Disclaimer: I don't own the BLoSC series or the movie. Enjoy.
Chapter 2
Acceptance
At times like this, she was glad to be an infant. To others, they just watch the new-born baby wiggling in her crib, gurgling meaningless babbles. But it was all an act, to hide her gaze observing around.
In time, her eye sight adjusted to the world and she express pure admiration of all the tech, colors and the staff in the room.
Through out all of it, she manages to find the information she was hoping to hear. Pretending to be asleep a few nights ago, the little baby eavesdropped on the specific conversation from some Grubs. What she can gather with her new ears from them was a name.
Cassandra Star.
It was the name of her other mother and that six months has passed since her mother's passing, due to the heavy blood loss from birthing. She didn't get the chance to see her other mother's face and it upsets her deeply.
I bet she was a wonderful woman.
With no father figure around that time, so the only ones who are taking care of her now were some Grubs.
Their antennas quivered in fear of dropping the baby while dressing up or other actively play with baby toys. Those bug eyed creatures handle her with so much care that they wouldn't dare to cause her harm or discomfort.
Why so gentle with a stranger's baby? One might asked or perhaps it has something to do with a certain Evil Overlord.
Every time he comes in unannounced like the boss of the place (because he is), Zurg would glare and commands the one who was on duty to take extra care of her. He explicitly made sure of that Grub that she is taken care of well, even changing out her clothes daily.
She witness one time when a Grub was making her baby formula. The Grub accidentally spilled the contents on the counter and Zurg was not very happy with the situation. So much so that he order him to be taken out by the Hornet Guards and left soon after.
His mere presence made her feel annoyed, frustrated even.
In the face of all that is happening now, she still doesn't know why Zurg is doing this, it's very unlikely of him to act this way.
He's the Evil Emperor of an entire planet, ruling it with overwhelming tyranny. It was very strange indeed.
However, his visits gave her a window of opportunity to see the man who called himself Emperor. He may look like a strict and quick tempered man in the outside but she saw the man's eyes full of grief whenever he briefly looks at her before leaving.
This got her to wonder more.
Maybe her mother was his long time business partner and in memory of her passing, Zurg takes care of his partner's kid until she grows up. Yet the name Cassandra Star was never mention in the show, so she had no clue on what type of relationship they have that made him like this.
It's far too early to make the final conclusion.
"Here you go, Miss Zyra," a Grub came up to her with a baby formula, "it's feeding time."
She got used to her new name every time a Grub does their duties because she doesn't have a choice in the naming part.
But the name isn't the issue, the main problem is not using actual toilets. It was embarrassing and uncomfortable to use the diapers as a temporary restroom. She can't wait to grow up and be rid of those itchy diapers.
Lost in her thoughts, she quickly finished up the bottle. The Grub seize the empty bottle and left the room in the flash, leaving her to reflect everything by her lonesome.
To be honest, it was a frightening moment at first.
Unlike the time where she saw a spider in the bathroom of her apartment or the other time she jumped in the closet when she heard a thud in the living room, when it was just a book that fell off from the shelf.
This was different.
She is in a cartoon world filled with aliens, Space Rangers and other villains. All of them are powerful enough to stand on their own and here she was, being a helpless baby.
That doesn't help with her situation. At All.
If somehow they found out that she came from another world with the knowledge of the series, they will imprison her and force her to spill the secrets.
Nope. That won't happen anytime soon. She will not allow that. My first priority would be my safety. Even if this is a cartoon world, there's no telling what other dangers that would put my life at risk.
Her mind is full of ideas on how to keep herself safe and this is what she planned.
To avoid any suspicions, she has no choice but to act dumb and play the baby role. Perfectly. Which made her eyebrows crease together at the horrific realization.
She can hardly thought how her adult mind can take it. To play pretend most of the time, playing with her foot aimlessly and purposely spit out her food. But the final nail to the coffin would be that she can't talk or walk until at she is in the appropriate age.
It might be tough but she reasoned herself that if she can hold on a little longer, she won't get herself in trouble anytime soon.
All this thinking made her cranky and she doesn't want to make any distress cries to alert her caretakers.
Her eyes roamed around the room looking for anything to distract herself. The walls were painted in light blue color. A cabinet and a mini dresser were placed near the doorway and a full length mirror on the other side. She stared at the hovered baby crib through the mirror.
She glance up and saw her reflection.
Dark grey eyes were staring at her and a patch of black dark hair on top of her little head. Her light peach color skin adored her round baby face and her pudgy body in a light purple baby clothes laying down on the soft cushioned bed.
It feels weird to see herself in a 2D form, the way how her animated big eyes looked at her gave her the creeps.
Another thought came to mind. This would be the time where anyone in her predicament would panicked or attempt to do something reckless or trying to get back to where they came from. It's understandable.
However...In her case...
One, she is already dead from her previous world and two, it wasn't totally sure if there is a way to go back to her universe.
But maybe there is?. Surely there has to be someone working on a machine right now that can breach the dimensional plane. She blames that kind of thinking from reading or listening too much of any Aliens and Space-related theories during break from work.
That could either be good or bad, depending on what it is used for.
FWOOSH
The sound of the futuristic door opened got her attention. Zyra can hear two people talking to each other as they entered the nursery room.
One was a calm-looking Brain Pod and the other was a tall figure with a purple robe and the black and red cape glided behind him.
This is one of those times he visited. How long had he visited last? Two weeks?
No matter how many times she blinked her eyes at them, still thinking that all of this was an illusion or a prank TV show set up by her friends. But they are still there, living and breathing by the doorway.
Yup, this is definitely real. THE Evil Emperor Zurg is really here and he was carrying in his arms…..PINK towels… and a toy rattle? Well, this is new.
It's the first time to see the Emperor handling some work that is usually taken care of by one of the Grubs. And not to mention that Zurg looks nervous for some reason.
Don't get me wrong here. She thought. I don't find it strange that he looks like that but it only happens if his plans don't go as it should be.
Evil Emperor Zurg lightly coughed and began to speak.
"I hope what you are suggesting is a good one, Brain Pod 32, because if it isn't, you know what happens to you," Zurg said as he opened the cabinet to deposit the towels inside.
"Of course, I am well aware about that." the Brain Pod 32 replied.
Zyra got a glimpse of the number behind the Brain Pod's machine body when he turned around facing the Emperor. The number was 32 and out of all the Brain Pods who visited the nursery room, he was not one of them.
But this one was different. He didn't cower in fear just like all the other Pods when speaking to the Emperor.
"This is the best solution for your current state, My Emperor," The Brain Pod said as he bowed, " You need to distress yourself from the recent events."
"I know that," Zurg quickly replied, " in the first place, I'm supposed to be in my throne hall, working on my latest evil schemes to take over the galaxy. To do BETTER again! I have Grubs to do all of this."
"But this is a better opportunity for you to spend some quality time with your daughter."
Wait. WHAT? Zyra screeched in her mind.
"This is a first step for you as her father," The Brain Pod continued talking, "the first thing you have to do is approach her with a smile and present to her a gift to establish a good connection with each other."
"Fine. But you are not to tell ANYONE about this, Am I clear?" Zurg said sternly.
"Of course, your Evilness. After all, I am the official babysitter for your beloved daughter."
There it is again. That word that made her mind blank, her thoughts were lost in the void all except the word "Daughter" occupying her mind-scape.
Daughter...Daughter? Me?!
Zyra was intensely focused on the Emperor as he approached her with a rattle in hand. Her eyes grew wider the longer she stared at him. This confirms as to why Zurg was there that day and the visits since her birth. It was the ultimate shocker.
Zurg is her father.
The Evil Emperor, a major villain and SWORN enemy to the Galactic Alliance and Star Command is her father. Arch-nemesis to her favorite hero Buzz Lightyear and the most evil villain bent on dominating the galaxy is her father.
Okay, the whole reincarnation thing, sent to another world, and being a baby again can't beat the fact that ZURG is MY FATHER!
This changes everything. Being the daughter of the most Evil villain in the galaxy will get her into all types of trouble. This made her shuddered.
Change of plans. The first thing that I have to do when I grow up is to train myself.
Physical skills are the important key to her survival.
Ultimately, she knew that she had to use her brain. She can't survive the world full of unknown alien species if she was an idiot. Because one day, she will adventure out in the stars and faced her future enemies, especially the Space Rangers since she is related to their mortal enemy.
Coming out from her line of thinking, she saw Zurg showing a nervous look, thinking that she might not like him.
I have to act natural otherwise they'll found out about me!
She slowly change her expression of shock to a look of curiosity and babbled at him with her quite adorable baby noises.
This made Zurg surprised and a hint of smile appeared on his helm.
"This…this isn't so bad." Zurg muttered to himself. He offered the toy cautiously towards her. She just grabbed the rattle from him and shook it vigorously, giggling at the sounds it makes.
"This is a working progress, My liege. Now all you have to do is carry her gently with loving care." said Brain Pod 32.
Zurg quickly swerved his head around to Brain Pod 32.
"You want me to do WHAT?" Zurg slightly yelled. Brain Pod 32 made a shushing gesture to the Emperor, as to not disturb the baby's interest with the rattle.
"It will be quick, that I promised you."
The Emperor slowly stared at his clawed glove hands, they were shaking from the nervous tension. Zurg sighed as he hunched his body forward in defeat.
"I haven't hold her ever since…that day…not even once." Zurg said grimly
Brain Pod 32 nodded in sympathy, "I understand that this troubles you. We were all there when it happened. But think about your daughter's feelings. Even though that she is a baby now, but she might resent you afterwards, the fact that you were not there for her."
Zurg stiffed at the last part.
"This is why we have to this. Not only for your sake but as well as your daughter. We can't function as an organization if our leader is down. Please consider this as a benefit for you." Brain Pod said ultimately.
Zyra was awestruck on how this particular Brain Pod handle himself in front of his superior in the emotional aspect, setting aside the toy rattle at her side.
He can be a great psychiatrist if he didn't work for Zurg.
After a moment passed, Zurg stood tall with conviction. He looked down at his daughter and carried her little body up close to his chest. She can tell that he was still tense because of the little vibrations coming from his arms.
To help calm him down, she simply placed her little hand on his metal grey chassis and babbled at him with wide eyes.
For a moment, Zyra thought that she saw a completely different person. Because Zurg's facial expression is showing the father fond look. A warm feeling spread out from her chest and it put tears in her eyes because that look reminds her of her parents.
"I'm sorry, my little starlight," Zurg said fondly, "It took me this long just to realize that there are more important things to me than my Empire and my plans. Will you forgive me?"
This is the side of him that she hasn't seen from the shows but she doesn't mind about it. Maybe she can get used to this version of Zurg for the time being.
All thoughts about the consequences of being the daughter of an Evil Emperor can wait. But for now...
Zyra giggled and clap her little hands and this made Zurg laughed. Not his usual stock manic or gloating laughter he does every time his schemes were working.
But a benevolent laughter one, echoing in the hallway.
Five years later…
The current location is at the viewing deck of the Z tower, dubbed as the Evil Tower of Ominous. A lone little girl was standing near the edge, looking out on the red empire.
She was wearing a light blue short puffy-sleeved dress, blue ballet flats and a matching blue bow to complement her black spiky hair with side bangs. And that little girl is Zyra.
The Empire's Capital is the same scenery as the cartoon version but more life-like. The red-tinted cloud sky giving a gloomy feeling, groups of Hornets patrolling the air to the ground and huge variety of red mechanical factories filling the whole Capital like cities, with heavy smoke coming out from it.
A squadron of Hornets were behind her, for security purposes. They were ordered to attack anything that would harm the princess.
This also displays Zurg's fondness over her.
Zyra eye-rolled at that. She finds it utterly ridiculous. But at the same time, this eases her worries about a possible kidnapping for ransom. She is safe...for now.
"Your highness, here is the scarf you requested," A Grub came by her side and present to her a light blue scarf.
"Thank you," Zyra said.
Putting the scarf around her shoulders, the elevator to the rooftop made a noise that alerted her that someone is coming up and the massive red doors open slowly to the side. Stepping through the elevator was her father, in his all mighty Evil Emperor garment. All Hornets immediately saluted to their Emperor and the Grubs in the area bow down before him.
Zyra fully understands the reputation that her father has in the Empire. Through-out the years, she spend some equality time with her father.
Even joining him inside his "taking-over-the-world" war room to plan his next Evil scheme. She never said a single word during those meetings but listened to her father's plans as he discussed them with two Brain Pods.
Other times, they did have fun together.
Whenever he has free time from being an Emperor, Zurg would read a children's book to her every night, watching taking her steps, teaching her to say her first words and the occasional outing in the Capital. Sometimes it reminds her of the time how she spends with her family before.
She shook the thought away. Their memories will forever be treasured in her heart but right now, she needs to focus on the current situation. Zyra was told by her father that she will accompany him in his rounds and their final destination is a remote familiar place they visited last year. A place she can't wait to visit again.
Zurg advance towards her with his arms behind his back.
"Are you ready, my daughter?"
"Of course, daddy." Zyra replied with a smile
A flat-bottom hovered space ship arrived at the edge of the viewing deck, where a Hornet pilots at the front.
The design of the ship made her thought of Jabba's sail barge from Star Wars. Except that the paint job was purple with black wings on the side and the huge emblem "Z" in the middle of the ship, where two grand thrones were situated.
It's fitting for a King and the Heiress.
Both Zyra and Zurg entered the ship along with four Hornets, two Hornets position on the right side while the other two on the opposite. They sat on the thrones as the ship started to move forward, across the red factories below them and headed out to the other side of the Planet.
This is one of their outings together, checking each facility from different division groups including the manufacture of the Hornet army. When it was her first time joining Zurg in the daily routine, her father was teaching her the ways to operate the evil businesses and how to rule with an iron fists.
Zyra wasn't sure if she plans to be the next ruler of Planet Z but she will deal it once she gets to that point.
After checking all the facilities, they were headed to the outskirts of the capital and going through the red dessert. She marvels of the far wide landscape of redness. Maybe once she is old enough, Zyra will adventure around the infamous planet.
Another thing to add in the bucket list.
For almost ten minutes of hovering over the dessert, they came upon a huge glass dome. Almost as big as a football field stadium, the design was to prevent any polluted air from going inside. The impenetrable glass gleams a bright light, showing specs of green inside the dome. On top the dome was an artificial circular device that mimics the sunlight and the moon light.
They landed near a small space station connected the dome. The two Hornets jumped down from the ship and landed on the sandy ground, scouting around for any intruders.
Is it necessary to do that when they are in the middle of nowhere every time they visited this place? She really wanted to say it out loud but it's every Hornet's duty to follow the usual protocol and she just leave it at that.
A metallic walk path from the space station extended towards them. Zurg exited the ship, gliding through the path.
Zyra hurriedly ran after him and walk by his side, while dusting off some red sand from her dress. At the entrance of the space station, the first one greet them was a Grub wearing a white lab coat.
He looks adorable wearing the lab coat.
"Greetings, Your Evilness and her royal highness ." said the Grub as he half bowed them.
"How goes the progress of the Eden Project?" Zurg asked.
"It is developing well, My Emperor." The Grub said as his antennae quivered. The intimidating presence of the Emperor scared the little guy. She wanted to go to him and hugged him but it's not a proper way for the Emperor's daughter to do. She'll have to do it some other time when she is not with her father.
"Excellent." Zurg replied happily.
The Grub gave way to them as they entered through the steel gate door.
Inside the beautiful glass dome lays the garden full of life.
According to Brain Pod 32, prior to conquering the planet now known as Planet Z, Zurg had all the plants removed and transferred into one small area where the construction of a dome was made. It was upon the request from her mother.
Walking through the white metallic pathway, Zyra looked over at the wide array of strange-looking plants. No matter how many times she visited this place, it still breath-taking seeing all these variety of colors. Her hands touched a nearby bush decorated with yellow flowers and grasping a stem of a blue bell flower nearby without breaking it.
She peered inside and an insect came out from it and flew to another plant.
"Come along now, starlight. Your father still has evil plotting to do," Zurg was almost near to the middle of the garden.
"Coming!" Zyra said, and her little footsteps echoed across the dome and stand next to Zurg. In front of them a circular garden separated from the others. The different color of carnations decorated among the green bushes. And in the middle of it all was a gold frame portrait hanging on a small white pillar with a title underneath it "Cassandra's little garden".
This is where her mother was buried.
Tears started to gather in her eyes. The portrait of her mother blends well with the mini garden around it. Her dark grey eyes, light tanned skin tone, her long black ebony hair with one grey streak and a winning smile.
With no one around, Zurg finally relax his stance, the image of a powerful Emperor gone but a father figure instead and his face turn to sadness while looking at the portrait.
"Your mother always comes here to tend the gardens," Zurg said sadly, "This was her sanctuary and it can be yours too."
Zyra nodded while wiping away the tears from her eyes. They both bowed their head down in silence.
The first time when she came here, it made her realize that she accepted her new life in this world wholly.
That after years living in Planet Z as a child, she adapted the way of evil life effortlessly. It felt like something inside snuffed out her old self and emerged anew.
It must be the Evil genes or whatever Zurg's bloodline came from.
She reviewed numerous of times the pros and the cons within this world's order and it lead her to choose the Evil side, for the sake of her survival and entertainment. The later was introduce to her by her father when he spoke of all the evil deeds that made her accept it greedily with a smile, despite the nagging feeling from her mind telling her that it's not the right thing to do.
But what can she do? Join the Space Rangers and defend the galaxy? Make friends with Team Lightyear and join in his adventures?
No. That's what any other person would do if they get stuck in this world.
Knowing her birthright and status, she doubts that they'll accept her easily. Yes, there will be doubts and suspicions.
Having an infamous villain as your father will stem in their minds that she is a baddie herself. They'll probably locked her up because she is blood related to Zurg or used her for negotiations, which it won't likely to happen but she like to think things ahead.
Even the consequences of altering the time line didn't bother her.
Zyra firmly believes that her existence alone has already change the course of the plot line, the so-called word "The Butterfly Effect."
But one things for sure...
She fully accepted herself as the daughter of the Evil Emperor Zurg.
Author's note: This is an updated chapter (April 11, 2023). Sorry if Zurg is a bit OCC. Thank you for your love and support! Wishing you all safety during the outbreak!
Adieu~