What Was The World Coming To?

Chapter 5

"Eyy, mama Zita." Nadra spread her arms out for a hug. Zita obliged and laughed at her joke.

"So, whatcha doin' here?"

Zita shrugged, "Bored. I'm wondering if I can sleepover?" she smirked. Nadra chuckled remembering their previous sleepovers involving random spazzm attack about the most random things. Nadra nodded, "Find a spare room, and your good to go." Though this time, Nadra wasn't that sure their sleepover this time will be as hearty and random as the others.

Katara turned around to see what was going on; she smiled and quickly head over to Nadra and her friend.

Zita let go and looked at Katara, she shot a smile back. "I'm Zita DeVario, one of Nadra's friend." She stuck her hand out.

"I'm Katara, pleasure to meet you." She shook the hand and pointed to Sokka and Aang, "I'll introduce you to them, if you want."

Zita nodded eagerly, "Yes please."

Nadra yawned and stretched she walked to the foot of the stairs and rubbed her eyes sleepily, "Hey, I'm going to bed. Katara and Zita are in charge if anything happens."

There was a protest from Sokka, then the sound of someone flicking his forehead so he wouldn't make her mad anymore that day'. Ahh, you gotta love Katara and Zita.

Groggily, Nadra made it up the stairs, walking straight past her room she headed for her sibling's room. Not bothering to knock, Nadra entered to say goodnight. Her hand on the knob she began twisting it.

"What are we going to do about him?"

Nadra instantly let go of the handle and pressed her ear against the door. Nadra had taught Addi and Aiden, eavesdropping was bad….eh who cares I'm older.

There was some shuffling around in the room until Aiden answered, "We just have to keep him hidden, I guess."

Nadras brows knitted together, who the hell were they talking about?

"How? One way or another, he will eventually check up on him and find 'who-know-who." Addi sighed exasperatedly. Nadra was impressed, they didn't use names and they whispered even though they 'thought' they were alone; they were much too smart for seven year olds.

"Obviously he's going to be found sooner or later, but what're we supposed to do about it?" Aiden snapped. Addi frowned, "Sorry…."

Some more shuffling, "No, I'm sorry for snapping at you. I suppose we'll figure something out tomorrow. G'night Addi."

Nadra took a couple steps back from the door then waited till there were no more movements, no more shuffling and no more 'good nights.' Cautiously, she entered the room, the two small heads turned towards her and smiled.

"Just came in to say good night." Nadra leaned against the door frame. Aiden and Addi sat up and leaned against their head board, "G'night." They replied simultaneously. They relaxed back into bed and Nadra left. Nadra quietly shut the door behind her and head to her room, now fully awake and intrigued by her sibling's conversation.

She subconsciously reached for her doorknob, but the realized that Sokka and Katara kicked down her door right of the hinges. She sighed and let her hand drop as she walked over her door that was lying on her carpeted floor. No longer caring about the door, she carelessly walked over to her window. She hissed in pain and lifted her foot up, glass. Nadra face palmed at her stupidity, she had forgotten aobut the glass shards that had been scattered around the same area in her room.

"Your bad day just won't end, will it?"

Nadra turned her head, since she didn't want to risk another cut on her foot if she spun around. Nadra chuckled and settled on her bed which was conveniently right beside the broken pieces of glass, so she didn't have to walk much. Sokka walked over the door and then propped it where it should have been.

"Thanks." Nadra closed her math homework and placed it on her small table beside her bed, and then picked up her iPod and put one earbud in her ear, "So, any particular reason you're here? I'm pretty sure it wasn't just to prop my door up against the wall to cover up the hole that my door has forever been." She smirked as Sokka came and sat on the edge of the bed.

"I've come up here to apologize." Sokka smiled apologetically, he stared at the device in her hand but quickly averted his gaze back to her face. Nadra noticed his stare, but that was typical. She had never seen Sokka like this in the cartoon. Well, she did, but it rarely came out.

"Eh, it's alright." Nadra shrugged it off and waved her hand dismissively. Sokka shook his head and frowned, "No it's not. It was wrong the way I treated you." He said softly. Nadra smiled and put a hand on his shoulder, "I said it's fine. You were just being precautious. I understood why you were acting like that; you and Katara are travelling with the Avatar and you guys can't afford anything bad to happen."

Sokka, "But still..."

Nadra chuckled, "What happened to sarcastic Sokka, eh? You're becoming a softy."

Sokka gaped and smirked, "Hmph, I was just being a gentleman." Nadra laughed, "Just keep thinking like that, and you just might believe it one day."

Sokka chuckled, finally being on good terms with the girl that had so kindly welcomed him, his sister and Aang. His gaze went back to the pocket fitting rectangular thing in her hands.

Nadra held it up to him, "This is an iPod. It projects music by…"Nadra paused; she didn't really know how an iPod worked or how it was made.

"Well, I don't really know." She grinned sheepishly, "all I know is that it was made for people to have a handheld object to project music. You can download the music on iTunes."

Sokka nodded, not really understanding what he said, but went along with wht she was saying.

Nadra held up the other earbud and put it in his ear, Sokka pulled the earbud out. "Any reason why you're shoving random things in my ear?"

Nadra rolled her eyes, "Put it in yourself then, I wanna show you how it works."

Sokka hesitantly obliged and there was a clicking sound as Nadra browsed through songs. "What're you doing?"

"I'm trying to find a song that you'd like." She smiled as she found one and pressed play.

It's too late baby there's no turning around,

I've got my hands in my pockets and my head in the clouds,

This is how I do, when I think about you.

Bewildered, Sokka took the iPod from Nadra's hands and inspected it trying to figure out how it worked.

I never thought she could break me apart

I keep a sinister smile, and a hole on my heart

You wanna get inside, then you could get in line, but not this time

"These are headphones." Nadra pulled lightly on the earbuds, "They make the music come out of the iPod." Nadra tried her best to explain. Sokka nodded absorbing the information, his thumb brushed over the controls and the small screen lit up, "Hero Heroine by Boys like Girls?"

"It's a band."

'Cause you caught me off guard, now I'm running and screaming,

I feel like a hero, and you are my heroine….

I won't try to philosophize, so just take a deep breath and I'll look in your eyes.

"Sorry if you don't like the song choice." Nadra took back the iPod and rested it on the covers. Sokka shook his head, "I like it; it's a good song." He smiled at her.

This is how I feel, and it's so surreal.

I've got a closet filled up to the brim with the ghosts of my past

And my scattered things, and I don't know why, you'd even try, but I won't lie

Nadra's face felt hot and she cleared her throat looking down, "I'm kinda tired Sokka….so…."

Sokka pulled the earbud out, "Alright, good night Nadra." Sokka stood right away and exited the room so not to get in between Nadra and her sleep. Sokka exited the room by squeezing through a small crack he left.

Nadra sighed heavily. That was weird; really weird. Nadra placed a hand over her quickening heart as she continued to listen to the song.

Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?

I feel a weakness coming on

(I feel like a hero)

Never felt so good to be so wrong

(and you are my heroine)

Had my heart on lockdown….

Nadra pulled her earbud out and turned the iPod off, her face covered with a dark blush. She rubbed her forehead, "Oh God…please tell me I did not just blush because of Sokka…."

Aang sat on his bed, meditating. He was trying to reach Avatar Roku; which was basically impossible because he was in a completely different world and there were no spiritual places or shrines. Aang worried on how he was to save the world if he couldn't even get to his world.

Aang breathed in and out deeply and concentrated harder; soon enough his arrow glowed as well as his eyes and he was in the Avatar State.

Aang awake in his sitting position in the Avatar State. He stood quickly, determined to find Avatar Roku. "Avatar Roku! I need your help!" Aang called out to an empty forest; his voice echoed.

Aang sighed and walked to an abandoned cave; Avatar Roku was usually in abandoned caves for some odd unexplainable reason. "Avatar Roku?" Aang whispered wishing not to wish anything- if there was anything to wake, of course.

"You wish to see me Aang?" Avatar Roku tapped his shoulder from behind, giving Aang a scare.

"Yes," Aang sat Indian style in front of Avatar Roku, "I'll start from the beginning."

Avatar Roku chuckled, "That would be for the best."

Aang explained the absurd story to Avatar Roku and listened for his advice. "So the time has finally come." Avatar Ruko smiled and looked at Aang seriously.

"What? I'm confused, what're you talking about?"

"In order to defeat the Fire Lord and restore order to the world is to gain the trust of the Banished Prince and The Raven Haired Maiden." He emphasised the word trying to make Aang think.

"What? Why would we need Zuko to help us? He's trying to capture me! And who's The Raven Haired Maiden?."

"You will figure it out in time, my child, but you must hurry or both yours and her world will perish…."

Aang opened his eyes slowly and fell back onto the bed. He had so much to think about for a boy his age. Well, technically he was a hundred and twelve, but still!

Aang sighed as he thought about it. How was he supposed to get Zuko to join his team? Who the heck was this maiden!

Morning~!

Nadra groaned and opened her eyes to the blinding sunlight, "Gah!" she rolled over and soon adjusted to the lighting. She groggily got out of bed, not bothering to grab and brush to comp through her messy mop of what she called her hair.

She pushed the door aside and let it fall to the ground, the loud sound form the door crashing to the ground probably woke everyone up. Nadra didn't give a damn; she was going to make breakfast anyway. Might as well get everyone up.

To her surprise, no body woke up. She shrugged to herself and shuffled to the washroom. She brushed her teeth and all that crap and picked up her brush. She looked at herself in the mirror and shivered at the sight of her hair. It was in complete disarray; her hair stuck up in every way possible and defied gravity itself.

"Ehh, I've had worse." Nadra shrugged and attempted to brush her hair. She tugged on the brush for it had gotten stuck on a knot, groaning in frustration she pulled again but harder.

And the brush got stuck; her hair stuck up in every way possible and defied gravity itself.

"Ehh, I've had worse." Nadra shrugged and attempted to brush her hair. She tugged on the brush for it had gotten stuck on a knot, groaning in frustration she pulled again but harder.

And the brush got stuck.

Addi and Aiden always woke at the same time as their sister. It was siblings' intuition. Addi gently nudged her brother, "Hoy, I think Nadra's up."

Aiden groaned and shoved his face deeper into his pillow. Maybe it wasn't an always when it came to waking up. "Aiden, we have to go out and check on Zuko." Addi tried another excuse to get her brother up.

Aiden sighed into his pillow, "I'll catch up with you, go check Zuko and wake Zita."

Addi smiled and nodded, "Alright."

Addi did as she was told and she went to go check on Zita first. She hesitantly knocked and poked her head into the room. She was still sleeping. Addi took her head out of the room and closed the door behind her.

Addi turned around and jumped. "Hey." Aiden smirked tiredly. Addi punched him in the arm, "Hurry up, we don't have that much time. Zita isn't awake to keep Ndra busy once she comes from the washroom ." She whispered. Aiden nodded, "You go to Zuko while I fetch some food for Appa as an excuse."

The twins went their own way and met up at the backdoor in the kitchen to the backyard. Aiden looked behind him and slowly opened the screen door, the screen door squeaked and the twins snapped their heads towards the kitchen for any signs of life.

Aiden shrugged and whispered, "Heavy sleepers." Addi nodded and they tip-toed their way to Appa, watching out for the open windows that held the people that resided in the two story house.

Appa awoke as they headed towards him. Appa yawned and licked Aiden covering him with slobber. Aiden wiped the slobber off of him, "Good morning Appa."

Addi pet his nose, and then looked at Aiden, "Is Zuko awake?"

Aiden knelt down beside the banished prince and shook him lightly, "Zuko, are you awake?"

Zuko groaned in his sleep and rolled to his side in the bison fur. Aiden went back to the front of Appa and set down his food. Appa made a growling sound in thanks. "Shhh, Appa. You'll wake everyone." Addi patted his side.

The seven year old girl sat beside her twin and watched Zuko sleep. "He looks so…calm when he sleeps. Vulnerable."

Aiden nodded, agreeing, "It's strange to see him like this, no?"

"I'm not complaining though, he looks kinda…..cute." Addi blushed. Aiden made a quiet barfing sound, "Pedo Bear." Addi pouted and slapped him, "That's not even the right word!" she exclaimed quietly in protest.

Zuko groaned once more and slowly opened his eyes. He hissed for a moment at the light change, but soon adjusted. He looked at the twins in the middle of their quarrel.

Addi looked back at Zuko and took back her hand that was about to slap Aiden again, "Did we wake you up?" she frowned, feeling the guilt creep into her.

Zuko shook his head, even though they did. He sat upright, "Is anyone else awake?"

Aiden shook his head, "We checked on Zita, but she's still-"

"Sleeping?" Zita poked her head behind Appas head.

"Nevermind." Aiden mumbled. Zita yawned and sat beside Zuko but keeping her distance, she was terribly shy sometimes.

Addi chuckled, "Nadra's awake too, and she's going to make breakfast soon. Anything in particular you want? We'll ask her for it."

Zuko shrugged, "Blueberry pancakes?" His mother; Ursa, always made the best blueberry pancakes.

Addi and Aiden exchanged glances but put on a smile and nodded. They knew they didn't have any blueberries.

"Anything else?" Zita piped.

Zuko shook his head, "It's up to you guys."

The three of them stood up and left Zuko sitting, "We ought to be heading back now." Zita told Zuko. He nodded.

"Find a place to hide other than behind Appa, I'm pretty sure Aang will greet Appa this morning." Addi gave Zuko a heads up.

Zuko hadn't thought of that.

"Wait," Zuko called them back, the looked at him, confused, "Thanks."

The three of them looked at eachother and chuckled at the banished prince. Zita spoke up, "It's no problem."

"What you guys want for breakfast?" Nadra looked through the cupboards, Katara behind her brush in hand brushing her hair.

"Blueberry pancakes." Addi piped from the table.

"And I got blueberries!" Aiden brought them from beneath the table and showed his sister with a childish grin.

Nadra raised a brow, "Where'd you get the blueberries?"

Zita raised her hand, "I bought it from the corner store a couple blocks from here."

Nadra nodded, making the brush in her hair yank. She hissed and stopped Katara, "Thanks Katara, but I think my hair just isn't being good today."

Katara laughed and nodded, placing the brush on the table, "Alright."

Nadra looked at Katara for help, "Could you scramble some eggs and fry some bacon?"

Katara happily obliged and looked through the fridge gathering the items. Aang airbended his way into the kitchen, Sokka following close behind.

"Morning, you two." Nadra smiled as she broke out the ingredients to make the batter for the pancakes.

"Good morning Katara, good morning Nadra, good morning twins." He smiled his grey eyes shone from the sunlight that came through the window.

Katara turned her attention to Aang, "How'd you sleep?"

Aang shrugged, "Good, I guess."

Katara knew something was wrong, but she continued to crack the eggs. Sokka pulled up a chair beside Aiden, "Oh I slept fine Katara, thanks." He said sarcastically to his sister.

I stifled a laugh as I put the KitchenAid to work to blend the batter. "How'd you sleep?" Sokka looked in Nadra's direction.

Nadra pointed to herself, unsurely, "Me? Oh, I slept fine." She turned herself back to the KitchenAid and smiled shyly into the batter. She turned the KitchenAid off and unlocked the stainless steel bowl. She set the bowl on the counter and looked at the twins, "Go wash the blueberries and you can take turns folding them into the batter."

The twins excitedly headed towards the tap with the blueberries and washed them less than thoroughly. Katara opened the kitchen window as it seemed to get stuffy, and Aang's flying lemur flew it and landed ontop of Zita's head. Zita picked the lemur from her head, "Awww! You're so cute!" the pitch of her voice had gotten suddenly high and she squeezed Momo into a bear hug. She let go and Momo went to Aang. "What's his name?"

Aang pet Momo and picked up some blueberries that had been washed but not used, "Momo." He smiled and pet the lemur.

The grey hued boy walked to the backdoor, "I'm going to go check on Appa."

The twins and Zita exchanged worried glances, "Wait, Aang!" Addi blurted grabbing his sleeve. She got a suspicious stare from Nadra. Addi gulped, "Uh..I want to come with you!" she blurted out of nervousness failing to come up with a better excuse.

Aiden focused on folding the berries into the batter while avoiding Nadra's eyes boring into his soul. She was already becoming suspicious. Zita coughed into her hand, "I needa get some air." She left the table and through the front door.

Aang shrugged, not bothered by the random outburst, "Sure, c'mon!" he grinned wide and grabbed her arm.

Once Aang and Addi walked to Appa, Addi decided to give Zuko some warning. "So, Aang," Addi said a little louder than normal, "When did you get Appa?"

Zuko shot up and quietly got up, his head looked left and right, but he was incapable of finding some place to hide in such short notice. Someone grabbed Zukos wrist, catching him off guard. He prepared a glare to whoever had grabbed his wrist, only to find it was Zita. She put a finger to her lips and tugged on his wrist. The instinctive chatter become louder as they neared Appa, Zita pulled Zuko behind Appa to his tail then to the darker side of the house.

"Stay here until Aang goes away." Zits whispered to Zuko, "I have to back inside, Nadra is already so suspicious."

Zuko nodded to her and she ran back around the house to the front door. Zuko crouched against the wall of the house and stayed there listening to the conversation.

~
TBC