story? I'm waiting!

And yea, Jet is really annoying. Apparently I had him in character in this last chapter, and he didn't even say anything! I think that's awesome. But whatever.

Flipflipflipflipilip- Your screen name is entertaining. I amused myself by saying it out loud a couple times. Thanks, my teeth do feel better…mainly because I had the surgery two months ago. But thank you for your kind wishes.

Aanglover- Good question. They're gonna meet up again closer to the end of the story I believe…if I have it mapped out correctly in my head. –thinks-. Yup, yup, that's right. Closer to the end of the story.

And I'm definitely listening to my Harry Potter soundtrack now. Hehehe, who's excited about the fourth movie on November 18th? Cause I am! They are totally playing it at the IMAX Theater here, so I'm gonna see it there. Yea, I know you all are jealous.

17

Melia sat hunched over on her bed, reading from a book. It was actually quite a tedious read, but there was really nothing else she could think of to do. She was quite bored, so she decided to catch up on what had happened in her soon to be country (again) in the past years that she was with Jet.

But her concentration was brought to a screeching halt when Kila sauntered into the room, humming another one of her strange songs to herself. "Lovely ladies, waiting in the dark. Ready for a quick one or a thick one in the park."

"That is a horrible song." Melia reviewed, directing her attention away from her book for a millisecond.

"Well, what do you expect? It's sung by a group of whores." Kila replied shrugging.

Melia's mouth fell open. "WHEN were you close enough to…to…them to hear them singing that?" she questioned, forgetting her book altogether and spinning around on her bed to face her roommate.

"Oh, I never was. It's from a play. And since when did you start acting so lady like?" Kila asked, picking up a piece of clothing off the floor and folding it.

Melia groaned. "Since I actually have to become a queen. I figured the fire nation wants someone cultured ruling them."

"Yea, too bad they get Zuko."

"Now that was just uncalled for."

"But it was funny." Kila said, smiling towards Melia. Melia just rolled her eyes.

"Hey, you wanna go practice?" Kila said, stripping off her clothes to change into more of a workout attire.

"Practice what? Knitting? Because I think yours is lacking."

"Bah. My mother knits. I tried once, but got so frustrated I threw the needles across the living room and bent them. No, I mean practice bending practice."

"You are a barbarian. What if you poked someone's eye out?"

"Oh, there was no one in the room at the time, it didn't matter. So do you want to?"

Melia sighed. "Well, I actually don't. But if it will get you to shut up-"

"GREAT!" Kila interrupted and grabbed Melia's wrist. "Let's get cooking!"

"Put some shoes on!" Melia protested, but her words didn't reach Kila's ears, mainly because she was too excited to care.

Kila had really tried to change her attitude over the past few days. She was still angry at herself for getting into such a rut from being afraid of Zuko. Now she was just trying to further her bending abilities, because if she was stuck in that world as an avatar, then there had to be a reason for it. Therefore she figured if she kept practicing, she would eventually find Aang when the time came, and she could help him save the world. She didn't know what she was gonna have to save it from, but she knew that she was gonna be some help. She kinda felt like a superhero, minus the publicity, comic books, movies, and slapstick sidekick.

"MELIA! You can be my sidekick!" Kila said happily, totally joking.

"What in the world do you mean? Don't answer that, we'll be here all night." Melia asked back.

Kila giggled and let go of Melia's wrist, but she kept up her fast paced walk towards the practice room. Sense the few days had passed, she had been found in that practice arena, usually practicing fire bending. But when she felt safe, she would practice moving her water jug around the room, and blowing the punching bags with airbending. There was still no earth for her to move, and she still had no idea how to move it. Hopefully Aang was working on that one. If only there were cell phones in this century!

"You know what I miss the most from my world?" Kila asked Melia.

"Your medication?" Melia replied back, joking.

"NO! I don't need medication, thank you very much. Mainly my family and friends and stuff. But also my iPod, my car, my phone, and chocolate."

"…Yea, I only understood what family and friends are. And chocolate, but isn't that really rare? I heard that you can only acquire it if you speak this really weird language, and if you know monks."

Kila thought for a second, reliving all her history lessons. "Oh, the Spanish monks?" She asked, remembering.

"Probably, I dunno." Melia said waving her hand.

"Yea, I believe it was the Spanish monks figured out how to harvest coco beans. But in my world, you can buy chocolate by the pound! Oh, how I miss it! Especially when I'm baking. Someday, I'll make you a chocolate cake. Maybe on your wedding-" Kila stopped in mid sentence. She couldn't find herself to finish, and she didn't know why. Looking over her shoulder, she noticed that Melia was looking a little downtrodden as well.

"…so, what's a car?" Melia asked timidly. Kila smiled. The rest of the way to the training arena she explained the little information she knew about cars, which really meant nothing except that it has four wheels and is made out of metal.

"Ok, so are you gonna cheat and use other elements, or is this a fire only practice?" Melia questioned from one end of the arena.

"It's fire only. Unless I feel like you have too large of an advantage, then I'm gonna use my handicap." Kila said, taking her stance.

"That's not fair." Melia informed, but she took her stance as well. "Can we start out slow first to warm up?"

"I guess that would make sense." Kila said. "Good thing you're here to be smart."

"Oh, I feel so complimented." Melia replied back sarcastically. Kila smiled again at her friend. She waited a few seconds for Melia to strike first, and the Kila began to work.

It was a pretty good training fight. Melia was a little rusty from not bending in awhile, but she got the hang of it again quickly and fought back with such a determination, Kila was taken aback. She didn't know why, but she didn't expect Melia to be so, well, professional at bending. She used all the correct fist movements, knew how to plant her feet, and she even turned her foot out when she pointed and flew fire from it, something Iroh had to yell at Kila about for a period of about three months before she actually understood.

When looked at from a distance, it was obvious to notice that Kila was the better bender, but because of Melia's good technique, the match was at times pretty even.

After about forty five minutes of labor, Melia collapsed onto the floor panting. Kila pushed the fireball she had thrown at her out of the way with a tunnel of air and walked over towards Melia, panting herself.

"You're not half bad." She said, gasping for air.

"Neither are you. But that's expected, seeing as you're an avat-" Melia began, but was interrupted.

"Not so loud! People aren't supposed to know remember?" Kila said, making a slashing motion across her throat.

"Sorry." Melia said, but then looked again at Kila's throat. "Where did you get those bruises?"

"Huh?" Kila asked. She felt her neck, and indeed there were a few soft spots. Then she remembered. "Oh yea, I forgot. Zuko grabbed and chocked me."

"WHAT?" Melia said, her eyes agape.

"Yea, he was angry. It's when he finally figured out that I was…me…and not…Kiana…who was still…me." Kila said, furrowing her eyebrows. "That sounds so weird."

"That's ridiculous." Melia said, standing up and examining them. "Does it hurt?" She asked, pushing on one of the darker bruises.

"When you touch them, yea. It kinda does." Kila informed grimacing. Melia drew her hand away and whispered a "sorry."

Kila massaged her neck carefully, then drew her hand away and ran over to the window. Opening it slightly, she looked downward at the foaming ocean water beneath her. "Hey Melia, can you tell me if anyone's coming?"

"Um, sure." She replied. Turning around to look behind her at the entryway, Melia called over her shoulder "No one's coming."

Kila stepped away from the window and drew in a large breath. She then raised her arms slowly in a fluid like motion and stepped backward. Repeating that process over again, there was eventually a stream of water floating up from the water level to the window. Stepping back slightly, Kila had the water spill upon the training room floor. Melia jumped out of the way.

"What are you thinking?" She asked.

"I gotta practice. Make sure no one comes in." Kila informed, forming a large water ball in front of her. She spun that around her head, and around her back, trying to practice wrist movement and flexibility. As she was about five minutes into her practice, she heard Melia say "Hello Prince Zuko."

Kila dropped the water stream she was creating out of shock. Spinning around quickly, she found Zuko glaring at her, his arms folded. Kila sighed. "Prince Zuko, while I do enjoy the time we spend together as I annoy you, I'm afraid I don't have you scheduled for another hour."

"Cut that out. What are you doing?" Zuko responded sharply.

"I'm practicing." Kila informed, spreading her arms out to verify.

"Making a mess is more like it. What if a crew member came in and saw this?"

"Then I could just say that a rouge wave sent water sailing through the open window." Kila replied shrugging.

"You know they're not going to fall for that. None of my soldiers are that stupid."

"Well, Melia is such a good look out, it wouldn't happen."

"Do you practice your other bending when she isn't around?"

"Well…yea." Kila said, looking downward. "But that's beside the point."

"No, it's not beside the point. If I catch you bending anything other than fire again, I will have you thrown back into the prison hold, no matter what my uncle says. Understand?" Zuko never moved from his original position, and Kila knew that he actually meant business.

She looked downward, a tad ashamed of herself. "Yes."

"Good. Now get rid of that ridiculous mess." He said, pointing to the water. Kila immediately began to bend it back out the window. Zuko turned to Melia and said "My uncle would like you hear you perform tonight."

"Wha-what do you mean?" Melia said wearily.

"I mean he wants to hear you sing." Zuko replied walking towards the door.

"Well, what would you like to hear?" Melia asked.

"Anything but her." Zuko said, jabbing a thumb towards Kila. Kila jabbed a different finger towards Zuko's retreating back, but neither Melia nor Zuko saw it, so it was in vain.

Melia turned back around to Kila, pale as a ghost. "Kila, what am I gonna sing?"

"Um…I dunno." Kila responded shrugging.

"Oh come on, you know a million songs! What about from that one play you were singing earlier?"

"You are not going to sing 'Lovely Ladies." Kila said solidly.

"Well, do you have any other ideas?" Melia asked, now getting desperate. Kila thought for a second, and then a wide smile spread across her face.

After the meal, all soldiers' eyes turned towards Kila again for a song. However, it was Melia who stood up, rather shakily, and proceeded over towards the makeshift podium.

"This is new. I wasn't expecting this." Iroh whispered into Zuko's ear. Zuko shrugged him off.

Kila looked over from her seat at the news. Zuko had told Melia that his uncle wanted him to sing. Why then did Iroh say he wasn't expecting it? She blinked as she thought, but then quickly forgot it as Melia took the podium.

Taking in a few breaths, Melia looked around at the faces of the men. How could Kila do this practically every other night? They were all staring at her. She quickly went over the tune that Kila had told her a few hours before, and began in a shaking voice.

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you:

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good.

Zuko's suspicions were confirmed: Melia could sing, but not very well. She had an ok voice. He just wanted to see if every woman who sang made him feel so other-worldly like when Kila sang. Melia's voice was calming enough. He settled back in his chair and continued to listen. But at about this time, he noticed Kila stand from her chair and proceed to the podium. Melia had stopped singing, and Kila's angelic voice filled the air.

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend.
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you.

And then Melia joined in again.

Because I knew you,

They were both standing on the podium now, and they sang in unison,

I have been changed for good

Zuko was again frazzled. That stupid girl, always playing around with him. Why couldn't she just leave him alone? Kila began to sing again.

And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for.

Then Melia took over and Kila was silent.

But then, I guess we know
there's blame to share

And together in unison they sang the rest of the song. It was a perfect harmony, obviously one they had practiced before hand. Zuko couldn't tell if Kila was singing harmony or melody. Or was she singing both parts? He shook his head mentally. No, she couldn't do that.

Even though he couldn't stand her, why was she always able to capture his attention when she sang? Because she had a good voice? That was no reason. Melia had an acceptable voice, but it wasn't holding him like Kila's did. He scratched his chin in puzzlement, getting angrier at Kila for confusing him so.

And none of it seems to matter anymore

Like a comet pulled Like a ship blown
From orbit as it Off it's mooring
Passes a sun, like By a wind off the
A stream that meets Sea, like a seed
A boulder, half-way Dropped by a
Through the wood Bird in the wood

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
I do believe I have been changed for the better?

And because I knew you,

Because I knew you,

Because I knew you,
I have been changed for good.

FORSHADOWING! Come on, like you didn't catch the foreshadow!

Ok, here's a hint. Read what Kila begins to sing. There's the foreshadowing lesson of the night, brought to you by a master. –takes a bow-

The next chapter should be up soon! Love you all!

SeethingxShadows