A different theory about Ao Shin (and Udyr)

Before I get into my theory about Ao Shin, I need to talk about Udyr first, for background.

When Udyr was first created, he was clearly influenced by the real life martial arts animal styles. Awesome, but the one that always confused me was phoenix stance. Why have him shooting fire out of his hands; it seemed the most out of place when compared to the rest of his kit (and the lore and ideas behind it)? Then they reinvented Udyr as The Spirit Guard, and now Phoenix fireballs make sense, as he's now channeling the power of the 4 Guardian Spirits (of Ionia). But now we have another problem, The 4 Guardian Spirits are clearly based upon the Chinese Four Symbols: Phoenix, Tiger, Turtle, and Dragon. So where's Dragon, and why do we have Bear instead? Which now brings us to the Spirit Guard Udyr motion comic, and Ao Shin.

Here's where it all clicks.

In the comic, Udyr talks about how "if this temple (of the 4 Guardian Spirits) were to fall, a great darkness and overtake all of Runeterra". At the end of the comic, it appears the temple is now in ruins, and who should burst from the ground? Ao Shin. But wait, this would seem to imply that Ao Shin is the great darkness? That can't be right? Ao Shin is supposed to be a good guy; the legends say that when Ionia faces it's greatest calamity, that Ao Shin would descend from the sky as its protector.

But what if those legends were wrong? True history is often forgotten and distorted; history is written by the winners.

My theory is that at one point in Runeterra's history, there were 4 Great Guardians: The Phoenix, the Turtle, the Tiger, and Ao Shin the Dragon. Together, they protected Ionia (if not the all of Runeterra). But then something happened- something long lost to time- and Ao Shin killed the other 3 guardians. Whatever his plans were, he was stopped when the now 3 spirit guardians, with the aid of the spirit of a Bear, managed to seal him away underneath a temple (maybe his own). But Ao Shin had managed to twist history enough so that he was still remembered as the Great Guardian of Ionia- the only guardian. Time goes on, the temple is kept by monks- who are unaware of it's true history and unable to communicate with the spirits- and nothing happens. Then Udyr the Spirit Walker shows up, and for the first time, someone hears the spirits' warnings. Now armed with the knowledge and power of the 4 Guardian Spirits, Udyr is the only person capable of confronting Ao Shin when he returns.

Udyr will now have to turn his back on his beloved adopted nation of Ionia, and risk all of their wrath. For you see, Ao Shin isn't a benevolent god who will protect them from the coming destruction, Ao Shin is the destruction.