Prepared to Die.

Aloha my readers! I'm just going to point out, this will be a Glato fanfic. No likey, no ready, but please don't leave hate reviews. I have read the books, I still ship them and I have nothing against Clato shippers, in fact I love them. Ship on! If you hate this pairing so much, imagine that Clove and Glimmer had swapped places, or just simply don't read the fanfic. You have been warned. Now, onto the story. The first chapter (or maybe first few chapters) will pretty much be a prologue, but after that there will be a time jump to the reapings. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games or any of the characters, settings or other objects mentioned, apart from those that were born from my own imagination.


Two children, an eight year old boy and a seven year old girl, tore through the bustling streets of District One. They narrowly avoided many adults who looked down at them with disdain as they ran riot in the city. But they didn't care. They were having the time of their lives, they were free and that's all that mattered to them at that point. The knowledge that they would only be free for a few short weeks rested heavily on their young shoulders, because as of the day after the Hunger Games was over, both Glimmer and Marvel would be enrolled into the Training Academy- or simply The Academy.

District One was the most prestigious district by far; their luxury creations of precious gems and fabulous styles enticed both citizens of the Capitol and the other districts alike, which meant there was only one lifestyle in District One. You turn eight, you enrol at the Academy, you volunteer for the Games when you're ready and you compete. You die in the arena? No-one will care, there's always next year. If you don't compete in the Games, you work. If Marvel didn't compete, he would join his father, Velvet's, goldsmithing business with his elder sister as would his 2 younger sisters after him. As for Glimmer, she would become a hair stylist alongside her two older brothers Jasper and Gleam, her sister Gauze, and her parents Quartz and Amber. No choice. So, as often as they could, Glimmer and Marvel would escape the turmoil and pressure of their families to visit the quieter, calmer side of their District.

As the evening stars continued to twinkle brightly in the black sky above them, the two children raced up the hill that marked the edge of their district, and where you could see all across One. Marvel reached the top first, he sat down and raised his eyes up to the sky as Glimmer came panting over the crest of the grassy slope, careful to avoid the fence that he knew was electrocuted behind him. A scar on his upper shoulder proved that it was. His friend plopped down next to him, laying on her back and allowing her long blonde mane that was hanging loosely by her shoulders to spread in a fan shape behind her. Marvel looked down at her, grinning.

"I'm gonna do it one day Glim. I'm gonna compete in the Games. And I'm gonna win. Then I won't have to work with dad, and neither will Linen. Or Glitz. Or Glow. No-one will have to work in my family again." His blue eyes were full of determination, almost as if it were the day of his reaping. Glimmer smiled half heartedly and sat up, dragging her eyes away from the shining stars above them.

"I'm going to live too, whether I compete or not. I'm going to get married and have children." She stated dreamily, gazing out upon all of her district with her emerald orbs. Marvel laughed and mirrored her actions.

"Well tomorrow is the reaping. That means it's only ten years until ours." He gestured as though he was holding a glass, just like he'd seen his parents do on every reaping morning. "AND MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN OUR FAVOUR!" Both the kids were in peals of laughter after Marvel's outburst, ready for what this years reaping would bring and ready for their journey through the Academy.


A single, sharp tap on Glimmer's bedroom door arose her from her sleep. As she blinked to remove the sleep from her eyes, her mother's musical voice drifted in from the hallway.

"Come on now Glimmer, it's 6am, we're behind schedule! It's Jasper's reaping!" The joy in Amber's voice was undeniable; her second eldest child was going in for the reaping so everything had to be perfect, seeing as Gauze just missed out on her place in the games. "Four hours to get ready, so little time. Up for breakfast and then Gauze will get you ready. Oh and happy birthday dear!" The sound of heels clicking on polished wood told Glimmer that her mother was dressed and retreating to the dining room. With her brain still fuzzy from sleep, she swung her small legs out of bed and onto the plush cream rug that was waiting at her feet. She slid her slippers on and took a second to compose herself before venturing out into the hall.

By the time Glimmer had reached the dining room and taken her place at the large beech wood table, it was piled high with fresh berries, tureens of steaming hot cinnamon rolls and two large crystal jugs, one full of cranberry juice and the other of coffee. As she helped herself to 3 cinnamon rolls with a bowl of mixed strawberries, blueberries and blackberries before pouring herself a large glass of cranberry juice, her mother swept into the room.

Amber was wearing one of her many extravagant reaping outfits. This years ensemble was a plum coloured dress that clung to her every curve and reached her knees, complete with 5 inch gold heels that shimmered with glitter. A matching belt was pulled around her waist and the edges of the long sleeves were cuffed with gold bracelets that Glimmer recognised from the window display at Velvet's store. The edges of her mothers golden, now literally shimmering with golden glitter so it seemed, curls swung past Jasper's cheek as Amber fussed around him, ensuring he was eating well and that he looked presentable. Glimmer noticed that she and her 11 year old brother Gleam were the only ones not yet dressed. Her father was wearing a sharp lilac suit with a glittering gold tie and cuff-links, his sandy blonde hair swept up into a quiff that seemed bulletproof. Jasper was wearing a plum suit that matched his mother's outfit, instead with a sliver tie and cufflinks. No doubt Gleam would be forced into a suit with bronze accessories. She would too probably, as she was the youngest. As she got older, she would gain sliver accessories, then maybe even gold if she won the Games.

Gauze floated in just as Glimmer had finished her breakfast. She was wearing a full length lilac dress that was tight until her waist, then fell to the floor in several layers of netting that was accompanied with a silver belt, shoes and jewellery and a silver hairband that pulled her blonde locks away from her face, allowing them to fall down her back elegantly. There was always a colour scheme when it came to reapings. Glimmer pushed herself away from the table and allowed Gauze to lead her into the dressing room. A freshly pressed lilac dress was hung on the wardrobe door, with its matching bronze attachments. She sighed lightly and prepared herself for the Reaping readying.

After half an hour, Glimmer's hair was braided along her forehead and pulled into a curly ponytail that fell across her shoulder. Her dress reached her knees and puffed out to the sides, making her look slightly like the ballerina's she remembered learning about in Culture Studies at school. Apparently, they were dancers who wore skirts called tutu's and performed shows. They had names like the Nutcracker, or Viva La Diva, or Glimmer's personal favourite, Swan Lake. There were even videos they were allowed to watch, and she knew them off by heart. She'd even gone as far as learning some of the dances and practising them in her room at night, not that she would ever tell her mother that. Or anyone really, not even Marvel. It was like her little secret, and she loved it.


After another half an hour of her mother worrying and her father trying not to be in the way, Glimmer found herself clinging onto her fathers arm as she stood amongst the crowd that were waiting for their Capitol Representative, Maishelle Jankle, to arrive and announce the tributes. Marvel, who had been forced to wear a powder blue suit that was adorned with the seal of his father's business, was stood next to her with his father and three younger siblings. Since all that was happening at that point was the possible tributes filing into the square, Marvel and Glimmer had a good chance to look around. The square; a pristine area that was reserved for social gatherings and the occasional gem trading market, was now adorned with what seemed like hundreds of silk flags that fluttered gently in the breeze. They were all in jewel colours. Then, as your eyes reached the stage, the Capitol seal was emblazoned on pale blue banners that were hung on either side of where Maishelle would soon stand. Two crystal bowls, a glittering gold one for the boys and a shining pink for the girls, sat adjacent to these banners, so no matter where you stood, they could be seen. Marvel nudged Glimmer as she was distracted by one of the flags that had inexplicably come loose above her head, as Maishelle ascended the stage regally.

"Welcome, all the people of District One, to the 64th annual Hunger Games!" Maishelle's distinguished Capitol accent rang out across the now silent square, as loud as her bright blue wig that clashed with her deep red suit. "As always...ladies first!" There was a round of applause as Maishelle danced towards the gleaming pink bowl and picked out a strip of paper elegantly. She tottered back to the microphone and cleared her throat.

"Turquoise Leighton!"

"I VOLUNTEER!" The words were barely out of Maishelle's mouth before a voice had sounded from the crowd. Glimmer watched interestedly as a girl who had blonde hair just like hers and blue eyes just like Marvel's, stepped smoothly out of the line and practically glided smugly towards the stage. When asked for her name, she replied swiftly.

"Cashmere Johnson."

After the initial hubbub had died down, Maishelle selected a boy's name and stated it to the anticipating audience.

"Graphite James!"

"I volunteer as tribute!" Glimmer knew that voice. That was the voice of her brother. Jasper was going to be in the Hunger Games! Was this a good thing? According to her mother it was, as Amber was barely containing her joy as the roar of applause sounded for the two tributes. Marvel tapped Glimmer's shoulder.

"You okay?" He asked worriedly; his 3 year old sisters Glitz and Glow peering out from behind him as Velvet and Linen approached Amber and Quartz to congratulate them. Glimmer nodded, for such a small child, she had a strange feeling about this. She'd seen Cashmere at her house with Jasper before. Maybe they were friends. And now one of them was going to die, it just didn't seem fair. Glitz wandered towards Glimmer from her place behind Marvel's legs and hugged her gently.

"Grimmer, Dasper will be fibe." Glimmer looked up at Marvel questioningly, normally Glitz was perfect with her pronunciation, it was her twin sister that wasn't the best at speaking.

"She thinks you're upset." Marvel said softly, smiling down at his sister who was so much like him in looks and lifting Glow into his arms so she didn't run off as the crowd dispersed to begin celebrating. "So she's talking like a baby, because it cheers Father up whenever he's sad. She started doing it to me and Linen whenever she thinks we're sad as well." Glimmer grinned down at Glitz, who was looking up at her with wide blue eyes.

"I'm fine Glitzy. Now, you go with Marvel and I'll see you at the celebrations after I say goodbye to Jasper." Glitz retreated sadly and took hold of Linen's, who was now stood next to them watching the conversation, hand. Marvel set Glow on her feet and hugged Glimmer tightly.

"You get to sit at the tributes table tonight Grim." Glimmer smirked as Marvel copied his sister and resorted to calling her by the name he'd given her when they first met and he couldn't pronounce Glimmer properly. "Don't forget about all us non-tribute families. We're not as important as you now." He pulled away and winked before being dragged off by his father towards the celebrations. Glimmer took hold of Gauze's outstretched hand and they began walking towards the Justice Building. She looked up to see her older sister's fine features were set in an frown.

"What's wrong Gauze?" Gauze looked down at her little sister, her long blonde hair brushing Glimmer's cheek as she did so. Gleam and Glimmer are too young, Gauze thought to herself. Too young to be losing their brother. So instead of telling the inevitable truth, that Jasper would probably refuse to kill Cashmere because he was completely in love with her and that she would probably have no problem killing him, she pulled her face into a smile and shook her head.

"Nothing. I'm excited! It's Jasper's Hunger Games!" Luckily, Glimmer seemed convinced, maybe because Gauze had missed out on her games, which would explain why she was frowning. She couldn't cry. Not while saying her final goodbyes to her brother.


AN: Alright, going to leave this chapter here. The next chapter will be dealing with the loss of Jasper and Glimmer and Marvel aged around 14 in the Academy. Drop a review and favourite and follow if you think it was worthy! Feel free to PM me with any questions!