Leadership Qualities: A Big Four/ Divergent Crossover

The Ceremony

At home, my parents were waiting. They waited at the door, smiles on their faces, and I braced myself for the inevitable.

“How'd the test go?" My mom asked cheerfully, opening the door. Little gestures like this made me think she might've been in Abnegation before she came to Candor.

“It was...interesting? Yeah, that's pretty good." I said sitting down to a plate of Chicken Alfredo and olives. Along with our speaking and dress, we'd eat black and white too.

“So, you know what faction you'll join? Or become an Undesirable?" My dad teased.

“Herb! They're called Country Leaders, and I'm sure Jack will choose Candor!"

Our current country leaders had been reduced to two, and they were planning to retire. Whomever would be chosen this year would reign over our country until the same happened to them. But whomever was chosen would be blamed for every tiny thing that happened.

While my parents talked, I picked at my food, but soon excused myself to bed, condemning myself to horrible dreams of disgrace, murderers, and chicken Alfredo.

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The next morning, I woke up in a relatively good mood, had plain bread for breakfast, and was driven by my parents to the Choosing Centre; a place used only once every 70 years. They forced me to get a good seat, which is why we were so early. In fact, my legs had already fallen asleep by the time the Ceremony. Even worse, we started with Abnegation, then Amity, then Candor, then, once I would choose and come back in this exact spot, I would have to sit through Dauntless and Erudite choosings.

Just as I'd expected, nothing interesting happened with the stiffs; Practically all of them went back to their same seat, except like two who just got dirty looks. Woop-dee-doo.

But halfway through the Amity choosings, a girl is called up. And I know that doesn't sound to interesting, because it's not. But once she got up there, things got interesting.

“Rapunzel Corona."

She advanced towards the bowls, where our now elderly Country Leaders waited, handing the knife to everyone.

Except her.

She reached for the knife, but they didn't give it to her. She looked a little worried as they whispered something to her and she walked into a door I hadn't seen before. I expected them to clarify with everyone, but they continued with the Ceremony like nothing was different.

Then we finally started on Candor. Guy was first. He was so predictable, I was willing to bet he'd come right back to Candor. So you can imagine my surprise when he cut his hand and his blood dripped and sizzled onto the firey coals for Dauntless. The black-clad crowd wooped and stomped their feet as he took a seat by one of them, who gave him a noogie.

I was so shocked, I probably would've missed my name altogether, but when they called “Jackson Overland-Frost" I stumbled up to the stage, tripped on my own feet and got to the bowls. I reached out for the knife, but they leaned to one another and whispered, and they nodded to eachother. The crowd mumbled behind me, expressing the same confusion I felt. One of them leaned to me.

“Go to the back room. Where you saw Rapunzel go." He said. Or she. I can't remember their gender, or their names. But I obeyed the nameless wonder and walked to the door, receiving stares all the way.

Through the door was a smallish room that had a bookshelf crammed against a blue wall, a bonsai tree against a yellow wall, a first aid kit against a grey wall, and an assortment of antique guns against a black wall. The girl named Rapunzel sits on a small red chair, humming to herself. When I enter, she looks up and her face breaks into a grin.

“Oh my goodness, hi! I'm Rapunzel, but you can call me Punzie, or if you don't want to you don't have to! Anywho, I'm soo excited about what we're doing! What if we're the new country leaders?! That would be so cool-!"

“Uh, Punzie? Do you ever, like, take a break to breathe?"

She took a deep breath and nodded, leaning back in her chair. But this peaceful silence was not meant to last, for yet another person entered the room.

She had firey red hair and black, tight clothes. She strutted into the room and slammed the door behind her, which made Punzie let out a yelp.

“Hey," The newcomer said, sitting in one of the chairs. “I'm Merida."

“Hello! I'm Punzie and this is-" she turned to me. “What's your name again?"

“Jackson Overland-Frost Esquire."

Merida let out a laugh. “That name is bigger than you are!"

“That wasn't very nice." Punzie pouted.

“Meri-duh is entitled to her opinion." I said, rolling my eyes. The red head snarled and looked like she wanted to shoot me with an antique gun, but a boy entered the room just in time, followed by a woman in a black and white pantsuit.

“My name is Lori and this is Hiccup." She said in a voice like breaking glass, shoving the boy forward a bit. “I've come to escort you all to your living quarters."

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The living quarters were nothing more than four beds in a circle in a cold cement room. We were all assigned a bed and a set of rules.

1) We could go into other factions to get to know people and buy clothing, but not after curfew (12:00)

2) We had daily classes at 9:00

3) Always obey Lori and her associates- no questions asked.

“Wait- if we're the country leaders now, how come we have to listen to you? Don't we call the shots?" Merida asked, voicing my thoughts. Lori lost her composed atmosphere for a second, looking nervous. But just as fast as she lost it, she regained her composure.

“Because you are all simple teenagers! We must train you!" She said, her broken-glass voice rising.

“But-" I started.

“No buts! Your classes will start the day after tomorrow!"

And with that she turned on her heel and stormed out, slamming the door, and shutting us out from the world.