Work Text:
A slender woman in her late twenties dressed all in purple stalked up polished stairs to the university. She scowled while making her way to the science department staff room.
“Arugh, those incompetent fools. It’s nearly exam season; I have better things to do than talk about their failures.” Yzma grumbled too loud to hide her musings from the nearby students.
Yzma, so caught up in her own annoyance, didn’t notice the glances sent her way by the gossiping student body. Arriving at the staff room door Yzma barged in and over to the purple armchair she had supplied for herself.
“Ah Yzma, I- I was worried you wouldn't make it.” The stuttering voice of the director drew Yzma’s attention to the front of the room where the fearful man stood surrounded by her colleagues.
“Why would I not.” Yzma glared at the director as she sat down elegantly. The director smiled a non-too pleased smile, “Well with the uh... recent changes I figured you might be apprehensive to join us.”
Yzma’s glare intensified as she said forcefully, “What changes.” The director paled a bit as he spoke, “Well the change to the classes available.” Yzma’s face spurred him on quickly.
“What I’m trying to say is. Is. We won’t need you to return this fall as we're closing the alchemy wing.” Yzma’s face turned a violent shad of chartreuse as she screamed, “What!” Her fellow professors cover their ears as birds startled outside the window.
Yzma couldn't believe it, “I’ve worked here for years and now you think you can kick me out!” She shouted. The director tried to jump in, but Yzma was on a tirade shouting out all the inadequacies of the other professors.
“If you don’t see my skills as good enough to teach a subject at your failing school then I won’t stick around for my end. Consider this my resignation.” Yzma stood up and shouted as she stalked out the door demanding that she would return her things later. Yzma stormed through the halls past her classroom and right out the university doors.
“I can’t believe those fools. I am the best alchemist in the whole kingdom, and they don’t even notice.” Yzma ranted as she walked back to her home laboratory. While she was walking, however, she came to an epiphany.
“That’s it! I’m the best alchemist in the kingdom, and the imperial family doesn't have an alchemist.” Yzma grinned a nasty sort of grin to herself.
“Oh yes and when I am the best alchemist for the strongest people on the continent, I will be the strongest person on the continent.” Yzma chuckled lowly. Arriving back to her home Yzma set to work on her latest project royalty.
----------------------------------Yzma approached the palace wearing her second finest dress so as to not show up the emperor. She held a bag filled with her best potions and inventions along with mice to showcase them on. A guard walked up to her as she completed her approach. “Sate your business here.”
Yzma smiled thinly at the guard. “I mean to present my alchemy as a gift to the emperor and empress.” The guard startled a bit at the unusual request before turning to look at his superior. A guard in a more polished uniform approached her. “What kind of science do you have in a bag?” The clearly stupid guard asked.
Yzma scoffed. “It’s alchemy not just science, it is a very delicate art form. I could turn armies into scared chickens with just a few vials.” Yzma could tell she had caught the guard's attention as soon as she mentioned war, “But if that is not appreciated, I can leave.” The guard's eyes widened as he apologized and began to usher her inside the courtyard of the palace.
Yzma was internally ecstatic, she had just managed to get inside the Imperial palace without even needing to prove her work yet. However, as they continued to walk towards the palace proper, she couldn't help but sneer at the lax security.
They hadn't even asked her name or checked inside her bag, those idiots. She could have been smuggling in something deadly; she had even told the guard she could incompetent armies and he’s just letting her in.
As they finally reached and entered the palace interior Yzma couldn’t help but notice all the unguarded areas and lack of security checkpoints. The halls, while beautiful and occasionally filled by servants or guards, were practically deserted compared to what could be being done with them.
Yzma got pulled out of her musings by another guard, finally stopping them. “Who is this?” The guard speaks solely toward her escort but still turns to her once she begins.
“I am Yzma. I’m here to precent my alchemy to the emperor and empress.” Yzma tried her best to appear friendly. Noding the guard knocked on the doors causing them to be pulled open by two more guards.
Yzma spotted a man and women knelling on the floor with a cow and up above them sat the emperor and empress.
Emperor Kuzin was a rather imposing and tall man, that is if your reference was a wet sack of flower. Rather skinny and unusually pale for his family, Emperor Kuzin was quite sickly seven months out of the year including may, he wore deep red and orange robes that were meant to obscure his frame but instead just dwarfed it.
Beside Kuzin, on a considerably smaller throne, sat Empress Azah. She was much sturdier than her husband and just after a year and a half of their marriage there was already gossip about the real power behind the throne.
Yzma watched as the peasants on the floor got up and another guard took the cow from them. To think that those two were so torn up about a cow when she could make a whole herd just using mice.
Turning her attention back to the emperor and empress, Yzma smiled and gave her best bow. “Your majesties, may I please present to you a miracle of scientific achievement.” Yzma felt the eyes of the rulers and guards in the room go to her.
The emperors looked intrigued as he nodded to her. Yzma smiled and set her bag down on the floor. Pulling out her cage of mice and setting it on the floor, she ignored the startled looks and singular shriek around her, Yzma grabbed a small vial with a picture of a crow on it out. “What I am about to do is near unprecedented.”
Yzma plucked a mouse that was scrambling to escape out of the cage. Unplugging the vile she forced a drop of the murky pink liquid down the rodent's mouth.
Squeeks of terror filled the room as the mouse began to convulse: Sprouting feathers, nose elongating and hardening, its color darkened by the second. Seconds rolled by for an eternity as a beautiful yet slightly off crow sat slummed where the mouse used to sit in Yzma’s hand.
Gasps were heard thought the room while Emperor Kuzin stared at the new crow in wonder. Empress Azah was similarly transfixed but looked slightly uneased at the power Yzma had just displayed. Emperor Kuzin reacted first, as he stood up from his thrown with visible difficulty, he swiftly hobbled over to Yzma.
“Incerbile.” Emperor Kuzin whispered as he reached out for the crow. Yzma held the crow out to him. As it fell into his grasp, she knew that there was no way she wasn’t getting some kind of job here with how interested he looked.
“What kind of science is this? And the crow its nearly perfect.” Emperor Kuzin’s voice picked up pace as he looked down at the crow in his hand fascinated. He looked up at Yzma questioning.
“It is alchemy. I am glad that my project is pleasing for you Emperor.” Yzma inclined her head pleased. She looked up to see the empress striding towards them.
“Very impressive. What is your name scientist?” Empress Azah sounded intrigued, however her gaze when to her husband instead of Yzma.
Yzma bowed slightly theatrically, “My name is Yzma, Empress Azah.” The empress smiled as she stepped forward to be beside her husband. Emperor Kuzin stood straight as he was able while still holding onto the crow.
“How would you like to develop more of these for us?”
Yzma smiled. “Oh Empress, it will be my pleasure.”