The War Council continued to be a pain, though things never got quite as heated as they had in that second meeting. Qin disagreed with Zuko on a lot of things, and he had support on many of them. Retreating so far was not popular, going for a lasting peace rather than a truce before regrouping and returning to the offensive wasn't popular, feeding Ba Sing Se wasn't popular... the whole thing gave him a headache. Still, the generals might be dragging their feet, but they were taking his orders.

The Civil Council was downright friendly and helpful, for the most part. Hina was proving to be priceless in terms of wrangling the Councils, and figuring out where the pitfalls were before he trod in them. He still wasn't sure he trusted her, especially about him needing to delegate more, but he was forced to lean on her knowledge anyway.

It was about three weeks later that he received word that Kuei had been found.

Hi Zuko,
we found Kuei. Not us specifically, he just showed up at a random Earth Kingdom military base in the middle of nowhere, and demanded transportation to Ba Sing Se. So we took him and Bosco to Ba Sing Se on Appa. Appa is still kind of suspicious of Bosco because he doesn't like bears, but Bosco was really well-behaved so it wasn't that bad.

Kuei had a few adventures while he was away. Turns out he wandered around for a few days, then got captured by Fire Nation soldiers, then got rescued by a splinter group of the Earth Kingdom Resistance. He spent the rest of the time until now hiding in one of their safe houses in some tiny village in the middle of the forest, and they only just found out that Ba Sing Se was free.

He's now back in the palace, and said something about sending you a letter, so expect that soon. He's totally fine with having peace, so I think we can now be pretty sure the War is actually over.

How are things going on your end? Are the generals giving you much trouble? Say hi to Sokka and Suki for me,

Aang

PS. Katara here. As Aang said, things are looking up now we've found the Earth King. I talked to your Uncle about the food situation, and it's looking like it will get pretty bad. Supply in the shops is a bit spotty. I've tried to emphasize to Kuei that he needs to prioritize that, and I think he got the idea, but there's been such a lot going on at once right now, that it's hard to concentrate on any one thing. The local nobles are all nattering about having a party to celebrate Kuei's safe return and the Fire Nation's defeat. Toph says Hi, and not to let the nobles get you down.

Stay out of trouble, and say hi to Sokka and Suki for me,
Katara

Dear Nephew,
things here in Ba Sing Se are mixed. I'm sure Aang and Katara have told you they've retrieved the Earth King. I am fine, and am glad to be able to start returning power to the proper authorities. The Council of Five just arrived; thank you for freeing them and sending them home.

Ba Sing Se has enough food for the next three months without big trouble. The main problems we have run into so far involve price increases, and panic buying leading to empty shelves. We have made more food available, and slapped on price controls and maximum amounts people can buy at once. There's now a black market for food, though prices on it so far are only twice the official price. We're keeping an eye on it.

I have reassured the Earth King and the Council that the Fire Nation will be sending food, but an exchange of letters between you and the Earth King with details would probably help tamp down the price speculation.

I'm not surprised Qin is giving you trouble. The man is very capable, but he knows it too well and is unforgiving of slights. If he starts getting out of hand, remember that anyone who reaches that level in politics has skeletons in their closets, and I know Ozai kept blackmail files on all his people.

I do not know Councillor Hina well. She has been in government for decades, but was always rather quiet on anything outside her own file. I was focused on the War. If she is being helpful and active outside her file, I cannot be sure of her motives. It could simply be that the food crisis in the Earth Kingdom has pushed her forwards, she might be feeling braver with the end of the War, or she may be seeking more power.

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

I am delighted to hear you've adopted a catowl! They make delightful pets, and I know Lu Ten was very fond of his. Be nice when you find dead lizardmice in your slippers in the morning, though. The cat means it as a gift, and at least it means that particular vermin won't get into the palace food supplies again.

Uncle

Zuko was relieved to hear they'd found the Earth King. The members of the War Council were less so, worrying that this might mean the Earth Kingdom getting its act together and becoming a threat to Fire Nation interests.

A week after Aang's letter about finding Kuei, Zuko received a letter from the Earth King.

From His Majesty Earth King Kuei, Lord of Ba Sing Se and 52nd King of Earth, to Fire Lord Zuko, Agni's chosen ruler of the Fire Nation, greetings.

Having newly returned to Ba Sing Se, and been made acquainted with your offer of food assistance to Ba Sing Se as partial recompense for the Fire Nation's unprovoked invasion and occupation of the Earth Kingdom, we accept your offer.

We offer safe passage to Fire Nation vessels bringing food to be unloaded at Half Moon Bay for this purpose.

As to your request to allow Fire Nation civilians and military forces to retreat from Earth Kingdom soil unmolested, this is hereby granted and will be made known to Earth Kingdom forces throughout the nation. We cannot be held responsible for the activities of civilians in underground resistance movements and informal militias, though offensive action on their part will be discouraged by us.

We do not agree to any transfer of land in the Earth Kingdom to the Fire Nation regardless of the current occupation of that land, or removal of natural resources from that land without prior agreement and payment.

In recognition of the current unsettled situation, and the need to concentrate on the welfare of our citizens, we agree not to attack Fire Nation Colonies and infrastructure located in the NorthEast Zone, and not to encourage informal militias and the Resistance to attack them either. This agreement only continues until the Winter Solstice, unless a date and time has been set for a formal peace conference for the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom to address the Earth Kingdom's grievances in these areas and others, such as reparations for the damage done to the Earth Kingdom over a hundred years of war.

With hopes for a lasting Peace and brighter future for both our peoples,

Earth King Kuei.

Since Zuko had every intention of holding that peace conference, he was relieved by the content of the letter. Where to hold it was going to be a pain, though. Neither Caldera nor Ba Sing Se's powerful would willingly concede hosting the event on the other's home turf, and holding it somewhere like Yu Dao would likely add insult to injury for the Earth Kingdom delegates and make them more intransigent. At least that problem wasn't immediate, though... unlike the food problem.

Hina was doing a stellar job of organizing the Fire Nation to produce more food, and use what they had efficiently. The first shipment, mainly rice, should be heading to the Earth Kingdom within the next month.

There were always issues cropping up, though, like when a typhoon hit Shu Jing, wrecked the main rice crop, and scuttled half the fishing boats while wrecking the dock. An expected surplus there suddenly turned into a need for emergency assistance. That also resulted in Piandow returning from Ba Sing Se, though his attention was likely to be focused on his own island.

Between the nightmares and his worries about whether he was doing a good job of running the Fire Nation, whether Qin and the generals were plotting something behind his back, and whether they were going to able to get sufficient food to the Earth Kingdom or not, it was really hard to sleep. The paperwork was giving him eyestrain, and the arguing was giving him headaches, neither of which helped his temper. Then he snapped at people, they got scared, and he felt like a total jerk.

He was starting to suspect Hina was hoping he'd marry one of her granddaughters. And on the too-rare occasion he got the chance to talk to Mai, they always ended up talking politics.