A/N: Hey everyone! So I read a fanfic about chess relating to the hunger games, and it inspired me to write this, which is basically about chess relating to the hunger games. Original, I know. (That's sarcastic in case you didn't catch it.) All the italics are stuff from the book, and all the stuff that's not italics are about the chess game.
Also, I know it's kind of awkward that Clove and Marvel are bishops and Cato is a pawn. But there are only two bishops per side and the pawn thing worked well for the next lines.
Disclaimer: Did I ever claim to own the hunger games? No. So don't sue.
Disclaimer #2: Some of the stuff in the story may not actually be possible in a real chess game. Like, I doubt you could read this story and set up a chess game that followed it. I don't play chess that often.
The white king makes the first move, but not really. He sends the white pawn forward two steps, a bold invitation. The black queen wishes she could retaliate, but there are too many pawns blocking her way. So she waits, and watches a black pawn take one step forward.
"Primrose Everdeen," Calls Effie Trinket, the white slip of paper trapped between her pink talons.
"No, no! I volunteer!" a dark haired girl runs forward, the desperation plain on her face. She pushes through the crowd to move to the stage. "I volunteer as tribute."
The white king sees the small black pawn but it poses no threat. Yet. Gradually the pieces move, thirteen gone in what feels like seconds. The black pawn is joined by another. The two pieces stick together as well as they can, one moving one turn, the next moving after that.
"They're not the only ones who can make alliances you know," the dark haired girl says. Rue edges forward, the danger is gone for now.
But then the white bishop comes out of nowhere, striking down one of the pawns.
Marvel knows his net has caught something. He runs eagerly to check it, like a predator running to wounded prey. He throws his spear at the body that has been unfortunate enough to have become entangled. His spear enters Rue's body and she falls, screaming for Katniss.
The bishop moved too close. It is the black pawn's turn. She sees the chance to take the bishop down, and she does.
Katniss raises her bow, aims and fires. The silver arrow buries itself in the boy's neck, and he falls to the ground. "Are there more?" she demands. Rue says no. Katniss drops to her knees and begins to sing.
There are no more for now. The rest of the pieces are scattered, some too far away to make a move, some biding their time, others evading the center of the board. Evading attention. The small black pawn and the bishop are removed from the game board.
The hovercraft appears, ready to collect the bodies. The cameras focus in only to find that the little girl's body is covered in flowers, a beautiful memorial. Too late, they try to pan away from it. It is a show of love, of caring, of rebellion. Of friendship and sadness. These emotions are too human. Tributes are not supposed to be human. They are just pieces.
The second white bishop moves in for the attack. Its target is the first black pawn, the one that has steadfastly been moving forward across the board. Closer to the other side than it realizes.
Clove adjusts the knives in her jacket. "Do you see anyone?" Cato asks.
"No, but fire girl's coming, I'm sure of it."
"You can take her down," Cato says. Clove smiles, envisioning the sight of fire girl's limp body lying on the ground.
"I know," she says.
The black pawn knows that it is threatened. It cannot move, cannot escape. But a castle moves forward, past the pawn, and takes the white bishop. The piece falls off the edge of the game board and breaks.
"Cato! Cato!" Clove screams, but he is too far away. Cato runs through the trees, all thoughts of catching lover boy or Thresh gone from his mind. Why did he put so much distance between Clove and himself? He makes it to the field just as Thresh lowers the rock and turns to district 12.
"No, Clove. Stay with me, please." But the light fades from her eyes, and with her dies his dream.
The white pawn positions itself. With each turn it moves closer to the black pawn and takes down the interfering castle along the way. The tow pawns approach each other, there is no way to avoid confrontation this time. But it is two against one, the first black pawn and another stand side by side. The white pawn is in the perfect position to attack. He is one step closer to the end of the board, where he can gain power and rank by reaching the other side. But in this game, he is just one pawn. The white side has many others. He can be sacrificed.
"Please," Cato mouths. Katniss nods, and knocks an arrow to her bow.
The black pawn takes the white, and it is removed from the board. One more step and it will become a queen. The white king realizes the threat and moves sideways, hoping to obliterate the pawn. But he is too slow, too far away to do any good. The black pawn moves, and gains power.
"Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentleman, may I present the victors of the 74th annual hunger games. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark." President Snow realizes his mistake, but there is no way to stop the victor's crown from being placed on Katniss's head.
The new black Queen is two spaces away from the king. On her next turn, she can strike.
"Check."
On his TV, the mayor of district 12 watches the citizens of district 8 throw bricks and rocks. The crowd surges forward, overtaking the peacekeepers. Soon reinforcements will arrive and put the districts back in order. But the spark of rebellion cannot be quelled this time.
"Check." The words of the new black queen reverberate around the game board. But though she has the powers of the queen, she is still just a pawn in the game.
A/N: You know what I'm going to say. REVIEW! Please.
Also, I was thinking of writing another chapter for the events of Catching Fire, and another for Mockingjay. What do you think of that idea?