The plot thickens as Crane is desperate to gain his power back. In the past Katniss has been reunited with her father and they are trying to come up with a plan to kill Snow.

I do not own the Hunger Games

THE PAST

"No, I cannot lose you now that I found you," Peeta said, grabbing her shoulders.

"Peeta," Katniss said. "If I can trick him into believing that myth while harnessing his power, I can access the door to bring everyone minus Haymitch back into the future. Where you can defeat King Snow."

"There has to be another way?" Peeta said. "You cannot go into battle against a wizard as powerful as Seneca Crane, send us to the future, and then, what, have him destroy you when he realizes that you used his energy?"

"I am willing to take risks..." Katniss didn't finish speaking. Her father spoke up, his voice was thick with emotion. Katniss turned to her father; he stood feet apart, his arms crossed, daring her to speak.

"I am with the Prince. Fletcha's magic is pure. It is stronger than my own, nonetheless, it is untested. In order to push nearly five hundred men complete with horses into the future requires extraordinary control of not just Fletcha's magic but of Crane's. Fletcha will be left drained and in a weakened state, Crane can overpower you."

"There might be another way?" Haymitch said.

"How?" Rook said.

"Well, she doesn't have to send five hundred men into the future. All she has to do is send the Princes, Finnick, and the small contingent that arrived with them at the rear of Snow's army. Your men can lie in wait. Gather forces and meet us just before the crossing to the Land of the Olvidados."

"What about Crane?" Rook asked.

"If you battle Crane, Fletcha and I can combine our powers. Between both of us, we can trick Crane into thinking he was able to destroy the army."

"Will it harm Fletc…" Rook began asking.

"No," Haymitch said, shaking his head. "Fletcha will be able to conserve energy."

"I will not leave Fletcha behind," Peeta argued.

"Fletcha will have to be last to close the door." Haymitch looked at her.

Katniss didn't say anything.

"I do not think this plan is viable, or sane," Rook grumbled.

"I agree," Ryder said.

"It is not the most attractive plan. But we must do something. Ryker is facing insurmountable odds in the future," Katniss looked at the men assembled in the room. Ryder visibly blanched at the name of his nephew who was a boy a little older than she was in this timeline. "In my time Snow is not in his castle. He is preparing to lay siege to your home Ryder. The Haymitch from my time could only do so much. The King is still powerful, and your brother Daniel is defenseless against the vast army the King brought with him."

"They have no army?" Ryder asked skeptically.

"None that I saw," Katniss said.

"The castle walls…"

"The Palace of Los Olvidados has become more of a trading post than a castle. The people treat it as much. King Daniel is not a warrior, he is a man of peace. King Daniel has less than fifty trained men at his disposal. King Snow has more than a thousand men lying in wait to lay siege to the castle."

Ryder looked stricken.

"Everything that happened to your family has happened because you came here believing King Snow wanted peace. Tis a lie, to lure you into a death trap." Katniss finished her voice soft, there was no need for strong angry words. The truth needed to suffice. "It is the way he got to my father."

"Brother," Peeta urged, "…we must accept this as our fate. I would advocate for peaceful terms, had I not known about our fate at the hands of Snow. However, knowing that our very people are in danger I am prepared to fight alongside my soulmate."

Ryder was silent then he turned to Haymitch and Rook, "If we really did this. If we could attack Snow…"

"We'd attack from the back," Peeta said.

"And Seneca Crane will be at his weakest," Finnick pointed out.

"Then we must go to the future," Peeta said, holding Katniss' hand.

"Yes," Katniss confirmed. Her father dropped the subject, but the look he shared with her was familiar. It was the same one Effie had when she did something wrong and a discussion would take place at a later time.

"I do not agree with this but if it is the only way then we must," Rook said. "How do we lure Seneca out?"

"He takes rides out in the woods to collect herbs on the new moon," Haymitch said.

"There is a new moon in two days," Rook said.

"Well then in two days we execute our plan," Ryder said.

Upon Ryder's words, a resoluteness fell upon the shoulders of the members of the room. Finnick, Ryder, and Katniss's father disappeared. They needed to ready the men, the horses, and their provisions.

Her father was going to leave the remainder of his men behind. Sir Alaric Woof, an older statesman, and Haymitch's drinking buddy Goodwine Chaff, and Chaff's young page named Jasper Darius were going to be in charge, cultivating an army for Ryder and Peeta.

That evening Katniss stood in the room with Peeta. They had eaten a light fare and were sitting on the bed together.

"You are scared?" Peeta turned to her.

Katniss could not hide it from him. He could feel her emotions. "I could lose myself to the power, and I do not want that to happen."

"You won't," Peeta said.

"Why?" Katniss lay her wrist next to his.

"Because you are not tempted by power. You were willing to risk your life for what is correct. Besides I shall be with you…in spirit and in mind."

He held up his wrist and she pressed hers to his. Katniss gasped at the intense sensation.

"Peeta," she whimpered. The sensation of delight and completeness left her dizzy. Momentarily she felt as though she had two heartbeats instead of one, it was as if their hearts melded into one even though they worked independently.

Peeta pulled her into a kiss. His lips were soft against hers and she could feel the sensual swipe of his tongue against the seam of her mouth. She parted her lips and moaned the moment the kiss deepened. Katniss grasped his shoulders as the sensations clouded her judgment and she was swept away.

There wasn't anything she wouldn't do for the man in her arms. Peeta gentled the kiss, his forehead pressed against hers. He was breathing harshly.

"I cannot and will not lose you," Peeta swore.

Katniss had no words, she could only make a half moan half grunt.

"We are a pair you and I, and I will not allow your soul to be lost. I shall be by your side. Just remember as long as we work together as a team not even King Snow and all his minions can break us."

Peeta raised his hand to touch her face, Katniss nodded as his hand slipped in through her hair cupping her neck. He brought her lips to his once more.

This time it wasn't a passion-filled kiss, it was a soft kiss. Katniss leaned into the kiss. This was the type of kiss that made people sigh and wax poetically at the stars. Yet despite the nature of this kiss her blood still stirred.

Peeta tightened his hold on her and she whimpered. Katniss wanted nothing more than to join their bodies, she wanted to declare her sex and find glory in his arms. She could feel their bond strengthening. His hands loosened her hair and she pressed herself closer to him. Her hands found purchase on his strong chest. He laid her down.

For a moment she allowed his full weight to crush her into the bed. His eyes glowed as her legs widened to accommodate his body. They stared at the other, blood raging, hearts pounding in sync with the other.

Katniss knew that if they did not stop they would unite not just in spirit but in body as well. It was hard to deny what her body cried out for. Closing her eyes momentarily, Katniss gathered the strength and whispered, "Peeta we must stop."

Peeta shuttered at her words but his eyes cleared. He nodded and said, "Yes, you are right, my beloved."

Peeta rolled away and stood to leave. "I need to take a walk to clear my head."

Katniss watched him leave. But she really wanted to ask Peeta to come back and join her on the bed. She wanted to keep on kissing him. But it was the wrong time for them to take that final step.

They needed to finish this business. She needed to kill Snow.

The following day Katniss was surprised that she had managed to fall asleep before Peeta's return to the room. When she awoke she found she was alone in their bed even though his side of the bed was clearly slept on. She searched for Peeta but found her father standing on the castle wall. He was looking down into the courtyard at the activity below.

His hood was pushed back slightly but it still hid his face.

"Are you ready, my child?"

"I am," Katniss whispered.

"You have exceeded my expectations," her father said.

"I wish you could have met Primrose…"

"Maybe I shall one day," he gave her a strange look.

That afternoon, Haymitch gave Katniss more lessons, on how to fight using her magic. It was exhausting but he showed her how to use her power effectively without depleting her magic and straining her strength.

"Again picture what you want to do to your attacker," Haymitch growled.

Katniss flipped Finnick on the mattress on the ground. Finnick grunted. Katniss was tired and sweaty.

"Good, now concentrate direct your ball of energy at that stack of hay," Haymitch said.

Katniss could feel the energy coursing through her fingers, it felt like when she touched a metal pot. Except instead of shocking her the energy looked like miniature lightning bolts between her fingers. She looked up at the haystack, it was getting easier for her to control her magic. She flicked her finger and a small bolt of blue energy shot out of her and set the haystack on fire.

"Good." Haymitch uncrossed his arms. "You are ready."

Katniss nodded relieved.

Peeta had been training earlier but stopped to watch her and Haymitch practice. He was currently waiting for her to finish.

"That was impressive," Peeta said.

Katniss yawned, feeling drained.

"Come let's get you some respite. Tomorrow is a long day."

Katniss allowed Peeta to lead her away, and that night she persuaded Peeta to stay with her. There was something comforting and soothing in sleeping while sheltered in his arms.

The next morning they Left the safety of Rook's castle. Her father's men took an oath to gather in six years' time on the full moon in midsummer in the forest of the forgotten men just outside of the castle of the Olvidados. The horses danced about as they picked up on the nervous energy from the men.

Finnick and her father went ahead to scout the area. They were only a few hundred yards behind. Haymitch flew from up above. Ryder rode in the front, and Katniss and Peeta were close behind.

Katniss had her bow and her sheath of arrows as she rode. The fifty men that had accompanied the Princes were split up. They rode with Finnick and her father. The remaining twenty-five were ready for a fight, but they could not engage. They had to appear to go against the forces Crane rode with but had to be ready to run into the portal when Katniss fetched them.

"I would have thought that the woods would be quiet," Peeta muttered.

Katniss frowned; she hadn't realized the woods were teaming with life this morning. She could hear the sounds of birds, the way the wind danced with the leaves. The babbling of the river nearby. In the distance, she could hear the bleating of sheep. The air was ripe with the scent of midsummer, the time of the year when spring ended and summer began.

It was idyllic and also created a false sense of hope. Today they would certainly engage in battle. "It will grow quieter as we travel deeper in the woods."

True to her words, as they traveled into the woods it did become quieter. Not even the wind accompanied them. The sun began to dip and the moon began to crest. Then they heard it shouting and the clanging of metal.

A bolt of energy flew overhead. "Haymitch…Rook…" Katniss said she spurred her steed forward.

"Katniss, wait," Peeta shouted as he took off after her.

Katniss spotted Haymitch and her father battling against Seneca Crane. As she rode she took her bow and nocked an arrow, felling a man who was attacking Finnick. She quickly took another arrow from the sheath and aimed at the man that was attacking Ryder. The arrow flew and hit the man in the throat. Ryder glanced momentarily to see where the direction of the arrow had come from.

Katniss spurred on her horse, throwing herself into the fray. The horse flew by as she navigated the field. When she saw Crane she urged her mount to get closer. The fighting was thickest near where Crane, Haymitch, and the Rook were dueling. Crane was much older than the younger man in her memory. She dismounted and was about to head toward them when she was picked up and thrown on the back of a horse.

"Peeta!" She exclaimed.

"Are you insane you're safer on a horse."

"But I have to get closer to Crane," Katniss held on to him.

"Alright, I'll get you there." Peeta ground out as he maneuvered the horse on the battlefield.

When he got them, closer Katniss began to focus and she stared at Crane. The man looked up and focused on Peeta.

Peeta growled and he became warm. "I'll cause a distraction so that you can slip into his mind."

"Okay," Katniss said.

Peeta sliced down a man who was wielding a lit torch. How he managed to put his sword away and take the lit torch Katniss didn't know. All she knew was that he managed to light a carriage afire.

Katniss used this to her advantage. As she concentrated her magic she could feel the resistance but it was a challenge. Much like when she was hunting. Katniss found a small crack in his armor and like before she could see a dark tunnel before she materialized in Crane's mind. The wizard's thoughts were a chaotic flurry of spells and counterspells.

She began to imitate a spell of attack to hide herself as she made her way to the part of the brain she needed.

Katniss burrowed through his mind until her vision became blurry, suddenly she could see herself through Crane's eyes. She felt his energy, his power. Like when she had inhabited Haymitch, Katniss was able to find the orb that was within him. Crane's magical core was quite large; it was red with black swirls in it, and the black swirls looked angry and ominous. It reminded Katniss of leeches within a jar.

Katniss could feel the dark magic Crane used within her as her body became tingly with power. Its seductive currents moved through her fingers tips. Katniss began to reject the siren's call and focused her attention on the man who was her mentor.

"Remember who your enemy is," she said and her voice sounded like Crane's.

Haymitch's eyes widened. He nodded at the Rook. Soon she felt the familiar presence of her mentor.

"Now lass," Haymitch said.

They both tapped into Crane's power as her father opened his hand and the sun suddenly went dark and she saw a fly stop moving in mid-air.

They were able to transport all of the men and horses on the field from one realm into the realm of magic.

Katniss saw the golden strand that would lead her back to her time. A huge red door stood there. She quickly dismounted and opened the door. As quickly as she could she began to take the men one by one from their position and lead them through the wide door. She worked laboriously until her father, Haymitch, and Peeta were left.

Leading the horses was a bit tricky but in the end, she had to control the animal and sooth it as she brought it from the magical plane into the future.

She led Peeta through the portal, then her father. She then stood with Haymitch.

"Have you finished," he whispered once she joined him inside of Crane's chaotic mind.

Katniss nodded. They stood before Crane's magical core, it was smaller but she could sense he was quite powerful.

"A fire spell will render the field burnt and will incinerate all traces of life," Haymitch said.

"That spell can finish reducing his energy."

Katniss and Haymitch joined hands while she conjured the fire using Crane's power. Haymitch began drafting the story. Crane found himself outnumbered. He summoned his power and shot the ball of fire to level not just Prince Ryder's men but those that were with him, and the forest surrounding him.

Suddenly she was pushed out of Crane's head and landed by the red door. Katniss got up and looked back at where Crane and Haymitch had stood. They were gone; vanished back into the past. The red door in front of her was closing.

Katniss did not waste time as she jumped in through the door and landed in the midst of her father, Ryder, Finnick, and Peeta staring down at her.

Peeta extended his hand and she grasped it, and as she stood she was surprised to see she was surrounded by a sea of men.

"Where…"

"Six years, they've been lying in wait. When we began to appear they stepped out of the forest and let themselves be known."

Peeta hugged her and Katniss sighed, all they had to do was defeat Snow and Crane.

Special thanks to Jrosley - who beta'd this chapter. Ahem, norbertsmom - Well, what do you think? We're coming up in the end...