A/N: I'll be updating this one a little less because I'm starting college soon, but here's a little bit more, and I may or may not post one more before then. If I haven't gotten anything up for this story after August 17th, assume a few more months' wait. Sorry.

Time Period: Ancient Rome, around 120 CE.

Setup: Cana is a slave from Lusitania (Portugal) who has been convicted of inciting rebellion, she is sentenced to fight in the ring as a gladiatrix. Mirajane is the wife of an Imperial legate who's never home. When Mirajane sees Cana in a fight at the Colosseum, things get more and more tense.

"And so, Cana of Lusitania, you are hereby declared guilty of rebellion against the state of Rome and against your noble master. You are hereby sentenced to ad venatori or ad gladitori, your training for the Colosseum begins immediately." The Judge declared, a cruel smile on his face.

"Very well! I will earn my freedom in the ampitheaters, because I couldn't in my master's house!" Cana shouted, and spit on the ground, before being walked out of the court and into the streets of the Roman forum.

"Now, you'll find it easy to find a school to train you!" Laughed a guard, as he prodded Cana to a raised platform where slaves were being sold for the arena, and the house as well.

"We have a good, fit gladiatrix! She'll be Colosseum ready in a few months!" Her captor declared, holding up Cana's arm to draw attention to her.

"Gladiatrix..." Cana thought to herself. That was all she was to this slaver. She wasn't a person, she was a good to be bought and sold. That was all she ever was to anyone. Cana was the daughter of a slave, and of course she was doomed to be a slave from birth until the age of thirty. It was a sad life. She saw the parties and all the games and petty concerns of her masters, and she had to work for just enough food to keep her from going hungry. At 20, she could take no more. She and a few other slaves began colluding with others at the city market they all frequented. The collective began to train with oak branches, and when they'd built up the nerve, took some weapons, and started attacking the legion in the area. They fought well, but they were no match for trained soldiers, having neither the numbers nor the skill. Their great revolution ended in ten minutes, and the few among them who were alive were carted off into more slavery. Cana sighed harshly. She guessed that this might be preferable; she might be made free if she did well, and if she died, she couldn't imagine it being significantly worse than being a slave in a wealthy home.

"Sold!" Declared the auctioneer, which snapped Cana back into reality and now aware of her circumstance. She was sold to a tall, muscular man with gray hair and a big smile on his face. Cana felt a bit of relief at seeing the trainer, she thought the man looked decently nice. Small comfort. Cana dutifully followed the man to his training ground, near the edge of town.

"Now! As I know you're new, here are the ground rules!" Declared Elfman, as Cana had found out the man's name was. "No leaving unless I give explicit permission, and only then you may not do anything I did not explicitly allow you to do. You must also only train when I instruct you to. You must not train at times or under circumstances I have not approved. Finally you must eat when I direct you to and sleep at the times I direct you to, no exceptions! Any questions?"

"Uh-" Began Cana.

"Good, now eat!" Shouted Elfman, as an employee brought a worn-out plate of what appeared to be bean paste.

"But-"

"No exceptions!" Shouted Elfman.

Cana nervously started eating the paste, terrible as it tasted.

"Now, sleep after this, we have a big day tomorrow, see if you just might be a legend as they say." Said Elfman, as he walked to his private quarters and Cana finished the bean paste.

Cana sighed as she was guided to a room in the camp, Elfman was harsh, but it seemed as though he might just have a heart under it all...

"Now then, new recruits, we start with these." Elfman motioned to a set of rods of different lengths. "These are practice weapons, designed for you to avoid killing each other until you've got a live audience." He further explained. "Now choose a weapon, and get to it."

Cana picked up two shorter rods, and after the others picked their own weapons, as Elfman called the trainees to square off.

"Well, you're pretty good." Noted Elfman, as Cana easily disarmed Gray, a male trainee, and had him on the ground in seconds. "Maybe start you off as a Dimachaerus..."

"What about the other one?" Asked Racer, one of the camp employees.

"He'll do well enough, just get him on a different course." Ordered Elfman. "I'll personally train his opponent."

"Now, the Dimachaerus style is one of the most difficult to master, it involves moderate armor and two swords." Explained Elfman, giving Cana a scaled armor set and two gladii; swords of about the same length as the rods from earlier.

Cana equipped the armor and picked up the swords, as Elfman picked up a scimitar and a shield. "Now, how am I supposed to do this?" She asked.

"Well, each sword has to sub for a shield at any given time, but you can use either one to attack as well, it's a faster-paced style with a bit of risk and reward." Elfman said, as he squared off against Cana, and charged at her, Cana caught the sword with one of hers, and the shield with the other, but was thrown to the ground by the force of Elfman pushing his shield against Cana and throwing her off her balance. "See, there it is, a stronger opponent can push you down, because their weight is focused on a single point, so you should probably avoid clashing like that." Directed Elfman.

"What should I do then?" Asked Cana, confused over the advice.

"You need to block briefly, using a quick counter, and then get your blade out, then go in for a strike." Explained Elfman, coming in again. This time, Cana followed her mentor's instructions, and when they clashed, surged forward, and put her right hand sword against Elfman's neck.

"Good work, you're learning; should be ready for the Colosseum in a couple of weeks." Said Elfman, a big smile on his face.

"Well, good, or is that bad?" Sighed Cana.

"If you want to be freed, then it's good, and hey, you may just have a job here, training gladiatrix initiates. If, of course, you last, but things are looking good so far."

"Well, good then." Said Cana, picking herself back up, and feeling good about her oddly compassionate handler.

"Now, eat!" Ordered Elfman, as a cook brought in more bean paste.

One month later...

"One more night..." Cana thought to herself, as she was directed by Elfman to sleep more, as she was set to fight for the first time ever the next day. It was the most nerve wracking experience she'd had since being captured, even though she'd take death over continuing to be a slave, she still very much enjoyed being alive. Odd, but that was where Cana was in her life, and she knew full well she had a risk of dying tomorrow.

"Hey, Cana!" Gray said, catching the gladiatrix before she went to her room. "I need to show you something."

"Huh?" Managed Cana before Gray pulled her into a corner of the training ground's quarters.

"Seeing as you may just die tomorrow, I feel like I ought to let you be free for one night." Explained Gray, as he led Cana down a dark passage that felt like it was curving downward, though it was hard to tell in the low light of the night.

"What is this?" Asked Cana, a bit annoyed but willing to indulge Gray for this escapade.

"A taste of freedom." Gray led her to a city street just outside of the passage.

"What the..." Muttered Cana, as she saw a mostly empty street with only a few people, but a few stands and carts nonetheless. "I can't do this." She sighed. "I can do this when I'm free, I'm not going to put my ass on the line, Gray."

"Fine... You do that, I'm going to have a bit of fun." Said Gray, as Cana retreated back into the passage, but not before catching the eye of a certain woman in an opulent house from the window.

Mirajane could scarcely believe her eyes; that brown haired woman was the most beautiful she'd ever seen, and she was already a bit melancholy that there was little chance she'd see her again.

"Ma'am?" Asked a servant-Mirajane had no slaves, finding the practice distasteful.

"It's nothing, I'm fine." Said Mirajane, a bit nervous. After all, she couldn't exactly say she liked women, but of course her husband Laxus could cavort around with that green haired Tribune Freed and no one batted an eye. Damn double standards.

"To start today, we have an absolutely fantastic set of promising gladiatrix! A Lusitanian rebel, merciless and skilled, and a Germainian stronger than any gladiatrix I've ever seen!" Declared the emperor, with a flourish as he sat in his highly visible throne as Cana, along with her opponent Bisca emerged from opposite sides of the arena and began squaring off, Cana wearing an apron of leather armor leaving her head exposed and wielding two short swords, and Bisca wearing a hefty set of armor with a longer sword and a massive shield. "Now, we will see who among you is the victor. Begin."

Cana sprung forward and went straight for the throat of her opponent, but was immediately blocked by the thick shield. She sprung back as Bisca pushed ahead, trying in vain to throw Cana off balance. Cana resumed her assault, clashing her two blades against Bisca's one. Bisca struggled, but pushed Cana back once again with a quick shield strike.

"Damn it, hasn't she learned anything from training?" Thought Elfman to himself, from the stands. He'd taught her to work around shields, and here she was falling for the same tricks again. Elfman stared hard at his protegee in annoyance.

Cana gasped for air as she fell back once again from Bisca's impact. It was the same feeling as when she defied the legion. It wasn't pleasant or thrilling, only fear. She needed something good, and fast. At that moment, she noticed Elfman in the stands, and she was reminded of her training. Of course! She just had to block briefly, and follow up with a quick counter. She ran at Bisca again, this time deliberately striking her shield. As Bisca prepared to push back, Cana let up suddenly, causing her opponent to lurch forward, and giving Cana the opening she needed. She rushed in, kneed Bisca, and sent her to the ground, and she got on her knees. Cana waited expectantly and looked to the emperor for the word. She knew that a fellow fighter's life was not in her hands but in the hands of Rome's great ruler, a thumbs up and this Bisca would live, a thumbs down, and she would die. The emperor extended his fist, and raised his thumb upward, and Cana sheathed her blades.

"Ha ha! You did excellently, you shall be rewarded." Laughed Elfman, meeting Cana outside of the arena.

"I... just remembered what you said." Admitted Cana, with a sheepish grin.

"Well good work, you're a bright spot in the ring, and some day, I'll be proud to see you freed." Said Elfman, with a sincere smile in return.

"Lady Mirajane?" Asked a servant of hers, a gray haired woman named Laki, as the lady ran from the arena and attempted to follow Elfman and Cana.

"Wait here, one of the competitors from earlier today has caught my attention." Ordered Mirajane, as she left Laki and bolted off, hoping to find the gladiatrix; she was that woman she saw by the bedroom window. Perhaps she was a student of the gladiator school near her house. That would certainly be serendipitous, Mirajane thought to herself, following the woman and her handler, to the street corner where the school was on one side, and Mirajane's residence on the other. Sure enough, they returned to the training grounds not fifty feet from Mirajane's house. Now this was an interesting development.

"So, how do I look?" Mirajane asked Laki, as she applied a good amount of makeup and inspected herself in a bronze mirror.

"Why? You don't have any social events tonight." Interjected Laki.

"I'm visiting a certain gladiator, and I want to impress." Explained Mirajane.

"An affair? You're of high standing!"

"What affair, neither my husband nor I feel the slightest thing for each other, and he doesn't even hide his love for that Tribune, I don't see why I can't do the same." Argued Mirajane.

"Fine, but I will take no blame if the public hears of this and this becomes a scandal." Said Laki, complacent but dissatisfied.

"Well it won't." Countered Mirajane, as she left the room and made her way to the training grounds, a lightness in her step and no plan at all.

"Wait..." Thought Mirajane, as it dawned on her that she hadn't thought about how she might get in. She figured she wouldn't be allowed in, and she'd need either a good reason to be there or to sneak in, the latter seemed completely harebrained, but the other would be a bit of a difficulty from a logical perspective. She couldn't see much reason to be there, except the obvious, that she'd see that gladiatrix, which of course wouldn't be a valid reason... Damn! Mirajane was snapped out of her musings by Gray, standing by the corner, as he often did.

"Lady, you need help?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at the mysterious woman in front of him.

"Well..." Began Mirajane, not sure of what to say but eventually deciding on simply telling the truth. "I'm looking to meet a gladiatrix that fought today."

"Sure, pay me a few denarii and I'll hook you up, so long as she's owned by Elfman." Agreed Gray.

"Okay, I think her name is Cana." Explained Mirajane, handing Gray the money.

"Yeah I know her, follow me and I'll get you to her, the name's Gray, by the way." Said Gray, leading Mirajane into the tunnel beneath the school and into the area of the gladiator dormitory reserved for winning gladiators.

Cana felt a bit better in her new surroundings. She had been given a larger and slightly more comfortable room after her success in the ring, and even a small cut of the profits, for when she was freed. Things were going well.

"Hey Cana, you have a fan." Deadpanned Gray as he lead Mirajane into the chamber and the gray haired woman blushed from a vague feeling of embarrassment brought on by Gray's frank introduction.

"Um- My name's Mirajane..." Mirajane sighed, at a loss for words when faced with the object of her affections.

"You know me, and I suppose you saw my debut earlier. I don't love the ring." Cana admitted.

"Well you were amazing, that was such an intense match. I really thought you might die.." Complimented Mirajane.

"I'm good at fights, but my whole life, I've been forced into it. I want to just settle down for awhile." Explained Cana.

"Didn't you start that rebellion a few months ago?" Asked Mirajane, recalling that its ringleader was a Lusitanian woman.

"The same, I'd had enough, and look where it got me." At that, Gray left the room.

"I'm sorry..."

"What the hell? You sure aren't sorry enough not to have slaves." Retorted Cana.

"No! I don't have any, I pay all of my household staff, and they can leave if they don't like the work I give them." Protested Mirajane.

"I-I'm sorry I accused you like that." Sighed Cana, as she retreated her head into a nearby pillow with embarrassment.

"No, if you were right, I'd have agreed with you." Agreed Mirajane, placing a reassuring hand on Cana's shoulder. "And hey, you're really amazing, I'd love to talk more, if Gray will keep helping, and if you ever get freed, go to my house, I may have a bit of honest work for you."

"I look forward to it." Agreed Cana, giving her new friend, the first she'd had in a long time, a tight and affectionate hug.

"I'll see you another night, and of course in the arena." Said Mirajane, as she left the room and made her way back to her house.

Weeks passed, Cana won several matches in the arena, and soon, she was one of the best known gladiatrixies in all of Rome, this, of course meant Elfman would do what he could to make some cash off of her...

Cana walked up and down the street with a sign extolling the virtues of an ink made by one Levy Macgarden, apparently a Caledonian woman known for her poetry as well as ink, but Cana had no idea about that, she was just there to hawk whatever business was sponsoring her this week. Winning did have the upside that she got some time outside of the training grounds, even if that time was spent advertising products she barely knew about.

"Cana?" Asked a familiar and welcome voice, belonging of course to the lovely Mirajane.

"Hey, Mira!" Cana shouted, her friend a sight for sore eyes.

"So, according to you, I should buy ink from Levy?" Asked Mirajane, giving a cursory glance at Cana's sign.

"I don't know, it's just a deal Elfman struck. People buy from businesses gladiators mention."

"I sure as hell know that..." Muttered Mirajane. "You know, if you remove the slavery thing, you gladiators have a pretty sweet deal..."

"I don't want to hear things like that." Sighed Cana, a bit agitated, but not to the point where she'd abandon Cana.

"Sorry. I've never been a slave, I assume it's worse than I imagine." Sighed Mirajane.

"More importantly, you have to realize I may never be freed. There's a good chance I'll die before I'm free." Continued Cana.

"Well how about this, I buy you and free you? I can afford to do that you know." Offered Mirajane.

"No way Elfman'll sell, I'm way more valuable to him right now than any fighter he's ever had. He can sell me once I lose some of the profit." Explained Cana.

"You could lose on purpose?" Suggested Mirajane.

"That won't work either, I might die there. I can't well predict the emperor's mood on any given day, he may just decide I die one day when I do that." Countered Cana.

"Well, this is a bit of an impasse..." Sighed Mirajane.

"When I want your help, you'll know, but more than likely I can get out of this myself, and hey, I made this bed to begin with."

"All right, but it's just too much for me to bear..." Muttered Mirajane, feeling for her friend.

"You can live with it if I can, you aren't the one fighting after all."

"You're right..." Conceded Mirajane, as she kissed Cana on the cheek and walked off to go about her daily business.

"What did I feel, just there?" Cana thought to herself, touching the spot on the side of her face, and staring longingly at the woman leaving her. An attraction, it seemed. Just like the first time she saw her, but much much stronger. Mirajane had more of a hold on her than Cana cared to admit.

Cana fell back yet again, stumbling as she regained balance. Her opponent was the toughest she'd faced yet, a heavily armed and armored woman from Macedon called Kyouka. She was said to be the top gladiatrix in Rome, and she was making quick work of Cana. Whenever Cana attempted to zero in for an attack, Kyouka simply shifted her shield. Whenever Cana feinted, Kyouka blocked, she was simply too much, and there was no way Cana could take the win. It was but a matter of time before-and there it was; capitalizing on Cana's sketchy footing, Kyouka came in with a sharp jab courtesy of her shield, and toppled Cana over. She had lost. Now her fate was in the emperor's hands. Cana looked to the throne expectantly, doing her best to hide the fear in her eyes, but still coming off a bit nervous. To her relief. She saw the thumb pointed upwards, meaning that her life would be spared. Breathing heavily, she left the arena and went back to her waiting handlers.

"I can't believe it." Sighed Cana, fighting back tears of both relief and despair later in her chamber with Mirajane.

"What's the problem, it's just one loss, you'll be back to wins in no time." Reassured Mirajane.

"Except that had I won that, I'd have been free for sure. I'm stuck here even longer thanks to that loss." Cana sobbed, as the reality sort of flooded back to her.

"Well..." Mirajane didn't really have a response.

"What this means is that Elfman could still turn a profit on me and-"

"Stop." Mirajane said.

"What?"

"You always define yourself by what others see. You never look after yourself, and I think that's what's making you so depressed." Explained Mirajane. "Do something for yourself. Maybe you can feel better that way."

"Well, Gray can probably give me something to disguise myself, just meet me outside the passage." Agreed Cana.

"You look..." Began Mirajane, trying to figure out what the best wording would be. Clearly, Gray had had a bit of fun with the costume, making it an unflattering sackcloth cloak and pulling Cana's hair forward so that it covered most of her face. It was, if nothing else, functional.

"I know, don't remind me." Deadpanned Cana, as she followed behind Mirajane, onward. "Where are we going, by the way?"

"Trajan's Market. Should be a good day there." Explained Mirajane.

"What should we chance to find there?"

"Anything, just about, clothing, potions for all ills, trinkets of all kinds, cosmetics." Mirajane listed off.

"That'll be... Interesting." Said Cana, tepid but ready to take what came.

"Now remember, I'm not your boss. Go and do what you like, and just make sure to be back here around the time the sun sets." Explained Mirajane.

"Okay." Agreed Cana, entirely unsure of what she truly did want to do as she made her way from stand to stand, clutching a purse of denarii that her friend had given her.

"This scroll is fascinating." Cana said, in reference to the bit of parchment she held in her hands, which told the story of a hero slaying a beast that petrified all who looked it in the eye.

"Five denarii." Said the vendor, with a cynical look.

"Here." Agreed Cana, as she produced the money, cleaning out her allowance, and added it to the animal skin bag slung around her arm, which she had bought earlier. "Now to find Mirajane again." She thought to herself.

"I see you made out like a bandit." Noted Mirajane, seeing the bag and scroll Cana bought, along with the fine toga and a cask of wine.

"Well, I was spending your money, so I thought to splurge!" Laughed Cana, which illicited a similar response from her companion.

"Now then, how about I buy you a meal here?" Offered Mirajane. "After all, I doubt you've had much good to eat your whole life."

"Got that right." Agreed Cana.

"This is the best food I've ever tasted!" Declared Cana, as she dug into the roasted bird Mirajane had bought for the two of them.

"I have cooks that can make even better." Said Mirajane. "Someday I'll have to share that with you."

"You would?" Asked Cana expectantly, before something strange occurred to her. "So what all did you buy?"

"Uh, just this one little trinket..." Mirajane muttered, her face flush with shame, as she'd bought a figure of Cana, so to remember her colosseum crush come what may. She hoped to whatever gods may be listening that Cana didn't recognize herself.

"Hey, this is a figure of me..." Realized Cana, within seconds of seeing it. No such luck.

"Yes... I well... Kind of like you more than a friend, and I want to have some evidence of your presence in my life, come the worst..." Mirajane explained, in the most awkward and muddled fashion imaginable.

Cana gave Mirajane a passionate kiss. "Be that the case, I promise not to die before I'm free, and the two of us will come together.

"You may have to pose as a servant, if my husband ever comes home from that war of his." Explained Mirajane.

"Works for me."

Over the next several months, Cana fought flawlessly, she defeated opponent after opponent, and was soon known as the best gladiatrix in Rome, succeeding the prior queen Kyouka, who had been freed when she defeated Cana.

"Well, nice work Cana, just one more win, and I may free you. Tomorrow's big event is going to decide that though." Explained Elfman, as Cana returned from her latest bout.

"Thank you, master Elfman." Said Cana, a bit of a spring forming in her step. She considered telling Mirajane, but decided against it, reasoning that she needed her sleep, and should she survive, she'd have all the time in the world to be with a certain upper class lady.

"Now, today's event is rather unique. We have our greatest gladiatrix against a first time gladiator, who may not be the greatest of fighters. Please welcome Cana." At that, the crowd erupted in cheers. "And Gray!" Gray emerged in Retarius gear; a trident in one hand, a net in the other, and no armor except for a manica on his right arm.

Cana was terrified. Gray was her friend. She wouldn't have the situation she did now without him, and she most certainly couldn't kill him. What was she to do? Losing on purpose was a poor plan. No telling what the verdict would be. Her best bet was to fight it out, and hope Gray would be spared.

"I'm sorry, Cana." Sighed Gray, as he jabbed with his trident, which Cana easily avoided and countered with a good cut from one of her swords.

"Don't be." Said Cana as she hit Gray with the butt of a sword, causing him to stumble back, before he surged forward and attempted to snare Cana with his net. Cana dodged the net with a quick jump and brought the blunt ends of both swords crashing down on Gray's neck, forcing him to the ground. Cana stood over him, and looked to the emperor for instruction. To her terror, the emperor motioned a thumbs down. She would have to kill Gray.

"Cana?" Gray muttered, as she stood over him, her swords leveled and ready for the killing blow. She couldn't. She'd killed enemies before, but Gray was different. Gray was a friend, and had done so much for her. No. This was not the way she'd repay him.

"No, he lives." Declared Cana, as she let her swords fall to the ground and walked out of the arena.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?" Demanded Elfman, disapprovingly staring at Cana from the holding cell he'd thrown her in.

"Gray shouldn't have to die." Sobbed Cana, looking at her master disdainfully.

"You clearly have no respect for the game, I'll decide what to do with you later." Fumed Elfman as he left her there.

"Well, it's you lucky day, some lady around here decided she just had to own you and was willing to pay more money than I've seen in my life for your contract. Congratulations, I'm not going to kill you, but I can't say the same for her." Said Elfman, angry but relieved, as he unlocked the door to the cell and led Cana out into the yard, where her savior, Mirajane awaited.

"Mira?" Asked Cana, relieved at the sight before her.

"Yes, come with me and we'll talk." Said Mirajane, a big smile on her face.

"Thank you so much for this." Sobbed Cana, as the two sat on Mirajane's bed, entwined and kissing passionately.

"I know one thing, and that is life's too short to be unhappy. Sure I spent a good deal getting you free, but it'll come back in time, and I don't care what anybody says, I love you, and there is nothing better than living a good life with one you love." Reassured Mirajane.

"And I love you, let us live, my love." Agreed Cana.

A/N: Surprisingly, most of what seems anachronistic isn't. Gladiator endorsement deals and figurines are both real, as is Trajan's market, and perhaps most surprisingly and unfortunately, Mirajane's musing about the double standards in Roman society is true. The Romans were fine with male homosexuality, but regarded female homosexuality as shameful. All of that said, I'm taking a break from updates after this and one more update for Of Stars and of Swords. Until next time!