Prologue
“You all know who won the Games. You all saw it happen.” Christine Everhart began, standing in front of the audience with a glimmering turquoise dress on her hips and a too-wide smile on her face. “But before we say hello to our esteemed victor, let’s take a moment to remember all twenty-four tributes who entered the games… and the twenty-three who did not make it out.”
She waved her hand as she sat down, and the screen behind her lit up with scenes from the chariot rides, the interviews, and training.
District One. Charles Xavier and Jean Gray stood together as their chariot rode into the Capitol. Their pitch-dark bodysuits were punctuated by bright yellow- the most expensive and luxurious dye to make, to represent their District. They were both giving smiles to the crowd, although Charles especially did not look enthusiastic.
District Two. Natasha Romanoff was sitting at her interview, black dress clinging to her curves while she shot the audience a predatory smile. Erik Lehnsherr was in training, hefting a giant chunk of concrete and throwing it from one side of the gym to the other.
District Three. Tony Stark was grinning at the crowd and waving as he stood in his chariot, the crowd going wild as he blew kisses to some of the women there. Beside him, Jane Foster stood shyly in a dark green dress, glancing over her shoulder to look at the chariot behind her.
District Four. Ororo Monroe stood in her chariot in little more than a black bathing suit and a golden cape, the fourteen-year-old shrinking into herself at the attention from the crowds around her. Chase Stein stood boldly beside her, wearing a plain black suit with golden buttons and meeting people’s eyes unflinchingly.
District Five. In training, Thor Odinson swung a hammer and brought it down onto a training dummy, cracking its plastic chest. At her interview, Gertrude Yorkes greeted the crowd in a flowing purple toga that trailed on the ground behind her.
District Six. Carol Danvers sparred with an unseen opponent in training, swinging her sword in broad strokes as her eyes flashed with determination. Bruce Banner stood at his interview, looking very uncomfortable in a green velvet suit with a purple tie.
District Seven. Eric ‘Killmonger’ Stevens stood in his chariot, bare-chested as he held his fist up in the air. Beside him, Mantis stood in sharp green lines, the youngest competitor flinching away from her partner.
District Eight. Karolina Dean graced her interviewer with a dazzling smile as her silvery dress reflected rainbows of softly glowing light. Drax ‘the Destroyer’ swung at a training dummy, sending it flying across the room.
District Nine. Clint Barton held hands with his stricken district partner and lover, Laura, as her pregnancy was revealed in front of the entire Capitol at her interview.
District Ten. Okoye stood tall in her chariot, red and gold bodysuit glittering, as she met the Capitol with pride. Beside her, T’Challa stood in gold and black with a solemn expression on his face.
District Eleven. Alex Wilder sat in his interview, a nervous smile on his face. In training, Nico Minoru picked a spear off of the weapons rack and began to twirl it in her hands.
District Twelve. Pepper Potts stood in a dirty coal miners’ uniform, her carrot orange hair a stark contrast to the black and gray dust, as her chariot moved through the Capitol. Beside her, Scott Summers looked miserable in a matching outfit, coal dust smudged around his eyes.
“Twenty-four tributes entered the games.” Christine continued as the slideshow came to an end. “Only one made it out. Our victor this year is undoubtedly one of the most talented tributes we have seen in the history of the Hunger Games. Give it up, everybody, for the victor of the Seventh Annual Hunger Games!”
The audience burst into applause, and the curtains drew back to reveal the victor.