The first few days after the Agni Kai were a bit overwhelming and rather hazy for Zuko. There were massive numbers of things that needed doing, but when he tried to get on with it, Katara threatened to tie him up if he didn't rest. To be fair, his body was also screaming at him, so she was probably right.
He started organizing things for his coronation, as well as giving orders to release political prisoners and to move prisoners of war to the Capital pending repatriation. He also ordered that no further military advances be made, and that troops were to return to defensible positions and hold until further orders were given.
He made special mention of Mai among the prisoners – he hoped she was okay, given how her betrayal must have infuriated Azula. Even if she was furious with him and thought him a traitor as well as 'that jerk who dumped me', he still owed her his life, and there was no way he would leave her in prison if she was still alive. Even if he wasn't entirely sure why she'd saved them.
Some of the former guards and palace staff returned, though the palace still seemed nearly deserted. Zuko knew some of them from before, of course, but many new faces had arrived during his exile. He hadn't been very outgoing during the short time he'd spent in the palace after his banishment, and before running off to help Aang end the war, either.
They received a hawk from their friends on the third day in.
Hi Katara, Zuko,
We won! And we're all alive. Aang defeated Ozai and removed his bending. I didn't know that was possible. Sokka, Toph and Suki took down the airships. Two were captured, the rest destroyed. We're all alive. Zuko, we got a message from your uncle. He's fine. Jeong Jeong is dead. Sokka has a broken leg, but is otherwise fine. He complains a lot.
I do not! Give me that
Anyway, Ba Sing Se is now free. The Fire Army set a lot of the crops in the agricultural zone on fire as they were kicked out, and there were substantial casualties there. Iroh hasn't give us details yet. Having that battle during Sozin's Comet may not have been such a good idea. Thankfully, we managed to stop the airfleet only a few km in from the coast in an uninhabited area, and Aang brought the sea in to put the fires out before they could spread all that far. That could have been so much worse.
We have not found the Earth King yet. We're hoping he'll come in once he hears, but White Lotus is also looking for him. We don't really know much about what's happening in the rest of the Earth Kingdom yet. Your uncle sounds really busy. The White Lotus is the closest thing the Earth Kingdom has to a government right now.
We'll be on our way shortly, in a captured airship. Do not shoot it. Hold on.
Aang, Sokka, Toph, Suki
PS. We've got your father with us, so you're going to need a secure place to put the Loserlord. Blame Sokka for the nickname.
What? Aang had taken Ozai's bending? How was it possible to take away his inner fire without killing him? Zuko wondered uneasily what state his father was in. He'd been prepared for him to die in combat, but this... and just what he was supposed to do with a genocidal ex-Fire Lord with no fire? The man would be a plot magnet, and if Zuko put one foot wrong as Fire Lord... it was very nice of Aang not to kill Ozai, but Zuko wondered if Aang had any idea what kind of problem he'd just saddled Zuko with.
And a hawk from Uncle on the fourth:
Dear nephew and soon-to-be Fire Lord,
I hope this message finds you and Katara well and safe. Ba Sing Se is now free. Piandow, Bumi, Pakku and I are fine, but Jeong Jeong sadly did not survive the battle. The Dai Lai have mostly been arrested, or doffed their uniforms and disappeared.
Unfortunately, the Fire Army burned most of the fields in the agricultural zone before they were forced out, and most of the wheat had not yet been harvested. We are going to be very short of food this winter. It isn't like Caldera or the equatorial parts of the Earth Kingdom where three crops of rice can be harvested in a year. They get 1 crop of wheat in a year, with maybe soybeans or a vegetable shoehorned in between the main crop and the winter. Wheat planted now won't be ready for harvest until next summer.
Longer term, the local earthbenders tell me that the intensity of fire driven by Sozin's comet has damaged the soil in the agricultural zone, and it will take years to fully repair the damage.
With all the fighting elsewhere in the Earth Kingdom, it is likely that the harvest will be poor nationwide, and Piandow tells me that the excessive conscription in the Fire Nation has resulted in labor shortages and too many fallow fields there. I don't know details about the Colonies, but it is likely similar to the Fire Nation. At least they are currently moving into their spring. If I were you, I'd make sure that you get some of those extra soldiers you're going to have out planting food as soon as humanly possible.
Both of us need to prioritize getting in whatever can still be harvested, and you and Kuei are going to have to plan how to get the northern Earth Kingdom through to the next harvest. Or there may well be famine in Ba Sing Se by early spring.
We are currently looking for the Earth King. I am hoping Kuei will come out once he hears of Ozai's fall and the Fire Army starts retreating from major parts of the Earth Kingdom. We need to find him soon. The Earth Kingdom really needs him as a symbol to hold everyone together.
With everything so unstable here, I cannot leave. Do not wait on your coronation – I am assuming all has gone well. You need the legitimacy as soon as possible. My teashop will also have to wait, alas!
I am so proud of you,
Uncle
The next day, a single airship arrived over Caldera, and landed in the airship field outside the city. Shortly thereafter, one flying bison landed in the main courtyard of the palace.
Zuko's guards were jumpy when told the Avatar had arrived. As they made their way slowly to the main courtyard, Captain Kenaro spoke up. "Are you certain of this, my lord?" he asked. "The Avatar defeated your father, and you say he took Fire L- Phoenix King Ozai's bending away." He visibly swallowed. "You may wish to consider your recent injuries. I am not sure we could defend you if he attacked, and the Fire Nation can't afford to lose another Fire Lord before you can even be crowned."
"Avatar Aang is my friend. He won't hurt me. I know you wouldn't be able to stop him, but he's had lots of opportunities to kill me. He may be a one-man army, but he's twelve and is only really dangerous to people who attack him or his friends. Or attack other people he is trying to protect. Um..." Zuko rubbed the back of his neck, "he might hug me. He tends to spontaneous hugs. Don't worry if he does. And Toph shows affection by punching people in the arm and calling them silly nicknames."
The head of his body guards stared at him with raised eyebrows, as if he couldn't quite believe his ears. He didn't say anything, though, so Zuko let it be.
Appa was in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded by his friends. Toph, Aang, Suki, Sokka was on crutches, but they were all there. And sitting glowering in Appa's saddle, Zuko's father. Zuko swallowed.
Aang raced towards Zuko and Katara, only to find Katara running towards Sokka, obviously intent on checking that her brother, and his broken leg, were okay. Aang turned. "Hi Zuko," he said brightly.
The guards tensed, and Aang stopped short, and bowed.
Zuko returned it, only to be grabbed in a hug. A careful one, that only made his chest twinge slightly. Zuko hugged Aang back, as Aang started chattering questions and the others came up.
"Yes, I got hit by Azula's lighting but Katara healed me. I'm not fully healed yet, but I'll be fine. Just don't hug me too hard. What happened to Sokka's leg?"
"We fell off an airship," said Toph. "I seriously thought we were going to die, but then we landed on another airship and Fans was there. Snoozle's leg broke, but he'll be okay. Complains a lot though, mostly about losing his space sword and boomerang." She gestured in Sokka's direction. "So, do you have somewhere to put the Loserlord?" Toph jerked a thumb at Ozai, who was still sitting slumped in Appa's saddle.
"Yes, he's going to the City Prison for now. I'll have him moved to Boiling Rock later."
"We got out of Boiling Rock," said Suki.
"It's still the most secure prison in the Fire Nation, once I can trust the people running it." Zuko's eyes strayed back to his father.
"He can't light a candle now, Zuko. He's not a threat anymore, and I didn't even have to kill him!" said Aang, his eyes shining.
Toph rolled her eyes slightly, but didn't say anything.
"Let's go get him sorted out," said Zuko. They walked back to Appa, collecting Katara and Sokka as they went.
Zuko looked up at his father, still seated on Appa's back and with his hands bound behind him. His long hair was a tangled mess, he was wearing a blanket with a hole for his head rather than a shirt, and he was covered in half-healed bruises. And his eyes were a flat, fireless yellow as they stared with hatred at Zuko. "You," was all his father said.
"Yes," said Zuko, looking away from that utterly wrong gaze. He turned to the guards. "Captain Kumaro, I want you to see that F- Ozai makes it safely to Capital City Prison."
"Fire Lord, you should not be unguarded, especially with foreigners present." Kumaro gave Aang a wary look.
"I am completely safe with the Avatar and my other friends. But you can leave Kuzon and Ming with me, if that would be more proper."
"Very well, my lord," said Kumaro. "Kuzon, Ming, guard the Fire Lord. The rest of you, we are taking the prisoner to the Capital City Prison."
The guards got Ozai down off Appa, and Kumaro marched him away. Zuko relaxed.
"So, are you officially the Fire Lord now?" asked Sokka. "Aren't you supposed to have a crown or something?"
Zuko laughed, then winced. "I'm getting crowned tomorrow. I'm glad you're all here for it. Uncle can't come. Ba Sing Se's too much of a mess, and he doesn't have fast enough transportation anyway. Why don't you all, er, come inside and have tea or something?"
"That sounds like an excellent idea," said Katara.