Author's Note: Thanks to JOE (Glad you liked it!) and julesjumper (Thanks!) for reviewing the last chapter! I own nothing but my OCs.


Chapter II- Capitol

The train ride to the Capitol is where Ian and I are introduced to our mentors, Beetee and Wiress. Both are older but have friendly smiles and they manage to coax and actual conversation out of Ian and I, looking for strengths and weaknesses. I also find out, from her contribution of course, that Sunflower's real name is Ivory but she likes Sunflower better. I decided to stick with Sunflower because I like it better for her as well. I have nightmares or the arena and people killing me, especially the blonde boy from District 2 who was so eager to volunteer. By the end of our travel on the train I am almost too exhausted to fully register the splendor of the Capitol.

It is like a castle from a fairy tale; beautiful and decadent and elegant all in one that leaves the distinct flavor of excess on your tongue. Ian and I stand at a window and stare blankly out at the crowds cheering and waving. Both of us are shaking and neither one us argues when Beetee and Wiress pull us away from the window and force us to sit down. They manage to convince us to drink some water before we are ushered outside and into the waiting arms of our prep teams.

My prep teams is a trio of tiny woman that come in three shades; banana yellow, sherbet orange, and sky blue. All three of them are the exact same height with their skin dyed their chosen color and their eyes the same violet as Sunflowers. Their lips are pink and plump and they have long blonde hair that falls in wild curls. While they wax and wash every inch of my body I learn that they are triplets. The yellow on is named Trixie, the orange one named Minxie, and the blonde one named Pixie. They are twenty-four and this is their first Hunger Games to work for and everything is just so exciting. Besides don't I know the Quarter Quell is next year and they hope they survive so they can make me look pretty again when I'm a mentor for it. I mostly manage vague nods and it seems to satisfy them.

"There you go," Pixie says finally. She seems to be the ringleader of the triplets along with being the oldest and the only one not in an eye damaging neon shade. "Jaralaine will be able to make something of you now." Then she ushers her sisters out with a cheery wave and I let out a soft sigh of relief. When Jaralaine arrives she is draped in yards of white fabric that looks something like a toga and heels that would put Sunflower's to shame in the height department. Her hair is a reflective bronze color and her eyes are like two gold coins. I can't help but gape at her as she towers over me. She swishes around me, ignoring my stares, and taps her bottom lip for a moment with a pale pink tongue before chewing on it with razor sharp looking teeth.

"I have just the thing," she announces suddenly and I continue to stare as she clicks off. How can she even walk in those shoes? She comes back later with a tight black dress she shoves me in that barely comes to my knees, a shiny metal came that sticks stiffly on my shoulders, an odd metallic headdress, and four inch heels that I wobble in all the way to the chariot. Ian shoots me a sympathetic glance and struggles to help me into the chariot even though I'm taller than he is. The Career tributes from Districts 1 and 2 look back and laugh at us. Their mocking smiles haunt me even after they've turned away.

When the chariot begins to move I almost fall over again and have to grip the shiny silver metal with all my strength to keep from falling out. When the camera's fall on us Ian and I both manage weak, sickly smiles that will win us no support. We're both scared to death. The only time I don't feel like I'm going to be sick is when I see what the tributes from District 12 are wearing. We both gasp. They are dressed all in black and trailed by streams of fire. Their hands are twined together and the crowd is screaming their names. They are amazing, fiery and burning as bright as some sort of angels. In that moment I feel hope; not for Ian and I but for the underdogs in general. Maybe, just this once, someone who wasn't a Career would win. Someone like one of the two from District 12.