What's with the Glimmer hate? Suddenly i have a bundle of people stating that they don't like her, what's up with that! I like her and the friendship she and Peeta have. Any way onto the chapter: this is the long awaited show down between the Capitol and the Rebellion, well not really a show down but it ends in this chapter-not the final chapter though i swear!- so i hope you're all ready and excited because i was when i began to write it!
A.N- Shout Outs!
Marcus1233- Oh i knew you were a perv under all that swag! Coin may have sounded like Dumbledor but she ain't any where as nice as him that is for sure. Yay someone who still likes Glimmer and her character! You just became awesome beyond reason in my mind.
Shinigami- You must remember it has been months since Annie has died at this stage and Finnick and Glimmer have been distancing each other: they are barely friends at this stage.
LoverOfTheOcean- Leave my Glimmer alone. But for your peace of mind i will reveal that Glimmer and Peeta in no way end up having any other sort of relationship beside friendly or in a way family like. As for her needing a hobby: she hasn't really been given the time considering before she was a princess for the capitol and now she is constantly being forced onto mission after mission but she doesn't interfere with their relationship.
Lady Luna Riddle- Yay another Glimmer lover! Oh and the singing nice touch totally felt your appreciation with it. Yeah got to admit at first i wasn't going to have Rion be a nice character but something kind of happened along the way and suddenly he became a good character that i began to like writing. Oh and nothing wrong in being a gleek!
bowsie22- I love your reviews you know that: so sort and sweet and always so thoughtful: i hope you enjoy this chapter.
Anonanon- Yeah Love FF so had to put something in here about that. Hahaha
AllenCampbell- Aww thank you I'll try to get to my computer as much as possible after y training and then i can write even more in depth on some things: cus i'd have lived it!
Endless93- Thank you for your well wishes they mean a lot to me. On the note of my story though i did kind of feel the need to slowly build up the Cato/Peeta relationship again. They have been a part for a while.
Peeta's P.O.V
By the time we were on the last stretch of our escort mission I was more than ready just to sleep in an actual bed, six days sleeping on twigs and stony floors made my temper and tolerance really short, luckily everyone else in the team seemed to be feeling the same. I had never understood why Coin forced my team to travel by horse back while the others all got cars: when I had asked Haymitch a few weeks earlier he had spewed some crap about while it was slower it was easier to hide and been unnoticeable. That was good and all but when it made the travel time of a journey that usually took two or three days into a week long trek then it made no sense to the travelers: aka my team.
Sighing as I watch Rion build a fire with Jazz by his side giving helpful hints I rub my temples in annoyance: I had never thought I would actually yearn for the days where the most stressful part of my day was allowing Solange or Jerico to begin primping me. But the never ending missions and the constant need to protect my team was beginning to make me feel a lot older than my eighteen years-that had come at a shock when Finnick had congratulated me a few weeks back on turning eighteen because I had been too busy to realize that I was another year older- but that was another side effect from the rebellion I could only assume.
Spotting Glimmer tending to the horses a little ways in the dark I stride over to her and pat Daithi on the head so that he wouldn't react before helping her with the unsaddling which earned me a kind smile from her beautiful face. It was sad to think of but there weren't many times I could see her with a true smile on, sometimes when she was with Finnick she would smile not a large one but a small one, when it was just her and I talking like we did during the nights in the capitol or in district twelve and the only other time I can see a real smile on her face was when she was in the medical wing singing to the other patients who needed a little soothing, any other time it was an empty sad smile that dimmed her shine a little more than what even the capitol could.
"You alright Glim?" I ask quietly as we finished on the final horse and wander over to the fire where Cato was now cooking some of the food he had caught while hunting. "You don't seem okay, like you're distracted" it went unsaid that our group couldn't be distracted or off our game at all people got hurt when that happened.
The blonde nodded and sat down next to Jazz who gave her a tired grin before turning back to Rion who was explaining something about district two, it was strange to see the two of them so comfortable with one another considering during the games Rion had been out for Jazz's blood and yet now they were as close as brothers. Sighing I sat down next to Cato and gave him a tired smile and accepted the meat and strange green paste that Coin made us take, it was a vitamin paste that taste like a sweet lime but smelt and looked foul so it was a little hard to eat. As we all ate I couldn't stand the silence any more so I start a conversation about the one thing that came into my mind: relationships.
"So Rion, how are you and Aura" I ask after swallowing a mouthful "From what I can remember you and her were quite close in the games"
The one eyed teenager nodded and scuffed his boot on the floor before patting Boldwen his daemon in a way to stall even though he knew that it would be impossible to get out of it. "Yeah we were going to start something but it didn't work out" he said after clearing his throat.
Gale looked at the younger man and nudged him with his boot "What happened man from what I can remember of your first few days in the district you two were joined at the hip" he said in a joking voice making me smile softly: you could always rely on Gale for some amusement or something light hearted.
"Yeah well when she found her mate I couldn't exactly be with her any more could I" Rion muttered and I could see Gale flinch out of the corner of my eye which I could completely understand. It was no secret that Gale had a small crush on Madge after she had healed him after a mission that had earned him a few cracked ribs but of course she was still very much bonded with Thorne: seriously the guy couldn't catch a break when I came to relationships.
Rion clear his throat to cut through the awkward silence that had fallen over the group and glanced over at Glimmer who was patting Gale's knee "What about you milady" he said in a teasing voice which actually made her laugh which was just as rare as her smiles lately "You and Finnick seem real close"
Cato chuckled from next to me and grinned at Glimmer who blushed a little before filling with one of the Daggertail links that ran across her chest-how she slept with it on was beyond me but I wasn't about to question it. "Yeah come on Glim, give us the low down on you and Mr Odair?" the Champion asked teasingly dodging the swipe Glimmer's fist made at him half-heartedly.
"There is no Finnick and I" she said sadly making Gale snort and crow out a yeah right "No really there isn't. Sometimes I think that maybe there could be and I want there to be like you wouldn't believe. But then I catch him gazing out to the burial yard and I'm reminded of Annie and how much he meant to her and I get guilty for thinking about Finnick like that" she said smiling sadly "The truth is I think Finnick loves Annie and always will: I'm just here for him and that might be why he's projecting his affections onto me" she offered softly.
Shaking my head I reach over and pat her knee with a warm smile on my face, "No way is that true I remember the looks Finnick used to give you before the rebellion. There is no doubt in my mind that he has real feelings for you. Do I think that he was hurt by Annie's death god yes but do I think that it affected the way he felt for you: not for a single moment." Glimmer smiled at me hopefully and I settle back next to Cato who then threw and arm around my waist making my smile grow that little more: we might not be perfect yet but we were growing together and that was more than I could ever hope for.
We arrived in district one the next morning and quickly settle the horses in the large stables where the more elegant show horses from a forgotten time or vanity and beauty were house before making our way to the safe house. As it would turn out having the Prince and Princess in their cell was a big honor so the District one rebellion force set us up for the rest of the day meaning we wouldn't have to worry about setting off back into the forests once more which was a huge relief to my team who were willing to sleep on even the flattest bunk just for something that differed to the forest floor. That night I sat up watching as Gale slept sitting against the bunk where Rion and Jazz had curled up together while Glimmer was sleeping with Daithi on a bunk nearby.
"You coming to bed hero?" I look up from the parchment that I was reading off of and grin at Cato who was offering his hand to me "Come on it won't kill you to get a little shut eye: even Oclan is resting" I look over my shoulder and see that Cato wasn't lying to me, as Oclan was curled up with Adira like the old times and smile in agreement before taking Cato's hand and allowing him to guide me over to the final bunk and curl up next to him on bed like we used to in a much happier time.
The next morning a message came from Coin and district thirteen which asked us to stay in district one as she and her final squads were coming towards them which had confused the others on my team more than anything the annoying woman had ever done. Before long other teams that had been on missions before we were sent out on our own began to arrive in one: like Gloss's team which of course held Finnick in its ranks, The science and medical teams which both Prim and Rory were a part of arrived next and then the team which had both Mr Everdeen and Mr Hawthorn arrived making the cell in district one the largest in the rebellion which just served to make my suspicions grow that little further.
Not that the new additions to our group was a bad thing, it was great to see Rory again- who I had actually given my necklace token to so that he could keep it safe while I was on missions- who had given me a huge hug when he saw me, seeing Prim was great because despite not being Katniss I always felt better when I saw how well she was doing: it made me feel less guilty about how Katniss died when I saw her little sister alive and well. Gloss seemed to be in great shape as well but if anyone was glad to see him it was Glimmer, she had thrown herself in her mentor's arms and squeezed him tight telling him over and over again that it was so good to see him despite the fact the Finnick was right next to Gloss and looked livid. Gloss himself seemed to be relieved to have Glimmer in his arms, I wasn't stupid I knew that the feelings that Gloss had for Glimmer were not that of a mentor and protégé type and I couldn't help but think that soon it was going to come to a head.
When I saw Finnick walk over to him and pull him into a tight hug, I might not be Glimmer but I was one of the best friends Finnick had which meant that Finnick responded eagerly giving me a tight squeeze. "It's good to see you again Finn" it had been at least three weeks since I had seen the older victor and I had been worried every night that soon I would get the message that he hadn't made it.
"Yeah nice to see you and your band of misfits are alright" he said as the two of us pulled apart.
"Oh I see, so now I'm a misfit am I?" I grin when I hear the amusing tone in Glimmer's voice and step back so my 'sister' could hug the man that I was sure that she loved and I could feel my gaze soften as I watched the two of them embrace one another. That wasn't a normal hug it was a hug of a lover that much was sure, the two of them might not be lovers in the practically sense but just by the way there daemons reacted to one another I was sure that they were meant to be mates-that was if the games hadn't screwed everything.
That night we had a huge bonfire with all the new arrivals and I could actually feel the joy in the air making me laugh along with every joke and every story that was told. When it came for Glimmer to sing with Jazz I allowed Prim to pull me up to dance and soon began to sing along while Glimmer danced with her many admires. It was nice to see everyone in the rebellion so happy and at ease, it didn't happen very often and I was sure when Coin arrived with the officers in the morning that all this joy and easy nature would disappear and suddenly everything would revert to the way it once was. No one retired to their bunks that night we all fell asleep by the fire, I was once again curled up by Cato. Glimmer was curled up next to Gloss but Finnick had a hand on her hip from his own sleeping positions while Jazz and Rion where unconscious in messy sprawls, Gale was of course curled up with Rory and Prim on either side of him.
When we all woke up the next morning we had an hour to make everything presentable before the President and her escorts arrived, by the time we were finished I was surprised to see that the luxury district once again resembled the beautiful place it had once been before riots and massacres filled the streets. Coin arrived with her escorts- they included both Johanna and Haymitch- and quickly pulled the victors into a meeting something that I had been dreading simply because I didn't like the woman in the slightest, in fact if it was possible I hated Coin just as much as I did Snow and that was hard considering what Snow made me do after my victory in the games that short time ago.
"As we sit here several splinter cells are converging in on the capitol headquarters and containing Snow and the other game officials" Coin began in her dreary tone making me have to stifle a groan: the woman needed to speak with emotion in wouldn't kill her and it might just make her a hell of a lot more interesting. "Their mission is to capture not kill because I have something else ready for that problem later" this makes me a little anxious: what the hell could that woman have up her sleeve.
Paylor- who I had to admit I kinda liked- cleared her throat and sat forward in her chair a little gaining all of our attentions "We want to have a public execution of Snow: no one else they can be done privately but we want the capitol to see their tyrant die" she said in a soothing voice with served to make all the anger and annoyance I had felt when Coin was speaking. "But we want Peeta to do it" she said turning her gaze onto me.
When I heard my name I stiffened up and felt anger flood through my veins: they wanted me to kill once more hadn't enough blood stained my hands. I could tell that all the victors in the room could see the anger coming off me in waves hell Haymitch began to rise out of his seat probably to calm me down but I wasn't waiting for that, instead I slam my hands onto the table and stand up anger flashing in my blue eyes "Haven't I killed enough" I hiss "I hate Snow as much as any other but my hands are bloody and my ledger is dripping with red why must I be the one to kill?"
"Because you my boy are the Prince and it is your duty" Coin said in a drawling tone "That wasn't a suggestion it was an order so I don't care if you want to or not: you will be the one to end the life of President Snow"
If I hadn't hated her before then I sure as hell couldn't stand the woman now. "Fine" I bite out before turning on my heel only stopping when Paylor asked me where I was going, turning back around I lock gazes with Coin and feel inwardly a little smug at the laced fury and annoyance I could see in her eyes "To sharpen my blades, have to make a clean cut" I say sarcastically before walking out of the door and into the armory.
I begin to work with my scimitars almost automatically without any after throat, polish and wipe then use the sharpening stone; I did this over and over again until I lost all track of time. It could have been hours since I entered the room but once I felt a hand on my shoulder I broke down, my tears came down my face for the first time since I could remember, I turn my face and bury it into the chest of the person who had come to calm me down-which my the smell and feel of them was Haymitch. I hadn't been this close to my mentor since his visit after my victory in the games two years ago and if felt bad that once again the only reason he was comforting me was death.
"I don't wanna do it" I cry shaking my head "I just want to ignore it all" Haymitch didn't say anything just continued to stroke my back as I let all the anger and frustration that I had been holding in for the last few weeks flood out.
The next day my team and I mounted our horses along with Gloss and Finnick who had decided to join us and road off into the capitol: we were going to secure the final road while Coin and her officials got the stage ready for Snow. Part of me was happy that Snow was going to die but the other part of me the more human part of me was terrified to go through with this, I barely felt human any more I didn't even feel like a wolf like Oclan I felt like a monster. Like some warped version of myself who had no humanity and was born just to kill and I wasn't sure if it was the games, the capitol or the rebellion that had done this to me.
"Peeta I can sense danger a head" Oclan said from his place next to my large black horse which confirmed my daemon's assessment by stomping the floor angrily.
Looking over at Jazz I give him a small nod and without words he launched Ruya up into the sky and closed his eyes so that he could stay connected with his bird. "Mutts, they have a bunch of mutts in the waiting area that's all. Think they're forgotten experiments: their large lizards kinda like they were trying to create dragons" he said after a moment and then opened his eyes as Ruya flew back to our group.
"We'll go around them" I said in a stern voice: I hate mutts and all they stand for so I wasn't really in the mood to deal with them.
The group nodded and we set off at a canter going around the long way of the center, when we came to place where our horses could no longer travel I dismount and tie the loyal mount giving it a final pat before leading my group and the daemon's down a barely lit hall way. I was sure that we were in the underground tunnels the rebellion made that lead us to the center square which meant we were almost to our destination. I could feel the relief flooding through my team already not that I could blame them: once Snow was dead it meant no more games or dying children we will finally just be a country living under a government like it was before Panem before the dark days.
I could see the grey light of the cloudy sky-it was a little ironic that the weather was dark on this day or at least I thought so-when suddenly I saw a glimpse of shimmering scales and freeze where I stood. Taking a deep breath I quickly connect my senses to Oclan and allow my eyes to go into night vision so that I could see what was hiding in the shadows. When I saw the mutts that Jazz had described prowling just a few meters behind us I feel dread curling in my stomach: there was no way we could out run them, they were slime and obviously built for speed, that and the bat like wings on their back looked capable for flight: there was at least eight of them on top of that which meant we were screwed.
"Peeta's what's going on" Glimmer hissed and I could hear the Daggertail hit the ground which meant she had it ready to whip.
Swallowing I shift uncomfortable and try to stop my legs from shaking "The mutts…they tracked us down" I whisper softly "There only a few meters away"
"Any way to avoid them?" Gale asked and I shake my head making them all groan.
Out of the corner of my eyes I can see Gloss looking back and forth from Glimmer to the spot where the mutts were and I could tell her was planning something. Before I could call him on it he stepped forward and kissed Glimmer hard making me still in shock: that was unexpected, once he pulled back he looked into Glimmer's eyes and smiled sadly "Remember that even though you didn't feel the same way I always loved you…I would have made you so very happy"
"Gloss what do you mean" Glimmer asked in confusion probably as to why he was talking in past tense.
I see him bring out several bombs and grin sadly and suddenly I understand what he was planning "Gloss you can't there has to be another way" I say softly even though I know there isn't, the mutts are getting more and more agitated and moving closer and closer, soon it'll be too late to even put his plan into action.
The district one victor shook his head and turned back to the mutts "Go" he said in a softly voice before raising it when we refused to move "I said GO!"
That was all we needed to move and without waiting for any more commands I turn on my heel and begin to run as fast as I can towards the opening, I can see Finnick puling a sobbing Glimmer with him as he too run, just as Jazz was silently cry next to Rion. Gloss's screams of pain fill my ears and I'm just about ready to turn back and drag him with us when suddenly he begins to laugh and a huge explosion follows causing a large flame to start chasing us through the tunnels. We reach safety just in time and throw ourselves out into the town square where all of the capitol was gathered along with the Rebels who were looking at us with amusement. I can see an amused Paylor and annoyed Coin up on stage with Snow on his knees bound up like a prisoner while Haymitch and his officers stand off to the side. It's obvious they've picked up on Gloss's absence because they all look crushed and upset: even Johanna who had been little more than stone since her rescue looked ready to start crying.
"It's about time: we've been ready to start for ten minutes now" Coin snapped and I was ready to stab her myself just for that little comment: our friend just sacrificed himself for us and here she was annoyed because we were a little late.
"We ran into a little trouble" Finnick said from his place by Glimmer's side.
The soon to be President of Panem rolled her eyes "I don't care just take your places" Finnick sighed and lead Jazz, Rion and Gale over to the Officers side of the stage while Cato, Glimmer and I made our way to center stage with our daemons standing proud by our sides even though they were just as tired and drained as we were. Once we were in position Coin pulled vicious smile of her face and began the ceremony.
"Panem, I give to you the man who has killed your children all in the name of fun and entertainment. A man who had tortured his victors and treated them like toys: who here agrees that this man deserves nothing short of death?" she said as if she was giving everyone a choice not that it mattered because everyone in the crowd including the capitol citizens cheered in agreement causing her smile to widen. "Well then watch as your Prince: the one who showed us that death can be grieved and not enjoyed preforms his right and kills the tyrant who has plagued us for so long"
Taking a deep breath I step towards Snow and slowly pull my scimitars from their sheaths and place the blades against Snow's neck in an x formation. As I raise them up for the slice images of my family flashed before my eye followed by Katniss, Marvel, the tributes I killed in the blood bath Solange, Cashmere, Annie and Gloss and then I struck. The blood that spurted up and hit me on the face was like a dream as I watch Snow's head fall from his body and it hit me that Snow the man who had made my life a nightmare was in fact dead.
"Well done Peeta" Coin congratulated me as the crowd roars "Now the Princess will announce the Tribute for the final games" she said in a sly tone making all the victors still and all of the crowd stop cheering in confusion "I have decided that in order to start afresh the Capitol must make amend and hence we will hold one more games with the children of the capitol"
"What!" I snarl my anger running through me "They did nothing wrong they knew no better" I ignore Cato who was leaving my sight and stare at the woman in front of me: she was no better than Snow she just wanted power and was willing to do whatever it took to have it. "You monster"
Coin smiled at me condescendingly and laughed hollowly "I am not the one with blood stained hands" she said in a sly voice.
"No you're not" I hear Cato agree before his sword was stabbed through her chest, and he looked over her shoulder to look my in the eyes "But what gives you the right to kill innocents when you've never met death" he said in her ear before twisting his blade and pulling it from her body.
As Coin's body slide to the floor dead her own blood pooling onto the stage I felt a clam settle over me: Snow was dead, Coin was dead and the games were over. Looking up I feel a water drop hit me on the face and suddenly the rain began to fall like it was trying to wash away the sins of the past and begin anew, sometimes I wished I was going to be able to do that but unfortunately I would always remember it was the burden of the victors: to never forget.
Dun Dun Dun! There ens the reign of Snow and Coin.
So what did you all think of my resolution?
Final Chapter: Life after Rebellion.