Princess Fire

Summery: Primrose Everdeen is drawn as tribute for the 74th Hunger Games, and Katniss stands speechless. Will her necklace be enough to get her through, or will another victor rise and take her place, killing her in the process?

A/N: My title and summery might change. I'm not sure. This is my first fanfiction. I've always wondered what would happen if Prim was in the Games, and I'm not telling you why I finally wrote this because it would totally give a spoiler for Mockingjay. A spoiler that I read online and was still fascinated by when it occured. Suzanne Collins has that affect, I presume.

This is a little off from the book, but I didn't want it to be exactly alike. People could've said different things, and so I made them say different things, but I like some parts of the book, and I kept those. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own The Hunger Games.

Chapter 1: Reaped

I was under the sheets with my mom. Last night I had a nightmare, but I had a good reason. Today was the reaping. I've never been under the pressure of going through the reaping before. It may seem like no big deal to some-you have everyone's names in a big, glass bowl, and Effie Trinket says some stuff and draws a name-but it's really what happens after the reaping that gets me. The Hunger Games.

It's a big, "joyful" event that everyone except the people in District 2 and the Capitol despises. I'm not supposed to be nervous. My name is supposvely in the reaping ball once, but I signed up for tessera. Two times. That means my name will be in there three times. Three times the chance that I'll be in the Games. The suspense is killing me.

I sigh and make my way to the shower. I take a quick shower because our water is never warm; it's always freezing. I see that my big sister, Katniss, has taken the cheese I left her and her best friend, Gale, on the table. She's probably with him right now; they're probably both hunting away their sorrows, just as my father used to. He died in a mining accident sometime back. Katniss still has nightmares about the accident. So do I.

I eat a nice breakfast. Katniss says eating nice is good to hide your worries about the reaping. Then I go check on my cat, Buttercup. He and Katniss don't get along all that well, but that's okay. Mother is at the table by the time I get back from feeding Buttercup. "Good morning, Prim," She tells me.

"Morning, Mother," I respond.

"Can you take this medicine down to Mrs. Miller? It's supposed to calm her down for the reaping. It's a good thing she ordered it a month prior; it's so rare that it took me forever to find."

"Yes, Mother, isn't she usually in the Hob?" Mother nods and I head out the door, Mrs. Miller's medicine in hand.

The Hob is like a black market. I don't go there often, but Katniss and Gale trade their game there. Greasy Sae is one of their favorite people, so I stop by and tell her good morning. "Good morning, little Everdeen," She says. "Has your sister left for hunting? Those two are my best customers by far."

"Yes, ma'am, they're probably coming here with an armful before the reaping." I smile.

"Of course," she smiles back at me, "How many time's is the boy's name in? Fifty times, I bet. Do you want to bet?" Her grin grows wider so I know she's teasing. You can either laugh about the Games or hide from them in fear. I choose to laugh, along with many others.

"No thanks, Sae. You know I'd win." She laughs and I stroll of back to my best friend's house. She's been my best friend since I can remember. Her father died with mine in the coal mining accident. She looks a lot like her mother, though. Her dark brown hair and forest-green eyes give the regular Seam look. "Hi, Cupiss," I say after knocking on the door. She was named after an angel. I don't think it was a real angel. The angel's name was Cupid. Cupiss' parents came up with it; I think her mother's from the Capitol.

"Hey, Prim. We can go to the opening for a few minutes before the reaping." She tells me. The opening is what we call the big, grassy place near the school. A lot of kids hang out there. Cue (That's what I call her) and I have a hidden cave we made out of rocks in the cluster of trees near the fence. It's a nice spot to relax. We talk small, in fear that one of us will be drawn. It's our first year. I hope next year I won't be this nervous.

When I get home, my mother is waiting for me. I give her a grim smile as she tells me where our clothes are. My outfit is a nice blouse and an equally described skirt. I think it was Katniss' first clothes for the reaping. Perhaps it will bring me good luck. If she didn't get drawn, then I surely won't get drawn. "What are you going to do with my hair?" I ask Mother. I already know what she's going to do, but I ask anyway.

"It's a surprise," she whispers, her small tears running down her cheeks. I frown. Why must she worry? I'm not going to get drawn, right? I'm not going to get drawn. I'm not.

My blonde hair is put up into two braids. This is probably what Katniss looked like when she was in the first reaping. Except for the looks. I have blonde hair and blue eyes, like my mother. It's a rare thing to find here in District 12, or the Seam as it was nicknamed. Katniss's looks are much like my father's. With dark brown hair and tangy, coffee-colored eyes, she looks like a regular Seam person.

When Katniss comes in after a hard morning's hunt, she looks a little tired in the eyes, but when Mother's finished with her, you can barely tell it was her in the first place. She has on one of Mother's blue dresses. Her hair is put up in a nice, single braid. "You look beautiful," I tell her because, really, she does.

"And nothing like myself," is her response, including a hug and a smile. I smile back. We'll be okay. I know it now.

When we arrive in the town square, everyone has already taken their place in the fences surrounding each group. There are fourteen in all; Girls are on one side, and boys are on the other. The ages range between twelve and eighteen. Katniss hugs me as I turn to go towards the twelve-year-old girls. "May the odds be ever in your favor," she jokes in a ridiculously funny Capitol accent, a smile appearing on her face.

"Thanks, Katniss. Good luck to you, too." I smile.

"Thanks," She walks away.

I go to Cupiss. She doesn't look as nervous as I feel. She's not great at hiding her emotions, but then again, she comes from a wealthier part of the Seam. She might've not gotten a tessera. She probably wouldn't even know what it was if it weren't for the lessons we have on the Hunger Games every year. "Prim!" She calls.

"Hi, Cue." I say with a smile. "Are you as ready as I am to get this over with?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" We talk for a while, waiting anxiously for Effie Trinket to step on the stage with her ridiculous Capitol customs. She eventually does, dressed in a big, pink suit. Her whole skin is dyed a sugary cherry color. Strange people they are.

"Welcome, welcome!" Effie says. She gives a long speech that I've heard in school only a thousand and two times. After quite some time she begins with what we've been waiting for. Her odd Capitol manners take over, and she says, "Ladies first!" I know what the time has come for. Who will it be? It could be Cupiss. It could be Katniss. Maybe it's someone I don't even know. The guilt would still take over. I don't know them, I don't feel anything, and it makes me feel so bad, but I have to suck it up.

I never expected the words to come out of her mouth. Effie picks up a small sheet of white paper. She opens it and smiles at the young tribute's name. "Primrose Everdeen!"

At first I didn't believe it, but seconds later I accepted the hard fact. I look at Cupiss and head towards the stairs. I don't want to be here, I think. Someone help me, please! Katniss steps out of line. "Prim!" She yells. I can't respond. "Stop!" She calls. "P-Stop! Prim! Let me go!" I hear her struggle, fighting against the so-called Peacekeepers who are taking her away.

"Come on, Catnip," I hear a rough voice whisper. I know who it is. Partially by his voice and the other part by the name he calls Katniss. It's Gale.

"Ah, it seems we have a sister who wants the glory! Can't have sister taking the fame, can we?" Stupid Effie. I grin anyways. It's fake, but no one can tell. I nod.

"And now for the boy tribute!" Effie calls to the audience. I catch Gale's eye-Please don't call Gale. Please-but the name called is far worse than Gale's. "Peeta Mellark!"

I switch from Gale's eyes to Katniss. She has the look of pure horror on her face. I've heard her story. I know exactly who this boy is. She had a dream-a nightmare-and she told me she needed someone to tell the story to. I was that someone.

"You two look quite a lot alike," Effie whispers in my ear. Smile and nod. I tell myself. So I do. Peeta and I shake hands. We both look the same. He has blonde hair and blue eyes. He's dressed nicely. And we both have the same, true look of hidden terror on our face.

End Of Chapter 1: Reaped

A/N: Did you enjoy it? I'll never know what you think unless you review. I'm not Angel or Nudge from Maximum Ride; I can't read minds or hack computers. So, please review and leave advice or reviews or thoughts or whatever. Thanks for reading!

P.S: I totally made up Prim's friend's name. I don't even know I came up with it. Haha.