Neyla's Real Problem

Like so many Sly fans, we like to take characters and rearrange them to our own liking; even if it doesn't strictly follow the canon.
Among the biggest changes ever done to a character by many fans alike is Neyla. Namely due to the fact that she's...well...gone. XD In Sly 2 it's pretty apparent she went down along with Clockwerk.
Of course many of us as fans like to write it that A.) she either survived or B.) she somehow came back via time.
I just simply have it that the Clockwerk machine expelled her body, and that she was washed downstream half dead....but pretty much alive. (One of my own creations finds her and takes her in.)

Prior to the Clock-La incident however; and prior to her partnering up with Carmelita; Neyla's early life is only described as such: she was born an orphan in New Delhi and she worked her way up in school and the ranks when she somehow made it over to Europe to become part of the police force. What happens inbetween isn't explained and I'm sure it was left vague on purpose.
It is through my own interpretation (and perhaps others' as well...I don't really read fan fiction) that she was adopted in New Delhi and brought over to Europe. Who adopted her and who raised after her orphan years in New Delhi isn't officially explained. So I will try to....from my own unofficial perspective that is.

Neyla's life as an orphan in the streets of New Delhi was rough and miserable; as one might expect for a small child living in the most poverty stricken areas of India. (Slumdog Millionaire helped paint a vivid picture of this.) She was passed on from one owner to another and they all did the same thing to her: use her as a means to get cash and other goods from New Delhi's wealthiest and tourists. Neyla would use her cute "innocent" orphan appearance to get money from them. Only she wouldn't keep the money. Her owners would take it from her and would only reward her for her long tiring days of going around collecting money with a few meager scraps of food and a few hours sleep. If it was discovered she pocketed some of the money, they would more than likely beat her or make her work back the money.
Then one night, when it was discovered she was pocketing some of the money she earned, just before her owners would give her the thrashing of a life time, a mysterious figure intervenes and beats them up instead. He takes the money she earned from them and gives it to her. This figure was a lion inspector from Interpol named Ignatius. (At this time he was about the same rank as the current rank of Ms. Fox.) Upon observing Neyla, he took her in and gave her food and a warm place to sleep. He explained to her that he had lost his wife and daughter earlier in his life; and that he was in India to help track down their killers. Having found them earlier he then explains how he happened to hear Neyla's predicament and stopped by to intervene. He then offers her the chance of being adopted by him, and live her life as his surrogate daughter. Neyla, although hesitant at first because most of her owners showed "kindness" to her before showing their true colors, agrees.
Ignatius and Neyla return to France; where Neyla is introduced to her new home: a very clean and prestigious mansion. Over the years her father raises her and shows her kindness as if she really became his daughter. So it seems like Neyla finally found someone to truly care for her.
Over time Ignatius rose in the ranks until he became the Head of Interpol. Throughout this period he instructed Neyla in the ways of having the "Gift of the Silver Tongue." In what seemed like fatherly advice, he told Neyla that the world will always be full of people who will trick you and exploit you. To stay ahead of the game, you must use them before they use you. He always reminded Neyla of her life as an orphan in the streets; which no doubt harnessed her anger towards the world. He also explained how being able to manipulate will get you places; such as how he rose to Head of Interpol. He promised Neyla that she was destined for greatness if she could obtain it by all means possible; even if it was through deceit and dishonesty.
So Igantius essentially is a like a perverse Mufasa; his advice may seem wise, but it's really malicious and full of ill intent. But Neyla didn't question it because Ignatius was the only person in the world she admired and loved being her "loving" foster father.
So as she listened to him more; Neyla took it to heart and became the deceitful tigress we would come to know and love/hate in Sly 2. From her 'Homework Ring' in school to her betrayal of both Sly and Carmelita; it was all thanks to the "advice" she took from her father.
Of course there was also her issue of wanting to become immortal. Her father imprinted that on her too. He would often tell her that he was raising her to become more powerful than anyone. For all those who hurt her or used her; they would never touch again if she gained the ability to become immortal and all powerful. Ignatius also filled her head with "Dreams of Power" and he told her about the source of power hidden inside a certain 'criminal': Clockwerk. The power inside Clockwerk was one that many sought throughout the ages; and Igantius promised her she would obtain it so she would rise up and there would not be a being alive to touch or hurt her.
Ignatius of course did this for her because he "loved" her....or so Neyla thought. While Ignatius is the Head of Interpol; he is also the head of another mysterious organization. One that worshipped the power inside Clockwerk (and other beings throughout history) as the true source of immortality and absolute power. Igantius's raising of Neyla, was more or less his way of 'fattening her up for the slaughter.' He wanted to see how a normal being could handle such a power. But he knew there wouldn't be anyone out there willing to do so unless they were close to him. So he decided in the ned to use Neyla.

More on that later; that's just the basic jist of things.
Then of course there is the point that after the Clock-La incident; Neyla turns out to be alive after being expelled from Clockwerk's body. (Apparently she couldn't handle the power flowing within him.) Rescued by former assassin and my creation Mai Ling, she comes to find out later what Igantius's true intentions were.
And this is where she starts developing what I laid out here in this piece: her "daddy issues." The biggest one is how Ignatius raised her and showed her genuine kindness and love as if she was his daughter. Now she is beginning to see it as one big elaborate lie. That the 'Dreams of Power' he promised her was really for his benefit and not hers. That he used her.
But even as she discovers all this; she still sees him as the closest thing she ever had to a father. So in spite of being lied to; she still seems to love him. So Neyla's issues are really 'daddy issues.'

After explaining all this; it makes the humor of this pic a bit underwhelmed. There's a pretty dark story behind it.
And don't get me wrong; part of me did enjoy Neyla as a straight up Villain; and played her part well as the antagonist in Sly 2.
I guess when we have the freedom in our fandoms to write characters, there's room in there to include a "You don't know the whole story" scenario.
Like in the film 'Maleficent'; how did she become the 'Queen of Mean?' Who did her wrong? Well love did her in and it was from a man she feel in love with.
In this case though; it's Neyla's foster daddy: who brought her up on lies and false hopes in the guise of love and kindness.

I haven't drawn Ignatius yet; but I do plan on making him tall and lordly looking. Not so much diminutive like Ocatvio. XD Like he commands authority and respect despite the fact most of what comes out of his mouth is lies. Neyla truly learned a lot from him.
One thing's for sure; Neyla's got some real daddy issues to face. More than likely she's gonna confront her father again sooner or later. How she will feel when facing him again? Only time will tell.

Love Neyla's big eyes. She looks so confused and sad. ;__; If you don't sympathize for her, that's fine. What I wrote here isn't official; I made it for fun and wanted to give a richer back story to Neyla's origins and how big a role she'll play when being brought "back to life" so to say.
Also I mentioned my OC Mai Ling....she pretty much is Neyla's guardian, caretaker and foster sister. Mai isn't fully aware of Neyla's Clock-La stint; and Mai's got her own demons to face. But that's a whole nother story for a whole nother time.

Neyla belongs to SuckerPunch. Or Sanzaru should they ever bring her back.
Ignatius the lion and Mai Ling belong to me