I owe everyone a big apology for not uploading. Sorry!

Disclaimer: Don't own the thirteen worlds represented herein.

Chapter 39

Morning Realizations

"You know, you're a horrible career," Sadie said, approaching Tris from behind.

Tris turned from where she was watching the sunrise. "Oh yeah?"

"You're not hunting down other tributes like most do," Sadie continued, sitting down on the steps next to Tris. "Tell me, why did you volunteer?"

"I was mad," Tris admitted. "Eric said I could never do it, but I wanted to prove him wrong."

"Hm," Sadie replied. "You didn't feel... compelled to volunteer or anything?"

Tris frowned. "No. Why?"

"I was just thinking, something brought us here," Sadie explained. "Not just to Panem, but to the games."

"You think someone set me up?" Tris asked. "And all the other volunteers - and there's a lot more than usual."

"But think about it," Sadie continued. "Annabeth and Carter said this most likely started on reaping day, right? When did Eric say that?"

"A week before." Tris frowned. "Which never happened. So it was planted so I'd end up in the games. And it was the same thing with Annabeth - I remember her saying she volunteered to prove someone wrong."

"And Percy volunteered because Annabeth did," Sadie added. "Moana volunteered in place of twelve-year-old child, but last year they had an even smaller tribute, and she didn't volunteer."

"And Arthur, I think Mithian said he volunteered to impress his father," Tris continued. "Who else volunteered?"

"The girl from ten," Sadie remembered. "She volunteered for a friend, I believe. Something that could be counted on."

"And the guy from eight," Tris added. "He was planning on volunteering, wasn't he? Because he had this long, thought-out plan. What if that was what he was like in his home world - Newcago he said? It makes sense."

"It does," Sadie agreed. "Lets wake the others."

"If there's absolutely no way we can get out of the games, we should not save him," Arthur said, looking down at the sick boy. "But if there is any chance we can, then we should."

"So which one do you want to bet on?" Isi asked.

Arthur sighed. "Let's get him in the cave."

"We must have a ton of sponsors by now," Ezekiel said, handing done a group of wires from the ceiling. Peter grabbed them without sending Ezekiel, who was standing on his shoulders, into the wall.

"There not sending us anything," Cassandra noted, taking the wires from Peter and sorting them.

"Why would they?" Ezekiel asked. "We don't need it."

"And the more we do by ourselves," Peter added. "The more impressive it is."

"And the more sponsors we get," Ezekiel finished. "We're practically set."

"Until it's just the three of us left," Cassandra muttered.

Ezekiel froze. "Yeah, let's not think about that. Cause let's face it, I could totally rob both of you blind, but I would never hurt you."

"As long as you don't rob me blind, I won't hurt you either," Peter replied. "And I'll remind you, I'm almost faster than you."

"You know what we need?" Ezekiel continued, handing down more wires. "A group name."

"I'd be down for that," Peter agreed.

"Cassandra?" Ezekiel asked.

"Sure," Cassandra replied. "But only if I choose it. I don't want something like 'The Tributes of Awesomeness'."

"That could be cool," Peter stated.

"Totally," Ezekiel agreed.

"Exactly my point," Cassandra said. "How about... the Librarians?"

Peter frowned. "What's a librarian?"

But Ezekiel froze. "Librarian you said?"

Cassandra nodded. "Yeah... it just feels right."

"It does, doesn't it," Ezekiel agreed.

"Not really," Peter interjected. "But sure."

"No," Cassandra said. "We're already Librarians, aren't we? Except for you, Peter. No offense."

"None taken," Peter replied. "I'm fine just being Ezekiel's stepladder."

"Librarians," Ezekiel repeated. "Librarians. Cassandra, we're Librarians."

Cassandra grinned. "Librarians. I can't believe we forgot."

"So you're saying we've been forced into the games," Annabeth summarized. "But why?"

"Distraction," Percy said.

"Huh?" Annabeth asked.

"It makes sense, doesn't it?" Percy explained. "There are some of the smartest people in the world - worlds? - in this arena, I bet. They needed some way to keep you distracted."

"I have smart friends at home," Moana commented. "What about them?"

"They're focused on the games too," Percy replied.

"Because we're in it," Annabeth realized. She leaned over and kissed her boyfriends cheek. "Brilliant idea, seaweed brain."

Muffin the cat meowed her agreement.

"But that doesn't change the situation, does it?" Carter questioned.

"It does, actually," Moana countered. "It means that every person in this arena is here because they're dangerous. Because they can help break the spell."

"And they all think everyone else is out to kill them," Annabeth added. "Another stroke of genius in putting us in the arena."

"It explains why so many are still alive," Tris noted.

Sadie nodded. "I bet we're all heroes where we come from."

"Except for Peter," Tris added.

Sadie frowned. "Sure. But everyone else, heroes."

"Heroes don't kill," Percy noted. "At least not often."

Carter nodded. "This makes a lot of sense. But we still have no plan."

"The maps says she should be around here somewhere," Harry said.

"With two other tributes," Miri added. "And we're injured."

"If Hermione's in trouble, we need to help her," Harry decided. "I think she's right over here. You might want to get that stone hawk out."

"He thinks we're insane now," Cassandra muttered.

Peter shook his head. "No, it's just... I'm beginning to realize the same about myself. I don't belong here."

"If we don't," Ezekiel replied. "I bet no one in here does."

Cassandra nodded. "We have to find whatever is causing this and stop it. Magic is power, focus, and effect, right? Well, where is the focus?"

"The cornucopia," Peter suggested. "It's the focus of the arena, after all."

Ezekiel nodded. "Then our plan to take the cornucopia is still on, Librarians?"

"And me," Peter added.

"Oh, you're a librarian," Ezekiel replied. "Maybe just an honorary one, but you're one."

"You're one of us now, Peter," Cassandra added. "And you're not getting away from that."

Sadie sighed. "You really think that a giant explosion of magic won't work?"

Tris shook her head. "I know that where I come from, magic isn't a thing. Maybe the same is true of other tributes."

Annabeth nodded. "And, from what I remember, we have something called the... mist, I believe. It hides magic. If that's here..."

"It would explain a lot, actually," Moana finished. "Each world needs something specific to it. Maybe something specific to each tribute even. I don't think what worked on me would on Flynn."

Annabeth nodded. "There has to be some overlap, though. Some way for us to figure out what would work for world."

"Where would we even start?" Sadie asked.

"Well, who's still in the arena?" Annabeth asked. "And what do we know about them?"

"There's me and Peter in District 1," Tris started. "From what I can remember, our world is divided by values. We're the brave. Then it's Arthur Pendragon in District 2."

"Arthur..." Carter said. "Is there any chance he could be King Arthur? He is the son of the mayor, right?"

Annabeth frowned. "Maybe..."

"Would that make Jason in eleven the Jason?" Percy asked. "The original one on the Argo? The one our Jason was named after?"

"Perhaps," Annabeth replied. "Does anyone know the name of the tributes from three?"

"Wanda Maximoff," Sadie answered. "She approached me once. I don't know who the boy is."

"Wasn't his initials PP or something?" Percy asked.

"Alright," Annabeth said. "I don't recognize those names. What do we know about them?"

"Wanda's brother died in the games last year," Sadie remembered. "Maybe that means he died recently in their world. But that's all I know."

"Okay," Annabeth continued. "And then there's us in four. What about the tributes from five?" Everyone shook their head. "Six?" Annabeth sighed. "Alright. And we know who seven is, and eight is already aware. So then there's Flynn."

"He full name is Eugene Fitz-something," Moana supplied. "But he likes the name Flynn Rider better. He's a thief, and he's dating a girl named Rapunzel."

"Rapunzel," Percy repeated. "Doesn't she have like, really long hair?"

"She did," Moana confirmed. "She cut it when she moved away from her abusive mother."

"Abusive mother," Percy muttered. "I know that story... somewhere... isn't that a fairytale or something?"

"Sounds right," Annabeth agreed. "And then there's District 10."

"The boy is a great swordsman," Percy said. "I think I heard him say is name was Finn. Very quiet from what I could tell."

"What about the girl?" Annabeth asked. "I remember thinking her first name sounded like mine - Anidori, maybe?"

"She seemed really quiet too," Tris commented.

"And then there's Jason from eleven," Percy added. "He was quite... interesting. But I could totally see him as a basis of some Greek legend."

Carter frowned. "Really? Him?"

"Greek legends are surprisingly underwhelming," Annabeth explained. "At least in our world."

Carter nodded. "Then that's definitely him."

"And the girl from twelve - I remember her," Tris commented. "Miri, I believe. She's the only one smaller than me. I remember her talking a lot to the girl from five, but that's about it. Oh, and she wears her hair in pigtails all the time."

"And that's all we know?" Annabeth finished. "Well, this will be hard. Let's hope some are figuring it already themselves."

"Hermione!"

Hermione turned and darted off before either David and Megan had a chance to react.

She hugged her tribute partner Harry and then the other girl Miri before turning back to David and Megan.

"Moment of truth," Megan whispered. David nodded.

But they approached peacefully.

"Hermione says you're friends," Harry muttered.

"Not friends," Megan replied. "But we want to help. Give me your hand."

Flynn motioned for his team to stop and hide.

He peered out from behind a tree.

In front of them was a cave, and at the mouth of the cave was tall, broad tribute with a nasty-looking sword keeping guard.

"Finn," Jason mouthed. "From ten. Scary good."

Flynn nodded. "Water in cave?"

Wanda and Jason both frowned.

"Probably," Wanda mouthed.

"Could we take them?" Jason whispered. "After what happened at the river?"

"Probably not," Wanda admitted. "But I'm pretty thirsty."

"We'd need a plan," Flynn said. "But if you can hold your focus, Wanda, I think we could."

"Why'd you save me?"

Isi started at the sound of his voice. She turned to see the rescued tribute staring at her, eyes wide.

"It's a long story," Isi replied, walking towards the tribute and kneeling by his side. "My name's Isi. That's Arthur behind you, and Finn's keeping guard."

"Peter. And what do you mean by long story?"

"I think we all can get out of the games," Isi explained.

Peter scoffed. "That's not how this works."

Isi smiled and summoned a breeze. She held her hand out and let the breeze circle around it, to prove it was her summoning it.

"Things aren't always what they seem," she said. "There's another way out of this. Are you thirsty? Do you want a drink?"

"Yes please," Peter replied. "And an explanation, while you're at it."

Isi smiled. "Gladly."

Jason nodded. "Sounds like a plan."

Wanda smiled. "On my count."

Miri hummed a quarrying song under her breath.

"So we're not from here?" Harry asked. "But how?"

"We don't know," Hermione admitted. "I'm not even sure where we're from."

"Mount Eskel," Miri said.

Hermione and Harry both looked at her. Megan grinned.

"I'm from Mount Eskel," Miri continued. "I'm an Eskelite. I'm a lady of the princess as well. I was the Academy Princess, in fact."

"You remember a lot more than usual," Megan noted.

Miri nodded. "It's the quarry-speak. We Eskelites... we have a certain connection to memory."

"Can you use this connection to reminder your district where you're from?" Hermione asked.

"Only the Eskelites," Miri said. "None of the lowlanders can do it. But maybe it will be enough."

I promise I'll be updating more regularly!