Erza felt pain with every step she took as she trudged down the hallway on her way to her locker, Gildarts had her do a variety of hardcore workouts for hours and she felt the soreness practically everywhere from her core, to her legs, to her back muscles and arms. She felt like hell. Her long scarlet hair was left in a loose side braid with her side parted bangs left loose along with a couple of other strands handing over the other side of her face. She threw on some bronzer to give off a radiant glow to her complexion. She paired her uniform with black thigh highs, it went well with her mid-thigh reaching pleated skirt.

After a few more painful and slow steps she finally reached her locker, only to have a certain someone with blue hair blocking it as usual. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot on the ground repeatedly just to mess with him. "Yo who the fuck-" He started saying in a cold tone before turning around and seeing the scarlet haired student. His expression softened and he chuckled, "Of course." He said in a cocky tone. Erza smiled and he raised her chin with his fingers, leaving their faces merely inches apart. "And what have you been up to?" She blushed and swatted his hand away to distract him from it. "That's classified." She smirked and passed by him to her locker but turned around to face him. Jellal took this opportunity to stand over her and place his hand on the locker beside her head. "Shouldn't I be exclusive?" Erza scoffed, "You and your big ego."

He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "That's not the only thing that's big." Erza felt her face grow hot and Jellal took notice and flashed her a smirk. The first bell went off notifying students that they had about five minutes before they would be marked late. Jellal backed away and chuckled, "See you around Scarlet." He said before walking off and leaving her flustered. She rolled her eyes and squatted down to grab her things from her bottom locker and put away her bag. She shook her head, Jellal really was something else. She didn't even know where the two stood, they didn't even talk about a possible relationship or anything. Erza wasn't one to rush and put a label on anything, as long as Jellal wasn't entertaining anyone else she was fine with whatever they had going on right now.

Erza slammed her locker door shut with her foot and made her way over to her first period Honors Geometry course, her thighs were on fire and she wondered if she would make it through the day with all these textbooks without collapsing.

...

"Erza Scarlet."

The scarlet haired girl was snapped out of her daydreams when she heard her name being announced in a strong firm tone, she flashed her last period teacher a flustered look. Her math teacher wasn't pleased, "Care to explain how your classmate found the answer to this equation? You should know, we just went over it." Erza hated when teachers made a fool out of students like this. She stared at the quadratic formula on the bored and instantly shut down, her brain was too foggy for this right now. "No." she answered in a bored tone. Her teacher shook her head, "As I expected." She answered before turning to the whole class. "Students. I'm about to give you some important advice, it costs nothing to pay attention!"

Erza rolled her eyes, she wasn't in the mood. Class was over in ten minutes anyway so who cares, she brought her average back up to a 94 so she didn't know why her teacher was on her case all of a sudden. She closed her textbook as the loud sound of the bell rang through her ears, she got up and exited the class to make her way to the next period.

"Whats up badass?" She rolled her eyes as Natsu appeared on the side of her. "The aching in every part of my body. You?" The pinkette adjusted the grip on his bag. "Back at it huh?"

"More like back in training, only been hitting the gym not the ring."

"How come?"

The red head glared at a girl who roughly bumped into her before responding. "Well I already dominated all of the female fighters in the area, so I though I'd try something a bit more advanced."

Natsu cocked his head, "Whats that mean?"

Erza sighed, "You'll know when I achieve it."

Natsu disregarded it and waved off the scarlet haired student as he waited by the door for his next class, Erza continued down the hallway.

"What the hell?" The scarlet haired girl was snapped out of fogginess when she felt her shoulder collide with someone. That someone looked awfully familiar, the hair was a dead giveaway. It was Mira and she was furious.

"Oh its you." She said in disgust. Erza rolled her eyes, Great...another Strauss enemy...

"My bad, I'll be more careful next time." She replied politely, considering it was her fault.

Mira took a step closer, sizing her up. She was dressed in the usual Academy uniform, she paired her skirt with sheer black tights and her white hair was tied up into a cute high ponytail.

"You know I usually treat mostly everyone with kindness and respect, but I've been meaning to look for you."

The red head cocked her head to the side, the tone in the girl's voice was a clear indicator that Mira wanted to start something and today...given her soreness just wasn't her best day to defend herself in a fight.

"And why's that?"

Mira glared, "Because I don't take it lightly when people put their hands on my little sister."

Erza wasn't intimidated. "She had it coming." She shrugged.

"I would smack that look off your face and then knock your ass out, but I can't afford to ruin my reputation here at this school. But when we're on the streets or in the underground, I'm no longer holding back."

And with that, Mira adjusted her jacket and took off into her next period class. Erza rolled her eyes again, "Riiiiight." She said sarcastically before finally making her way to English.

...

'Soo basically she threatened you?" Juvia said as she slid the red head over her usual order of a cappuccino and a small strawberry cupcake. "Yes." Erza said before taking a sip. "Despite the fact that you handed her her ass in a match a while back?" Erza giggled at that memory, "Yes." Juvia shook her head as she wiped down the granite counter and cashier with a sanitary wipe, she tossed it out and began taking the next customer's order.

"Hi, can I get a medium black coffee and a sesame seed bagel?" Juvia punched it in and completed the transaction before walking away to whip up the waiting guy's order.

Erza turned her head at the sound of the bell ringing when the door opened, she smiled at who it was. "What's up Scarlet?" Jellal said as he took the seat next to her. She had her hot beverage to her lips, "Well I have a fight later, you coming?"

"You're fighting again? Who?" Juvia chimed in as she arranged a set of muffins on the pastry display. "Yeah I thought you beat everyone already?" Jella asked, Erza

smirked. "No I haven't beaten everyone just yet."

...

"Remember, strike first and be quick. Conserve as much strength as you can." Gildarts instructed her as the red head fighter popped in her mouth guard, which was the only protection she ever wore. Her opponent tonight was a male fighter, by the name of midnight. She had heard of his wrath over other fighters and how badlyhe ended up injuring him. Erza wasn't intimidated, he would bleed just like her and everyone else.

She got into fighting stance directly facing the other fighter, he was more lean than she expected. All the rumors she heard about this guy made him seem like the biggest and most fierce fighter in the male division. Don't underestimate him. She told herself in her mind, him being slim doesn't mean anything. He could very well be capable of taking her down tonight. Don't let that happen either.

Midnight was in stance, watching her like a hawk and waiting for her to strike first. "Titania huh? I never pictured myself against a girl, but I suppose you're worthy enough."

His taunting words fueled her adrenaline even more, she struck first with a cross and jab to get a feel for him. He swiftly moved and avoided the quick attacks easy, her second attack was a few quick jabs and then a cross aimed for his throat. He evaded her punches with minimal effort. He countered this time and managed to deliver a powerful attack to her nose. Blood began to drip rapidly and she took a few steps back.

Jellal was watching with Juvia in the crowd, his blood began to boil when he saw the blood. He was worried for her, considering her opponent was a guy and a powerful fighter at that. He looked over at Juvia, who had her eyes glued to the match with her hands intertwined and over her chest.

Midnight began attacking the red head more severely now, he threw a roundhouse to Erza's side and managed to hit her lower rib, cracking it. She gasped and fought the urge to put her hand over the injury. She kept her hands up to her face and dodged the next punch. Her head flew back when he struck her face again, then

instantly after that she felt a powerful uppercut hit her stomach. She coughed and spit out the blood the pooled in her mouth.

She needed a plan fast, she was taking too much damage.

"Oh Titania, I thought you would put in more of a fight." He kicked her stomach, and she fell to her knees. He kicked her again and again, until she coughed up more blood. Erza felt dazed and she knew the countdown had begun, she took a deep breath and got up. Her friends and fans were here and she couldn't let them see her fall.

Alright Erza, enough screwing around.

"Oh you want more?" Midnight taunted as he got back into stance. Erza shifted hers and prepared herself, she was bloody and bruised so she knew she had to end this fast and give it all she had. Midnight threw a punch, Erza shifted and stepped in to grapple his arm. Once she had a good grip she shifted her body into his direction. She lifted up her leg to add more and she pushed him down. She was on top of him now and used her knees to pinned down his arms.

He didn't look worried at all, he kept his poker face and this angered her more. She began punching, hard. She kept going and even when her hand was starting to bruise, she kept going and adding more strength. Blood was all over her hand and the last punch she delivered ended up breaking it. Midnight was long past out of consciousness. He gritted her teeth as her fist began to throb, moving her hand back to a normal position caused even more pain to shoot through her.

She exited the ring where Gildarts greeted her. "Kid, that was brutal. Painful to watch actually." Erza shrugged, she needed a towel. The older man handed her the one he had draped over his shoulder. She wiped her face and coughed into it, soaking it in blood. She popped out her mouth guard and wiped it down, placing it back into its case. "He really got you good, I thought you were out. I understand that you were a badass and won but you took way too much damage." Erza sighed at his words. He was right. The damage she took wasn't worth the win, it was only one fight and she was ready to drop. "But..." Gildarts started, "That technique you used was badass." Erza beamed, she had picked it up practicing with other guys at the gym.

"Erza!" Jellal rushed over to her, the scarlet haired fighter winced at the pain when he hugged her. "Oh fuck, sorry sorry I shouldn't have." She rolled her eyes at his apology. She placed her hand at the back of his neck and went on her tip toes to kiss him on the lips, she felt the heat rise to her cheeks as she pulled away. "I need something with sugar right now." She blurted. Juvia, who was standing beside Jellal rolled her eyes. "Come on."

...

"I can't believe Juvia is doing this for you." The blue haired girl said in third person as she unlocked the glass door to the café and entered in. She walked to the back and cursed as she walked into a chair. Within a few seconds the café was illuminated and Erza and Jellal took their seats by the pastry display. Erza managed to change into dark skinny jeans and a black knit sweater that hung off her right shoulder. "So what will it be." Juvia said behind the counter, she was wearing baggy gray Adidas sweats with a form fitting white tank.

"Lemme get that chocolate chip muffin and the slice of chocolate cake and the oreo cupcake." She said as she eyed the treats with lust, her craving only growing. Juvia giggled as she got out a plate and used a pair of silver tongs to grab them. "Want anything Jellal?" He perched up and pointed to the M&M filled brownie. "So, what now Erza? You gonna dominate over the guys in the underground too?" He asked, hoping the answer was no. He couldn't stand looking at her beaten up and bandaged like this.

Erza pondered the question, regarding her goal. She sighed, "No." Her answer was truthful. "I wanted to, but I have another plan in mind." He raised an eyebrow,

"And that would be?" Erza slid over her plate of goodies closer to her. "I'm retiring from the underground." She said bluntly before biting into her muffin. Jellal looked at her with shock, "But fighting is your...passion." The scarlet haired girl swallowed, "Im retiring from the underground, not from fighting." She began to dig into her cupcake now. "Then what is it that you're gonna do?" Juvia asked, she had a glass of water on the side of her and she was munching on a toasted bagel.

Erza set down her cupcake, "I wanna go legit."

"Seriously?" Juvia stated in disbelief. Jellal chimed in, "That could work, you're really talented so you could easily get sponsored." The red haired smiled, "And I know just the gym to go to." She took a bite out of her cake, she was ready to leave the underground life for good and make the change.

...

Its been months I know, I've been so busy and under the weather severely as of late but I finally managed to get some writing in! I apologize for

any errors in this. ):