The Mandarin Rises

Virgina "Pepper" Potts walked into the Stark Enterprises building with confidence. Dress in her green power suit, jacket and matching short skirt with golden blouse. Her dark black haired tied in a bun set with chopsticks. The half-white, half-Asian woman thought it was ironic that Tony Stark the genius didn't know the CEO of his company and potential paramour was also his greatest enemy. The Mandarin!

She had been born to an American father and a Chinese mother, working her way up. Going through both mental and physical tests, like the Mandarins of old, to become a mistress of the world. During a chance trip to Asia, she had stumbled across the alien ship. Containing a deadly space dragon she slayed to gain the reward, her ten rings of power.

'It took a lot of tricks to come up with a persona where Tony couldn't tell his foe was me. Or an illusion which to cloak my rings to make them look like more normal rings. Even invisible.' she thought as she settled into her day, as she knew Tony was with the Avengers. Even he didn't know that he was funding his enemy's scheme.

'Though, once I have finished he won't be my enemy. He will be my consort. Handsome, intelligent, skilled... all perfect for the rule once he had been taught his place. At the side of my side, serving me.' She thought as she used her Starkpad, golden nails moving quickly, as she brought up her next moves for her plans.