Queen Merla was intended by King Zarkon to marry his son, Lotor, but it didn't work out. She has the ability to tap into people's minds and control them in a limited fashion. She is usually accompanied by her pet vulture which is on her shoulder. Her vulture has the ability to sense people who have negative or hostile thoughts toward the queen and make them react negatively, like it did to Lotor in the episode Enter Merla: Queen of Darkness.