AN: This is my first fanfiction ever! I have been writing/creating this story for a while, but I just now am getting the courage to post this story. I absolutely love the idea of Cato and Katniss, but I wanted to have a story that they aren't enemies from the beginning, and are playing for the same team. Tell me what you think! I will update when I get over my writers block, and more often than not it will be multiple chapters going up! Read and Review! Also, if you have an idea of how this story could go or possible twists you think would be fun, please PM me or write it in a review! Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games or any of the characters.

Cato POV

When I was younger, my parents taught me about the bigger picture. They sent me to training school and every few years I watched the top students of the academy disappear only to sometimes return. They often specialized in one weapon or skill, but more often than not, they would also be deadly by having something involving the element of surprise. They would disappear right before the Hunger Games every four years to be exact. My parents said they had a bigger glory waiting for them, the same glory my father earned; however, they would never tell me what it was...

I am 18 years old now and the top of the District 2 Training Academy and it is one of those special years. I have seen victors return from the Hunger Games, but rarely do I see the top students return, the only one I know of besides my father is Enobaria. After she returned, my father said she changed her image to match her worldly status. I still don't know what he means by "worldly status", but I do know she makes me want to cower out of a room if she is present. She has razor sharp teeth only to be described as shark-like, but rather than her original teeth, they are made of some indestructible metal that was created for weapons to be used by peacekeepers and in the Hunger Games, her hair that falls in waves over her shoulders, is jet black and ofter covers the deathly glares her face naturally radiates while she is observing us at the Academy.

Enobaria only attends the Hunger Games during the in between years of the "special event", I know the pattern. My element of surprise is knowledge, and I will find out what goes on during the 4th year of the cycle.

*whizz*

A knife whirls past my head and embeds itself in the wall inches from where I was leaning against. Before I look, I already know who it is.

"You'll get killed in the arena if you keep spacing off like that Cato!" She yells this from across the floor. Great. Everybody's attention is on us now. We have been training together at the Academy since we could run. I consider her to be an annoying little sister because of her size, even if we are the same age.

She is walking towards me with a sense of determination in her eyes, so I flash her my signature smirk and cockily pull out the knife without having to look.

"Only if someone has the nerve to try something. Come on," I say while motioning towards my body, "nobody, besides maybe you, has the nerve to try something like that on me. And I say maybe because you would miss me too much if you went and killed me off."

I flash another cocky smile while she rolls her eyes and proceeds to walk away. I take this as a good time to work on my swordsmanship since all I've done today has consisted of running to the Academy, eating, and thinking. Just as I pick up a sword, my name is screamed from the office level, "CATO NEWMAN! UPSTAIRS, NOW!"

I know that voice. I was just thinking about her. Enobaria. The only time I have ever heard her yell someone's name was Brutus, and he came out of her office with teeth marks in his shoulder and broken ribs. This cannot be good...

I head up the three flights to reach the 6th floor. Her floor. The guard at her door looks at me with an arrogance I own and proceeds to lead me to her office. After he knocks three times, I hear her voice announce that I may come in.

Enobaria is staring out her balcony to the training floors below. She turns when the guard slams the door shut, leaving just us in her office. I do not frighten, but being in her office right now, I am getting a feeling that can only be associated with fear. She motions me to close the gap between us and join her at the balcony. I move. I do not need to give her a reason to injure me before the Games.

"Cato, have you heard of the Global Showdown?" Enobaria asks in the calmest voice I have ever come from her lips.

"Should I have?" I ask and instantly regret because it came out as completely arrogant and I really don't want her to think I'm a smartass.

"I guess not, but since your father is a champion, NOT a victor, I figured your curiosity would have led you to find answers and harbor the information. I figured you would know something. Oh well, I can teach you."

This was odd, she was rarely calm and her calmness was usually geared towards capitol or district 2 officials, usually she was calm before a change was made. The calm before the storm...

"Being from the private school sector of District 2, you know Panem is not alone. You know we are one country among many others." She said it matter of factly, but I still nodded to acknowledged the statement to show my alertness.

"The Global Showdown is like the Hunger Games, but on a much larger scale. The prizes are far greater, but so are the risks. Panem does not like to lose."

"Is that why you attend the Hunger Games for 3 years and then skip one?" I ask before I can stop myself... Why am I suffering from word vomit? I have always kept myself in check before now!

"You are very attentive Cato. Yes, that is why. The Global Showdown is every 4 years, it follows the yearly pattern of a sporting collaboration from the old times called the Olympics. Representatives from every country go to compete for honor and fame, but those who lose for their country, lose more than imaginable. Do you know how we got those two sword specialists four years ago?"

I simply shake my head not wanting my mouth to betray me again.

"Well, we acquired them from the country of Japan. You should know where that is," she says this as though if I didn't I would shame the entire country, but luckily I do know where it is and my curiosity is trying to overtake my will power to ask her a million and one questions.

I think Ebonaria was looking for words but continues anyways, "The nutritionist: China. The weapon specialist: Russia. The swim coach: Australia. Balance and coordination: Romania and Ukraine. Do you follow so far? What questions do you have?"

I try and rattle my brain for intelligent questions but before I realize, I am already talking, "Why? How do you know this? Are they spies? Why are they allowed to be in our country? Does President Snow know about these people?"

Enobaria begins to laugh. No, she is full on having a ball laughing at my questions, which I do not find difficult because they were stupid. Of course they are allowed to be here or Enobaria would have killed them. Why wouldn't President Snow know? I am an idiot. While I am criticizing myself, Enobaria continues to laugh. Not laugh, more like a cackle or a malicious sneer.

"They were prizes along with prize money for winning. You see, in the Hunger Games the losers die and do not have to face humiliation, but in the Global Showdown the losers are given away to the winning country for each event. These specialists are, or were, the top in their fields in their country. District 1 and 4 have some too, but District 2 always gets the first pick."

It all makes sense now, I just didn't question it before... What does that have to do with me?

"You will be a part of the team we send to compete in the Showdown this year," she answers as if she had read my mind. By the look on her face, she knows that's what I was wondering.