District One was thirsting for another Victor.

It had been sixteen - yes, sixteen - years since Chanel Grande brought home the crown, and since then they'd suffered through loss after disappointing loss. When their Victor count wasn't getting overtaken by Two, it was the outlier tributes who somehow made it to the end. The district was getting antsy. The Academy trainers were getting annoyed.

President Snow noticed this too. He was fairly disappointed with all the Career districts, but mostly with One. Two was still picking up a couple of Victors here and there, and Four wasn't as rich, so they were just making do with what they had. But One should have won more by now. The whole thing just seemed like a waste of training, waste of time, and waste of Capitol resources that could have gone towards something more productive.

And he certainly wasn't pleased with all the excuses: They couldn't adapt to the arena! They're not used to the Capitol-grade weapons! Those stupid outlier brats cheated!

He was considering pulling the plug on funds for the Academy, but he held off on that decision for a little longer.

Because, even though they struggled to gain another Victor, the tributes still performed exceptionally well. Not once in the last thirteen years did either of their tributes not make it to the final eight. They were still as beautiful, strong and patriotic as ever. They just kept falling at the last few hurdles.

Even so, Snow was still disappointed, but as a courtesy to his second-favourite district, he would give them a few more chances. A small act of mercy, if you will.

One afternoon, shortly after the conclusion of the 52nd Games, he phoned up Alexander Starre, head trainer of One's Academy, and told him that he had three more years to produce a Victor. Otherwise, he warned, the district would be on their own in regards to Academy expenses.

Alexander gulped. One may have been the richest district of them all, but running the Academy was no cheap feat. The amount of money they sunk into it annually would put them much lower on the economic ladder than they deserved to be. And their pride and status would go with it. Losses that they couldn't afford, figuratively and literally.

Alexander accepted the terms, the voice in his head screaming all the while. As soon as he got off the phone, he immediately began to revamp the training program.

The bar was raised. Instead of only having to pass the final exams once, the chosen tributes would have to pass three three times, preferably as flawlessly as possible. Contenders would have to stay behind each day in order to squeeze in more training. The work was harder than it had been in previous years, but everyone understood why.

The eventual volunteers, Topaz and Sapphira, were selected after very careful deliberation and sent into the 53rd Games.

Topaz died a shocking death during the bloodbath when another tribute was able to blindside him. Sapphira lasted until the final five, perishing in a fight once the Career pack dissolved.

Alexander's heart started to beat wildly as he realised that he now had only two more chances to secure a Victor. He ordered training to begin immediately. Emphasis on immediately.

Six months of even more intense training later, Golden and Ruby were selected to represent their district. Alexander dared hope that they would be much luckier this year than they were last year.

It was not to be. Golden and Ruby didn't even make it into the final eight. They were ripped apart by shark mutts within seconds of each other. District One was now back to square one and time was running out.

But, all was not lost just yet.

During the previous year's selection process for the volunteers, Alexander had noticed two standouts: Platinum and Silver. Even though they were only given the roles of backup volunteers, they had lost the final test against Golden and Ruby only by a very slim margin. They were well ahead of anything else in their class.

So the decision was made. Platinum and Silver would be the volunteers for the 55th Games.

Despite their already impressive prowess however, there was still a lot of work to be done. Lots and lots of it. Alexander couldn't take any more chances. After all, this was the last one they had.

Platinum and Silver spent all day, every day studying every single weapon and every single form of unarmed combat, no matter how unusual or unlikely it was to be used. They trained all day, until the Academy shut its doors at five o'clock, then they trained some more, until the great bell tower down the road chimed midnight. At that point, they stopped training and went to sleep on portable stretchers in the locker rooms. Five hours of sleep later, they would get up, have a quick breakfast, and start training for the day.

The work was gruelling and tough, but it was a great honour and even greater responsibility to be the chosen volunteers, so they never once complained. Not when they trained with growling stomachs because they only took five-minute lunch breaks. Not when their limbs ached and they had trouble getting out of bed the following morning. And certainly not when they were snapped at whenever they made a mistake. They simply swallowed their complaints and did as they were told.

They were proud warriors, ready to bring a victory to their district.

There was just one more thing that had to be done: choose the backup volunteers.

Alexander was confident that nothing bad would happen to Platinum and Silver, but still, this tradition existed for a reason. If an 'unsavoury' tribute made their way into the Games, everyone in the district would probably die of embarrassment.

So he and his second-in-command observed the 17/18 years division and picked out six contenders, three of each gender.

The test to determine the backups was held on a warm and sunny Saturday afternoon, inside one of the largest training rooms the Academy boasted. The test was simple: everyone must fight each other. The last ones of each gender standing would be that year's backup volunteers.

Alexander watched the fight with a stony expression. This finale was meant to test the contenders' abilities to hold their own in battles with multiple people, who may or may not be as well trained as they were. Since the Career pack would inevitably split each year, skills like these were very necessary.

The battle went on for thirty minutes, the air filling with grunts, moans of pain, and the sounds of weapons glancing off each other. Four opponents were felled (not permanently, however) and finally, only two remained. The boy, a cheerful one named Puck Lumi, stood tall with shaggy blonde hair damp with sweat. The girl was named Joy Lux and she had curly reddish-pink hair piled upon her head.

Alexander approached them and placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "Puck and Joy," he spoke without a hint of happiness, or any emotion whatsoever, "you are this year's backup volunteers. Now just because you are backups doesn't mean you don't have to work as hard. You have a responsibility to uphold now. It wouldn't do to slack off and goof around. You need to make your district proud." His voice was cold and to the point. "You now need to make your way to Room 304. Mr St Germaine will be there to help you train with swords." After that, Alexander left.

As soon as he was gone, Puck and Joy shared a gleeful, tired grin.

They understood the seriousness of Alexander's words, of course, but they, Puck in particular, were more focused on having a good time.

Besides, it's not like they'd actually have to, y'know, step up and volunteer. Platinum and Silver had everything figured out. They'd be fine.

But fate has a funny way of working out sometimes.

Three days before the reaping found them in a sunbathed room, learning how to properly throw a spear, when Alexander entered, a grave expression etched on his face. Puck and Joy immediately stopped their laughter and banter and fell silent.

Alexander focused his gaze onto Joy as he started to speak, his words slow, careful, and firm.

"I had some bad news for you: Silver has fallen ill. She won't recover in time to volunteer in three days' time. This means that you will volunteer in her place, Joy." Alexander cleared his throat and looked around. "I certainly hope you've been using your time wisely. It wouldn't do to goof off so close to the reaping." He shot a glare Puck's way. Then he left as suddenly as he had arrived.

Puck and Joy stated after him for a long, silent moment. That silence was broken by Puck giving Joy the biggest high-five he could manage.

"Congrats, J-J!"

And so the morning of the reaping came around and instead of Platinum and Silver onstage, it was a disappointed Platinum and a jubilant Joy who were presented to their district, and the entire country beyond.

As Joy waved her hand to the cheering crowd below her, she tried to ignore the creeping sensation of Platinum's eyes on her back.

She thought to herself that he'd better not stab it.