yes it has been a while. Not because I wanted to but because my sister was moving and it's kind of a big deal. Anyway I'm back now and it's going to stay that way. Happy Hunger Games Tuesday! Thanks for everyone who stuck with me so far and was willing to wait through my break.

Chapter 9

How long was she supposed to wait in this line of, well, creatures? Some of them hardly looked like people anymore. Their suits too gaudy or their dress too poofy. Was this the kind of things people in the capitol wanted to see? Korra didn't even much like her dress, but it didn't look like someone had designed it during a night of drugs. Very heavy drugs for that matter.

The tributes were put back in a line, ordering them by district again. The line was against the wall and she leaned against it heavily. The kid even had the nerve to tell her to get up and that she would wrinkle her dress. Korra almost rubbed the back of her dress against the wall just to irritate him.

"Fire lord! My flame burns for you!" The song began again and the tributes around them straightened up. Korra didn't. She was fourth. There was more people ahead of her so why bother getting nervous now? Korra looked down the line. All the way in the back the boy from twelve was all at attention. He was in for a long wait. Maybe he would pee himself by then?

There was a television there that displayed the broadcasting of the interviews. Korra focused on that. The stage was simple, open and mostly empty. There was a chair for the interviewer, a bouncy young man named Rias, and one for the tribute. They would be the star of the performance. Decorations and lights would only take away from the attention the tributes demanded.

Rias ran onto the stage after a brief introduction by an invisible announcer. He welcomed the live audience and started the interview with a few Hunger Games themed jokes. Almost all of them were cheesy and received a less enthusiastic response from the waiting tributes. Wei actually punched a wall when his joke ended by calling his oldest brother a 'Beat'-fong. Korra could understand his anger. It was probably hard watching his brother be killed by a giant of a man with an old club.

Finally he called out the first contestants one at a time. There was talk about if they were any good or not and chatter about their scores. District one was all about the honor of winning the games. Honor for their district, honor for their families, honor for themselves. It was a strategy they used each and every year. A strategy that won them sponsors each and every year for that matter.

District two was mostly dealing with the Beifong curse. Wei did his best to portray himself as carefree but still pretty tough, but there was a little anger in him still about that joke. He did get plenty of attention when he brought down one of the stage lights with his bending and disassembled it with his hands. The entire thing was a sparking mess but he did it without being shocked which seemed to impress plenty of people.

District three was a less interesting bunch. Their girl was pretty in a way that almost reminded her of Asami. She had the same dark hair and the green eyes of the earth kingdom. Her beauty was limited to her face though. She was an odd combination of tall and thin that made her look almost like she was made of wire. The dress she wore was slimming and tight, trying to make her thin body look natural, but Korra had seen her without it and knew otherwise.

Finally she heard Rias call her name. He introduced her as the Moon Spirit. When she stepped onto the stage she could almost feel the spotlights dancing across her dress. She waved to the crowd, a gentle elegant wave. She sat in the chair trying to laugh at the way she sank into it.

"Aaaah!" Rias sighed as he settled in his chair. "The Moon Spirit! What's it like?"

"Being the moon?" Korra asked not fully understanding the question

"Of course of course!"

"Well," She stammered to find some kind of witty answer the capitalists would like. "I get to see all of you every night so I'd say it's not so bad."

Rias laughed an exaggerated laugh, "Well you have been waiting to see us haven't you. How long has it been since you became a career?"

"I think I was six when I decided." Korra nodded "It seemed right you know. Get in the games. Beat some other tributes. It was what my dad did."

"Oh I didn't forget your famous father did I?" He said, "Tonraq the mighty! Those are some mighty big shoes to fill if you know what I mean."

"Yeah he's great." Korra felt relieved that this answer at least didn't feel forced. "He's been like a mentor to me my entire life. I just wish he could have been a mentor to me for the last part of this journey."

"Well I'm sure he's watching you right now isn't he?"

"He probably is." Korra waved to the main camera "Hi dad! Hi mom!" Rias joined in as well for a moment.

"Don't forget who else is probably watching you." Rias said pointing at her necklace, "That lucky man of yours."

Korra hesitated only in the slightest. "Actually, it's a lucky woman." The silence that fell on the gathered audience was almost tangible. After a few seconds a few murmers passed through the crowd.

"I'm sorry I must not have heard you right." Rias said digging in his ear with a pinky. He scooted closer. "Are you saying that a woman, a full blown woman," He made a rubbing motion in the air around his chest when he said the word woman. In that moment Korra respected Wei a little for not punching this man, "gave you that betrothal necklace."

"Yeah." Korra smiled through the words. A nervousness pricked at her fingertips. Should she have just done as Ilaq said? No, a secret like that would have to come out at some point.

"So you're telling me that this is not a betrothal necklace like we all thought it was." Rias was giving her the chance she needed to back out. He even stammered as he tried to get it out. "This is like a, a, a best friend charm or something."

"No I'm sure it's a betrothal necklace. Her name's Asami. Asami Sato actually. Her mother is actually from here if I remember right."

"The Sato heiress? Now this is a development I did not see coming." Rias clapped his hands "And what did the beautiful Asami say when you volunteered?"

"She was mad at me. But I think this," She touched the stone around her neck, "I think this is forgiveness enough."

"Well you'll have to invite me to the wedding after you win."

"You'll be the first on the list." Korra agreed and shook the hand he extended to her although her mind was screaming not to do that. He announced her one last time before letting her off stage. At least the people were still clapping for her when she walked away. The kid passed her as he headed up to be announced.

"Nice going messing everything up," He sneered before disappearing on the stage to be embraced by their cheers.

Korra did not even listen to the boy's interview. Instead she headed past the other tributes and towards the elevator. Her part was done. What would she care about what the rest would say. It was Wei that stopped her on her way out.

"Hey, Korra," He said when she turned, "I just wanted to say that was brave of you."

"What was?"

"Saying that a girl gave you that. I know a lot of people wouldn't do something like that."

"Yeah, well, when this is over I figure it'll be hard for me to get a fake boyfriend so you know, this is easier. Besides, when we do get married they'll all be ready for it."

"I'm just glad you have someone back home you can look back to." Wei said his goodbyes and let her finish going to the elevator. She punched the button just as Mako was announced as the Dragon of Republic City. She almost wished she was going to be staying to see it. But she knew it would just be drama about his brother.

Upstairs the mentors were less than pleased with her. Kozan had a scowl etched on his face. Korra pretended like she didn't see them and grabbed a piece of bread and stuffed it in her face. Finally they decided they weren't going to have any conversations about the interview and one by one filed out of the room. Koyak patted her shoulder as he passed her.

"You better enjoy that bread," He said, "You'll be eating any sponsors of yours along with it."

All of Korra's confidence disappeared when he said that. Yes, she knew she was taking a risk, but it was a risk she wanted to take. But missing out on sponsors? She should have known that would go hand in hand. Thinking fast she answered before Koyak had disappeared completely.

"Asami is the only sponsor I need. She promised she would help me once I reached the final six."

"If you can live that long." He shut the door leaving Korra alone with her bread. And Korra made it a point to stay alone with her bread. They weren't going to bother her. It was only when the kid came back saying Hoaten from district eight was going on about the spirits during his interview did Korra finally pack it in.

She slept for the last time under her night time chorus. She recited her father's advice until the words faded away. She could remember the footage she had seen over several years of hunger games. Her father lifted his final opponent over his head and threw him over the edge of a cliff. The cannon had boomed and he, in all his blood stained glory, had been victorious. She tried to picture herself doing the same. Could she even pick up Mako?

This morning her thoughts had been interrupted by a blaring alarm. She rubbed her face and blinked the sleep away. Kozan was standing there holding the alarm in one hand. "One of these days you'll learn to follow direction." He said and led the way out of the room.

Korra put on the outfit that had been lain out for her. It was water tribe by design. Her boots lined with soft fur. She was glad that they had decided that she could wear pants instead of some embarrassing skirt. Her blue shirt went without sleeves. She brushed through her hair and fitted a wolf tail on each side of her face and one hanging down the back of her head. She spent a few moments looking into the mirror at herself. This was the last time she would be in a bedroom or even have a mirror to look at. It was the last time she would be alone or to herself. Even if she escaped the attacks of the other tributes the world would always be watching her.

Korra turned into the bathroom one last time before heading out. It was the only place in the entire tribute tower where she knew a camera wouldn't be hiding. If there was she'd be dead already, all because of a capitol of weird perverts. Secure in the idea that she was safe Korra conjured a flame. It had always been her favorite of the elements, the first one she had bent when she was a little girl. She could let the fire dance in her hand now, watching it like a mother watched their infant child. Once she closed her hand the flame was gone. No more fire, no more earth. She was a waterbender and nothing more.

She wasn't even given breakfast when she went into the common area. That was fine, Korra didn't want something sitting in her stomach like a rock during the fight at the cornucopia. The kid was there waiting as well. He was dressed in a similar fashion and escorted by Koyak. Ilaq stood by Korra and guided her to where the games would begin. He did not even say a single word to her as they traveled.

Korra and the kid parted ways when they reached the arena. They had been escorted into separate rooms. Korra's was blank and empty, only a bed she sat on waited for her. Ilaq stood by a wall with his arms crossed. He told her there was still some time to wait. The time was not long. She could hear an announcement and Ilaq motioned her to stand on the platform that would raise her into the arena.

"The other careers are going to take hold of the cornucopia." He told her before the door shut. "Keep hold of it with them and maybe you can win this game, sponsors or not. Make your father proud." He touched her forehead, drawing a pattern on it no one would see. If she had been a boy she would have been given the mark after her ice dodging trial. It was an honor for her, a girl, to have one at all.

"I will." Korra promised and the door closed. There was a lurch as she felt the floor rising to bring her to what would be the beginning of her life, or the end of it.