Disclaimer: The Hunger Games do not belong to me. It's an unfortunate thing, but something I'll just have to live with. Characters belong to their respective creators. I'm just here to have fun with them.

My parents called me Victory. But everyone calls me Vi.

Our names are a point of pride among us kids in the Capitol. It's been a century and a half since the action and excitement of the Third Rebellion. It was a tumultuous time for those of us from the Capitol- reestablishing the power that was once so cruelly wrenched from us by the rebellious districts, asserting our dominance over them once again, regaining our wealth, our status, our luxurious and beautiful lifestyle.

I could listen to my great-grandmother retell the story over and over again. Honestly, she's a bit senile, and she hadn't been born when the rebellion occurred, but if there's one thing she remembers clearly in her old age it's the story of how her parents- my great-great-grandparents- helped to restore order to Panem.

But like I said, it's been a hundred and forty-nine years since Micah Hawthorne, the heroic and wayward grandson of former General Gale Hawthorne, led the Capitol rebels against the Mockingjay government and reestablished order within Panem. Despite this, his victory is still celebrated today. There's the annual anniversary celebrations on the day the final District fell, with fireworks and dances. And of course, the annual games are a perpetual favorite among all of us here in the Capitol. But the impact of his victory is so magnanimous, three generations worth of children were named in its honor.

There were three Victory's in my year at schools, five in the years below me, and eight in the years above. It makes it tough for a girl- even a beauty like me – to stand out. So I changed my name to Vi so the boys would remember whose finger they were wrapped around. And it worked.

OOO

There's an old saying that, if history is forgotten, it repeats itself. Too bad the rebel government didn't keep that in mind. The Mockingjay Rebellion, as it's called in my textbooks, was largely a success- in the short run. Sure, it's a black stain in the history of the Capitol, but one that cannot be ignored. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark became symbols of hope to the Districts, symbols of great hatred to folks like my great-grandparents. We lost our homes, our wealth, our status. The Hunger Games were abolished. The technologies that kept us beautiful and happy were taken away from us as equality prevailed.

In the first generation, it appeared that the social order had been reestablished, that the new government would reign supreme. President Paylor was a good and fair president, who treated the defeated Capitol citizens with relative respect despite our quasi-prisoner of war status. But as time passed, it became apparent that there were cracks in the system- as there are in any system- lying dormant in anticipation of the next social movement that was smart enough to make headway and lead the overthrow.

It took almost fifty years.

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark had long since passed. The official party line, used to keep the districts in check, was that it was a joint suicide- that their guilt over leading the rebellion and betraying the true Panem government finally caught up with them. If you read the black market books though- those that are banned by our government, but somehow manage to get passed around school anyway- it was anything but. It was a cold blooded double murder, the first step in the Third Rebellion, and another point of pride among us kids. Our ancestors took out the leaders of the Mockingjay Rebellion. The symbol of hope amongst the rebels.

What poor District kid could brag about that?

Gale Hawthorne was still alive, but a shadow of his old self. He'd been a hard, cold man most of his life, harboring a secret love for Everdeen, who couldn't bear to look at him after her sister's death. It was his son and grandson that would become the principal players in the drama that unfolded.

Hawthorne's son, Emerich, became the President of Panem. His policies were a departure from those who came before him, clearly favoring the Districts over the Capitol. Were you descended from Capitol supporters? Best to keep it a secret- admitting any connection to the former government was punishable by twenty years imprisonment, and dissonant voices were silenced in secret executions. He would have left the descendants of the Capitol to die if he could. And Emerich Hawthorne was very clear that he believed we deserved it. But what he didn't realize was that his unique brand of cruelty incited the very rebellion that would take his life.

You see, Micah Hawthrone, the president's son, did not agree with his father's policies. It began as a minor familial disagreement, which might have passed with minimal fallout. But Micah fell in love with Ceres Snow. Yes. That Snow.

Great-granddaughter of the former president and greatest martyr of the Mockingjay Rebellion, she was widely considered one of the greatest enemies of the state. Not because she herself was a threat, obviously. But because she was a Snow. Despite the fact that she spent her entire life in prison, she was known for her kind spirit and her down-to-earth beauty. Micah, a member of the army assigned to guarding the prion, had brought her a meager dinner of bread, fish, and water to her one night, and their illicit romance began. Sneaking away from his battalion at nights, they spent hours talking, holding hands and kissing through the bars that kept them apart. It was your typical boy meets girl, what every girl dreams of, minus the fact that she was imprisoned.

He tried to obtain her release from prison, tried to reason with his father. But Emerich, that bastard who despised the people of the Capitol, who refused to listen to the voice of reason, who lacked the simple compassion for the lives of his former enemies, ignored his son.

Ceres Snow was executed within the week. And Emerich sealed his fate and the fate of the Mockingjay Rebellion. In his desolation, Micah was swayed to the side of the Capitol Rebellion. Within a year, Emerich was dead, Micah was president, and my people reigned supreme again.

OOO

One hundred and forty-nine years have passed. One hundred and forty-nine years of order, peace, and domineering control of the Districts. They remember their place now. Remember to whom they owe their pathetic existence, and to be thankful we allowed them to live at all. Those who remember the olden days, the days of the Mockingjay Rebellion are long gone, and the Peacekeepers ensure that any rabble-rousers are swiftly taken care of.

I live in the lap of luxury, as it should be. I'm so grateful I never had to suffer the way my ancestors did, fighting for survival, for a meager scrap of bread while the life sustaining food was sent to the districts. My life is bliss, surrounded by friends, with men falling at my feat for the honor of taking me on a date. We laugh, we go out, we follow the latest fashion trends. And once a year we gather around the television to view the Hunger Games.

"Vi… Vi!" my best friend Adam's voice pulls me from my thoughts. "We're out of wine."

I call to the Avox girl at the doorway, but she ignores me. Losing my patience, I resort to snapping at her brusquely, but she doesn't move. Emitting a sigh of annoyance, I stand and approach her. This girl is absolutely useless, I have no idea why my father keeps us around. Slapping her across the face, she finally stands at attention.

"We require more wine. I expect it to arrive before the District One reapings begin."

I see pure hatred in the brunette girl's eyes. I could have her punished for that, but I'm feeling particularly nice today. Besides, Rocco, my current boyfriend (though not for long) is waiting for me to rejoin him on the couch. Adam, and his girlfriend Rina are on the loveseat making out, empty wine glasses on the coffee table in front of them. My parents are playing a game of chess nearby, far enough to give the four of us privacy, but close enough to get a view of the exciting events about to unfold.

It's only a matter of minutes now.

"Vi! You coming? It's about to start!" I hear Rocco shout. As I reenter the living room, I hear the anthem play and the thrill of the upcoming events surges inside of me.

OOO

My parents named me Victory, and though everyone calls me Vi, it's a name I'm proud to have. We have so much to celebrate here in the Capitol, and my name represents that. Victory: in honor of the Capitol's resurgence. Victory: in honor of my ancestor's struggle to regain our way of life. Bittersweet victory that will be tasted by only one of the twenty-six that enter the arena.

Taking my seat on the couch, I fall into Rocco's embrace and grin as I see the flag of our nation fly on the screen.

The two hundred and twenty-fourth Hunger Games are about to begin.

Hey all! So I wanted to give you all a bit of a background before the story started- namely, why the Hunger Games were reinstated. I hope you all liked Victory- she was a submitted tribute I wasn't able to add to a district, but I wanted to include her somehow. She'll be back at the end of the story to narrate the ending. I'm hoping to have the D1 reapings up early next week! Comments, and especially constructive criticism are always greatly appreciated! -Jac