The idiot returns!

[sun]

Nestled in the crevices of a small mountains base was a small outdoor bath maintained by a local family. The air in the surrounding area was chilly but the area around the geothermically heated waters were comfortable. A fence of bamboo surrounded the steaming pool and figures it contained. A few hog-monkeys were perched on the fence and in the trees looking on nervously.

Sun lounged in the water with all the attitude of somebody intent on dissolving where he sat. He was submerged to the chin in the warm waters but still wore his tattered conical hat, causing any onlookers to believe a hat had been dropped in the water.

“Come.. here a lot you know, good place” He said, a hint of inebriation slurring his speech, “they gimme a deal cause helped their boy when he was chased by a Badger skeeter.” He made a vague motion with his hand, “nailed it right in the wossnames.. Atta.. Anta.. Antenta…… head thingies.” It was difficult to tell who he was addressing, the lanky bespectacled man, or the enormous bear who Sun had somehow convinced the owners to allow in.

[earthking]

“Antennae,” the lanky Earth King, now in exile and on the run, dutifully pronounced as he poked his head from around a wooden corner, still unraveling his braid. Nonchalantly brushing past him on all fours was his faithful companion, a full sized brown bear named Bosco.

“We have read that they can be extremely vicious. Sometimes rivaling wolverine-hornets in fact,” removing the small pair of frameless, reading lenses that snugly rested at the bridge of his nose. “The boy and his family were quite fortunate that you were there when you were,” momentarily observing the steamy return on his lenses after wiping them for the umpteenth time, then deciding that nothing could be done about giving he was at a hot springs.

Near the edge of the pool Bosco pawed at the water, almost as if he was instinctively batting for fish but instead was testing the temperature of the water before giving a brief, appreciative clap then sliding snout first into it. “And just as we are grateful for your presence in our rescue,” finally stepping from around the corner, “we are quite perplexed, even wary that circumstance has led us here rather than seeking seclusion in a monastery or hiding away in a cave,” daintily testing measuring the water’s temperature with a toe.

[sun]

Sun brought a hand out of the water and lifted his hat to look blearily at the man. Sun had spent most of his childhood raiding and learning about the animals of the earth kingdom, he wouldn’t have thought that the man had any significant knowledge of the kingdoms fauna. ‘Must be a scholar or somethin’ the still sober fraction of his brain thought, the much larger portion of his brain that was under the influence though, ignored it. He let the hat drop again.

“Mon.. Monstries ain‘t as good as they say,” slurred Sun as he watched the floating sake tray move on the ripples. Despite his inebriated state he was able to catch the hollow gourd before the wake of the bears entry sent it into the water. “Dem monks live on hard floors in draf..drafty rooms, gimme a soft bed or gimme the ground.” He absently took a long draught from the gourd. “Plus ya can‘t trust all dem monks, there’s always a few jerks who stray from th..the path, they’re more dangerous than fire ban..benders,” were the man better acquainted with Sun the statement would have seemed uncharacteristic.

“Why th-throw yer lot in with people ya heard ya can trust, when ya can go to people ya know you can trust.” Had Sun been sober, he’d have that a nice bit of wisdom, instead he thought he needed another drink.

[earthking]

Behind the fogged lenses of bifocals further down his nose, His Majesty managed to understand the gist of the now drunken hero’s slurred speech. In a few more moments he deciphered Sun’s words fully. “Trust,” he disappointedly exhaled.

“Given recent circumstances that have befallen,” haggardly stepping into the naturally heated pool down a small carved set of steps, “your notion must be rendered moot.” The Earth King began to submerge himself into the pool like a defeated fighter while the heat tried to assuage his worried spirit.

Amidst them, human-like, Bosco floated by on his back as if he were more of a giant koala-otter than bear. Carefree he drifted about, a wave of his paw or twitch of his leg to steer him. His Majesty could nothing but smile at the comfort his companion obtained in spite or their surrounding situation. The Earth King submerged himself deeper and the mass of hair that could encompass at least half his body billowed around him. Bosco roared in approval and batted Sun’s hat into the air where it lazily swayed its way down onto the bear’s paw. His Majesty chuckled as the animal placed the conical hat atop its wet, furry head and continued to drift along.

“Then again, we may need to secede to your notion. When you are with someone you truly can trust.”

[sun]

Sun looked at the man again. His brain whirled around as it tried to remember the meaning of the word ‘moot,’ portions not being used for that task were busy rearranging the sentence to make sense. Dense as he was, even were he sober he would not have noticed the tone of the former kings voice.

In the small building that served as the hot springs entrance the families eldest son turned his head when he heard a loud knock.

“H-hey gimme it back,” responded Sun dizzily when one of the three bears he was seeing annexed his well worn hat. He tried to swat it back but aimed for the wrong baer and just slapped the water several degrees in the wrong direction. After a few minutes of nonsensical small talk Sun felt the wines effect wear off enough to recognize the approach of the caretakers son.

“Um Mr Sun?” he said nervously, “there are some.. People here…” the young mans voice lowered to the point that one almost strained to hear, “I-I think they are fire benders.”

Sun’s face went blank for a second before what could have been a smile twitched his mouth, he looked blearily at the dethroned king for a moment than winked.

“Let em in..”

[earthking]

His Royal Majesty violently sputtered the hot spring water after engulfing a shocked lung full. His words jumbled, halted then jumbled again in his utter worry and confusion. And before he could finally steady his speech into a coherent sentence his throat began to clench shut. And as the fire benders began to obediently storm into the area, boots clopping down upon the cobble stones as they half-ringed themselves around the pool, the Earth King felt other part of his body began to clench at their appearance and the colour began to drain from his face at the sight of their skeletal masks.

Even having caught Sun’s wink the Earth King’s body sagged with dread and defeat. And again he felt betrayed yet again, this time from the would-be hero and rescuer Sun who was likely now turning him in to the Fire Nation. Shivering despite the warmth of the hot spring, his Majesty drifted towards Bosco who continued to ignorantly float on his back, snout hiding underneath Sun’s purloined, conical hat. Whether or not Bosco understood what was happening was not a immense concern. Right now Bosco felt like the only security the Earth King still had left in this world.

[sun]

By the time the Firenation soldiers had entered Sun was on his feet, standing on a large rock that jutted out of the center of the bath. He had his red cudgel in his hands but appeared to be using it more to keep him upright than to be threatening. He swayed slightly as he examined the soldiers, only two wire fire benders, the other were standard foot troops. He gave large goofy grin to them.

“My friends!” he announced happily, “You arrived j-just in time!” Her swept his hand across the air indicating the bath, “the springs are too cool for my taste, sc-sl- surely one with your talents c-could be of use, I would gladly share my wine for your services!”

The fire nation seemed taken aback, they were accustomed to people cowering in fear or putting up dumb displays of bravery.

“Er.. We have come to apprehend you for crimes against the fire nation and harboring the exiled incompetent earthking,” said one of the fire benders, apparently the leader, “the incompetent earthking is to be imprisoned and the fugitive Sun is to be tried and executed…”

“Sun..? Whose that?” he responded, not in the least bit effected by the situation, “ya mean dat goofy bastard wit da big red stick?” His voice began to slur again, “ain‘t seen him in years, dey say some bird nose igni ate the lil bugger.” The soldier looked at each other in confusion, so ridiculous was the sight of drunken Sun rambling naked in front of them that they seemed at a loss. Sun took a moment to look into the water. “Wait! He‘s alive there he is!” Sun pointed excitedly at his reflection and stood up with his cudgel on his shoulder. “There he is! Quick get em!”

A stunned silence hung in the air, so odd was Sun’s performance that they appeared to have forgotten the earth king. “Ugh enough with the idiot, lets just cook him and get it over with..” Both fire benders cocked a hand back, then the water exploded..

A fraction of a second before the fire benders launched their attack Sun brought his staff down. Using his shoulder as a fulcrum he whipped the heavy rod into the water in a blur. This sent a thin wall of water into the air just as the fire benders released their bursts. When the fireballs impacted the wall there was a hiss and a blast of steam that covered the area, they then continued slightly weaker to blast a hole in the bamboo fencing.

At first it seemed as if Sun had been vaporized until his staff smashed into the lead fire benders helmet causing him to drop like a sack of potatoes. Sun who had used the sudden haze of steam to mask his flipping strike landed with a roll, “Git runnin!” he called before driving his heel into the groin of the nearest soldier. In the heavy steam Sun and the soldiers were all but screened from the earthking and his bear.

[earthking]

Hidden amidst the steam, His Majesty remained where he stood there in the open, still perplexed by Sun. Truly, Sun was his rescuer and now protector.

He listened to the steam-hidden scuffle further; shouts and roaring blasts or fire and Sun's staff slamming dents into meta. lI wish there was something I could do, thinking to himself as he continued to remain in the pool rather than running.

"Umphf!" The Earth King's body suddenly pitched forward then felt himself landing on something soft. He was then lifted into the as Bosco emerged from the water underneath him. "Bosco?!" The soaked bear groaned in response and began clambering out of the pool with the Earth King atop his back. "Wait! Bosco! Our clothes!" Cried his Majesty, feeling rather indecent in just a towel. Bosco let out another growl and charged towards the bamboo privacy screen that lead to the pool's entrance.

A firebender had turned around and barely discerned them amidst the steam. "Ha—ohcrap ohcrap ohcrap—"

"What?!" Another firebender rushed to the first's side, just in time to glimpse a soggy bear barreling its way towards them. "Oh..." He muttered disappointingly and closed his eyes just before he went hurtling through the air.

"Oooh no," His Majesty groaned and gripped the soaked fur tightly in the balls of his fist and ducked his face into it as Bosco bowled through the firebending soldiers followed by a bamboo wall that served as privacy screening and entryway to the pool. He felt he would fall of his companion as they plowed through and Bosco crashed to halt when encountering the clothing cubby holes along a wall.

The Earth King slid down and scrambled for his, Bosco's and Sun's clothing, messily gathering them in his arms. He turned around and almost called for Sun. Did so but his voice was too meek to reach over the continued sounds from the scuffle. Bosco growled and nosed His Majesty in the ribs for them to continue their escape.