Chapter three
Arriving in the capitol
AN: finally, the third chapter of this story. Sorry I didn't update sooner…I figured I did.
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Zuko POV (First person)
Finally we made it to the Capitol- the candy capitol. All the colors weren't natural the yellows painful and the reds were much too bright; everything was so artificial it made my stomach convulse madly. The residents of the capitol were pointing and chattering excitedly at us, happy to see us, happy that we are going to die in an arena of twenty-two other people. From the trains we went into a car straight to the remake center they told me to take off all of my clothes, and they prodded and poked me like birds, which made me self-conscious about myself. I had the utmost urge to wave them away or recoil or worst-case scenario- burn them to artificial crisps. These people were both men who for the umpteenth time said, "Sorry!" As they painfully waxed hair off my chest, I had to cover my mouth to keep from letting out a scream in pain. Faylor and Bain were the ones who I thought they were being a little too overwhelming when it came to remaking tributes. They scrubbed the dirt and acne off my face with stinging soaps and washed my stringy black hair with a soap that smelled distantly of a mix of aftershave and spearmint. Their fingers were harsh and they practically left my hair and scalp aching. They attempted of putting makeup on my face because of the awful third degree burn that covered the left part of my eye and ear. They gave up on it however, and said that it's a nice touch to the "Boy on fire" my stylist Portia came in examining every inch of my bare body her eyes trained on my scar and she said, "Boy on fire suits you well Zuko," I couldn't help but flush embarrassed about the scar, I got into a fire when I was small and damaged my face pretty badly. Portia smiled and she said, "Put on your robe, we can talk in the other room," I ran over hastily to pull on my robe and with a sigh of relief; I walked over to the other room and sat. "One year, we've done the boy/girl on fire bit, now we want to amp it up a bit, it wasn't used in a while so this year we can…add simple, a simple tight suit and the synthetic fire, then we add the tools and the hats." I didn't exactly want to agree, but I was too self-conscious to disagree.
So, it was just that Portia said I walked like a duck and I needed to walk straight…. when I get to the reviews. Portia helped me into the black tight suit and I pulled on a pair of shiny black sneakers and looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn't believe that was me, my hair was attractively messy and gelled up slightly to give it the retro pointy look. She said that I didn't need the makeup; she only highlighted my eyelids with an off tan to bring out my bright sunshine eyes. She handed me a fake pickaxe and said, "We're dropping the hat idea you and Katara are both more attractive than the tributes from last year," I tried to smile, but the idea of dolling us up then dumping us in an arena to kill each other was nauseating to me, it just felt…wrong, you know why play dress up with us in the first place if you're going to enjoy it when I kill the next guy or girl, who I just happen to train with in the training center…it's all unrealistic and scary to me, I wonder how the victors live with themselves when they win and yet feel sorry for the lives they have taken to win these games. Maybe you only have to kill one person, I thought yeah I could kill only one person when there's the final face off, when there's only one person with you left in the arena…but the thought was hardly comforting. I was lead by Portia to the dispatch center where the chariot was waiting for us. Katara was there, sitting on a chair next to the chariot waiting rather patiently for me.
When I saw her I could've fainted the black suit made her skin glow and her eyes shine, to the brightest blue I have ever seen. Blue was an unusual color for her skin color; it made her exotic and…different. Despite the fact blue was not a common color for people of her race; it certainly did suit her. She scanned me up and down her eyes training on mine, "You look…nice," She said slightly embarrassed. I didn't wait for her to wait for me, "You certainly look beautiful Katara, I must say your outfit brings out your skin and eyes in the most beautiful way I have seen. I'm not doubting you'll get sponsors, you're naturally attractive," She blushed and scanned my eyes for lies and when she saw none, her skin glowed beautifully of pink and red on her face. "Come on, come on the parade is about to start!" Portia and Cinna, Katara's stylist ushered us both onto the chariot. They lit up our capes like they did in the seventy-fourth Hunger Games and I slung my pickaxe naturally over my shoulder. Katara unconsciously slid her hand into mine, I tried to pull away until she whispered, "Don't let go of me, please Zuko," She whispered frantically, her fingers tightened around mine and suddenly I began to enjoy this sign of awkward affection. It wasn't affection; the girl was three years younger than me and was riding in a parade to her death at fourteen, of course she'd be scared, in truth I'd be terrified, so I gave Katara's hand a gentle squeeze and her grip relaxed under mine. Portia and Cinna gave us thumbs up and finally we made it out of the dispatch center and onto the lane. I realized that the crowed was going wild screaming and clapping and ooing and aaaing at the little flickers of light that floated down and shimmered on the concrete lane. I gave my most mischievous teenage grin and looked at myself in the screen: I couldn't believe what I was seeing, my eyes were fire- literally two flaming orbs of gold, flames like the ones that were single on my phoenix pin Trice gave me. My black hair made me selfishly more attractive than I thought I was, and made me someone also to easily win hearts and sponsors, the flames suited me the flames flickered around me making me an intimidating character-even to myself, and that's pathetic. I flashed another mischievous grin to the audience and some of the girls disappeared from the crowd melting their hearts. When I saw Katara I wouldn't be surprised if she got equal sponsors her eyes were in an exotic contrast to the flickering fire around her. Her expression was very indifferent but she was very pretty still, the fire made her whole body glow and I can feel a blush creeping onto my face.
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When we finally made it to the safety of the training center, the other tributes were giving us stares of hatred…well except this boy whom I expected to be from eleven. He resembled Aang with large owlish gray eyes, and an extremely youthful face lets say; he didn't look older than twelve or thirteen, except his skin was a dark, milk chocolate, he had a tuft of curly hair that covered his hair by two to four inches but nothing more. His tribute partner was much older than him she had much darker skin and was more like a woman than anything else. Her hair was pulled into an intricate bun and her eyes were staring straight ahead, big brown eyes, she didn't pay us no mind like the other tributes did but she seemed to be predicting, thinking of a strategy, a plan to win the games. I had to admit she looked pretty good at training, she didn't exactly pay attention to sponsors or how she looked- it seemed that she planned out her survival strategy for a while now, planning every move, until the moment she runs off to the cornucopia. Portia pulled me into a training outfit and I pulled on a pair of boots. Next thing I knew I was aligned next to Katara listening to our trainer tell us not to avoid the survival skills. Then we went out to the stations, I spotted a glint of a sliver bow and arrow and went toward the stations. I picked it up and that mischievous grin tugged on my lips…I knew this, Aang said my aim was perfect, he said it was a trait of a Yu Yan archer to keep everything point blank, they can shoot a fly from ten feet away and pin it to the target without actually killing it…well it hasn't been done before, I have to think about practicing it someday. I stretched the string of the bow and stared at the target and closed my eyes, it was there…there, and hopefully it's not a heart…there was a sound of a knife like object tearing daintily through papery cardboard. I opened my eyes to reveal that the arrow was sticking out of the bulls eye of the target, I felt my grin tug at my lips and I saw some of the other tributes stare at me their eyes incredibly wary. Katara seemed to have no problem at throwing knives because with a flick of a wrist her knife was crudely embedded into the target. Throughout the day I went to the vacant stations learning how to ties more intricate snares, camouflage, and how to throw a shot put. It wasn't easy but I managed. Katara and I met at one point or another in the center learning the same thing. We both knew that this was just extra stuff we decided to learn…we can easily take out all twenty-two tributes with flicks of icy knives (if Katara knows how to fight with her water bending or something) or large lethal bubbles- or maybe with waves of lethal heat and fire daggers. This was all stuff we can use in the arena, plus we have the skill advancement of careers giving us a better chance at (1) sponsors, and (2) winning these games and returning home, scarred, but home. The boy from eleven who I think was named Michel was jumping on the high riser steps dodging the other trainers as they swung paddles at him. He was agile and quick I have to admit, and does have a chance in the game but I just couldn't see someone so young and innocent to kill anyone, I couldn't let Lai go into the games because I couldn't see her killing anyone to claw to victory, and if she didn't win, I don't know how scarred I would've been.
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The training was over, all we had to do was to speak with out mentors about strategy, Peeta talked with us before telling us that camouflage was one of the best ways to survive in the games . "Another strategy is to not go for the weapon, the reward comes to those who wait, grab a pack find water and get to higher ground," Peeta suggested that night before the training session. I didn't want to tell him out here where cameras are training in on every situation going on. "What if fire is on your side? Can you use it to you advantage?" I asked cryptically. Peeta thought for a moment, "If you can defend yourself with fire alone then sure you can use fire to advantage, anything can come to your advantage, but whatever you do, don't meddle in with the other tributes unless you're the one who killed them, if then take the pack and move on alright?" I nodded attentively and Katara looked very nervous, "All I know is to throw knives and drown people," Peeta cut her off, "Good, drowning people and throwing knives will work perfectly to you advantage," He stared at them both, "I don't really care if you don't follow my strategies it's only advice, but let me tell you this, it's best if you guys be yourselves, you two have potential more than any other tributes I had seen, and that's saying something,"
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AN: Chapter three of the 107th games: fire and ice care to review please?