r/ATLA • u/Jaymac720 • 1d ago
Discussion How long would Iroh and Zuko have stayed in Ba Sing Se if Azula hadn’t overthrown the government?
In the beginning of “The Guru,” Zuko seemed downright happy to be with Iroh at the Jasmine Dragon and living in their apartment in the upper ring. Would he have stayed in that state indefinitely, or do you think he would eventually have snapped out of it and gone back to who he was before?
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u/Suitable-Pirate-4164 1d ago
If that had to happen then Azula needed to lose to Suki. That doesn't stop Katara from encountering Zuko and Iroh. So probably the same time except both are prisoners or both are on the run again.
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u/OriginalLie9310 1d ago
Yeah there’s 2 scenarios:
The Gaang runs into them during invasion planning as they’re both in the upper ring and likely to run into each other. This probably happens, considering the tea shop is popular and they would be there planning for a substantial amount of time.
They stay concealed for an indeterminate amount of time. Depending on how the invasion goes they may learn the fire nation has lost, or the invasion has failed. If the invasion fails then the fire nation may try to raze Ba Sing Se to the ground during the comet and they may fight in defense of the city or try to escape. Perhaps their fighting to defend Ba Sing Se earns them forgiveness and Zuko returns to the throne in the fire nation if somehow the fire nation is toppled.
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u/Sonicrules9001 15h ago
Assuming that Azula never invades Ba Sing Se, Zuko and Iroh would probably remain in the city pretty much forever perhaps hearing about the invasion plans and maybe even joining the Gaang in helping if enough time has passed. The biggest reason Zuko switched sides is because he didn't have enough time to appreciate what he had and took the opportunity presented to him that seemed to be everything he ever wanted.
Plus, I can only imagine the Gaang's reaction if Kuei did actually invite Zuko and Iroh to have some of their tea and then told them about how this nice man with a giant scar and a fat man were the best tea makers he has ever had the pleasure of inviting to his home.
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u/CryptidGrimnoir 5h ago
Just imagine Toph being delighted to meet Iroh again while Zuko is terrified.
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u/Sonicrules9001 5h ago
Honestly, could be a fun what if story given the setup is all there and it could make for some good character interactions with the right writer.
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u/KiroLV 1d ago
If Azula doesn't take Ba Sing Se and Katara doesn't discover them, I'd expect until they got news of the success or failure of the invasion on the Day of the Black Sun. What the news is, depends on what actually happens in Ba Sing Se, but I think either ending to that would spur Zuko to act in some way.