Disclaimer: Do not own Avatar: the last airbender.
It's a Long Shot
Chapter 3: For the First Time
"Don't be out too long and be careful, Renshu," his mother called out to him.
"Mom!" the little boy yelled in annoyance.
"I mean Longshot," his mother said with a smile on her face and a sparkle in her brown eyes. The little Longshot smiled and ran off with a bow in one hand and a quiver of arrows in the other. He looked over his shoulder and when he didn't see his mother anymore he went into the woods where he was forbidden to go.
He stopped running when he reached his usual spot by the willow tree where he always practiced his archery. He took time to catch his breath and began his practice. He pulled back the arrow and aimed at the tree with the target he put on it. He took a deep breath and let go, sending the whizzing arrow to a perfect bulls-eye. He smiled at his achievement. The little boy bend down to get another arrow but when he looked at the target the arrow he had just shot was gone. The smile that was once on his face, vanished. He readied an arrow and looked around.
"Who's there?" He shouted, sounding fearless.
He heard rustling in thee trees, but when he looked up he saw nothing and the rustling stopped. He lowered his bow and relaxed a bit. He took a deep breath and prepared to shoot another arrow when he heard a little girl laugh. He looked around again and saw that his arrows weren't there anymore.
"I know you're there and if you don't give me back my arrows, I can kill you with one shot!" he yelled to the mystery culprit.
Everything was silent except for the loud beating of Longshot's heart. He turned around only to find a girl dressed in a short, green sleeveless kimono. Her long brown hair covered her face and her bright blue eyes stared into his, with an expressionless face.
"You couldn't. Even if you wanted to," the mystery girl said.
Longshot was furious not only because this girl took his arrows that took him so long to make, but because she called him out to be weak. He began thinking, what if she was a fire bender? It could be a trap.
He pulled back the arrow that he had readied earlier and let it go sending it towards the girl, but she jumped backwards onto her hands then onto her feet, right before the arrow could hit her. Longshot was amazed at this. He always hit his target.
The girl got out a knife and threw it at him. Grazing his arm. Pain shot up his body and he knelt to the ground holding back his tears.
The girl confronted him.
"Who are you?" They both asked in unison.
"Me?" They both said.
"I live here!" It was as if they were twins, speaking the same words.
"No you don't! You're fire nation!" The both of them were getting annoyed. Before the girl could say something Longshot did.
"You're the one who started all of this. Is obvious your a fire bender," he said with disgust in his mouth.
"You might want to check your facts again, dummy," the girl said, "Who's the one wearing red here? And plus, I live in a village not too far from here."
Longshot's eyes widened while he looked at the red scarf draped and tied around his shoulders. Damn it he thought to himself. "That's where I live," he finally said
The girl squatted and helped the boy up. Once he got up he backed away from her.
"Let me help you," she said.
"I think you've helped enough," he said.
"You can trust me," the little girl said, stepping closer to Longshot. He looked into her deep blue eyes and hung his head. He was desperate. If he went home with a bloody arm, his mother would question him. The girl got closer and touched his hand softly. When he didn't pull back she grabbed his hand.
"Come with me," she said tugging on the arm that wasn't hurt. She grabbed his bow and led him to a nearby river. She let go of his hand. "Sit down by the edge of the river."
He raised an eyebrow. "You're not going to push me in it, are you?"
"Sounds tempting, but I won't," she said.
Longshot did what he was told and sat down on the edge. The girl sat in front of him.
"Before I try to help you," she started, "please don't..."
"Don't, what?" Longshot asked.
She sighed. "Just keep quiet until I'm done okay?" He nodded.
The girl put her hands over the water and closed her eyes. As she raised her hands the water raised with them, and circled around her hands. Her water covered hands made their way to Longshot's cut, and she concentrated with all her might. Soon the water began to glow and Longshot could feel the power healing him.
She took her hands away and bended the water back to the river. She looked over at Longshot, whose eyes were big.
"You're a...?"
"Water bender," she finished.
The boy looked down at where the cut used to be but only in its place was a scar.
"I'm sorry I couldn't take away the scar. My bending isn't all that great," she said. Longshot looked up at her. "Who are you?"
"My name is Nami. My mother and I came here from the northern water tribe after she was betrothed to my step-dad. No one here knows that my mother and I can water bend besides my family and now, you. You can't tell anyone," she said touching his hand.
He looked down at her hand. "Why not?"
"Because the fire nation already wiped out all the water benders from out sister tribe. If somehow they found out that me and my mom are water benders in this village, they would take us away." She looked away trying to hold the tears from spilling out. She would not let anyone see her cry. No matter what happened.
"Nami, I promise I won't tell anyone," he said.
She looked at him and a smile grew on her face. "Thank you." She saw that she was still touching his hand and pulled away quickly. "Well, I told you who I was. Who are you? I never see you around in the village."
"I'm Longshot. I don't go around the village that much. I either just stay home or I practice my archery," he said with a smile.
"You're Kana's son aren't you?" she asked excitedly. He nodded. "How did you know?" he asked. "Our mothers are friends," she said. Nami stood up and went over to a nearby bush and grabbed something that Longshot couldn't see. When she came back over she handed him his arrows.
"My arrows!" he said with a huge smile. "How did you manage to take them away from me?"
"That's for me to know and for you to find out," she laughed and started to run into the forest again. Longshot got up, grabbed his things and ran after Nami. He was right behind the girl, determined to pass her, but she was just too quick. Nami looked over her shoulder and stuck her tongue out at Longshot. He couldn't help but smile. As they came out of the forest to enter their village, Nami slowed down. When Longshot caught up to her, he tried to catch his breath.
"I need to ask you something, Nami," he said, breathing heavily. "How did your step-dad and mom even meet?"
"Come walk with me," she said with a smile. They walked in the streets of their home village. "My step-dad, Shan, was in the ocean when we found him. He was on a ship sailing to find fish on the ocean near our tribe, but a horrible storm broke out and ruined his ship. Shan, including his men, were left in the ocean. Morning came and we found them on our shore. My mother and all the other healers took them to be taken care of. She took care of Shan and soon the fell in love, something my mom hasn't felt in a while since my father died. He carved a betrothal necklace for my mother and we came back here with him."
They stopped by stand that were selling miscellaneous items. Name took one of their conical hats and put it on Longshot and smiled.
"It's a good look for you," she laughed. She gave the man who was selling it a silver piece. "Consider it a sorry-for-hurting-you gift."
Longshot looked at his reflection in a mirror that the man was selling and couldn't help but smile. They walked around the village as people looked at them, shocked to see Longshot roaming. Longshot walked Nami home.
"It was nice to finally meet you, Longshot," she said and smiled at Longshot. Unsure of what to say, he only nodded. She entered her house and Longshot went to his home.
Months Later
"I think I might be a better archer than you, Longshot," Nami teased.
"Only because you had an amazing teacher," Longshot said, rasing the conical hat that Nami had bought for him.
They were making their way to Nami's house as they always did after a day of practice. As they entered the house they saw Nami's family all sitting at their table. When the both of them approached the table, the door slammed behind them and when they looked, two fire benders in uniform stood by the door.
"So glad for you to join us," one of them said.
"Yeah, so glad for you to join us," the other said,
"Ling, just let me do the talking okay?" the other one said. Ling nodded and crossed his arms over his shoulder.
Nami rolled her eyes. "What are you doing here?" she questioned.
"We are just here to talk. We were told that there were meetings taking place here, in this village, about overthrowing the fire nation and we are here to end it, for good."
"What about the benders?" Ling asked.
"Ah, yes," the other said, "the benders. If we find any benders, they will be taken away immediately, and we will find them, so might as well just confess now." Both of the fire benders looked at Nami.
Before anyone could say anything the door slammed open and the man that sold them the conical hat months before came in. "It's them. Them two are the benders." The man pointed at Nami and to her step-brother, Wang. Longshot was confued. Only Nami and her mother were benders, weren't they? He could see Nami's eyes widen.
"Perfect," the fire bender said.
"They're not benders," Longshot said getting in front on Nami. "He's lying."
Ling looked down at Longshot. "No one asked for your input." Ling grabbed Longshot's neck and raised him from the ground. "You shouldn't speak when not spoken to. But you won't have to worry about that anymore." Just as Ling was about to squeeze Longshot's neck even tighter, Nami lifted up the water from a nearby bowl and striking the man, causing him to let go of Longshot. She blew air onto the man and the water froze his whole body.
Wang got up from his seat and stomped the ground and raised his arms and a boulder came out of the ground. Arms still raised, he pushed the boulder towards Ling, breaking a hole in the house.
Longshot was shocked at what had just happened. He almost got killed for speaking his mind. The seller that ratted them out was about to leave when Longshot got hold of his bow and shot an arrow, piercing his sleeve to the wall to prevent him from leaving.
"Oh no," Nami's mother said tears filling her eyes as she looked out of the hole Wang made. Longshot made his way to see what happened, but later he wished he hadn't. There, right before his eyes, the village that he had been born in and raised was burning in flames. Longshot jumped out of the hole and ran to his home, but when he arrived it was too late. His home was in flames, flames so high they reached the skies. He broke down to the ground. Tears streaming down his face. Were his parents inside? Did they get out in time? He looked around but he didn't see his mother or father. He wiped his tears. "Longshot!" He could hear his name being shouted. He looked around and saw that it was, in fact, Nami and her family being taken away by members of the fire nation. He ran after them trying to reach her but the carriage that held them were too fast. "Nami!" was the last word he ever said.
So I put this chapter in so you can see how they meet. I hope you guys and gals are enjoying my story so far. Criticisms/Questions? Review! I would also like to thank my brother who is only ten, for review my story, proofreading it, and pushing me to keep writing. Have a great Fanfiction day! I'll post chaptah four soon whether I get reviews or not:)
-Elisa
