A/N: H-hi everyone! I started writing again... and for those of you who liked my previous story (which was incomplete- please don't kill me!) I hope you all enjoy this one... I predict this one will be a slower paced story, so for those who aren't patient, I would advise to steer clear of this! Anyway, any feedback is appreciated. Also, I would also love to know if any of you all wanted me to continue my previous story- I felt bad for leaving it hanging! Hope you all enjoy!

Onyx smoke rose into the sky in tormented puffs as Juvia walked away from the coal mining field once the work day ended. Her body ached no more than usual today, except for the lashing she had received earlier that day on her back. She gingerly touched the wound, hoping the bleeding had stopped. She looked around her at the fellow slave laborers. They were from all over the kingdoms-Veronica, Caelum, Seven, and even a few from Fiore, all currently enslaved under the Kingdom of Bosco. Juvia couldn't help but sigh loudly. They were all so very broken. Their eyes were full of void and their starved bodies trembled as they walked back to their camp. Despite the hollow faces of those around her, Juvia's eyes remained fierce and alive.

Juvia will never give up like them, she thought as her shackles clanked to the rhythm of her pace.

It had already been a year that Juvia had been captured from a village raid in the kingdom of Seven at the age of 18. She watched her family die as soldiers drew their blades mercilessly to anyone that resisted. Juvia too, would have died if she hadn't been for her ability to fight so well. Juvia had been taught under the Guild of Assassins when she was younger and was lethal to anyone that threatened her peaceful life. She had killed 17 soldiers that day before the Captain and 3 other guards knocked her unconscious. The Captain knew that she might prove to be useful in the future for the King of Bosco.

But for now, Juvia, like most other slaves, worked in the coal mines. A mixture of soot and sweat covered her body, and her waxy blue hair no longer looked blue due to the filth. The slaves began to sing a melancholy song as they walked to their campsites under the watchful eyes of soldiers. It wasn't soon that Juvia began to unconsciously hum to their tune.

Juvia flopped down on her thin mattress. It felt like a slab of wood, but Juvia ceased to notice the aches it brought her anymore. She closed her eyes as let her body relax. The housing conditions were not much better than the conditions in the field. The rooms were tiny and housed two people each, and had no adequate running water or heat.

"Oi, Juvia, help me out, will ya?" A husky voice demanded.

Juvia's eyes shot opened and almost instantly got out of bed. The man was pointing at his arm, which had been poorly bandaged with blood seeping through the folds. He was tall and had jet black bushy hair, and multiple pierces on his face.

"Gajeel-kun! What happened?" Juvia asked with concern as she started tending to his wounds.

"Those assholes tried to give a lashing to some old hag that couldn't work no more," Gajeel spat, with a hint of anger in his eyes. "So I just stuck out my arm so she didn't have to get hit."

Juvia raised her eyebrows. Usually interfering with a lashing constituted in the death of the person who intervened.

"And yet, you are not dead?" Juvia asked cautiously.

"I dunno either, the soldier just mumbled something about having plans for me," Gajeel said nonchalantly.

Now Juvia's expression signaled a mix of confusion and curiosity.

"What does that mean? A plan for you?" Juvia questioned as she tightened up the newly wrapped bandage on Gajeel's arms.

"Dunno, and don't wanna stick around to find out. We have to escape soon, before things get worse," Gajeel urged.

"Juvia knows, but right now it is impossible. There are guards everywhere we look, and without Juvia's daggers, she cannot kill everyone swiftly to make our escape," Juvia said as she looked at her empty palms.

Gajeel nodded. He knew what Juvia was capable of. The Guild of Assassins did not just choose anyone to train- Juvia not only had the strength the Guild was looking for, but she had the intelligence and willpower as well.

"Then it better be soon," Gajeel grunted, lying down in his bed. "I can't stand any more of this piece of shit kingdom."

Juvia silently agreed and placed herself back in bed. She was carefully plotting their escape and analyzing the weak points of the campsite. Soon she and Gajeel would leave this hell hole and escape to Fiore.

Dawn broke and Juvia awoke the noise of soldiers shoving people out of their beds to eat their morning gruel then get to work in the fields.

Juvia woke up Gajeel to begin their day. Even though Juvia was a slave, she wasn't about to let the soldiers indulge in pushing her out of bed. But today was different. Instead of a regular soldier entering their room, one of the Captains walked in. His chest plate was silver outlined by gold, and he had a small insignia on the top left of his chest plate that represented a dragon.

"You," he said in a gruff voice, pointing at Juvia. "We need you to come with us."

Before Juvia could protest, he grabbed her arm and tore her away from Gajeel. Her shackles clanged together and mocked her lack of ability to do anything in this situation.

"Hey, what are ya doing with her?" Gajeel yelled. "She didn't do-"

Before he could say anything else, a soldier knocked Gajeel to the floor.

"Speak when you are spoken to, scum," the soldier said as he spat at Gajeel.

Juvia glared at the soldier and didn't think twice about what had to be done. She knew she couldn't do win this battle, with her legs shacked, but she decided to do it anyways. In a swift movement, Juvia yanked herself away from the Captain's hold and ran to the soldier. She delivered a quick blow to his face with her fist before the Captain grabbed her by the neck, effectively choking her.

The solider spat out blood and his nose was broken. Juvia smiled smugly despite the lack of oxygen she was receiving. Gajeel winked at her before he was taken away by another guard for another day in the coal mine.

"I can see why the King is interested in you," the Captain said fiercely, letting go of her throat. "Now come with me." His hold on Juvia's arms now tightened, as to not let her slip out of his reach a second time.

The King? Juvia asked to herself. What in Mavis' name does the King want from Juvia?

As the Captain cuffed her hands behind her back and walked her to the carriage, Juvia smirked at the fact that she still spoke of Mavis as it was such a forsaken name. Mavis' legend was not a common story in the Kingdom of Bosco anymore, at least not publicly over the King's rule. As the legend stated, Mavis was one of the Fairies of Earthland that granted magic to the humans. Magic that took many forms and could help do countless things- Juvia had heard of people that could conjure fire, water, wind- and even ice. But that magic died long ago, when the King banned it. He sent people by the dozens to the gallows- children, women, men, families- and even royalties and those of higher class were not spared. It didn't help when the King conquered other Kingdoms such as Veronica, Caelum and Seven and sent all magic wielders to a desolate fate. Even Fiore was about to fall to the Kingdom of Bosco- and then, there would be no place else to conquer. But this was decades ago. Magic ceased to exist, due to the ruthless slaughter of all magic wielders. Most people now didn't even know what magic looks like. Those that had had magic running through their veins were of utmost royalty- the King's bloodline. There had also been whispers of magic that still lived in the bloodline of royalties in Fiore- but it would soon disappear just like the other kingdoms once they fell to the Kingdom of Bosco.

Juvia's thoughts were interrupted when the carriage stopped and the Captain shoved her out into the palace gates. Juvia quickly glanced around her to become more aware of her surroundings. She had never been to the King's palace, but she could tell that this was it. The tall white towers shot through the sky, and every door and window seemed to be embroidered in gold. She shifted her eyes frantically to scan for any places to flee- her eyes were calculating, running through the possible scenarios of escape, although she knew her chances were slim as the shackles clanked into each other.

The Captain, a broad and older man with scruff on his neck noticed Juvia's glances and decided not to take his chances. She was, after all, from the Guild of Assassins. He grabbed a ragged cloth and blindfolded her.

Che, Juvia thought. It's not like I could escape with these shackles around me anyway.

They quickened the pace and finally entered a room. As the blindfolds were removed, Juvia squinted at the bright room before her. She hadn't seen such a white room in what seemed to be ages. The floors were spotless, and marble pillars supported beautifully. The white room was more pronounced as Juvia stepped inside- her soot covered face and filthy rags were such a stark difference in comparison to the alabaster room. Despite how impressively large the room was, Juvia knew that this room was small and worthless compared to the other ballrooms in the palace.

Juvia noticed a few other slaves accompanied by guards in the room. They too, seemed to have been working in the mines because they looked no different from her- they were dirty and probably smelled foul.

In front of the room stood a red-haired woman. Her stance was proud and she had fire in her eyes. Eyes that seemed like she had placed many people in their own personal hell. She work a metal armor suit that had a similar emblem of the Captain- a golden dragon that marked her chest plate. Juvia grew more cautious- whoever this woman was, she radiated a feeling of threat and fear. The blunette made note that she would be a worthy challenger to her if they ever were to encounter in battle.

"Listen up, everyone." The redhead said, in a calm yet strong voice. "You all have been chosen to help King Jose with his latest mission- to take down the Kingdom of Fiore, who are enemies of our nation.

Juvia scoffed loudly, not caring that her voice carried throughout the entirety of the hall. Was there anyone that wasn't the King's enemy?

The redhead flashed a piercing glare toward Juvia.

"You," said the woman as she pulled her sword out and pointed at Juvia. "Do you wish to challenge the King? Or worse, do you wish to challenge me?"

"Oh, I wouldn't dare to," Juvia said, in a slightly sarcastic voice as she batted her eyelashes.

The woman continued.

"I, Erza Scarlet, have been told that you all worked at the mines. The guards there have been making notes of the stronger ones in the mines, and we have pulled you aside to join the King's army to take over Fiore."

Voices began to murmur among the slaves, as if they were unsure which would kill them faster- the mines or the army.

"Silence," Erza said sharply. "You will not regret joining the army. You will have a bed- a real bed to sleep on, and meals 3 times a day. We need you to regain your strength if you are to join the army. If you succeed in this mission, you will not have to enter back into the coal mines."

Juvia caught herself with her mouth agape. Were they that foolish to make a promise to remove these shackles from her? If they took these shackles off her the guards would be dead no faster than a blink of an eye. She hadn't even needed to complete the King's mission- she would release herself once she could freely move her body.

But it looked like she wasn't the only one thinking this. Erza's demeanor darkened as she began to speak.

"And if you think to escape once we remove these shackles from you," Erza challenged, while shooting glances at Juvia and a few others, "then think again. We chose you not only because you had talent, but because you also have a liability. We will kill your friends back at camp if you try to escape."

Gajeel, Juvia thought to herself. So that's what they meant when they had plans for him. To use him so I wouldn't escape- how cowardly and like King Jose to think of that.

"Now, do you all accept this invitation? Or would you rather rot back in the mines?" Erza asked, although everyone knew it wasn't exactly a question as much as it was a statement.

All the slaves silently agreed- anything to be rid of the mines.

Juvia slowly nodded as well, until she head slow footsteps behind her. She saw Erza kneel down on one knee to bow, then jerked her head to see who Erza was greeting.

King Jose had just stepped into the room.

A/N: Yes, no? I'll be uploading chapter two tomorrow! PS- if I have any grammar mistakes feel free to PM me so I can fix it! I dislike grammar mistakes as much as the next person! :)