Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games. They belong to Suzanne Collins.

Note: At long last we're here, the final chapter of this massive story. It's been a massive tale of arenas, death, hope, love, despair, hatred and various other words and… somehow hardly the longest fic I have ever written, actually? Well, whatever the case, it's been a really fun project to work on and it's almost a shame it's over. Only a few loose ends left to tie up and you'll all be getting the answers to what few remaining questions still lack answers in this chapter (and if I forget something just DM me and I'll give you an answer, haha). I'll be making a journal on my DeviantArt page in the coming days talking about beta content, scrapped victors, reflections of what worked and did not work and much more, so as always keep an eye out for that soon enough! So… I'd say it's time to end the story once and for all, wouldn't you? Let's get started!

It had been three months since the Capitol Games had come to their grisly end.

It had been exactly as long since the Hunger Games were abolished forevermore.

In that time there had been many changes around Panem and, for once, all changes were truly for the better.

The Capitol Games had been loved by those in the districts with vengeance in their hearts and left the Capitol whimpering and crying. Finally they'd seen such how barbaric and evil this form of 'entertainment' was. Finally the Games were over, with efforts already ongoing to destroy every last arena and replace them with memorials to all tributes who had died over the many years of the Games. From Jakki Jones, the first ever tribute to die, all the way to Stinn Bone, the last one of all to be killed, they would all be remembered.

The walls between each district had been torn down and reduced to nothing. Travel was freely permitted to all across Panem so long as they could afford a train ticket, and with all the new welfare systems in place and the support for the poor this wouldn't be an issue for anybody before long. Before all of this people couldn't have ever imagined seeing anywhere outside of their own district, or even their own town. Now here was the second age kicked off with new sights for all to see and no punishment for seeing them.

President Paylor had lost some support for allowing the Capitol Games to occur, what with it being child murder and how even with so many calling for justice and revenge there had been those who wanted nothing of the sort to happen. Still, it was really out of her hands due to how the victors had voted on it. She had held onto her power, but now she was less of a president and more like a counsel women. One of fourteen.

The new system was in its infancy, but it looked like it was really going to work. Each district would have its own representative on a nationwide council, all of whom would regularly meet and make the important decisions to guide the nation forwards.

Platinum represented District One.

Otto Cavalier, father of the late Cato Cavalier, represented District Two.

Orbit Marsh, one of the strongest minds within Three and head of the biggest tech plant, represented District Three.

Zabrina Reefbait, daughter of the former mayor of the district of fishing who died in the rebellion, represented District Four.

Arendellian Spinner IV, named for her late aunt who won the Games where her more distant same-named relatives did not, represented District Five.

Nuvi Marrolto, found alive much to the sheer joy and relief of Numi, followed her late mother's footsteps and represented District Six.

Petals Nakamura, second eldest of Snag's daughters, represented District Seven.

Paylor herself remained staffed to represent District Eight.

In a shocking twist of events a drunken yet powerful young man by the name of Hovis Tonic was elected to represent District Nine.

Tiller Gallows, nephew of the late legend Pasture Gallows, represented District Ten.

Spring Applebee, mother to the late Rue Applebee, represented District Eleven.

Delly Cartwright stepped up to represent District Twelve and, to her own pleasant surprise, proved to be quite good at it.

Cressida set down her camera equipment for the foreseeable future and rose to the challenge of representing District Thirteen.

He'd been famous for years, helped tributes in his own way for decades, knew how to talk to people like no other and loved being in the spotlight making a difference… so, really, it was no surprise at all that Caesar Flickerman found himself representing the Capitol.

Naturally, the nation still wasn't perfect and it was possible that it never would be. Better as things may have been there would always be those from the districts who would forever hate the Capitol and those from the Capitol that despised the districts in return. But the attacks has lessened. In generations to come the hatred would likely lessen until, just maybe, it went away for good.

All the same, one thing had caused quite a large stir. One that had to be quelled before things went out of control.

It turned out there was another victor who had survived the rebellion.

One who had not even been there for the rebellion.

Two months after the Capitol Games had come to their gory conclusion Librae had finally made it home, arriving at one of the beaches of District Four. At first she'd been greeted with numerous cheers of relief and delight. It had been a homecoming most grand, a party that lasted almost a week.

But then Librae, while being interviewed about her time stranded on Hawaii, had been asked for her opinion on the Capitol Games by Caesar. It was, after all, his job to get her up to speed on recent events.

Librae had expressed great sympathy and claimed that she would have voted no. Normally this would just be taken as a kind gesture, but there was one itsy bitsy issue. Her vote would have caused a deadlock.

One that would have resulted in a Games of just twelve tributes, the ones who were forced into the arena to begin with.

There were many riots across the Capitol, many howls of the injustice this was and how a dozen children had ended up dying for nothing at all. If the Games were inevitable then at least kill as few as possible!

It was clear that the angry, hurt Capitol citizens needed something to distract them, and fast.

Something grand.

Something big.

Something feelgood.

What else but the wedding of the century?

District Ten had always been a wide and spacious sort of place, the fields stretching on for miles and miles. Such a large surface area made it the perfect setting for the biggest wedding in modern Panem history.

People from all districts were there as were many of those from the Capitol. So very anticipated was the event that those of the Capitol were even willing to bare the smell of the fields to witness the wedding happen.

Of course, all of the incredible wedding designs probably helped make it easier to bare. The massive arches of flowers grown locally, the grand tapestries imported from Eight, the numerous red petals, the glorious band playing a heavenly melody…

…The fifty five seats, empty of a person and instead occupied by a number made from flowers. Each marked the Hunger Games of a deceased victor. One for Mizar, Two for Pliny, Three for Museida and so on and so forth.

Hundreds and maybe even thousands of people were in attendance for the big day with seats stretching on for over a mile, massive screens having to be set up to hovercrafts silently floating overhead that displayed the live footage for those unable to see the events closely enough.

It was looking to be the perfect distraction from all the pain and death of the cruel past era.

Cupid had never seen such a perfectly romantic event in all his life and, if he were to be honest, he wasn't sure if anything would ever be able to top this. Just the fact it was happening and that he was alive to see it made him feel a sense of genuine happiness.

Being the ring bearer was just the icing on the cake.

The ceremony had already been going for a while, but now the main event had arrived. Cupid stood back beside Crown and Harp and awaited the moment where Spool and Lammy would exchange their vows. As anybody could have expected the beefy candy maker and the sugary sweet noblewoman were already in tears and had gone through half of the tissues they'd bought along. Calling them criers at weddings would be an understatement.

"This is so beautiful like holy moley this almost makes up for at least some of the Hunger Games that have come and gone like seriously it's a great day and the birds are singing and everybody is smiling so what could we call this but a happy ending though it's too bad I never really found anybody but I guess it's a bittersweet ending and I can dig it and hey at least the wedding cake is gonna be good but do you think Spool and Lammy made it chocolate flavoured because I really hope they made it chocolate OMIGAWD this is so romantic!" Crown concluded his statement by weeping and blowing his nose.

"Nice wedding," Harp agreed. "Really nice. Sweet. Lovely!"

Cupid smiled, fully in agreement with what the victor and his bestie had said. But his attention did not rest upon them for long. He wanted to hear the vows.

He also wanted to make sure he didn't miss his cue. Causing things to fall off of schedule? That was the last thing a romantic such as him wanted for any couple!

Especially as this the couple were his mom and dad.

The nation watched as Spool stood firm, dressed in the finest tuxedo in Panem, with his friends by his side. Tag, of course, was the best man. The fellow members of his childhood gang, the Sock Knights, were right there with him as well. Stretch, Buckle, Mitten and Aglet – all of them had lived to see this grand day.

The nation continued to watch as Spool practically melted on the spot when his eyes gazed at Lammy, the women making her way down the aisle with the loveliest of smiles. Her ginger hair flowed in the breeze and her snow white dress was made all the more lovely with the reflections of the sun from it surface and the occasional blue flower placed here and there. She was, of course, flanked by her best friends from Ten – Bernadette and Chick.

It wasn't long before Lammy took her place by Spool and the tender music gently faded off into silence. For a few precious moments nobody within Panem said a word as the victors simply looked at each other in content silence.

Only the minister, an old friend of Lammy's dad, broke the silence. The minster spoke of what they were all there for – nothing more and nothing less than to celebrate the decades long and completely unbreakable bond Lammy and Spool shared – and before long had moved the ceremony to the point where the vows would be exchanged.

Lammy went first, taking on of Spool's hands between her own.

"We've been together for a long time Spool. Where's all the time gone, huh?" Lammy asked, giggling.

"Who knows?" Spool replied. "But wherever it has gone it's been time well spent."

"That's for sure," Lammy agreed. "Remember when we first met? That time where dad and I were called to Eight to deal with wild dog monsters. It was nice, watching that old puppet show you and your friends put on. I thought after that day we'd never meet again… how very wrong I was."

"The best thing to be wrong about, right?" Spool remarked.

"You've got that right. I never expected that, of all things, it was the Hunger Games that bought us together… I won't lower, myself by saying those dreadful Games helped me, or us. Not really. I think one way or the other we would have found a way to cross paths regardless," Lammy's smile became more tender. "Keeping the secret of your true identity for so many years… it was thrilling, keeping that promise of secrecy. It was easy to keep my word on it, just like it'll be easy for me to keep my word when I vow to love you always. Nothing can change that."

"I feel the exact same way," Spool moved his arms so that he was now holding Lammy's hand between his own. "I vow to love you, to care for you and to protect you until the moment I draw my last breath… not that you'll need it. I think we both know you're perhaps the toughest women in Ten whoever lived."

"Generous, but I think we both know I'm second strongest in these parts," Lammy directed her gaze to the seat where the number fifty nine was formed out of flowers. "Still, what could be stronger than the two of us together, forever?"

"I can't think of anything," Spool said, managing to lightly chuckle. "All the more reason for us to get on with it after all these years."

"How long did it take us to reach this point? We started dating around the mid-point of Mercy's Games, so that'd be…" Lammy paused, trying to work out the math in her head.

"Almost thirty years. I think we can just agree to call ourselves fashionably late," Spool declared. "So… are you ready?"

"For you Spool? I was ready a long, long time ago," Lammy whispered.

It was only a few more passages of text , spoken grandly by the minister of course, before it was time.

Cupid came forth holding a velvet pillow with both rings placed neatly upon it. He knelt down, raising up the pillow for his adoptive parents.

"Mom, dad, am I doing a good job?" Cupid whispered.

"You're doing great, dear," Lammy whispered back.

The rings, both with a diamond specially cut to resemble a mockingjay, were soon placed upon the finger of the bride and groom. After that there was really only one thing left to do. One unforgettable moment to be broadcast to the entire nation.

"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

There was no delay. Spool and Lammy embraced and shared their first kiss as a wedded couple. The cheering could be heard for miles and miles around as their kiss was shown to all of humanity.

To the surprise of nobody Crown was weeping at the beauty of the moment. Cupid, Harp, Annie Gwenith and, surprisingly, Wattzon were doing much the same. Of course, nobody was sobbing and going through tissues faster than Caesar. The man was on the front row and had always been infamous for how he would cry at the drop of a hat at weddings.

After all the trials and bloodstained tribulations over the years a wedding truly was what the nation needed, or at the very least it was a fine distraction. One much better than the dreadful Hunger Games.

Of course, this was only the start when all was said and done. Sure, it was the part that the public could enjoy to the fullest extent, but there was still more to come for the family of the wedded victors and other special guests.

The wedding reception awaited them.

If there was one thing that the victors knew how to do, other than survive against dangerous and terrible odds, it was how to put on a party. Sure enough, that was exactly what was going on within the newly reconstructed and expanded Judgement Building within District Ten. Gone were the tight rooms that felt more like prisons, gone were the paintings that displayed the Capitol's superiority, gone was any sense of fear.

Instead, what remained was a welcoming atmosphere and a loud, happy party. If there was anything to close the curtains on the previous era of Panem then this was certainly it. A traditional country song, banjo and all, was playing for all the guests in the spacious party room and nobody was in any sort of a bad mood.

Everybody was at peace, one way or the other. If not that then they were at least able to remain stable, at least for however long the party might go on for.

Olga sat quietly in her wheelchair off to the side of the party, content to remain alone and not speak to any of the others in attendance. She had a feeling that, even with the war behind them, they all hated her. Olga couldn't blame them, especially not when she hated herself as well.

She didn't have much time left, but what little she had would be spent in an unending penance for how many people were hurt and killed by her actions. Brainwashed or not, she still made the choices she did. She never refused a command, whatever the cruelty it involved.

"At least the food is nice," Olga softly mumbled, finishing off the piece of wedding cake she had been given. "Finally, after all these years… finally I have chocolate."

"Do you like it?" Crown asked, moving to stand by Olga. "Made it all by myself."

"Ahem?" Harp said, pouting a little bit as she walked up to stand on Olga's other side. "Made it together. Helped you a lot!"

"Fine, fine, it was a team effort. I surrender, just stop that legendary pout!" Crown exclaimed, holding up his arms and laughing.

Harp soon eased up the look on her face and, with a giggle, sat down on a nearby table. One where the chair was marked with flowers forming the number fourteen. She smiled, at peace, and began to quietly pay her respects to her fallen lover Crystal, gone all too soon and unable to see the wedding.

"Miss you Crissy," Harp whispered.

Crown watched this for a moment, feeling a little pang in his heart as he thought back upon his old friend, before turning his attention over to Olga.

"Enjoying the party?" Crown asked.

Olga just shrugged.

"It doesn't matter," Olga stated. "So what if I do? After this I'll be the most hated person alive and, for what little time I have left, I'll have to deal with the guilt… and the knowledge everything I worked for is destroyed. It was all for nothing."

"I guess that would be quite upsetting," Crown agreed. "But you know, it doesn't have to be that way. You're still alive now, aren't you?"

"It's certainly likely," Olga drawled.

"Well, that means you still have time to change things up," Crown explained, taking out a packet of candy to snack on. "See, it's like the old song – The Hokey Pokey."

Olga looked at Crown with a face most stony.

"Hear me out," Crown said, awkwardly chuckling. "It's not about doing the hokey pokey. That part was always the bit that never really mattered."

"Even though it's literally the title of the song?" Olga asked, already looking out of patience. "Please, just leave me to wallow in shame."

"No can do," Crown replied. "See, you do the hokey pokey… and what do you do then?"

"Uh… stand still?" Olga asked, blank.

"Nope. You do the hokey pokey, and then you turn yourself around. Olga, you turn yourself around. That's what the song, and life, are all about. So long as you're alive you can still change things. The rest of us are alive, and we certainly changed a lot of things over the years. We changed the world, and you can change your world too," Crown concluded his statement by opening the pack of candy, the packet making a pop sound as the top of it split apart. "You just have to make that first step… or, uh, first wheel. You know what I mean."

Olga looked at Crown in a way she had never once done so prior in all the decades she had known him.

"…You know what?" Olga said, her old voice waving and soft. "I think I do."

Over by the stage Numi was giving all of the sound equipment a final check. It wouldn't be long before it was time for her wedding rap solo to begin and she wanted it to be perfect.

"Okay, boomboxes are tuned to perfection, microphone is working fine, the mixtape is all good and ready to go… yep, I'd say the show is ready to go on," Numi remarked to herself.

"Rapping at a such a grand event; this must be the best moment of your life, huh?" the girl sitting beside Numi said. "Either that or when your mixtape went platinum, right?"

Numi shook her head as she turned to look at the girl keeping her company.

"Nah, not even close," Numi pulled Nuvi in for a gentle hug. "The best moment was when you turned up alive. I don't think I've ever been more relieved in my life. I mean, sis, I was crying like a baby."

"I think we both were," Nuvi replied, giggling. "I'm just glad Dollar had the sense to grab me while I was panicking and toss me into her zombie bunker. She had to have known it was me or her… and she chose me."

"Dollar was always a cool gal," Numi said, tapping the microphone for a final check. "Too bad she couldn't save all of you."

Nuvi looked at her left arm, now robotic from the elbow down. She gave it a few experimental flexes and stretches, soon managing to smile.

"It could be worse. Really, if the worst thing about being… uh, what was the word? A cyborg? Yeah, that. Anyway, if the worst thing about it is how the robotic bits itch every now and then I don't think I have much to companion about," Nuvi gave her twin a hug. "Not when we're still here together."

"Awwww, Nuvi, you're gonna make me blush," Numi replied, giggling.

"That's the plan," Nuvi teased. "You've made me feel flustered hundreds of times. I need to even out the score somehow."

Over at one of the tables off to the side were Annie and Librae. The final two victors from District Four still had plenty of catching up to do – or, rather, actually meeting each other to begin with. Prior to now they'd just lacked the time to really talk.

But, at last, the time had arrived. Librae listened contently to Annie's words, ever so gently holding Sinbad in her arms. She'd been given special permission to hold the little boy and she wasn't going to make Annie regret doing so.

"It's amazing, really, how much therapy has been able to help me," Annie said, pouring herself another glass of juice. "I feel like I'm getting stronger every day. I've said before that I'm taking baby steps, but I'm not so sure that's true anymore. I think I'm starting to take adult steps again. I can see why Snow kept therapy all to himself and the Capitol… it's something that helps us all remain strong and able to face the days ahead."

"I'm glad to hear you're doing well," Librae was nothing but delighted. "I was worried that I'd come back and all of you would be dead. I guess all the victors I knew have gone, but I'm glad that you're still here. I think this is really the start of a lifelong friendship dude."

"I quite agree," Annie replied, smiling. "My mom always told me how brave you were and how you took on those pirates like it was nothing. I wish I was that strong."

Librae laid a hand upon Annie's shoulder, a gentle grin covering her face.

"You are strong. I mean, surviving the second rebellion? That takes serious power, dudette!" Librae exclaimed. "You were in the thick of it. Me? I was stuck in Hawaii with only pineapples and old video cassette shows for company."

"Don't sell yourself short Librae, it takes some real nerve to defeat so many pirates. Not to mention keeping your sanity during years of isolation," Annie laid a hand upon Librae's own. "I'm just so glad to see you. It's great to have you back."

"It's great to be back. Honestly, this is surreal. Like… it's honestly kind of insane, actually?" Librae trailed off for a moment, briefly unsure of what to say next. "From my perspective it's like the Capitol is just kinda gone and that plenty of people I once called my friends have died, and I never got to say goodbye."

Annie moved so that she was beside Librae, close enough to give her a much needed hug.

"Thanks Annie," Librae said, grateful. "It's like, woo, we won. That's awesome… but if I'd just gotten back here a few months sooner than I could have saved twelve kids from dying. If I was just a little bit faster…"

"It wasn't your fault," Annie assured her. "If we have anybody to blame then it's Snow. Really, we're all just glad you made it back to begin with. It makes me happy to know you would have voted no to the Capitol Games."

"There was never any other choice. Hurting people is uncool, that's literally all there is to it," Librae replied. "I'm sure I'll move on from all the bad feelings before long, but for now… I don't know, I just wanna surf."

"Hey, speaking of which…" Annie looked almost shy. "Since you're, um, the legend when it comes to surfing in Four… mind teaching me how to do it? I've kinda always wanted to know how."

Librae grinned, looking like all the life of her younger self had returned to her for a moment.

"Tomorrow morning at the beach. Be there dudette," Librae said, winking. "I'll show you the ropes."

"For real? Thanks Librae, you're the second best!" Annie exclaimed, glee in her eyes.

"Second best? Dudette, you wound me," Librae teased.

"Perhaps, but Finnick will always be the best," Annie said, fondly smiling.

"Heh, when you're right you're right," Librae agreed.

"Exactly," Annie said, rising. "Now if you'll excuse me I'm gonna get us some more drinks. Be right back."

Annie took just two steps before somehow tripping over her feet, doing a front flip and landed on her butt on the floor.

"Oopsie!" Annie said, rather dazed.

Librae could only chuckle at the sight.

Off to the side of the party in a quieter area by the balcony were Wattzon, Spud and Johanna. The former was sitting in a content sort of silence, simply glad to be alive and also awaiting Clarkson's return with cake. Meanwhile Johanna was slightly tipsy already while Spud was softly crying for reasons his fellow victors didn't know.

"What are you crying about you old Jessie?" Johanna asked, a faint slur to her words.

"It's just… happy endings like this? It makes the hardship of being a rebel all worthwhile," Spud said, wiping away a tear. "Life is beautiful!"

"I wouldn't say it's a completely happy ending," Wattzon stated. He glanced off to the side, a little out of sorts. "If it was then Arendellian would still be here."

"I guess you're right. Same for Bear, Chaff, Seeder… most of the victors, honestly," Spud agreed, slightly calming himself.

"Fir," Johanna added, opening up another bottle of beer.

"Now there was a happy victor. Can't have a fully happy ending without her here," Spud agreed. "Still… we did alright, you know? We could have done a lot worse."

"Like if somebody else other than Katniss and Peeta won the Seventy Fourth Games?" Wattzon guessed, reaching for a beer of his own. "What, like that brute of a boy from District Two?"

"Perhaps," Spud agreed. "Or, um… maybe the timid girl from Three? Or Finnick's nephew? Or even that quiet girl from Nine. Think there may have been a smaller body count if one of them had won?"

"Beats me. There likely would have been no rebellion anyway. Maybe it's better we don't know for sure. Not like we'll ever know now that they're dead and the Capitol is overthrown," Wattzon said, taking a sip of the drink.

"I guess you're right," Spud agreed. "…I'm still in a state of shock that it's all over."

"Nah, that's just the beer making you feel that way. Always knew you were a light head," Johanna added with a laugh. "Some things never change."

Spud seemed to gain a bit of nerve in that exact moment.

"Well, one thing is going to change. I'm gonna stop being the wimp Anchor thought I was," Spud, still showing the smallest bit of nerve, turned to Johanna. "Want to dance?"

Johanna finished off her beer with one mighty gulp and stared at Spud for a moment.

"…Yeah, alright. Let's do it," Johanna agreed.

Wattzon watched with an amused sort of smirk as Johanna half led and half dragged Spud to the dance floor. To call their attempt at a dance ridiculous would be an understatement, but they both seemed to be having fun.

"You seem happy," Clarkson noted as he returned to sit beside Wattzon, holding two plates of cake.

"Just glad the fighting is all over," Wattzon replied. "Though if the cake isn't carrot then I daresay we'll be in for one more fight."

"Relax drama queen, it's carrot," Clarkson said, passing a plate to Wattzon. "So, what do we do now?"

"We live," Wattzon stated. He plucked a large piece of cake onto his fork and raised it up. "To Arendellian."

"To Arendellian," Clarkson repeated.

At a different table in a louder area of the party were Enobaria, Haymitch and Rhyder. The latter of the trio could watch in moderate amusement as his fellow victors were locked in a most ancient sort of combat – the oldest battle of wits that humanity knew. A drinking contest.

"I have no idea how you guys do it," Rhyder said, bemused. "I'm not sure what's stranger, the fact you're both still going after twenty glasses of beer or that the staff were willing to let you drink that much in the first place."

"Who's complaining?" Haymitch replied, pouring out another glass for himself.

"Not me," Enobaria added with a great slur. "Nevvvvver me!"

"Just don't drink yourselves to death so soon after we won the war. Now's the time for us to recover, rebuild, have fun… and, again, not drink ourselves to death," Rhyder said, amused in spite of his concern.

"Fuddy duddy," Enobaria said, slurring even more.

"Eh, Rhyder was always the g-g-good boy of your district," Haymitch remarked. "Come on, I still got plenty of sobriety to drink off."

"Same here," Enobaria added, using her sharp fangs to bite the cap off of a bottle. "Same here."

"Just don't hurt yourselves," Rhyder said. He finished off his own drink – a warm herbal tea – and relaxed. "Then again, maybe letting ourselves go for one night wouldn't be so bad. Starting tomorrow it's gonna be work, work and more work. I'll be needing to find places in society for all the leftover careers-in-training from Two and One. I'm sure their training can be put to something constructive, wonderful even, with the right sort of guidance."

Rhyder paused, noticing that Haymitch and Enobaria seemed to have passed out, their drinking finally having caught up to them.

"Why do I even bother?" Rhyder asked. Nonetheless, he was smiling as he left the table. It was time for him to go home and pay monthly respects to his parents anyway.

Once Rhyder was gone Haymitch and Enobaria opened their eyes and, for the first time since they had known each other, shared a fist bump. A bond of friendship, or at least tolerance, was forming.

"He's a damn good soldier and mentor, but everyday things like telling whiskey and apple juice apart? Not so great," Haymitch remarked.

"I guess nobody is perfect," Enobaria said, opening another bottle with her teeth. "You know something Haymitch. You're not wholly horrendous to be around."

"Is that a fact?" Haymitch replied. "Well, fancy that, I don't think you're totally unbearable either. Figures it took a massive rebellion for that to become clear."

Beetee sat in his wheelchair off to the side of the room, fully focused on his laptop. He was still unable to walk, but he'd been assured it was only a matter of weeks until he would be able to. Maybe even less than that if he were lucky. Until such a time came Beetee was content to busy himself in his perhaps endless work and continue working for a great future for the nation.

"Nose deep in your laptop. How very social of you Beetee," Platinum remarked as she carefully walked up to him. "Whatever are you looking at on that device of yours?"

"Graphs and charts mainly," Beetee replied. "Just statistics on how the nation is coming along."

"Good or bad?" Platinum asked.

"Good," Beetee assured her. "Very good even. Honestly, I'd predicted we'd be spending over a decade or two rebuilding everything after how much was lost in the rebellion, but honestly? We might be done in just shy of five years."

"Sounds great to me. I didn't help this war just so I could spend the rest of my life on clean up duty," Platinum said as she sat in a chair beside Beetee. "How long until you're walking again."

"Oh, not very long. Maybe even by this time next month. Just a matter of playing the waiting game," Beetee closed his laptop, placing it back in its bag. "As it happens, I have a lot of patience. I'll be fine. How about you though?"

"Me?" Platinum replied.

Beetee gestured to Platinum's fake leg, which was ever so slightly attached at the wrong angle. Platinum quickly began to work on straightening it out.

"How are you finding that new leg?" Beetee continued. "I understand it's quite an adjustment to make."

"Well, yes, it is," Platinum admitted. "But, I'm getting there. One day at a time. One step at a time. I learnt how to walk once, I can do it again. I mean, with my position in the new government I sort of have to learn how."

"I think you'll do just fine Platinum. One thing I've learnt about you in the decades we've known each other is that you're stronger than anybody had seen coming. You survived over a month alone in the darkness under your arena, broken leg and all," Beetee gave Platinum a genuine smile. "I'm not a man who believes in much, but nonetheless I believe you'll be alright."

"Thanks Beetee. Not even kidding, that means a lot to hear," Platinum lay a hand upon Beetee's shoulder. "Feeling's mutual. I believe you'll be fine as well."

Katniss and Peeta stood at the edge of the dance floor, the former looking uncertain as to if she even wanted to be there and the latter trying to get his girlfriend to join him for a dance.

"Come on, for me?" Peeta asked.

"I don't know…" Katniss looked away, reluctant.

"We won't be the only ones on the dance floor," Peeta assured her. "There's a few couples already there and we already know who everybody is going to be looking at most of all."

"I guess you're right," Katniss said. Still, she hesitated. "It's just, uh…"

"What?" Peeta said.

"I really have no idea what to do on a dance floor," Katniss said, covering her face. "Sure, I've done it before during the tour and all that, but… that felt different. I was expected to. Here though…"

"You're around friends," Peeta said, giving Katniss' hand a gentle squeeze. "Nobody would say anything or stare, but if you want to just sit down and relax then that's fine too. Honestly, relaxing the night away sounds like a nice idea."

Katniss thought this over for a few moments.

"…No," Katniss said.

"No?" Peeta replied.

"I think you're right," Katniss said, gesturing to the dance floor. "Everybody's here, there's nothing for us to be afraid of and… and we're both in good, stable moods. Let's dance."

"If that's what you want then let's do it," Peeta said, letting Katniss lead him onto the dance floor.

In moments the Girl on Fire and the Boy with the Bread were lost in their dance, blind to all but each other.

The pair from Twelve were not the only ones on the dance floor. Snag was there as well, performing an energetic tango routine with Paisley. The couple danced around in delight, moving in perfect unison with each other. Such a dance had been a long time coming – it was just a week prior that, at long last, Snag had been cured of cystic fibrosis. He was now able to walk all day, every day just like anybody else.

"Whoa Snag!" Paisley exclaimed, laughing. "You've got some real moves!"

"I've been waiting to show of these moves for over forty years," Snag replied, laughing as well.

Snag twirled Paisley around, dipped her down for a moment and bought her back up again. They settled into an embrace as the music slowed down.

"So, what do we do now?" Paisley asked, content to be in Snag's embrace.

"Dance the night away," Snag suggested.

"Mmmm, I like that idea," Paisley agreed. "…It's nice, isn't it, how are daughters are all grown up and successful, isn't it?"

"It's happened so fast that it practically snuck up on me," Snag said, smiling fondly. "Acre's gonna be exploring land outside Panem, Petals is representing Seven in the new government, Sunset's having her first child really soon… what a great family we have."

Paisley responded by hugging Snag a little tighter. She was in agreement, of course, but there was one piece of the puzzle that would always be missing. A piece that couldn't be replaced.

"I'm sure, if she had made it out of that terrible arena, Bloom would have done something amazing," Snag sounded ever so wistful. "She could have been anything."

"Do you regret it… voting to punish the Capitol for what they did to her?" Paisley asked.

"It's a complicated question to answer, but honestly… a little yes, a little no. Yes because Victor wasn't a bad kid… and no, because it got them to finally see Bloom as a person and realise just what they out her through. Realise what they put us through. Either way I've had my fill of revenge for this lifetime."

"I'm glad to hear it Snag," Paisley said, resting her head on Snag's shoulder. "This new world has no place for revenge."

"You know what Paisley?" Snag said. He slowly began to smile. "I quite agree."

Crimson stood alone off to the side of the room, content to spend the party simply in her own company. She was more focused on reconnecting with her family once the next dawn arrived. What would they say? What would they make of her now that the truth behind the decades of debauchery had come out? She hoped that they would accept her.

"I guess what will be will be," Crimson whispered. "Everything I did was for them. Whether they love me or not... I'll always love them."

Crimson closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. Her mind was abuzz with questions, questions that demanded answers. Until then she'd enjoy the part as best as she could. She felt, after all the decades of pain, she had earned a single night of peace.

Off to the side of the dance floor was Cupid, the boy dancing alone for the moment. His moves were simple, but it was obvious that he was having a great time at the party.

"You look happy," Trevy remarked as he moonwalked backwards, coming to a stop beside Cupid. "Enjoying the party?"

"Hard not to. I mean… look at them," Cupid gestured to where Spool and Lammy were slow dancing with each other. "Mom and dad look like they're happy."

"Haven't they been happy before?" Trevy asked.

"Sure they have, but not like this. This is the happiness you only get through true love," Cupid sighed dramatically. "Isn't it wonderful?"

"Eh, I guess so? I never was much for romance," Trevy paused from his dancing, content to just stand and watch the rest. "So, how are you feeling? Of all of us you're the youngest victor there will ever be and it's only been a few months since you won. I guess I'm just a little concerned is all."

"Things aren't perfect, but they're good enough. Mom and dad have been a big help with that," Cupid said. He glanced off to the side. "I don't think I'd be here if not for them. Whether it would be the arena that got or… something else."

Cupid ceased his own attempt at dancing and stood rather still.

"I still wake up screaming," Cupid admitted. "I'm not sure if it will ever truly stop. I hope it will. I think it might, one day… I guess I'll just have to try and hope."

"That reminds me of something I once said to Wattzon," Trevy recalled. "Hope is a great thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. I'm not exactly a trauma expert as I never entered the arena to begin with, but if you ever need to talk about anything then I'm here. We're all here."

"We're like one big happy family, aren't we?" Cupid said, softly chuckling. "Maybe not all of us are happy right now, but we could be. We can be. So long as we keep ourselves open to love we could be anything."

"I think you've got it right," Trevy agreed. "And speaking of us being anything, what I am is hungry. I think the snack table has jelly donuts. Want some?"

"Jelly donuts?" Cupid exclaimed. "Score!"

Cupid sped off towards the snack table, his eyes practically sparkling at the thought of his favourite dessert. Trevy laughed, following right behind him.

At the very centre of the dance floor were the newlyweds themselves. Spool and Lammy gently held each other, content to dance the night away. What better way was there to spend their time now that, for the most part, all was well?

"We finally did it," Spool said, gently twirling Lammy around. "We finally tied the old knot. Took us long enough."

"Like we agreed, we were just being fashionably late," Lammy replied with a giggle. "It really feels like the past few decades have been leading up to this moment doesn't it?"

"It does. Now the moment is here and all I can think of, beside the obvious things, is what we'll do next," Spool thought this over for a few moments. "The adventure is over, isn't it?"

"It is. I suppose we'll just have to find a new adventure to keep us occupied, or maybe enjoy retirement. Whatever makes us happy I suppose," Lammy replied. "The Games are over and Snow is dead, but why should that mean there has to be a shortage of fun things to do?"

"You're right. There's no reason for things to be that way at all," Spool agreed. "In fact, here's an idea. Picture this; us, Cupid, Tag and the boys going on a massive hunting trip together? There are still plenty of mutts that need taking care of. We could bring Chick and Bernadette as well!"

"You know what Spool?" Lammy said, this time being the one to twirl Spool around. "That sounds like a great idea. We could make it into our honeymoon."

"Shall we set out tomorrow? I'm ready to go any time you are," Spool said, grinning.

"Let's give it a few days," Lammy said. "We still need to pick the trail we'll be following. Besides, we're all gonna be up until sunrise at this rate. Let's enjoy the party."

"Great idea," Spool agreed, content.

After a few moments of slow dancing Lammy became aware that one of the surviving victors was absent. A few extra moments of careful observation failed to locate the missing victor.

"Where did Gwenith go?" Lammy asked, puzzled. "Is she in the bathroom or something?"

"Oh, she left a while ago. She wished us all the best, but she said she had some unfinished business to take care of," Spool explained.

"What sort of business?" Lammy asked.

"I'm not sure, exactly. But it sounded like it was something that was important to her personally," Spool said. He grinned as the music changed from a slow dance to an energetic funky rap beat.

"Hey everybody!" Numi yelled from her spot upon the stage. "Are ya'll ready to make some noise?!"

"I don't know… are we, Lammy?" Spool asked, his grin turning into an outright smirk.

"I'd say we are," Lammy replied, her expression matching that of her husband. "Let's dance the night away."

And so they did.

The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the land under its warm rays. It would not be long before nightfall would arrive and stars would come out. The clouds that were slowly billowing in suggested that rain would be falling sooner than later.

Gwenith, of course, did not care if it rained or not. Let it rain, she thought. If it had to fall then she would dance in it.

After all, she no longer had any worries. She no longer had any fears.

Gwenith was at peace.

The elderly victor had returned home to District Nine, slipping away before anybody aside Spool could see her, for a private bit of personal remembrance.

She stood in the spot where it all began so many years ago. Specifically, the place that had once been the reaping stage in District Nine's square. After the rebellion, however, the wrecked place had been rebuilt into a memorial.

A grand statue of Mizar was build in the centre of the square. There had once been another statue like it, only smaller, but that too had been destroyed prior.

Gwenith smiled, letting out a soft breath as she looked at the statue in the image of her lifelong friend. She practically glowed in the dying light of the day.

"We are free. It's the happy ending that you fought for your entire life. I did my best to make it happen, all for you. I hope I made you proud," Gwenith wiped away a single tear. "A free Panem. A world with no more Games… it's even more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. But then, I think you always imagined it would be something like this. I don't think we could have done it without you being the first of all of us."

Gwenith reached into her pockets for a certain item she had bought along for the visit. Something she'd received from Haymitch a while ago, the man claiming that 'she needed it a little more than he did'.

Gwenith moved forth until she was close enough to lay a hand upon Mizar's statue. For a moment there were no words to be spoken.

"I will see you again," Gwenith said with certainty. "When my time is up we will see each other once again."

Gwenith placed the item down on the base of the statue.

The mockingjay pin glowed under the perfect sunset.

"…But not yet," Gwenith said, smiling. After all, she still had her remaining years to live to the absolute fullest. "…Not yet."

Gwenith shared one last smile with the statue, gazing right into its marble eyes. With no more left to say, at least for now, Gwenith turned and began to walk back to her home. There was much work to be done on the memorials she was writing for all of the fallen tributes in Panem's history.

As Gwenith walked away into the sunset, finally at peace, the clouds high in the sky seemed to morph themselves into a new shape. It was like they had a mind of their own for one brief flicker of time.

As the sun finally set on the very long day, the clouds formed an unmistakable image in the skies above.

The image of Mizar Aldjoy, smiling down at the world. A better world than what he'd grown up in.

THE FALLEN

#1: Mizar Aldjoy – Died from cancer (60th Games)

#2: Pliny Aransio – Old Age (71st Games)

#3: Museida Selkirk – Old Age (70th Games)

#4: Baron Overwhill – Old Age (72nd Games)

#5: Honorius Perthshire – Swallowed a nightlock pill while in captivity (Victor Purge)

#6: Duke Saint-Rose – Shot with a pistol by Ajax while saving Pliny's life (48th Games)

#7: Runa Peace – Old Age (69th Games)

#8: Peridot Gaudy – Old Age (69th Games)

#9: Fir Buzz – Old Age (74th Games)

#11: Mags Flanagan – Walked into a cloud of toxic fog (3rd Quarter Quell)

#12: Shunt Gaspar – Poisoned by acidic liquid cyanide (35th Games)

#14: Crystal McCree – Ongoing heart issues (44th Games)

#15: Bear Redfoot – Shot by Peacekeepers (Victor Purge)

#16: Woof Casino – Impaled with a spear by Brutus (3rd Quarter Quell)

#17: Rook Valiant – Shot with a pistol by Olga (Victor Purge)

#18: Isobel Sparks – Shot in the head with a sniper rifle by 'The Grim' (38th Games)

#19: Bronze Marley – Mutilated and burnt at the stake by Crimson (Victor Purge)

#20: Boulder Atherston – Killed during the collapse of The Nut (Victor Purge)

#21: Jack Tylos – Shot by Peacekeepers (Victor Purge)

#22: Pi Orbit – Suicide via electrocution (1st Quarter Quell)

#23: Tide Luther – Electric torture and firing squad (Victor Purge)

#25: Vercingetorix Carnby – Shot in the head with a pistol by Ajax (48th Games)

#26: Stallion March – Executed by firing squad (Victor Purge)

#27: Dragon Batofel – Bled out after winning a massive fight against dozens of Reaper Mutts (Victor Purge)

#28: Teff Withers – Shot by Peacekeepers (Victor Purge)

#30: Paige Murphy – Blew herself up in a suicide charge against an armada of Peacekeepers (Victor Purge)

#31: Chassis Macalister – Died during a demolition derby crash (72nd Games)

#32: Dollar Dettwieler – Killed during a firebombing raid. (Victor Purge)

#33: Seeder Howell – Skull smashed with a mace by Gloss (3rd Quarter Quell)

#36: Laurel Flamsteel – Stabbed with a sword by Brutus (3rd Quarter Quell)

#38: Porter Tripp – Drowned during the dam attack in District Five (Victor Purge)

#41: Mascara Court – Bled out after winning a savage fight against 'The Grim' (41st Games)

#43: Tabbock Summers – Drowned by Peeta (3rd Quarter Quell)

#45: Chaff Mitchell – Stabbed in the chest with a dagger by Brutus (3rd Quarter Quell)

#46: Mercy Gregor – Killed by Reaper Mutts (Victor Purge)

#47: Wiress Plummer – Throat slit by Gloss (3rd Quarter Quell)

#48: Neon Erg – Impaled through the chest with a trident by Finnick (3rd Quarter Quell)

#49: Brutus Gunn – Weakened by Pasture's poisoned cleat. Neck broken by Peeta (3rd Quarter Quell)

#51: Lyme Rabe – Shot in the chest by a Capitol sniper (Victor Purge)

#52: Anchor Paddock – Shot by Peacekeepers (Victor Purge)

#53: Blight Jordan – Ran into forcefield (3rd Quarter Quell)

#54: Bentley Corduroy – Throat slashed with a scimitar by Cashmere (3rd Quarter Quell)

#56: Porsche London – Mauled by Monkey Mutts (3rd Quarter Quell)

#57: Arendellian Spinner III – Killed by a massive tidal wave (3rd Quarter Quell)

#58: Yohan Farebane – Suicide via hanging (Victor Purge)

#59: Pasture Gallows – Attacked by all four careers, with Brutus finishing her off with a stab to the chest via a dagger (3rd Quarter Quell)

#60: Cecelia Mog – Stabbed in the back with a short sword by Enobaria (3rd Quarter Quell)

#61: Logger Barlow – Eaten alive by wolf mutts (Victor Purge)

#63: Gloss Lord – Shot in the heart with an arrow by Katniss (3rd Quarter Quell)

#64: Cashmere Lord – Chest struck with an axe by Johanna (3rd Quarter Quell)

#65: Finnick Odair – Mauled by lizard mutts (Victor Purge)

#67: Augustus Braun – Took a sniper shot intended for Rhyder (Victor Purge)

#68: Ron Stafford – Executed via firing squad (Victor Purge)

#69: Skinner Alecto – Killed by the claws of 'The Beast' striking him after the monster's dead body fell down (3rd Quarter Quell)

#73: Magnus Sterlingshire – Crushed by a falling hovercraft (Victor Purge)

THE FUTURE

#10: Olga Machete – With all the power she had gained lost, the future she worked for destroyed and the legacy of harshness and patriotism she'd carried on for her father and the Capitol dead in the dirt it had seemed Olga was truly lost. What could she do next with the short time she had left? She doubted many would forgive her, and she knew she'd never be able to forgive herself. But it was like Crown said, you do the hokey pokey and then you turn yourself around. Olga decided to do what she had never done before… follow the example of victors she had long failed to recognise the value and formidable courage of. She chose to follow Mercy's example of caring for the young, and to that end in her final few years could often be found doing volunteer work in the name of helping the youth of District Two and giving talks to them about the value of teamwork, trust and accepting each other in spite of differences… and how very wrong the toxic, vile ideals of the old regime and her own father had been. It had taken so very long, but Olga had learnt the Capitol wasn't all knowing or all powerful. They were as flawed as anybody and anything else.

#13: Gwenith Rosebud – With her remaining years Gwenith took to making individual memorials of every single tribute who had ever died in the Games, even the cruellest amongst them,. Victors who died in and out of the arena were included as well. But when that was done Gwenith still had time left, and she wasn't keen to spend it in a cosy, uneventful retirement. Instead Gwenith split her time between two ventures she saw as matters of immense personal importance. The first was spending hundreds and thousands of her free hours helping those who, like herself, had grown with birth defects or deformities that had caused an unjust amount of bullying. Gwenith would guard them and do whatever it took for such people to have a place in the world and the knowledge they had somebody watching over them. The second was to fulfil a childhood dream of hers and become the mayor of District Nine. Let Hovis represent them on a nationwide scale, she just wanted to be the leader of her homeland and do her best to keep them all living their best lives. She ended up winning the vote unanimously.

#24: Crown Martins – Retiring from the life of a rebel and being a damn good mentor, Crown was content to do the thing he always had been known for doing – make candy. Alongside Harp he continued to work in his fancy club, the place only expanding and becoming bigger with every passing month. It was truly a place where the magic happened, whether it was amazing confectionary or just the novelty of watching Crown chatter on and on like a madman when he was in a really good mood, and frankly this was very often. Life was as sweet as the candies he loved to make. Each shift would always end the same way, as quickly became a tradition. Cookies were passed all around and a minute of silence was held in the name of the his and Harp's patron who had loved those biscuits so very much – Crystal. Even with age allowing him down, it never managed to shut him up. In fact, the only thing that made Crown go silent – and Harp become overjoyed to the point of tears – was the statue of Crystal, made from her namesake, given as a gift by Platinum and displayed in the main entrance of the club for all of time.

#29: Crimson Flanders - It was pure sweet dreams fuel to Crimson that she had survived long enough to see the fall of the Capitol and the deaths of those who had violated her decade after decade. Some would call her cruel for the sadistic joy she hot from watching the Capitol Games, but Crimson did not care. She'd gotten exactly what she wanted out of them - closure. With Snow dead and his regime to one day just be a bad memory there was really just one thing for Crimson to do. Brainy as she was and perfect as her grades were, Crimson really had no desire to seek out the career her younger self had wanted. It did not matter anymore and she had all the money she needed anyway. No, what Crimson wanted was to finally be able to reconnect with her family, the people who she had bared Snow's cruel demands for the sake of for so very long. Now that her family knew the whole story any issues they once had were banished to the ether for good. It was a reunion with not a dry eye to be seen. For the rest of her days Crimson would surround herself with her nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews, all of them eager to get to know their war hero aunt and include her on all manner of activities. With her family safe and sound and her freedom restored, there was only one word that could describe Crimson - happy.

#34: Snag Nakamura – Now that he was no longer confined to a wheelchair it seemed that the world had opened up for Snag. While he was content to watch his daughters grow and his family similarly grow as grandchildren inevitably appeared, Snag decided to use his newfound ability to run for the most noble of causes – a sponsored marathon run across Panem to raise money for all who, like himself for the vast bulk of his life, could not walk. Exhausting as it was he nonetheless completed the run just as he vowed to. After that Snag was often found either spending time with his family, working on a poetry anthology or playing hover ball. Life was good.

#35: Librae Ogilvy – With her time stranded in Hawaii over and done with, Librae returned to living her best life in District Four. Sure, it was strange and sometimes a little hurtful so many things had changed and so many people had died while she was gone, but she kept on living. It was the most respectful thing she could do. Librae ended up becoming a full time surfing teacher, passing on her iconic skills to the next generation. But greater things than that were in Librae's future – the not-so-simple surfer eventually heard that Hawaii was to become District Fifteen (the District of Exploration) and they wanted her to lead it! Righteous!

#37: Beetee Latier – Just as the doctors had predicated Beetee regained his ability to walk sooner rather than later. Of course, Beetee's strongest asset had never been his legs, but rather his genius mind. Beetee put it to good use, dedicated himself to creating dozens and dozens of technological marvels to aid the nation as it entered a golden age. With Beetee at the helm resources were made to last longer, people's lifespans increased and much of the environmental damage inflicted by the Capitol was being undone, day after day. Of course, it wasn't all work and no play. When Beetee had the occasional day off he could be found in the open ranges of district ten playing golf. He was, after all, the nation's champion at the sport.

#39: Rhyder Overwhill – Being the son of the first volunteer who furthermore caused careers to exist had always given Rhyder a sort of fixation on career tributes, even if like his late mother he was not one himself. To this end Rhyder took it upon himself to try and help the career cadets from Two and One to make something of themselves. Not only did he try, but he succeeded. Many of them came from troubled backgrounds, or had been brainwashed and needed help finding their way in a world without the old regime. Rhyder ensured all of them found work and purposed, whether it was as part of the replacement for Peacekeepers – Storm Fighters – or youth support work across Panem and the gradually expanding world beyond. Rhyder believed he had managed to start repairing the accidental damage his father had caused and liked to think his parents would be proud. On the other side of the curtain as they may have been, little whispers within the wind would suggest they were proud, always and forever.

#40: Lammy Phyronix – It took a while, but Lammy managed to accomplish the ultimate task that a trapper could possibly undertake – she'd been able to trap and eliminate every single dangerous mutt that remained in the country. But Lammy believed her task was only halfway done. She'd grown knowing how to trap mutts and kill them, but who said every mutt had to be dangerous? Where they not created to be killers from the start? It took a lot of research, especially as several vital files had been lost during the rebellion, but Lammy ended up working out the perfect genetic formula to create harmless mutts and through this achieved the accomplishment of her life – a series of cute, cuddly monsters that doubled both as pets and therapy animals. It was a complete success and a showing that even things built for evil, like mutts, could be changed to something good. It could happen if people would only try.

#42: Spool Nylon – Having always been a man with a silver tongue and somebody who loved the spotlight, what better sort of career was there for Spool than one on the TV screen? Spool had plenty of charisma and knew exactly how to put it to the best of use. It started off as small things like commercials and the occasional public service announcement, but before long Spool had progressed to being the much loved host of 'Panem Today, Panem Tomorrow', a show covering all ongoing events and with the purpose of keeping hope alive in the nation as the scars of the past gradually healed. But his biggest achievement came when, after the actor who portrayed famous character Lawrence had been killed in the rebellion, Spool took on the role of one half of the iconic soap opera pair, Fiona and Lawrence. As much as Spool enjoyed the role, there was still a role he preferred to anything else in life – the role of Cupid's father and Lammy's husband. He'd not trade it for anything.

#44: Platinum Twist – As could be expected it took a while for Platinum to relearn how to walk on her new prosthetic leg. But, relearn she did and soon she was able to run just like she used to be able to before the rebellion. Her position within the government was a huge commitment and often left her without lots of free time, but through it she was able to help humanity and especially District One. There were plenty of people like her past-self, desperate for attention and longing for a purpose in life, that needed help. Help she intended to give. Her humanitarian efforts were able to truly clean up the Luxury District and make it more beautiful than ever. Furthermore, as a sort of respect to the infamously unstable Mascara, Platinum led the way in providing the upmost of care and support for those born with conditions that may otherwise cause them and others harm. If the future was to be truly safeguarding then every last person mattered, no matter who they were. When asked why she cared so very much about the youth of One there was only one way Platinum would respond – showing the picture within her locket, an image of herself and her late daughter Spinel from a time where they'd been, if for a moment, happy together.

#50: Haymitch Abernathy – With the war won Haymitch initially had little idea as to where he could go next. He'd never really thought about more than the rebellion, how to maybe help his often-doomed tributes and where his next drink coming from. But now, he had a future that was quite uncertain… and, honestly, that scared him. But fear did not hold Haymitch within its clutches for long. It took rehab and therapy, but Haymitch was soon ready to face the world once more and happened to find quite the opportunity almost by fluke. A night spent furiously writing his worst memories onto paper as a coping mechanism made something apparent… he was damn good as writing. So good in fact that the story of his own life and that of all of the other victors living and dead become a nationwide best seller. The name of that famous book? Cheating Death.

#55: Wattzon Holmes – The only care Wattzon had for the district that had treated him like trash growing up was reserved for Clarkson, Arendellian and tributes he had to mentor. But with his little sister dead and there no longer being tributes, it was high time he moved on. Wattzon, with Clarkson tagging along for the ride, ended up making their way down to District Nine where Trevy had returned. The escapee of the Games had been putting together a new sort of hustle and wanted Wattzon by his side for it. Just one look at the business venture and Wattzon knew he was in it for the long haul. Why ever would he say no to being co-owner of a theme park?

#62: Enobaria Golding – The new world order lacked the adoration of fighting that the previous world had adored, and so for a time Enobaria really had no idea what to do other than drink or watch violent video tapes. Inspiration struck the fanged victor when it turned out one form of violent entertainment had slipped through the cracks and survived to see the new dawn – cage fighting! With her experience as a victor and sheer ferocity it was easy for Enobaria, fighting under the pseudonym 'The Tooth Bitch', to begin winning titles left and right. That said, half of the tournaments had to ban her when her signature move, 'Nothing But The Tooth', left several other cage fighters in the emergency room for weeks on end.

#66: Spud Munroe – Spud had never chosen the life of adventure; indeed, the life of adventure had chosen him. With the war and the Games forever over Spud returned back home to District Eleven, content to busy himself with tending to the family farm and nurturing many a garden to life and success. A quiet life, but one that suited him just fine. A shock to the nation, Spud ended up hitting things off with rough and rumble Johanna! It was very much a low-key sort of thing with them, but rumour has it that they were taking it to mid-key soon enough. Spud certainly did not mind this one bit, content to live his new life without fear holding him back any longer.

#70: Annie Cresta – Some scars of trauma would never truly go away, but Annie found it so much easier to cope with the terrible memories of the Games and the rebellion thanks to the best of medication and the therapists she could now see. The once bubbly and innocent clumsy girl of the past seemed to have been bought back to life, even if just a little. While mostly content to raise her son Sinbad and provide whatever aid and care was needed for those in Four this wasn't to be the only thing Annie would do. Indeed, would go on to find her calling as the head of postal delivery in Four. Rumour has it that she wants to petition for there to be a District Sixteen – The District of Post. One can only wonder how this may turn out!

#71: Johanna Mason – With her family dead and her enemies similarly dead there was little for Johanna to dwell on, past or present. It was up to her to build her own future… and build it she did! For a while after the end of the rebellion Johanna joined up with the efforts to explore the world outside of Panem, efforts that would one day become a fully forged district. It was through Johanna's bravery and boundless desire to get the fuck out of Panem that the nation realised they were not alone – France had begun to rebuid itself as a nation called Ovum. When Johanna wasn't doing all of this she was typically handing out with Spud, her infamously prickly and stony centre developing a soft spot for the guy.

#72: Numi Marrolto – It was a relief to Numi that her twin sister had managed to turn up alright in spite of the fluke-like odds. She'd already lost so much, but losing her twin would have truly broken her. With the most important member of her family alive and well Numi was able to keep her chin up and continue her rap career. Under the new democracy and without any of the cruelties or restrictions of the old regime holding her back Numi was a success story by all accounts. Numi, or Numilicious Beatz when on-stage, had a wide range of topics to rap about… but in the end, she'd always make time for a rap on the importance of pacifism. She hoped it would make her fallen idol and best friend Bentley proud of her. She never quite moved past the guilt of how saying yes to the Final Games had send Belle to her death, but so long as Numi lived there was never a time where fresh flowers were not laid down on the young rapper's grave. Numi hoped Bentley forgave her for straying from the right path. Some say a grand breeze when Numi first expressed this was proof tat he did… but it was surely just a coincidence… or, was it?

#74: Katniss Everdeen – Katniss had no interest in remaining as a big public symbol and returned to quiet life within District Twelve. After all the action and war she'd lived through she wanted to simply return to her old days of hunting and doing what she found to be a calming sort of daily routine. Of course, eventually Katniss found herself wanting a bit more in life. A loner and a fan of near solitude as she was… it wasn't really living. That was why she decided to pick up where Prim left off before her tragic death and began to train to become a nurse. It was, in a way, the family trade after all. Between this, hunting, her eventual marriage to Peeta and, after many years of uncertainly on the prospect, motherhood… Katniss felt at peace.

#74: Peeta Mellark – Peeta returned to District Twelve with Katniss, content with what he had in life. As time went by his scars faded away bit by bit, even if they never truly vanished, and so he was able to commit towards becoming a highly accomplished baker within District Twelve once it had been rebuilt after the prior firebombing. As bad as the things the Capitol did to him were, it all failed to take away his talent and joy for baking. When he wasn't busy baking or spending time with Katniss he was usually seen as a common visitor to the memorials built in place of the destroyed arenas. The arena of the Seventy Fourth Hunger Games was never lacking in flowers or cakes laid down on the graves of the twenty two children who died in that terrible forest. Peeta's heart went out to them all, from Marvel to Clove to Gadget to Urchin and so on down to Rammy, Sable and Rue. Peeta believed they, and every single other fallen tribute, deserved to be remembered.

#Final: Cupid Sol – Being the sole victor to win the Hunger Games without killing, or even injuring, a single person it was little surprise that Cupid was the face of the new age. The values of love, kindness, tolerance and pacifism he had displayed in and out of the arena gave a great amount of hope to the recovering nation. For a lot of his teen years Cupid was - when not busy with school – travelling across the nation to give peace talks. He was an outright celebrity whether his audience was from the Capitol or the Districts. But being a spokesperson wasn't his sole career venture. How could it be when his blog was back and better than ever? The nation just couldn't get enough of Cupid's energetic and eager commentary on all forms of romance across the nation, whether fiction or reality. A place like Panem needed love, and lucky for Cupid he had no shortage of it. Such a thing would be impossible when in the care of Spool and Lammy.

"In spite of everything I still believe, deep down, humans really aren't bad." – Mizar Aldjoy.

THE END