A/N: I will probably AU a little bit on some things since this is all about the difference one person can make. Let me know where it sucks and where it's strong, if I don't have enough development or anything somewhere. The focus of this story is on what happened outside the games. Thought Katniss and Peeta and all those same awesome characters we all love will pop in and out, this mostly focuses on the Districts and what was going on around the Hunger Games before the rebellion. Reviews appreciated :D

Chapter 1: Reaping Day

"When a butterfly flaps its wings in one part of the world, it can cause a hurricane in another." - Author Unknown

The young woman lay on her bed staring straight up at her ceiling. Pink, diaphanous curtains billowed around the four poster bed fixed in the middle of her room, but she ignored them. The feeling of wakefulness filled the house around her and she knew it was time to wake up, but something made her limbs feel like lead. Finally, a soft knock on her door.

"Callie?" her mother's voice was muffled by the wood, "Calliope, are you awake?"

A moment of silence passed and Callie said nothing, cold blue eyes fixed on the ceiling. The door creaked a little as it was opened, "Callie, you're going to miss the Graduation Games if you don't get up soon."

Callie sat up quickly and fixed her harsh stare on her mother, "I'm awake, mom. I'll be down in a minute."

The woman didn't leave, instead she made her way to Calliope's bedside and rested a gentle hand on her ankle. Her soft doe eyes watched her daughter sympathetically, so sympathetically it made Calliope sick, "I'm sorry you didn't qualify, darling. Graduating in the top 15 of your class is still impressive, you won't be on your own for long."

"Yes," Callie's voice was veiled with sarcasm, "Such a shame I didn't get the opportunity to slit the throats of my classmates."

Ava Lightwood's gentle gaze flipped like a switch to cold and calloused. She got to her feet and gathered her long blue skirt in her hands, "Get dressed and be downstairs for breakfast. We're going to the Graduation Games and cheering for your friends."

The slamming door made the windows rattle and Calliope tossed back the covers. She was downstairs by the time breakfast was on the table, staring down into her eggs and letting her thoughts consume her. Callie lifted a hand to catch the stray silvery blond curl that had slipped loose from her carefully crafted hairstyle. She raised her hands and rearranged the peridot comb that held it all together so she would not have to deal with another stray hair again. Ava's cool hands were soft on hers as they stopped Callie, taking care of the renegade curl on her own. Calliope looked up at her mother with an apologetic smile, one Ava returned and took her place at the other side of the table.

That was the moment Callie became aware of her stepfather's harsh eyes fixed on her. Scipio's frosty gray-blue eyes were met by the defiance of his stepdaughter's and he cleared his throat, "It's a shame you didn't qualify. I had higher hopes for you."

Short, but it drove the point home like a knife. Callie winced and looked away, popping a slice of melon in her mouth and forcing herself to chew. Scipio was reminding her of her failure and emphasizing his disappointment in her, but he didn't understand. He hadn't been with her on the Qualifying Day and he hadn't been inside her head for the last two years. She clenched her eyes shut for a second to keep the memory at bay, but it came upon her whether she wanted it or not.

All the members of the senior class at the Academy met for Qualifying Day in lieu of final examinations. This would culminate in five girls and five boys to vie for the illustrious honor of being District 1's volunteer for the 74th Annual Hunger Games, just like it always had.

'Hesitation,' the voice in her head said with all the authority of the Instructor, 'is the single weakness all Districts have in common.' And they had preyed on that hesitation in Calliope that day. Pairing her for the second-to-last fight had been simple, Callie should have anticipated it. The announcer put her and Glimmer, childhood friend and closest confidante, together in the ring and the fight began. Calliope had always been the superior fighter of the two, subduing Glimmer had been simple enough. Once she had Glimmer pinned under her, Callie raised her fist for the final knock out blow, but felt her arm slow down. It was only a second's worth of hesitation, but it had been enough. Glimmer, without missing a breath, coiled around her like a snake and reversed their fortunes. Callie was out like a bulb when Glimmer hit her.

The memory was still raw and painful, the embarrassment of it haunted Calliope at the breakfast table and she knew Scipio would continue to punish her with it until he felt she had enough. No more words were spoken, Callie waited for Ava to rise with her stepfather and got to her feet. She smoothed out the mint green chiffon of her dress and fell into line behind her mother. Ava fell back and took her daughter's arm, her voice a whisper.

"Be excited for Glimmer, this could be an incredible day for her," Ava got closer to her, "This could be an incredible day for Marvel."

Callie had steeled herself against his name, ignored the fact that he existed. She and Marvel had been together since she was fifteen, just two short years ago, and now he was going to take to the ring and fight for his place to be the District 1 Volunteer. If Calliope had been any other girl, any other person in District 1, she would have been elated. This would have been a shining moment for her closest friend and the love of her life, but she wasn't. Callie couldn't bring herself to be happy for them, elated for them, anything outside the spectrum of terrified seemed inappropriate.

The door of the limousine slammed shut behind her and made her jump. Callie hadn't even realized she had stepped into the vehicle. Instead, Callie focused on the passing buildings and houses, elaborate columned structures trying so hard to mimic the Capitol. The thought made her snort disapprovingly under her breath.

Trying to be like the Capitol, she thought, like the Capitol is some Mecca we should aspire to be.

District 1 and her luxurious lifestyle had granted Calliope access to the Capitol that other Districts could only hope for. She had witnessed first hand the gluttony and greed that festered in the city, the vanity and obsession with the Hunger Games. Part of Calliope scolded herself, she should feel blessed to have such a District that was so loved by the Capitol, blessed that her stepfather had taken her in and sent her to the best Academy money could buy. Something about it felt wrong, had felt wrong for a long time.

The door of the limousine opened and Calliope took the hand that extended inwards, stepping carefully out of the car. Marvel smiled down at her and squeezed her hand, lifting it to his lips to give it a gentle kiss, "Calliope Lightwood."

She fought against her own smile and lost, wrapping her arms around his lithe frame and standing on her tip-toes to kiss him. They pulled back and looked at each other, she let him tug loose one of her carefully crafted curls and spin his fingers around it. He kissed her again before releasing her to greet her mother and stepfather. Calliope took a step back and watched him shake hands with Scipio and embrace Ava, they had loved Marvel as though he were their own son. Now, they were thrilled to watch him beat down his fellow Graduates for the title of Volunteer so they could be thrilled to watch him slaughter those who should have been his classmates.

A bitterness filled Calliope's mouth and threatened to extinguish her smile, but she swallowed hard. It seemed cheap and staged that the other Districts didn't receive the training District 1 and 2 had, like they were lambs being led to a slaughter. For the most part, they had been, but every so often one of the outer districts would surprise them and take the victory spot. Calliope ignored the nagging feeling that those victories had been staged, too.

Marvel offered her his arm, "Why the long face?"

She recovered her supportive smile and gave him a small laugh as a consolation prize, "I'm just thinking about the other Graduate competitors you have to go up against today. Tithe and Glory are formidable, especially Glory. The guy is half mountain, half bigger mountain."

Marvel laughed gently, "I'm not worried. Do I look worried?" he pointed at his face, "You shouldn't be either. I'm going to beat them and come home as our Victor."

For a moment, Marvel's expression of confidence faltered as he remembered Glimmer competing for the Female Tribute slot, "Unless Glimmer gets the spot, then she might have to come back as the Victor for me."

It was an ambiguous line to walk, wanting to console your girlfriend on your victory and also console her on her friend's victory. Both of them knew the truth, all the pomp and theater would vanish before them and the only thing in the Arena that would matter is survival.

"I'm not worried," Callie said, trying to ease the tension that had built up, "If I'm lucky one of you will have to stay here and sulk and console me while the other comes back as Victor."

They paused at the entrance to the Stadium and Marvel gave her a quick kiss goodbye before disappearing towards the dressing rooms. She felt a squeeze on her hip and turned around to see Glimmer, crying out with excitement. Glimmer bounced forwards gleefully on her toes and covered Calliope in her arms like a blanket. She may not have been the most intelligent person, but she was the most excitable. Callie forgave her moderate ignorance of the world around her in exchange for her unquenchable happiness. Calliope embraced her back and matched her hopping, eventually pulling away and staring at her friend.

"Can you even believe this day is here? And I get to be a part of it?" Glimmer squealed. Glimmer was tactful, avoiding the possibility of herself and Marvel winding up in the same place and focusing on her own excitement.

"I'm going to be rooting for you, don't tell Marvel. I have to," Callie hugged Glimmer again, "You will apparently knock my ass out if I don't."

Glimmer looked up at the sound of a single bell tolling and looked back to Calliope, wide-eyed, "That's my cue, you're absolutely right," she embraced Callie again, "I'll knock the hell out of you if you don't root for me."

Calliope watched Glimmer disappear behind the double doors of the dressing room and made her way inside. It was easy enough to reconvene with her parents, everyone knew the Lightwood family around here. Scipio was well liked and had tremendous acumen for gems and fine metal crafting, Ava was a remarkable hair stylist. Finding someone to direct her towards them was a simple task and Callie took her place among the crowds in the stadium.

Finally, the announcer boomed over the loud speakers, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the annual Graduation Games of District 1!"

A cry of excitement drowned out the speaker for a moment, people were on their feet applauding and shouting. Calliope remained where she was, tapping her hands together weakly.

"Today have the incredible privilege of watching our own Graduates compete for the crucial role of Volunteer in this year's 74th Annual Hunger Games," another cheer, "Our first match will take place between Gleam Hortium and Glory Fidentis!"

The match was brief, it was miraculous that Gleam had even made it as far as the Graduation Games. Glory was a better fighter and weighed twice as much as he did, the match was without question. Glimmer was in the first round, against Ibis Avis. Nobody liked Ibis, she was pretentious and cocky. That cockiness gave Glimmer the upper hand and on the path to victory. There were only a few matches, the winner of the first round would keep fighting until all combatants had been in the ring one time. Whoever lasted the longest emerged victorious.

Glory had made it to the fourth round when he came up against Marvel. Calliope felt her grip tighten on the armrest when the fight was announced, Ava's fingers squeezed against hers as they watched. The match was close, Glory was immense, but his size made him easily winded. Marvel had the benefit of endurance on his side when he landed the blow that took Glory out of the running. Calliope couldn't help herself, the shot to her feet and cheered with the rest of them. For a moment, she forgot her misgivings about the entire pageant, if it could even be called a pageant. It was thrilling to watch her longtime love conquer the unconquerable, it made her chest hurt with hope.

Reality set in after a moment, and Callie sat back down in her seat slowly. Ava looked down at her and touched her hair, "Callie, are you okay?"

"Yes," she swallowed hard, "Fine."

One more match. If he made it past Tithe, he would be the Tribute. Then he would be the Victor, or the Vanquished. Calliope didn't have particular confidence either way.

Glimmer's final round took place right after Marvel's first, against an eighteen year old girl named Prene. Prene was formidable, stealthy, and cunning. She fought like a trapped snake in the grass, fluid and venomous. Glimmer caught her second wind when her arm was pinned and she was pitched forward, throwing herself back against the lighter girl and landing a whirling kick to the side of her head.

The audience erupted, they had their female Tribute. Calliope felt her body go numb and stared straight ahead. Images flashed through her mind over and over again. Glimmer helping her with math homework when they were twelve, exploring the vast backyard of Calliope's sprawling estate, their first hand-to-hand training at fourteen, their survival course where they would have frozen to death if Glimmer hadn't insisted they huddle close for warmth. Ten years of childhood, of youth, of friendship faded into the blackness of the future. She couldn't clap. Calliope's hands were like rocks, she couldn't lift them to be anything but terrified.

The final match between Tithe and Marvel barely played out before, her but she could tell from her mother's screaming who had been crowned the male Tribute. Callie got to her feet slowly and let her arms work independently of her brain, let them applaud like she was supposed to, let herself smile like she was supposed to. Inside, she couldn't stop screaming.

Calliope Lightwood had been raised to believe the Hunger Games were the apex of existence for the youths of District 1. It had been drilled into her day after day of her young life that she should aspire to be the female Tribute and make her District proud. Somewhere along the way, Calliope lost sight of that feeling of District pride. If you had asked her, it happened two years ago on the 72nd Hunger Games. She was fifteen and watched the student she had most admired make her way to the top of the charts, departing as the female Tribute that year. Calliope had glued herself to the Games like all her fellow students had, watched with the same amazement the Capitol pushed for in all the propaganda. It was watching with such urgency that had started to turn Callie's mind away from the jingoism and the sense of nationalism. She watched the cameras when her family was asleep, watched the female Tribute weeping and praying to whatever force controlled fate to let it end. Tributes who began as icons devolved into animals right in front of each other, but it was like nobody noticed. Or cared.

Callie didn't know when she had gotten up and walked away, but suddenly she was up and hugging Glimmer and letting Marvel kiss her face over and over again. She heard herself exclaiming happily for them, talking about her pride in both of them, but she never remembered thinking these things.

"I can't believe the two most important people in my life are the Tributes," she said, more truthfully than she intended, "This is surreal."

Callie wasn't sure if they heard the fear in her voice, Marvel gripped her tightly, "This is incredible. I can't believe we're going to be in the Games. One of us is going to be the Victor. Either you'll get to be the love of one Victor's life, of you'll get to be like a sister to the other. Everyone wants to be you right now, Cal."

She laughed and pulled both of them in for a tight embrace, one full of desperation and fear, but let them believe it was pride surging through her limbs.

Everyone wants to be me, she repeated, except me.

Calliope's mother hadn't needed to wake her up on Reaping Day. Callie hadn't been able to sleep, so she didn't need to be woken up. The last few days were a blur, Glimmer had no time for anyone but herself and Marvel had shown up once to spend time with her and watch one of the Capitol's many fashion channels for a few hours. It had seemed so painfully normal in the moment that she forgot she could be sending him off to his death when she kissed him goodbye.

Today felt real, though. She was entirely in her body today, the day she sent her best friend and the man she loved off to die. Ava snuck in and set herself up behind Calliope, running her fingers though her damp hair, "I heard the shower."

"Couldn't sleep."

"So much excitement today, I can't blame you," Ava blamed it on excitement. Calliope hid her scowl at the wrongness of the moment. She shouldn't be standing there full of praise to watch children slaughter one another, as a mother Ava should be outraged that parents must sit in front of a screen and watch their children die to the cheers and fanfare of fans.

Calliope let Ava weave her hands through her hair with a heat brush, drying it and stroking it. Ava coaxed and teased the fine strands into an ornate braid, thick and tight on the right side of her head. It burst forth on the left side in a flood of curls. Tiny crystals so small they looked like raindrops were scattered through her hair, a single strand of thin gold leaves woven into the braid. Callie got to her feet and let the ivory silk of her blouse cling to her body like a second skin, her black skirt tight over the feminine curves of her thighs. Ava stepped back and let out a sigh of admiration.

"I can't believe either of them would be able to leave you," Ava hugged her daughter and left abruptly, not giving her a moment to respond.

The last Reaping Day, Ava had become so flustered by Calliope's rage at the whole thing that she just left. This time, Ava didn't plan to listen to her daughter's heretical comments on the Capitol and the perversion of the Hunger Games. Calliope instead stood looking at herself in the mirror. She hardly felt herself move when she threw the paper weight from her desk, shattering the glass to the floor. Without even breathing, Callie strode out of the room purposefully.

District 1 was a hive and the inhabitants were the bees, buzzing around the buildings and making their way through the sidewalks and down the immaculately clean streets to the square. The square itself was unlike anything the outer Districts would have imagined. A tall marble fountain highlighted with gold leaf had been turned off for the ceremony. Tall Corinthian columns surrounded the square and sectioned off the facades of shops from the mass of persons surging in to watch the Tributes as they left. Calliope extended her hand and permitted the Peacekeeper to prick her finger, accepting the gratuitous apologies given for hurting her otherwise lovely peach skin. They both knew it was for show. She looked around and saw - as ususal - all the age groups and genders were mixed. The Capitol hardly even went to the extent to feign decorum, they knew as well as the residents of District 1 that it was unnecessary to divide the youths here.

Calliope made out the only familiar face she could among the crowd: the hulking mountainous form of Glory Fidentis sticking out like a sore thumb. Callie let her elbow graze his and she peered up at him as he in turn looked down. Glory gave her a conciliatory smile, "Today must be hard for you."

His voice was deep and baritone, he was intimidating, blunt, very to-the-point. Calliope appreciated that about him at the Academy and found herself appreciating it now. Nothing in his tone implied that she was to be pitied for not being up there, all of it implied what she felt.

"It is. Thank you," Callie did him the courtesy of being blunt back.

"It's strange," he said, his voice low as it could be, "I am supposed to be mad at myself for not being where Marvel is."

"Are you not?"

"Not even a little."

What had passed between them danced on the line of treason in the eyes of the Capitol, so Calliope didn't respond. Glory had been somewhat of a friend to her at the Academy in his own way. Callie smiled and recalled the one time she had sparred with Ibis and Ibis had taken things too far, exploiting a weak moment Calliope had not yet noticed in her style. She remembered the weak flurry of fists and kicks, remembered blacking in and out as it happened. Suddenly, the flurry of Ibis stopped, Callie opened her eyes and watched as Glory lifted Ibis off her like a doll. She let herself black out again and when she came to, she was cradled in his surprisingly gentle arms being carried to the infirmary. Later, Glimmer told her how Glory had declined a gurney and wished to carry her himself.

Marvel had gone ballistic, of course, because he didn't see the gesture as one of quiet chivalry. Calliope let in the thought that he wasn't of the capacity to understand it, then scolded herself. It was not wise to think ill of one's significant other, or so Ava had always told her.

Calliope had seen it differently, had seen Glory differently. Glory wasn't moving in on her, not in the way Marvel thought. He was a barrier trying to erect itself around her, around all of the pupils. Glory wasn't interested in the esteem of being a Victor, he was interested in going so his other classmates wouldn't have to.

Nobody else had seen this in him.

The two of them stood silently together as the escort took the stage. She was a lean woman, tall and her skin blotched lavender. Her hair had been twisted and twirled, it looked almost like a dove's tail and was layered with white feathers. Her long, tight dress matched the ensemble, continuing the theme of doves. The woman took to the stage and produced her cards, "Good morning everyone. Welcome to the Reaping for the 74th Annual Hunger Games!"

The crowd around them erupted into cheers and shouts of excitement, Callie and Glory stood silently and watched the screens ahead of them.

"My name is Delia Montague, I am thrilled to be standing before you today for the great honor of escorting the male and female Tributes from District 1 to the Capitol!" More cheers, "But first, a short film before we begin."

Glory and Calliope watched the film - played every year - as it flickered across the screens before them. Heads bowed, some people dabbed at tears, others covered their mouths and displayed appropriate amounts of shame and reverence. Callie caught Glory's eye and he rolled them, she smiled and appreciated the gesture to brighten her spirits quietly.

Finally, the film finished and the crowd applauded. Delia looked up at the crowd again, "That always gives me goosebumps. Now, without further delay, we will draw for the female Tribute first."

"I volunteer," Glimmer's voice rang out over the crowd, authoritative yet expected. It was a show, a display. Delia had long been informed of who would be on that train with her, but she feigned shock and appreciation.

"Well, this is a surprise! May I present-" Delia trailed off and let Glimmer speak for herself.

"Glimmer Reets," she smiled at the crowd winningly, a heartbreaker in every sense of the phrase.

"Glimmer Reets! You brave young woman, I am sure you will make your District proud." More cheers, "Now, for the gentlemen."

"I volunteer," Marvel, already standing on stage, stepped forwards and extended his hand to Delia. He kissed hers gently and flashed a cheeky grin at the camera.

Delia fanned herself and laughed politely, "Well, this is certainly an easy job you've given me, Mr.?"

"Marvel Landmen," he smiled again at her charmingly.

Calliope's stomach lurched, but she felt a hand grasp hers and give it a squeeze. She let herself lean into Glory's massive shoulder to steady herself and forced her eyes back to the stage.

"May I present to you the male and female Tributes representing District 1, Marvel Landmen and Glimmer Reets!"

Cheers and shouts rang out, echoing in the basin of the marble square. Calliope's head grew light and she felt the world slide out from under her, all she could see was Glimmer's princess wave and her smile. Marvel's cheeky half grin and his bold hand stretching out like it could stop her from falling, but she knew better. This was the moment the two of them had lived for, Glimmer and Marvel. This was the moment they had waited to bask in their whole lives, regardless of whether it meant leaving Calliope behind.

Callie felt her knees turn into water and a strong arm snatched up her shoulders to keep her from falling. Glory sighed and looked down at her, "Should I take you to see him or her before the train? You won't have time for both."

His tone implied he wished to be gentle with the fact, but he couldn't be. Callie knew that. She nodded, "Her."

That word would haunt her for the rest of her life, but Calliope didn't know that yet. Callie's confidence was greater in Marvel than in Glimmer, she took the moment to choose the weakest of two links. Glory led her slowly to the train station and the Peacekeepers let her inside, not Glory. Glimmer had requested Calliope be on her list of persons to say goodbye to.

The door open and the young women embraced each other tightly, squeezing hard and saying nothing. Glimmer shuddered for just a moment and exposed her secret fear, "You picked me."

It was a statement, not of surprise or accusation, just a statement. Calliope nodded, "I've known you since I was seven years old, I've known Marvel since I was fourteen. I have to say the person I've known since I was capable of remembering stuff takes precedence."

"You picked me," Glimmer said again, happier this time, and squeezed Calliope hard, "Go on, give me some last minute advice. Hurry up."

Callie laughed, "Uh, I don't know. Remember body heat is the best thing in the winter, kick your feet when you swim, and stay alert." The last portion Callie said with a level of conviction Glimmer didn't expect.

A knock on the door and a nod from the Peacekeeper made them hug again before Calliope was removed from the room. Something about the last statement she made to Glimmer was final, something about it was definite.

"I love you, Glim," Callie said as she left, turning back just for a second, "Don't die out there."

The door closed, that was it. That was the last time Calliope Lightwood would see her best friend in the whole world, the wave from the stage was the last time she would see the love of her life. In her soul, she knew it. Every fiber of her body tingled with the knowledge that she wouldn't see either of them alive again.