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The Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes participated for years, sacrificing their young to participate in the Fire Nation’s theatrics. After waging war for years, Fire Lord Ozai sought to give his army a rest. Imperial pursuits gained land and wealth, but he wanted more. He wanted the world’s respect. He promised to withhold his army from the other nations for each year they sent their tributes—two benders and two non-benders—to the Capitol City for The Hunger Games.
Katara stepped off the train, entering the dry heat first among their group. As crowds decked in red cheered, thrilled to catch the first glimpse of this year’s tributes, a soldier shackled her wrists and led her to the tower. She couldn’t comprehend the joy throughout the audience. They seemed to admire her and they celebrated her arrival. However, they would soon place bets on when and how she would die. They would root for the Fire Nation volunteer to burn her. No one in the crowd cared about Katara, they just thought themselves stronger at her expense.
As the soldier led her to the door, she checked over her shoulder to make sure her brother, Sokka, followed her. They chained him too, along with the seven other tributes, for this parade. He basked in the cheers, smiling and raising his tied hands to the rhythm of their yells. He knew just as well as Katara that they were measuring him, finding grim joy in how their volunteers would destroy him. However, he knew this would be one of the few times he heard their cheers. He’d take the fool’s gold. Knowing nothing better was to come, he wanted to enjoy what he could.
Aang trailed behind the other tributes. Most nations selected their four fighters at random; however, he was the last from the Air nomads. The Fire Nation eliminated his entire culture and now planned on eviscerating the last air bender for their entertainment. He knew he could save the others in front of him. They were about to begin their training week, which gave some time to befriend the other tributes and unite them against the Fire Nation. He intended on ending the Games and the war for good.
Inside the tower, soldiers lined up to block any exit or exploration. Despite the fanfare outside, the teenagers were their nations’ representatives in a hundred-year war. They’d be kept alive until the Games begun, but there would be no love lost before then. The first soldier from the train led the group to a large screen, instructing them to sit in the arranged chairs. The crowds outside pivoted from the train platform to the stage in the city square. While the victim nations sent tributes shrouded in tragedy and desperation, the Fire Nation handpicked its fighters. Their selection ceremony warranted the large crowds and celebration, given that it announced the four strongest teenagers who dedicated themselves to the glory of their country. While the square filled with music, food, and patriotic fervor, the tributes watched from their tower. This provided them with a glimpse of the Games before they even begun—a glimpse into their rigged nature, into the murderous instinct of their competitors.
Fire Lord Ozai took the stage, sending the people to their knees in reverence. Following their pledge of allegiance, he began his annual message—in part to honor the Games’ tradition, and to also explain the upcoming struggle to the tributes—boasting about the Fire Nation’s strength. “Good evening. Thank you all for joining us as we announce our volunteers for this year’s Hunger Games, and begin another glorious battle in this war.
“As you know, we have been at war for a century now, pursuing a better and more unified world. The Air Nomads refused to listen, and we ensured they could not corrupt the rest of the nations. Now, we sit close to the capital cities in the Water Tribes and Earth Kingdom. In the spirit of peace, however, we created The Hunger Games to exchange thousands of soldiers’ deaths for a few teenagers. This year, an air bender joins the fight, representing a lost people in the Arena. Our Water Tribe tributes range from peasants to royalty, including the first volunteer outside of our nation. The Earth Kingdom sent us civilians of their holdout cities along with our colonies, providing us with great diversity among our tributes.”
As Ozai announced the first volunteer, the tributes looked throughout the two rows facing the screen. Female water benders were known to heal other water tributes during some games, so maybe one volunteered out of humanitarian motivations this year. The two boys looked scrappy, untrained, and awkward. Unlikely either one of them volunteered because they must understand the death march ahead of them. Before they could reason among themselves whether Katara or Yue volunteered, Ozai moved to discuss the Fire Nation volunteers. The Hunger Games sought to demonstrate the supremacy of fire—they wanted to humiliate the other elements and fighting styles and embarrass them for future battles. Each Fire Nation tribute applied for the Games and had to demonstrate immense patriotism, skill, and desire to win. They were young killers, trained for this microcosm of war.
The camera panned to the front row of academy students. Ozai discussed the hope each applicant possessed, and how those unselected now joined the ranks of military leadership. Nearing the end of his speech, a hand slowly raised among the group, “Our first volunteer,” he announced, “please make your way to the stage.” She moved without care, unfazed by the cheers, the honor of her selection, or even her upcoming death. Once she took her place next to Ozai, the other non-bending volunteer followed to the stage, walking with a bounce, she seemed to find joy in the celebration.
“Welcome Mai and Ty-Lee,” he signaled for the nation to bow to them, “Friends of castle, these women demonstrated loyalty beyond compare for the Fire Nation. They are skilled fighters and take no mercy. I am confident they will not only instill fear in the Arena, but even among you all. I am proud to announce their devotion to the war and our nation.” Mai, the first volunteer, continued to the chair upstage unfazed. She seemed to lead Ty-Lee, and the two took their seats to watch the remainder of the ceremony. While Ozai spoke about his pride in them, Mai knew the purpose of non-bending volunteers. She was to serve the benders and die before their finale. Once the audience understood the supremacy of the Fire Nation’s combat tradition, she must make way for the element. At least it gave her something new to do.
The next two volunteers represented the most skilled fire benders in the nation. Each year, the bending volunteers pursued victory with ruthless determination. Multiple Games ended in an Agni Kai between the two, sometimes lasting a full day. This year, Ozai spoke with a new confidence, signaling that the volunteers were even more dangerous. He held back an excitement when announcing them: “I expect our next volunteers to bring honor to the Fire Nation. Not only did I train them myself, but I anticipate one to succeed me on the throne. Please bow to the Crown Prince and Princess, Zuko and Azula!”
Joining their father on stage, the siblings stood in contrast to each other. Azula took her father’s hand with a knowing confidence that she would succeed him and end the Games to wage a brutal war. The Arena would be her debut, a place for her to earn the fear and respect from the entire nation. Zuko, however, stood tall and independent. The tributes watching remotely feared him, understanding his posture as confidence and lethal patriotism. Mai, who knew him best, knew from the back of the stage that this was not the case. Despite what Ozai announced, she knew Zuko was the first tribute from the Fire Nation.