A.N. This is a little additional bit I wanted to add as fun. I never bought the idea of 'heaven' as being made up of people in white robes with wings sat around for all eternity on damp clouds playing harps and singing the praises of 'God', whatever that means. In any case such a 'heaven' tells me only two possible things, that either the 'God' involved in creating it must be very insecure and need constant reassurance as to how wonderful they are, or that they are a megalomaniac, demanding constant praise against the threat of being sent to the 'other' somewhat warmer place. Neither of which option fits at all well with the concept of 'God' as a spiritual, loving being, but more of a spoilt brat really. :o)

So then, this is an attempt to 'build' a somewhat more habitable 'heavenly society' one which has a spiritual element, but also a function, a 'sociology' and a structure to it, one indeed that human spirits could exist in and enjoy.

Epilogue

After what seemed a fairly lengthy stroll whilst chatting together the mists around the group of ex-Tributes from the 74th Hunger Games then cleared and they saw themselves to be in what they at first took to be the public park in the City Circle of Panem's Capitol. The lawns were immaculate and mockingjays fluttered and sang joyfully in the branches of the tall stately trees. But looking around them they noticed several details that were different to what they remembered. The buildings across the nearby wide thoroughfare were somewhat different, more elegant and designed to be less brutally impressive than those in Panem's Capitol. Also they did not bear it's symbols and instead several of the more beautiful and larger structures bore an inscription above their portals unlike any they'd seen before. It was an ornate carving of a snake, swallowing it's own tail.

Rue smiled at their confusion and pointing to the snake symbol said. "That's an ancient stylised symbol for infinity often used on our grander public buildings, it's Ouroburos, it's a sort of spiritual infinity symbol, one that represents 'The All is One' or perhaps 'World Without End'. Many other humbler buildings you'll see carry the other more conventional infinity symbol, which lots of you may know is shaped like a figure eight laid on it's side."

Marvel now completely back to his normal irrepressible self thanks to Rue's kindness and forgiveness spoke up and asked, "So where do we go from here Rue, are we to live in this 'Heavenly' Capitol?"

Rue smiled at him and said; "For a while at least, yes Marvel. Because of your young ages you are all going to be attending an Academy together, but not one like those the Careers amongst you are used to. Think of it as an 'induction course', it is a place of transition where you can learn about what is possible in this new life and unlearn many old bad ways and fears you have been taught and which may have become engrained. You'll all be living in accommodation on campus whilst you're there, to keep you all together in a familiar group. I'll be teaching one of your courses about the culture here and the abilities you'll develop, like 'shape-shifting' your apparent age, clothing style etc., that's one thing everyone can do, not just we Angels. So we'll see each other almost daily in the classroom, as well as socially I hope.

Seeing Cato and Clove's worried looks Rue smiled and told them, saying; "Don't worry you two, when I said you'll 'unlearn' things I didn't mean we'll be taking away your martial skills, indeed we have many other ex-Careers here and by choice they continue to train and hold competitions. The gym and sporting facilities at the Academy are actually first class. But now they're here our ex-Career's training no longer results in killing and their skills are exhibited in Games much less lethal than those we left behind us. The Games here are simply competitions of various skills, including martial techniques. They are organised by their participants and run to entertain the public. The object is to compete for the honour of genuine victory and acclaim, without the blood-lust and without the need for murder, not that anybody can be seriously hurt here anyway. I can see both of you becoming great champions in our Games and very popular here as a result."

Turning to Thresh and smiling Rue said, "That's what I meant when I said earlier that you and Cato may get a 'rematch' later."

Thresh and Cato smiled at each other and Thresh said, "You're on my friend, and next time I'll win."

Cato still grinning replied, "In your dreams."

Rue smiled at their banter then continued, saying; "In addition though Cato and Clove, you may be interested to know there's also a lot of other more 'normal' subjects you can study and not just physical training. There is much to learn should you wish to, simply for the pleasure of 'finding out'. Our Academy is a bit like an earthly University in fact. Your 'education' along with that of nearly all other Careers has been sorely lacking, in all except the techniques and application of violence. Here you may find other things to interest you as well and gain the opportunity to learn about them. That goes for all the rest of you as well. She smiled, looking around her assembled charges.

Cato and Clove looked relieved at Rue's words and Cato said, "It all sounds amazing Rue, thank you for setting our minds at ease. I know Clove and I would miss it very badly if we had to stop training together. It is so much a part of who we are it would destroy us to have to give it up. My beautiful girl and I will, of course, become a team for those Games you mentioned and carry on training with our peers, but this time it'll be nice to know it's for something really positive."

Clove smiled, clasped Cato's hand tighter and added; "This big ox wouldn't know what to do with himself if he had to sit around letting his muscles run to fat and twiddling his thumbs for all eternity, me neither for that matter. Those competitions you spoke about sound great Rue, I think we're really gonna go for it, watch out Heaven here comes Team Clato! I'll get you all fan club badges made up." She joked and beamed at everyone. They all smiled back at Clove, yelling and clapping, chanting, "Go Team Clato!"

When it eventually quietened down Clove continued happily, saying; "As to learning new stuff that sounds great as well Rue. I doubt either of us are going to become academics but I always liked the way my knives were so well made, the amount of work that went into them and their design, how they got them to such a fine balance and stuff. I've always had an interest in how they were created and so I think I'd like to study metalworking, not just knives of course but all sorts, maybe even jewellery. I love that gold mockingjay pin that Katniss wears, but was too proud and afraid of being called 'girly' to ever tell her so.

Clove smiled at her boyfriend and said, "As to my darling Cato here, we'll to look at him you'd never think he's a 'history buff', but in the Academy they had a small library, mostly about martial subjects of course. If he was injured and unable to train for a while then believe it or not Cato was often to be found with his nose in a book, mostly ones about the Roman Empire. Admittedly he mainly read about their Gladiators and the Legions, but almost by accident he's also soaked up quite a bit about the rest of their culture and can talk about it for hours, so I betcha I know what he'd like to study. Come to think of it if he really takes to studying he may even end up as a Professor, he's pretty smart my boyfriend."

And with that Clove was swept up again into Cato's arms and they kissed, causing more cheers and wolf whistles from the rest of the group.

Glimmer, sounding very happy, said, "As for me I won't be carrying on with competitions, I've had enough of training to last several lifetimes. I'll just support 'Team Clato'." She smiled at the couple and continued, saying, "But I'll be first in line to sign up for fan club badge for you two though."

She continued, "I was a bloody useless Career anyway, as dear Alia knows to her cost. However she has been so sweet to me and forgiven the horrible thing I did to her. We're friends now and talking together on the way here we've found we share much the same tastes and similar ambitions. I never thought I'd have the chance to do so but think I'd like to study fashion and design. I know I can never be as good as Katniss's stylist Cinna, his stuff's amazing! But I'm sure I couldn't do any worse than the idiot so-called 'stylist' I was stuck with. That awful outfit I had to wear in the Chariot Parade made me want to poke out my own eyes and that bloody transparent gold dress he made me wear for my TV interview was just plain embarrassing! He even wanted me to wear it without underwear, until I had a screaming fit and said I'd rather go on national TV completely naked 'cos at least it would be honest. I really meant it too and eventually I forced him to let me wear a flesh coloured bikini underneath it. From a distance it still looked like I was nude though, so goodness knows what my parents and friends watching back home thought of me."

Alia added in agreement with Glimmer, saying, Yes, I think both of us will see what the Academy can teach us about design and styling, I don't know if I we'll eventually go down the stylist and fashion route though, maybe we'll branch off into events planning and theme creation, party planning and decorating, that sort of thing, I know Glimmer is a big fan of outrageously lavish parties coming from the District 1, the luxury District, maybe between us we can come up with a few ideas to liven some things up in this town. With that Alia smiled and hugged her new best friend.

Rue then carried on letting them all know what was in store. "As to the rest of you, well you may be in the Academy just a 'local' year or some of you may elect to stay on and deepen your studies. A few of the most academically inclined students have been known to never really leave and eventually take on teaching posts. In any case after that first year's course, when you understand your options and decide what you want to do you can start your new lives 'proper' here. You'll be free to choose whatever you want, either to settle in the Capitol or move out back to the Districts, which are far nicer places in this reality."

Rue went on, explaining; "This whole part of 'Heaven' is deliberately designed to echo what is familiar to people from Panem. It holds all the best of what you know from your previous life on Earth, but none of the harshness and evil. In this 'Heaven' you'll find there is still some work needing to be done, which you may take on if you wish. Indeed most of us do decide to do something positive for our society eventually, although there is no 'economy' or money to be earned as such. People's 'jobs' here are essentially voluntary and nearly all involve working for others and helping other people, like my own vocation as an Angel or that of the teachers at the Academy. You might think being able to laze around without responsibility and doing nothing for ever would be wonderful, but trust me that is not human nature and soon almost everyone yearns to do something of use. Here it is for the gratitude and admiration of our fellows that we work, not money and power. Material wealth means nothing here, anything one could ever want you can have, just by reaching out your hand, but one soon discovers that having things for their own sake carries no long term satisfaction. A while back, before I got here, I've been told newcomers, particularly young ones, did often tended to 'go over the top' with possessions and such at first. Which is why the Academy was set up, to help young people adjust to their new lives. Older newcomers now always get an experienced mentor, usually an old friend from their earthly lives, to help them 'keep their feet on the ground'."

By way of a final explanation Rue added, "The people of other cultures and lands have their own places too, modelled on where they were from and visits between the many 'versions of heaven' are possible if one wishes. Some people even end up settling elsewhere. But whilst it's always nice to holiday in or visit another culture or country most people tend to choose to live in places they know and feel happy in, amongst their loved ones and familiar things. That is why our section of 'Heaven' is set up as it is."

Rue smiled and changing the subject said, "That's all I need to tell you for now I think, but there's just one other thing I should mention. As is our custom here, to mark your arrival amongst us this evening there will be a Welcoming Party in the Academy Hall, to which all those of your loved ones and friends who arrived here before you have been invited, so let's go and get you young ladies and gentlemen some suitable attire shall we? That outdoor gear you've all got on is not really suited to a party, is it?"

Rue beamed at her charges then hugged Thresh, of whom she was obviously very fond. Then looking a little embarrassed she said. "Oops, sorry, it's so easy to forget, I'd best sort out my own appearance too. I can hardly go to a sophisticated celebration looking this age." Then she 'shape-shifted' to become a stunning young woman, right before their astonished eyes.

Thresh looked about to faint with shock as he took in the beauty standing there before him, dressed in a simple and elegant plain white robe. She was obviously still Rue, but a more grown-up and very much more 'female' version, one no longer a small twelve year old young girl but now a still fairly petite but very beautiful young woman, of perhaps eighteen or so years old.

Framing the question that all the group wanted to ask, but which all the boys thought too ungallant Alia said, "You look lovely Rue, and your hair's so pretty in that style. Can I dare ask how old you are really and how long have you been here?"

Rue smiled at her and replied honestly saying, "I was 'originally' killed in the Ninth Hunger Games, Alia my dear. Although obviously it has happened since, in more than one of my 'earthly incarnations'. It's an occupational hazard you might say, but not one I ever get used to and if you want to know, yes this last time did hurt, as did nearly all the others. But I guess like childbirth, (although that is something I'll never experience), the pain is overcome by the satisfaction of the outcome and at least I know for sure there is something 'after'. So for me death, whilst never pleasant, is not something to be greatly feared. As to my appearance, well age doesn't really mean much here and time can be a bit 'flexible' too. We may appear any age up to our real chronological one if we wish, as you will soon learn. So were I ever to assume my real age I suppose I'd be an ancient, wrinkled and toothless hag, not that I ever really got to that stage in the living world I'm happy to say. In actual fact I died at age twelve, looking just as you first saw me and I prefer to use either that 'aspect' of myself or this one, those being the two I'm most comfortable in"

Rue then took Thresh's hand and smiled at his confused expression saying, "Buck up big boy, let's go and get you 'suited and booted' I want my handsome party escort and all his new male friends looking their best. And as for you young ladies, I'm sure there must be some nice evening gowns with your names on them somewhere in this city. If not then I'm sure one of our stylists will be only too happy to create something gorgeous for you all, since you haven't yet learned how to do it for yourselves."

Thresh swiftly recovered from his shock at Rue's transformation and the information she'd imparted and looking delighted lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it, then grinning he replied, "Anything you wish Rue, 'My Angel', I always wanted an experienced 'older woman'."

Rue grinned back at him and said, "Don't worry about the 'Angel' thing Thresh, here it's more of a 'job description' rather than a religious title, indeed we don't 'do' religion here very much, beyond personal conviction, and even then it's very much a minority 'hobby'. If you think about it it takes a particularly strange type of person to go preaching about the best way to get into 'heaven' when they themselves and their audience are already here. In any case religions in their 'organised' forms have always been a major source of trouble, division and grief throughout human history. Here they're not exactly banned but not encouraged either and even if they did ever get much of an 'audience' they'd certainly not be permitted to start fighting amongst themselves.

As to we Angels, well, The Powers of Light who are in charge of this place do grant us certain extra abilities if we take on the hardships the work involves." Looking around at her young charges Rue added, "And trust me gathering in you lot was bloody hard work. I've never known such an unruly mob! But her smile belied her words.

She finished by saying, "But at least I do get plenty of R&R breaks and now I'm 'off the meter'. Tonight's my night off and far from being an 'Angel' I plan on being a 'bit of a devil' with your help." Rue smiled and winked saucily at Thresh.

Hearing Rue's outrageous flirting and seeing Thresh's 'gobsmacked' expression as he blushed, the whole of the rest of the group of young people laughed hysterically and then once calmed down they headed off into the city together, hand in hand into a promising future.