Longshot

"earth"

- There's no time. Just go. We'll take care of him. He's our leader.

Longshot is a member of an Earth Kingdom rebel force referred to as the Freedom Fighters. He is often taciturn, though his opinions are greatly valued by his peers. He is understood by his companions through his facial expressions, which indicate his notions on particular subjects. Longshot is a skilled archer, able to accurately afflict damage to his opponents even in unorthodox situations such as being inverted in position.

History
After his village was burned to the ground during a Fire Nation raid, Longshot became a member of the Freedom Fighters, a young rebel group assembled by Jet who worked to punish the people of the Fire Nation for their wrongdoings.

Some time during the spring of 100 ASC, Jet selected Longshot, along with Smellerbee, Sneers, The Duke and Pipsqueak, to work alongside him in the ambush of a Fire Nation military encampment. The Freedom Fighters hid among the large trees above the camp site, waiting for an adequate distraction that would allow them to attack. Just then, Sokka, Katara and Aang stumble upon the campgrounds, alerting the soldiers who were lounging by a campfire. Just as the soldiers were about to attack, Longshot stunned the leader from his position, likely through the use of a specialized arrow, and a fight soon ensued. Amidst the battle, he remained perched on a tree branch, firing arrows aimed at the soldiers' weapons. He was able to single-handedly disarm at least 6 soldiers during the assault. After the battle, he, along with the rest of the Freedom Fighters, returned to the Treetop Hideout with Aang, Sokka and Katara. He was later assigned to fire an arrow that would initiate the flooding of Gaipan, though this mission was a failure as Sokka was able to warn the town's residents in time for them to evacuate safely.



Following their run-in with Team Avatar, Jet, Longshot and Smellerbee travel to Ba Sing Se to start a new life. They arrive at Full Moon Bay, where they board an Earth Kingdom Ferry and meet Zuko and Iroh, who, unbeknownst to them, are members of the Fire Nation. Jet notices Zuko's displeasure with the living conditions on the ferry, and convinces him to help "liberate" some food from the captain's chambers along with Longshot and Smellerbee. At night, the four conduct a raid on the captain's chambers, with Longshot staying at the lower level of the ferry. After Zuko and Jet successfully obtain the food, Longshot fired an arrow carrying a rope towards the three, allowing them to swing back to the passenger level before being seen by the guards. After distributing the food among the passengers, Longshot joins Zuko, Smellerbee and Iroh for a meal, and later calms Smellerbee after Iroh mistakenly calls her a young man.

After arriving in Ba Sing Se, Jet expresses interest in recruiting Zuko as part of the Freedom Fighters, a proposal both Smellerbee and Longshot disagree with, stating that they knew very little about Zuko. Despite the feelings of his companions, Jet approaches Zuko and asks him to join the Freedom Fighters. Zuko refuses, stating that Jet wouldn't want a person like him in his crew. Jet respects Zuko's decision, but notices that Iroh's previously lukewarm tea had been heated during his conversation with Zuko. He concludes that the two must be Firebenders, and sets off to expose them, much to Longshot and Smellerbee's dissatisfaction.



The trio spends their first days in Ba Sing Se following Iroh and Zuko in the Lower Ring. Jet expresses disgust by the thought of Firebenders living concealed within Ba Sing Se. Smellerbee and Longshot question Jet's motives, stating that they left for Ba Sing Se in order to start a new life. Jet assures the two that he would simply gather enough evidence for Zuko and Iroh to be arrested. Longshot and Smellerbee have no choice but to comply. Jet's many attempts to unveil Zuko and Iroh ultimately fail, and he resorts to violence in a last-ditch effort. He attacks Zuko, and the two engage in battle, until the fight is ceased by the Dai Li, who takes Jet into custody after several citizens pinpoint him as the duel's instigator. Longshot and Smellerbee watch as Jet is taken away.

Longshot spends the next few weeks with Smellerbee searching for Jet, and eventually finds him as he prepares to depart for Whale Tail Island with Aang, Katara, Sokka and Toph in search of Appa. Katara is angered by Jet's apparent subterfuge, claiming that he previously stated that he came to Ba Sing Se without the Freedom Fighters. Smellerbee asks Jet about how he escaped the Dai Li, though Jet expresses no knowledge about being taken, stating that he has been living peacefully within the city. The gang concludes that Jet had been brainwashed, and after several attempts, was able to successfully reverse the hypnotism performed on Jet. He reveals that the Dai Li has a secret headquarters under the waters of Lake Laogai.



The team sets off for the lake, hoping to find Appa. They are unsuccessful, and instead, are spotted by Long Feng, who declares them as enemies of the state. He then orders the Dai Li to apprehend them, and a battle ensues. Longshot was active in the battle, attacking the Dai Li whenever it was necessary. The flawless teamwork between Team Avatar and the Freedom Fighters made it impossible for the Dai Li to capture them. Noticing Team Avatar and the Freedom Fighters' increasing dominance over the Dai Li, Long Feng flees, and is pursued by Aang and Longshot, who are quick to notice his escape. Longshot remained with the others to hold off the Dai Li. After a battle with Long Feng, Jet is fatally wounded. Longshot soon arrives with the others to where Aang and Jet chased Long Feng, and expresses disbelief at seeing Jet injured. Katara's attempts to heal him prove to be unsuccessful, and she woefully says that Jet's current state of being was not good. Smellerbee urges Team Avatar to push ahead to find Appa, but they are hesitant to do so. Longshot prompts them to, saying, "There's no time. Just go. We'll take care of him. He's our leader." Team Avatar reluctantly continues their search for Appa, leaving Jet under the protection of Smellerbee and Longshot, who both seem to be aware of Jet's inevitable death. Longshot winds an arrow and points it at the door as a precautionary measure if ever the Dai Li returned.

Longshot's fate after the departure of Team Avatar and the end of the War is unknown.

Abilities


Longshot is a skilled archer. In many instances, he has shown himself to be highly proficient with bow and arrows, able to effectively use them while in motion or while inverted in position. In a battle against Fire Nation infantry, he was able to effectively battle troops while upside down, using several arrows concurrently with flawless precision and accuracy.

In one particular battle, Longshot exhibited his impeccable aim when he was able to target the weaponry of several soldiers, and strike them with enough force so that the soldiers would be disarmed. Earlier in the battle, he was able to target the leader of the opposing force, incapacitating him with an arrow to the back.

He also exhibits tremendous balance, as he was able to effectively battle while perched on top of a tree and while hanging from a branch upside down. He operates silently, an attribute commonly seen with members of the Freedom Fighters. As such, he is able to successfully ambush unsuspecting forces with relative ease.

Trivia

 * It is suggested by "The Serpent's Pass" with Avatar Extras bonus commentary that he is romantically involved with fellow Freedom Fighter Smellerbee.
 * His silent nature was most likely incited by his village's decimation at the hands of the Fire Nation.
 * Longshot's statement in Lake Laogai ("There's no time. Just go. We'll take care of him. He's our leader.") is his first and only line during the series.