•       Nox stepped up to the podium and glanced out over the crowd before making his introductions. "Now with that out of the way let's see who's going to the forty-ninth Hunger Games!" As the midnight blue haired male waited for the applause to die down he headed for the girls bowl and called out what he was picking. Opening the paper, he read "Larxene Williams," And then from the boys "Hayner Clove."


          Introductions out of the way and everyone silent, it was time for the District Three tributes to be chosen. Lzzy stood within arms length of the girls bowl, pulling out a slip of paper "Larrex Turner," she looked over the roped off area and watched the cut with a butter knife black haired girl approach the stage. Brief formalities then Lzzy went for the guys "Xikku Hale,"
          "What?" Larrex stared at the escort as a messy medium auburn haired male approached, looking bored.


          Everyone had been called from the mines. Some had forgotten. It was the day of Reaping. Axel had been one of the ones who forgot and was therefore late, but there were already plenty of guys who could go. Unlike girls. For some reason Fringe, District Twelve officially, had a lack of girls. So most lied about their age.
          Already sitting on the poorly constructed stage was the only victor to date, Saix Croe, looking either pissed off or tired. Or both. Marluxia Rose was just getting ready to read the female tribute "Lily White." A young looking black haired girl stepped up to the stage. A few false words of encouragement and the escort made his way to the boys names "Axel Lea." The red head blinked. He knew it could've happened, but still. He uncertainly started toward the stage, putting on a stronger front as he got closer. "So these are our tributes this year!" The pink haired male exclaimed, seeming excited. Now, like every other year, they'd get like an hour for farewells.
          But Axel was an orphan. He had no close relations.


          There was a soft knock at the compartment door, causing the red head to look over "Yeah?" Lily poked her head in, body soon following
          "Mind if I stay in here until dinner?" Axel sat up and shrugged
          "If you want to." The short girl clasped her hands in front of her and came to sit on the bed. He looked at her, assessing. Really, she could barely be over ten, which he was sure was her real age.
          "So… An orphan?" She looked up from the floor, curious. He nodded
          "Yeah," He readjusted in his seat, not sure why she was asking
          "What do you do?"
          "Mine, hunt, trade." He shrugged, it was life
          "Cool,"
          "You're a baker, aren't you?" Slowly she nodded
          "Yeah… How do you know?"
          "Observation." Someone knocked and opened the door without waiting for a response
          "Dinner's served." Marluxia stated, waiting for them to move before heading for the dining car.

          Saix watched the trio enter, wondering why he, the mentor, hadn't been told to fetch them. But oh well, when you'd been up since four thirty in the morning then… Yeah, you'd be irritable by this hour. "Evening," He greeted as they took their seats. Axel paused, looked out the window, then responded
          "Yes, it does look like it's evening." The blue haired male smiled a little. At least someone still had some sense of humor. Marluxia spread his napkin over his lap, changing the subject
           "This looks good." Attention turned to the dark stew in front of them.

          Axel returned to his room, sighing. Really he didn't know what to think of all this. He could have food when he wanted, but being from the last District he was used to hunger and actually hardly ever felt hungry, which had its good and bad points. And, well, he was going to possibly die in an arena with other kids around his age or, worse, younger.
          He stared at his bed, which for some reason he wasn't comfortable in. But on a train, was the bed better than the floor? He didn't know or care, setting himself down on the floor.
          Despite having a mentor to listen to, he was trying to figure out how to deal with this. It was a free for all in the arena, so teaming up wouldn't make much sense. And there would be young kids, like Lily, in there and trying to protect them would most likely mean that when it came down to it, he'd have to kill them himself.
          A knock sounded, interrupting his thoughts. When the person didn't enter he called "Yeah?" The door opened to reveal the blue haired mentor
          "Hey there," Axel readjusted and nodded
          "Hey,"
          "Care to see the competition?" The red head shrugged and got up, having a feeling that if he refused, the older male would make him anyway
          "Why not?"

          As well as the red head could guess the ages of people from Fringe, he was practically useless with the other District's ages. From Two, a reddish brown haired girl called Aerith and a blond guy called Wakka.
          Four was a red head called Kairi and another blond, Demyx.
          Five was a brown with blue streaks pale girl named Nexen and yet another blond, Roxas.
          Six, black haired girl, Tifa; white haired guy, Riku.
          Seven, brown haired Selphie and blond Cloud.
          Eight, blond Naminè and blue-gray haired Zexion.
          Nine, scarlet and dirty blond streaked Aquinix and blond Tidus.
          Ten, black haired Yuffie and brown haired Sora.
          Eleven, black haired Xion and dark haired Pence.
          And twelve. The two on this train. Small blue-gray eyed Lily and confused red headed Axel. For some reason, he hoped those Capitol dogs enjoyed this year's Games.
          Perhaps he was a bit cynical as well.