Welcome to 'The Lion and the Ox'! This story will complete the trilogy that I have been writing for the past six years (Yes, Six!). I hope you guys are excited because I sure am!

In this story, our favorite lion, tiger, and panda bear trio will face their toughest opponent yet. I strongly recommend you read the two predecessors to this story ('The Lion and the Leopard' and 'The Lion and the Peacock') if you haven't already.

I have watched and taken plenty of notes on the movie and, like the previous stories, this one will deviate from the plot. Although I will try to maintain some adherence to the original movie plot (Shifu retiring, Li arriving to the Valley, The Five vs. Kai etc.), it may take several chapters and some divergence before we see that.

This story will likely contain entire chapter-long battles, plot twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat, main characters who will lead the fight for their lives, side characters who don't mess around, and a villain who will stop at nothing to achieve the ultimate destruction of all who oppose him. Many of the characters we have met so far will come together for the ultimate showdown of good vs. evil in the epic conclusion we've all been waiting for! So buckle your seat belts, ladies and gentlemen, and let's get this show on the road!

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The last thing Alpha saw before he died was Shui's lovely face. He saw her beautiful blue eyes, and the tears that fell from them. Alpha smiled weakly up at her. {My only regret} he thought, {is that I can not raise my child with you.} The commander lifted his arm up to her, and he gently held her cheek in his. He felt his strength fade, and he knew it was time. He had to let go.

That was when darkness swirled in his face, blocking out his senses and environment. His paw fell and hit the wooden bridge with a thump. The pain in his body seemed to fade. Alpha let this sensation sweep over him.

Despite the seemingly endless amount of black surrounding him, Alpha gazed around. Was this death? He didn't feel any more pain. In fact, he didn't feeling anything. Was he upright? Or was he on his back, in the same way he died? Where did his body begin? Or end, for that matter? His one good eye strained, trying to find anything- any light, any people, any thing that would give him an idea of where he was.

Hours seemed to pass with nothing happening. {Is this how I'll spend eternity?} He sighed sadly at the thought. Would he ever see Shui again? Or the pack? He closed his good eye in sadness- not that that made any difference, he still couldn't see anything in the darkness.

"You won't spend eternity in the dark if you open your eyes." A voice said out of the darkness.

Alpha opened his eye and nearly gasped. The environment had changed! The scenery, instead of being as black as the void, was now a deep red. He was in a circular room, made of deep red bricks. Alpha was indeed on his back. He moved to stand up.

When the wolf was on his feet, he thought he would feel the pain that Tigress had inflicted on him. But Alpha felt no pain as he stood. He examined himself and saw that many of the deep slashes and bite marks still littered his body. They were red, but not bleeding. In fact, it seemed like they were glowing. {That's weird.} He thought.

When Alpha looked around, he was confronted by an dark brown ox and a light grey horse. They were both clad in deep red- almost black- armor. Both of them carried large spears.

Alpha stared at the two and gathered his strength to speak, "D..Did you read my mind?" He rasped. His mouth felt dry, like it was full of cotton, and his tongue felt swollen.

The ox snorted, "Yes. We have that power. Now that you are standing, come with us."

The two guards- Alpha assumed they were guards by their armor- turned and pushed open a heavy door on one side of the room. Alpha stumbled after them. When the large door was opened, a blaze of heat swept across Alpha's fur.

In front of him spanned a massive bridge. Even when Alpha squinted his eye, he couldn't see the end of the bridge. A red haze fell over everything. Torches with red fire lit up the bricks on the bridge. Behind him, Alpha saw that the circular room he had 'arrived' in was lit with torches.

But what spooked Alpha was not the visuals. It was the sounds. Shrieks, cries and pained moans flowed up from under the bridge. A bolt of realization hit Alpha. He stopped in his tracks and looked at the ox and horse in front of him, "I am in Diyu, aren't I?"

They both nodded their heads, but none of them turned to look or talk to him. They simply continued walking towards the bridge.

Alpha gulped sadly. Diyu, the underworld, was where souls went to be judged. Alpha had never listened to that stuff very much, but he had heard stories of the souls of criminals who spent eternity being tortured for their crimes. He wished he had listened more.

He followed them onto the brimstone bridge- which was wide enough for several elephants to walk side-by-side on. Alpha looked over the edge of the bridge, only to see the same red haze that lingered like fog. Screams rose from said red haze, and Alpha whined. He caught up to the two guards, who had lowered their spears to their sides, "Please don't let this be my fate." He cried, "I have a wife-"

"You can let King Yama decide your fate." The horse whinnied, "He alone decides what will be done with your soul. But only the worst of criminals spend eternity here."

Alpha felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. Alpha had knowingly committed murder, destruction of homes, and theft for the sake of Shen's cause. He listened quietly to the pained moans rising from the pit that the bridge spanned. Is this what he was doomed to?

After another hour of walking quietly and listening to the tortured wails coming from below, the end of the bridge was finally in sight. The first thing Alpha saw, however, was a line. A line of what seemed like a hundred other animals were waiting in front of a large door. The wolf moved ahead of the ox and horse, craning his neck to see how many animals waited ahead of him.

Alpha hadn't noticed that the ox and horse disappeared behind him- possibly to fetch the next soul- and the wolf moved to join the end of the line. He stopped behind a large ram.

The wolf tapped the ram on the shoulder, "What are we waiting in line for?"

The ram turned around, revealing a large cut across his chest- giving a tell-tale clue as to how he died. Alpha nearly recoiled, but held his composure. The ram spoke, "We are going to see King Yama for judgement. I hope I get to go to Heaven." The ram sighed wistfully.

Alpha's ears perked up, "Wait? We can go to Heaven? I thought we are stuck here for good."

The ram shook his head, "I was always told if you are good in life, King Yama will open the gates of Heaven for you. But if you are sinister, you must carry out your sentence before he opens the gates for you."

"Sentence? So we don't have to spend eternity here in Diyu?" Alpha felt a glimmer of hope in his chest.

"I hope not!" The ram laughed wholeheartedly. Alpha chuckled nervously along. The ram looked at Alpha, scanning his body,

"Geez, buddy, what happened to you?" The ram gestured to, well, all of Alpha.

Alpha looked down at his body. He remembered Tigress lunging at him. She unleashed a fury unlike anything Alpha had ever seen- and it killed him. The criss-crossed slashes and circular teeth marks glowed red in the dark light.

"Got on the bad side of a tiger." Alpha chuckled and shrugged. The ram's eyes widened, but before he could ask anymore questions, Alpha interrupted, "What about you?" Alpha asked, glancing at the knife-like wound on the ram's chest.

"A burglar broke into my home." The ram answered simply, "I was protecting my family. I hope they are ok." He sighed, brushing his hoof over the wound on his chest. Alpha nodded sadly. He suspected none of his wolves were the cause- they had all been in the battle- but he nodded along with the ram,

"My wife was there when I died..." Alpha sighed, "She's carrying my child. I only hope she and my child are ok."

The ram nodded in understanding. As the two souls talked, the line moved along. Alpha never revealed his life crimes or the minute details of his death- for fear that his newfound friend would shun and turn his back on the him. Alpha turned and looked over his shoulder, but, instead of seeing the bridge that he just crossed, he saw a line of animals which disappeared into the familiar red haze. He didn't see anybody he knew. {China is a large country. There are probably people dying all the time that I don't know about.} Alpha thought.

He sighed in relief. If he didn't see any of his pack, that meant none of them died, right? Although a selfish part of Alpha's brain wished he hadn't been killed, he was satisfied that he took the fall instead of Shui or any of his other packmates. He turned back to the ram, who was telling a story from his mortal life.

The small talk continued until the two were at the front of the line, near the doors. The doors themselves were about twice as tall as Alpha, and two antelope guards stood guard. When it was the ram's turn. He sent a toothy grin to Alpha,

"Wish me luck, haha!" He laughed. Alpha smiled. The antelope guards wordlessly opened the doors. Alpha suddenly called out after him,

"Wait! I forgot to ask for your-" The doors slammed shut, "name." Alpha fell quiet awkwardly. He sighed quietly. Now he might never see that ram again. If Alpha ever got to go to Heaven, he would be sure to seek out his new friend.

"Is it that important to get one animal's name?" A raspy voice snorted behind him.

Alpha, even though he only knew the ram for what seemed like a few hours, felt his ears pin to his head. The ram had seemed like a nice man, who died defending his family. Alpha turned, ready to confront this naysayer, when he was met with a shock of white, starkly contrasting the red of the brimstone around him.

Shen stood there, a wicked smirk on his beak. Alpha's jaw fell, "L-Lord Shen...!" He stuttered for words, "I didn't even...see you!"

The white peacock gazed at the wolf loftily, "For some reason, many of these people, peasants really, let me pass by them. I guess they wanted me to go before them." The prince smirked, almost satisfied that he had found Alpha here.

Alpha shook his head in disbelief, "Wait-wait, you died? In the battle, sir?"

Shen visibly bristled. He glared at Alpha, "If I were still alive I wouldn't be here now would I?" He growled.

Alpha nodded quietly. {Many people let him pass by them...} He thought as he tried not to stare at the white peacock, {because they know him. They fear him.}

The doors were hauled open by the antelope guards. {That was quick} Alpha gulped nervously. {King Yama probably let that ram into Heaven.} Alpha cast one last look at Shen, who glared at him. He took a step into the large doors, and turned to face whatever awaited him.

Alpha thought he would be in a large throne room, with King Yama's big booming voice reigning judgement upon him with a flaming sword. However, instead of all of that, he was in what looked like a humble study. The room was not elaborately decorated. Torches were placed in the center of the walls, giving adequate lighting. Scrolls were scattered here and there, some opened, some sealed shut with wax. A map of Asia was pinned on one wall, with many major cities marked, not just in China. At the very back of the room, a golden sword with a red hilt was enclosed in a glass case.

In the center of the room was a simple wooden desk and chair. Sitting at that desk, Alpha saw King Yama himself, who was a tall, dark buffalo with horns that curled and branched in an elaborate pattern. When Alpha looked closer, he saw that his horns almost resembled a crown. Every tip of his horns, whether they faced the ceiling or the floor, were a shimmering gold.

Alpha gulped. The buffalo, who was larger than any creature that Alpha had ever seen, seemed out of place. He looked like he belonged in the battlefield leading an army to victory, not sitting at a desk.

"Step forth." King Yama said, looking down in a book that was open on the desk. His voice, although not booming, was deep and commanding. Alpha obeyed out of pure fear. This creature- this king- held his soul's fate in his hooves; Alpha did not dare entertain the thought of what would happen if he disobeyed.

"I am Alpha." The wolf said, trying to remain polite and humble, "I am-"

"I know who you are." Yama looked up from his book. His eyes were a deep green, as green as the moss that grew in the jungles of India. They bore into Alpha's one crimson eye, as if searching his soul. Alpha glanced about as Yama continued, "You are Prince Shen's military commander. You died in battle. You have a wife, who shall soon bear your child, and a pack of wolves who follow you loyally. Am I wrong?"

The buffalo was spot on. Although Yama has shown no signs of anger or aggression towards Alpha, the wolf knew better than to challenge him, "You are right, sir."

"I am also to believe you aided Prince Shen in the slaughter of a village of peaceful farmers. You have destroyed homes and lives. You've taken property that doesn't belong to you. You attempted to kidnap a child. Am I also wrong?" King Yama looked at him, one eyebrow raised.

Alpha shifted nervously. Yama had him backed into a corner, and he had only been in the room less than five minutes. Alpha stood tall and nodded resolutely, "You are right, sir, although I would like to add one thing."

King Yama looked exasperated, "The only thing missing from your list of crimes is rape, Alpha. If I were you, I wouldn't do that to yourself."

Alpha shook his head, "No, your Majesty, that is not what I meant. In the hours before I died, I have changed. I planned on leading my wolves to a quiet village to live on our own. I- my pack- would have left Shen in the dust, sir. I had realized the error in my ways. If I had not died in that battle, I would have abandoned Shen- killed him if I had to...but someone beat me to it." Alpha glanced back at the door, where Shen was probably waiting impatiently.

King Yama groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose, "So you would have committed treason and mutiny? Is that what I am hearing?"

Despite the mounting pressure, Alpha nodded, "Yes, King Yama."

With a sudden smirk, Yama nodded, "Good. I know Shen is next in line. I am sure he would love to hear that. His judgement will be an absolute field day." The king groaned, almost as if he were tired, "Now," Yama sighed, "you do not belong in Heaven, at least not right now. The only way to get into Heaven from Diyu is to earn your way out." Yama then added quietly, "Either that or force your way out."

"Force my way out?" Alpha questioned, "How do I do that- not that I'm not planning to or anything..I was just wondering." The wolf added. Yama huffed,

"Only someone with a lot of chi is powerful enough to leave Diyu on their own. Besides, the only way out of Diyu is through this office. You are not a master of chi, and I will not let you leave until your sentence is over."

"You can tell how powerful someone is?" Alpha asked quietly while Yama searched for a certain scroll. The buffalo nodded,

"I am only a judge on inner power. Many call it chi. You may be powerful physically, but you are not trained in the art of chi." Yama glanced around his desk, opening scrolls and shutting them with an angry snort.

"How will you know when my sentence is over?" Alpha asked. The large buffalo gave him an exasperated look, as if he were tired of all the questions. Alpha whined quietly, but King Yama answered.

"I've been sitting at this desk for 600 years. I know everything that happens down here." He snorted menacingly. Alpha's eye widened and he nodded quickly. Yama then smirked and added on, "I have a scroll which keeps a countdown of everyone's sentence. I have scrolls for everything. It makes my job easier." The buffalo chuckled heartily.

Alpha didn't know whether or not Yama was joking or not. He nervously laughed along, and gazed at the floor. {That probably explained all of the scrolls scattered around} The wolf thought. Yama suddenly found the scroll he was searching for. He opened it, gazed at it for several moments, and placed it facing Alpha. As Alpha looked at the scroll, Yama spoke,

"You have committed heinous crimes, Alpha. However, I have seen your soul and your innermost desires. You only want what is best for your family. You did indeed plan on abandoning Shen, who has led you down a path of darkness. As good as your final intentions in life were, I must not let your previous actions go unpunished. Your soul shall spend twenty years in Diyu. After that, you will return here and we will talk about either Heaven or rebirth."

Alpha nodded sadly. That was what was written on the scroll. It was exactly what he deserved. Yama gave Alpha a quill, which dripped with ink, "Sign the scroll, and your sentence shall begin." An idea popped into Alpha's head.

"What happens if I don't sign it?" Alpha looked at Yama curiously.

"We shall spend eternity in this office. Time flows differently in here. I may spend a hundred years waiting for you to sign your twenty-year scroll, but for the people outside," Yama gestured to the door, "it will only take five minutes, and I am a very patient buffalo." The King said, a dark smirk on his face. Alpha nodded in defeat. There was no wiggling out of this one.

He gently took the quill out of Yama's hooves and, with a deep sigh, signed his name on the bottom of the scroll.

δΈ»

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And here is our prologue! It is kind of long, but I didn't want anyone to be disappointed. We now know that Alpha and Shen, although dead in the mortal world, are alive in Diyu. Plus, King Yama has mentioned only a master of Chi is powerful enough to escape from Diyu! I wonder what that means . . . . ah, well! This story is new! Be sure to favorite, follow and review! Positive feedback and constructive criticism is my best motivator!