The Face of the Enemy
The First Hunger Games
Japan: ... the world would cease to exist in 1999.
France: The end of the world - wow. That really brings back memories.
England: I wouldn't worry if I were you. The end of the world is never going to happen.
Japan: Is that so? I should probably tell someone.
Prologue Part 1 - War, Terrible War
Never in the history of mankind was there a war like World War III.
A record-breaking number of twenty-six countries were directly involved in combat on the battlefront, and countless other nations gave their support from the sidelines. The odds of twenty-five armies with the world on their side losing against one relatively new nation should've been nonexistent... and yet years later they were left with no choice but surrender. They underestimated Panem's power and the technological forefronts they'd brought to warcraft. Who could've foreseen such worldwide devastation from just one country? No one could even have imagined the dreams of Panem or the why behind it all. Many wanted to blame America. After all, didn't Panem arise from the country's second civil war? If they'd only been tougher or at least accepted help from their allies, it all could've been prevented. But it wasn't, and nobody could change the past no matter how much they wanted to.
It was as if the Earth itself was fighting them - tsunamis, flooding from the melting of the icecaps, and earthquake devastation had swallowed much of the seven continents into ocean, particularly North America, Europe, and Asia. Mass populations evacuated into the lands that remained, resulting in the failure to give everyone disaster aid, culture clashes, mass destruction, and millions of casualties. And America wasn't the only one dealing with civil war. Worldwide, people were angry at their governments, unable to help everyone, and therefore were seen as weak and unjust to their citizens. Everywhere countries were being overthrown and all in the wake of natural disasters continuing their torrent. Electricity paths were cut and communications were down. It became impossible to reach anyone who wasn't right next to you. The country personifications meanwhile were very sick as they watched the world devolve into anarchy.
To put it simply, it was chaos. And then came Panem. America was officially split in two - the US claimed the north half and Panem the south. She was young but ambitious and used her newfound power to travel worldwide, rallying revolting citizens to join her "perfect" new society that promised so many promises - and they believed her. The surviving nations were conquered, but the citizens-turned-soldiers no longer wanted to join her country. Now that the people themselves had overthrown their own nations, they wanted to keep their own countries and cultures alive, just run by them in place of their old governments. The Russians wanted to stay Russians, the Germans Germans, the French French, and so on. They rejected Panem as their leader.
Panem, by then far stronger after having conquered America and Canada who were too close and weak to resist her rule, used the entire combined North American strength to retake the nations she'd fought so hard for. And, thanks to astonishing technological innovations in warcraft, Panem succeeded. Twenty-five countries were forcibly bound under a single dictatorship run by none other than the famous Snow family bloodline. The head of the family was crowned as Panem's boss, whose first order of business was the execution of all the other nations' bosses.
Panem's first demand was the presence of the twenty-five country personifications at her mansion. The other nations that played smaller supporting roles, were too easy to conquer, or simply didn't have any useful qualities for Panem, were decimated with nuclear bombs. Once there, the defeated countries were immediately seized by stylists who beautified them to their gorgeous prime. France was heartily won over, and even Germany admitted he never looked better. It was almost as if they didn't just lose a war that meant their deaths. Quickly after, the countries were ushered into golden chariots drawn by magnificent horses, which Poland especially appreciated.
The next thing they knew they were being paraded through the Capitol city surrounded by the deafening roar of a very colorful and overenthusiastic crowd as Panem's national anthem blared from all sides. Some willingly soaked up the love and attention of the crowd, even (*cough* France *cough*) blowing kisses into the stands that set off seizures of excitement. People were cheering and throwing roses into the chariots, some were even chanting the names of the countries that caught their eye. Some fan favorites were Prussia, Germany, France, and Russia for reasons the nations didn't yet know. But they would soon enough.
Even with the grand reception they were unexpectedly getting, the looming question hung at the back of their minds: was this all in celebration of their execution? But if so, why would the crowd gaze at them so lovingly (more like obsessively), and what was the meaning behind the parade and dress-up? Was it all a big tease - the pomp and circumstance to make a laughing stock out of them in their final moments? Mixed reactions surrounded their unanswered questions. Finally after twenty minutes of celebration, the horses pulled into a circular stone drive in perfect formation so each chariot had equal distance apart. The countries gazed upwards as the anthem's loop faded to an end, centering all the attention on Panem - the enemy they all so hated - smiling behind her podium.
"Welcome, surviving countries of the world!" She laughed and they scowled. She ignored this and continued in her strange high-pitched accent that even the most obnoxious sounding countries found irritating.
"You've all made it this far, you've chosen to fight, which tells me one thing: you're survivors. And survivors put living above everything else - that's something I've secretly admired about you all. You were willing to do anything to come of that war victorious. Think about it - anything. No matter the sacrifice, the violence, the physical and emotional costs." Panem paused a moment to let the words sink in.
"Well, I for one am finished with war. It disgusts me now, as it should for you too. That's why I have spared you all and brought you here together. I am passing a new law that is to be enacted all throughout Panem - as you are now my districts. Violence of any kind is to be abolished and the involvement - or suspicion of involvement - in the act will result the severest of punishments. Once a year, to satisfy your hunger," Panem laughed a little to herself yet no one knew why.
"An event will be held - but more on that later. Each of your districts will be assigned a different field of work that is to be the only available occupation - no exceptions. Immigrating to or having any kind of contact with other districts is strictly forbidden. Expect my military to be on constant lookout for lawbreakers. Other than that, you are free to keep your individual cultures and way of life alive and even keep your own flags and language. Patriotism for your district is allowed, as long as you never forget your place in Panem." With that, she grinned and spread her arms out wide in a sign of welcome. "And with that said, let the games begin!"
The party was unbelievable. The countries didn't even have time for relief that their lives were spared, mourning their independence, or that at least they could keep their cultures, because left and right were tables and tables of endless food (they had delicacies from all over, so everyone was happily surprised to see something from home). Pretty girls were vying to meet and fawn over them as if they were national heroes. There was dancing, fireworks, live music, and a lot - a lot - of drinking. At every turn it seemed there was a drunk Panemian shoving alcohol down their throats, and in no time at all every country was so wasted they were barely coherent enough to enjoy the party's other extravagant details.
The poor underaged Latvia and Belarus spent most of the party's final hours throwing up in the bathroom and the lightweight Canada passed out even earlier than that. The loud, crazy night faded into a blur as all of them eventually dropped from intoxication and Avoxes were sent to carry each of them to their prearranged living quarters. They slept soundly through the night, naïf to the horror awaiting the week before them. In other words, everything was securely under Panem's control.
The brunettes' cheerful laughter rang like silver bells through the air as Italy spun her around the dance floor, his own laughter just as sweet and carefree. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd laughed or enjoyed the company of a pretty girl. And Italy loved laughing and pretty girls! He pulled her in close in time with the music's final beat and the girl blushed at their closeness. She hugged him in tighter as if afraid he'd let go and gazed into his eyes with a dreamy sigh.
"Oh, Italy." She swooned. "I wish this night would never end."
"Ve~ me too!" Italy smiled innocently. "I love a-dancing with you."
The girl's eyes watered with unshed tears and her gaze never broke the unknowing Italian's. "I'll miss you so much, Italy."
Italy laughed good-naturedly. "Miss me? But why would you a-miss me?"
A/N: So, this was the prologue: basic overview of the world before the games and the events leading to them. It's not exactly going to be like Suzanne Collin's take on the Games - obviously some changes were made to accommodate Hetalia. And one quick note: I'm not pairing up the countries into 12 districts, but instead there are now 24 districts so everyone gets their own. You might've noticed I used 25 countries as tributes, but that will be explained in the next (and final) part of the prologue. It will be about the same length as this one, but expect the rest of the story's chapters to be much longer. Additionally, the chapters will be told more personally through each of the country's eyes as they go through the games (in SYOT format). Oh, and the little exchange at the beginning was taken from Hetalia: World Series Season 4 Episode 33. And a quick thank you to all of the other Hetalia - Hunger Games crossover authors who inspired me to add my own story to the mix! (:
Here is a list of all the countries participating in the hunger games:
Prussia, France, Spain, Belarus, Finland, Japan, China, Germany, Hungary, Ukraine, Italy, Greece, Sweden, Latvia, Denmark, Canada, Austria, America, Russia, England, Estonia, Poland, Lithuania, Romano, and Norway
Happy Hunger Games!
-StripedFuzzySocks-