I do not own 'Phineas and Ferb' or anything related.

That?"

"And we are back."

Phineas was confused. Everyone acted like time had passed, yet he was sure that no time had passed at all! He heard someone in the audience say "I can't believe Anonymius updated this early!" and another replied "I know, right? We should probably make the most of it before he burns out again."

Later the girl from District 6 came on stage.

"So, Connie Maheswaran, am I correct in assuming that you are 12 years old?"

"Well, 12 and three quarters."

"And does it not bother you being so young might put you at a disadvantage in the arena?"

"Oh not at all! I've read all about survival, and I did well at all the training stations! Plus I am capable at sword fighting, as I learnt from the best sword fighter I know!"

"I assume you must mean one of the trainers at the training centre, right?"

"Well actually-"

"Because as we all know sword fighting is illegal outside the Capital. And you wouldn't break the law, right?"

"Ummm."

The boy played a ukulele, singing about himself.

"And Steven!" He finished.

Everyone cheered.

"That was a very pleasant song."

"Thank you."

"I am sure you will do well in the arena."

"Thank you!"

"Even if the fat tributes are usually the first to go."

"GASP!"

Steven was in tears.

"You think I'm..fat?"

"Well, chubby to be more precise, but…apologies, are you crying?"

"No!"

"Oh dear! Now I am concerned because if you are this easily wounded, then I do not know how you are going to survive in the arena. I am sure in the district you come from crying is an accepted expression of emotion, but trust me, you will be eaten alive in the arena. Especially because you are a boy."

"Wh-what?"

"TING!"

"And that is all the time we've got. Thank you, Steven Universe."

Steven, still in tears, went to join the others.

The district 5 boy, despite not seemingly that exceptional, boasted how he would win the Hungry Games.

"And the fact that you only got a 0 does not bother you?"

"No! Your score doesn't necessarily reflect how good you are! I mean, there was this one tribute who had a low score and she beat everyone."

"That is true. Although she did not get a 0."

"Well…no."

"In fact, you have made history because no one has ever been given a 0 before."

Whatever courage the boy had had clearly evaporated.

Later it was the district 4 girl's turn.

"Hi everyone, I'm Mabel!"

"Well aren't you the sweetest thing I have ever seen!"

"I'm sure you don't mean that I will get easily slaughtered in the blood bath, I hope!"

"Well that depends. Do you have any skills?"

"Oh I have plenty of skills! I'm an arts and crafts master! I even knitted this sweater I'm wearing right now."

"I meant fighting skills. Survival skills."

"Well…I helped-"

"Helped? You mean you did not take it down on your own?"

"Well, no -"

"And are you aware that in the Hungry Games you have to battle on your own?"

"Well, yeah.."

"And does it bother you that you lack the fighting skills necessary to win on your own?"

"Oh not at all! I'll be fine as long as I get my hands on a grappling hook."

"Grappling hook!" Shouted someone from the audience, who broke into laughter.

"And what if there isn't a grappling hook in the arena?"

"I'm sure I'll come up with something. Especially with me and my brother. Together, there will be nothing to stop us, not even the other tributes!"

"You are aware that there can be only one winner, right?"

"Well, yeah…"

"So even if you two became allies, and killed everyone else, in the end one of you would have to kill the other. But I am sure if that would happen you would rather die than kill your sibling. If he does not kill himself first, that is. But I'm sure that whoever is left standing would have to suffer intolerable grief that their twin is gone and is never coming back for the rest of you life."

You could see on Mabel's face that she was taking in what Felus was telling her.

TING!

"And your time is up. Go sit with the others, "

Mabel, sniffing, got up. Then it was her brother's turn.

"Now, I can't help but notice that you are small and lacking muscles, and you won't have any kind of journal that can help you how to survive."

"Wait, what?"

"So aren't you worried that you'll be one of the first to die?"

"Well, what I'm lacking in muscles, I make up for brain power."

"Well I am all for intellect."

"Thank you."

"However I also know that in the arena you'll need more than brains to survive. Anyone with a brain knows that."

"Oh."

The tribute considered what he was saying.

"You're right."

"I am?"

"Yeah. Why bother pretending? I mean I'll be up against older, bigger tributes who have more experience fighting. I wouldn't be surprised if I'll be the first to die."

"Well, even if you do end up surviving with your sister, you will have to make the choice of killing her in order to survive."

"No. I would rather die than hurt Mabel."

"Meaning that you would have her broken."

"But she'll be alive!"

"Well physically at least."

TING!

"And that is all the time we have got. Please sit with the others."

The tribute got up, then when he reached halfway through the stage he stopped.

"Oh, one other thing."

He yelled as he leapt on Felus, knocking him and his chair over. Felus let out a meow! The tribute kept punching him.

"That's for upsetting my sister, you jerk!"

The duck troopers had to pull him away. Felus got up, straightening his tie. One of the glasses in his spectacles was broken.

"Ahem. Well, you cannot say he does not have fighting spirit."

Everyone laughed.

"Now then, next attendant."

After the district 3 tributes, came District 2. The district 2 girl explained that she was a capable fighter, and had more than enough brains to match, while the district 2 boy told Felus that he was a killing machine. The crowd cheered.

"So it does not bother you that District 2 has not won a game in the last ten times?"

Angry, the boy lunged at him. He found Felus' hook at his neck.

"And now you are dead. Just like the others."

TING!

"And now we're out of time, so please sit with the others."

Rather than sitting, Felus' hook extended so that the boy was forced to sit.

Then it was Phineas' turn.

"So, Phineas, does it not bother you that your district does not have the capability to do what it takes to survive?"

"Well, I think plenty of people in my district can survive pretty well."

"I am talking about killing. Oh, I am sorry, the word unsettles you, does it not? Or how about death?"

"Errrrr-"

"Does it not bother you that you are one of the youngest tributes ever to enter the arena? Or that you have no fighting experience?"

"Well-"

"Does it not bother that without your brother you will not be able to succeed? What possible reason could you possibly have to succeed? What one thing do you alone have? What?"

"Well, I did well at the stations-"

"Anyone can do well at the stations. I mean at home. What fighting skills do you have?"

"Ermm…"

"What survival skills have you used?"

"Ermm."

"Name me one, just one skill you have had before that could enable you to survive in the Hungry Games? What power could you possibly have-"

"I HAVE THE POWER TO BELIEVE!"

Phineas had stepped out of his chair. Everyone had gone silent.

"People would have said it was impossible to build a time machine, or a roller-coaster in a day, but it was done. To make the impossible possible if you believe you can do it! I believe I can! And that's the measure, the measure of a man! Or woman. It may sound far-fetched, this thing I've got planned, but I believe I can. I'll make it back home, to where I began. Or at least that's the plan."

The crowd looked stunned. The other tributes, who looked miserable and resigned to their fate earlier, now looked happier and more confident than they had since being chosen.

"That is it?" Felus asked disbelievingly.

"TING!" Went the clock.

"And that is all the time we have. You may go sit with the others, Phineas."

"Thank you. And to answer your question, yes. That's all I need."

Even Felus looked unsettled.

"Ahem. Well then. The arena will put your faith to the test."

Last came Ferb.

"So, Ferb, does it not bother you that your district doesn't have the capability to do what it takes to survive?"

Ferb didn't answer.

"Ahem, it is generally considered impolite to not answer a question."

Ferb remained silent.

"Okay then. But do you understand that when I say survive I mean being able to kill?"

Ferb just blinked.

"Doesn't that word unsettle you? Or how about killing? Death? Dead, dying?"

Ferb didn't react.

"Does it not bother you that you are one of the youngest tributes ever to enter the arena? Or that you have no fighting experience?"

Ferb didn't answer.

"Does it not bother that without your brother you won't be able to succeed?"

Ferb didn't answer.

"What possible reason could you possibly have to succeed?"

Ferb didn't answer.

What one thing do you alone have?

Ferb didn't answer.

"Do you think that just because you did well at the stations that will assure you victory?"

Ferb didn't answer.

"Or do you believe like your brother than you can win just because you believe you can?"

Ferb didn't answer.

"And are you prepared for the reality that if by some chance you do win you will be forced to kill the other or let yourself be kill forcing one of you to live a half life without the other for the rest of your life?"

Ferb didn't

"ANSWER ME YOU SILENT ANNOYANCE!"

Felus had shot out of his chair and towered over Ferb, who just blinked. Felus noticed the crowed.

"Ahem."

He sat back down, and looked at the clock.

"Well I think we have enough time for one last question if you care to answer. Any last words your family gave you?"

A tear trickled from his eye.

"My sister told us that we need to win."

"TING!"

"And that is all the time we have. And I'm sure that all of our hearts go out to you and your brother when we say "And try to win you will."

"Oh wow!" Sammy exclaimed when Phineas and Ferb were back backstage, "You guys totally showed Felus up! Oh boy, he's gonna make your lives miserable in the arena, but hey, it was worth it!"

"Make our lives miserable?" Phineas was confused, "What are you talking about?"

"I thought you knew. Felus is the one who runs the games."

"What? But I thought you said the president was the head gamemaker!"

"Oh sure the president sets the theme and what traps to have, but Felus is the one who decides when to release said traps."

Felus walked up to Wacko.

"Sir. Permission to make Phineas and Ferb's lives as nightmarish as possible?"

"Permission granted. but I'm taken aback. Aren't you usually the one showing restraint?"

"Ahem."

Felus pushed his glasses on his face.

"They vexed me."

The night before the actual Hungry Games (At least that's what it would be if time passed), Phineas got an unexpected visitor.

"Ferb! Wait, would your mentor approve of you visiting your competitor?"

"I don't care about what he thinks."

"Really? Cos it seems recently all you cared about was what he thinks."

There was silence.

"Oh my gosh, Ferb, I'm so sorry!"

"Apology accepted."

"It's these games."

"Can't sleep either?"

"Well now that you mention it…No."

"I know a place."

Ferb took Phineas to the top of one of the towers.

"Monogram showed me this place. It's a good place to think."

Phineas looked down and out at the void.

"Aren't they worried that tributes might try to escape by jumping off here?"

Ferb picked up a stone and threw it. It fell below and out of sight. Moments later the stone rematerialised in Ferb's hand.

"Still haven't worked out how they do it. My best guess is that they use some sort of transporter to teleport someone back if they reach a certain range."

Phineas now looked down at the capital.

"How can they do it? How can anyone take enjoyment in watching kids fights?"

"Phineas, you saw what they were like in the interview with Felus. They enjoyed watching tributes suffer."

"Oh yeah. By the way, you did well not rising to Felus' bait."

"Actually, I found his words very soul wrenching."

"Did Candace really tell you to win?"

"She told me that both of us needed to win."

"Huh. Wondered why she never said that to me."

"Probably because it got so emotional that she didn't have a chance."

"I guess there's that. You know, usually I don't like going against what people say, but I don't care that Doofensmirtz thinks that I should go for it solo. I want to be allies. I know that if we work together, then we can beat this thing."

"Me too. I just wish there was some way to prove that we're not just pieces on their games. Phineas, whatever happens tomorrow, the cornucopia must be avoided."

"Agreed. We can make what we need without the cornucopia."

P.S. I do not own 'Steven Universe', 'Gravity Falls' or anything related either.