Kung-fu Panda

Title: The Lion and the Leopard by MissFirefly601

Synopsis:

Leo Lung is an asian lion. He lives in the Jade Palace and is a Kung Fu Master. He is apprenticed by Shifu, and a mentor to Tigress. Also, his brother is a criminal. Leo was raised alongside Tai Lung. When Tai Lung is sent to prison, Leo defies Shifu's direct orders and visits his brother one last time. What happens when he returns home? 

Genre - Hurt/Comfort & Friendship

Rated: T

Words: 77k+

Status: Complete 😊

Spoilers:

Chapter 1: Prologue

In any other circumstance, Lea would have loved to take her two young cubs on a moonlight walk through the mountains of China. The views were spectacular and the fresh, crisp, cool air was a great break from the stale air she breathed in the building where she had lived. But in fact, the circumstances were very different. She could feel the terror pumping in her veins.

Two months ago, Lea had fled from her native lands to escape her abusive husband, hoping for a better life in China. There she had met a kind snow leopardess who took her in. There, the lioness had lived with the snow leopardess and her own son, who was about half a year old. However, a disease had struck down the poor leopard, leaving only Lea and the two children.

Then, to make the lioness' situation worse, her husband had tracked her down and was bent on bringing her back to their native lands. Lea had gathered up snow leopard cub and the lion cub, wrapping them up in purple and green bundles (respectively), and fled without looking back.

Thunder boomed behind her. One of the cubs, the lion, squeaked and twitched in his sleep. Lea slowed to a trot and slipped to hide behind a tree. She nuzzled him and hummed a soft tune, a lullaby that often put him to sleep. The cub purred quietly.

"Please hush now, little one." She murmured. Lea hopped from behind the tree and kept running, trying to maintain her balance while holding the cubs. They seemed to gain weight with each step she took.

"Get back here!" A large, booming voice cried out from the darkness behind her, "You lying, unfaithful cat! Get back here now!" More shouts came from that direction, splitting the night air like a sword. Lea choked back a sob and her tail curled in fear.

Lea ran quickly, and soon crested a mountain. Her eyes then lit up with hope. A building! The idea of warmth, safety, and comfort led Lea to run as fast as she could with the two cubs. Soon, she could be safe from the evil cats that hunted her down.

As she drew closer, she thought this particular building looked oddly familiar. Was this the Jade Palace she had seen in books and paintings? Lea gasped in relief. Kung Fu masters lived here! They could offer her protection! Lea ran up to the doorstep. She cautiously placed both of the young babes in one arm.

"Help! Please, help us!" She cried out, banging on the door. She looked over her shoulder and saw that her pursuers were starting to descend from the mountain towards her. Growing desperate and with only one option on her mind, Lea gently placed both of her little cubs on the doorstep. Lea pounded on the door desperately one more time and ran from the entrance.

Lea ran around the corner of the building and stood with her back to the wall. But she got little rest. An angry roar and pounding footsteps made her snap her attention towards the forest nearby. They were heading to the Jade Palace! Towards her cubs! Lea ran away from the large building and up the hill.

Before her chasers could spot her cubs, Lea gave a loud, angry snarl. She heard the footsteps stop and that shouts subsided quickly as the leader of the group ordered everyone to be quiet. The male lions pursuing her swiveled their ears, trying to figure out where the sound came from. The golden lioness opened her mouth and shouted the name of the ringleader of the cats, her terrible husband,

"JIAN!"

"There she is! Up there!" More roars came in response and the group of angry cats charged, "Let's get her!" Jian shouted. Lea inhaled and fled to the top of the hill, having to resort to running on four paws to climb the steep mountain.

Just before Lea crested the mountain top and disappeared into the forest, she cast one last glance at her cubs, who were mere specks at the doorstep of the Palace. Someone was with them! The animal picked up one of the cubs while another one picked up the second one. Her cubs were safe!

Lea's attention to her cubs was broken as a vicious snarl came from below her. The ringleader of the lions, Jian, was right below her, only a few leaps away from her! Lea could see his claws gleam in the moonlight. Lea inhaled and ran off.

Her cubs were safe in the Jade Palace. They would learn to fight and defend themselves. They wouldn't live in fear of being killed by those they once trusted. Lea looked over her shoulder and saw that the vicious group of lions were still chasing her. Lea looked forward. Mountains lay ahead of her. Lea could see herself getting torn apart by the lions chasing her if she did not start running soon.

The lioness began to leap down the mountain. Going down the mountain was easier than scaling it, and the distance between her and her chasers began to slowly but surely grow. Lea's confidence grew. Maybe she would live to see tomorrow afternoon!

As she reached the valley, Lea turned and looked back to see how far she had made it. The lions were about halfway down the mountain. If she ran now, she could have a quick head start. Maybe she could even find a place to hide?

Lea glanced at the mountain range ahead of her. She had a long way to go. But, knowing her cubs were safe, she knew she could make it.

.

.

Shifu muttered to himself as he approached the entrance to the Jade Palace. His eye were half-lidded and his tail bushed in agitation.

He was meditating with his mentor, Master Oogway the Wise, when someone began pounding on the doors like there was no tomorrow. If it was some young hooligan causing trouble, the red panda would likely hang their pelt on the front gate. Shifu heaved the large doors open. The red panda glanced around. At first he saw nothing. His irritation grew, then he glanced at the ground.

Oh. Oh my Gods.

Shifu's eyes grew to the size of tea cups. He could not believe what he was seeing. Two little cubs lay bundled in blankets at the doorstep. One was a brownish gold asian lion wrapped in a green blanket with hints of golden fabric. The other was a silvery grey snow leopard darker spots in dark purple wrappings.

Shifu quickly called for a palace assistant. As the goose picked up the lion, Shifu gently took hold of the leopard. What was he going to do with these two cubs?

The red panda turned to reenter the palace when a flurry of roars sounded in the distance. Shifu's ears pricked up and he gazed into the dark that the cubs mother? Was she crying out to them one last time? Shifu was split on whether to carry the cubs inside or to find the animal that left these young children here.

Shifu shook his head. If the mother intended to leave her cubs here, then Shifu wouldn't press her decision. But he wondered what made her want to leave them so badly.

He turned and carried the snow leopard inside, while the goose carried in the lion cub,

"Master Shifu, if you don't mind me asking, what are you going to name them?" The goose asked, looking at the lion cub. Shifu furrowed his brow as he mulled over the goose's question. If he was going to adopt these cubs, or at least keep them here for the time being, he had to find out a name for them.

"Well, I have a feeling that they will grow to be powerful warriors. So I will name this one Tai Lung, and that one..Leo Lung." Shifu smiled. Yes, those would be suitable names.

A/N:

If you want more chapters, just search for the Title and the Author name!