The next day, bright and early at Mayor Dewey Headquarters...

"And here we have a color coded map of Beach City." Pearl says as she points at a map on the wall. "The colors correlate to how many registered voters reside in that location. Yellow means a more sparse population, while Red means a more dense population... The plan is to display signs and posters based on residential correlation. More posters in the red spots and less in the yellow. That way your campaign gets noticed, but you don't appear to be pushy."

"But... I already posted signs all over the boardwalk..." Dewey says.

"I know." Pearl responds. "I removed them."

"But isn't that where I'm going to be spending most of my time campaigning?" Dewey asks full of confusion.

"Yes." Pearl says as she goes into yet another long winded explanation. "That is precisely why we don't need the posters there. We leave the posters in the high residential zones so the voters can see them on their way to and from work and while they run errands. They need to see the signs but not get assaulted by them. Placing signs on the boardwalk is counterproductive for several reasons. First is that its a low residential area. Very few humans actually live on the boardwalk. Second, most of the registered voters work on or near the boardwalk. They've already seen the signs on their way to work. If they have to see them all day while at work then they'll get irritated with them. Lastly, you're going to be campaigning there, so they don't need to see your signs. They'll see you."

"I see." Mayor Dewey says full of admiration for Pearl. "And what is that other map for?"

"This..." Pearl says with a sly smile. "This is where I estimate that Lapis Lazuli will be spending most of her time campaigning."

"And how do you know this is right?" Dewey asks as he gets up and inspects the map closer.

"Her campaign manager is very... Stubborn." Pearl says with a groan. "She'll insist on campaigning in places that she feels would provide the best strategic advantage... However, Peridot is inexperienced with how humans operate. Therefore, we can run under the assumption that they are going to go for a 'per capita' campaigning approach and target the more crowded areas."

"What are these areas?" Dewey asks as he inspects the map. "I know this one is Funland... But what are the others?"

"Bathrooms and changing areas." Pearl says.

Meanwhile at the Barn...

"And here is where the humans of voting age frequent." Peridot says as she points at a crayon colored map on the wall. It looks almost identical to the map Pearl had.

"I know that big dot is Funland..." Lapis says confused. "But what are the others?"

"These are changing facilities, bathrooms, and specialized eating establishments known as bars." Peridot explains. "Here at bars humans consume beverages that impair rational judgement and make them more susceptible to persuasion... We campaign while they're in that state, and we're sure to win!" Peridot laughs in triumph.

"Peri... We are not brainwashing the humans." Lapis says with a hint of authority.

"Its not brainwashing!" Peridot says defensively. "Its providing beneficial information to the locals while they're in a more agreeable mental state in order to facilitate..." Peridot's eye widen as if she had just realized something. "... I guess it is brainwashing... Nice catch, Lazuli!"

Lapis smiles. She then walks up to the map and inspects it further. "Also..." Lapis says with a tone of apprehension. "I'd like to avoid campaigning in these areas too..."

"Why!?" Peridot asks angrily. "They're perfectly good spots! They have the highest flow of locals. They have the most predictable schedules. They have-"

"Mirrors." Lapis cuts Peridot off. She hugs herself and shivers slightly. "... Lots of mirrors..."

Peridot stands there, looking at her. She remembered Lapis mentioning that she was trapped in a mirror for so long. Peridot cursed her own stupidity in silence. She coughs to clear her throat. "Never mind those areas then." Peridot says. "Instead lets... Uhm... I have no idea..." Peridot sighs and sits down on a bail of hay.

Lapis looks at the map. "Lets see..." Lapis thinks. "I don't want to visit people's homes. That's too pushy. I'm not a creep. There's alway going to the beach, but then I'd get nothing done. Boardwalk? No. If we just stand on the boardwalk and yell about the government then we'd just be prettier versions of Ronaldo... Wait!"

"I got it!" Lapis yells with a wide grin.

"Got what?" Peridot asks.

"The answer!" Lapis says excitedly. "We have no idea what we're doing!"

Peridot looks at Lapis confused. "... Aaaaand?"

"Don't you get it!?" Lapis continues. "That's the answer! We have no idea what we're doing, so lets just go to the local businesses and ask them what needs to be done!"

Peridot just looks up at Lapis. "Thats... Brilliant!" Peridot gets onto her feet with enthusiasm. "After talking with local proprietors, we could develop an economic strategy that would benefit their businesses. It would give us the foundations for a political agenda and make the locals think we care about the financial stability of the city! You're a genius!"

Lapis blushes at being called a genius. "... I just know when to ask for help."

"And modest too!" Peridot exclaims. "People like that!"

Later, at Dewey Headquarters... Dewey and Pearl are getting into the election mobile.

"Now, do you remember the plan?" Pearl asks as she fastens her seat-belt.

"Yes." Dewey says nervously. "Campaign on the boardwalk, discussing re-election and my plans for the city. Nothing too descriptive though."

"Right. The details will be filled in later after we see what is a hit with the audience." Pearl responds. "Then we sit tight and wait for the morning paper to see how the press responds."

Dewey groans and wipes sweat off his forehead before shifting the car into drive and heading out towards the boardwalk.

At the exact same time at the barn... Lapis and Peridot are walking towards town.

"Now, do you remember the plan?" Peridot asks Lapis.

"Yes." Lapis says with a smile. "Talk to the business owners, discussing ways to benefit their businesses. Drill them for information."

"Right. And from the details we gather, we can formulate a platform to move forward with." Peridot responds. "Then we sit tight and wait for the morning paper to see how the press responds."

Lapis clenches her hand into a fist and smiles. "This could work."

((With each passing chapter, the two sides get closer and closer to eventually butting heads! But that's to be expected I guess. There's lots of behind the scenes stuff going on before candidates begin their campaigning. Well there should be. Even though this is a political fiction, I fully plan on keeping my real life political views on the down low... Solely because there isn't anything I can say that hasn't been said already but more eloquently... But I digress...

Fear not, soon the two forces shall but heads! Lapis Lazuli, the Water Witch and Mayor Dewey... The... Uhm... Sweaty guy whose head looks like a butternut squash!... Wow... If politics was settled via fist fight, Lapis would've been made sovereign ruler of Beach City by now...))