To the Ends of the Earth

Chapter One: The Districts

"At first, the games were a punishment, a consequence, a price that the districts had to pay for rebelling against the Capitol. Now, I would say that the Hunger Games is a way that brings us all together, that nets the districts as one."

~ ~ ~

Tommy glanced over at his friend. Tubbo's soft brown hair melted into the grass as he stared at the moving clouds above, floating around in the vast sea of blue. Tommy pulled at his own blonde hair nervously.

It was a calm day, too calm for what was coming. 'The calm before the storm,' as Tommy's mother used to call it. 

Tubbo was nervous, too, although he tried not to show it. His big brown eyes gazed upwards, trying to distract himself. 

As much as Tubbo tried to hide his emotions, Tommy knew his friend was anxious. 

The Hunger Games was an event created by the government in a place that ruled over the country Panem called the Capitol. The country of Panem was divided into twelve districts. After the horrible treatment given to each district by the Capitol, the districts fought back, rebelling against the Government.

 In return, the government created the Hunger Games, an event where two randomly chosen competitions from each district were put into a large, controlled arena, and are broadcasted live on TV as they are forced to fight until death. The last competitor remaining is give a large amount of money and excluded from the Hunger Games for the rest of their lives.

Today was Reaping Day, the day the competitors were chosen at random to participate in the Huger Games. One competitor would be female, the other male. If either Tommy and Tubbo were chosen, they would go into the Games without the other.

"Tubbo, we're going to be OK," Tommy whispered, taking his friend's hand. Tubbo nodded, not looking back. "Tubbo, there's our names in millions. Besides there's only one male contestant, and-" A sudden alarm made the two jump. 

"Citizens of District 12, gather immediately at the centre of town for the annual reaping," a bored voice drawled out, before the alarm shut off and everything was silent, except for the mockingjay birds chirping peaceful but haunting tunes in the trees.

Tommy breathed heavily. "Let's go, Tubbo. We'll be alright," the blonde said, wishing he could know he was right as he led his friend away from the green hill and into the decaying district behind them.

~ ~ ~

At the centre of the district, two lines had been formed, leading into a large crowd of people. At the end of each line, a white coated person crossed out words on a page. 

"OK, Tubbo. We're going to line up, and they're going to cross off our names, alright?" Tommy said, smiling nervously down at Tubbo.

Tubbo watched nervously as one of the white dressed people jabbed a needle into someone's hand. "What are they doing?" Tubbo asked, his breathing speeding up.

"Tubbo, they're just going to take a bit of blood-" Tommy told him reassuringly. Tubbo stared. 

"Tommy, you didn't say anything about that- I don't want to do that- I can't do that- No, TOMMY I DON'T-" the brunette began to hyperventilate. 

"It' OK Tubs, I'll go first, it doesn't hurt at all, trust me-" Tommy smiled nervously, fear bubbling up inside his stomach.

Tubbo nodded uncertainly and lined up behind Tommy. The person grabbed Tommy's hand roughly, pricking his finger. Tommy watched the blood drip, feeling sick. "Watch it, I'm a minor." Tommy yanked his hand back, swallowing nervously. The person ignored him and took Tubbo's.

The crowd was divided into two genders, males and females. Tommy and Tubbo took a place hidden in the back and stared at the black stage in front of the crowd, waiting anxiously.

Finally, as the long lines behind them began to thin, a woman dressed as the human equivalent of a Russian castle stepped out onto the stage. She tapped on the microphone excitedly. "Welcome, welcome, welcome!" she smiled bashfully at the destroyed people below her. They remained silent. The woman continued. "Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favour." Silence.

"Now, before we begin, we have a very special film, brought to you all the way from the Capitol!" she said brightly. Behind her on the stage, a film started playing on a large screen. Tommy sighed. It was shown every year. He knew all the words to it. "War, terrible war." he whispered, annoyed as the same voice that had haunted his dreams his entire life began to speak yet again. 

"War, terrible war." the video began. Tommy zoned out as he thought of what would happen if he got chosen. I would die within the first five minutes... he told himself. He waved the thoughts away. Stop being an idiot, of course you won't get chosen- It's your name in millions. He reminded himself quickly as the video ended. 

"This is how we safeguard our future." the voice vanished. 

"I just love that," beamed the woman happily. "Now, the time has come for us to select one courageous man and woman to fight in the Hunger Games. Boys first?" she smiled. Two bowls full of names were wheeled out on tables in front of her. 

She excitedly lifted on name from a bowl, holding it in front of her. "Tubbo Smith." she announced. Tommy froze. He felt Tubbo do the same next to him. "Tubbo Smith?" she asked again. Tubbo moved out onto the stage shaking uncontrollably. 

"Oh, congratulations!" the woman beamed at him. Tubbo said nothing. Tommy looked after him, his body paralysed with shock.

"Now for women!" the woman continued, picking up a name from the other bowl. "Carina Mellow," she spoke. A young girl stepped out of the crowd, tears rolling down her face. Tommy breathed heavily as he watched the girl tearfully approach the stage, uncontrollable sobs racking her body. 

~ ~ ~ 

When Tommy was a child, he had once saved a sheep that was stranded on the edge of a cliff. It would have fallen. Tommy had saved it, but in doing so, he had fallen himself. He had almost died, in fact.

 His mother was angry. "It is good to help others, but not if it means risking your own life. Do you understand?" she had said. "Sometimes, you just have to let nature take its course." She softened her tone a little. She would have had him leave Tubbo. And to be honest, right then, Tommy wished that Tubbo Smith wasn't in his life. Tommy, right then, wanted nothing to do with Tubbo Smith. So why did he feel responsible for Tubbo Smith? Because there would be people who would hurt him. People Tubbo wouldn't be able to stop. People Tommy could stop. 

Tubbo was silly sometimes. Maybe even foolish. 

But he was on the edge of a cliff.

~ ~ ~

"I volunteer." he whispered. 

"Um, what was that?" the woman asked in surprise. 

"I said, I volunteer!" Tommy yelled out. Everyone was dead silent as Tommy walked up onto the stage, taking Tubbo's hand. 

"What- you're not a woman!" she replied in shock. 

Tommy blanked, thinking quickly. "Uh- No. Wait. Yes. Yes I am. I am... I am a woman! Are you assuming my gender? Cancelled." he pointed at the woman's chest. The woman stammered as Tommy took his place next to his friend, Carina crying in relief as Tommy and Tubbo stared out across the people of District 12.