Ninja's speech was very brief, but its implications are house-altering.

THE PORCH, Blue House – The speech came and went. It was short and sweet. And Ninja is gone, having left the house, as he claimed it, in “peace.”

While the speculators expected a speech that would rival Kennedy or Lincoln, Ninja instead delivered a speech that consisted of only 107 words, but many near the scene say that it may resonate for years to come. “Ninja is a modern Cincinnatus,” Jeff L. Horner, leading Kitty Konflict historian, said. “He left the house up to its own devices. Now, only God knows what kind of government the house will adopt.”

Ninja described abandoning his throne as his “rightful and noble duty” and went on to “thank the house for its blessings.” Following the speech, The Porch, Ninja’s old stronghold, erupted in gracious applause. Even Lionelle was said to have wept when he concluded.

Now, it seems the house is at peace, and the cries of kitty warfare are silenced like ghosts absolved. One can only hope that the tranquil feeling will last. Today may be marked as a holiday if it does. But if not, may we all celebrate this day in Ninja’s honor, or perhaps honor it as Ninja does. “Today,” he said, “let us revel in peace.”

Here is Ninja’s speech as seen on The Porch:

“It caught us all by surprise,” Nickle stated shortly after the abdication and subsequent shave. “He stood for order and strength. Right now, our strength is drained, and we are certainly without order.”

As disquietude reigns in Ninja’s place, those close to the house think the only solution is a unanimous appeasement to Lionelle. “I think,” Striker said, “that it’s time for Lionelle to rise to the position that she’s been prepared for her entire life.”

When asked whether the war is over or not, however, Jeff L. Horner responded simply by saying, “I don’t know enough yet.” Ninja’s forces, for now, still occupy The Porch, the symbolic stronghold that carried so much significance throughout the war. Who commands them following the abdication remains a mystery.

Reports have also been surfacing, that show that Lionelle has been strengthening her forces. It is possible that she could launch an assault upon The Porch while Ninja’s military faces a logistics calamity.

The Blue House is confused and anxious right now. Many believe that Ninja’s abdication may grant freedom, but others believe it will plunge the house into a pool of anarchy. All fears are justified, and it appears that only Ninja’s speech later this week will hold the answer.

This is the first image of Ninja following his unexpected abdication. He shaved his fur into a lion cut.

PORCH FORTRESS, Blue House – In a wave of unprecedented events, Ninja has officially abdicated as Grand Emperor of the Blue House. The announcement came earlier this morning, and Ninja is expected to give a farewell speech within days. The former leader also shaved his fur, leading many to believe that his action is based on an ambiguous African kitty religion.

For the last year, Ninja and Lionelle have been engaged in a bitter conflict for control of the Blue House. Once Ninja’s forces stormed The Porch and shoved Lionelle into exile, Ninja established the Ninja Empire, which has become the sole governing body of the house. The implications of Ninja’s abdication on the war and the house have yet to be realized. Lionelle, as of yet, has been unavailable for comment. Many critics, however, speculate that the introduction of a third feline, Sophie, may have carried weight in Ninja’s decision.

Photos are slowly trickling out that display Ninja’s new haircut. The style closely resembles that of a lion. “It seems Ninja is trying reconnect with something lion-like, perhaps his ancient African roots,” Jeff L. Horner, leading Kitty Konflict historian stated. “As a cat of color, he has, for a long time, spoken of getting in touch with his ancestry. The lion-cut may be the first step.”

The entire house is sitting on edge awaiting Ninja’s speech. What he says will impact the lives of many, and his departure could lead to the next great upheaval in the house. This publication will have much more coverage of this epic happening, for we, like everyone else, could be mortally affected by it.

Sophie snoozes in the Bottled Water Box in an act of unselfish protection.

KITCHEN, Blue House – In case of a zombie apocalypse, it’s good to know that the Blue House’s bottled water supply is safe. Residents were thoroughly pleased recently when they caught a glimpse of Sophie sleeping soundly inside a water bottle box. “It was cute,” Nickle said, “I thought it wasn’t possible for her to be any cuter, but, as usual, she defies my expectations.”

Experts are unsure how Sophie ended up in the box, but most agree she must have climbed in with altruistic intentions. “She wants to protect our water,” Jeff L. Horner said. “Water is our most precious resource, and one of our precious felines wants it to remain abundant in our house.”

Sophie lied still in the box for a matter of hours. Some speculators wonder if she anticipated some unexpected attack on the house, for she did not waver in the least from her difficult task of lounging and sleeping. Eventually, she did rise her furry little head and leave the water safely behind, but, as many in The Blue House agree, when it comes to thorough and experienced resource protection, Sophie’s methods are anything but all wet.

In mauling the bird, Sophie is proving to be a force in The House.

THE PORCH – Sophie’s first conclave with Ninja at his Porch headquarters came to a surprising conclusion on Wednesday when Sophie captured an aberrant bird and nearly mauled it to death. Once House officials removed Sophie, the bird flew to a safer height, but a sanguineous wound was clearly visible under its left wing.

“It’s questionable what kind of message her (Sophie’s) action projects,” Jeff L. Horner, the senior Kitty Konflict correspondent stated. “If she wants to show that she is resolute and dangerous, I believe she got that across.”

Ninja’s people have yet to comment on Sophie’s actions, but eyewitnesses relate that he had a horrified expression as Sophie bashed the bird senseless. Critics now believe that even Ninja is somewhat intimidated in Sophie’s presence. The implications of this intimidation to his overall war strategy are unknown at the moment.

Relating to the bird, as it perched in The Porch’s higher reaches, Blue House officials had to step in and see to its safe removal. Northwest coast immigrant Nichole suited up in what was dubbed by the mass-media as an “avian-material (AVMAT) suit.”

As she crept up to the bird, tensions on The Porch reached towering levels. Eventually, she managed to coerce it from its perch and strong-arm it around The Porch, and in the end, she shepherded it to the entrance where it immediately flew down and dashed under The Porch.

“It was impressive,” Horner went on to say. “Nichole bullied an injured bird until it was forced to withdraw. Her strategy might have been the most exquisitely executed of the war by any party.”

A gaping wound is clearly visible under the bird's wing.

With the bird gone, business returned to normal on The Porch, although Ninja’s and Sophie’s meeting supposedly came to nothing. Officials affirm that Ninja was too flabbergasted to continue the clandestine meeting. It appears that the conference has been postponed, but Kitty Konflict scholars avow that Ninja and Sophie will meet again.

“He’ll definitely need to rethink his strategy when dealing with her,” one such scholar said. “She’s shown that she is, in herself, a grave threat to those who cross her. Ninja can’t bully her around as he originally intended.”

Insider sources have yet to communicate a possible date for their next meeting, but The Blue House Lives will continue to dig deep into the trenches on this ongoing story.

Other photographs (click to enlarge):

Nichole donned an AVMAT suit to force out the bird.

Nichole tries to corner the bird.

Nichole forces the bird around The Porch.

Sophie comments on the Kitty Konflict at a peaceful conference with Lionelle.

STUDY WINDOW – Once made desolate in a decisive battle between Lionelle and Ninja, Study Window has now become the site of a Yalta-esque conference between Lionelle and Sophie. This conference shocked many bystanders as Sophie has just entered the fray of kitty politics, but Lionelle may use this meeting to fight off rumors that she has exhausted her war machine. These rumors radiated upon the war scene after her crucial loss at The Third Battle of the Porch.

Eyewitnesses to the conference say that Lionelle appeared haggard and aged by the long war, and many state that she had a tinge of nostalgia as she returned to Study Window, where she was also defeated by Ninja last year.

Study Window has long been abandoned by Ninja, as he has transferred his entire command to The Porch, where he can dictate the flow of goods into The Blue House. After Lionelle’s and Sophie’s conference, the rumor mill began to grind yet again. Kitty Konflict strategists speculate that Sophie is stepping in an attempt to ease Ninja’s stranglehold on the kitty economy.

In her first official statement regarding the Kitty Konflict, she said, “The House cannot simply stand by and allow Ninja to perpetuate what should be construed as a basic kitty rights abuse. His so called ‘anaconda plan’ has denied Lionelle many of her basic necessities, and that includes food.”

Sophie went on to refer to several recent instances where Lionelle’s food bowl was empty. “There was a time,” she said, “when Lionelle’s bowl was a verifiable horn-of-plenty.”

Critics has interpreted Sophie’s comments as evidence that she will eventually ally with Lionelle, but Jeff L. Horner, chief Kitty Konflict correspondent, thinks differently. “What Sophie is showing,” he said, “is an overarching concern for kitty well-being and not a preference for one combatant over another.”

Ninja’s people have yet to issue a comment, as he has yet to acknowledge Sophie as member of The House, but many experts state that he is simply biding his time. “He will meet with her,” an aide close to Ninja stated. “We believe that the meeting with Lionelle does not reflect anything, and when Sophie is ready, we will gladly accept her as a working member of the Ninja Empire.”

Sophie, unequivocal in her words, summed up her meeting with Lionelle in a few short statements. “I hope that with my visit here,” she said, “will eventually accord this house with peace. That’s all I aim for, and that’s why I met here with Lionelle. She is definitely a courageous and dignified feline, and I hope that, in the future, I will be granted correspondence with Ninja as well.”

Sophie enthusiastically explores The Study.

THE HOUSE- As the kitty conflict heightens over Ninja’s victory as Kitty of the Year, Lionelle follows in close pursuit, and she is determined to put an end to his reign. Despite all the tension and hostility, a new bright and shining light beams into The House. This light comes in the form of Sophie, The House’s newest addition to Kitty society.

In the few short weeks since Sophie’s arrival, she has already charmed her way into everybody’s heart. She was first discovered by House tenants Jeff L. Horner and Nichole at the local pet store. “As soon as I saw her I knew she was the one” Nichole proclaimed. “The House needed a savior and she was it.” It didn’t take little Sophie long to adapt to The House’s unusual way of functioning. Not even Lionelle’s disapproving hiss could deter Sophie’s trusting and upbeat personality. “I’ve seen Sophie take claim to highly disputed Study Window and neither Lionelle nor Ninja dare to challenge her intrusion.”

Sophie has a limited understanding in regards to the infamous Kitty Konflict. Some say she may not know what she’s getting herself into. If anything, her fearlessness has been agreed to be her advantage in the war between Lionelle and Ninja.  Although sworn enemies, the two combatants have been reportedly sighted entering into cahoots over her arrival and assumed hopeful departure.

Sophie is becoming quite content within the confines of The House.

The House and the world wonders what will come of the Kitty Konflict, or whether The Konflict will continue to worsen or possibly end? Only time will tell. But one thing is definite, that the addition of Sophie has had nothing but a positive influence on everyone and the overall House environment. So The Blue House would like to give a warm and inviting welcome to Sophie, and hopefully her stay there will ensure better times to come.

Ninja delivered his State of The House address to a crowded Kitchen.

THE KITCHEN– The State of The House address was given recently by elected Kitty of the Year, Ninja, to a fully-packed House conference session. The speech was given on the floor of The Kitchen, where Ninja sat tall and erect on a stool at The Kitchen counter. As always, the presiding officer, Princess Sophia Banana-Hammock, also Ninja’s rumored mistress, sat directly behind him as he addressed The House’s current problems.

Among the topics Ninja covered in his speech were proposals for House deficit reduction, more importation of goods, and health care reform.  It has been said by many House members that Ninja’s love for chicken put The House under financially. His economic goals now circulate around cutting back spending to lower the deficit, so The House can continue to import more chicken.

Following the speech, Lionelle stood up to deliver the opposing response from the floor of The Kitchen. Lionelle questioned Ninja’s ability to deliver his promises, citing health care reform as an example. Ninja plans on investing in building cleaner litter box facilities, yet Lionelle claims his inability to stick to one litter box is the cause for the dirty bathrooms’ condition.

House members also doubt Ninja’s proposals for deficit reduction. “How can we save money when Ninja demands more and more chicken each day?” questions speech attendee Nichole Stevens. “I don’t know what more Ninja can do about the deficit. He already cut funding to most of The House research programs” Jeff L. Horner posted on his blog earlier. Ninja has cut The Blue House’s space exploration funding in attempts to cut back spending, while talk about Lionelle’s airline proposition, called Air Kitty, is gaining popularity.

Lionelle's complementary mimosa's serve as a popular attraction on Air Kitty.

Despite criticism towards Ninja’s decisions as elected Kitty of the Year, he still has a strong network of supporters standing behind him, including all of The Corner Room. As far as The East Wing is concerned, Lionelle’s support is growing every day.

Although she has been in hiding, Lionelle has a large body of supporters.

Whether or not you were pleased with Ninja’s victory in the Kitty of the Year poll on Tuesday, you had to take notice. Lionelle, once thought to be dead in the water, put forth a quite admirable campaign and almost knocked off the heavily-favored Ninja. The simple fact that she received 47 percent of the vote proves that she still possesses a large body of supporters.

Lionelle’s recent actions, however, have not been witnessed. She was last viewed strategically ceding The Porch to the heavily-armed Ninja. Experts now place her location in that of Old Pontiac, where it is said that she is furtively planning a counterstrike.

Ninja has stormed through The House and gained a great horde of supporters since his arrival earlier in the year. Yet, in the eyes of many, and it has become apparent just how many, Lionelle is the original and still preferred feline. “The higher and higher Ninja climbs,” Jeff L. Horner, The Blue House Lives senior Kitty Konflict correspondent, “the more of a chance Lionelle has to surge. Lionelle’s stock has nowhere to go but up. Ninja cannot disregard her based solely on a few military victories and a close poll win.”

Time will tell whether or not Lionelle emerges from Old Pontiac with a new strategy to excruciate Ninja. So far, her simple strategy of lying low and letting the numbers speak for themselves may help her in the long run. It is definitely clear that her support is nowhere near waning.

Ninja waves to his supporters following a close victory on Tuesday.

THE BLUE HOUSE – After the dust settled following a wild voting crunch on Tuesday, Ninja emerged as The Blue House’s Kitty of the Year by winning The Kitty Konflict poll in a close contest. He defeated his rival Lionelle by 8 percent of the vote, 53 to 47. The poll’s close came as a record 484 votes were cast overall. Ninja captured 258 of those votes to Lionelle’s 226.

Many experts attribute Ninja’s victory to his recent success in the ongoing Konflict between the two cats. After he won the Third Battle of The Porch, sources state that he immediately went on the campaign trail attempting to win over the vote of a nation. Lionelle, however, came on much stronger than experts speculated. This upsurge may be due to the Ninja’s overexposure in the media. Whatever the case and considering the closeness of this vote, it is apparent that the nation remains divided over these two cats.

The controversy, however, has only begun. Team Lionelle already claims that the poll was wrought with fraud and corruption. Team Ninja claims that his victory should have been more of a landslide. Michael Fox and Dhizzy have already sparred with comments on a recent Blue House Lives article. With the intensity of the final tally at noon on Tuesday, experts suggest that many votes may have been discarded in the frenzy. “I believe overall,” said Jeff L. Horner, The Blue House Lives Year End Awards Chairman, “that the vote was fairly accurate. It definitely came down to the wire, but I think Ninja was the official winner.”

Officials close to the election have yet to announce the need for a recount. It will not be until the votes are officially totaled and announced, however, that Ninja becomes the authentic victor. This announcement will be part of the 2009 Blue House Lives Year End Awards later in December. Barring a strange twist of fate, however, it appears Ninja has once against conquered his nemesis, Lionelle.