Author's note:

This story is a re-write of a fic of the same name that I partially wrote some time ago. I wasn't happy with it, so have revised and fleshed it out to a stage that I'm content to post publicly.

The anthology is largely inspired by my obsession with the victors and, in turn, Oisin55's The Victors Project, his fanon series surrounding them. It's an extraordinary piece of work, as are all his works. If there are any similarities please know that if anything, they have stemmed from my subconscious adoration of his writing and no parallels are intended.

Of course, I would like to state also that I do not own The Hunger Games and this is a pet project that I will not be capitalizing upon. As there will be more canon Hunger Games released soon, please forgive me for anything that breaches this as a lot of this timeline had been written prior to the announcement of A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. I do hope that you like reading this as much as I have liked writing it. And on that note, please enjoy:

Champion

" – really don't see the point," grumbles Johanna.

I find myself tuning in and out of the conversation at hand. Johanna and Beetee are hotly contesting the inclusion of the Tour of Remembrance into the Liberation Month celebrations.

Peeta is buried in his sketchbook, opting between hues of pinks, oranges and yellows. It's a colorful, optimistic palette – today is a good day.

Painting and baking. This is how I gauge his mood, more often than I care to admit.

But I really don't want to think about us today.

... I hope that Greasy Sae has remembered to feed Buttercup while I'm gone.

"Well, I think we should vote on it," asks Beetee.

Johanna rolls her eyes. "Right, because that's worked so well in the past."

In this moment, I want to remind Johanna that she voted in favor of the Capitol Games.

However, I know this would not go down well and I say nothing.

Besides, so did I.

"I know that President Paylor encourages it," says Beetee.

Enobaria fixes him with a peculiar look. "And why is that?"

"She thinks it will be healthy for us."

Johanna snorts. Haymitch, who has remained silent, scoffs loudly.

"Healthy. That's us alright, the picture of health," he laughs, taking a swig from his flask.

Annie speaks up, her voice trembling. "Well, I want to remember them. Not just Finnick and Mags, but the others. And the ones who… who…"

"Didn't make it back," Johanna finishes and Annie moans, burying her face in her hands.

Another, unfamiliar victor whose name I don't know wraps his arm around Annie and shakes his head angrily.

"Nice one, Jo."

She shrugs in response.

But it's Annie's point that gets to me most and I find myself speaking up.

"I think it's a good idea."

The rest of the room stares at me.

"Well," I say, a little too defensively. "I didn't know the other victors like you did. Not personally. And considering a lot of them died because of me, you could say I owe them."

Enobaria's mouth tightens. "I'm glad to hear you say it out loud, Everdeen."

Johanna throws her hands up. "Oh, well, if the Mocking-girl On Fire deems it so, who are the rest of us to defy her?"

I shoot her daggers, which she returns with a grin.

"So, is it decided?" Beetee asks.

The rest of the room mumbles consent.

"Good. Well, as it happens, I began some research – "

Johanna mutters an expletive.

"– and I think it would be good to begin as soon as we can. Get ahead of the tour, so to speak."

I'm a little overwhelmed. "Alright. Where do we start?"

Beetee looks over at Enobaria, whose face lights up with a bright, fanged smile.