Author's Note: I'm sorry for not updating in months- PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! My interests wavered… On the bright side, I now have a fetish for Full Metal Alchemist.

To answer a question I received earlier on: Yes, the names Anastasia, Alexei, Tatiana, Marie and Olga are the names of the four Romanov Grand Duchesses and Tsarvitch (They were the Russian equivalents of Princesses and a Prince) of Russia (In the early 20th century). I read about their tragic deaths in 1918, and I named the five characters after them.

As of now, the OC's in this story are officially AU from AVATAR.

And so, with the six new people backstage, the production continued. There was much dashing, fixing and several crashes as the cast attempted to arrange the scenery just right. There were also several yells of, "WATCH WHERE YOU'RE PUTTING THAT YOU LITTLE SEA MONKEY!" from what sounded like Anastasia. Though why she would be screaming this at Alexei, no one save the cast knew.

Finally, Jet, Roshelle, Olga and Marie stepped out onstage along with several of the backup dancers. The three new girls coolly agreed to take part in the production instead of standing backstage and watching. They now were part of the chorus. Jet was still incredibly displeased with his adventure in the rafters, and grudgingly sang his lines.

"Like yellow parchment is his skin

A great black hole serves as the nose that never grew,"

"Who's he talking about?" Alexei asked. Sokka sighed in annoyance.

"Michael Jackson, Alexei. Didn't you catch the part about the nose?" He asked sarcastically. Alexei blinked.

"Oh," He muttered slowly. "I thought he was talking about the Phantom." Sokka began to slam his head into the wall, unable to take much more of Alexei's small, naïve mind.

Onstage with a deadpan look on his face, Jet pulled out a rope twisted to look like a noose. Zuko was pointedly staying as far away from Jet as humanly possible.

"You must always be on your guard,

Or he will catch you with his magical lasso!"

Jet put a sarcastic stress on the words "Magical Lasso". "Yeah, real magical. I piece of tattered rope. I'm terrified." He put the noose around his neck, put his hand through the loop and pulled the rope taut. His hand prevented the rope from strangling him, much to Sokka and Zuko's disappointment. The girls pretended to squeal in fear, but Olga failed miserably. She was a bit of a cynic.

Now Tatiana stepped out onstage, giving Jet a stern look. She walked up to him slowly.

"Those who speak of what they know

Find too late that prudent silence is best.

Joseph Buquet, hold your tongue!"

She gave him a slap across the face, and Jet winced. "You really stink at stage combat, Tatiana." The girl gave him a grim smile.

"He will burn you with the heat of his eyes…"

The girls ran offstage to the right, and Tatiana and Jet exited to the left. Now the curtain was raised, and it revealed the stage set in Andre and Firmin's office. Haru is looking at a newspaper article at his desk, and reads it out loud:

"'Mystery after Gala night!'

It says 'Mystery of Soprano's flight'!

'Mystified, baffled Surete say,

We are mystified, we suspect foul play!'"

He lowered the paper. Backstage, Alexei opened his mouth to ask another question (Presumably, "What's a Surete?"), but a look from Olga silenced him. Sokka gave the boy's older sister a thankful look.

"How do you do that?" He asked faintly. Olga smirked.

"It's all in the look." She responded sweetly. Onstage, Haru continued the number.

"Bad news on Soprano scene,

First Carlotta, now Christine!

Still at least the seats are sold-

Gossip's worth it's weight in gold…"

He smiled.

"What a way to run a business!

Spare me these unending trials!

Half your cast disappears

But the crowd still cheers!

Opera!

To h-ll with Gluck and Handel

It's a scandal that'll pack 'em in the aisles!"

Suddenly Alexei burst onstage, pretending to be outraged.

"DARNABLE-"

He stopped when Haru gave him a confused look, and he shrugged. "I'm not allowed to swear," He explained. Haru shrugged as well, and motioned for the boy to continue.

"DARNABLE!

Will they all walk out?

This is DARNABLE-"

Haru motioned for Alexei to calm down.

"Andre, please don't shout…

It's publicity!

And the take is vast!

Free publicity!"

Alexei interrupted.

"But we have no cast…"

Haru pretended to look for something on the desk, and came up with two letters from the Phantom.

"But Andre, have you seen the queue?

Oh, it seems you've got one too…"

"Lucky me," Alexei remarked. He picked up the letter and began to read.

"'Dear Andre what a charming Gala!

Christine employed a great success!

We were hardly benevolent when Carlotta left-'"

"Oh god, he sounds even worse from backstage." Marie mumbled. Tatiana elbowed her sister.

"Oh, give him a break. He's what, nine?" Roshelle asked. Anastasia shook her head.

"Ten," She corrected.

"You have to admit," Suki said, "The song doesn't make much sense when he botches the words."

"-Otherwise,

The chorus was prancing

But the dancing was a lambeniable mess!'"

Olga flinched visibly as Haru went to read his letter.

"'Dear Firmin just a brief reminder,

My salary has not been paid.

Send it care of the ghost

By return of post-

P.T.O.:

No one likes a debtor

So it's better if my orders are obeyed!'"

They both pretended to examine their letters, and then looked at each other.

"Who would have the gall to send this?

Someone with a puerile brain!"

Haru held up his letter.

"These are both singed 'O.G',"

Alexei interrupted again.

"Who the heck is he?"

They both registered at the same time.

"Opera Ghost!"

"It's really not amusing!"

Haru growled.

"He's abusing our position!"

Alexei agreed.

"In addition he wants money!"

"He's a funny sort of spectacler-"

"-To expect a large retainer!

Nothing plainer-

He is clearly quite insane!"

They both finished. Alexei was gasping for breath from singing so quickly. Just then, Zuko burst onstage looking as angry as Alexei did a few minutes ago.

"Where is she?"

He snapped.

"You mean Carlotta?"

Alexei asked.

"I mean Miss Daae,

Where is she?"

"Well how should we know?"

Haru retorted. Zuko held up a letter similar to the ones Haru and Alexei received earlier on.

"I want an answer-

I take it that you sent me this note?"

"What's all this nonsense?"

Haru asked.

"Of course not!"
Alexei added.

"She's not with us!"

Haru continued.

"She's not with you then?"

Zuko asked, crestfallen.

"Of course not!"

Haru repeated. "Isn't that what I just said?"

"We're in the dark!"

Alexei said.

"Monsieur, don't argue!
Isn't this the letter you wrote?"

"And what is it that we're

Meant to have wrote?"

Haru shook his head, and muttered:

"Written."

"HA!" Alexei shrieked. "FINALLY! SOMEONE ELSE MADE A MISTAKE!" Zuko sighed.

"It's part of the play, Alexei- he was supposed to make that mistake." Alexei hung his head, disappointed. Haru patted the younger boy's shoulder comfortingly.

Zuko handed the letter to Alexei, who picked his head up to read it.

"'Do not fear for Miss Daae-

The Angel of Music has her under his wing.

Make no attempt to see her again.'"

Alexei and Haru looked mystified.

"If you didn't write it," Zuko said slowly, "Then who did?"

"WHO DO YOU THINK?" Someone offstage roared. The cast turned and collectively glared at Zhao, who was whistling innocently and examining the floor. Iroh glared at the Commander and motioned for Zuko the others to continue. Suki burst onstage, definitely not looking like a happy bunny. It may have been because she was supposed to, or maybe it was Zhao's outburst that made the Kyoshi warrior look so mad.

"Where is he?"

She yelled.

"Welcome back!"

Alexei sounded much happier then he was. He wasn't quite certain if Suki was acting, or was actually quite mad.

"Your Precious Patron-

Where is he?"
She ignored Alexei pointedly and whirled to look at Zuko.

"What is it now?"

The Firebender snarled.

"I have your letter-

A letter that I rather resent!"

Haru turned to Zuko.

"And did you send it?"

"Of course not!"

Zuko barked.

"As if he would,"

Alexei muttered, noting the ever-present vein in Suki's temple.

"You didn't send it?"

"Of course not!"

"What's going on?"

Haru groaned.

"You dare to tell me

That this is not the letter you sent!"

Suki snapped, brandishing- lo and behold- another letter from our loverly lil' Phantom bunny.

"And just what is it that I'm meant

To have sent?"

Zuko took the letter from Suki and read it:

"'Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered,

Christine Daae will be singing

On your behalf tonight

Prepare for a great Misfortune

Should you attempt to take her place.'"

Haru and Alexei groaned, tired of the notes.

"Far too many notes for my taste

And most of them about Christine

All we've heard since we came

Is Miss Daae's name…"

Just then, Tatiana and Anastasia stepped onstage.

"Miss Daae has returned,"

Tatiana announced. Backstage, Kato shook his head. "The timing in this thing is killing me." He muttered.

"I trust her midnight oil is well and truly burned!"
Haru snapped. Alexei blinked. "Oil? What oil? Did she drive a car or something?" It was, at that moment, that Olga proved her silencing glares could work from a distance. Alexei's mouth clamped shut faster than a triggered trap (A/N: You know… those traps you always see in Disney Movies… The ones that look like metal mouths….). Zuko rolled his eyes and continued.

"Just where is she now?"

"I thought it best

That she went home…"

Anastasia picked up her sister's line.

"…She needed rest."

"What? She didn't get enough rest after she fainted?" Jet muttered.

"Will she sing? Will she sing?"

Suki asked.

"Why do you care? Did you not catch the threat of a 'misfortune' befalling upon you?" Anastasia muttered.

"Here, I have a note."

Everyone groaned as Tatiana produced another envelope from her pocket. "Does this guy have a fetish for writing or something?" Haru asked before snatching the letter from Tatiana. "'Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature.'"

"Yes, and you've also sent of our actors crashing down from the rafters." Sokka quipped. Haru pointedly ignored him and continued.

"'…Detailing how my theater is to be run. You have not followed my instructions. I shall give you one last chance…'" It was then that something else very, very frightening happened. A cold, eerie voice echoed through the stage area- one that no one recognized. The Phantom had returned!

"Christine Daae has returned to you

And I'm anxious her career should progress.

In the new production of 'Il Muto'

You will therefore cast Carlotta as

The pageboy, and put Miss Daae in

The role of Countess…

The role which Miss Daae plays

Calls for charm and appeal.

The role of the pageboy is silent-

Which makes my casting, in a word,

Ideal…"

There was no interruption through the Phantom's solo. No angry retort from Suki, whose singing was actually quite good compared to that of the fictional Carlotta. No remark about how they wished Sokka would play the silent singing role. They were that freaked out. For a moment, there was complete silence in the theater. Suddenly realizing that his line was next Haru coughed and read,

"'I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. I remain, your obedient servant, O.G.'"