This started as an idea that popped into my head during my American History class while my instructor was going on about differing views of the Founders and all that... I took the fictional license in naming the Dragons and so on. I don't quite see how Sozin could have beat a dragon, but this is what my mind led me to and I chose to go with it. So sad that it seems to have happened, considering the idea he came up with to kill dragons for glory-though in my opinion he just said that to get people rallied up to do it. He had darker incentives behind the plan that he just never told anyone about. I'm under the belief that their philosophy that fire should not be fueled by hate and anger, and that it shouldn't be used to really destroy anyone-in a sense-led them to losing against firebenders. D: Poor Dragons. (Also, I'm going on the basis of my other story, "The Shells of the Past", in that dragons can communicate to humans with their minds. In the case of Ran and Shao, they were OLD, so they could transmit actual words. In Ju-Long's case, he's rather young for a dragon, so he can only transmit images and feelings.)

Ju-Long had had a choice; the pretentious young Fire Lord, or the veracious Avatar, and he'd made his decision, leaving An—or the soon to be dubbed "Fang"—to the other.

Sozin held a deep desire for change, for a fantastic new future, and it was that hunger that had lured the great Master to him.

He'd chosen him for his inner fire, as bright and warm as the sun; he'd chosen him for his passion that blazed bright, the ambition that shone in his eyes. Ju-Long had chosen him because the man's spirit was identical to his own, or as identical as a human soul could be to a dragon's.

He'd presented himself to Sozin; passed on images of loyalty, alliance, and kinship. From then on he had been at the man's side, watching things unfold with minute indifference. He provided counsel on occasion, though for the most part remained silent.

Over the years, a change began to occur in Ju-Long's chosen consort. The passion led to transgression, the ambition to intemperance. The central flare in the man was kindling into that of a tyrant, distorting into something unrecognizable but ugly. Yet Ju-Long's love for the man that had grown over the years made him ignorant to these changes. He chose to overlook them.

He was there when Sozin saw the volcanic disturbance in the distance, felt a twinge of pride and assurance when the man put aside the past grudges between himself and the Avatar and chose to go see if his old friend was all right. The dragon didn't bother to notice the contemplative silence Sozin was in the whole way there.

He was there when Sozin beckoned to him from the ground, and he willingly came to allow the man onto his back, and it was only as he was soaring away from the carnage that he realized what the man was doing—had done. He felt the snuffing of both An's life and the Avatar's, and his spirit keened for the lost soul he was now associated with.

For years he held his silence, the anger and anguish building inside. Sozin had committed an unforgivable sin—two unforgivable sins. He had murdered the Avatar, and Ju-Long could not forget the death of his fellow, An. But Sozin had done it for a reason, stood behind this belief, so could Ju-Long really fault him for it?

And then it happened: the decree for the genocide of the Air Nomads; the condemning deed that the dragon could not ignore. The hurt that had been building in him for so long finally came out. Sozin went to board him and he backed away, roaring. He had to right the wrong he had committed by allowing this to get as far as it had. He was a dragon, and while Sozin had been his friend, his first duty was to his kind—and to the world and its balance. Fire was not supposed to be used in the manner Sozin had planned.

He stood where he was, denying Sozin access, and the man stood there, wrinkled face stretched in shock that quickly fell to a mangled look of anger as Ju-Long passed onto him his feelings and intent. Pictures of the sun, of life, of the true meaning of firebending and the punishment for abusing the element, were all conveyed. With each, Sozin's face grew angrier.

"The Nomads are weak," the man said. "And the Avatar would once again try to stand in my way. We of the Fire Nation are blessed with power and prosperity. We cannot just sit back and allow our gift to die. Firebending is power—we will adhere to the old ways no longer."

The fight that followed was staggering. Those at the palace who were witness to the spectacle later testified to seeing their Lord fight like a dragon himself. Flames as wide as buildings and as hot as the sun blazed all around without ceasing, burning anything in their wake to ash. Dragon and man were caught in a duel to the death, neither giving in and each giving as much as they had. Colors of red, yellow, and orange burned into the minds of everyone watching. The only difference was that the dragon did not want to kill the man.

Then the final blow was struck—Ju-Long fell. He watched through vision fading to red as his former ally came to stand over his dying body. The old man was panting, rivers of sweat running down his face ,and his robes were soaked through with persperation-or what might have been blood.

"How can creatures so powerful," Sozin said, "follow a philosophy so weak?" He held solemnity in his tone as he gazed down at Ju-Long, who found that each ragged breath he took sent daggers of hot pain all through his body. Then the Fire Lord bowed. A deep bow, reverential; for a worthy foe? When he straightened, he said, "I must rid the world of such weak traditions. Along with the Air Nation, the dragons will fall. We, the Fire Nation, will prove to one and all our might and power—that our ways are the only ways."

The Fire Lord continued speaking, but at this point Ju-Long could no longer hear him. The man's voice was reverberating, nothing but a loud hum that was growing fainter. Red clouded the great beast's vision until all he could see was fire, all he could feel was fire. Then he was drowning… drowning in red.