AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Howdy! This is The Mayor of Ninjago City with a brand new story called The Fire Within: A Mayoral Vote. This tale focuses on a budding romance between Lou Hence, the father of our favorite earth ninja Cole, and Eileen Brady, the mayor of Ninjago City!
This short story is the latest installment in the "The Fire Within" series, which was originated by the author measuremesky when she began her first Ninjago fanfic The Fire Within. That fanfic, along with her follow-up story A Degree in Danger, can be found on this website. Measuremesky is a family member of mine, and she gave me permission to use her material to write my own contributions to the "The Fire Within" series. Check out my profile page for a list of titles.
The story you are about to read below takes place just one day after my recently completed fanfic The Fire Within: Rehearsal of Danger. In this new tale, Kai and Samantha's wedding reception is taking place, and Lou and Eileen are realizing they might have feelings for each other. Unfortunately, the evil sorcerer Sebastian (who we first met in The Fire Within: The Valentine Incident) has managed to escape from Kryptarium Prison to attempt another takedown of Lloyd, and this time he plans to use the mayor as leverage to achieve his goal.
This story will be fairly short, so I won't have a regular publishing schedule. I'll just post a chapter when it's ready!
I decided to write this tale upon learning of Titanium Jay's writing contest, in which she has challenged authors to come up with a story based on the author's username as a prompt. I plan to work on this project while simultaneously working on my other ones.
(Just in case anyone was wondering, the only attributes I personally share with Eileen are gender, hair color, and eye color. My name, age, etc. are different from hers.)
Hope you enjoy this first chapter of A Mayoral Vote!
Chapter 1 - Happiness
The wedding reception in honor of the nuptials of Kai Smith and Samantha Miller was in full swing in the Grand Ballroom of the posh Adams Hotel in downtown Ninjago City. A twelve-piece orchestra provided music that made it difficult for the guests to resist dancing.
In fact, one guest who required the assistance of a cane to walk around still insisted on rising from his chair. Though he was not able to perform the more athletic dance moves of his younger years, he was still able to maneuver through some of the more sedate steps. The woman with whom he was dancing had sat next to him during dinner. The two of them had enjoyed a lively conversation during the meal and continued their banter as they moved around on the wooden dance floor.
"I must compliment you on your beautiful scarf, Eileen," Lou Hence said as he smiled at his dance partner. "If I may be so bold, I would say that its colors complement your eyes." Indeed, the hues of the fabric seemed to accentuate the gold flecks within her green orbs.
Eileen Brady had known Lou for years, and so she knew that the former member of the Royal Blacksmiths liked to flatter the ladies, but she was pleased to hear his compliment anyway. "Oh, Lou, you say things like that to all the girls, but I do thank you," she replied. "I got it at the Angelo Giordano boutique on Fourth Street."
Lou's eyes lit up. "Ah, it's an Italian designed scarf. I knew there was a reason I liked it! Italians make the prettiest scarves!"
Eileen guffawed. "Italians may be known for many things, but we Irish are famous for things, too, you know!"
Just then, Cole Hence and his girlfriend, Brooke Dawson, sashayed close by.
"Looking good, Pop!" the earth ninja called out over the music.
"What else would I be BUT good, son?" the elder Hence answered back. His retort earned him laughter from the younger Hence and the two ladies present, and Cole and Brooke moved away to a different part of the dance floor, swaying in time to the music.
"Wow, your dad seems to be having a lot of fun with the mayor!" Brooke commented.
"That's for sure," Cole responded. "Pop and I have known her for years, starting when her dad was the mayor of Ninjago City. She worked in his public relations office and hired Pop and the Royal Blacksmiths to sing at various events. Ever since I was little, I always thought she was nice - she even let me call her Eileen, which was a big deal for a kid like me, to be able to call a grown-up by their first name! But yeah, tonight Pop seems extra energetic!"
"You think they might turn into an item?" Brooke asked.
Cole shrugged. "Ever since Mom died, he's had a few girlfriends but he never stayed with any one of them for too long. I do wish he'd find someone, though. I think he gets lonely."
"Has she ever been married?" the college student wondered.
Cole guided his dance partner in between two couples before answering. "Uh, no. When I was a kid in school, Eileen was seriously dating a police officer - I think his name was Travis. But one day Travis pulled into a gas station to fill up his police car, just when a guy was holding up the attendant inside the convenience store. The thief thought Travis was there to catch him, so he shot him right through the store window. The newspaper printed a picture of Eileen at the funeral. Very sad."
Cole noticed Brooke's pensive face upon hearing the sad story. Feeling remorseful at causing her darkened mood, he decided he'd better distract her. After all, they were at a wedding, a happy occasion. Within the next few measures of the orchestra's song, the opportunity to perform a dip maneuver presented itself.
"Hang on!" he warned, and two seconds later he bent her backward, supporting her with his muscular arms.
"Cole!" she screeched, half scared he would drop her and half laughing at her boyfriend's mischievous antics. "Put me upright again!" she commanded.
"I will. In a minute," he smirked. "So are you ready for me to give you your birthday present?"
Brooke nodded, looking into the earth ninja's dark brown eyes. Tomorrow she would be going back to her home village, so tonight was their last night together until she would return to the campus of Ninjago University for her third year of studies. Though she would be back in Ninjago City in just three weeks, she would miss her man while they were apart.
Cole brought her back to a standing position, right when the orchestra finished their song. But Brooke did not let go of her boyfriend. Instead she placed both of her arms around his neck.
"I love you, Cole," she smiled.
The words warmed his heart. Less than 24 hours ago, they had confessed their love for each other, on a night that could have ended badly for them after being kidnapped by three bank robbers.
"I love you, too, Brooke," he murmured, leaning in for a tender kiss.
Many guests were around to witness his demonstration of affection for the willowy brunette, but at that moment, he did not care who saw him.