A/N: This was meant to be in the beginning of the story (Stupid Jellyfish put the 1st Chapter in before it). Here you are introduced to the antagonist of the series, and understand that, unlike Voldermort, he doesn't dick around. A more detailed explanation in the 1st chapter, but essentially, Harry, Ron, and Neville at the Auror's closest equivalent to a military academy.

Disclaimer : Don't own anything but the original characters and plot.

Prologue

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

-Anonymous-

The messenger ran through the steamy jungle, hacking away at the branches with a powerful swipe of his wand. Sweat streamed down his face, as he broke out onto the tropical beach. Panting and gasping, he didn't stop as he sprinted down the strip of sand, splashing a little bit in the perfect sky blue waters on his body to cool off. He ran unnaturally fast, and every time his feet would make contact with the water, steam would boil up his legs.

In front of the running man, at the end of the beach, was a sandy colored castle that gleamed in the tropical sunlight. It's high and imposing walls extended into the jungle. On the other side of the fortress, was pad that branched off the wall to hover over the beautiful ocean. Centered on the pad, was looked to be a large sandy colored cannon pointed out to sea. Rising above the hub of the castle was a tower of the same color. All along its length were red stain glass windows, while a large red crystal floated underneath a gently swept arch at the top.

In the face of the wall, in front of the man, a section of the smooth stone seemed to pop forward, and slide off to the side… as if done by magic. The man ran through the opening, and wiped the sweat off his tan brow. Inside it was much cooler, but flooded with red and orange lights.

A guard stepped forward, his golden armor scattered the red rays around the room, and drew a sword that cackled with magical fire.

"Messenger of the Sun, you rush to the Temple of Sol without care and disregard. How do I know that you weren't followed?"

The gasping man, knelt in front of the warrior, "Guardian, I come with news of our ally… Lord Voldermort." His heart was beating wildly, "About his downfall."

The Guardian nodded, and sheathed his sword. "So be it, travel up the tower and tell the Emperor."

"The sun shines."The messenger said as he ran up the staircase.

"On all his subjects." The Guardian responded.

Moving quickly, and with a trail of small fire behind him, the tan man ran up multiple staircases until he reached a pair of ornate doors. Two Guardians nodded at him, and pushed open the heavy doors.

On the opposite side was a grand hall that had sunlight spilling into it. At the far end sat an empty golden throne with soft red furs piled on it as cushion. The messenger extinguished his feet, and immediately felt cooler as a tropical breeze rolled in through the open doors on either side of the grand room. Moving quietly and not nearly as fast as before, the Messenger moved to the doors behind the throne.

Stepping outside, he found himself stepping out on the large pad that hung over the ocean. Sitting cross legged in front of the Great Cannon was a strong looking man. He wore only a pair of white baggy pants, his blonde hair was short, and he had his head turned up towards the sun.

"Welcome, Messenger. What news does the sun send me?" He asked without opening his eyes.

"Emperor!" The tan man said, as he dropped to the ground, "Lord Voldermort has been defeated. His forces have scattered, and the Aurors are hunting them down as we speak," Trying to steady his breathing, he spoke more, "The Death Eaters are no more."

No emotion passed over the Emperors face. "Who killed our ally?" He asked gently.

"A teen, Sir, Harry Potter."

"Ah, the boy who lived." The Emperors eyes snapped open, and if the messenger looked up, he would have seen his eyes glowed orange with a magical fire, much like the Guardian's sword downstairs.. He walked over to the man who was kneeling before him.

"How far did you run, Messenger?" The Emperor asked.

The Messenger, thinking he was in trouble, tried to calm is breathing and heartbeat, "From the City, Emperor. This Messenger was in London before he apparated to the City of Sol." "You used the power of the Sun to aid you the entire time?" Said the Emperor as he walked away and reached the steps the lead up to the Great Cannon. "Yes, Emperor." The Messenger responded. Nodding, he asked another question, "That is a lot of power to control, Messenger. What drove you?" "My dedication to the Sun & my Emperor." He said, shaking. The Emperor put a hand on the Cannon, and breathed deeply. The pad that held the Cannon was almost as large as a Quidditch pitch, while the Great Cannon was as big as a fully grown dragon. It was sandy colored, with large red crystal bands. At the end was a dark opening, with soot turning it black.

"This Cannon was built to direct the sun's cleansing power on our enemies. It took ten years to construct, and hundreds of technowizards to design it." His hand tenderly touched the breech with which the Cannon had red wires running up too, "So strong, so powerful… in yet we have never used it on our enemies. But no longer."

The blonde man walked to the messenger, and put a hand on his on the panting man's ridged shoulder. "You have the fire in you. You have proven yourself dedicated to the cause. Rise."

Unsure, the Messenger rose, but did not look up. "Look at me," The Emperor softly demanded.

His eyes made contact with the Emperors magical eyes. He noticed a grin on the superior man's face, but remained stoic and showed no emotion.

"Respectful, strong willed, and a gifted with the power of the sun." He nodded, "What is your real name and department?"

Trying not to stutter, the man responded, "Jon Delaqui, Emperor, Messenger of the Great Sun Cannon department."

"You are no longer a Messenger of the Sun, Jon Delaqui." The Emperor conjured golden metal arm bands to go around the biceps. "As the Phoenix Lord, I invest into you the grade of Sol Captain. You shall be in charge of the Great Cannon. And today, you fire it for the first time in order to cleanse this world. Come, Captain."

"Yes, Emperor." The recently promoted Captain said. Jon was thoroughly surprised and unable to speak more. Everyone had heard of the Emperors great gifts and humility to his comrades. But this was a lot, to be promoted from a lowly Private to Captain in a matter of minutes.

They walked down a stair case to a control room. This control room was unlike any muggle control room. It was dark, with magical displays that projected numbers and figures in a translucent-sphere that floated in the middle of the room. Around it the floating sphere, on the ground, was a circular island that sat multiple technowizards. Their white robes contrasted sharply with the dark room.

The recently promoted Sol Captain of the Cannon, and the Phoenix Emperor stood on a small balcony that was at level with the magical sphere. Noise in the room died down quickly, as the Emperor prepared to speak,

"Today, I have received news that our Ally has fallen." He spoke with a strong voice that demanded attention and respect, "Lord Voldermort has fallen at the hands of Britain's Aurors and a simple boy. I tell you that the Sun Empire is not as weak as our previous ally. And, I here by decree that today is when we take the fight to our enemy. Arm the Cannon. Target the nearest British Wizard Town and prepare to fire, Captain… take charge of your Cannon."

"The Sun shines on you Emperor." And proceeded to walk to his position at the edge of the balcony. Here, he watched the Technowizards work.

One spoke, who stood below him, reported, "Twilight Center, Grand Cayman Islands locked, Captain. Permission to fire?"

Captain Delaqui, turned towards his superior, and waited for permission. The Emperors' orange eyes locked on to his, and with a small nod, granted authorization.

"Granted." Jon said, "May the Sun's power cleanse those who oppose us."

All doors on the fortress shut and locked, while inside the Cannon, a sickly orange-white blob began to form. Deep underneath the control room, large orange crystals began to light up, illuminating the clear wires that delivered the power to the mighty Cannon. A heat haze formed on the pad, as temperatures exceeded the tropical air around it. At the same time, for a short moment, the magical build up in the Cannon caused the Castle's anti-muggle and invisibility wards to drop, allowing it to be seen by all.

The control room itself started rumbling, while Technowizards ran from console to console, ensuring the Cannon was ready to fire. Then, there was a sudden absence of shaking and sound, before a great thunderclap of energy was released. A stream of white hot magical energy left the muzzle, and ionized the air instantly around it. The beam arced through the air, before disappearing over the horizon.

Large slabs of stone opened on the bottom side of the platform, and fire and steam erupted down into the crystal waters below… a by-product of any leftover magical energy in the system. The tip of the Cannon glowed white hot, as did the part of the pad the energy passed over. In the control room, Technowizards, the Captain, and the Emperor watched a rune depicting the beam travel across the Caribbean.

"Subjects, watch the destructive power of the Empires might. Non-believers will at least receive mercy in a quick death." The Emperor shouted.

Twilight City was a gleaming version of Diagon Alley. It was the second largest settlement of Witches and Wizards in the Caribbean after the Magic Quarter of Havana. Protected by anti-muggle spells, it appeared to most as a section of overgrown jungle, but in reality, it was a jewel in the Caribbean. A couple citizens noticed a streak across the blue sky, and wondered what it was. This was their last thoughts.

The magical beam hit the center of Twilight City, and vaporized every building and person within a half mile radius. Molten plasma formed from the in the crater, shooting high into the sky, before falling back down to the earth. Hell had been created on the surface of the planet for a few minutes, before it began to stabilize. Though it took a while to cool, the land began to solidify, and crack. Glass coated the ground, and soon all that remained was a crater of a once rich city.

Muggle authorities responded with firefighting equipment and battled the blazing jungle though the night. When it was all over, muggle news sources stated that "It was lucky the meteorite struck a non-inhabited section of the island," while Witches and Wizards mourned across the world at the luckless city.

Nobody knew the wiser.

~AJF