Chapter IV: Vox

I'm sweating when I wake up. Peeta's in the armchair next to me, his fingers curled around mine. I stand up, glancing around the room in confusion. My brain registers the recent photo of Prim and Madge painting the district hall together.

That was probably the worst and most detailed nightmare I've ever had. And I've had quite a few.

I glance down at my soul gem as if to confirm that it isn't tainted. I'd never seen a monster like those in my life before. Or had I? No, my purpose as a magical girl was to fight demons, not those things. Demons all looked the same, and I understood where they and their curses came from.

"Time is it?" Peeta asks from behind me. Normally being a magical girl keeps one from having a boyfriend, but with a man as patient and understanding as Peeta, it isn't a problem. He respects my position, and he's always, always there for me when I have nightmares about the Games. Gale is a wonderful friend, but he just never has the time to understand me anymore. We keep on good terms, but I know Peeta's more likely to love me—really love me—forever.

I glance at the analog clock on one wall. "Quarter after five."

He tilts his head quizzically, glancing at the black sky outside. "At night?"

"No. In the morning. I'm going to get an early start."

"Okay. I should probably get to the shop." He stands up.

I tie my hair into the signature braid and pause as I look in the mirror. I slept in my clothes, so I'm wearing a black tunic and gray breeches. It's an odd thought, considering I've never really cared about my appearance before, but today I think my outfit could use a little color.

"Peeta, you were here when Prim got back from the general store, right? Do you know if she bought any ribbon?"

It's a weird thing for me to ask, but he doesn't react. He reaches into a paper shopping bag on the table. "Yeah, actually. Red ribbon, is that okay?"

He hands me the spool. I snip off a length, staring at it oddly. "It's perfect. Huh."

Peeta laughs. "Ever get a strange feeling of deja vu?"

"All the time lately." I tie my hair back with the ribbon, nestling my soul gem in the bows. "I hope it doesn't last."

"I do." The boy stops at the door, his back to me, one pale hand resting on the knob. "It always makes me feel like...well...like things would have ended badly any other way. Like this is better than anything we've ever had before." His blond head rises to stare at the ceiling. "It makes me feel content."

"Hm." My outfit shifts into my magical girl costume. "I never really thought about it."

"Good luck demon-slaying. See you after work."

I leave the house through a window. The dirt crunches beneath my boots as I hold my magically-strung bow at the ready, watching for the demons in the streets. I can see at least five of the giant, white-cloaked creatures already, distorting the world around them with pixels.

Tiny white paws pad along next to me. A fluffy, white tail twirls amiably.

I smirk."Hey, Cubay. What's going to happen to you now that someone wished for a system other than the Capitol?"

The Incubator shrugs. "We'll probably go back to aiding your kind from the shadows. Running a government was nice while it lasted, but humankind has to stand up and support itself eventually, after all. We wish you the best of luck. Please don't waste the powers we have granted you."

"Of course not. That would be stupid."

He pulls ahead of me and looks over his shoulder, one paw prepared to make another step. His maroon eyes blink. "I trust you entirely to use them with wisdom, Katniss Everdeen."

I've long since given up trying to get him to call me anything less than my full name. "I'll do what I can."

"Very well. The demons seem to have multiplied overnight. I wish you the best of luck. Farewell!"

The wave of demons has sensed me now and they're making their slow way towards me. I study the line, wondering if I have enough power in my arrows to deal with all of them at once.

A sound in my head makes me pause briefly. It's a little girl's voice. It reminds me of Rue, young and sad. Rue was led away during the Games by the Law of Cycles. She was only twelve. But instead of sorrow, a sense of peace and even hope washes over me. Maybe it's the words that comfort me. In the quiet that comes before dawn, she's only said one thing:

"Do your best."

Author's Note: This story was originally just a sentence in my ideas document, but I'm glad into spiraled into these four short snippets. I would love for someone to take this crossover idea further some time, but I'm done with it for now. What happens to magical-girl Katniss, I leave to your imagination. And hey, if you have any questions, noticed mistakes or have any better ideas you'd be all right with me putting in, let me know! I'd love to hear your criticism. Above all, thank you very much for reading.

- Flurrin