Dawn Comes Slowly: Part Two

by gurgi440

General Leopold arrived the next day with a smile on his face quite odd for a council of war. Limoncello arrived with a similar smile, but for a quite opposite reason. The other council members arrived with each of their nominees and each was introduced. Then the council asked each of the nominees to leave the room so they could speak to one another about the new elder.

"Let me review for you the nominees," the High Elder said, "We have with us today, Montel, the owner of our villages oil industry, Belle, an esteemed lawyer, Smith, a veteran of the civil war who fought for the West, Tochinelli, a seaweed farmer, Spindler, a Neo-stock analyst, Limoncello, a student, Robinson, a retired millionaire, White, our own Mayor, and Beck, a town physician. You have all made fine choices, and our first vote will be without discussion, if a decision cannot be made, we will discuss the problem."

The ballots were handed out, and filled out. This was a common procedure, but not often of this importance. They were placed in a large shell and handed to the High Elder. The High Elder removed the ballots and began to read them aloud...

Limoncello felt very nervous out in the hall with so many prestigious figures. He shuffled around in his seat until Smith finally leaned over to him.

"Settle down Skipper," the old man kidded, "Me thinks ya might wear down yer skin if ya shuffle around any more than that. I wouldn't wanna see a good kid like you without any skin on 'em."

That eased the tension in the wide hallway, and everyone started being a little less stiff. It wasn't often that a new elder was chosen, and this was the only chance many of them had at the job that everyone wanted.

...Mayor White, one vote
Mayor White, two votes
Mayor White, three votes

General Leopold was becoming a bit edgy, if Mayor White were to win this he may just lose his role as General sooner as opposed to later. He needed to do something. Leopold bumped the table. The shell slid from the table, but Leopold caught it before it fell. He had been prepared for this situation, with amazing speed he removed five of the six remaining ballots and replaced five of them with votes for Limoncello that he had made in advance. He handed the shell back to the High Elder. No one suspected a thing.

Limoncello, one vote
Mayor White, four votes
Limoncello, two votes
Limoncello, three votes
Limoncello, four votes

The elders began to stir, a child in the council? That would be absurd, but what was to be done? This final vote decided all. Leopold sat low in his seat with a smirk that couldn't be detected. His plan was working out quite nicely.

"It seems we have a new member," said the High Elder, "but before I announce our new colleague, let me announce one other piece of agenda, this new member will not only be on the council, but will automatically replace Mr. Leopold."

"What?" cried Leopold, "What if our new colleague is not worthy of that title? Come now, be reasonable!"

"Any elder on our council is worthy of that position, and that is why our new General is none other than Limoncello."

***

Limoncello was soon called into the meeting room and given the news. At first he couldn't believe it, but he slowly began to realize the seriousness of his predicament. He was to lead an entire army, and decide the fate of thousands of Flotsams. Limoncello spent no time waiting around. The High Elder told him that it was of the utmost importance that he go to the battle front right away. The other elders wished him good luck, all except for Leopold who had quietly left the room. As soon as Limoncello left towards his army, Leopold headed towards the Jetsam stronghold with intents that were not friendly based.

The Flotsams had not expected to be led by a youth. There was a lot of upset at first, but soon they realized that Limoncello was a fine leader. General Limoncello had some ideas for his armies. First, he thought, the Flotsams' usual way of head on battle was not going to work. He needed a new plan, a strategy that could defeat the raw power of the Jetsams. He looked over the Jetsams' make-up to find a weak spot, something he could use. Then he found it. The gills of the Jetsams was their weak point. They didn't have a blowhole like the Flotsams. If they could find a way to block off, or maybe disable those gills, they could win.

The General took his plan to the people. They were skeptical at first, but then they realized the genius in his plan. At that point they knew he was their leader, their hero, their only hope.

General Limoncello waited a few days to train his troops in the new strategy, then he made an announcement, one of those speeches that moves masses.

"Flotsams!" he stated in his most prestigious voice. "We are not going to let our legacy die. I won't have it, the elders won't have it, and most importantly, neither will you. Think of your families. Think of what will happen if the Jetsams reach them. Then think of your history. Think of Flotsamulus and Flotsemus and the founding of our great civilization. Think of your rights. Your right to be alive, your right to live in our village, the right to be with your families, the right to wake up every morning and see the sun rise once more because they are your eyes, and you can use them for whatever you like. This is why you fight. See now whether you can go out and beat back these Jetsams, this is all I have to say."

The Flotsams charged. The Jetsams charged. The Jetsams lost many that day, the Flotsams lost very few. Limoncello's tactics had worked, and he had beaten back the Jetsams this time. Unfortunately for them, now the Jetsams would know their new plan, but for now victory was theirs. Upon returning, General Limoncello was given the title of Hero, and was presented with a Golden Paintbrush. General Limoncello the Golden Flotsam had saved the day. Although it took time, the end was sweet. Just as the dawn comes slowly and brings forth the sun.

The End