Disclaimer- I do NOT own 'The Hunger Games' or anything relating to it! All rights belong to their respected owners!

A big thank you to Princess Kitana18, my lovely Beta Reader!

The Boy Who Became A Legend / The Girl Who Lost Her Mind

Setting: Starting from before the 65th Hunger Games. Will continue all the way until the end of the series.

Rating: T

Chapter 1: The Unthinkable

Finnick's POV

The Sixty-fifth Games where here, the reaping was today. I'm only fourteen and have taken out no tessera, so the odds are certainly in my favor. But anything can happen, these are the Hunger Games after all, no one was safe.

My alarm clock blared, stirring me from a restless slumber. My sea green eyes take in the sight of sunlight filtering in the window of my bedroom. The sounds of my father rustling around the kitchen reached my ears from down the hall. Dragging myself out from under the covers I glance in the mirror, my bronze hair a mess from tossing and turning all night. Before I head into the kitchen.

My father notices I'm up, and smiles, "Morning Finn, long day ahead."

I merely nodded, the reaping is not something I get excited about, unlike some of the other kids in District Four. It means another twenty-three kids will be going off to their deaths, and the one who lives… Well they might as well be dead too, after all the damage the Capitol inflicts on them, for their own selfish entertainment. The blood and carnage that disgusts most of us, thrills them. The children from the Districts are just play things for them, someone to use and abuse for their wants.

Glancing over at the clock, I realize I better start getting my butt into gear, so I can go to see which two, poor souls will be thrown into the arena this year. Quietly I munch on my small breakfast of a few fish sticks, seeing as fish was all anyone every ate in District Four. My appetite was lacking, and I wrap half of it back up and put it in the fridge.

I pulled on a nicely fitted black shirt, along with black dress pants. Because god forbid I got drawn today, I had to look somewhat presentable. All black, because I might as well be heading to a funeral. I was less worried about myself, and more worried about my childhood friend, Annie Cresta. If anything ever happened to her, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself. We met when I was eight, and she was six, being so close to someone, for so long, you developing a very strong sense of protectiveness and loyalty to that person.

My father isn't worried about the Reaping, the chances of me being chosen are so slim, and Annie is only twelve this year with no tessera, so she only has one slip. He has continued to assure me, that we will all be fine. But somehow I know no real relief will come until Annie and I are both too old for the Hunger Games.

And with my mother gone years ago, he was the only adult in my life I could really count on. And I have to admit, that it sometimes concerns me. I love my dad, but he's not always the most careful or understanding guy to try and talk to.

"You look sharp Finnick, we best be heading down to the square now."

I nodded numbly, a sickening feeling washes over me in violent wave, but I refuse to let anyone else know I'm afraid.

Annie's POV

I've been up for hours, and I could barely sleep before that. Today is my first reaping, everyone says I really have nothing to worry about, but their reassurance goes unnoticed. Anything could happen today.

I run a brush through my long brown hair, and straighten my skirt for probably the thousandth time today, my nerves were getting to me. But more than that, a picture on my nightstand was driving me crazy. My fingers reached out and stroked the glossy image, of myself and a handsome boy on the beach, playing in the salty tides.

Finnick… My Finnick could get reaped today, and there would be nothing I could do to protect him, the feeling of being helpless while something happened to him is what ate at me the most. I needed Finnick, it was a fact, there was no use denying it.

My parents have little concern of my getting reaped today, but I can't help but feel panicked. So many things could go wrong today, I have so much to lose, I have to try not to think about it, or risk breaking down on the spot.

My mother had laid out my clothes for my first reaping. An aqua colored skirt, and shirt, and a necklace with a gem of a similar color on it. I looked nice, but not for the reasons one would hope. Really I guess I shouldn't be so worried, there are so many people in Four, the chances of Finnick or myself getting drawn, are slim. But today, I just have a feeling in my gut, that something bad is going to happen, and I'm terrified to find out what it is.

Being a Career District our Tributes always had a better chance of winning than most, but it didn't ensure victory be any means. There have been years our tributes get slaughtered with easy by kids from lower Districts, it's rare, but it can happen. Then there are the other Careers from One and Two to worry about. And the arenas, which can be anything the Gamemakers can possibly imagine. Desert, swamp, jungle, mountain, tundra, grassland, islands, anything…

"Annie, time to go!" I hear my mother bark from the other room.

Taking a shuddering breath, I follow her and my father out the door on our way to the town square.

The Square is jam packed with people, all waiting to see which two kids from our District will be forced to leave there home and fight to the death, in an arena designed by the capitol. I join the group of twelve year, but look around until I spot Finnick, He gives a half-hearted smile, to some he may look perfectly relaxed, but I know him better than that, he's scared, and so am I. How can we not be?

The mayor strolls out onto the stage, the reaping balls set up and looming over us. He makes his speech about the Games and the Reaping before handing things over to the escort. A horrible woman, with electric blue hair, and pink stenciled tattoos all over her body, and glowing eyes, it was digesting really. How could the people in the Capitol think that it was stylish? Were they really so blind as not to see how ridiculous they look to everyone else. Some of them don't even look human.

The escort steps forward with a huge smile plastered on her face, her name is Faina, and what an agonizing time it was listening to her. She waved to crowd calling out, "Happy Hunger Games everyone, and may the odds be ever in your favor."

The crowd gave a good natured round of applause, but every parent feared for their child's life, every possible tribute had to have some nerves about getting reaped.,

"We'll be doing Ladies First!" Faina reaches into the girl's reaping ball, my heart is pounding all the while, "Araceli Taland!"

I let out the breath I had been holding, it wasn't me, I wasn't going to die. But the girl walking up onto the stage wasn't as fortunate. Of course she was a Career, so she had a decent shot, her black curls tussled by the wind, while her gray eyes looked out over the crowd, she had an air of confidence, that I couldn't help but frown at. Did she really think she could make it home? Apparently so.

But the reaping wasn't over yet, there were still the boys to go. I look over at Finnick, who holds my gaze and smiles before looking back up to the stage. Faina grins, "And now for the boys!" Her hand snatches a piece of paper from the reaping ball. "Finnick Odair!"

The color instantly drains from my face, and a begin to tremble, before the tears start pouring from my eyes. "Finnick!" I wail as he walks silently up on the stage, his father has a single tear streaking down his cheek. Finnick was going to be in Sixty-Fifth Hunger Games, and there was not a thing in the world I could do to save him.

Finnick's POV

Standing with the other fourteen years olds, I waited for the mayor to finish his speech. Nervously shifting my weight from one foot to the other. And when the escort walked out on stage with that stupid smile on her face, I thought I was going to hurl. Her atrocious Capitol style and surgical enhancements, disgusting.

"Happy Hunger Games everyone, and may odds be ever in your favor!" I snorted at those words, as if I hadn't heard them before. They made it sound like what it was to the Capitol, just a giant game where you lived or died for their amusement, you were expendable, there were plenty of children in the districts.

The wave of relief that crashed over me when Faina announced the female tribute would be Araceli Taland, and not my Annie, was instant. Annie was safe this year, and hopefully all the years to come. Not that I didn't feel bad for the girl, but someone had to go and as long as it wasn't Annie, I would be ok. I glanced over at Annie and try my best to give her a reassuring smile, trying to let her know I would be alright. I never knew Araceli personally, just saw her around at school sometimes, she was from home, and it would be hard to see her die.

I was snapped from my little dream world when the escort announced she would now be choosing the male tribute. Reaching into the bowl, she pulled out a single piece of paper that would change my life forever, and called, "Finnick Odair!"

What? Th-that's no no no… I was paralyzed for a moment before someone shoved me in the direction of the stage. Stiffly, I walked up and stood across from Araceli while the Treaty of Treason was being read. Annie's sobbing was breaking my heart, and ever my father was crying the slightest bit. Before I knew it I was shaking Araceli's hand, before being dragged off by peacekeepers to say my goodbyes to my family and friends.

I sat in a room waiting to say goodbye before I would be shipped off to the Capitol on the Tribute Train. A couple friends from school came in and said their brief farewells, but they weren't who I was waiting for. The creaking of the door jolted my eyes up, to see a sobbing Annie walk through the door and shutting it behind her, before bolting into my arms. It wasn't until then that I let the tears fall.

"Finnick.." She choked out, tightening her already death grip on me. "You can't die, whatever you do, whoever you have to kill, you've got to come home!"

I feel her trembling against me, and her tears staining though my shirt. There isn't much I can do to make this any easier for her. I can't promise I'll come home, because there is a very good chance that even as a Career, I won't. And I would never break a promise to Annie, even if it meant not being able to promise anything at all. "I'll try my best Annie, I really will. I want to come home to you."

"Not try Finnick." She shook her head negatively. "You will come home, you need to come home." I was surprised to feel her shaking me, somewhat violently.

Annie cared about me more than I originally realized. I rub her back and rest my head on top her hers. I whispered in her ear, "Annie, I'll do everything I possibly can to come home, I won't let them take me away from you without a fight," Now I was beginning to get choked up, tears spilling from my sea foam eyes. But I do manage to brush my lips against her temple and say, "I love you." Sure we were only twelve and fourteen, but Annie means so much to me, I can't imagine life without her, I love her.

A small gasp escapes her lips, as she leans back just far enough to meet my eyes. More tears start to fall and I get nervous that I did something wrong and upset her further. But the next words out of her mouth put me at ease, "I love you too Finnick, no matter what happens in that arena, it won't change how I feel about you."

I kiss Annie gently, it's our first time, so it's short and sweet, but enjoyed none the less. She looks up at me and smiles, something that makes my heart melt. I decide there, that I will come home, I have way too much to lose to let myself get killed. Sadly she leaves the room so my father and come in and wish me farewell, I'm still dazed from the kiss when my dad walks in.

"Finnick?" My head snaps toward him. "I never expected this happen, so I don't really know what to say." He shuffles awkwardly over to me. "It's been a joy raising you up Finn, and no matter what, know that I love you. I know you've got it in you to win, you have your mothers fighting spirit." I watch as he gives a sad smile and pats me on the back. It hit me like a ton of bricks, saying goodbye to Annie and my father, that I am a Tribute in the Sixty-Fifth Hunger Games, and I will have to kill to come home.

"I'll be alright dad. I'll win, I'll come home, and we'll have everything we could ever need." I force myself to smile for his sake, and he returns the favor. "I'll miss you," That's when the Peacekeeper let's me now that our time is up, I have to board the train and leave my home behind. I watch my dad leave as I'm lead in the other direction.

The train station is awful, I'm loaded up like some sort of animal, along with Araceli, the Tributes from One, Two, and Three are already onboard. I sit closest to a window and look out at the people of District Four bidding us goodbye and good luck. I wave to my father and Annie, both of looking distressed as my leaving has become so very real, right in front of their eyes.

That was when I found another new determination within myself. And I knew what I had to do. So I did what many tribute's couldn't, I lit my face up with a smile and waved to all of District Four, I would be back, no matter what the cost.

Annie's POV

Finnick had boarded the train without a single tear, his strength impressed me, because I knew if it was me, I probably wouldn't be able to keep it together near as well as he was. Araceli worried me quite honestly, she walked onto that train like she owned it, and there wasn't a doubt in my mind that she had no compassion at all for Finnick, even though he was from the same District, she'd kill him just like anyone else. He was just as much an obstacle in her way as anyone. Oh god I hope Finn is smart enough to see through her and not get in an alliance with her. Something about Araceli Taland makes my skin crawl, and my stomach churn.

I stood by Finnick's father, he was trying not to look defeated or cry, for Finnick's sake, we needed to believe in him, as long as we didn't give up, he wouldn't either. His sea green eyes drifted over the crowd and focused in on us, he waves, and I wave back as well as his dad. We had to believe that he could make it home to us.

But what had to be the most amazing was when the train started to leave, a bright smile spread across Finnick's face and he waved to the crowd, to his neighbors, to his friends, to his home. Not goodbye, but I'll see you soon. It instantly made my heart speed up, he had a plan, he was going to do everything possible to win, he wanted to come home, and his will to live was still just as strong as ever. Finnick Odair didn't give up without a hell of a fight, and I don't think he ever will. And around his neck, I noticed, was a simple braided rope, hanging from it was a spear tip from his father, his mother's engagement ring, and a sea shell I gave him when we were toddlers. His district token was a reminder of everyone he loves the most.

I knew in the weeks to come, I wouldn't like what I was going to see, but I couldn't bare not to watch and see if Finnick was alright. If he makes it home, he'll never be the same, that much is a given, the Games can destroy the mind as well as the body, many victors drink, or resort to drugs, any means to escape reliving the nightmares of the arena.. And I know I may not, will not, like what I see him have to do to other tributes to win, but Finnick is still Finnick. I have to keep telling myself this. And this is going to be hard for all of us, even if Finnick is the one in the arena. All I can do is hope and pray, he'll come home as the friend I love, and not a complete stranger.