Caspian Ashwood (President of Panem)
I don't think I'll ever understand how so many people have managed to get as far in life as they have by playing it safe. The idea is as crazy a concept to me as thinking outside the box is to the dinosaurs in my administration who refuse to let me lead my country into the future.
That still sounds funny to say, my country. I've only been President for a few short months, and it still feels strange to think of Panem as mine.
But it is. It belongs to me, and I won't allow anyone to stop me from saving it from the incompetent leadership of the men and women who dare to call themselves my advisors. As if I'd ever lower myself to seek their advice on how to run my country.
They're inexcusably stubborn and disgustingly cautious. And they would rather cling to safe, comfortable old glories while Panem burns to ash around them than do what needs to be done to save it.
And that's why none of them can understand the genius of my decision. Let alone why announcing it tonight is so vital to its success.
They're happy being ignorant. And I'm more than happy to let them continue to be so. As long as their ignorance doesn't destroy the country or rub off on the woman who will be my Queen.
"Are you listening to me, Caspian?"
Speak of the devil.
"You know I am, Tranquila."
"It didn't look like it," she growls.
"Looks can be deceiving," I joke, a sly smile on my lips as I fight back the urge to roll my eyes.
"Can they? In that case, you should be able to tell me what I just said. Right?"
"Of course I can," I say, pausing for effect. "You said you don't understand why I'm doing this now. I've only been in office for a few months, and you and my advisors don't think it's a good idea for me to do something so drastic while half the country is still trying to learn my name."
"Lucky guess," she pouts.
"No, it was an educated guess," I coo, my smile spreading to my eyes as she shoots me a pouty frown. "One born from the fact that I've had the same discussion a thousand times with what seems like a thousand different people in the last few days, my love."
"I know you have, but that's because your decision still doesn't make sense to any of them. And I'd be an awful chief of staff and an even worse girlfriend if I didn't bring that to your attention."
I hate to admit this, but she does have a point. It's a stupidly annoying one, but it's still a point.
And since I don't have anything better to do for the next five minutes, I guess I can let her do her job.
"Fine. You've made your point.
"Tell me what they've been saying. But please try to keep it brief."
"I'll do my best. Sir."
"Thank you," I say, my voice soft and warm with just a hint of sarcasm, as I flash her a reassuring little smile.
"So, tell me. What doth trouble the minds of my advisors?"
"Everything," she says, serious as sin.
I can't help but roll my eyes at that. I don't mean to. But I can't help myself.
Unfortunately, she saw me roll my eyes. Not that I was trying to hide it or anything.
"I'm being serious, Cass."
"I know you are, and that's the problem," I pause for a second to collect myself. "Please, continue."
"Thank you," she mumbles, struggling to reconnect with her train of thought.
"So, as I was about to say, your advisors are worried. Now, I won't bore you with the minor stuff, but their main concern is they don't think you ever stopped to ask yourself if this is what the people want.
"The average person doesn't like change, Caspian, especially when it involves something as near and dear to their hearts as the Hunger Games.
"Couple that with the fact that everyone expects this year's Quell to be a celebration of past greatness, and you have a recipe for disaster if they recoil against your changes.
"That's why I'm begging you, as your girlfriend and your chief of staff, to leave well enough alone. Wait until after the games are over — until after the victory tour is over — to start tweaking things. Please?" she begs, her eyes sparkling with tears as she looks up at me and waits for me to give in and come to my senses.
But I can't do it. I can't let her talk me out of this. The fate of Panem is too important to be decided by my girlfriend's guilt trip.
No, I have to announce the changes today — with the Quell stipulation — because it's the only way the people will accept it. And Tranquila knows that.
"I appreciate you bringing all of this to my attention, Tranquila. I do. But waiting isn't an option.
"My changes, as unpopular as they may be at first, are the only way to ensure the long-term stability and viability of the Games. And, by extension, Panem. So I don't have the luxury of waiting to make them."
"But why?" she asks desperately.
She's not the first person to ask me that question, but she will be the first to get an answer to it. I've diligently worked every angle I could find, and they've all led me to the same inescapable conclusion. Panem is dying, and the Hunger Games can save it. But not in their current form.
"Because Panem will die without the Hunger Games. And the Games can't survive without a hard reset. And the longer I wait to do it, the harder it'll be."
"That's not what your —"
"I don't care what my advisors think," I snap. "Their inaction got us into this mess in the first place."
"I know that, Cass. But that doesn't mean you —"
"I've made my choice, Tranquila.
"Alea iacta est, the die has been cast. I'm making these changes. And there's nothing you can say or do to stop me.
"I refuse to be the man who had the chance to do something bold, to save his country and the glue that holds it together, but didn't because I was too afraid to fail."
"Excuse me, sir?" someone whispers, their voice low and shaking with fear and uncertainty. "We're ready for you."
"Thank you," I mumble curtly, my stomach twisting into knots as I stand up, take a deep breath, and lean in to kiss Tranquila on the cheek before turning around and strolling into the studio with a confident grin plastered on my face.
Well, here goes everything.
—PLEASE STAND BY FOR AN ADDRESS FROM THE PRESIDENT OF PANEM—
"Good evening, Panem. This is your President, Caspian Ashwood.
"One Hundred years ago, our nation stood on the precipice of total annihilation. We had just emerged from a long and brutal civil war, and many feared that Panem had been irreparably fractured.
"However, a small cadre of our best and brightest sat down with the defeated rebel leaders and attempted to find common ground. And they did.
"From their heroic negotiations was born the most important document in our nation's history, The Treaty of Treason. Which set down the terms for the reunification of Panem and the penalties those who sought to tear it asunder must pay.
"One of those is the Hunger Games, the annual event where all of Panem comes together as one to cheer for one or more of the twenty-four brave young men and women who have been selected to compete for the ultimate honor of becoming a Hunger Games Victor.
"Since that day, ninety-nine brave and selfless young men and women have seized this honor for themselves and their district. And, in a few short weeks, we'll start our journey toward the crowning of our centennial champion.
"But before we can do that, we must honor those who came before. This leads me to the following announcement.
"Effective immediately, and in recognition of their unimaginable courage and kind-hearted selflessness, I am relieving all the living Hunger Games champions of their official duties as mentors and allowing them to retire in peace.
"They will be temporarily replaced by a specially selected Capitol mentor who will be chosen for their unique skill, wit, and ability and charged with mentoring the tributes from their assigned district until one of them seizes the mantle of victor for themselves.
"The now-retired victors will be required to attend this year's festivities. But after that, their attendance will be voluntary. Further guidance will be provided to them once they arrive in the Capitol for this year's Games.
"Which brings me to the reason we're all here, the official reading of the stipulation for the Fourth Quarter Quell.
"To remind the districts of the Capitol's mercy and fairness, for this the One Hundredth Hunger Games and Fourth Quarter Quell, one gender from each of the twelve districts will be exempted from the Reaping.
"However, to ensure adequate district representation in the quell, the gender not exempted from selection must supply their district with a second tribute for the games."
"Earlier today, I met with the escorts and informed them which gender their district will be required to supply for this year's festivities. The results will follow this announcement.
"Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!"
District 1-Male
District 2-Female
District 3-Male
District 4-Female
District 5-Male
District 6-Female
District 7-Male
District 8-Female
District 9-Male
District 10-Female
District 11- Male
District 12-Female
A/N: Hello everyone, and welcome to the first chapter of my reboot of Echoes of the Future! For those of you who had been following along with the original story, welcome back, and for those of you who are new, welcome! My name is Zack, and this is my SYOT!
As I mentioned earlier, I had been working on a version of this story before, but for a number of reasons, I decided to pull it down and start fresh. And because I'm restarting, I already have a full cast of tributes that I'm incredibly excited to introduce to all of you. I've been thinking about what I did wrong with them last time, and I'm determined to take my time and make sure that I do them the justice they deserve.
That's my long winded way of saying that the tribute list is full. However, I hope that won't stop you from taking this journey with me. Thank you for giving my story a look, and I hope to see you again at the next update :)
Tribute List
D1: Alfonso Cadel-18 (AlexFalTon)
D1: Shimmer Calvisi-18 (neonfunerals13)
D2: Bellatrix Harvey-18 (Butter-bluetack)
D2: Helena Valentine-18 (Iron-Doughnut)
D3: Cypher Diamantis-12 (Formerly Chuck's)
D3: Oz Channer-17 (HumanWiki)
D4: Ariadne Whitlock-18 (VeneratedArt)
D4: Cornelia Harbor-16 (Victoria the Bipolar Tribute)
D5: Shirley Gutters-16 (Iron-Doughnut)
D5: Hector Brennan-15 (FloatingFerrets)
D6: Leandra Chandri-18 (ASlitheringSlytherin)
D6: Dana Shouwei-15 (geologyisms)
D7: Asuka Tamura-17 (mykindleisawesome)
D7: Bennett "Benny" Ramirez-18 (goldie031)
D8: Lizbeth "Liz" Tulle-17 (pioneer9)
D8: Pallas Eve Arguatha-18 (KitKathy520)
D9: Sentri Baroslav-16 (ladyqueerfoot)
D9: Sedge Hamilton-18 (Josephm611)
D10: Luciana Bay-17 (KitKathy520)
D10: Sarah Beth Fullberg-17 (Gomex)
D11: Ashton 'Ash' Drysden-13 (LittleBigFirefly)
D11: Cassis Caldeira-12 (FloatingFerrets)
D12: Ashlynn 'Ash' Haskell-15 (SnowyWyvern)
D12: Maira Renault-12 (Victoria the Bipolar Tribute)
