Chapter 3 is out! Hope you all like it :)

Swords clashed against each other in the training room where around thirty soldiers practiced their swordsmanship to prepare themselves for the mission to infiltrate the Southern Border of Fiore. The soldiers were still frail and weak, with barely enough energy to last more than a couple of sword fights. By the end of the week, they should be fed well enough to at least hold their own for another 3 rounds. Around the soldiers were Royal Guards that had a deadly stare at the soldiers, ready to attack at any time if any prisoners were to get carried away.

Juvia scanned the perimeter. She noticed that none of the soldiers were particularly graced with the skills to wield a sword. She decided it was in her best interest to play along, and act as if she didn't even know how to correctly position herself with the weapon. She went a few rounds with the other soldiers and intentionally lost each time.

No need for them to think that I am a threat to them, Juvia thought. The element of surprise is always an advantage.

It wasn't until Erza walked in the training room that Juvia tightened her grip on the wooden sword she was holding.

"Today is the first day for you pathetic lot," Erza growled. "I will personally duel with you to see what level your swordsmanship is at. If you lose, you shall do another 3 extra laps in the morning."

Juvia frowned when Erza didn't mention any gifts of sorts to the winners of the duel. Of course, there would be no gift to the winner. The winner had the prize of living and not being pummeled by Erza.

So one by one, soldiers came and dueled with Erza. None of them had been even close to trapping Erza. Juvia analyzed the way Erza fought. Her left side seemed a bit more vulnerable, as if she had a hard time seeing any site from her left-sided peripheral. Erza also loved to use brute force- something Juvia could take advantage of with her speed and wit.

"You," Erza demanded, pointing to Juvia. "You are next. Come."

"When you're ready," Juvia replied smugly.

This must have set Erza off, because she came charging at Juvia with more speed than she had anticipated. Juvia blocked the first attack, blocking Erza's wooden sword out of harm's way. The two began sparing almost poetically, like a dance in which both members were solely focused on the next moves of their enemy. Juvia sharply inhaled just as Erza's sword missed her by a hair. Juvia had to admit, Captain Erza was a formidable opponent and it would take more effort than usual for Juvia to pin Erza down.

"What would a woman like yourself," huffed Juvia, "be doing here, working as the Captain for the king?"

Their swords clashed against one another. Both of them were straining to keep up with another, their eyes fixated on each other.

"I should have no reason to tell you," Erza muttered under her breath. "I am more capable of any of these men in this room."

"If I remember this correctly, Captain Jellal used to be in charge of these special missions and a fine swordsman. Why is he not here? This match would be much more entertaining if he were here instead of you," Juvia mocked.

"Don't say that name," Erza hissed. Her eyes glowered darkly and rage had just swept past her face.

"Oh? Did I hit a sore spot?" Juvia asked with her brows raised.

"He's dead," Erza said dully.

Juvia's shock to her response left her vulnerable for just a brief second, but that was enough for Erza to have swept her feet at Juvia's ankles, causing her to lose balance and slip. Erza lunged at her, pointing her sword straight at her throat.

"I'll see it that you'll do an extra 5 laps tomorrow," Erza spat.

Juvia laid on the floor with traces of annoyance in her face. She shouldn't have lost. But she also wondered what had happened to Jellal, rumored to be one of the strongest Captains that worked under the king. But she was also happy that he was dead- a man that dangerous working for King Jose could only lead to trouble.

The next week was spent preparing for the raid on the Southern Border in Fiore. Juvia had been given reviews on how to use daggers, detecting poisons, shooting arrows, and swordsmanship to prepare her for battle. Erza never challenged anyone again, nor did she ever elaborate her relationship to Jellal after her talk with Juvia. Juvia wondered what had caused Erza to turn this way- she could see that her eyes had once been softer, her face once more innocent. Something, probably having to do with Jellal, changed her.

On the morning of the departure, Juvia was given her first real set of weapons- no more wooden swords and daggers, but sharp, brand new weapons. A pair of twin daggers rested on the holster around her waist. Juvia also equipped herself with shivs secretly placed on her thigh and one in her boot. With all her weapons in place, Juvia had to refrain herself from killing every royal guard there in that room once they delivered her new weapons. She had to place Gajeel's safety into consideration.

Though there was one foolish man that tried to escape once he received his weapons. He slashed a royal guard across the stomach and attempted to run. He couldn't even take 3 steps before he fell to the ground, with an arrow on his back from a nearby archer looking in. Juvia winced as she saw the man struggle to escape, then ultimately pleading for his life once he knew he couldn't run any further from his injury.

"Let that be a warning to those who dare try to escape," Erza stated. "Now, we will head to the Southern border to raid Fiore castle.

The trip itself was no walk in the park- they spent a full week travelling in the summer heat with little rest. They only stopped by the rivers for their horses to drink up, and to a few small towns to restock on supplies. Juvia forgotten how freedom felt- though she could barely call this freedom, she hadn't been outside of the coal mines for nearly a year. To be riding a horse from kingdom to kingdom and to feel the breeze sweep through her azure hair reminded her of a much simpler time when she went were she pleased. Juvia could barely contain her excitement- once she finished with this mission she would go back to Gajeel and escape the dreaded Kingdom of Bosco.

Gray was at his desk reading over a few documents when he was suddenly bombarded by a young royal guard that looked completely out of breath. He raised his brow as he put his papers down.

"Relax," Gray commanded. "What's the matter with you, Romeo?"

The young soldier quickly recognized his disastrous state and recollected himself. "Prince Gray. The border," the young guard panted. "The enemies have been spotted near the borders. About thirty of them."

Gray couldn't help but laugh. Thirty? They had sent only thirty men to defeat the Southern Border?

"I'll personally take care of this one," Gray said with wicked excitement in his eyes.

"B-but, your highness! We have so many royal guards; there is no need to risk yourself over such a pathetic attempt," Romeo boldly stated.

Gray just walked over to Romeo and patted his head. "Don't worry about me. I'll teach you the ropes. There is no way that an army of only thirty men have the intention to overthrow the Southern Border. What they are after is information- how we patrol this area and the easiest entrance into the palace gates."

"So what do we do now?" Romeo asked nervously.

"We are going to attack first," Gray smirked as he ran his hand through his onyx hair. "Hand me the exact location of where they are camping out tonight. We will attack and surprise them at dawn."

"We will camp out here tonight," Erza announced. "Get as much rest as you can tonight. We will start the invasion tomorrow night. Remember that our goal is to gather as much information about the Southern Border defense as possible. Don't do anything foolish that will get yourself killed."

Hushed murmurs spread through the crowd. Of course by now, everyone knew that this was practically a suicidal mission. But as long as a few survived to pass on the word of the defenses, it was good enough for King Jose. People seemed to be frightened and confused. It wasn't much different than in the coal mines. The probability of dying at any given moment was still a threat that they couldn't run from, even if they were hundred of miles away from the labor camp.

Juvia thought about Gajeel. She hoped that he was still holding up. Once she completed this mission she would be trusted with weapons again. And with that trust, she would use it to shatter the labor camp and set Gajeel and the others free. Free to live and do as they please. And Juvia and Gajeel would return to the Kingdom of Seven, where they grew up in.

Juvia sighed as she entered her tent to sleep. Her eyes become heavier, heavier, and she eventually drifted off to sleep.

Juvia jolted away. She immediately grabbed her twin daggers in reaction to the noises she heard. Men were yelling, screaming, and the horses outside were already running. Juvia quickly slipped on her boots and ran outside her tent as she heard Erza yelling.

"Retreat! GO!" she shouted at her men.

Erza was on her horse, screaming at everyone to run. Juvia quickly took a moment to observe her surroundings- men were scrambling out of their tents in find their horses to her right. To her left, she saw… she saw an army of about 50 men riding on their horses and shooting arrows at their campsite. She knew instantly that they were Fiore soldiers from the insignia of a wing that spread across their metal plates.

Most of the men had already scrambled and ran away- but many were on the floor already dead with arrows in their backs or gashes on their stomachs from the attacking Fiore soldiers. Juvia took no time to grab her horse and start running away from the ambush- until she saw Erza fighting against 6 other men.

Juvia slowed down in shock. Despite Erza's cold words to her soldiers and the way she treated Juvia, it seemed as if Erza was staying behind to distract her enemies so the rest of her soldiers could have a clean getaway.

Juvia should have kept running. She should have ran until her lungs were ready to collapse. But once she saw Erza take an arrow to her shoulder, Juvia started lunging at her enemies.

Before anyone Fiore soldiers could see it coming, Juvia had slashed down four archers. She then proceeded to run at a haunting speed to where the wounded Erza was to take down the 6 men that surrounded her. Juvia quickly slashed the throat of the first two- and dodged the attempted blows of the other four. She danced around them as if it were a game, and despite the strained growls from the remaining four soldiers, Juvia just smiled as she stabbed them and threw them on the ground.

"You…" Erza coughed, blood spilling from her arm. "You came back."

Juvia's eyes softened a bit. "You didn't abandon us when we needed you most. I decided to return the favor," Juiva replied as she put Erza on a horse.

"Thank you, Juvia." Erza said.

But their heartfelt reunion ended shortly when another group of soldiers started running towards them. Juvia's head snapped in the direction of the attackers.

"You have to go. Make sure the other men are okay. I don't know when i'll make it back, if I will make it back- But because I saved you, you must make sure that Gajeel doesn't get hurt." Juvia said fiercely.

Erza nodded as she clutched her bleeding shoulder. Juvia whipped the horse and the mare started running away from the scene, with an injured Erza riding off into the distance toward her soldiers.

Juvia stood in a fighting stance, readying herself for the oncoming soldiers.

"Stop," a deep voice commanded. Suddenly, all the soldiers lowered their swords as Prince Gray walked to Juvia.

"You killed ten of my men within a matter of minutes," Gray began. "Just who the hell are you?"

If Juvia had not been in such a deadly situation, she probably would have melted right there. The person in front of her was exceedingly handsome- He was a tall and muscular looking young man with onyx black hair that fell just above his cold, dark blue eyes. His stance was proud, and his strong jaw line made him look threatening. And very attractive.

"I-I, um, er, Juvia…" Juvia babbled. What on earth was he doing to her? And he was merely standing, existing in front of her.

Juvia shook her head angrily. No one has ever made her into such a mess with just two sentences. She would not fall into this trap, not when she was so close to freedom. Her grip on her twin daggers tightened.

"I'm the one that will kill you," Juvia responded. And with that, she dove in for the kill.

Gahhh, she finally meets Gray! Although it sucks that she basically wants to kill him.

Also, some of you speculated that Erza was evil, but she's just doing her job! In the end, she really cares for her soldiers :')

And thanks for all the reviews! It really helps me keep writing this story :)