For all of his bluster and ego, Kuzco has truly led a pretty sheltered upbringing. Ensconced behind the palace walls with Yzma dictating his every move, Kuzco only ever left the palace walls growing up when he was required to attend public ceremonies, or was needed to oversee events and celebrations such as the Clash of the Families, the Annual Potato Growing Competition, or something meager like the design of a new bridge. He was far too young and naive, according to Yzma, to make any decisions of his own, so he was mostly there to observe his people, and to understands the customs and relations that peasants hold so dear.
Of course, the moment he got back to the palace, Yzma began to warp his reception of the events he attended. She insisted on muddying them, telling him that the peasants held competitions involving food to encourage each other because they were too poor and weak to provide for their own families, or that the clash games were barbaric and the peasants made fools of themselves by attending for stupid prizes and miniscule recognition.
Kuzco grew up under her influence and behind gilded walls; there wasn't any time or reason to consider how alone he truly was, because she filled his head with grandiose visions of HIMSELF, and his purpose as the Emperor and all of the power he held-- why should he care if he had anyone else around him, if he was the only one who mattered? She shaped him to be exactly who she needed; a perfect puppet, a selfish fool on the throne, who only concerned himself with one thing, and would let her hold the real power behind the scenes if it meant he had more time for himself and his own wants and needs.
The thoughts lingered in the back of his mind as he finally took the throne; turning from Prince to Emperor without a former Emperor's command or the formal celebration that follows. Kuzco had only his adoring servants, and the council who assisted him in matters he could care less about at his back, and as he grew older, despite his warped perception of his own greatness, he came to realize Yzma as a threat. A councilor more determined to leverage and throw her weight around to get what she wants, than there to actually advise him on matters . . . that he couldn't really care less about, either way. Getting rid of the competition would ensure that it stayed that way -- his own perfect world -- which is why he decided to do away with Yzma all together. That, and the perception he always had that she was merely using him. As SHE herself as said, she'd outlived her use; if she wasn't any use to him, she didn't need him around.
Everything changed when Pacha showed him a different worldview. From the skewed view on four legs instead of two, Kuzco learned what it meant to be kind without having an ulterior motive, and that peasants were gullible, sure-- but were good people, who cared about everyone, and appreciated what they had. Living with Pacha and his family, as crowded and annoying a space as it was, had taught Kuzco what it meant to actually have a family, even if they weren't really his. He was surrounded by every day acts of kindness and affection that seem paltry and unimportant to him, but are genuine reminders of their love for eachother-- and clearly, something he takes for granted. Chicha preparing breakfast every morning, making sure to include extra rice for Tipo because he enjoyed it more than his potatoes. Pacha taking care to make sure the toys and jump ropes the kids played with were always safely put away on the porch. The way that Pacha would come up to the children's room before bed to tuck them, and offer to read them an adventure story. He offered to tuck Kuzco in as well, mostly as a joke to make the kids laugh, and Kuzco haughtily refused and told him to go read them a story somewhere else, he didn't need to hear that.
It never stopped him from laying on his side facing the wall, saving face and pretending like he had already fallen asleep-- but in reality, he laid there holding Wompy as he listened to the stories, until he fell asleep as well.
Making friends was never in the cards for him; Chaka and Tipo were like the annoying little brother and sister he never had, and if he had to change one more of Yupi's diapers he was going to lose it-- but going to the peasant school created in his name was more punishment than privilege and he expected to be praised more than to make any actual connections with the people he deemed below him.
Meeting Malina, Yata, Guaka-- and spending more time with Kronk, even if he was still working with Yzma-- and all of the other students flipped his worldview on it's head. He realized almost instantly that they could have cared less who he was, well except for Guaka, he had no issue praising him whenever he had the chance and Kuzco soaked it up with pleasure, because while he was attending school, he was just like them; Nothing more than someone in need of an education, who also needed knocked down a peg or five and taught that there was more to the world than his own selfish needs and pleasures. These people, who are his own age, could have been his friends all this time; people he grew up with and learned from, if only he had the chance.
Malina continued that notion; showing him what it meant to love, even if he didn't really know the word for it at the time. Sure he found her attractive, but he assumed that he had a personal right to her, as the Emperor, with her as the most attractive girl in school, and he was floored by how quickly she shut him down and rejected him. In the past, he'd always been the one to reject others; he couldn't fathom the idea of someone not wanting his attention, especially because of his position and power-- but Malina was adamant. She cared more about him as a person, and learning what it meant to be a good ruler than she did about appearances, riches or power herself. She made him realize that if he wanted to succeed, not just with her but as Emperor all together, he needed to work for it and to understand the intricacies of their peasant life-- and most importantly, that the world did not, in fact, revolve around HIM.
It was a hard lesson to learn, and growing up alone ensured that Kuzco remained socially inept and unable to understand the basics when it came to normal human interactions, AND how to successfully navigate a relationship-- but he slowly came around with help from Pacha, Chicha and their three monsters, Malina's guidance, their relationship, and the occasional need for tough love, and the friends he made along the way.
-- and now? Kuzco has finally learned, that he will never be alone again.
How I want Disney to someday in the future to remember the show "The Emperor's New School" and make short films where Guaka would be the main character, and he would be bothered by Kuzko all the time like "Dude, I have to be here. Because this show is about me!" How I want to watch it now!!!😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
