Hi Everyone!

Thanks for reading! I'm really excited to share this story with you and to receive your input. This is my first-ever fanfic, so please comment, even if it's about something you don't like or would like to see changed. The next update will take place two weeks from now or less. From that point on, updates will be weekly. If you're interested in submitting a tribute, there are further details below. Oh, and I do not own the Hunger Games; Suzanne Collins does (and yes, one of the characters does share her last name). Enjoy!

The Victors Shall Increase: A Story of the Seventy-Sixth Hunger Games

Titania Collins, twelfth President of Panem, clenched her fists, causing her fingernails to bite into her soft and delicate flesh. In all her years as President Snow's personal secretary and unofficial advisor, she had never experienced apprehension like this. Eight months ago, the rebellion that had swept through the Districts had been put down, ending the war the Mockingjay had started. The Capitol had emerged as the victor, and now things could go back to the way they were before Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen had entered the arena for the 74th Hunger Games, just over two years ago. Both of the supposedly indestructible figureheads of the rebellion were now dead; Peeta had been executed by the Capitol, and the Girl on Fire had been felled by a bullet on President Snow's lawn just before her sister Primrose had, ironically, burst into flame from an incendiary bomb. Thus, according to most of the people in the Capitol, things were returning to their normal state.

But Titania Collins knew things most others didn't.

The rebels had indeed been defeated, but only just. Titania doubted that they knew or had known the full extent of their power. If things had gone a little differently, the Districts might have won the war. The Capitol citizens, on the other hand, had no idea how close they had come to losing their carefree lifestyle and main source of entertainment. If the President had her way, neither side would ever learn would learn how powerful the rebels had been and still were, or how fragile the Capitol actually was.

Titania was not a bloodthirsty woman, but she was not the most compassionate human being either. For her, the decision of whether or not to restore the Hunger Games had been a difficult one. The difficulty that had not been caused by the moral aspect of the decision, but by the need to pacify both the Districts and the Capitol. Finally, after countless sleepless nights spent staring at her now-deceased predecessor's portrait, the young woman had come up with a compromise that would allow the Games to continue, yet steadily reduce their impact on the Districts. It was this compromise she was about to announce, and, for the first time in her life, Titania was not sure how well her ideas would be received.

The official anthem of Panem began to play, and Titania stepped out onto the stage that was just outside the front door of the President's mansion. In reality, the stage was just a hastily erected platform that covered the front steps of the President's Mansion and was level with its front door. However, Titania's usual confident bearing and calm gaze lent an air of dignity to her surroundings, as always.

Titania began to speak, addressing the large crowd of Capitol citizens that had assembled on her front lawn. "Ladies and gentlemen, I come before you this evening with news both good and grave." There. She had managed to begin the speech that would change Panem's history forever. She couldn't turn back or hesitate now.

She continued. "You have doubtless heard that a compromise has been made concerning the continuation of the Games. I am here tonight to tell you about that compromise, and to explain its ramifications. Each and every one of you knows the story of how the Games came to be, so I will not bore you with an unnecessary recitation of history. However, I will emphasize that the main point of said recitation was that the Districts had to be somehow punished for their part in the rebellion." She could hear murmurs of assent from the crowd, which almost exclusively consisted of Capitol citizens. "Given the fact that the Districts willingly choose to rebel again," Titania paused to let her emphasis on the word sink in "they should be punished. So, in keeping with the wishes of the Capitol, the Hunger Games shall continue!"

As Titania's clear, confident voice rang out across the manicured lawn, the crowd roared with approval. Titania smiled serenely, seeming to enjoy the elation of those who had assembled. Inside, she was quivering. In only a few moments, when she told those assembled the other part of the bargain, the crowd would lose its fervor, and many of the Capitolites might lose respect for her entirely.

That can't be helped. Panem can't afford a third rebellion. She reminded herself. Brushing her worries aside, she refocused her attention on the task at hand.

She allowed the cheers to die down before speaking again. "Although the Hunger Games will continue, there will be some changes." The mood of the crowd shifted, creeping towards restlessness now that their President had announced a caveat.

"Due to the valor the rebels demonstrated during the recent conflict, and also to the Capitol's desire to show its goodwill and mercy towards the Districts, starting this year, the number of tributes in the Games will decrease by one every year. Furthermore, the number of Victors allowed will increase by one each year." Titania continued quickly, hoping to distract the crowd from doing the math. "Alliances will be formed, loyalties tested, and partnerships defended in a way that has never been seen before!"

The crowd stirred, buzzing with anticipation. Titania, feeling relieved, delivered the final words of her speech. "Long live Panem AND THE HUNGER GAMES!"

With that, the crowd went wild, chanting the President's name and jostling each other in their eagerness to rush to the stage and have a personal moment with her. The Peacekeepers surrounding Titania quickly pulled her away and hustled her back into the President's Mansion. In the meantime, a small camera crew that had filmed her speech prepared to televise it across Panem, the nation that would be forever changed.

Well, there it is. The first chapter of my first-ever fanfic. As stated above, this will be a SYOT story; however, it may be a little different than other SYOT stories because a) I'm new to this, and b) the story twist I thought of makes things a little different anyways. Please consider submitting a tribute. The guidelines are:

PM me with information on your tribute. I'm not going to do a form for this one, so just include whatever information you want, as long as you make your tribute memorable and interesting (hint: I strongly encourage you to include a preferred weapon). Please title your file with your tribute's name, District, and gender (Ex: "Katniss Everdeen, D12F).

I am currently accepting male and female tributes for Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 13, along with a male tribute from 8. When you submit your tribute, please indicate your second and possibly third choice for a tribute's district should your first choice be taken. If all your choices are taken, or if you do not include backups and I already have tributes for the District you want, then I will assign your tribute to a District based on his or her unique skills.

You can also submit other characters if you want, including but not limited to stylists/prep team, mentors (District and year won may be tweaked), and family/friends of tributes. Also, if there is a certain canon character you would like to see appear in the story, please let me know, either by PM or review. I'm not making any promises, but I will thoughtfully consider each request.