Looking at this room. You would be excused to think this was just a perfectly normal and harmless little tea time between three very young people.

A young man. A boy. And a guy who was somewhere in between. Not really a boy anymore but neither a man just yet. All just sitting having a nice, calm, pot of tea.

They were even very friendly towards each other, chatted like ordinary people. They just happened to be the three most powerful people in the world drinking tea!

King Kuei of the earth kingdom. Fire Lord Zuko of the fire nation and Avatar Aang… The Avatar. Who was there to act as a neutral mediator between the two kingdoms as they had these peace talks.

Since Aang was someone who was neither fire nation or earth kingdom it always seemed appropriate.

You could of course also always invite someone from one of the water tribes, but they tended to be biased against the fire nation… For quite obvious reasons.

It did though help that the two young rulers actually got along as people and even as friends, and enjoyed their sharing of tea.

"Ah. How lovely." Kuei smiled as he lowered the cup from his lips. "You have outdone yourself Fire Lord Zuko."

"Thank you." Zuko replied. "I tried mixing some herbs from the earth kingdom which a fire nation flower. I thought they might go well together and they did." he smiled. "Do you want some of the blend? You can have it with you home."

"I would like that." Kuei smiled then halted as he reached into his pocket and found a gift wrapped in golden paper. "I heard it was your birthday last week." he commented. "Forgive me. It is not easy to find out what to give to the fire lord." he said as he put the gift on the table.

Zuko smiled amused. "Thank you that's very kind. You didn't have to." he said.

"I don't have a lot of friends." Kuei reminded Zuko. "Those I have. I want to show that I appreciate them. And yes, while it could be considered a gift between a king and a fire lord. I would rather that it's just a gift between friends."

Aang beamed. "That's so nice! I like that idea a lot. You picked it out yourself?" he asked.

"I did." Kuei said. "Again though. Wasn't easy! What do you give someone whom is already so rich?"

"That is quite the conundrum." Zuko had to admit as he unwrapped the gift and was left with… A brush. It mostly looked like an ordinary hair brush but with a golden handle. Zuko already had that though. This one was a little bit different, the brushes themselves seemed to be tougher and the head smaller than on Zuko's hair brush. "Thank you." he said while still being very mystiefied over the gift. "That's a very nice brush." he said.

"It's a preening brush! For your turtleduck!" Kuei beamed and Zukos eyes widened.

"Oooooh!" He realized. "You know. I never thought of that! That's a good idea. Lin-Lin will love it!"

"I bet!" Kuie beamed. "Boscos favorite time is his brush time! Always!"

"Same for Appa!" Aang grinned.

Now Zuko smiled very genuinely. "Thank you so much. This will be very useful!"

And Kuei beamed. "I hope you had a good birthday."

Zuko sighed. "You know how it is. I had to attend a big banquet. But it wasn't really for me. It was for all those nobles and important people who likes to make a big deal out of it." he rolled his eyes. "Thankfully. Part of Mais gift was that she rescued me before I got bored to death." he grinned. "Aaand… The rest of my present was nice to." he grinned slightly into his cup.

"I never found out." Aang gaped. "What did she give you?!" he asked.

"When you're older Aang." Zuko simply said and Aang pouted. "The day after was great though. The old team came by and we all went out together."

Kuei smiled then he cleared his throat. "I would love to hear more about it later. For now though, we must talk business."

Zuko nodded solemnly. "We run into quite a snack in regards to the de-colonisation of the earth kingdom." he said. "We agreed to the terms. There are indeed people considered fire nation who has now been born and grown up within the earth kingdom. Those people were giving a choice. They can either return to the fire nation or become earth kingdom. We agreed on this. You and I."

Kuei nodded. "Yes."

"The people who rules the city Yu Dao. A fire nation founded city thinks this is unfair." Zuko said. "The city was the first fire nation colony founded ninety-four years ago. Over the years it has grown a big and prosperous city with its own infra structure and people who's gran parents were the actual first arrivals. They have never set foot on fire nation shores, yet consider themselves fire nation and feels it's unfair that the earth kingdom will just take the houses their gran parents build and the land they cultivated."

Kuei frowned deeply. "That city is on earth kingdom territory." he said. "You said it yourself. It was the fire nations first colony. The land was conquered and stolen. It belongs to us."

"Yes it was conquered." Zuko said. "Almost a hundred years ago! And what has been cultivated there since belongs to the people." he said. "It is my opinion that the fire nation should be allowed to keep this piece of land."

"You can't be serious." Kuei frowned. "The council five would never allow it. We were promised our lands back. This is one of our greatest cities and you wish to keep it? Half of those citizens are earth kingdom! Those colonies are a constant reminder of the hardship my people endured. That's why we must get rid of them!"

"That city was founded by fire nation!" Zuko argued. "The buildings were made by fire nation hands! The land was cultivated by hard working fire nation farmers! You would just rob them of what they made? With their own hands?"

"No. They just have to agree to become earth kingdom." Kuei said. "If they do not wish that. They may return to the fire nation."

"I told you. Many of them have never set foot on fire nation shores!" Zuko huffed.

"We already agreed on the terms." Kuei said. "Isn't that correct Avatar?" he asked.

"Hmmm." Aang frowned a deep wrinkle showing in his forehead. "What does the people living in the city think?" he asked.

That made both Kuei and Zuko halt.

"I mean. Those living in the city are the ones who would be effected right?" Aang asked. "Shouldn't they decide?"

Both Kuei and Zuko blinked then they looked at each other.

"What if…" Zuko halted. "We arrange a meeting with the mayor of the city?" he asked. "We'll go to meet him. In the actual city. Try to get a better understanding of what the citizens feels and then.. perhaps we could make it a peoples vote?"

Kuei nodded. "Yes… Yes that seems very reasonable." he had to admit.

"Have you guys considered that maybe the answer is that they should be neither earth kingdom or fire nation?" Aang asked. "They could become their own new land. Like Omashu is its own kingdom within the earth kingdom."

"I mean…" Zuko hesitated. "I guess that could work. If that is what the city want. It already does have a pretty solid infra structure independent of the fire nation. That probably also explains why they don't want to just turn earth kingdom. They would have to give up their way of self governance."

"I don't know." Kuei frowned. "It would still be a reminder to the rest of the earth kingdom."

"Let's just go and check out the place for ourselves." Aang grinned. "It'll be an adventure. A Team Avatar adventure!"

Kuie and Zuko looked at each other.

"I suppose there is no reason to talk further of this until we have seen the city for ourselves." Kuei commented.

"Agreed." Zuko nodded. Then smiled a little relieved and so did Kuei.

"Okay then buisness is over!" Kuei beamed. "So how was that birthday of yours? The fun one after the day of the banquet."

Zuko smiled. "It was great."

"We went to the beach!" Aang shouted happily. "The fire nation has the best beaches! And then in the evening we had this out door dinner and..."

Zuko lifted an eyebrow.

"Oh right. Zuko was going to tell." Aang grinned sheepishly.

"It's nice having just normal days." Zuko smiled softly. "I think it's pretty important to do that."

"Yeah." Kuei nodded. "Tell you a secret. I have also taken to sneaking out of the earth kingdom palace now and again." he whispered. "General How hates it." Kuei smirked and chuckled. "But how else am I going to find out what is actually going on in my city? I have to go see it for myself."

"Agreed." Zuko smiled warmly. "Also. Fire flakes just tastes best when you get them from a street vendor!"

"I know right. The street food is just so much better!" Kuei gasped. "I wonder why that is."

Aang blinked. "It's not really though… maybe it's because the two of you aren't that used to it?" he asked.

"Possible." Zuko smiled and Kuei grinned.