Pippa Woode begins her Victory Tour. We watch as she travels to each District.

Victory Tour

D10: Pippa Woode

Months had passed since I had moved into the Victor's Village. In that time I still had yet to talk to Tristan. I had opened my own ranch. I wanted to help people who had odds stacked against them. I taught lessons to disabled kids, I taught them how to ride and tack up their horses, I taught them how to rope cattle and ride bareback. Most importantly I taught them how to make a connection with the animals, how to understand them.

"It's a big, big, big day!" Sang Melodia, sounding kind of like an old escort I might have seen on the reruns of the Hunger Games.

"Why is it so big?" I asked, sleepily.

"It's the Victory tour, silly." Melodia giggled.

"Oh, right, the thing that I've been preparing for, for weeks now." I groaned.

"We start in District 12, the train leaves in one hour. If you are late I will personally see to it that you never leave my sight the entire trip.

In District 12

The colours of District 12 were gray, white and more gray. The buildings, the sky, the birds, even the people. Below me, on a wooden stage were the two families of the tributes. On Ballard's side of the platform there was a boy who looked exactly like Ballard and a woman. On Hayley's side were two boys and her parents.

Both families had the same looks, dark hair, pale skin and either green or grey eyes. Most of the crowd did too. I had started to notice similarities between the members of different Districts. Most of District 10 was light hair and light eyes with muscular builds. District 12 with their starved, thin faces and harsh stares.

I boarded the train to District 11, glad to be leaving District 12 behind.

In District 11

District 11 had nicer weather, more humid then I'm used to but nice and warm. A welcome change from District 12. The people hear looked fairly defeated, like they had tried too hard and had long since given up. On Devin's side were two small children and a sad looking man with his arms around the kids. On Fawn's side were her parents and two siblings.

I didn't know what to say about either Devin or Fawn because I had never known them well enough. I thought about them; Fawn, the brave, tricky little girl and Devin, the silent naturalist. I now wish I had gotten to know them better. Before they died.

In District 9

My soft, gold dress blew in the breeze. District 9 was not much different from District 10 in the physical appearance. The people however were more subdued and quiet. On the slight platform below the stage I was standing on, were two families; one Nikolai's side there was only a girl she looked sad and weary, on Scarlett's side there was an older man, a man of around 20, two small girls and two identical boys.

I had recited the Capitol mandated speech but I wanted to say something else, for the families.

"I didn't know Nikolai very well but he shouldn't have died the way he did. Scarlett was my District partners best friend and he loved her very much. She was brave and courageous and I admired that." My words were short and simple but both families nodded their heads.

In District 8

I felt like I was seeing more than anyone from District 10 should ever see. People expect District 8 to be a colourful place with happy citizens. District 8 is very poor, the people look bedraggled and very worn. The families of the dead tributes weren't any less worn looking. On Emerson's side were his mother and father who were holding the hands of two little girls, twins by the looks of it. On Maddie's side; her mother, father and older brother looked sad, their eyes showing the emotions.

I didn't know what to say about the tributes because I hadn't known them. I just bowed my head and thanked them. Melodia ushered me into their Justice Building for a meal with the mayor and some rest.

In District 7

The woods in District 7 were amazing, the trees towered above my head and their branches were perfect for climbing. The people were silent as I addressed them with my Capitol provided speech. On Hale's side of the platform there were only two small girls, no parents. On Noelani's side was her parents, an older brother and a younger sister.

"I didn't know Noelani or Hale very well but they both made a strong effort. They never stopped trying and were both very brave. I admired their dedication and strength. They both deserve to be standing here with me." I said; my entire speech was spent with my gaze on the two small girls on Hale's side. I had a feeling that their caretaker had been Hale and now their life would be much more difficult.

In District 6

District 6 had a dreary landscape, it was mostly buildings and huge hangars. They provide the entire of Panem with transportation, it's not an easy thing to do. The citizens of District 6 were not very polite, I talked over their voices as they discussed the price of aluminum and oil. Two people stood on Zebulon's side of the platform, huddled together, talking to each other. On Becca's side were her parents, her mother held a young child. I knew that Becca's mother had been a Victor and was the only living female Victor District 6 had.

I let Melodia lead me off the stage and through the doors of the Justice Building. I ate bread, fruit and small sugary cookies then Melodia excused all of us so we could continue to the District I had been dreading.

In District 5

The mayor of District 5, Mr. Delancy, introduced me and I walked out to give my speech. When Aira had described her District she had done an ok job. It was grey and white with smoggy air and watery sunshine filtering through the haze. I could see power plants everywhere and beyond the city limits I could see a green hill rising in the distance. On Kellan's side were his older sister, Summer, and his father. On Aira's side were her older sister, Kaia and her father.

"Kellan was my ally for a short time and he was a pleasure to know, he was quiet and funny, he should have been with me when we left the bloodbath. Aira was more than my ally, she was my best friend, she was the rock that kept me sane sometimes. She understood what it meant to be there for someone and she was always there for me. She was a free spirit and she wouldn't let anything keep her down. She gave me the strength to win; she deserved the crown more than I did." My voice faded, my throat was tight and tears were sliding down my cheeks.

In District 4

I could feel the heated glares of Barr's parents while I recited my speech. Barr's father looked exactly like his son and his mother looked very well-dress but lines had formed on her face, making her look sad. Noel's side hosted a distraught looking man who didn't look anything like Noel. The water glittered off in the distance and I could smell the salt. Images flashed through my mind of blood, Barr lying on the ground with a gaping hole in his stomach, Arden slipping under the water, Emmett attacking Barr to save me.

I felt sick and the world started spinning. Melodia caught me before I fell and helped me into the Justice Building. I sat on a bench, sipping water and fighting down hysteria.

In District 3

The people of District 3 were muted and looked terrified. The number of Peacekeepers here was triple the amount of those in the other Districts. The platform that should have held two families held only one. A man and a woman holding each other tightly. I could feel tears prickling in the corners of my eyes as I fought through my speech.

"Emma and Sam were very brave. Sam was very smart and determined, he probably could have survived on his wits alone. Emma was strong, stronger than most people in the arena. She could have torn any of us to shreds in training with her mind, without even meaning to but she held it all together. She was incredible, both of them were."

In District 2

District 2 was cold and unwelcoming. The people were no better than the landscape. Their stares were hard as rock and their postures were every bit as intimidating as the mountain that rose above our heads. On Arden's side were a man and a woman, they looked cold and emotionless as I said my speech. On Emmett's side were a man, a woman and his brother.

"The tributes from District 2 were truly amazing. Arden was strong and poised until the very end. She fought hard even when she was injured. Emmett." I choked, what could I say about him that wouldn't make me burst into tears? "Emmett was the bravest person I had ever met. He fought for what he wanted and… and he kept me alive. Not a day goes by that I don't miss him and thank him for what he did."

In District 1

The most beautiful of the Districts. The people were more well-fed and everything looked lavish and elegant. I felt a twinge of guilt when I looked at the platform below me. I had been the one who told Aira to shoot Royce, it was as much my kill as it was Aira's, at least in my mind it was, and I wasn't proud of it. Royce's family contained a small girl who was definitely his little sister, and two adults who had to be his parents. Diamond's side consisted of a man and a woman, both looked sad.

I felt guilty as I turned my back on the little girl and walked into the Justice Building, like I should have said something about Royce. I was led to a long table with the mayor of District 1 and some other important people. They talked amongst themselves but I said nothing.

In District 10

After spending all of the day before preparing for and attending a large Capitol party, I stood in front of my entire District, the old, wizened great grand-parents right down the infants who didn't even wake up during my speech. The smiling faces of my parents and Taylor were on the platform below me. On the side opposite from them Tristan and Tyler stood with their parents, Tristan stared at his feet, not meeting my eyes.

"I loved Lorcan, he was like my brother. He was always such a positive, optimistic guy. He helped me through the trials even before we entered the Arena and he was always there for me. I know that it might not fill the gap in anyone's hearts but he would be proud to look down at all of you right now. Fighting though losing him. Especially you Tristan." My best friend turned a bit pink at that and looked up at me, his brown eyes looked deep into my green ones and I could almost see his walls of anger breaking down.

Later when I left the District 10 Justice Building to walk the short distance to my home in the Victor's Village, I was intercepted by a dark figure. My possibilities of escape flashed through my mind; screaming for help, punching his nose, knocking him out cold, then I recognized the brown eyes and familiar smile of my best friend.

"Tristan!" I cried, throwing my arms around him. His arms came up and wrapped around me.

"Pip-squeak." He laughed, "I'm so sorry."

"Don't bother. It was my fault too, I should have tried to—" Tristan kissed me, cutting my words off. I stood there, my arms around his neck then something tugged at my mind.

"Wait." Emmett said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me back to him. He cupped my face and kissed me. "Now I know that whatever happens, you will always know how I feel about you."

"Stupid boy, you thought you were better than me. You thought you could beat me. No one has ever beaten me." Barr growled as he plunged his blade into Emmett's back.

I pulled away, struggling to not scream. I gasped for air, the weight on my chest felt unbearable. Tristan grabbed my hand.

"Are you ok?" He demanded, looking worried. Slowly I calmed down; Tristan walked me back to my house in the Victor's Village.

"Pippa, I still love you." He said when we were standing on my doorstep.

"You are going to have to put up with me screaming in the middle of the night, and panicking over nothing." I told him.

"I don't care." Tristan whispered and he kissed me again. This time I didn't pull away, I didn't scream but the images of Emmett flashed through my mind. His smile, him shirtless and wincing while I bandaged his cut, him kissing me, him fighting Barr for me.

I am never going to be the same but maybe it's better this way.

Sorry guys! This is the final chapter! I can't believe I actually finished it. It's all because of you guys. Without your encouragement, reviews and awesomeness I would never have managed this. Thank you all so much. Even the people who didn't review. I forgive you.

Special thanks to; Chaos In Her Wake, Narnian Pirate, XxHGFanBoyxX, and Dark. Angel. From. Above. For all of your reviews and support.

Also a shout out to my friend Meghan for letting me use her ideas and for being so supportive.

Thanks to everyone who submitted a tribute for the sequel. If anyone wants to make a boy for District 13, just PM me and I will send you the form.