Thanks to owlthewriter, Singular Scissor, Dani H. Danvers, CrocodileReader431, ladyqueerfoot, & Tubelancia for the reviews! Let's try to get to 300 before the end of the story!

The Victory Tour! While most of you probably have forgotten about these characters - heck, I do once we get to the Capitol in SYOTs I read - I find these chapters are good for people who have submitted Tributes. It gives them some closure (or anxiety), and it's nice to check in and see how your Tribute's death has affected things back home.

I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter XXXV The Victory Tour - Districts 12 to 9

District 12

It was strange how, six months later, Jack would begin everyday wondering what Pan and him would get up to.

Only to then remember his best friend was dead.

Watching him in the Games had been awful. Every time the camera flashed to him, Jack's heart would flutter in dread. And seeing him die… coughing up blood everywhere and screaming in terror…

Pan was dead. Buried in a plain coffin in the Tribute Cemetery. Jack had only been there once.

That was changing today.

The Victory Tour was coming to town, starting off in District 12 as it always did. For the District leaders it was a busy time, for everyone else that just meant they had to show up at the Reaping field, watch the Victor give a speech, and then shuffle out. Pan had time though until the event started.

He entered the graveyard feeling uncomfortable. He wasn't an idiot and didn't believe in ghosts, but it couldn't be denied that the air felt heavy in the cemetery, the gravestones of the Fallen children awful to bear. The dark grey clouds of winter above didn't help either. A memorial to fifty-eight years of children being sent to their deaths would haunt anywhere.

He walked past grave after grave, all the same except for two. A Tribute's name, the Hunger Games they fought in, and their final ranking were carved into the stone. The two graves that differed were for District 12's only Victors, or at least one of them. Haymitch had no grave and instead a bust was placed where his grave would have been. The other Victor from the 10th Hunger Games had none, and no name or indication of who they had been. Their memorial had been destroyed but nobody knew when or by who.

Jack stopped in front of Pan's grave. A few dead flowers lay on top of it, picked from throughout the District. His family, no doubt. Pan didn't have anyone else besides them, and Jack.

He though about saying something, but felt uncomfortable doing so. What would he say to Pan's ghost? He honestly didn't know. His last encounter with his best friend had left him with knowledge he really didn't want to bear. What was he supposed to do knowing that Pan had a crush on him and he was now dead? It was a secret that Jack was taking to the grave.

"I'm sorry, Pan." He said, in case someone could hear him. "I love you."

He left it at that. What else was there to say?

Tabesa felt her heart breaking as she arrived for the Victory Tour. She knew it was coming, they did it ever year, but seeing Marianna again still hurt. The stage for the Tour was set up, everything perfectly arranged for the Mayor, Peacekeepers, and Victor to sit. To the sides of the stage would stand the families of the Fallen Tributes, above whom their fallen family member would be projected onto a screen.

Marianna and Pan were broadcast for the whole District to see, their families – though from different worlds – stood below united in grief.

Once everyone was settled, Victor Olivia Echeberría came out and, after some remarks from the Mayor, stepped forward and read off a speech from some cards. It was all a bunch of Capitol propaganda nonsense, but nobody in 12 was offended. Olivia didn't mean anything to them. In fact, their own Tributes hardly meant anything. What else could they expect from 12?

Tabesa watched it all, struggling to keep from crying. Marianna hadn't been her closest friend, but paradoxically Tabesa felt she had been her best friend. Following Marianna's shocking death early on, Tabesa's former friends had mocked the Seam born girl. Tabesa had cut them off and hadn't spoken with them since. How had she ever been friends with them?

Marianna was worth more than all of them, and most people, combined. And now she was gone. Killed by a heartless Career.

Tabesa wanted to riot. To tear down the Capitol. But there was a reason that nobody ever did after the Hunger Games. Everyone knew it was pointless, nobody would ever rise up to defeat the Capitol. The ashy remains of District 13 were proof of that. They'd destroy District 12 just as easily and only mourn the loss of coal.

The world was what it was, and Tabesa couldn't bear that nothing would change it.

The audience was silent, listening to the Victor's speech. Nearby, a cry of a newborn briefly interrupted it, before the baby's mother and father calmed her down.

"Hush hush, little Katniss. It'll be over soon." Tabesa heard the infant's father comfort.

The speech ended and the District gave it's mandatory applause. Victor Echeberría shook Mayor Undersee's hand, exchanged some words with Victor Abernathy, and went back into the Justice Building. The rest of the District dispersed, back to their daily lives.

Back to the same old miseries.

District 11

They came to get her an hour before the Victory Tour began.

A Peacekeeper stopped outside of her cell, smiling at her through the bars. "Hey… you look familiar. Didn't I see you on TV?"

Jenna eyed the mocking Peacekeeper through swollen eyelids, the defiance in them now mere embers. It was a common joke of theirs, mocking her for her twin Daisy's death in the Games. She had some insults of her own, but the last time she tried they had knocked out two of her teeth. She remained silent, fuming at the indignation.

"Time to move. The Capitol needs you for the Tour."

She didn't resist, not this time, as they pulled her from the cell and towards the "showers." They stripped Jenna, threw her against a wall, and sprayed her down with a hose, the freezing water sending chills through her body. Once she was "cleaned" they threw clothes at her and left.

Jenna was becoming very familiar with the procedures of the jail in 11. This was her third time here for "non-civilized activities." She did her best to wipe the water off of her body before clothing herself, noting they were her own Reaping clothes. Her parents must have brought them.

She had little to say to her mom or dad or siblings. Every one of them had gone quiet after Daisy had died. Only Jenna seemed to hold onto the anger over what the Capitol had done. She had actually been asleep with her twin was killed, like most of Panem had been. She woke up the next morning to the announcement that Daisy was killed in the night by the psychopath Cean. She had gone to asleep a twin and awoke alone in the world.

And yes, she did lash out. Challenge Peacekeepers. It got her beatings, but she hadn't cared. She wanted them to feel even a little bit of her pain.

Once changed, the Peacekeepers lead her to the exit, instructing her on the way. "When you're done, you'll return here for the whipping and then given back to your parents. If you act up, misbehave at all during the Tour, your family dies. Understand?"

She did, nodding glumly.

Her parents collected her, looking ashamed of her for some reason, a look Jenna returned. The made the short walk to the Justice Building where the Tour would be held and were escorted in and taken to the stage. They were the only family there. Nobody for Ruddy was present.

And nobody would be. Not even Bloom.

Victor Echeberría appeared when the crowd was sufficiently gathered. She was pretty up close, Jenna thought, but otherwise Jenna didn't have much of an opinion on her. Neither did the District it seemed. She wasn't one of them, that's all that mattered. Olivia read a speech, the same one that was read every year, and was then escorted off the stage to the forced claps from the crowd. Once back in the Justice Building, Jeanna got to meet Panem's new Victor. Apparently, the Capitol made the families of the Fallen interact with the Victor.

'One final screw you.' Jenna thought.

"Did you speak with my sister?" Jenna asked. Even with a busted lip and black eyes, Olivia immediately recognized the face of Daisy staring back at her.

"No, I'm sorry." She said. "But she seemed nice."

"Too nice for the Games." Jenna said. "I'm sorry Cean killed Eddie. Bastard died slowly though. I hope his corpse is stinking up 4."

Olivia nodded at that and said nothing else. She turned to the Head Peacekeeper when she was away from Daisy's family. "Where is Ruddy's family?"

"Dead." The Head Peacekeeper bluntly replied, finding anyone not from 2 or the Capitol beneath him. "You can't say the things about the Capitol that boy said and get away with it."

"He's dead." Olivia hissed in anger. "He didn't get away with it!"

"Well, then future Tributes will know to keep their mouths shut." The Head Peacekeeper sneered.

Jenna overheard it. It was an open knowledge in the District. In fact, the Head Peacekeeper had made a show of it before nailing their bodies to pillars. Not even Bloom escaped. District 11 would never change, not unless someone was brave enough to do something about it.

Once the Tour was done, Peacekeepers collected Jenna and dragged her back to the jail for her whipping. Jenna didn't struggle. Nothing was going to change.

District 10

The Midthunder ranch continued on much as it always had, but the last Midthunder remaining had little to do with it.

In the month that followed Buck's death, his Pa had thrown himself into work on the ranch. Soon, few on the ranch could keep up with him. An intervention was had, and, after a lot of screaming and hurt feelings, Mr. Midthunder finally agreed to take a step back and recover from Buck's death.

Cora felt that had been best, as did everyone on the commune, but now he seemed to have taken it too far. Without work or family, Mr. Midthunder had isolated himself and spent most of his days in the home. Cora had taken over the unofficial role of looking after him after milking the cows. Today, she knew it would be tougher and others were already gathered to help.

"Mr. Midthunder," she called out, knocking on the front door. "The bus will be here soon."

Silence from the home. She knocked once more to be polite before letting herself in, as was the custom. The air in the home was stale, all the windows and curtains closed, and the interior mostly covered in a thin layer of dust. She found him sitting in a well worn chair in the living room, head in his hands.

"Cora, sorry, gal." he muttered, voice weak. "Didn't hear ya."

"It's ok." Cora replied. Mr. Midthunder was dressed nicely, ready for the Victory Tour and his role in it, but the clothes were ruffled, like he had slept in them.

"Is it time?" He asked.

"Ya."

"Ok. Let's not leave Cooper waiting, huh?"

With a heavy grunt, he lifted himself from the chair and made his way to the kitchen. He scrounged through the ice box and pulled out a parcel, wrapped in twine. "Good jerky, just for him." Mr. Midthunder said, shaking some ice shavings off the paper wrapping.

They made their way outside, where everyone from the commune was waiting, looking their formal best. The men and women took off their hats as Mr. Midthunder made his way down the patio steps. "Ya'll didn't have to get all dressed up." He remarked.

"For Buck." One of the men said. The other nodded in support.

Mr. Midthunder patted the man on the shoulder, his lip trembling slightly. "The boy was never fancy himself." He joked about his son, which earned some chuckles from the crowd. He waved his hat in front of his face, trying to keep the tears away. "Let's go."

The bus was waiting for them, along with a small contingent of Peacekeepers. The latter weren't the norm, acting this year as escort for the Fallen Tribute's family. They were respectful to Mr. Midthunder and paid mind to anyone else.

"Bet they're out in force today." Cora heard one of the cowboys mutter.

"Better be, else that priss will get skewered." Another replied, to cruel laughter from the others.

Cora knew exactly who they were talking about. Nobody in District 10 called Victor Echeberría by her name. "Priss" was perhaps the nicest of names. District 10 had been so close this year. Hayley Butcher had earned her victory, only to be tricked out of it by some bullshit arena feature and thus District 10 had been robbed of a Victor. There were some in 10 who whispered that it was somehow intentional since everybody knew the Capitol didn't like Outlier Victors. Cora didn't believe that, but she did believe Victor Echeberría only won through luck and that meant that Buck died for nothing.

They boarded the bus and were off to District 10's main town, the air on the bus boiling with resentment.

For six months, the Butcher clan had treated her like one of those fragile porcelain dolls they sold out of District 1, but on the day of the Victory Tour it was being taken to extremes.

It was all very silly though, Ms. Butcher was feeling quite alright. Perfect actually, better than she had in months, no, years!

The bus ride to the Justice Building, typically an arduous affair, was actually pleasant. It was winter in District 10, and the typically wide open fields full of life were cover with frost and a light mist that morning. The sun was bright though, and Ms. Butcher marveled at it's beauty as light refracted through the mist.

"We're arriving soon." Their Peacekeeper escort announced.

They pulled into town and piled out of the bus. As they exited the bus, citizens who were waiting to enter the Reaping Field spotted her and removed their hats in respect. The Butcher's made their way to the Justice Building, a Peacekeeper giving them instructions. "Once inside, you'll need to-"

"I know what to do." Ms. Butcher cut off. For a moment, even through the visor, she thought she saw the Peacekeeper flinch in embarrassment. This was now the second Victory Tour she was participating in – again representing a Fallen Tribute.

'Am I cursed?' She thought, mind wandering. Her family and her parents behind her looked nervously at her, but she gave them a smile. She felt… prepared.

Why wouldn't she? Like the Victor, she had a trick up her sleeve.

She remembered everything from the last time she participated in a Victory Tour, even the screening from the Peacekeepers. They patted her down and Ms. Butcher smiled as they missed a spot – just like last time. Fifteen years later and the Capitol refused to change.

She and the rest of the Butcher clan were then lead outside and put on stage. Little Darren looked up at the image of Hayley and tears began to form in his eyes. Lloyd wrapped an arm around him, whispering he should look away, unable himself to look at his cousin.

Ms. Butcher didn't look away. She gazed upon her daughter for the last time, saw the fire in her eyes, and knew what she had to do.

On the opposite side of the stage, Buck's father stood alone, though she did notice a small crowd of well dressed citizens stood in the front row, eyes never leaving him. His own support network. At least he had people.

'I'll make her pay.' Ms. Butcher silently promised him.

The doors of the Justice Building opened and Victor Olivia Echeberría stepped out, flinching as District 10 looked upon her. It was as though she had been physically hit by the animosity. An entire District radiating pure, unfiltered rage, greeted her. The Victor suddenly seemed much younger and absolutely refused to make eye contact with anyone, especially the Butcher clan to her right.

Next to her, Lloyd spit, loud enough that the Victor definitely heard. The a few in the crowd snickered at the sight.

The Victor rushed through her speech, the confident facade she put on for the Hunger Games gone. She stumbled over her words and seemed to skip large portions of the speech. Anything to get off that stage. The fury was palpable, and Ms. Butcher did notice there was a larger Peacekeeper presence than usual this year. She felt pride from that. All of these people had believed in Hayley and were as devastated as she had been when she died.

But had they screamed for hours just like she had? Had they smashed their TVs like she had when the Capitol refused to stop playing her baby girl bursting into flames? Did they go to bed every night with Hayley's wails ringing in their ears, joining the cries of her father as he died in his Games? Had they tried to end their life, only to be saved by their families?

The speech finished abruptly, as though Victor Echeberría just gave up. Most likely. She spun around and ran off stage as best as she could in the ridiculous dress the Capitol put her in. No one attempted to clap as was required as she tried to flee back to the train.

There was one more part the Victor had to play though.

The Butchers and Mr. Midthunder were led back into the Justice Building where Olivia waited for them. Formal goodbyes and words with the families. Last time Ms. Butcher had done this it had been short as the Victor of Ram's year didn't have any interactions with him. She had averted her eyes, trying to keep a crying Hayley under control. Not this year. Olivia knew Hayley all too well and her former ally had killed Buck; she couldn't hide.

But it was Ms. Butcher who took the initiative.

Had she rushed in too soon? Maybe. If she waited she maybe could have been more successful. She was still glad that she tried. It was worth it to see the look of terror on the Victor's face as the pointed end of some sharp shears almost connected with her neck.

Almost.

A spray of bullets and Ms. Butcher was bleeding out on the Justice Building floor. The Victor was screaming apologies to the Butcher Clan, begging for forgiveness before the Peacekeepers grabbed her and rushed her to a safe location as others detained the rest of the Butcher clan. One Peacekeeper stood over her, the barrel of the rifle pointed directly at her.

Relief washed through her. She'd be with Ram and Hayley soon.

In death, they'd finally all be together.

It was almost midnight by the time the Peacekeepers released them. The Butcher family ran away, shell shocked by the events. Mr. Midthunder said nothing to them, he had no bond to them. He couldn't blame Hayley's Ma for trying to kill the Victor though. Part of him even wanted her to have succeeded.

The rest of the commune was still waiting for him, but he waved them off, telling them he had one final thing to do before he could go home.

He made his way to the train station, parcel still in hand. Victor Echeberría was long gone now, but he hardly cared. Someone far more important waited for him.

"Mr. Midthunder." A Peacekeeper on guard greeted. Another nodded to him.

"Titus, Crassus." Mr. Midthunder replied, giving them a nod. "Usual spot?"

They nodded. "We fed him a little." Crassus said. His voice was young, and Mr. Midthunder wondered how young he was behind the mask.

"Well I'm sure he'll take seconds." Mr. Midthunder said.

Sure enough, he was in his usual spot. A Peacekeeper stood nearby, keeping an eye on him. The train station was a restricted zone and on lockdown at night, but – occasionally – Peacekeepers had hearts too and had bent the rules for in their new furry friend.

"How you doin', Cooper?"

The cattle dog's head perked up slightly at the familiar face, but Mr. Midthunder could tell it was an effort. Eyes drooped low, grey hairs on his chin that he was too young to have, and a tired hunch in the dog's shoulders was visible, even when Cooper was laying down.

"I brought jerky, fresh stuff." Mr. Midthunder said, opening up the parcel. Cooper barely reacted to the smell. The only thing Cooper wanted was Buck. Mr. Midthunder still fed him a few bits and gave him pets, noticing the dogs ribs were coming through.

"We try to feed him." A Peacekeeper said, a sad tone. A few Peacekeepers had gathered about, looking concerned for the dog. Cooper had shown up shortly after the Reapings six months ago to see Buck off to the Hunger Games. He hadn't left since.

"Do you mind keeping the rest? See if he'll eat more tomorrow." Mr. Midthunder asked, his heart unable to stay for longer.

The Peacekeepers were all too willing and Mr. Midthunder gave the dog another pat on the head. "I'll be back next month, boy. See you then?"

Cooper hung his head low, resting it in his paws.

He wouldn't leave until Buck was back.

Because he had to come back…

Right?

District 9

A leg stuck out from underneath a table, tripping little Rosetta.

"Slippin' Millie! Slippin' Millie!" A chorus of children cried out, playing the orphanage's favorite new game for the last six months.

Rosetta got up, brush off her clothes. "That's not funny!" She said, tears already forming in her eyes.

"Sure it is." Another child laughed. "Watch!"

She pushed Rosetta in the chest, who fell down hard. "Slippin' Millie!" The bully called out.

The other children laughed and scurried away, leaving a crying six year old Rosetta on the ground until one of the Orphanage staff came to get her. Rosetta refused to tell on the other children, knowing it would just make the bullying worse. Unable to help, the staff found Zea who attempted to comfort the younger girl.

"Why are they so mean to Millie?" Rosetta asked, wiping away snot. "She's a hero!"

Zea lied to give some comfort. "They're just jealous." She said. It seemed to work as Rosetta was calming down now. Privately, Zea didn't think Millie was much of a hero. She remembered watching her end, stunned when Millie was the first to go. She had accepted it at the time, knowing it was Millie's duty to die for her District and the Capitol.

She had expected fireworks or applause or something to happen in the world to honor Millie's sacrifice. But no. The world kept on going and the Capitol didn't give her an ounce of praise, instead mocking her relentlessly for jumping off the starting plate too early or insulting her for messing the Bloodbath up. And the only recognition that Millie had in District 9 was that stupid tripping game the younger orphans had come up with.

It had broken Zea's faith in the Capitol, but she wasn't bold enough to break it for Rosetta.

"C-can you asked the Overseer again if we can stand on stage with her for the Tour?" Rosetta asked.

"You know we can't. Only family can."

"But we're more Millie's family than the Overseer! She just runs the orphanage."

"Well… it's what the Capitol wants." Zea said bitterly.

They sat hugging each other in silence, Rosetta focusing on calming down and Zea growing angrier by the second.

Brick was standing in the front row for the Tour, not allowed on stage with Alice's parents. They were allowed to represent their son, but apparently an adopted cousin was too far removed. It seemed dumb to Brick as they had the Overseer from the Orphanage up there for Millie. Brick recognized her from his time there, not feeling anything towards her. She hadn't been mean or evil, but she hadn't been warm with the kids either.

The Tour was moving along though. Victor Echeberría was on stage making a very patriotic speech, praising the Capitol and the Tributes that had fallen in the Hunger Games. Brick didn't think this year's Tributes from 9 were worth praising though. One had jumped off her plate and died first and Alice… well… had been Alice.

Brick had watched his cousin in utter confusion by his actions. First, Alice had scored only a two. Then he gave one of the weirdest interviews anyone had ever seen. And then his plan was to follow Cean from 4 – a trained Career – and try and kill him and his alliance? All by himself, one against three?

As soon as Alice was killed, Brick realized that his cousin had never been as smart as Brick thought he was.

Still, it was sad for Alice's parents. They hadn't been able to stop crying over their lost son. Briefly, Brick wondered if they even realized how much Alice had despised them. Brick's adopted father had been upset by his nephew's death too, but it seemed to be more mourning Alice's potential use to the gang than familial attachment.

Brick knew he had to get away from his adoptive father.

Victor Echeberría concluded her speech and Brick and others clapped. Brick thought the Victor looked haggard, eyes drooping and her voice slurring, hardly the image of power a Victor was supposed to be. Afterwards, the crowd dispersed and Brick waited around until he saw Alice's parents leave the Justice Building, holding each other for support. He approached them cautiously.

"Mr. and Mrs. Barton?"

They looked at him, surprised to see him. "Oh, hello, Brick." Mrs. Barton said. They hadn't seen him since they put Alice into his grave at the Victor Cemetery.

He came right out with it. "Um… I was wondering if I could come live with you guys?"

Both adults looked surprised by the request. "What about your dad?" Mr. Barton asked.

"Um… I think he wouldn't mind. I don't think he likes me." Brick said honestly. "But, I don't think I like him either. I promise I'll work hard. I love growing the crops and I know everything there is to know about weevils and other pests. I'll keep them away and do whatever else you want."

"Are you sure?" Mrs. Barton asked, a note of hope in her voice.

"If you'll have me." Brick confirmed.

The parents, still mourning their son, looked at Brick with happy eyes. "As long as you'll have us." Mr. Barton said, giving Brick a hug.

Brick returned it, feeling as though he finally found somewhere to belong.

Alright, I told you guys I'd give ya'll some unused plot points to chew on. We'll start off with those below:

1.) The Victor potential this year were: Olivia, Amadeus, Estelle, and Hayley

2.) The original final showdown was Olivia and Aleko vs Valdez. The scene was pretty elaborate and involved trains flying down a bunch of different rails, jumping between them, and lots of combat. Then I realized that was dumb and no way Olivia and Aleko could seriously hold up to Valdez.

3.) Originally, the mutts Amadeus would get the poison/toxin from were mutts based on rats. However, I thought jellyfish would be more unique for a subway arena and more Lucan's speed than rats.

4.) Estelle was suppose to kill Ola and have her crisis of faith from that. However, I didn't think death by Career was a fitting conclusion to Ola's story and I needed Hayley to have a bit more of a push on her story arc. Thus, Marianna got substituted for Ola.

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Up Next: The Victory Tour, Districts 8, 7, 6, and 4