Author's Note: I'll try to keep this short and simple. This is my first attempt on a full-blown Disney fanfic. Besides, I think this will be a change of pace and a first time for a Lion King/Mulan crossover. I know I have some other unfinished works that seriously needs updating, but I just had to get this idea down on paper and hopefully working on this will spark more inspiration to finish the others.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters in this fanfic is entirely Disney's property, all except a few original characters.

Chapter 1

The Prince and the Pauper

In the year 50 BLA, the Beasts of the natural world have regained dominion of the earth, ending the tyranny of man's reign over all. The victory of the Empire was made possible by the years of increasing intelligence to match the human's own mental capacity. But the greatest factor that contributed to the Empire's victory against man is the adaptability against humanity's only leverage against Beasts: weapons. Without the protection of their weapons, the humans were easily defeated, and Leonides, the commanding leader of the Beasts' forces, was made the supreme ruler, the Emperor of the new regime.

Since the reign of Emperor Leonides, the human population was finally controlled to a tolerable number in the case that their overpopulation again threatens the balance of the earth. What became of man after the war is-

"No different from what man has done to us centuries ago, yeah, yeah, everyone knows this story," scoffed Tau as he huffed a breath to blow away a stray lock of fringes tickling the bridge of his nose. The adolescent lion stretched out his close-to-numb muscles. He shook out the tangles from his beige-golden fur and his growing red mane, ignoring the green-eyed stare of his annoyed uncle.

"A 'story,'" the darker, older lion chided, "that happens to be our proud history. The history of our forefathers. It is the very legacy of our proud lineage." The older lion brought a paw to his temple to relieve an incoming headache. He had the younger lion's lack of enthusiasm of their Pride's history to thank for the migraine. "A history you seem to be too good for, my troublesome nephew," he droned with a miffed growl.

Tau continued ignoring his tutor and uncle, intent on relieving an itch behind his ear. History this, lineage that. All this "Long live the Empire" rant has been engrained in his head since cubhood. Of course, it goes without saying that Tau held great pride in his heritage. He and his family are the direct descendants of Emperor Leonides the Great, the renowned lion that had led the Beasts to victory against the humans centuries ago. It was thanks to his ancestor's regime that the world has returned to its natural state as it once was before the ignorant humans have reduced the earth into a disaster waiting to happen. Naturally, being the blood descendant of such a legendary figure is the greatest privilege and honor any Beast can have.

Then again, the dignified joy of that knowledge was easily lost when his ever-brooding uncle was the one giving a lecture on a history all Beasts know since birth. With brownish-orange fur, a sleek, black mane, an equally dark solemness in his grim face, and a droning voice, Scar gave boredom a new name. The only time he ever sees that old lion show any emotion is when he looked like he's got something on his mind, though Tau swears Uncle Scar looks more scheming than thinking. He chalked it up to a trait that comes with being the "creepy uncle"; there's one in every family.

Tau finally regarded Scar with a smirk. "I'm only good in knowing all there is to know about our Pride's and everyone else's history in shorter, to-the-point sentences, not a novel." The elder lion narrowed his heavy-lidded eyes as his nephew puffed out his chest with an air of haughtiness. "We got stronger and smarter. We won the war. They lost, boo hoo for the humans. And now we rule the world while the humans get to see what it was like for us when they were in charge. There you have it." Tau fixed his unamused uncle with a bare-fanged grin as if he had just performed the most profound accomplishment in the history of improvising.

"Forgive me for not leaping for joy in your favor," came Scar's sarcastic response. "Bad back, you know," the dark lion added as he turned away from the jester that was his nephew.

Tau rolled his eyes, subtly biting back with another comment, "Bad sense of humor is more like it." Scar made it no secret he had heard the young lion's quip when the old lion snapped his black-tuft tail about, muttering about "insufferable, pretentious cubs."

"Ease up, son," a booming, deep voice cut off Scar's musings and Tau's antics. "Your uncle is not as young as he used to be." Tau was quick to turn and face the owner of such an authoritative voice. As he expected, he found himself craning his head up to see the powerful profile and massive build that is his father, King of the Pride and the Emperor himself: Mufasa. At his father's side is Simba, Mufasa's eldest son, the crown prince, and Tau's older brother.

Tau sheepishly grinned at his father's reprimanding stare. Mufasa finally let up and gave his youngest son his warming smile. Simba rolled his eyes and strode over to his younger brother, bumping shoulders with Tau as his form of greeting and chiding the younger's attitude.

"Can't you at least pretend to be interested?" Simba advised, sneaking a glance at Scar to gauge whether or not he heard the humor behind Simba's suggestion.

"I would," Tau shrugged," but then I'd be lying." The two brothers laughed heartily at their dark uncle's expense. But in all seriousness, Tau would much rather be at his father's side as his brother is, learning the ropes from the Emperor himself. Of course, there was the whole deal with being the firstborn and crown prince that gave Simba the privilege of accompanying Mufasa on his duties. While Simba did have the "joy" of being schooled in some of Scar's lectures as a cub for some time, his expectancy as Mufasa's immediate heir had the crown prince personally mentored by the old monarch the moment Simba reached the first year of his adolescence. At least every now and then, Tau was allowed these occasional moments of following his father and brother on Mufasa's errands when Tau was slowly growing out of his cubhood years.

"Well, brother," Scar finally regarded Mufasa, "it's a joy to see you decided to descend from your throne and join the riffraff of a nephew I have to contend with?" The monarch didn't miss the cynicism in his brother's tone, but Mufasa had enough experience dealing with Scar's somber and serious nature to dismiss Scar's moodiness as another bad day with Tau. He can't necessarily blame the darker lion. Being the father of a cub like Tau gave the old Emperor plenty to expect from his wayward son. At least Simba was quick to wise up and mature in his early adolescent years. If only Tau had shared that similarity with his older brother as much as he shared Simba's enthusiasm and willingness to be involved in the Pride's and Empire's affairs.

"Since you feel that way, be grateful I have the rest of the day at my leisure and am willing to take Tau off your paws for a change," Mufasa said. He caught the subliminal expression of relief that he could tell was begging to beam from Scar. But, being the somber lion that he is, Scar simply released a sigh and slipped past his brother in a manner that only a lanky lion of his build can manage. Mufasa shot Scar a glance with a quirked brow as the dark lion made his way out of the chamber of the Pride's den without so much as a farewell or a word of gratitude to the older lion.

Turning back to his sons, Mufasa stepped between his adolescent cubs to break up their wrestling match that initiated during his exchange with Scar. Mufasa took up the space that Scar had occupied earlier during the lecture and announced, "Class is in session." The two younger lions groaned their dismay, fearing that their father would pick up where Scar left off. "I'll have none of that rubbish in my presence," the Emperor of Beasts warned, effectively dissuading the two brothers from releasing another groan. "Because there is much to see as you learn." The old lion strode toward the den's exit as his sons eagerly followed suit. As always, their father's idea of a learning curriculum included a field trip around the kingdom, and the two brothers, especially Tau, certainly had no objections to that.

"Mulan."

Her father's voice pulled Mulan out of her earlier musings, immediately making her aware of her fingers getting tangled in her long, raven hair. She really needs to stop that habit of toying with her hair when lost in thought. Mulan turned to see her father walking up the hill she was taking refuge on for leisure, the ever-present limp in his stride.

Mulan quickly rushed over to his side. "Father, you didn't have to walk all the way out here."

"How else to bring you back to reality?" Old Zhou laughed alongside his beloved daughter. He knows her to be a very pensive girl, having contributed to her exceptional intellect over the years. This hill is just one of many places around the house that Mulan favors to relax and do some thinking. Zhou lowered himself to the ground, assisted by Mulan, to seat himself next to the spot she occupied earlier. The mirth from the laughter quickly faded from Mulan's face as she cast her gaze at the ground. Her father quickly caught the look on her face. "Today is the day," he stated, a degree of unease in his tone.

She nodded ever so slightly, fearing that any more than that would be a waste of energy over such a matter. Today was supposed to be her "day." A moment in every 16 year-old humans' lives that is yet another demonstration of the authority the Beasts have over humanity: Evaluations.

A teenager that has reached the age of sixteen is to report to the Council of Human Affairs, where they will be questioned about their background and family as well as physically examined. All that meticulous fuss for the sake of finding one's "significant other." However, nowadays, "significant other" is a sugar-coated term for "selective breeding." This is just a method of controlling the human population. Those deemed satisfactory are expected to marry the person matched with them by age 25. As for the "unworthy," they can only pray to continue to live in the company of loved ones before dying unmarried.

Mulan shuddered at the thought. It's one thing to dread that the officials found you unsuited for a partner, but the fact that she is to spend the rest of her life with some stranger picked out for her is downright unnerving. If her parents had a hand in choosing her partner for her, it wouldn't be too disturbing; she knows her parents would always have her wellbeing in mind if they had a say. But these are Beasts, the unsentimental powers of the world, especially powers over humans. For all she suspects, the Beasts could pair her with a brute that could be the death of her after their union, just to spite her and her family.

Mulan was again pulled out of her thoughts when a gentle but firm arm laid across her shoulders. She smiled as she leaned against her father when he pull her against him in an embrace.

"It will be alright, daughter," Zhou soothed. Even if she verbally agreed with him, Mulan still can't shake the anxiety. It's not just going that makes her nervous, but what could happen once she's there. Sneaking a glance at her father's injured leg and the cane he has by his side, Mulan tensed, remembering just how he wound up as a cripple.

Her family is one of many that Beasts make their business to keep in line. Zhou is of a proud military lineage. All the men in her father's family held prominent ranks in the military, back when humans held dominion over earth. With the end of the war and the victory of the Beasts, humans who were affiliated with political or military affairs in some form or fashion were strictly dealt with. Stripped of their titles and possession, they were forced into a much more grueling living condition and were kept under constant watch for signs of defiance against the Empire. Even then, the Beasts weren't satisfied. They made it a pastime leisure to harass families that were formerly politicians or military. Zhou was one of several that ended up with the short end of the stick.

Forcing the memory into the back of her mind, Mulan stood up and helped her father to his feet. "We'd better hurry," she said softly, the worry still present in her voice. Zhou simply nodded and followed his daughter down the hill, noticing that she was being mindful to keep her pace close to his.

"You needn't worry about me, Mulan," Zhou called to her. "I made it out of the house and half way up this hill on my own. Go on now. I don't want you to be late on my account."

'If only that would get me out of Evaluations...' Mulan thought, but she knew that missing the Evaluations for any reason would mean dire consequences. No doubt the Beasts would label that as an act of rebellion against the Empire. The last thing she needs is another episode of that incident that nearly cost her family's life, let alone her father's leg. Mulan gave her father another glance before offering him her best smile and head off to meet her mother in the city.