Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

AN: Well here it is, the sequel to my 1st story. Hope you like it. Feedback would be much appreciated. I write this with a sense of fear and anxiety; I have to admit, as I become less and less sure of how this story will come out. It should be fun to find out.

This is a Sequel. Please Read "The Prodigy's Ascension" before reading this.

Chapter 1: Plans

1 week after the Ascension…

Harry sat on his throne, watching the proceedings of the Imperium Council impassively. They had been arguing for the past three hours on whether or not to reveal the King's identity to the British Minister of Magic. The Imperium Council acted as the Ionian Legislative Body and ruled in times when the King was unable. The problem was that years of internal political strife and turmoil in the absence of a King left the Council with no figure to unite them politically. Even with Harry's emergence as King, they were still not used to the idea. The result was their gradually decreasing effectiveness that now bordered total uselessness.

No wonder they have not made any new laws in the past five years, they're all too busy arguing to do anything useful. They have essentially deadlocked themselves. Harry thought contemplatively, not bothering to listen to whatever drabble the Councilmen were spouting as he was certain it would be inconsequential.

This past week had been…interesting, to say the least. Now Harry understood why Rigan had been teaching him about Ionos' current conditions in what few days he had been here. It was the necessary preparation he needed in order to understand the problems he would face as leader of a country in such poor conditions. And the problems he faced were vast: rebel insurrections, territorial takeovers, political strife, mass poverty, severe military weakness, poor living conditions and the insufficiency of vital resources such as food and clothing. Thankfully, due to the Council's ineffectiveness to act, the Imperial coffers were filled to the brim, as of yet. This would fund the restoration of the country quite easily. Slowly, a plan started to form in Harry's mind; a plan that would solve their problems.

Harry disdainfully returned his focus to the bickering men before him. Enough is enough. Time to rein them in. "Councilmen," Harry started, making sure to carry his voice throughout the room. The Councilmen stopped arguing and turned to face their liege. "We have heard from both sides their propositions on this matter. We shall convene at a later date to decide on this issue. Until then, all of us should reflect on the words spoken in this meeting. This meeting is adjourned." Harry pronounced. The Councilmen bowed to him before leaving. "Council Lord, Commander Sinther Atheros, stay behind, if you will."

Said men stayed in the room, waiting for the rest of the Council to clear out of the room. Once the last one had left, the grand, wooden double doors were closed by the Guardians, an elite force tasked with the protection of the King. "Commander Atheros, you are the head of the Dragon Elites and the Director of all Special Operatives. Correct?" Harry asked.

"Yes, my lord." Sinther replied.

"Then would you also be aware of espionage activities conducted by the Guardians as well?" Harry inquired.

"No, my lord."

Harry frowned. "You are the head of the Imperial Army. How is it they do not report to you?" He asked curiously.

"My lord, the Dragon's Guard serves as your personal guardians and it would be ill-advised to have them report on any activities they conduct to preserve your safety as it might compromise their work. Their position in regards to you is of a…subtle nature and therefore excludes them from my authority." Sinther explained.

"Then who do they report to?"

"They should report to you, my lord, although that task remains with Agent Faren Serathi, Director of the Dragon's Guard."

"Lord Rigan, send for this man immediately." Harry ordered.

"At once, my liege." Rigan bowed before heading out for a runner to relay Harry's command. A few minutes passed before Rigan returned with the man in question. "My lord, may I introduce to you Agent Faren Serathi. He is in command of the Guardians."

Faren bowed to Harry. "What do you wish to know about the Guardians, my lord?"

"It is to my understanding that your group has been conducting espionage activities within the rebel states of Silidus and Prodimus. What have your informants gathered about these states so far?" Harry asked.

"The states of Silidus and Prodimus are both ruled by military strongmen; one a former commander in the army, the other a persuasive leader of a large group of renegades. They are suffering from the same problems we are. Reports indicate an increase in public dissent and unrest against these de facto takeovers in both islands.

"Silidus is held by a force of five thousand men. These men are well-trained and well-armed, but with news of your recent Ascension, many are beginning to doubt their leader's wisdom in rebelling. The three thousand strong in Prodimus remain loyal to the military commander and staunchly opposes your rule. There has been a rumor that these two leaders would be meeting soon to form an alliance against you."

Harry remained silent at that piece of information. If they were to form a coalition, it would take considerably more time to pacify these uprisings. "And how would you proceed with this kind of situation, Director?" Harry asked.

Faren took a deep breath. "I would order the army to strike with full force at one of these states to crush them as soon as possible. This would weaken the other state considerably and cause them to lose hope. Then we strike at the other one immediately afterwards, giving them no time to prepare. Our numbers will win the battle for us."

Harry pondered on this. It was a sound idea in itself, but the massive loss of life would not be pragmatic when it could be avoided. "I will consider your proposition, Director. Continue to conduct espionage activities in these states." Harry said, nodding slightly. He turned to speak to Sinther. "Commander Atheros, keep the Army on high alert and ready to strike at my command and only at my command. Gather up as many Riders as you can in secret."

"Now on to the next matter of business, Lord Rigan, please prepare a state visit to China and Japan in three weeks time and a separate one to Norway before the week ends." Rigan raised a brow at this, but nonetheless nodded in compliance. "Director, Commander Atheros, the two you will be working with Lord Rigan here on the security detail of me visits. It is of the utmost importance that the British ministry does not hear of this until the visit is completed. The two of you are dismissed."

Faren and Sinther bowed before turning to leave to accomplish their assigned tasks. Once they had left, Rigan started. "What are these state visits supposed to accomplish exactly?"

Harry smiled at him in a knowing kind of way. "You'll see, Rigan, you'll see. Just get everything I asked prepared and I will take care of everything else." Rigan sighed, exasperated, shaking his head at the King's secretiveness.

A flash of light filled the room briefly, signaling the arrival of a phoenix; but not just any phoenix. It was Harry's phoenix, Hedwig. Rigan remained unfazed, having been used to the phoenix flashing in and out of the palace within the span of a week. Hedwig perched herself on Harry's shoulder, while staring at Rigan curiously.

"My lord, there has been something I've been meaning to speak with you about." Rigan said.

"What is it?"

"My lord, I have served the state loyally for all my life. I had taken a vow to enthrone a new King, and I am happy to say I've succeeded. Sire, the Council is troubled with political unrest due to my presence there. I humbly request that you allow me to retire from the Council." Rigan said.

Harry turned to look at him in surprise. This had not been what he expected; far from it, in fact. Harry considered it for a moment, before deciding. "Rigan, while I appreciate your willingness to give up your positions of authority believing it would be for the betterment of my rule, I must sadly turn down your request." Harry raised his hand to stop any disagreements with his decision. "Let me explain why I choose to do so. Rigan, you are, probably, the only person left in government from the reign of the last King.

"Your knowledge is invaluable and I cannot afford to lose my primary advisor as of yet. You create a sense of balance within the Council, allowing me to act with leniency. In fact, without you in place, I very much doubt I could keep everything in order. Despite your wishes, I'm afraid you must be patient for a little longer. Ask me in a year from today, and I will consider giving you my blessing to retire from your position in the Council." Harry stated with a note of finality, leaving no room for argument.

"Why, my lord?" Rigan asked, a little sadly.

"Walk with me, Rigan." Harry said, standing up from his throne. The two walked towards a balcony that overlooked the city of Zyder. "I need allies." The Council Lord looked at him in surprise. "All of this," Harry gestured to the city. "Must be fixed, and I am but a man."

"You are not just a man. You are our King. You are our leader. You are this country's last hope in a world that has left us behind, remembered only in books and stories. We follow you without question, because we believe in your power." Rigan said.

"But I can't do it alone. I need people whom I can trust. I need advisors and comrades to help me. And you are one of the very few I can trust completely right now. I need your help to create this new Ionos you so desperately want me to create. And that is why I cannot allow you to leave yet."

"And you think in a year's time you won't need my help any more?" Rigan asked, a little hopeful.

"Of course I would still need your help. I'm a King, not a miracle worker. But by that time I would have had already more people to help me. And the Council would find it more agreeable to aid me. A year longer and you will be free of the Council, if you still wish to leave by that time." Harry stated.

"Very well, my lord. I will stay. For the sake of the country, I will serve a little longer." After all, a year would fly past quickly. What was a year to the fifty years I spent waiting.

"…The states of Ionos, Azkaban, and England were renown between the time of Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria for their advancements on naval warfare. This resulted in the creation of massive fleets by most European Nations as they warred in the sea during the age of Colonialism. After several wars, British superiority in the seas was finally cemented with their victory in the Triumvirate Wars between the alliance of Britain, Ionos, and Azkaban against the countries of France, Spain, and Portugal. The results of their victory were felt worldwide…"

-excerpt from: Naval Warfare, Chapter XXII, by Daniel Whitmore