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Description
It took a lot to become a villain, especially one such as herself. To be on top and stay on top, one had to be cunning, willing to manipulate to get what one desired, and perceptive. Afterall, no one played king of the hill without knocking someone over and being able to identify the weaknesses of those below you only made the shove all the easier.
Melira had lived long enough to perfect her craft, so she liked to think that she knew how to read people and identify not only how they think, but how to break them.

Which is why Melira hated Libby.

Ever since she met all the colorful characters that made up their little group, she made sure to take the time to make mental profiles for each of them.

Pibby, a naive child who didn't know how the world worked. One with a mind that's attempting to make up for that previous worldview by pendulum swinging in the other direction and hardening her core. If it weren't for the rest of them, she likely would fall so hard into the pit of despair that she'd forget how to spell the word 'smile'.

Alloy Boy, someone who clearly didn't know what the word ‘leadership’ was and was too used to relying on others for direction. Pathetic, but convenient when it needs to be, and he was at least growing out of it.

Daisy, while she didn't have all the information, she picked up really quickly that Daisy was overcompensating for something. The weapon Alloy Boy found her with was too big, and too heavy for her to be swinging around, and yet she refused to part with it. It was also a headache in the beginning because of how much she suicidally threw herself into danger all the time. Was probably even more naive than Pibby was, and still has a lot to learn.

But, Libby, all she could say was that there was something off about her. It wasn't the fact that she was extremely skilled in combat despite the world she came from. No, it was more emotional than physical that was wrong with this girl.

First thing, she smiled too much. No matter what was thrown at her, in the end she'd always be smiling and encouraging everyone else to do the same. She was too happy. But it wasn't in the same way as someone who was waiting for the apocalypse to happen so they could justify their psychopathic behavior and misplaced spending habits. No, she couldn't put it into words, but no one should be as composed as Libby was acting, especially someone who was also from Pibby's world.

The biggest thing, though, was that she never saw Libby cry.

She'd seen Pibby cry a few times, and Daisy cries herself to sleep every other night, but Libby was different. Now, it would be another story if Libby acted like a hardened soul that saw tears as a weakness or was in a denial so deep that she was a danger to herself and everyone around her, but neither was the case. She was fully aware of her surroundings and circumstances and able to adapt to them while still choosing to be calm, cheerful, and supportive.

Now, one could never say that Melira never put work into the things she sets her mind to. Again, you didn't stay on top of the hill without shoving others, and she was not just some cat who lounged around all day. Melira had tried to pick Libby's brain multiple times, getting the girl's history, and even engaging in the small acts of pettiness she had given up when they formed their group to try and get a reaction. But, each time, Libby gave the same story she always told without fail -that being that she mostly traveled alone but did collaborate with anyone she ran into- and always ended every encounter with a smile. In the end it only left Melira even more frustrated than when she had started.

Melira loathed that there seemingly wasn't more to it.

Everything seemed fine, but nothing added up.

"It's okay, Nibbles. I'll be right back."

Melira carefully opened her eyes, making sure that her breathing stayed even, and her body remained still so as to not give away the fact that she was awake. They had just spent most of the day running, so she had assumed that the others were like her and just wanted to finally rest near the warm fire. But, no, once again it seemed like Libby was deciding to spite her by going against her assumptions. Peaking her eyes over, Melira watched Libby lovingly stroke Nibbles' head as she whispered to him.

"I'll even scream if I need you, okay?"

Nibbles relented with a huff before laying his head back down. Libby smiled, taking one last chance to stroke Nibbles' head before grabbing her bag and taking off down the path.

Now this was a new development, and one that Melira was not about to let slip through her grasp. She shot up from where she was laying and gave a silent chase. Even though Libby had a head start, being a cat provided Melira with the keen senses that she used to easily track Libby down. Libby didn't go far but did go off the path into a clearing. Melira had to be extra careful navigating through the bushes so as to not alert Libby to her presence. Melira was so busy trying to keep her steps quiet that she was caught off guard when she finally looked back up at Libby, who was sitting on the ground with her back to Melira.

In moments out of her control, Melira prided herself on her ability to keep calm and not show weakness. However, the sight before her broke that streak of composure, and she let out a loud gasp.

Libby wasn't wearing her bodysuit, and decorating her back like some demented tattoos was...

Scars.

Libby's whole body was covered in them. Some Melira recognized as being from animals, matching the bites that were near them. There were also burns of different varieties, clean slashes from weapons, and many others that she didn't want to try and identify. They were all over her body, overlapping and at varying degrees of healing. Some looked faint and ready to fade away, while others were fresh and would take a long time to disappear.

Currently, Libby was tending to the open wound on her side, clumsily wrapping the bandages around her midsection and tying it off. She froze, though, when she heard Melira's gasp. Her head whipped around to Melira, the two making eye contact with their own version of surprised expressions. But, to Melira's added confusion, Libby's surprise quickly fell into tired relief when she saw that it was just Melira there.

"Oh, it's just you."

Just her?

"May I ask what you're doing, darling?" Melira said as she stepped out from the foliage.

Once again, Libby smiled the same smile that made Melira's blood boil.

"Just patching myself up. Nothing to get worried about." She stood up and dusted her knees off. "Would you…mind not telling Pibby or Daisy about what you saw?"

Now that was a peculiar request. Though she was able to mask it, giddiness started to build up inside her. She had to stop herself from smiling as she asked, "and why such a request?"

Libby giggled, rubbing the back of her head with her prosthetic arm. "Well, you know, Daisy doesn't really like the sight of blood. And I don't want Pibby to worry."

"And all the other scars?"

At that moment, it finally happened. The thing that Melira had been hoping for from the moment she had been trying to figure out Libby's character.

Libby's smile twitched.

"Like I said, I don't want to worry them."

Melira raised an eyebrow. "So, you were just planning on lying to them for the rest of your life?"

Libby's eyes widened, her smile finally dropping away. "It's not lying! I'm doing it to protect them"

That caused Melira to fold her arms, "Sounds to me like you actually have less faith in your family than what you previously let on."

"You don't get it! I'm the oldest! I'm the big sister!" Melira was startled, her eyes widened and fur bristling, when Libby snapped at her.

Libby looked down at her arms, which were starting to tremble. "D-you don't even know what I've done just to find you guys again! But I did it because they needed me! They need me to be strong! So, I have to be strong!"

The surprise had worn off at that point, and as Melira worked to smooth her fur she asked, "and you truly believe that?"

Libby glared hard up at Melira "I know that," she declared.

Now this was a scenario that Melira was familiar with. The 'hero' stands up to the 'villain' in a battle of their beliefs, one where one was meant to tear the other down and become the victor. But it wasn't the scenario she was entirely used to. In the past, the hero's beliefs usually surrounded the idea of the power of friendship and love, something that her old self deemed a delusion and set out to prove to the heroes. It was an argument that she normally lost- often resulting in her property being destroyed- and one she had recently come to believe in herself; not that she'd ever say that out loud. This, however, was an actual delusion. One that was going to put Libby in danger at some point. Melira had gotten farther than she ever had before with Libby, and this was one confrontation that she wasn't going to lose this time. If Libby was going to play the hero, then it was time for the villainess to come out again.

With a pompous strut and an extra condescending frown, she started to circle around Libby, never taking her eyes off the smaller girl who kept whipping her head around to try and keep her eyes on Melira.

"Libby, dear, look at yourself. You're an amputee, your cat is now a freak of nature, your cousin almost took your head off, and you're covered in scars that I don't even want to know the origins of! Do you genuinely believe that you can 'stay strong' when you come from a world that didn't even know what blood was?"

"Shut up, Melira! You don't know anything about me!"

Melira smiled. There it was. The crack. The famous phrase that not only meant that she was right, but also meant that she was starting to shatter the delusion heroes worked so hard to build.

She found a weakness in the wall, now it was time for the hammer to keep swinging.

"I know that you are not some unbreakable wall to shield others. I've seen from day one that you are a crumbling structure, and it's only a matter of time before you collapse!"

"Shut. Up."

Melira finally stopped in front of Libby, leaning forward so that the two could look directly into each other's eyes.

"Face it. You're just a weak stick pretending to be a tree because it's the only aspect left in your life that you have control over. It'll only be a matter of time before everyone else catches on. Or, even worse, your delusion results in everyone you love getting killed. Why not just cut the act and accept the fact that you. Aren't. Strong."

"SHUT UP!" Libby screamed so loud that Melira was briefly worried that the others would hear. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

Libby grabbed her head, squeezing her eyes tight to prevent tears from falling.

"You don't get it! No one gets it! I am strong! I have to be strong! They need me to be strong! That's why...I... always...have t-be strong!"

Libby's whole body started to tremble. "I-I'm the oldest! I... I have to be brave...I have to be strong-I... I…"

A few tears dripped onto the dirt below.

"I don't know what to do! I hate this! I hate all of this! I lost my home! I lost my friends! I lost my arm! It hurt so much, and it still hurts now! Everything hurts! I can't take this! I wanna go home! I want my kitchen back! I want my little kitten back! I want this all to just end!"

In the climax of her anger, Libby tore off her prosthetic and threw it. "I DON'T WANT TO BE STRONG ANYMORE!"

For a moment, Libby stood in place, tears freely flowing down her face as she stared at the ground. Her breathing was uneven, coming out choked and shakily and being broken up occasionally by hiccups and sniffling. Soon enough, she collapsed onto her knees, hugging, and curling into herself as she continued to sob loudly.

Melira frowned, she briefly mused at how her old self would have likely laughed at the suffering of others, especially since this was the first time she technically won for once. But as she watched Libby continue to break down, she just felt empty. This wasn't satisfying, or rewarding, or even fun to watch.

It was simply necessary.

Sighing, she went over to where Libby had thrown her prosthetic, scooping it up and dusting a bit of the dirt off before walking over and sitting on her knees in front of Libby.

"Hey," putting her thumb under Libby's chin, she gently brought Libby's head up to look at her. What stared back at Melira wasn't some strong warrior, or some paragon of a hero, but a broken child trying desperately to be an adult.

"Unfortunately, dear, this isn't going to end tomorrow."

Holding what remained of Libby's arm, she began to gingerly slip the prosthetic back on. Constantly observing the girl to try and figure her out did lead to the positive of learning how to put it on and off. Libby didn't resist, as it meant that Melira had to let go of her face, so she was able to look down at the ground again.

"We have to ride this out for however long, whether we like it or not."

Libby flinched when Melira tightened the strap, it being just a little too tight.

"However, it's why we need to rely on each other."

Melira cupped Libby's head in her hands, once more forcing Libby to look at her as she used her thumbs to wipe away the tears.

"You are always so willing to carry your sister and cousin through their pain. Yet, here you are, being crushed by your own and refusing to get help. If there's anything that I've learned through all of this, it's that we can't survive on our own, physically or emotionally."
She smirked, "and if a villain like me can learn that, do you think that you can learn not to bottle up your feelings?" she asked, a bit of musing in her voice.

Libby didn't answer, the look that she was giving Melira just showed the exhaustion of all her emotions catching up to her.

Sighing again, Melira pulled Libby into a tight hug, careful where she put her arms to avoid any of the newer scars on the smaller girl.

"Okay, how about this, since you're still so stubborn about not letting your family see you be vulnerable, how about just letting me see you like this? Just for now? That way, you can still be the strong big sister you so desperately want to masquerade as, but you'll still let out those emotions so that you're not bottling them up all the time. Does that sound like a better deal?"

It took a moment, but she felt Libby nod into her chest.

"Good."

Melira pulled out of the hug, once again wiping away the tears on Libby's face.

"Now, let's get these wounds properly wrapped."

Libby sniffed then nodded, turning her body away from Melira while she grabbed Libby's previously discarded bag and fished out some more bandages. After untying and unwrapping Libby's attempt at dressing her wound, Melira took a moment to examine Libby's injury. It wasn't deep enough to require stitches, and Melira saw no point in trying to identify it. So, while Libby held her arms up, Melira wrapped the fresh bandages around her midsection.

"And, Libby?"

"Hm?"

"I was lying, partially. You are strong, but any house will collapse if not properly supported."

A small smile crossed Libby's face. "Thanks, Melira."

Description
It took a lot to become a villain, especially one such as herself. To be on top and stay on top, one had to be cunning, willing to manipulate to get what one desired, and perceptive. Afterall, no one played king of the hill without knocking someone over and being able to identify the weaknesses of those below you only made the shove all the easier.
Melira had lived long enough to perfect her craft, so she liked to think that she knew how to read people and identify not only how they think, but how to break them.

Which is why Melira hated Libby.

Ever since she met all the colorful characters that made up their little group, she made sure to take the time to make mental profiles for each of them.

Pibby, a naive child who didn't know how the world worked. One with a mind that's attempting to make up for that previous worldview by pendulum swinging in the other direction and hardening her core. If it weren't for the rest of them, she likely would fall so hard into the pit of despair that she'd forget how to spell the word 'smile'.

Alloy Boy, someone who clearly didn't know what the word ‘leadership’ was and was too used to relying on others for direction. Pathetic, but convenient when it needs to be, and he was at least growing out of it.

Daisy, while she didn't have all the information, she picked up really quickly that Daisy was overcompensating for something. The weapon Alloy Boy found her with was too big, and too heavy for her to be swinging around, and yet she refused to part with it. It was also a headache in the beginning because of how much she suicidally threw herself into danger all the time. Was probably even more naive than Pibby was, and still has a lot to learn.

But, Libby, all she could say was that there was something off about her. It wasn't the fact that she was extremely skilled in combat despite the world she came from. No, it was more emotional than physical that was wrong with this girl.

First thing, she smiled too much. No matter what was thrown at her, in the end she'd always be smiling and encouraging everyone else to do the same. She was too happy. But it wasn't in the same way as someone who was waiting for the apocalypse to happen so they could justify their psychopathic behavior and misplaced spending habits. No, she couldn't put it into words, but no one should be as composed as Libby was acting, especially someone who was also from Pibby's world.

The biggest thing, though, was that she never saw Libby cry.

She'd seen Pibby cry a few times, and Daisy cries herself to sleep every other night, but Libby was different. Now, it would be another story if Libby acted like a hardened soul that saw tears as a weakness or was in a denial so deep that she was a danger to herself and everyone around her, but neither was the case. She was fully aware of her surroundings and circumstances and able to adapt to them while still choosing to be calm, cheerful, and supportive.

Now, one could never say that Melira never put work into the things she sets her mind to. Again, you didn't stay on top of the hill without shoving others, and she was not just some cat who lounged around all day. Melira had tried to pick Libby's brain multiple times, getting the girl's history, and even engaging in the small acts of pettiness she had given up when they formed their group to try and get a reaction. But, each time, Libby gave the same story she always told without fail -that being that she mostly traveled alone but did collaborate with anyone she ran into- and always ended every encounter with a smile. In the end it only left Melira even more frustrated than when she had started.

Melira loathed that there seemingly wasn't more to it.

Everything seemed fine, but nothing added up.

"It's okay, Nibbles. I'll be right back."

Melira carefully opened her eyes, making sure that her breathing stayed even, and her body remained still so as to not give away the fact that she was awake. They had just spent most of the day running, so she had assumed that the others were like her and just wanted to finally rest near the warm fire. But, no, once again it seemed like Libby was deciding to spite her by going against her assumptions. Peaking her eyes over, Melira watched Libby lovingly stroke Nibbles' head as she whispered to him.

"I'll even scream if I need you, okay?"

Nibbles relented with a huff before laying his head back down. Libby smiled, taking one last chance to stroke Nibbles' head before grabbing her bag and taking off down the path.

Now this was a new development, and one that Melira was not about to let slip through her grasp. She shot up from where she was laying and gave a silent chase. Even though Libby had a head start, being a cat provided Melira with the keen senses that she used to easily track Libby down. Libby didn't go far but did go off the path into a clearing. Melira had to be extra careful navigating through the bushes so as to not alert Libby to her presence. Melira was so busy trying to keep her steps quiet that she was caught off guard when she finally looked back up at Libby, who was sitting on the ground with her back to Melira.

In moments out of her control, Melira prided herself on her ability to keep calm and not show weakness. However, the sight before her broke that streak of composure, and she let out a loud gasp.

Libby wasn't wearing her bodysuit, and decorating her back like some demented tattoos was...

Scars.

Libby's whole body was covered in them. Some Melira recognized as being from animals, matching the bites that were near them. There were also burns of different varieties, clean slashes from weapons, and many others that she didn't want to try and identify. They were all over her body, overlapping and at varying degrees of healing. Some looked faint and ready to fade away, while others were fresh and would take a long time to disappear.

Currently, Libby was tending to the open wound on her side, clumsily wrapping the bandages around her midsection and tying it off. She froze, though, when she heard Melira's gasp. Her head whipped around to Melira, the two making eye contact with their own version of surprised expressions. But, to Melira's added confusion, Libby's surprise quickly fell into tired relief when she saw that it was just Melira there.

"Oh, it's just you."

Just her?

"May I ask what you're doing, darling?" Melira said as she stepped out from the foliage.

Once again, Libby smiled the same smile that made Melira's blood boil.

"Just patching myself up. Nothing to get worried about." She stood up and dusted her knees off. "Would you…mind not telling Pibby or Daisy about what you saw?"

Now that was a peculiar request. Though she was able to mask it, giddiness started to build up inside her. She had to stop herself from smiling as she asked, "and why such a request?"

Libby giggled, rubbing the back of her head with her prosthetic arm. "Well, you know, Daisy doesn't really like the sight of blood. And I don't want Pibby to worry."

"And all the other scars?"

At that moment, it finally happened. The thing that Melira had been hoping for from the moment she had been trying to figure out Libby's character.

Libby's smile twitched.

"Like I said, I don't want to worry them."

Melira raised an eyebrow. "So, you were just planning on lying to them for the rest of your life?"

Libby's eyes widened, her smile finally dropping away. "It's not lying! I'm doing it to protect them"

That caused Melira to fold her arms, "Sounds to me like you actually have less faith in your family than what you previously let on."

"You don't get it! I'm the oldest! I'm the big sister!" Melira was startled, her eyes widened and fur bristling, when Libby snapped at her.

Libby looked down at her arms, which were starting to tremble. "D-you don't even know what I've done just to find you guys again! But I did it because they needed me! They need me to be strong! So, I have to be strong!"

The surprise had worn off at that point, and as Melira worked to smooth her fur she asked, "and you truly believe that?"

Libby glared hard up at Melira "I know that," she declared.

Now this was a scenario that Melira was familiar with. The 'hero' stands up to the 'villain' in a battle of their beliefs, one where one was meant to tear the other down and become the victor. But it wasn't the scenario she was entirely used to. In the past, the hero's beliefs usually surrounded the idea of the power of friendship and love, something that her old self deemed a delusion and set out to prove to the heroes. It was an argument that she normally lost- often resulting in her property being destroyed- and one she had recently come to believe in herself; not that she'd ever say that out loud. This, however, was an actual delusion. One that was going to put Libby in danger at some point. Melira had gotten farther than she ever had before with Libby, and this was one confrontation that she wasn't going to lose this time. If Libby was going to play the hero, then it was time for the villainess to come out again.

With a pompous strut and an extra condescending frown, she started to circle around Libby, never taking her eyes off the smaller girl who kept whipping her head around to try and keep her eyes on Melira.

"Libby, dear, look at yourself. You're an amputee, your cat is now a freak of nature, your cousin almost took your head off, and you're covered in scars that I don't even want to know the origins of! Do you genuinely believe that you can 'stay strong' when you come from a world that didn't even know what blood was?"

"Shut up, Melira! You don't know anything about me!"

Melira smiled. There it was. The crack. The famous phrase that not only meant that she was right, but also meant that she was starting to shatter the delusion heroes worked so hard to build.

She found a weakness in the wall, now it was time for the hammer to keep swinging.

"I know that you are not some unbreakable wall to shield others. I've seen from day one that you are a crumbling structure, and it's only a matter of time before you collapse!"

"Shut. Up."

Melira finally stopped in front of Libby, leaning forward so that the two could look directly into each other's eyes.

"Face it. You're just a weak stick pretending to be a tree because it's the only aspect left in your life that you have control over. It'll only be a matter of time before everyone else catches on. Or, even worse, your delusion results in everyone you love getting killed. Why not just cut the act and accept the fact that you. Aren't. Strong."

"SHUT UP!" Libby screamed so loud that Melira was briefly worried that the others would hear. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

Libby grabbed her head, squeezing her eyes tight to prevent tears from falling.

"You don't get it! No one gets it! I am strong! I have to be strong! They need me to be strong! That's why...I... always...have t-be strong!"

Libby's whole body started to tremble. "I-I'm the oldest! I... I have to be brave...I have to be strong-I... I…"

A few tears dripped onto the dirt below.

"I don't know what to do! I hate this! I hate all of this! I lost my home! I lost my friends! I lost my arm! It hurt so much, and it still hurts now! Everything hurts! I can't take this! I wanna go home! I want my kitchen back! I want my little kitten back! I want this all to just end!"

In the climax of her anger, Libby tore off her prosthetic and threw it. "I DON'T WANT TO BE STRONG ANYMORE!"

For a moment, Libby stood in place, tears freely flowing down her face as she stared at the ground. Her breathing was uneven, coming out choked and shakily and being broken up occasionally by hiccups and sniffling. Soon enough, she collapsed onto her knees, hugging, and curling into herself as she continued to sob loudly.

Melira frowned, she briefly mused at how her old self would have likely laughed at the suffering of others, especially since this was the first time she technically won for once. But as she watched Libby continue to break down, she just felt empty. This wasn't satisfying, or rewarding, or even fun to watch.

It was simply necessary.

Sighing, she went over to where Libby had thrown her prosthetic, scooping it up and dusting a bit of the dirt off before walking over and sitting on her knees in front of Libby.

"Hey," putting her thumb under Libby's chin, she gently brought Libby's head up to look at her. What stared back at Melira wasn't some strong warrior, or some paragon of a hero, but a broken child trying desperately to be an adult.

"Unfortunately, dear, this isn't going to end tomorrow."

Holding what remained of Libby's arm, she began to gingerly slip the prosthetic back on. Constantly observing the girl to try and figure her out did lead to the positive of learning how to put it on and off. Libby didn't resist, as it meant that Melira had to let go of her face, so she was able to look down at the ground again.

"We have to ride this out for however long, whether we like it or not."

Libby flinched when Melira tightened the strap, it being just a little too tight.

"However, it's why we need to rely on each other."

Melira cupped Libby's head in her hands, once more forcing Libby to look at her as she used her thumbs to wipe away the tears.

"You are always so willing to carry your sister and cousin through their pain. Yet, here you are, being crushed by your own and refusing to get help. If there's anything that I've learned through all of this, it's that we can't survive on our own, physically or emotionally."
She smirked, "and if a villain like me can learn that, do you think that you can learn not to bottle up your feelings?" she asked, a bit of musing in her voice.

Libby didn't answer, the look that she was giving Melira just showed the exhaustion of all her emotions catching up to her.

Sighing again, Melira pulled Libby into a tight hug, careful where she put her arms to avoid any of the newer scars on the smaller girl.

"Okay, how about this, since you're still so stubborn about not letting your family see you be vulnerable, how about just letting me see you like this? Just for now? That way, you can still be the strong big sister you so desperately want to masquerade as, but you'll still let out those emotions so that you're not bottling them up all the time. Does that sound like a better deal?"

It took a moment, but she felt Libby nod into her chest.

"Good."

Melira pulled out of the hug, once again wiping away the tears on Libby's face.

"Now, let's get these wounds properly wrapped."

Libby sniffed then nodded, turning her body away from Melira while she grabbed Libby's previously discarded bag and fished out some more bandages. After untying and unwrapping Libby's attempt at dressing her wound, Melira took a moment to examine Libby's injury. It wasn't deep enough to require stitches, and Melira saw no point in trying to identify it. So, while Libby held her arms up, Melira wrapped the fresh bandages around her midsection.

"And, Libby?"

"Hm?"

"I was lying, partially. You are strong, but any house will collapse if not properly supported."

A small smile crossed Libby's face. "Thanks, Melira."