A/N: Hello, everyone! This is Puffin and I'm super excited to start this story! I'm not sure how successful or how well I'll stay up on it, but I'll still try my best! I'm very excited about the idea and the potential (if it has any!)! I have hope to have many pairings in this fic, including/maybe: SuFin, DenIce, FrUk, GerIta, Spamano, PruHun, GreJap, EstPol. I think that's all I've been tossing around or have decided on. I'm not set on all them yet, but I'll get them figured out shortly, so if you have requests just say so! *shot*

Please read and review~! Constructive criticism is much love~!

Disclaimer: I own nothing, but I certainly wish I did just like many others~!

~x~x~x~STORY~x~x~x~x~

It was their last look at the bright, brilliant sun that smiled over the green terrain. It was their last look at the grass, the trees, and the wildlife around them. It was the last look at their old home before they would descend into the depths of the earth, only to emerge when the fiery storms and obscured sun would pass. When the sun could gaily gaze upon the earth was when they were going to abandon their protective, underground shelter in favor for the exposed, natural surface.

A woman who appeared to be in her late thirties ushered along a small child into a quickly narrowing corridor. The child would ask why in his naivety, earning a teary "You'll understand when you're older". Trailing the two was a man, towering half a head over his wife. He was silent. It wasn't that he didn't want to say anything or didn't have anything to say; he just didn't know what to tell their all too curious, oblivious son. So he chose silence over the other alternatives.

Somewhere many miles away another family waited. This one consisted of a man, wife, and expected baby. The woman would despair over how the child would be born into a world underground. She would wail to her husband, who would pat her on the back comfortingly and whisper little words of wisdom. "It will be for the best," he would say, receiving a mush of words that only he could understand. At that moment, when they were waiting to enter their new "home", they both stood quiet and stonily, carefully collected. The wife's hand subconsciously rubbed the growing bump on her belly, and the husbands eyes merely rested on the door. Both hoped for the best.

Across the world, select families, couples, and individuals were experiencing the something similar. Standing before a wide door, before a new future, with their back toward the life they knew and loved. They didn't have much of a choice, though; they were what was going to be left of humanity and preserving the live they had already brought down into the tunnels.

~x~x~x~x~100 years later~x~x~x~x~

There is an orb suspended above me, it's brilliant rays beating against my reddening skin. They called it a sunburn, or at least that's what they tell me. My flesh stings a little as I poke it, and it feels unfathomably warm. A small smile cross my lips; it's so new and exhilarating! The burnt skin turns white under my finger and as soon as I lift it off, it turns back to the bright pink.

I glance over to my other two companions: an Estonian and a Pole. The Estonian seemed to be just as fascinating as I, but the Pole seemed to be flustered about it.

"Like, what is this?" he demands to know, pointing to his arm. "This is totally not cool!"

"Feliks," the Estonian says soothingly, grabbing the arm the other was gesturing toward, "it's natural. The Counsel told us they have preserved remedies and a way to prevent this. They also say that one sunburn can help you build a resistance to another."

The Pole, Feliks, merely pouts and waits for Eduard to release his arm. As much as he loves his dear friend, the effects of the sunburn are clearly written on his face. Their interactions amuse me; the two are opposites and oblivious. When? When will they -

BLEEP!

What was that sound?

BLEEP! BLEEP!

Go away, alarm! I'm still sleeping!

BLEEP! BLEEP! BLEEP!

I groan as I grope my stand for the screeching device. Why do I have to get up at such an ungodly hour? I stretch and recount my dream. It was another about the sun, being up on the Surface. Long before the council had decided that the initial date we would set foot up there should be pushed back. They deemed it still too dangerous. Now, 50 years after the date, they have yet to mention anything more about it.

I stretched and stripped myself of the blankets, still trying to shake off my sleep. Placing my feet on the cold, wooden floors I make my way to the bathroom. On my way I can hear my parents talking in the living room. It's not unusual that I hear them, or that even at the age of 23 years I'm living with them. They are usually up before I am and there's not enough space for everyone to have their own living space. Typically the children move out when they marry, and then move into the newlywed quarters until a space opens up. So I continue on my way to shower without second thought of their hushed chatter.

I push the bathroom door open and step into the room. I close the door and quickly start stripping down to shower. Somehow they found a way to reuse the water; I've had it explained to me many times, but I still don't get it. Eduard seems fascinated with the system, though. Every time I express my confusion or ignorance in how it works, he would start explaining it fruitlessly to me. Most of the time it ends right where it started. He's one of the maintenance keepers.

The rest of the morning goes without anything unusual as I prepare for work. I am employed in the kitchens, so I help make the meals for everyone. It isn't one of the best jobs one can have here, but I enjoy it and people seem to like the food. So I guess it's good on both ends. We get our ingredients from caverns hastily carved out for agriculture. The poor men and women there work all day and all night to make sure everyone has enough food, and with the rapidly rising population it gets harder and harder to do.

Which surprises me that they haven't mentioned anything about the vast, spacious Surface. Surely up there we would have more than enough space to support our small, yet cramped, community. I sigh at my bowl of oatmeal, still thinking of up There, when my parents enter the little "kitchen".

"Honey," my mom starts by saying. Something is clearly bothering her, so my attention rests solely on her. I don't even notice my father opening his mouth to continue.

"Tino," he picks up where she left off, "the Counsel has decided in secrecy to select individuals to venture to the Surface."

My interest is peaked right away; my heart is in my throat; there are butterflies in my stomach. "Ky-Kylla?" I stammer in anticipation in our native tongue.

"The Counsel talked to us today," he explains, clearly picking his words very meticulously, enunciating them as carefully as possible. "They would like you to be one of them. You would represent the Finnish sector."

I am at a loss for words. Emotions and thoughts rush into my body. First there is excitement; my secret, deepest dream is coming true! Second is fear; what if the Surface is still as dangerous as it was that day 100 years ago? Third is internal chastising; silly me, I shouldn't be worry about how safe it is! They wouldn't be sending us up there if it weren't safe!

Through the waves, I just nod. My mom, however, bursts into tears and throws her arms around me. "Tino, dear!" she sobs. "Make sure you're safe up there! If things turn out to be too hazardous up there or you don't feel comfortable, come straight back! Okay?"

"Marja," my father says, void of emotion, "it's an honor to be chosen. They wouldn't send anyone up there they don't deem competent."

My mother just sniffles, pushing me back an arm's length away to study me. She nods with satisfaction and says, "Then they've picked a fine, young boy."

Throughout the chaste conversation, I'm silent. I am unsure of what to say, what I should say. My thoughts seemed like a better alternative anyway.

~x~x~x~x~

I walk down the hall to the meeting. The Counsel had summoned those of us they had chosen, and they want to give us the details of our mission. Mission? Could it be called that? It was assigned to us by the higher-ups, but we aren't some sort of agent... or at least I'm not. Maybe the others are? Either way, it makes it sound really cool and important. At some point, I must have scrunched up my nose and lost track of time in thought. I find myself mysteriously standing in front of the big, famous, conference room waiting with a large man staring at me. When did this happen? Oh yeah... I was too busy wandering around my mind to notice anything.

"You okay?" he grunts, penetrating gaze not changing in the slightest. He seems to be waiting for something. Maybe the same thing as I? He was going to go to the Surface, too?

"H-Huh?" I stutter. Wow, his eyes are so blue, but so sharp and intense.

"You okay?" he repeats, face still not changing.

"Yeah," I reply softly. His glasses seem to make his face more intimidating. Not to mention his height.

"Your name?" he asks bluntly, but is that a little... shyness in his voice? It can't be! Not that giant who seems to be glowering at me with those eyes!

"Tino... Tino Väinämöinen," I say quickly, shifting my weight to the other foot. "Yours?"

"Ber-"

"SVEEE~! YOU, TOO!" a voice belts from a crowd nearby, one that I can only assume to be around this area for the same reason. Both Bersve (is that his name?) and I instantly look in that direction and, for some reason, a wave of trepidation hit me.

~x~x~x~x~

A/N: Hey! Puffin again! I'm not sure how confusing things are right now, but they'll make much more sense in the next chapter! (orz) And if you have any questions, just ask~! By the way, the title means "Through Fire and Water".