Chapter 3: Events to No End (Chariots, Training, Interviews)

A/N: This is going to be a mega chapter to combine the chariot rides, training, and interviews so it doesn't take up multiple chapters and then we can get started with the games 3. SO SORRY FOR THE WAY OVERDUE UPDATE I HAVE BEEN SO BUSY LATELY. Announcement: Something went wrong with my computer and apparently a tribute was deleted for some odd reason. So now there will be a District 13 tribute after all.

The Chariot Rides(in order by district for tributes shown)

::Leon and Estelle's POV::

Nero finished trimming Estelle's blonde hair and pulled it back in an elegant ponytail and weaved a bronze oak leave headband into her hair. Maria wheeled over a rack full of outfits and unwrapped a glittering emerald dress covered in layers of thin pine needles. "It's beautiful," breathed Estelle. Maria held it out and Estelle slipped into it watching herself in the mirror. "This should get their attention out there," said Maria with a smile.

Estelle returned her warm smile and walked over into Leon's stall. He finished zipping up the green leather jacket and glanced at Estelle. "You look beautiful," he whispered.

Estelle smiled and grabbed his hand pulling him along as the intercom chimed and a warm voice echoed throughout the salons, "All tributes please head to their district's chariots. All tributes please report to their chariots!"

"Come on," she said tugging him harder. They walked out a vast open doorway and found themselves in a wide circular room full of chariots in the center. They headed over to District 7's chariot and jumped in. Their mentor, Eros gave a pat against the chariot and it began to pull forward in line with the other districts. "Win the crowd," he yelled over the sound of the chariots.

Leon nodded and grabbed her hand as she started to shuffle her feet nervously, "It will be okay," he said as the chariot exited the room and thousands of cameras and lights flashed on them and they put on their most dazzling smiles. The citizens of Capitol were going wild mooning over each tribute passing by. Leon leaned over and gave Estelle a quick kiss attracting the attention of almost everyone in the room.

Rowan and Anna's POV

District 9's chariot burst out into the massive room several lights falling on them. Anna's beige silk dress whipped around from the draft created by the chariots. Her headdress of amber wheat blew wrapped thoroughly in her hair. Applause echoed throughout the ceremonial hall and gazes turned to her and Rowan for the first time since the train ride he looked up and his dazzling smile won over the crowd. He wear a bronze colored suit and several stalks of wheat stuck out of the jacket's pocket. He wore a beige silk scarf around his neck and his hair was slicked back letting a single long strand of his golden honey hair fall down into his face.

Anna waved to the crowd and Rowan flashed an innocent smile at everyone. Anna's and Rowan's chariot rolled into place and they came to a stop.

Dean and Kyna's POV

District 10's chariot rolled out into the ceremonial hall. Kyna stood beside Dean wearing a bright red strapless dress and a train trailed behind the chariot quietly. The white streaks in the dress made it reminiscent to sirloin. Her black hair was flung over her left shoulder in a long ponytail. She waved happily to the crowd feigning joy. She shot dazzling mile after smile into the crowd. Dean knew she was completely faking this attitude and it was just for the crowd. If she was provided the chance, she would kill everyone right her right now. Her hand began to creep towards the chef's knives as adornment in her hair. She stopped knowing they were probably dulled to prevent harm to her and using them on other tributes.

Dean squeezed her hand trying to calm her down. Dean resumed waving and smiling to the crowd. Kyna continued her feigned joy until they rolled up to the square below the president seated in the veranda above.

Post-Chariot Rides in Apartments

Laury's POV

Laury stared out the window at the night sky when the sun had finally touched down. She took the jet black hat off of her head and her face was revealed to the glimmering moonlight. She stared at it. It had sheer fabric draping down from it to protect her face from the sunlight. She watched the flickering lights below in the recesses of the Capitol. Of course, classic Capitol citizens celebrating over the start of the massacre of children. She looked away from the citizens celebrating below and tried to ignore their joyous cries and the music flowing throughout the cities. She turned to see the young boy that had come with her staring at her "Couldn't sleep?" she asked quietly to him.

He ducked behind the doorway peering out shyly and nodded. Laury ushered him back to his room and called after him quietly, "Try to ignore them. " She spared a glance out the window and gave a snort of contempt.

She walked down into the open doorway leading to her designated bedroom and th image of the full moon flickered to life on the wall. She climbed into bed and fell asleep staring happily at it.

Shylam's POV

Shylam stared up at the dark shadows dancing across the ceiling. He glanced at the virtual image glistening on the wall beside him. He ignored the crowing of ravens in the trees on the screen. He jumped out of bed and walked out into the open room of the suite settling on the sleek sofa. He stared out the window and watched the citizens below. His attention flickered across the vast cityscape and across the waters into the forests beyond the reaches of the city.

Joyce. I will win this and come back to you.

Training

Multiple POVs(Genesis, Velvet, Kyle, Arden, Nessarose, Sylvia, Damian)

Genesis hurled a spear into the chest mark of a target. He pulled a knife out of its sheathe and hurled it into the forehead of a ballistic dummy and pig's blood spurted onto the floor. Kyle sparred with Damian forcing him back with his complex forms. Damian leapt over him and flipped Kyle onto his back and pulled out the fake knives they were given and held it against his throat. Kyle quickly drove all of his strength into his feet and hurled him off of him and hurled a small fake hatchet at him. Damian dodged it barely and it passed harmlessly pat his neck. He sprang forward and fell on Kyle with his knife.

Kyle pulled out his own and attacked Damian swiftly catching him in his right lung and in his stomach bowling him over. He dug it into Damian's throat after Damian planted a sharp blow to the side of his head. "Dead," said Kyle quietly.

He pulled Damian back to his feet and he refused to look at Kyle only murmuring thanks and walking to the next station. Kyle dodged to the side as several dulled spears flew at him from Arden rapidly. He nimbly weaved past every spear throw and sprang at her like a madman brandishing his fake knife. She pulled out her own hunting knife and sent it sailing across the room nailing him dead center in the chest before he had even reached her.

The dull blade knocked the wind out of him and he fell back to the mat dazed. Arden helped him up, "For the win!"

Kyle frowned at her and sprang forward at her. She sidestepped and he crashed back to the mat stunned, "Boys," she muttered to herself.

Kyle stumbled back up and glared at her crossly. Arden laughed and walked away to the climbing station nimbly scaling the pine tree. Nessarose sprang up the tree besides her own turning it into a competition. Arden reached the top of her tree triumphant looking down on Nessarose only a few branches behind. Laury's sharp giggle rang above her as she sat in a branch higher than her own in the tree behind her. Arden cursed and descended the tree jumping out when she reached a safe height.

Nessarose dropped out of the pine tree and strode over to the shelf adorned with knives and snatched a big curved crescent-shaped dagger from the shelf before Genesis. Genesis spared her a dark glance before putting on his best charming smile, "Sweetie, mind handing that over? I was going to use that," he said with a complacent smirk.

Nessarose shook her head dodging his efforts to playfully snatch it from her. She darted behind the racks and called out in a taunt, "You're going to have be faster than that in the Games."

Genesis strode behind the rack and cornered her, his face inches from her own. She placed the tip of the knife against his chest holding him back and she moved in closer whispering into his ear, "I hate to be a tease." She tossed the knife in the air and walked away before the Peacekeepers could start to worry. Nessarose muttering to herself with an arrogant smirk, "I can play him easily."

Velvet snatched a pair of twin short spears and hurled them across the room at the targets each finding their mark almost centerpoint in the forehead and slightly an inch away from the heart of another. She turned in delight with a smirk on her face as the other tributes stood behind her watching with looks of fear and terror on their faces.

Sylvia stepped out from behind the cover of fake boulders as three tributes all from different districts fell into her trap. She giggled as thick rope snared around their legs hauling them up into the air into a net impossible to escape. One of the girls hissed at her in fury, "Put me down."

"Your wish is my command." She sliced through the rope with a dulled blade and the net ripped open letting them fall ten feet to the metal floor. Sylvia walked away giggling and made her way to the camouflage station to entertain herself even more.

The Peacekeepers withdrew from their watchful positions and barked out, "It's time to return to your quarters, training is officially over."

Interviews (Shylam, Shianne, Rose, Orion)

Caesar Flickerman appeared directly in spotlight on the stage and bowed to the crowd, "Thank you, thank you. Now let's get this show on the road."

The interviews flashed by in a blur for Shylam and he perked up as he heard his name called out over the microphone and got to his feet heading out on stage in his black suit. His turquoise colored tie went well with his jade eyes and he tried to put on his best crowd-winning smile. His mentor's words rang through his ears, "Win the crowd, win the Games."

Caesar motioned for him to take a seat, "Now Shylam you have quite the interesting story behind you. Are the rumors true that you have a special someone back home in District 11?"

Shylam hesitated before answering and smiled at the crowd and replied sheepishly, "Yes. Her name's Joyce."

The crowd roared with cheers and Caesar quieted them down before continuing, "What's your game plan once you actually get in the actual Games?"

"Survive," he said flatly, "I will do whatever it takes to get back home to see Joyce again."

"Survive you will," said Caesar, "Now I'm sorry but it appears we're out of time. Shylam Nist everyone!"

Thunderous applause and cheers filled the room and Caesar called out over the noise his vice booming loudly, "Shianne Emmalyn!"

Shianne passed Shylam without a glance and forced herself to continue on to appear in front of such a large crowd. Her cheeks flushed a rosy pink as loud cheering crashed down on her from all sides. She wore a form-fitting red dress that cut off at the top of the thigh. She wore black furry boots and strode out on stage irritated slightly at her current apparel forced on her by her prep team.

Caesar helped her to her seat, "Now Shianne tell me something. Is there anyone at home you want to return to?"

"Y-yes," she said shyly, "My family and…my best friend, Hannah."

"I'm sorry but I have to say and I'm sure the viewers agree your shyness is adorable," said Caesar with a charming smile.

"Thank you," said Shianne quietly.

"One last question, what's your survival plan in the Games?" asked Caesar.

"Well, I don't want to spoil anything but I will tell you I don't want to go close combat with any tributes. My methods will be entertaining for the audience," she explained.

"Well I know I will be watching. Shianne Emmalyn everybody!" roared Caesar.

Shianne got to her feet helped by Caesar and she made her way off of the stage. She returned to the room full of tributes and her attention fixated on Rose as her name was called. Rose got to her feet from the bench and headed towards the stage taking a deep breath.

Rose entered through the open doorway and put on her brilliant smile dazzling the crowd. Her red short dress glowed in the light and the feathers ruffled dancing like a flame. The coal pieces on her belt glittered in the artificial light. Caesar helped her to her seat and began, "Wow, the stylists for District 12 continue to amaze me. It absolutely fits you perfectly."

Rose smiled, "Thank you."

"What's life like in District 2 back at home?" asked Caesar, "Well the boys are always mining for coal and I gather herbs to sell and use to make remedies in my friend's mother's apothecary. I have a best friend named Lily who basically runs the apothecary and we almost do everything together," she replied remembering the past.

"One last question, what do you think of the tributes you are up against?" asked Caesar.

"The Careers are going to probably be the strongest in Games history. It's going to be tough out there. I just hope my resourcefulness will keep me out of the bloodbath."

"You will you have your wits and instinct," said Caesar, "Survive out there Miss Vlaire. Rose Vlaire everybody!"

Rose smiled and waved at the roaring citizens and cameras and exited the stage. She flinched as Orion emerged from the shadows. She continued on avoiding his intense gaze and he dropped out of the protection of the doorway as his name was called. He strode across the stage shaking Caesar's hand before taking a seat with one leg in his lap.

"Orion Minix you are a curious one and the talk of the Games. How does it feel to be the first tribute of District 13?" asked Caesar.

"It's a lot of pressure to live up to everyone's expectations and I know I can win this," said Orion.

"You can and will," said Caesar with a smile.

"Just one last question," said Caesar, "Due to District 13's military training are you going to be a part of the Careers?"

"Absolutely," said Orion, "The Careers have already been decided and are ready for some action."

"Good I think this year is going to be one of the best Games in history. I just have the feeling," said Caesar, "Orion Minix everybody, one of the first tributes ever from District 13."

A/N: Not really mega but it was pretty good sized. I'm sorry this took so long. I hope you guys aren't mad that I rushed through this chappy I just wanted to get straight to the Games which the first chapter is being written as you read this presumably.