Heyyyyy besties-
I’ve been inspired by a fanfic that smushed a bunch of fandoms together and threw them into the Hunger Games so naturally I eated that idea.
Um I’m not very good at writing some characters even with their wiki page sitting next to me (cough cough Phoenix Wright cough cough) so please bear with me, I’m trying, dont get mad I will cry
Also, some of these are ocs, and some are fandom characters renamed for the sake of universe accuracy
Oh also I’m terrible at making up Capitol people
Enjoy the shitshow <3
TW: mentions of murder and death, cursing
July 4, 2306
Panem, District 12
It was the morning of the day of the Reaping.
Apollo stood outside, near his house, his hands stuffed into his coat pockets. He knew he would be reaped for the Hunger Games this year. How could he not be chosen, with all the tesserae he’d signed up for? He already devised a plan. Win, so he could support his family. Easy enough, he was the toughest of the three brothers and could pick up new skills quickly.
He heard the patter of small footsteps coming up behind him and looked over his shoulder. It was Artemis, his younger brother, looking very disheveled. Apollo tilted his head, turning to face Artemis.
“What are you doing up? It’s still early.”
Artemis rubbed the sleep out of their eyes, looking up at Apollo with a worried expression. “I couldn’t sleep. . .”
Apollo furrowed his brows. He stretched out one of his arms, offering Artemis a hug, which they quickly accepted. Apollo wrapped his arm around his brother’s shoulders, holding them close as they hugged him tightly.
“Are you worried about the Reaping? I doubt you’ll get picked, if that helps.”
Artemis shook their head. “No, it’s not that. Well, yes, it’s the Reaping, but. . .” Artemis sniffled. They were crying. Apollo lightly ran his free hand through Artemis’s curls, an attempt at comfort that usually worked, but not this time.
Artemis let out a quiet sob, then spoke again. “I don’t want you to get picked.”
Apollo sighed. “I. . . I know, Artie. But my name’s been entered over twenty times.” He withdrew from the hug, gently grasping Artemis’s shoulders. His determined gaze met their tear-filled eyes. “If I get reaped, I’ll do whatever it takes to win. Okay?” Artemis nodded silently. “Besides, you still have Atlas.”
Artemis pouted slightly. “But Atlas is mean.”
Apollo raised his eyebrows in slight amusement. “Yes, but he would do anything to protect you, just like I would.”
“Why didn’t Atlas sign up for the tesserae? He’s the oldest.”
“Because we agreed that I would have the best chance of survival.” Apollo squeezed Artemis’s shoulders, then let go and stepped back. “I need to do a few things. I’ll be back in time to help you get ready. Go back inside and get some rest, okay?”
Artemis nodded again, then turned and ran back to the house. Apollo watched them for a few moments, then turned and started walking away, towards the Hob. He felt around in his pockets. . . Good, there were still a few coins in there. He could get at least some bread for his family.
——
July 4, 2306
Panem, District 2
Resh messily braided his hair, quickly walking to the Justice Building. Just one more year, and he wouldn’t have to worry about being entered in the Hunger Games. He hoped deeply that he wouldn’t be drawn this year, which was uncharacteristic for someone from his district.
Teth and Tsadi, his two friends since childhood, walked on either side of him. Teth was the most put-together of the three, watching with a grin as Resh struggled to fix his hair and walk at the same time. “You should really start getting ready sooner,” She commented, earning a glare from Resh. She simply laughed in response. “You’re just pissed because you know I’m right.”
Tsadi was in a less cheerful mood, staring straight ahead as the trio walked. Resh finished his braid, then looked over at Tsadi, worry seeping into his expression. “Tsadi? You okay?” Tsadi glanced at Resh, then sighed.
“Yeah. Just worried. You’re the oldest out of us three, which means you have a really good chance at being drawn this year.”
Resh arched an eyebrow. “Well, if I am drawn, I’ll probably win. There’s a reason District 2 tributes are the scary ones.”
Teth shook her head and nudged Resh slightly. “Resh, you’re not a killer like the other tributes from our district.”
“Also, you’re especially not a kid killer,” Tsadi interjected. “There’s gonna be twelve-year-olds in that arena, remember?”
Resh pursed his lips. Right, they were all kids. And so was he, technically, but still. His friends were right, he didn’t have the guts to kill that many people. He would definitely die.
“Let’s just hurry up. We’re almost late,” He mumbled.
——
July 4, 2306
Panem, District 12
Justice Building
Apollo stood near the front of the Reaping stage, with the rest of the sixteen-year-olds in District 12. He knew Atlas was up with the eighteen-year-olds, and Artemis was near the back with the thirteen-year-olds. He would never admit it, but he was nervous. Really nervous. His fidgeting made that evident, and he was glad neither of his siblings could see.
A woman walked up onto the stage, smiling and waving. She looked like she expected everyone to be excited about two kids being shipped off to fight to the death. It was disgusting. Apollo narrowed his eyes, giving her a death stare that was likely identical to Atlas’s in the same moment.
He remembered this woman from the past Hunger Games. Her name was Decima Spring, and he could only truly recognize her by her striking purplish complexion. She wore a different colored wig every year, normally clashing with the outfit she wore.
This year wasn’t any different, with Decima sporting a bright green dress, with a short, deep blue wig. It made Apollo’s head hurt just looking at her. Decima stood in front of the microphone, looking around expectantly.
“Hello, all. Welcome to the Reaping for the sixty-eighth annual Hunger Games!”
Apollo closed his eyes, letting Decima’s voice fade into the background. He would start paying attention once she started calling out tributes. . .
After a short introduction speech, Apollo heard Decima say, “Now, for the first tribute. . .” Now he was paying attention again. Apollo’s heart pounded as Decima slowly reached into the glass ball containing the names of the District 12 children. She was being agonizingly slow about it.
Finally, Decima pulled a slip of paper out of the ball, studying it for a moment before opening it.
“Apollo Stellaris!”
Apollo looked around a bit, then slowly started walking towards the stage, staring straight ahead at Decima. He wouldn’t let himself look at Atlas or Artemis. He couldn’t.
But as soon as he stepped onto the stage, he heard Artemis yelling.
“APOLLO! APOLLO, NO!”
He turned to face the rest of the audience, ignoring everyone but Artemis. He stared at them, wishing he could go down there and reassure them. Comfort them. Do something that would make them stop screaming and crying, because watching his little brother in so much pain hurt Apollo deeply. His eyes stung with tears that would never be shed as he watched Artemis, screaming and struggling, be held back by Peacekeepers as they tried to run to Apollo.
Apollo glanced at Atlas. Atlas simply nodded back, his eyes holding as much pain as Artemis was expressing. When the Peacekeepers eventually forced Artemis to calm down, Decima cleared her throat awkwardly.
“Well, clearly you’re not happy with the selection.” She giggled, as if this was all a joke, then continued. “Let’s draw the second tribute before this one—“ Decima gestured to Artemis, who was now standing in the middle of the Peacekeepers, sobbing. “—gets a bit violent, hm?” Apollo clenched his fists, but held his tongue. He would win, and get back to Artemis and Atlas. He had to.
“…Artemis Stellaris! Well, looks like we’ve got a pair of siblings! How lovely.”
What?
——
July 4, 2306
Panem, District 6
Justice Building
Phoenix stood with the other fourteen-year-olds, his head tilted slightly. He stared at the Capitol man on the stage. The man apparently went by the name Valerius Steel, and he had blue and yellow gems imbedded near his eyes. Phoenix never understood Capitol fashion, but now wasn’t the time to pay attention to gems implanted in skin. He listened intently as Valerius began his speech.
“Welcome, District 6, to the Reaping. As you all know, it’s about time for the sixty-eighth Hunger Games! Very exciting, yes?” Awkward silence. Valerius looked uncomfortable. But really, it was his fault for being so enthusiastic about sending children to their deaths. Valerius coughed, then spoke again. “Uh. . . It’s time to pick our annual tributes!”
Well, that was short. Phoenix took a deep breath, watching Valerius reach into the Reaping ball. If he was picked, it wouldn’t be good at all. He was definitely better with words, and that would be useless in the arena.
Valerius slowly pulled a slip of paper from the ball. It was also tradition to drag the drawings out unnecessarily, wasn’t it? The man watched the crowd in anticipation, then sighed quietly at the lack of a reaction and opened the first slip of paper.
“Topaz Barnett!”
Phoenix watched as a tall, well-built girl walked up to the stage. Topaz Barnett. She looked about the same age as Phoenix, but with a much more confident and slightly intimidating stature. She seemed to glare at everyone she laid eyes on, so Phoenix purposefully avoided eye contact.
Valerius cheerfully greeted Topaz, jumping back a bit as she snarled at him. “Woah, she’s aggressive. She may fit right in with the District 2 tributes this year!” Phoenix couldn’t say he disagreed.
As Topaz stood there seething, Valerius nervously reached into the ball again. Now, Phoenix definitely didn’t want to be picked, if it meant facing off against her. And other tributes who would no doubt be much older and stronger than him. . .
Phoenix froze when Valerius called the next name.
“Phoenix Wright!”
Uh oh.
Phoenix stared at Valerius and Topaz, and suddenly he felt nauseated. There was no way for him to survive the Games, so he pretty much got sentenced to death. He remembered last year’s Games, and losing a close friend to them. He knew she would want him to win, or die trying. He squared his shoulders and walked to the stage, trying to push away any doubts in his mind.
He had to try. He wouldn’t die without a fight.