"Levy." Juvia said to her sister in-law the next day as she was brushing her hair. "What do humans think of our kind?"

"Well it's hard to say because every human has his or her own opinion but from what I've seen, most humans think merfolk are a myth. They believe that our kind only exists in their imaginations."

"Do you think a human could ever befriend one of us?"

"It's not impossible. I'm sure a human and meraid could get along just fine if they tried."

"And do you think that maybe..." She looked down at her fingers, twiddling with them nervously. "Maybe they could fall in love?"

"Now that is impossible."

"It is? How come?"

"Well for starters, humans don't find our tails very attractive. They much prefer their mates to have legs."

"Why?"

"So they can walk, and run, and most of all dance. I once saw a human couple dance together by the beach and the man loved nothing more than to take the woman into his arms and whilr her around and around. We cannot do such things."

"I wonder what it be like to dance with someone. It sounds wonderful."

"You'd be wise not to dream of dancing for you can never do it."

"Is there anything else that humans prefer their mate to have? What about music? Do they like music?"

"Oh they adore it. Love it as much as we do, especially the ones who live in Verdenshav. In fact music is the kingdom's greatest pleasure and passion."

"So a human would like my singing very much?"

"Very, but a lovely voice means nothing to a human if it belongs to maiden who has a tail instead of legs. What look at you below the waist and they'd panic." Levy said. "Why are you asking me these questions anyway?"

"Just curious."

But Juvia was very disappointed with Levy's words. She had been trying to figure out if there was a way she and Gray could be together. If a mermaid and a human could share a life. But Levy said that was impossible and she knew more about humans than anyone else under the sea so it had to be true. Adding further disappointment to her was that the next few times she swam up to see her prince, she discovered that he wasn't there. He wasn't on the balcony or sailing on his ship or walking along the beach. He was no where.

She started to get worried. Where had he gone? Was he alright? Did something happen to him? Had he been hurt? She just wouldn't know peace until she knew if he was okay. So against her better judgement, she began clinging to the side of ships, listening to the gossip of sailors, hoping that one of them would reveal any information about the prince. For six days, she learned nothing, then finally of the seventh of that week, she heard a crewman mentioned that Gray had gone to spend the Summer at his other castle in the Magnolia Nation.

"I have to go there." She said to Panther Lily and Conlan when she returned from her last visit. "I have to go to this Magnolia Nation and see him again. And when I do I'm...I'm going to talk to him."

"Juvia stop talking crazy." Lily said. "Levy told you that no human could ever fall in love with a mermaid. Besides, the human world is not for you."

"You don't understand Lily. My body is down here." She looked up toward the surface. "But my heart is up there."

"Juvia you are the luckiest girl in the world. You live under the sea which is the most beautiful place in the world and there are so many beautiful creatures down here. Creatures who adore you."

That was true. Juvia loved all the fish, the crabs, the dolphins, the starfish, the sea horses, the stingrays, even the snails and the slugs. And they all loved her. They thought she was the most wonderful person in the whole sea. But her own people didn't feel the same. Apart from her family, none of the other mer-people thought there was anything special about her. They treated her like an outcast, and there was no one who could really understand how she felt. No one except Gray.

"Lily I'm just not happy down here." She confessed. "You saw how those mermaids treated me when I asked to join in their game, well I'm treated like that almost everyday by almost everyone down here. They make me feel like I don't belong."

"And what makes you think up there will be any different?"

"Because at least there's somebody up there who knows exactly how I feel. Who can understand what I'm going through. I'd give anything in the world to just have one friend who could like me for who I am."

"Juvia lots of people like you for who you are. Don't you remember how many mermen and mermaids praised you for your singing."

"But it's not me that they like. It's just my voice. Take that away and no one would have a single nice thing to say about me." Juvia sighed. "Nevermind. I don't know why I even bother trying to explain this to anyone. It's not like any of you really listen or try to understand. Come on Conlan, let's go to the garden."

The water horse nodded and swam after her. Lily would have followed but he was suddenly stopped by a swordfish messenger.

"Panther Lily." He said. "The king has requested your presence in his throne room. He wishes to speak with you about one of the princesses."

Lily gulped. Gajeel had found out. Panther Lily's career was over, he just knew it. He had failed to take care of Juvia. Gajeel would surely banish him for this, if he was lucky. Shaking like death was just right behind him, the poor sea cat swam toward the palace and entered the throne room.

There he saw the king sitting on his throne chuckling to himself over his sister being in love and that rascal Lily keeping it from him?

"Now let's see." He wondered. "Who could the lucky merman be?"

When he saw Lily, Gajeel decided to tease him a bit.

"So Lily, have you noticed that Juvia has been acting a little peculiar lately?"

"Peculiar?" Lily squeaked.

"You know, mooning about, day-dreaming, singing to herself?"

"Isn't that how she normally acts?" He gulped.

Gajeel raised an eye brow.

"Lily I know you've been keeping something from me. What's going on?"

"Going on?" Lily's teeth chattered. "Going on in what sense?"

"Lily I know that Juvia is in love, and I know that you know too. Care to explain?"

Suddenly Lily fell to his knees began to whimper.

"I tried to stop her sir! But she wouldn't listen! I told her to stay away from humans! They are bad! They are trouble-"

Gajeel sat bolt up right.

"Humans?" He bellowed with his eyes glowing in rage. "What about humans?!"

Panther Lily then turned pale upon realizing the terrible mistake he had just made.

"Uh-oh."

...

Meanwhile, Selene was once again spying on the members of the royal family through her crystal ball and she had now decided to take a particular interest in Juvia.

"This really is too easy." She gloated. "The child is in love with a human, and not just any human, a prince! And now that my nephew has found out, things will just fall right into place."

"So what's the plan?" Nebaru asked his mistress.

"For now we just wait." Selene said.

"Wait?"

"Yes wait. Wait for how everyone will react to finding out about my niece's secret love. If she thought her people mocked and belittled her now, just wait. The very moment they learn that she wants a human to be her soulmate, they'll make life down here unbearable for her. Just as they made it unbearable for me."

Subtle fury was flaring in her eyes as she recalled the dreadful memories of her own people mercilessly ridiculing and harassing her just because she had the lower body of an octopus. That she had ugly tentacles instead of a pretty tail.

"Don't worry oh magnificent one." Nebaru said curling up on to her arm. "You'll have your revenge on them soon enough. One day you'll make them pay for all the suffering they put you through."

"I know I will." Selene said petting him. "And my sweet, lovely, innocent little niece will play a key role in helping achieve that goal. Lucky thing that she thinks she's so miserable down here."

"Thinks?"

"Oh please Nebaru, what does that girl have to be miserable about? She lives in a palace, she's incredibly beautiful, and she has a perfect voice that she takes for granted. Personally I think that she needs to be taught a lesson."

She swam over to a shelf where she kept a large collection of potions, hexes, charms, and other magical items. She then proceeded to dig around them until she found the object she was seeking. It was a book. An ancient book with a thick cover and the name Zeref's written in large black letters on the front. It was Zeref's spell book, a record of every spell and potion he had ever created, and she was trying to find the perfect one to use for her plan.

"Now let's see." She said flipping through the pages. "Hypnotism? No. Her will is probably too strong just her like father's. Poison? I already tried that once. Amnesia, bunions, chilblains, cholera. Oh I can do better than that."

She flipped page after page. Dismissing one spell after another. But then finally she settled on one.

"Yes! Perfect!" She said. "A contract spell. Legal, binding, and un-breakable. Not even by the sea king's power."

"How will that help?" Nebaru asked.

"Because it will ensure that the only way Gajeel can save his precious sister, is by bending to my whim." She laughed sinisterly. "And then the ocean will finally be mine!"

She still couldn't believe that she had not thought of this until now. The contract spell was so simple and so many merpeople had fallen for it in the past. Since being banished, she had run a business of striking bargains with a merperson who's desires were so great that they would seek help from the likes of her. Unfortunately the deals always ended with unfulfilled dreams and a terrible fate. But what she had done to other merfolk in the past, would be nothing compared to what she had in store for her niece and nephew.