Disclaimer: This story is a work of FAN-fiction. By any means, the author of this story is merely a fan, and does not (partially or wholly) own Gundam Seed (Destiny), or characters that have existed in the series. I only own the story plotline of THIS fan fiction. Any resemblance of actual events, stories, locales, news, persons (living or dead) are merely coincidental.

Failure – Meer's Story

By: Hades.Throne.Heiress

Chapter 1 – Grey

Flashback:

Normal POV

"Daddy just got a promotion and a raise to the main company. So we're gonna be moving in about a week from now." Cerena explained to the group of teenagers and young adults seated together during their family reunion.

The family reunion of the Campbell's this year wasn't as crowded as the previous one due to the inconvenient events that made certain members not able to attend. The group near Meer's age shrunk as well, making the infamous ''three sisters' gain more limelight than usual.

Truth to be told, the 'three sisters' don't gain the limelight by bullying others - two of the three did. Elise, Lelia and Cerena; Elise is the eldest of the three, spoiled and bitchy all her life with her father being the head of a department in an international company. She's two years older than Lelia, the second eldest of the three. The year that Lelia was born, she had two other cousins as well, Meer and Mia, the twins. Lelia, much like her sister is spoiled - but not bitchy. Elise made sure she was the only one that took charge and left no room for anyone to be more intimidating than herself. Thus, instead of bitchy, she was more… prissy. Those are the two mean girls. Their baby sister, as well as Campbell's youngest kin however, is a miracle as to how she became nothing like her blood sisters. Cerena's near being the nicest of the whole Campbell family and is usually the peacekeeper in protecting others from her sisters' mean girl mouths.

"…Okay… no prob,,, yeah, I fed him this morning… YES! The filter for your friggin' turtle is CLEAN! Have ta go now… fine, see you next week. Love ya, bye." Speak of the devils; Elise strolled in the occupant filled living room holding her newly brought cell phone, snapping it shut.

"Sorry I'm 'late' darling cousins," Elise announced her arrival with a noticeable stress on the word 'late,' as if there was no punctual needed anyways. Each individual then replied with their own response with courtesy. Glancing around, one of her perfectly groomed blonde eyebrows shot up, "And I thought I was late, where's the other peeps?"

"Cousin Zura had her assistant shift in the females ward and couldn't find a replacement. Cousin Krist is on a business trip in another PLANT. U ncle Buron earlier told us that there were some technical difficulties involving the auto-pilot shuttles. All the shuttlecraft companies available are unwilling to take flight yet." Cerena sweetly responded while motioning Lelia, who sat beside her on the couch, to move over and shuffled over herself, patting the newly made space which was more than enough for another occupant.

Elise compiled and eyed the remaining people, looking for a prey - everyone included but her own sisters. Lelia was her ally and she had more than enough reasons not to pick on Cerena. For one, Cerena was not only her blood sister, and a very dear one at that; she was just too sweet and innocent to have anything taken out on her. Anyone else, sometimes including Lelia and Leeon, her boyfriend, could be her target for verbal and mental stabbing, Rina (Cerena) was never and wouldn't ever be her victim

Elise May Campbell spotted her vulnerable prey: Cousin Meer Campbell, the elder twin of Mia Quincy Campbell.

"Say," Elise started and looked down momentarily with a small hidden smile before looking up again, "did you guys know that Rina here has taken up art?" she finished with a proud smile while holding her sister's shoulder as she was blushing.

"What kind of art? Musical, dramatic, theater…?" Caden asked, showing interest in where his little cousin's future lies.

"Visual. I was planning to teach art," Cerena replied still flushing.

"That's good; we could use a teacher in the family. Plus, we know you're better with kids than any of us considering your bravery in volunteering at the children's hospital," Ona smiled gently, motivating their 'baby cousin.'

"Youare right," Elise started again, with an over reacting innocent look, "so that's another one down," smiling with triumph, knowing that others would ask about her questionable statement.

Just as expected, their second 'baby cousin' asked, "Down for what?" Mia or more commonly addressed as Quincy asked.

"Oh! You don't know?" Elise asked with a fake surprised tone; which earned her a few confused looks. 'Target locked, victim has not spoken once since I came in,' unsuccessfully hiding a smirk of hers, she saw in the corner of her eye that Lelia has caught on to her bullying plan. "Well, with the money Lia (Lelia) and I saved up over the years, we bought a store for fashion. You all know that, you all have been there. Rina has just found her dream job, so that makes our family cleared."

Like the siblings had telepathy, Lelia went on with her part, "We know Zura's gonna be a doctor, and she's already working at the hospital. That's one out of six down for your family," she smirked in the end.

Cerena had a feeling of where it was all going and tried to take Meer out of the room by asking her to get something to drink with her, but as nice as her sisters are to her, they would notlet their entertainment slip away.

"Rina, I have a bottle of water here, drink up and don't get dehydrated. If you go prancing around, you might get sick," Lelia tossed a bottle of flavored water to her sister, leaving her with no excuse to leave with their victim. Suppose it was easy to have their little sister behave the way they want her to.

"We should continue," Elise gave Lelia 'the' look with her chin down and her eyebrows along with her eyes directing upwards.

"Um hmm," partner in crime Lelia replied with a pity looking nod.

"'Kay then, Ona's fiancée brought her that store to play 'lil miss boss. Krist is now in his father-in-law's family business company with some status, as we all know," Elise kept ticking off her fingers as to which of the siblings are finished with.

Cerena held onto her eldest sister's arm with a pleading look, which was replied with a pointed one and was then ignored.

"Three out of six. Caden!" Lelia looked over happily to her most handsome cousin, "you're a stock broker with a house, a wife and 'lil nephew Micki." Right then Lelia looked giddy and almost harmless while speaking of her nephew. Keyword being 'almost,' as right the next second her eyes wandered playfully to Meer, " Four."

Everyone there by then already knew the two sisters' little scheme, "And lastly, Mia's our marine zoologist." Elise finished off with a flash of her pearly white teeth gleaming at everybody.

"Elise," Mia started, "I like to be called Quincy more," she smiled meekly at her cousin.

"But Mi-Quincy," the said cousin whined, "Mia's such a nice name. I mean… it sounds so... I dunno, but, it's beautiful, I personally love the name," Elise reasoned with Quincy before her sister cut in moving them back on topic.

"No, no, Ella (Elise). Mia's not our 'lastly,'" Lelia paused to smirk at everyone, "You forgot Meer."

Elise's fake shock of apology could have won an award if the family hadn't known about their actress practice; All the others were trying to start a hushed conversation with somebody else, redirecting the main topic and showing disinterest with the current one, but both sister's only raised their voices to cover everybody else's.

"Howcould I forget? You're right Lia," Elise casts a sorry look towards her sister and turned to look at Meer directly, for a moment without speaking. All the other cousins' attempt-conversations ceased, waiting for the esteem degrading attack.

The sisters smirked, "So, Meer darling," Elise started jeering, "whatdo you want to be?"

Lelia nodded, agreeing, "We don't mean harm, but we haven't noticed any 'special' talents about you," she bore on a mock giving smile. "You can't off handedly win a beauty contest," ticking off her fingers with an 'are you kidding me?!' look when she regarded this comment.

"You haven't dated –or as far as we know- since that… uhh… Kia what's-his-name broke up with you," Ally Force Member One Elise May Campbell taunted. "Do tell us sweetheart, what do you want to become?"

Silence was all that was heard in that room, everyone was trying to avoid eye contact whatsoever. The uncomfortable moment was later on interrupted by a fake cough, all the while muttering the word 'junk.'

Heads snapped towards Lelia while she tried to put on an angel smile, everyone glared at her but her sisters and Meer.

"…I broke up with Kia, not him… he asked to… have a more intim-" Meer tried to explain herself, but was sharply cut off.

"Meer Persephone Campbell, we're not talking about your relationships, nor are we interested. We're seriously talking about your future! Can you at least stay on track?!" Elise boomed, the room echoed with her voice.

Meer stopped talking at once. She hated it when they include her middle name in things. Persephone… the bringer of destruction… she hated that name, but wasn't allowed to change it. Elise just irked her on even more by calling her that.

End of flashback:

Meer's POV

An artist. That was all I've always wanted to be. I don't remember any more of the conversation, but I do remember that it was utmost humiliating.

Elise and Lelia were bullies, yes, but they did a terrific job at it. They were always able to attack people's weakest spot perfectly. They mocked me, yes… and motivated me.

Simply because of the sheer mockery I received that night, I vowed to reach my dream. My unrecognized dream; nobody ever knew of it but Adhara, my best friend… and the chairman…

I left one, and failed the other; disappointing both of the only people who saw my vocal talents. I loved one to death, and hated the other for using and deceiving me… but at one point; I believed and was grateful for the both of them.

Adhara and Chairman Gilbert Durandal are the polar opposites of each other to me. I met Adhara as a companion, the chairman for a purpose; I had to push myself away from her –to him, and he pushed me away to die; Adhara's acquaintance was priceless, but working for the chairman had its own consequences… my life as the payment.

"They say love is thicker than water. Maybe that's why we battle our own with more energy and gusto than we would ever expend on strangers." - David Assael

Stein

Post Date: July 25th '07