Author's Note

I do not own the Hunger Games.


When Felicity was little, she sat glued to the screen in her home watching the tribute parade. It could hold her attention for hours: first the parade itself, which this year was starting at the prep centre, circling around the Lornell sector, and then travelling up the central promenade to the training centre. The route changed yearly and lasted five times as long as it had when the Games first started. Felicity had seen clips from the parades back then and they only lasted a few minutes, with the tributes simply being carted between the stands. That was no fun!

Now she got to watch proceedings from the viewpoint of a privileged few, sat on the high balcony and waiting to present when the chariots started.

"Felicity, District One is due out in sixty seconds," said the voice in her comm. She sat a little straighter, smoothed out her dress, though of course it would take a while before the tributes actually reached them. For now, they could see and watch the display on the big screens, or, in her case, on the holo-projector in front of her.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the moment we've all been waiting for!" she shouted. "The parade for the One Hundred and Thirty fourth Hunger Games!"

The crowd cheered approval.

"Thirty seconds."

The doors to the parade building slid open. Down below, the audience screamed. Felicity had never attended the parade as a simple citizen. She decided it would have to go on her list of things to do after her retirement.

"Green light."

The white horses of District One trotted out, followed by their chariot. Diamond had been painted silver, her platinum hair pinned up and glistening with the stones that were her namesake. She wore a diamond studded ribbon twisted around her body and over her ample chest.

"My word!" Felicity called. "Doesn't Diamond look just like a carbon copy of her sister Tiara? Let's hope she can pull off an identical victory!"

Her District partner meanwhile, had been painted gold and wore nothing other than a pair of short briefs and knee high boots. He stared numbly ahead.

"Lucian looks just like a golden idol – and he's behaving like one too!"

Neither of the District One tributes were going to be having any trouble getting sponsors this year.

"They both look gorgeous!"

"Felicity, District Two is rolling out."

Her gaze snapped back to the start of the route, where District Two's armoured chariot had already started out.

"Here's District Two now! And Valkyrie's dressed as her namesake!"

Unsurprisingly, the most eye catching part of Valkyrie's costume was the large silver wings pinned to her back. The rest of her costume consisted of a silver metal skirt, a chain mail vest, and a helmet with a blue and red plume. The wings were evidently jointed, as she flapped them and leant over the edge of the chariot to wave a short sword at the crowd.

"Doesn't she look cute? Meanwhile, Maximus looks like a capable warrior in that getup!"

He towered over his smaller District partner, wearing armour plate over his legs and heavy black boots, while his muscular, glistening chest was covered only by two leather straps. Blue and red warpaint had been splashed across his face.

"Here's District Three now!"

Data's stylist had clearly tried to work around her condition by letting her black dress out above her stomach, creating a flowing effect around her. Her District partner, Gadge, meanwhile, was dressed in a matching black bodysuit. Both had lines of neon blue light running across them.

"I'm not sure what they're meant to be ladies and gentlemen, but they sure look good! Data looks just gorgeous in that dress, and Gadge is a handsome little man in his matching costume!"

Gadge was doing his best to smile and wave at the crowd, but Data had her hands firmly rested on the front of the chariot and her eyes fixed on the horses. A few people threw baby shoes and onesies at her. Gadge batted what looked like a baby bottle away from her as it came dangerously close to her head.

"Isn't he just a little gentlemen?"

"Stand by for District Four," Fantasio said through her comm. Felicity smiled.

"Now here's one I know everyone is excited to see!"

The District Four chariot rolled out. Its horses this year were white, like those of District One, with blue and green streamers braided into their tails and manes and twisted around their harnesses. The chariot itself glistened a silvery bluish green like water. The tributes though…

The tributes looked ethereal.

They shone silver-blue, like liquid, their dark hair cascading down their back a contrast. Felicity was unable to even see what they were wearing, if indeed they were wearing anything, due to the sparkling ribbons fluttering around them, streams of them playing in the air. Orion and Astoria spun around each other, glittering in the light.

"Oh my gosh would you look at that?"

They were never still, dancing to music only the two of them could hear. Astoria pirouetted around Orion and he held her waist as she turned to face the crowd and rock her hips. They were met with screaming applause and a shower of flowers, of all of which went unacknowledged by them as they performed in their bubble, surrounded by the shimmering streamers.

"Don't they look magnificent folks?" She flicked through her lower screen. "Their stylists this year are Jynx Amora and Magnus Roman. I for one will be giving them my custom, they have done a breathtaking job!"

They certainly had. It was going to be a hard act for any of the other tributes to top. Felicity had to make herself stop watching their display and move on to District Five. She would have to watch the entire parade later.

District Five rode in on the wave of enthusiasm. Unfortunately, their stylists had decided to dress them as lightbulbs for some crazy reason.

"District Five have an illuminating display this year. It's true, without them we would lack the power to light our houses, and that's the message from their stylists this year."

Electra was hunched over, staring at the ground ahead. It was a shame, the girl was pretty. Isaac was trying his best, smiling and waving, but it was hard for the poor boy whilst being dressed as a lightbulb. Felicity decided to move on quickly.

The District Six chariot this year was a wooden cart, complete with large wooden wheels and wood rails around the edge.

"Isn't that clever folks? The District Six chariot is a cart! And our tributes are dressed as a driver and his passenger!"

Logan was decked out in a smart black jacket, neat trousers and a top hat, while Kara wore a long, old fashioned blue dress and a bonnet. It was, to be frank, one of the best designs for District Six Felicity had seen in years. A shame Kara had her arms folded across her chest, scowling at the crowd. It ruined the effect.

The District Seven chariot was wood, with green vines creeping across it. Tupelo was, predictably, dressed as a tree and Felicity groaned.

"What a surprise, another tree from District Seven. At least he's a somewhat good looking one."

That got her a little applause. Tupelo was a good looking boy, with fine, strong features and a muscular physique.

"And there is a bit of a change; his District partner is dressed as a very good looking lumberjack."

She was in fact wearing almost nothing at all: a pair of black, knee high lace up boots, a set of shorts that barely covered what they needed to, and a brown bra. Her long red hair was swept up and pinned to her head. An axe hung from one hand. She offered the audience nervous smiles, her cheeks scarlet red.

"Isn't she just gorgeous?"

The crowd screamed their agreements.

"Looking good District Seven!"

Behind them, however…

"Oh dear me. What were District Eight's stylists thinking? Tyla and Calico are dressed this year as piles of fabric. I'm not entirely sure where the fabric actually ends and the tributes begin."

Tyla was covered, head to toe, in pink, blue, purple, and yellow fabrics, heavier ones covering the bulk of her body while her arms had lighter sections attached. Calico wore an almost identical costume in red, green, orange, and white. Tyla was gazing ahead, while Calico waved nervously.

District Nine looked considerably better in matching long golden gowns and tall, heavy headdresses.

"District Nine are dressed as wheat this year, but they're gorgeous looking wheat, don't you think?"

A few flowers fluttered down around them. The male, Silas, was smiling and waving, flexing his muscles for the crowd. The female, Maizie, looked shakier and had her hands clenched into her skirt.

Dull booing accompanied the District Ten chariot. Many people had not forgotten the injuries the male tribute had given Zeus Marvel, who was still in hospital.

"What's this? Colby Marshall, who caused rather a stir at his reaping, is dressed as a bull! And his District partner looks just darling as a little cowgirl!"

Or she would, if not for the fact she had to keep dodging Colby's swinging arms and furious blows. Objects began to rain down on their chariot: sticks, stones, shoes, bananas.

"People, people, please don't attack the District Ten chariot. Poor little Sierra has enough on her hands with her District partner!"

The joke did not lighten the mood. Sierra lifted her arms to protect her head and a moment later Colby hit her in the stomach. She staggered, stumbled, and fell from the chariot. Stones, sticks, and what looked like half a brick flew around her. The District Eleven chariot thundered on as peacekeepers ran toward her. She scrambled backward and the Eleven chariot narrowly missed her. The boy, who Felicity recalled had been on crutches at his reaping, held one hand out to her. She stared for a moment and then flung herself at him. He caught her hand and pulled her on with the assistance of his District partner.

"Oh my, what a rescue there! It seems the District Eleven tributes are lending Sierra a helping hand!"

They were dressed as field workers, the girl, Zinnia, in a plaid dress with her hair braided and the boy, Oliver, in a matching shirt and brown trousers. Zinnia took Sierra's hand and lifted it high into the air. A moment later Oliver did the same on her other side. The crowd around them exploded with cheers. Sierra smiled brightly.

District Twelve paled in comparison. Ash wore a pair of heavy duty navy overalls and oversized black boots, with a pickaxe hung at his waist and a hard hat on his head. Briar on the other hand…

Felicity had to zoom in with the camera to work out what was going on with Briar. "Oh dear ladies and gentlemen! It doesn't look like our girl from District Twelve is enjoying the parade this year!"

She was huddled in the front of the chariot, her knees up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. Her skin had been dusted black, and beyond that she was naked as the day she was born.

"It's a bit of a lacklustre attempt from Twelve this year I must say."

In front of them Zinnia plucked the red cowgirl hat from Sierra's head and plopped it down on Oliver before ruffling the younger girl's blonde curls.

"It looks like the Eleven pair and Sierra are bonding! Isn't that sweet?"

The crowd screamed their appreciation. A few flowers fluttered toward the Eleven chariot. Ahead, Colby stuck his middle finger up at the camera and roared obscenities at those watching. The girl from Nine was beginning to look unnerved by his behaviour and Silas had pushed her in front of him. Calico was now clutching the side of his chariot and only occasionally giving a slight wave. The Seven tributes were waving more confidently now and had their hands interlocked. Kara looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole. In the Five chariot Isaac had given up on waving and was watching the display from District Four. The twins were still dancing with as much energy as they had at the start, living in their own bubble of light. Felicity knew who she would be sponsoring this year. The District Three tributes were nervously waving and basking in the light. Ahead of them, Maximus was showing off for the crowd while Valkyrie bared her teeth and snarled, standing on her toes in an attempt to make herself look bigger. Diamond from District One was flaunting herself, smiling and showing off for the crowd. Any other parade and she would have been the centre of attention, but this year everyone was looking at District Four.

All the same District One was met with rambunctious applause as they entered the central promenade. District Two was always a crowd favourite and got their usual support, but once again it was Districts Four and Eleven everyone howled for. The chariots arrived in front of the Presidential manor, where the madam President, a terrifying figure even to those in the Capitol, greeted them with her usual speech. Felicity wondered whether her attention fixed on one tribute in particular, but she couldn't be sure. At last the chariots rolled off to the training centre, where they would remain for the next four days.


Author's Note

There we go with the chariot rides! Any thoughts? Which costumes did you like? Which ones did you hate? Any guesses on what's to come?

Big Thank you to Hopps and Dreamer for your reviews!

The First Impressions poll has now closed, but I've opened a new one for your least favourite tribute, so please do drop a vote there.