Ty lee was so much like aang in her demeanor and i truly beleive she could have occupied a similar role for zuko.
Specifically in being the light that makes his lofty ambitions seem more plausible.
The idea of mastering, truly mastering fire bending, enough to stand up to his fathers skill, and to find validation in doing so that doesnt hinge on the approval and acceptance of his father. Doing so in a way that doesn't finally fulfil his fathers life long goals for him to finally be a bender worth his time, but instead to seperate his bending, the way he uses it, and the way he thinks about it from his father.
To make his fire come from a place of spiritual peace and control, from a place that fulfills himself instead of being fulled by anger and resentment and the deep want to be strong enough for his father.
That is a lofty ambition for a teenager. To completely rewrite thier relationship with themselves, thier lives, and the way they think.
And then to defeat his father and take rule of the nation. To be the lord it needed.
That is where Ty lee would have been invaluable. Changing the fire nation so completely. Rewriting its history to more accurately reflect the truth. Seizing political power. And making real fundamental lasting change.
Thats a fuckin mountain of a job that literally cannot be completed within his lifetime. It'll take generations for the nation to heal over completely. And Ty lee of all people would have supported him better.
Would have looked at all the good he wanted to do and told him of course he could. A woman familiar with hard work as she was she would have helped. Been involved every step of the way. Keeping his spirits up and executing his ambitions.
Her large and affluent family put to use for the cause.
Her gentle and observant nature able to read him. To know when he was pushed too far, spread too thin. And able to pull him back together.
A firelady that would know what the lowest levels of her nation looked like. Acted like. How the really vulnerable people lived.
A woman who could even reasonably blend into the croud should the need arise even with a very famous face.
With expirience as a spy, a sabotour, a working girl. She could have made a real difference in the fight against Ozai's loyalists.
Would have kept Mai around as well so whatever benefits she brought with her would still be secured.
Would have helped with Zukos greif over his sister. Would have kept betternin touch with the gaang. Would have made a charming figure head gor diplomatic relations. Would win iver the earth kingdom with her charm.
Ty Lee is the kind of girl who understands choosing who you want to be and working fucking hard to be that person. She understands the burden and sacrifice of family. She understands the journey that Zuko went through the get where he is when he's crowned.
She was the clear choice all along.
She would have been a symbol, that all that good that Zuko had discovered out in the world on his journey. That could exist in the fire nation too. That his people were not beyond redemption. That everything aang stood for, evefything he symbolized for Zuko, his nation had that too. A true goodness that he could cultivate.
