The Last March of the Golden Ox

In the heart of the Flowing Horse's Empire, where the rivers wove through the land like silver threads, there lived a Golden Ox, known far and wide for its strength and wisdom. This was a time when the empire was at the zenith of its power, and the Golden Ox was its most honored and revered creature. It was said that the Ox had made a solemn oath, one that would become the stuff of legend: to protect the empire and its people, come what may.

The story of the Golden Ox's last march to the capital begins on a day when the skies were heavy with the promise of rain, and the earth seemed to groan under the weight of a great change. The Ox, with its majestic horns and eyes that held the wisdom of ages, stood in the courtyard of the grand palace, the capital of the Flowing Horse's Empire.

The Ox's journey was not one of glory or of leisure. It was a solemn pilgrimage, a march that was to be its last. The emperor, a ruler of great foresight and compassion, had decreed that the Ox should lead the final rites for the empire. It was a burden of honor, but also a weight that few could bear.

As the Ox stepped into the grand avenue that led to the capital, the people gathered in awe. The streets were lined with citizens who had heard the tales of the Ox's bravery and loyalty. They whispered of the great creature that had saved the empire from a great drought, from invasions, and from the darkest of times.

The Ox's march was not just a physical journey; it was a journey of the heart. The Ox carried with it the memories of the empire's past, the triumphs and the sorrows. Its path was lined with monuments to the empire's greatness, reminders of the battles won and the lives lost.

As the march continued, the Ox encountered a group of oxen, who had been banished from the capital for their treachery. These oxen, once loyal to the empire, had turned against it, driven by greed and envy. They saw the Golden Ox as a symbol of everything they had lost and sought to destroy it.

The battle that ensued was fierce. The Golden Ox, with its boundless strength and unwavering loyalty, fought valiantly. But the treacherous oxen were cunning and many, and the battle took a toll on the great creature. The once proud oxen, now reduced to shadows of their former selves, were determined to bring down the Golden Ox and, with it, the very soul of the empire.

In the midst of the fray, the Golden Ox turned to face the leader of the treacherous oxen. The leader, a once-honored ox, had betrayed his people for the promise of wealth and power. "Why?" the Golden Ox asked, its voice a low rumble that echoed through the streets.

The leader, with eyes full of bitterness and regret, replied, "Loyalty is a burden, and power is sweet. I chose the sweet over the burden."

The Golden Ox, understanding the weight of the leader's words, realized that the true battle was not against the treacherous oxen, but against the very essence of betrayal that had crept into the hearts of its people.

The final battle was fierce, but the Golden Ox, with its heart full of sorrow and determination, emerged victorious. The treacherous oxen were subdued, and the empire was saved, though it was forever changed by the betrayal.

The Golden Ox's march to the capital concluded at the grand palace, where it lay down for the last time. The emperor, moved by the Ox's loyalty and sacrifice, decreed that the creature's story would be etched into the very stones of the palace, a reminder to all who followed of the cost of loyalty and the dangers of betrayal.

The tale of the Golden Ox's last march has become a legend, a story that is told and retold in the Flowing Horse's Empire. It is a tale that speaks of the strength of loyalty, the pain of betrayal, and the enduring power of a single creature's devotion to its people and its empire.