Disclaimer:
Smellerbee- Say it.
Me- What if I don't want to?
Smellerbee- *Evil glare*
Me- Fine! I don't own Avatar. Happy?
Smellerbee- Very
It's A Long Shot
Chapter 7: Fears, Tears, and Regrets
Longshot and Smellerbee were on their way to the upper ring of Ba Sing Se when something they never thought would happen came in the way. They turned the corner and Longshot's eyes widened at who they saw.
"Jet!" Smellerbee shouted. Longshot could see that Jet was with the Avatar and his group.
"I thought you said you didn't have your gang anymore," the girl in blue said. Longshot knew who she was. Katara.
"I don't!" Jet said turning around only to find Smellerbee running up and hugging him.
"We were so worried," the girl with markings on her face said. "How did you get away from the Dai Li?"
Longshot could see Katara's horrified face. "The Dai Li?" she shouted.
"I don't know what she's talking about," their former leader said, backing away from Smellerbee. The boy with the conical hat approached the group that was starting to form around Jet. He was confused. Why was Jet lying?
"You got arrested by the Dai Li a few days ago. We saw them drag you away," Smellerbee said. It took a moment for Jet to answer.
"Why would I be arrested? I've been living peacefully in the city."
Longshot saw a girl he had never seen before get in between Jet and Smellerbee and kneel. She put her hand on the ground and spoke. "This doesn't make any sense. They're both telling the truth.
"That's impossible," Katara said.
"No it's not," a boy with a ponytail said. Longshot for sure knew who he was. Sokka. He resented Sokka so much. He was the reason the freedom fighters dispersed. If he hadn't of spoken of Jet's plan, they probably wouldn't be in this situation. Then again, he wouldn't of have seen Nami if it weren't for Sokka, so he decided to call it even.
Sokka started to talk again. "Toph can't tell who's lying because they both think they're telling the truth. Jet's been brainwashed!"
Everyone looked at Jet. "That's crazy," he said in his defense. "It can't be." He looked around at everyone. "Stay away from me!" But they did the opposite of what Jet said. They circled him.
"We need to find out what he knows," Katara said and everyone nodded in agreement.
"Where are you staying, Jet?" Smellerbee asked. Jet looked at her. "At the end of this block."
They reached the small house that Jet was staying in and sat him down in a chair. Katara was the first to begin speaking. "The Dai Li must of sent Jet to mislead us and that janitor was part of their plot too."
"Maybe they have Appa here in the city. Maybe he's in the same place they took Jet," the Avatar said. He looked at Jet and got closer to him. "Where did they take you?"
Jet sat there looking innocent as can be. "Nowhere. I-I don't know what you're talking about."
Aang spoke up. "We need a way to jog back his real memories."
Longshot sat on a nearby stool and Toph joined him. "Looks like your friend Jet is in a pretty intense situation," she said leaning against the wall. Longshot nodded and looked at her. He could see her foggy eyes.
"Yeah, I'm blind. No big deal," she said. "I don't need to see to be the greatest Earthbender."
Longshot only nodded. "You don't talk much do you?" she asked. He shook his head and looked at her, but she just shrugged her shoulders and walked back to her friends with Jet. Soon Longshot did the same.
"I don't think it's working," Jet said, spitting out a piece of straw wheat that Sokka had put in his mouth.
"Try to think of something in the past that triggers your emotions," Toph said.
Smellerbee spoke up and got closer to Jet. "The fire nation, remember what they did to your family."
"Close your eyes and picture it," Katara instructed. Jet did as he was told. The memory of his burning down village came to him.
"No," he gasped. "It's too painful."
"Maybe this will help," the waterbender said as she went behind Jet. She bended water out of her container and put it around Jet's ears. Longshot could see the water begin to glow. They just stood there watching. Longshot couldn't believe this. First Jet was taken by the Dai Li... Then it hit him. If Jet can take them where the Dai Li took him maybe then they can find Wang and Nami their too. Jet began to speak. "They took me to a headquarters underwater. Like a lake."
Longshot and Smellerbee exchanged glances. What Smellerbee heard wasn't a river, it was a lake! Before she could share, Sokka did.
"Wait! Remember what Joo Dee said? She said she went on vacation to Lake Laogai."
"That's it!" Jet shouted. "Lake Laogai."
"So where is this secret headquarters?" Sokka asked as they finally made it to Lake Laogai.
"Under the water I think," Jet said raising his hand to his head.
"There's a tunnel right there, near the shore," the blind girl said pointing to her right. She began whistling as she walked over to it. Everyone stared at her. When she got to the spot she jumped and landed sideways, her left side pointing towards the lake, raising a walkway. Finally everyone began to follow her. At the end of the walkway was a circular block in the middle. Toph swung her right hand to her left. They all looked down the hole, then watched as Momo flew away from Aang's head. They made their way down and began following Jet through the catacombs.
"It's all starting to come back to me," Jet said.
They all passed a room full of "Joo Dees". Creepy Longshot thought.
"I think there's a cell big enough to hold Appa up ahead," Jet told them. They kept following him until they reached a door. "I think it's through here." He opened the door and they entered. As soon as everyone was in, the door closed by itself, or so they though. Soon the room was brightened. They looked up and saw men of the Dai Li hanging from the ceiling.
"Now that's something different," Sokka said.
Then they heard Long Feng's voice. "You have made yourselves enemies of the state." Everyone glared at him, even Toph. Longshot got ready and arrow. He gave the Dai Li and order. "Take them into custody." Then it began.
The Dai Li dropped from the ceiling and circled the group. Soon everyone began fighting. Toph was blocking everything that the Dai Li was throwing. Longshot was shooting arrows, not missing a target. He saw Jet save Toph and ran over to them. Longshot shot an arrow that destroyed one of the rock hands. Jet rolled off of Longshot's back and blocked all of the rock they threw.
"Long Feng's getting away!" Aang shouted. Aang and Jet ran after him, leaving the others. A Dai Li was coming up from behind Katara and Longshot saw him. He drew back an arrow and shot it, sending it into the man's chest. Katara looked at Longshot but he saw a different face. He saw Nami's face. He shook his head to get the image out of his head but when he looked back at Katara, she slashed water in his direction. Longshot braced for impact, but soon realized that she didn't target him. He looked at the ground and saw a Dai Li out conscious. Longshot looked around and noticed that there were no more of them.
"They went this way!" Toph yelled and they followed her and they reach a door. Toph opened the door.
The first think Longshot saw was Jet on the floor. Everyone's eyes widened before running towards the fallen freedom fighter. They just stood there, unsure of what to do, until Katara bended her water under her hands and placed them on Jet's chest and stomach. She looked up at the others. "This isn't good."
"You guys go and find Appa. We'll take care of Jet," Smellerbee said.
Katara looked at her. "We're not going to leave you," Katara said. Longshot was enraged. It was as if the universe wanted him and Smellerbee to suffer. First it was their family and now Jet. He just wanted to take out his anger on Long Feng. This was his doing. He looked down at Jet and spoke. "There's no time. Just go. We'll take care of him. He's our leader."
Everyone looked at him. It was the first time they had ever heard him talk before. Longshot looked down at Jet again and saw a tear stream down his face. There was a moment of silence before Jet began to talk. "Don't worry, Katara. I'll be fine." He gave her an assuring smile. She got up and they all left. Longshot got ready an arrow and targeted the door, waiting and daring for anyone to get near them.
"Smellerbee," Jet said. "It's alright. Everything's going to be fine."
"Cut the crap, Jet. I know damn well it's not." At this point Smellerbee was crying, tears streaming down her face. She wiped them away quickly as if they were insects. Jet put all his energy together to raise his hand and caress Smellerbee's cheek. "You're strong Smellerbee, you always were. You and Longshot need to bring back the freedom fighters, but this time, do a better job than I did." Jet gave her a smile. "And Longshot."
At the sound of his name he looked at Jet. "Take care of Bee, for me." A tear strolled down Longshot's face. "I will."
Longshot heard the door open and shot an arrow, but right after he shot it, he wished he hadn't.
So that's it for this chapter. This whole story is the episode Lake Laogai. So all rights reserved to the episode and all its glory. I tried my hardest to capture all of the character's dialogues. Thank goodness for Netflix am I right?:D No? Okay ._. I'm probably going to upload again today. I have everything in my head. Sadly this story is about to end:/ but it's okay! Any questions? Review. And I hope that I upload soon! Have a great day:]
P.S Special thanks to Alapest for reviewing. You get a cookie! (.;.') -there it is:D thanks!
~Elisa
