Coronations of this size and importance were rare, Artemis July had ruled for 80 years and given her advanced age but her general youth, it was expected that she would rule for another 80, but that had all changed when her youngest grandchild had returned from exile and usurped the throne. Charlie had never quite been in the public eye, not like Frannie, Brittany or Quinn had so needless to say that the entire Empire would be watching. Charlie had declared the day a global holiday, with only essential services to be operating, every channel in every nation, in multiple languages would have a stream of the ceremony and hear her first speech as the new Empress.

It was a big deal, but because it was going to be such a public spectacle, there was more pressure on her to make sure that the day went smoothly. A security breach would set the tone for the rest of Charlie's reign and it would reflect poorly on the future Empress, not to mention she was certain that she would carry the blame if anything were to interrupt proceedings. But focusing on Charlie's coronation meant that she was dealing with a million things and now had a legitimate excuse to ignore Charlie's summons. She knew at some point Charlie would insist but until that point she didn't have to be around the heir-select.

"Remember, anyone who is not in possession of an invitation is to be arrested and taken to a detention center. There have also been a few bomb threats, which have been thoroughly investigated, but you know there is always that one idiot who wants to make a statement. Do not let that be that day or it will be all our heads, this day has to go perfectly," Santana says speaking into the communication device so that all Charlie's Furies could hear her. There were also hundreds of police officers surrounding the large area that they had cordoned off for the coronation.

There was a beep and Santana sighs, looking up from the security screens. Everyone who approached had their face and fingerprints scanned, and matched with one on a database. The only people who had been invited were world leaders, as well as staff who would be working the event. They had already been vetted, as she had simply taken from the former Empress's staff, who had helped make this event go smoothly. She was going to insist that Charlie keep them on at least until they were fully up and operational. Charlie was going to need someone who wasn't her to run her household, she'd been doing the job because she had done the job in the Hell Dimension, but now that they were on Earth, Charlie would need a director who oversaw everything from chef's to financial advisors, to her communications team. "Do not tell me we have a problem. The coronation isn't for a few hours."

'Uh, Santana—Kara just showed up.'

Santana blinked twice, "What?"

'Kara she's here, there was a commotion outside of Charlie's chambers where she's getting ready and I went to go and check and Kara was making herself comfortable. She's taken out a few other Furies, and I'm not sure I can take her in a straight fight. No, I know I can't take Kara in a fight. You know how she gets,' Tina admits frowning as she studied Kara from where she was standing.

"Granny Goodness let her—" Santana exhaled slowly, Granny had never really been able to control Kara. The only person who could really bring Kara to heel was Charlie. "Well make sure she's in her dress uniform and have her escort Charlie for the day. With her abilities she'll be able to react before anyone comes within spitting distance of Charlie."

'Are you sure Charlie won't just kill her?'

Santana groaned, if Charlie was going to kill Kara, she would have done it already. Plus she had spent hours getting ready, with Edna yelling fussing to make sure Charlie looked her absolute best. "I'm certain, it's best to just insist that Kara get to work, and we'll deal with our issues later. I'd rather have her beside Charlie being useful rather than her sitting on her ass and making my life more difficult."

'Understood. I'll make sure she has a dress uniform.'

"And that it's perfect, I mean perfect she is now representing the Empress, there can be no mistakes!" Santana insists, raising her voice loud enough that she knew Kara would be able to hear her. She wanted Kara to understand how important this was, Charlie probably wouldn't say anything unless Kara did something outrageous enough for her to notice, which meant that someone needed to keep Kara on her best behavior. Santana sighed and closed her eyes for a moment, she'd been up since 2 in the morning preparing and the ceremony wasn't for another few hours, and then there would be a massive ball, as people would party late into the night.

'I wouldn't miss the first assassination attempt for anything in the world!' Kara's voice comes over the communication network and Santana lets out a loud groan. Blood being spilled on Charlie's coronation would be seen as a sign to come and a weakness that people could exploit.

"How the fuck did you pass re-education? Don't answer that, I will not be by her side today, you need to take my place and keep her from killing anyone today. If she wants to kill anyone, tell her it can wait till tomorrow."

'She's Empress she can do whatever it is she wants, Santana. You're not her keeper, and you do not know what's best, you're just her head of security. It isn't your place to comment on what she should or shouldn't do unless she asks for your opinion. If anyone needs reeducation it's you.' Kara retorts easily.

Santana inhales, biting back a retort, they simply didn't have time for this and she was sick of everyone telling her what exactly her place was. "You weren't in hell with us Kara, and there was no sun either, but that's not the point. Keep her safe. I need to make sure that everything behind the scenes is taken care of, before I get into my uniform. So until then hold down the fort and keep her from killing anyone. There is no assassin."

'There's always an assassin Santana, remember her grandmother's coronation and the shit show that was? I mean sure it was 80 years ago, but given the way she earned the crown, there will be an assassin. My bet is the Wakandans.'

Santana rolled her eyes, she would take that bet, and fleecing Kara of all her money would certainly make her feel better. "I'll take that bet. Your next three paychecks."

'It'll be fun to make you poor Lopez.'

"Whatever, just make sure you do your job. And make sure your uniform is perfect, you are representing her!" Santana orders. The last thing she needed was for Kara to attempt to take and make the uniform her own. But all she gets is static from Kara's side, causing her to sigh. This could be a problem, but at this moment she had other headaches to deal with.

~ O ~

"What are you doing Kara?" Charlie questioned raising a brow as she turned to see Kara on a bent knee, her hand pressed to her heart and her head down.

"I raised my hand—"

"I have no idea why you insist on reminding me of your many faults, Kara. I already had Santana take one of your eyes as punishment. You can pledge yourself to me once more during my coronation, I will accept it. You will eventually break it because you jumped to conclusions again, and we'll be right back here."

"You could have killed Lena, and you chose to spare her, after what I did—"

"It did cross my mind, I was very annoyed with you. But I realize that I must shoulder some of the responsibility here. I was gone and you were alone, if you found someone else to hold your leash and keep you from being an idiot, then it is one less thing I have to worry about. I'm not unreasonable, I want my Furies to be happy, and as a dear friend I am happy that you found someone that makes you happy."

"Then allow me to do this, Your Majesty."

Charlie sighed but nodded, "Very well you may pledge yourself to me again."

"I shall serve you faithfully and with honor, for the rest of my days," Kara began reciting the oath that all Furies took when pledged to her service. Years ago Charlie would have killed Lena without a second thought but if she was willing to leave Lena alone and make Lena one of her people then she would fight for her, and bleed and die for Charlie. She finishes her pledge and keeps her eyes glued to the ground as she waits for Charlie's response.

"I accept your oath once more," Charlie stated simply as she gets up despite the fussing of the stylists and makeup artists who are fussing over, helping her get ready. "Go and put on your dress uniform, and be ready to be my escort. To have one of my dearest and oldest friends by my side, I could not ask for anything better on this day."

~ O ~

There had never been anything in Charlie Fabray's life that she wanted that she simply couldn't have. Whether she took it through her own power, or through the power of her allies. And despite what people like T'Challa thought, Charlie was devoted and worked hard so that she would be worthy. Charlie's only failure, being exiled to the Hell Dimension, could no longer be considered a failure, she had conquered hell, slain the elder gods, and brought the lords of hell under her command.

"Shouldn't you be up there by her side?"

Santana tears her eyes away from Charlie who had just entered the ball room with both Tina and Kara flanking her and glances at Okoye who is sipping on what appeared to be champagne. "I could ask the same question, shouldn't you be joined at the hip with your king? As the head of her Imperial Majesty's Furies, my job is to keep her safe. I am where I need to be."

"As am I. My King worries for his people and given the Empresses—" Okoye paused slightly, she did not want to provoke a fight. "Moods, we are attempting to avoid a confrontation."

Santana resisted the urge to rub at her temples, "I am not the mouthpiece for her Majesty, I am her head of security. Her decisions are her own, and if your King wishes to avoid an ending with his kingdom in ruin then perhaps he should learn how to bow his head, and stop plotting treason with the people of Atlantis and Talocan," Santana said flatly.

Okoye smiled, "If Her Imperial Majesty knew of a plot by the Wakandans, I doubt very much that my country would still be standing."

Santana narrowed her eyes, she wasn't exactly in the mood to play with Okoye, and she certainly didn't want to have this conversation where anyone could overhear them. Instead she motions for one of the waitstaff who was carrying a tray filled with drinks, and picks a glass up and takes a sip. "There isn't much that Her Majesty isn't aware of, but if King T'Challa wishes to protect his son, then he needs to bend the knee and admit his sins." Santana's smile is almost predatory when she sees Okoye's face freeze, it is only for a brief moment. "Did the high and mighty Wakanda truly believe that they could have secrets from us?"

"King—"

"Hiding him on an island, did you truly think that we wouldn't look into Wakanda's dealings in Haiti? Tell T'Challa congratulations his son is a spitting image of him."

Okoye frowned, "Such a threat won't go unanswered."

Santana rolled her eyes as she prepared to leave. "Her Majesty does not threaten. She makes promises, General Okoye. My advice remains the same, the King needs to bend the knee and profess his sins. Her Majesty is merciful and forgiving, but he will need to admit to it and accept his punishment, only then will this tension pass." There is nothing more that needs to be said as Santana decides to move, the actual coronation had gone without a hitch, all that she would need to do now was get through the evening and then she was going to take a nice long vacation, preferably somewhere with a nice hot spring. And then she was going to try and forget how fucking hot Charlie was all dressed up like that.

It wasn't fair, it should be criminal to look as good as she did, especially in front of the Amazons. Charlie had been getting checked out since the coronation. Hot springs, booze and finding a person to help her get off. She needed to have some dignity, she wasn't one of Charlie's fuck dolls, and she had no intention of ever going back to Charlie's bed.

She finds another spot that has a direct line of vision to Charlie and simply sips on her drink staring. It was hard not to, especially in a room filled with beautiful people, and all of Charlie's Furies were gorgeous, Charlie stood out. How could she not, the shoulder cape, the fact that her shirt was tight around the arms and shoulders, showing just how much she worked out. Edna had definitely outdone herself, and while the Former Empress had chosen blood red and gold for her colors. Charlie had chosen a dark blue that wasn't quite navy, but it brought out the gold perfectly.

"Her Majesty would like to know if you would like to dance. Your staring is making her uncomfortable."

Santana jumps, Tina's voice had appeared from nowhere. Tina had just been beside Charlie, dipping in and out of view with her abilities over invisibility. She wasn't the strongest of the Furies, but she was their best assassin, and she was well respected. "Fuck, Tina! What have I said about sneaking up on me?"

"Don't? Sorry, you know I forgot, Charlie and Kara always know where I am," Tina admits, flicking into view, a sheepish look on her face.

"How is she?" Santana questions.

"She wants to know if you're staring because you want to dance with her." Tina repeats herself.

"Her majesty has many skills, dancing is not one of them and I prefer my feet unbruised," Santana retorts.

Tina stared at Santana, she doubted that Charlie would take offense, she might even find it amusing, but she had been around long enough to know that getting involved with Santana and Charlie was something only an idiot did. "I'm not repeating that."

"Well then tell her I'm busy!" Santana grumbles.

Tina blinks twice, she could work with that and she disappears from view and makes her way back to Charlie's side.

"Well?" Charlie questions quietly as she turns to look at Kara who looks utterly bored at meeting all the politicians.

"She politely declines your majesty."

Kara snorted before clearing her throat. She had heard what Santana had said, and polite wasn't what she would call it. "It appears you can't use Santana as a shield to hide the fact that you can't dance."

Charlie sighed and looked around before her eyes rested on Kara. "Would you like to dance?" Charlie questions, she would need to dance and Santana was the only person who made her look like she had any idea what she was doing.

"Fuck no, not with you. I'm not one of your concubines," Kara replies and glances at Santana. "Trouble in paradise?"

Charlie flicked her gaze to Santana, "I have no idea what you mean, but if another diplomat shoves their teenage daughter towards me like they're some kind of a treat for me—" Charlie exhales slowly and her eyes glow. "Heads will start flying."

"Well, the Queen's position is open, can you blame them?" Kara questioned. "Look, why don't we find you someone to take your mind off all of it. The Amazons are said to be pretty sturdy, so why not choose one of them?" Kara nods towards the Amazonian diplomats that were talking to a few other diplomats.

Following Kara's gaze, Charlie can't help but sigh as she assesses each of them. "Kara, I am horribly vain and I refuse to sleep with anyone who has better abs than—" Charlie pauses as her eyes come to rest on a woman who was standing with them, with dark raven hair and amber eyes. "Tina? Who is that?"

Tina follows Charlie's gaze, and pulls out a device from her pocket so she can quickly check who the guests were, Charlie couldn't be bothered to learn most people's names. She knew the important people, but it was customary to introduce yourself. "Yara Flor, she's part of the Amazonian delegation, apparently she's from the South America encampment."

"The South America encampment?" Kara questions, turning to look for the woman who had captured the Empress's eye. She stops and stares and then shoots a look at Tina, like the resemblance wasn't exactly uncanny, but the similarities were certainly there.

Unless Charlie asked her a question, she had learned to keep her opinions to herself. Kara got away with shit because she was about the only person Charlie could spar with. She wasn't anywhere strong enough to take a blow from Charlie even if she used a fraction of her strength. "From the information that we have on file, it appears that they have a hidden city deep within the Amazon rainforest."

"Curious." Charlie's eyes glow for a brief moment before she turns her attention back to Tina. "Find out if the Amazons have any other hidden cities." Charlie said as she pulled away and made her way towards the Amazonian delegation.

Before Charlie can even get a few steps towards the Amazonian delegation she pauses and looks up towards the ceiling, after a second her eyes start to glow. "Kara, it appears we have some uninvited guests."

"The Wakandans?" Kara questions a massive grin spreading across her features as she slams her fist against an open palm with enough force to cause a small explosion of air that causes screaming and a few people to scatter.

"Cats don't fly, Kara," Charlie said with a sigh as one of the stained glass windows suddenly shattered. Large shards of glass begin to rain down, causing a few people to scream and try and duck. But a large portal opens up in front of them and bits of glass pass through it appearing in a small corner in the side of the room.

"Fish don't fly either!" Kara points out.

"Flying fish are a thing, no one has heard of a flying cat Kara," Charlie said as Namor, the King of Talocan, appears flying through the shattered entrance. She could feel his armies preparing for an attack, but she couldn't be bothered to get worked up about it.

"A new tyrant sits on the throne! This time wet behind the ears and yet you all cower! Are you all afraid of this Usurper? She stole the crown from an old woman and yet you treat her like a god! I am a god! They call me K'uk'ulkan! And I demand ritual combat!"

Everyone turns to look at Charlie who looks utterly unimpressed by his proclamation. "No."

"No? A coward sits on the throne and yet you all worship her!" Namor spits angrily, raising his arms in victory. "I name myself—"

"Kara, I've never been to a traditional fish fry before, do you think you could—" Charlie makes a dismissive gesture with her hand.

Kara smirked and floated upwards, causing people to gasp and give her space. "How do you like your fish?"

"I don't know, Santana, how do I like my fish?" Charlie questions turning to look at Santana who had appeared at her side the moment the glass had shattered.

"Charred," Santana says, narrowing her eyes as her hair explodes into flames. "Your majesty it is your coronation today, to have it ruined like this—"

"Yes, I'm aware of your superstition about spilling blood on such a day, but I don't plan on killing him. Kara is going to do it for me. You are going to go and make me fish sticks from the army that's outside. I mean the whole point of me having a security force is so that I don't have to bother with false-gods, and egotistical fish people."

Santana frowned, she had no problem doing that, "An entire army should I call the rest of the Furies?"

"Santana, they are fish people. You are walking fire. Dry them out and turn them into jerky for all I care. There are plenty of Furies here, and I should be seen helping my loyal subjects get to safety. Truthfully if this takes the both of you longer than ten minutes, I'll get involved and end it. But what's a good celebration without a good fight?"

"A normal celebration," Santana responded, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Tina."

"Yes, Santana." Tina said, appearing beside her.

Santana jumped and glared at Tina, "Protect her Majesty."

Tina nodded and looked over at Charlie who had wandered off and was helping someone who had fallen over to their feet. "How?" Charlie wasn't some damsel in distress, all it would take was a thought to level the building and everyone inside of it. But Santana had already taken off, leaving her alone to attempt to manage the strongest person on the planet. With a groan she immediately turns and disappears, perhaps it would be best to evacuate Charlie with all the other people. The next time she had a performance review she was going to demand a raise, babysitting Charlie required a captains salary.

~ O ~

"Is that all? Did he truly think that would be enough to stop her?" Santana questioned, confusion evident on her face as she looked at what was left of the 'army' that Namor had brought with him. Most of the combatants were currently on the ground, some were dead, others had severe burns, and the rest had been dried out. She hadn't even gotten warmed up, and they were already down for the count. No wonder Charlie had been in a state of perpetual boredom since they'd come back from the Hell Dimension.

BOOOOM!

Nearby car alarms go off, and Santana can't help but cover her ears as she looks up at the sky, where she sees Kara smacking Namor around. There was a massive grin on Kara's face as she smacked Namor again, sending him higher into the air. Kara then skips in the air, the same way that Namor moved through the air and she knows that Kara is merely toying with the poor fish man.

With a shake of her head, she decides to return to Charlie's side, she was the only person who could get Kara to stop fucking around. She heads back through the hole in the wall that Kara had created when she had punched Namor through it. "Your Majesty you're going to need to—" Santana froze when she spotted Charlie sitting with a young woman in her lap. She hoped that she could simply turn around without Charlie having noticed her, but Charlie does look up at her.

"Is it done?"

Santana couldn't find the words, she didn't even know what to say as the young woman places a hand on Charlie's forearm and turns to look at her. She wanted to pretend that they looked nothing alike, that the only feature that they shared was a hair color, but she shared more features with this woman than not. Still when the woman raises a brow, her mind reboots and she turns to Charlie who is staring at her like there is something wrong. "Kara is still toying with Namor."

"Of course she is," Charlie sighed and shook her head. "She never had a lick of table manners, and Granny did try to beat it out of her." Charlie said moving to get up before remembering that there was someone on her lap. "Yara, can you give me a moment? It seems I must put a stop to this before Kara forgets herself and destroys a city block."

"Of course your majesty," the accent is heavy and Yara gets off Charlie's lap and steps away with a bit of a laugh as Charlie slowly takes to the sky, her hands folded behind her back. "She truly is something is she not?"

Santana's left eye quivered, before it became a full twitch. "Truly," she manages to reply before she spots Tina attempting to dart away from her. "One moment. Tina, a word."

"I'd rather—" Tina begins but the look of pure venom causes her to squeak and immediately follow Santana.

"I thought I told you to—"

"There isn't a scratch on Her Imperial Majesty. She helped evacuate people, and she was quite calm. The Amazons decided to stay to protect her, because apparently I wasn't good enough. You never told me to stop her from getting laid Santana, and even if you had I would have ignored that order. Nothing was going to stop her from talking to Yara. I completed my orders, and if you're upset with her Majesty, then tell her don't take it out on me. That—" Tina nods her head towards Yara, "is not my fault."

Before Santana can make a retort there's a loud crash as Charlie drives Namor's body into the ground in front of them, and steps off the broken body, who groans and tries to crawl away.

"You seriously don't let me have any fun!" Kara grumbled as she returned to Charlie's side.

"I told you to make it quick," Charlie responds without looking at Kara as she nudges Namor with her foot. "Now what was this about being a god? Coocoo for Cocoa Puffs?"

Tina bit her lip to keep from laughing at Namor's new name, but clears her throat when Santana glares at her. She was in deep shit and she really needed to make herself scarce. "I'm going to go—secure the perimeter," she decides and disappears before Santana can grab onto her. She was just going to go over Santana's head and ask Charlie directly for a raise.

Charlie sighed, she had lost interest once more, even as Namor attempted to speak. She sees the blood drip from his mouth. "You couldn't even get past Kara to get to me, I don't know what you hoped to accomplish or did you get tricked by a black cat as well?" Namor's lips move, but barely any air passes through, as he gurgles on more blood. "Now you may be a god to your people and there is power in belief, that's why I'm going to send you back to your people. When they ask K'uk'ulkan, what happened? You know what you will tell them? You will tell them that you thought you were a god, but you were just a mortal who flew too close to the sun, and you, like our dear Icarus, plummeted to your death. You couldn't even come close. And your wings—" Charlie looked at his ankles for a moment, where the bird wings were attempting to flutter, so that he could get away, but she pressed a foot against his leg, pinning to the ground. "Were turned into a trophy. Just the wings Kara."

Kara's single eye glows before she unleashes a laser blast, and separates Namor from his little feet wings, ignoring the scream of agony that escapes his lips.

Charlie shifts her shoe and pressed down on the injured ankle, casually torturing him. He was a traitor after all. She looks at the bloody wings for a moment and makes a face, "I mean as trophies go, I've certainly seen—bigger and far more impressive. I mean whatever am I going to do with this? I can't hang this on my wall, it will just look sad."

"Your Imperial Majesty, if I may?" Yara questions bowing her head when Charlie glances at her. "It might bring you some personal amusement to use those wings, and dress up one of your speedsters and have them pretend to be Hermes, delivering letters and messages for you. They would need winged sandals."

Santana scoffed, "What a—"

"Interesting idea Yara," Charlie interrupts in a delighted tone. "Kara, finish plucking the wings off the fish man and then drop him in whatever the nearest body of water is and let him go back to his people. I imagine some will ask for vengeance, and you'll tell them the truth, that you couldn't even force me to lift a finger to fight you. One person managed to break your army over her knee, what do you think the full might of my Furies would do?" Charlie asks and smiles. "So go back to your people and think of what you could possibly give to me, to make me rethink coming down to Talocan and decimating your people. Be grateful for this mercy because it is my coronation and I don't want it stained in blood." Charlie lifts her foot and straightens up.

Santana frowned, "Your coronation was already stained in blood."

Charlie shrugs her shoulders and looks around, "A good party should always be stopped by a fight, don't you think Yara?"

"I can't remember a party that wasn't stopped by a fight," Yara says.

"See Santana, Yara gets it. Come along Yara, would you like to join me for a late night—snack? I would love to continue our conversation from before. How is your training going with the other Amazons?" Charlie questioned extending her arm for Yara.

Santana's temper explodes, and her hair explodes into flames causing Charlie to stop and turn to look at her, forcing her to immediately cool off. "Apologies your Imperial Majesty, I am just furious that your day was ruined," she lies.

"Mm," Charlie said as Yara wraps an arm around her arm and she opens a portal and steps through it with her, closing it before Santana or anyone could follow.

Kara drops down beside Santana, on top of Namor who can't even scream anymore. "I really can't believe that she replaced you with a younger sexier model."

Santana exhaled and counted to three before realizing that was no longer working and she does the only thing that she can think of as she turns and simply slugs Kara in the mouth, before she storms off ignoring the pain in her hand. Hitting Kara had felt like hitting a wall.

~ O ~

Santana frowned as she made her way to Charlie's office. The New Empress still didn't have a chief of staff, who she should be reporting to so she didn't need to see Charlie daily. Charlie probably wouldn't do it on her own, probably because the new Empress expected her to do it. As if she had an infinite amount of time on her hands. She pauses, noting how quiet it is and there aren't currently any Furies at least pretending to be protecting their new ruler. "Where the fuck is everyone?" She questions before pinching her nose and opening her tablet so she could check Charlie's official schedule. But according to the schedule, Charlie should be planning her trip to check out her various territories and to talk to various leaders to see what it is that they needed.

She checks who was scheduled to be tailing Charlie this early in the morning and sees that Tina is on the schedule and immediately opens a line of communication. "Tina, why isn't her Majesty in her office doing her paperwork?"

'We're on the training grounds with the amazons, we're having a joint practice. It was Yara's idea, also the paperwork is already finished, when I went to go for my shift, she was already in the office doing her work. According to the Fury that I relieved, she didn't actually sleep last night.'

Santana saw red, Yara had suggested a joint training session and Charlie hadn't run it by her despite the fact that she was the head of Charlie's security. "What was she doing—actually, forget I asked."

'Working. Also the Furies are super excited, it's been awhile since they've had a challenge. We're at the training grounds if you want to check in. She looks bored, which you know is never good.'

Santana shuddered, the last time Charlie had gotten bored, she had decided it would be fun to kill an elder god. And while that had alleviated her boredom, and that had been a hellish experience that she didn't particularly want to revisit. "I'll be there ASAP." Santana informs Tina before she turns around and breaks out into a jog, as she heads to the training grounds.

She's halfway there when there is a loud boom and all the windows shake, one even shatters and she barely has the wherewithal to get out of the way as Kara drops like a stone in front of her, creating a massive crater where she lands. Santana peeks over the edge of the crater and looks at Kara who is laid out flat. "Are you alive?"

"No!" Kara groans, she hadn't even seen it coming. "Fucking ow!"

"Well if you feel pain you're definitely alive," Santana says as Kara begins to float and finally lands on her feet, she watches in amusement as Kara attempts to find her balance nearly falling on her ass before she manages to get her legs back. "Are you okay?"

"She's never been able to hit that hard before—did she start eating her vegetables in hell?" Kara grunted, adjusting her jaw before spitting out two of her molars. They would probably grow back, she hoped. She didn't want to go to the fucking dentist. "Make me look good Kara, my ass. God dammit no wonder she sent you to fight me instead of doing it herself."

"She was making a point. What that point is only she knows, but if you can't handle her Kara, then we have a bigger problem. There isn't anyone that she can spar with which means she'll get bored, and when she gets bored, she actively looks for things to do that interest her. The last time, she killed an elder god, this time she might plunge the world into a war. So hit the gym, start lifting, brush up on your hand to hand combat. I don't give a fuck, but you need to get better and quickly."

"Well, perhaps if you went back to getting on your knees for her, she wouldn't be so fucking grumpy," Kara snaps back, taking a step back when Santana flames up. "Please you know it's fucking true. Everyone knows you're her—" A portal opens up above her and Kara groans.

"Kara! I told you to make me look good, not to exaggerate—" Charlie pauses and looks at the crater and the teeth on the ground. "Oh." Charlie makes a face and turns to look at Santana. "Santana!"

Santana immediately bowed her head, "Your Majesty," she greets.

Charlie raises a brow at the bow and glances at Kara for a moment. Kara was one of the few people who used her name freely. Something was clearly off with Santana, and she wasn't quite sure what it was. "Is there a problem here? I mean apart from Kara being weak."

Kara flipped Charlie off, immediately regretting that when Charlie, without even looking at her, grabs her finger and snaps it. "FUCK!"

Santana snorts, and immediately looks away when Charlie smiles at her, and for a moment she feels her heart flutter. She immediately shoves that feeling aside. She needed to control her heart. "As the head of your security and the head of your Fury's, I wasn't made aware of a joint training session with the Amazons of all people. Please tell me that you haven't forgotten that Queen Hippolyta insulted you, and last time I checked she was on your shit list."

"No one said that she isn't but I learned from Yara, that she is not the Queen of all Amazons, just the ones on Themyscira. And not everyone has been happy under her rule. A regime change is necessary, as is the case for the Atlanteans, Wakandans and Talocan. When I was fighting Namor, I noticed that his suit was vibranium and it felt different, look into it. If there are other deposits of vibranium on this planet we're going to claim it. Let's take away what makes the Wakandans special and rich. If they wish for isolation, we'll give it to them."

Santana's eyes widened, that was certainly information, "I can call for the countries that have been at odds with Wakanda, but I did want to talk to you about actually creating a chain of command. You need someone who will be your chief of staff, it was one thing when we were in the Hell Dimension and there was only a small number of Fury's but we're back and my work has increased, and I can't keep acting as your point person. I'm head of your security and the Fury's. A role that I am more than happy with. I should be reporting to someone, who should be helping you with your work."

Charlie frowned, "Well, whoever I choose they will still need to be vetted by you, so perhaps you should have a list of trustworthy people that you would stake your reputation on."

"I have a short list already prepared," Santana says immediately. "It'll be on your desk by the afternoon, and then perhaps we can discuss a vacation."

A perverted grin immediately crosses Charlie's face, "A vacation sounds nice—"

"I meant for myself. I have been by your side working for years, without break or reward, in the hell dimension, and assuming that it stacks, I have about a year of vacation time—"

"No." Charlie interrupts and turns to look at Kara who is still muttering a string of curses under her breath. Charlie reaches over and places her thumb on Kara's head, her eyes glowing as Kara's skin begins to glow. "It's not fun if you snap like a twig every time I hit you. That should make you a bit more durable."

Santana stared at Charlie's back. "Your Majesty I—"

"Santana, the Hell Dimension was a vacation. No silly power struggles, no paperwork, and all the fighting that I can do!"

Santana stared at Charlie, they had fought for years, every day, they hadn't slept, they hadn't eaten, it was a constant survival until Charlie had killed her first lord of hell, it wasn't some glorious vacation that she was making it out to be. "Your Majesty—"

"Kara is only the one here, and we both know she doesn't matter."

"Hey."

"You know what I mean," Charlie responds.

"Your—" Santana takes a deep breath, she had wanted to put some distance between them to remind herself that Charlie was royalty. "Charlie, I need a break from all of this. I haven't seen my parents in years, I need to check up on them. Please?" Before she could ask again Charlie had turned and was now in front of her eyes slightly dilated.

"I like it when you beg," Charlie whispers, not giving a shit that Kara was right there. "You can't have a year off, not when I just took power, you're my right hand Santana. You won't be reporting to my chief of staff, you will continue to report directly to me. I'm not unreasonable," Charlie insists after a moment. "You can have six weeks. After you train your replacement."

Santana frowned, the person who needed to be beside Charlie at all times needed to be able to take out a threat and neutralize it quickly before Charlie had to lift a hand. Tina was suited for the role of an assassin, and while she was able to take out most threats. A threat like Namor was better suited to—Santana tilts her head past Charlie to look at Kara.

"Kara?" Charlie questions and turns to look at Kara. "You think Kara can be your substitute?"

"I don't find you attractive, so I'm not going to be your personal whore." Kara said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I am not—" Santana inhales sharply. "Dani—is capable."

Charlie makes a face, before nodding once. It was only six weeks. Dani also didn't need that much training. "Fine, give your parents my regards."

"I'll go inform Dani—"

"We're having a joint training session Santana, and you're the head of my Fury's which means you should be in attendance to see how far standards have fallen." Charlie states in a tone that suggests that should be obvious to Santana.

Santana frowns, "I don't believe it is a good idea to fill our ranks with Amazons no matter how durable you believe they are," she says after a moment. "They are not loyal to you, and given who is in charge, and their closeness to the traitors, I would never let any one of them into my Fury's even with Granny Goodness's blessing. I don't trust them."

"Their entire culture is based on strength—"

"I am loyal to you whether you lose your abilities or not, I will fight for you and I will make sure you stay on the throne. As would Kara, as would Dani and Illyana. They would not. I am against this, as I stated. You are Empress now, you are free to listen to my advice, but as long as I am head of your Fury's they will not be allowed to enter." With that Santana turns on her heel and walks away. There was no way she was filling the Fury's with people that Charlie wanted to fuck. No matter how durable they were. It was a recipe for disaster.

Charlie frowns as Santana walks away from her, "Kara?"

"What?" Kara scowled.

Charlie stares at Santana for a moment longer before looking at her, "Is Santana—I feel like she's upset with me."

"What did you do?"

"Me?"

"Santana has been in love with you since we were teenagers. She does everything to make sure you're happy, so once again I ask, what did you do?"

"I am the Empress, I am beloved by all my people."

"Don't be intentionally obtuse. You have to know what you're doing with Yara," Kara blinks when Charlie just turns to her with a confused look on her face. "You don't see the similarities? Charlie you are literally attempting to get into the pants of a younger version of Santana."

"I don't see it, they look nothing alike, and it's racist for you to think like that. You should be better Kara. I expect better from my Fury's." Charlie scoffs before shaking her head and taking to the sky so she could get back to the training grounds.

Kara blinked, "Racist?" She had merely pointed out the obvious that everyone else could see. How the fuck was that racist?