When Worlds Collide

Chapter 14

Back in the sea, Panther Lily was taking his new position very seriously. Whenever Juvia was outside the castle, he was following her wherever she went and was always schooling her on her singing, which decreased her visits to the surface world and was exactly what Gajeel had wanted Lily to do. Sometimes though, lessons wouldn't keep her distracted for so long and Lily had to try other methods. One was getting her to socialize with other merfolk, but that didn't end well. One example would be this evening, when the two noticed three mermaids tossing around a shell.

"Good afternoon everyone. Do you need an extra player?" He asked gesturing toward Juvia.

Juvia smiled at them warmly, but the other mermaids looked at her like she was strange. As usual.

"Sorry." One of them spoke. "But there's already three of us and we just don't have anymore space for another player."

"Why don't you go swim up and find a human to play with." Another remarked cruelly. "Humans like weird things."

"How dare you speak to the princess that way!" Lily defended. "Where is your sense of respect? When the king hears of this-"

"Forget it Lily, it's not worth it." Juvia told him in a melancholic tone.

"They cannot get away with this!" The sea cat persisted. "You are the sister of a king! You are to be treated with respect and dignity! You should not be mocked and insulted!"

"I'm used to it Lily, just let it go."

She started to swim away, Lily followed her while pondering what just happened. Was this how it was for the sea princess? Constantly disrespected by her own people? Did Gajeel know of this? No, of course not. If he did know, he would have made sure that it never happened again.

"Juvia I think you need to tell Gajeel about this."

"I don't want to tell him." She said. "And I don't want you to tell him either. I can't expect him to solve all my problems."

She swam into her secret garden, taking a moment to tend to her flowers and admire the painting her friend Lucy had given her. Why couldn't everyone else see the beauty that the world above could provide? Why did they have to automatically assume that she was strange just because her views were different? Why couldn't they at least try to be kind to her or maybe be her friend? What was so wrong with her?

"I hate being different as much as I love it." She thought out loud. "I just don't understand. Everyone is different, so why does everyone act like I'm the only one who is?"

"Maybe if you tried to act like everyone else." Lily suggested.

"I've tried that." Juvia said. "Doesn't change anything."

"Maybe if you tried a little harder-"

"Lily if I did that, I wouldn't be me anymore. I understand changing a few parts of myself to fit in, but nobody is satisfied with just a few parts changed. They want every aspect of my being changed and I just can't do that."

She sighed gloomily, Conlan nuzzled up at her side to make her feel better.

"Sometimes I feel like I don't really belong here. That I should be somewhere else."

"That's ridiculous." Panther Lily said. "Where else in the world could you possibly belong?"

"I don't know. Someplace where people don't always laugh and gossip about me. Someplace where I could fit in. Someplace where there's at least one person who can understand me and like me for who I am. Someone I can relate to."

"You know what you need to make you feel better?" Lily said. "You need to keep your mind on your music. You can't get into trouble if you keep practicing on your singing."