A/N- Well in case you haven't read my other story, (totally non-related to this) the characters will probably be OOC or taken to their extremes, but that's how I write them.

Disclaimer- The world of our beloved champions does not belong to be, nor the idea which sparked this story. (The Truman show for those of you who do not realise the similarities.)

I don't know whether this should be a one-shot or not, tell me if you think I should continue it. It's not very long, but just review it please. Here goes…

The Neal Show

Chapter 1, Prologue: It's all fine and dandy

"Ok he's waking up in 3…2…1…cue sunlight streaming through the window, the bell striking seven o'clock in the morning,someone knock on the door… and a bird tweeting just about…now."

The sun streamed through the window, it was another morning. I stretched out beneath my bedsheets, and felt that I had the world at my fingertips. No I wasn't the King, nor the Queen, nor the Champion, or anything of the sort, but I was a knight. Yes, a fully fledged knight. Not many other people can say that you know, but I can.

There was a knock at the door, was it seven already? Ah, I slowly realised that I could hear the faint ding, dong, of the tower bell. Better get up and dressed soon, or I'll be late for that meeting with Alanna…. Maybe five more minutes, I'll get up then.

"Right, fast forward the sun rising for a minute, yes that's great, make sure it looks like eight o'clock or he won't be late…yes tell Miranda, I mean Alanna, that Neal has to be late today. That will make for good viewing."

The bell struck again, but that would mean it was…eight. O figs. Scrambling out of bed, I managed to stagger over to the cupboard, pull on a pair of breeches and a loose fitting shirt, and forgetting all about the word 'shoes' I ran out my door, or rather, into it. I then realised it was locked, so opened it first, and headed down the corridor. Although I did receive a few disapproving looks about my sockless attire, I managed to make it to the hall in one piece. Barely.

"Remember your imrpovisation lines everyone, you're frustrated that he's angry, but you need to send him or a mission or something…you know, make him think he's been chosen for some apparent reason. I don't know, you're the actors here, you should know."

I took a deep breathe and entered.

"You're late." That was Alanna, a fiery redhead with a temper that would knock your socks off. Thankfully, I wasn't wearing any- as had forgotten all about them today as well.

"Well I swear that only five minutes ago it was seven…I must have just dozed off again. Although that sun rose pretty quickly-"

"Stop him, stop him now. You don't know where that train of thought could lead!"

"- yes well it's happened to all of us before. Don't worry about it anymore…just take a seat. We need to have a chat."

This was it- I was to be chosen to go on a risk-taking, adrenaline-rushing, near-death-experience mission that will change my life forever- and I was ready for it. I would finally leave the city, once and for all.

"There has been an uprising of Scanrans on the border."

"And you need me to put them back in their places, right?"

"Not exactly…they're attacking every front we have-"

"- and you need me to gather up an army of civilians and attack with brute force?"

"Well that's not really what I had in mind…"

"Get to it then! I'm ready for the death-defying mission you have in store for me. Go on, give it your best shot- I dare you."

"Very, er, tempting I must say. Although, I was going to ask you to mind the castle here for a while, you know, make sure everything's in order for when we come back from all the blood spilling etc. I hope that's not to disappointing for you."

"But what he doesn't know is that we've got something in store for him when he's denfecneless…"

"Not…at..all…" I said between sobs. "Everything's …okily-dokily,…. fine and dandy… here…" I began to hyperventilate under the shock.

"You are dismissed, Sir Nealan. Don't get too upset though, you'll get your fair share of exictement here I predict…"

"When one of the cows escapes? Or someone takes a pie off a window sill? I don't get it, it's all too…well…staged here, if you know what I mean."