The Curse of Fearlessness
Libby had just woken up to a beautiful morning and got dressed before having breakfast with her mother, Leah Stein-Torres.
"So, Libby, how do you plan to spend your Saturday?" Leah asked.
"Actually, Molly suggested that we celebrate what she calls an 'Awesome Best Friends Day'." Libby answered. "She says it's rare for her to have a day without any kind of responsibility."
"I like the way she thinks. And I'm glad you and Molly are friends. Ever since you met her, you've blossomed into a bold and confident woman."
"Thanks, Mom. I better get going." Libby put her dishes in the sink and left to enjoy the day with Molly and Scratch.
Along the way, one sad thought crossed her mind.
"I wish I was as bold and confident as you think I am."
Libby walked down the street, minding her own business when a bee flew in front of her. Remembering the time whole swarm attacked her head, she screamed and ran. When she was sure the coast was clear, she calmed down. Then a loud tuba sound made her jump and scream a second time.
"Sorry. Ring tone." a man said before answering his phone.
Libby relaxed again, but was a little more cautious as she continued. But then she came across a camera crew.
"Hello. We'd like to hear what you think of your hometown's signature turnips." Some guy with a microphone said.
Libby may be free from stage fright, but she was still camera shy. The idea of millions or even more people watching her scared her so bad that she threw up right then and there. She got so embarrassed that she ran off.
"Today is definitely not starting out well."
Finally, Libby met up with her friends on the front yard of their house where they were waiting.
"Hey, Bestie. Are you ready for our Awesome Best Friends Day?" Molly greeted.
"I think so." Libby said. "So what are we doing first?"
"I was thinking that we could start with making animal friends in the woods. What do you two think?"
"As long as I don't get attacked again, I'm in." Scratch said.
"That sounds like fun." Libby agreed.
Later in the woods, Molly managed to make as many animal friends as a princess. However, she couldn't find either of her best friends for some reason.
"Scratch? Libby? Where are you?"
Her question was soon answered when she saw both of them running from squirrels of all things. They ran so far that it would take a while for Molly to catch up. Eventually, they lost the squirrels by hiding in a bush.
"Why did I agree to such a stupid idea?" Scratch complained. "How are you doing, Libby?"
"I'm miserable, but I'll be fine. Eventually." Libby said. "Oh who am I kidding!? I hate myself! Why did I have to be such a nervous wreck? I wish I could just not worry about anything."
Libby crouched down into a fetal position and let some tears out. Scratch still didn't know how best to handle someone in a sad state, so he just gave her a pat on the shoulder. Suddenly, Libby rose back up with an idea for her problem.
"Scratch, could you by any chance make me fearless with a curse?"
"What!? Ohhh no!" Scratch refused. "Just because I've cursed Molly more than once doesn't mean I'm giving them out like free candy."
"Please, Scratch! Let me have this one!" Libby begged on her knees. "I'll do anything! I wouldn't even be bothered by whatever you ask of me!"
That last sentence caused Scratch to smile like a villain. But first, he decided to think his curse through for once.
"Tell me what you're afraid of the most and you got a deal."
"Deal!" Libby said before thinking. "Hmm. I have a lot of candidates for my biggest fear. But I'd have to go with... snakes."
"Alright, let's curse you up." Scratch and the forest then became terrifyingly warped as he cast his curse.
"I CURSE YOU, LIBBY STEIN-TORRES! YOU SHALL NOT FEAR! YOU SHALL NOT WORRY! YOU SHALL NOT COWER EVER AGAIN! ONLY YOUR GREATEST FEAR CAN MAKE YOU AS YOU ONCE WERE!"
And like that, Scratch and the forest were back to normal.
"I don't feel any different." Libby said.
"Turn around and we'll test it." Scratch said.
Libby did as she was told and waited. She wondered what was going to happen when...
"RAAAGHHHH!" Scratch appeared before her, combining every type of ghost scare he could think of.
Libby stayed calm as if she was looking at air.
"I wasn't scared." Libby said with joy. "I'm finally free from all of my problems! Thank you, Scratch!"
"Just don't forget our deal." Scratch said.
"There you are!" Molly said before coming up to her two best friends. "I'm so sorry. I should've known this was a bad idea for both of you."
"Fret not, Molly, for now I feel like I can take on anything." Libby said with pride. "You name it and I'll gladly do it."
"Okaaay." Molly said with a raised eyebrow. "How about we just go to the park?"
So the trio went to the park where people were having picnics, flying kites, and doing other fun things.
"Hey, a hotdog stand." Molly said. "Let's get some and watch the clouds."
"Ooh, don't mind if I do." Scratch said.
"You go ahead and order, Molly. The usual for me." Libby said. "While I'm waiting, I want to try what they're doing."
Molly looked where Libby was pointing, but was very confused. All she saw was a circle of people using a big sheet to toss someone into the air just for fun. It wasn't until Libby started walking to them that Molly realized what she meant.
"What!? You can't do that, Libby!" she said. "You're afraid of heights! And being tossed around!"
"Not anymore." Libby proudly marched to the circle and asked if she could be tossed.
They happily agreed and let her on. Libby climbed into the middle and awaited the ride. The whole group lowered their arms, then quickly raised them and the sheet sent Libby into the sky.
"Wheeeeeeeee!" Libby went several feet high and came back down.
The ring of people repeated their actions over and over while Molly froze in shock for a while. Then she smiled at the unexpected sight, happy for her friend.
"Way to go, Libby!" she cheered.
"Ahem, hotdogs?" Scratch reminded her.
"Oh, right." Molly went to get those hotdogs.
By the time she and Scratch returned, Libby had just gotten off the sheet to reunite with them.
"That was amazing, Libby!" Molly said as she gave her bestie her hotdog. "How did you get over two of your biggest fears?"
"Easy. I'm not afraid of anything anymore." Libby happily said.
"Really? It's a miracle!" Molly hugged Libby excitedly. "Good for you, Libby. And to think a short while ago, you were running from squirrels. And now that you're fearless, I have a new idea for after our cloud gazing and hotdog snacks."
"This oughta be good." Scratch said after engulfing his hotdog.
"Oh it is." Molly said. "We're going to the aquarium!"
At the aquarium, Molly, Libby, and Scratch observed the tanks full many fish species and all manner of other aquatic species. The girls loved what they saw while Scratch was less impressed by the majority of them. Then they came to a sign with an interesting announcement.
Shark feeding at twelve forty-five.
*Gasp!* "I've always wanted to see this!" Molly said.
"Well what are we waiting for?" Libby asked. "Let's go."
All three of them went to the outdoor section and took their seats. It was almost exactly how Molly pictured it. A large pool surrounded by hundreds of seats full of people waiting to see a shark.
"This is going to be exciting!" Molly said.
"Eeeeh! I know, right?" Libby agreed.
"I'm just glad none of the animals can attack me here." Scratch said. "Now pipe down. The show's starting."
Soon a lean man in a full-body swimsuit took center stage.
"And now ladies and gentlemen, it is time for lunch!" he announced, getting everyone more excited. "And here comes our big boy himself! Give it up for Killer, the GREAT-WHITE-SHAAARRRK!"
The entire audience applauded as some hanging fish were craned down and a fin rose from the massive pool. Silence then filled the seats accompanied by sheer eagerness. After what felt longer than it was, the shark leapt out of the water and chomped the fish before splashing back down. The crowd went wild and wanted more.
"You've really changed, Libby." Molly said. "Last time I suggested coming here, you said that half the sea creatures here were too scary for you."
"You think this is impressive? Watch this." Libby got up and walked down to the pool.
"What are you doing?" Molly asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Scratch said. "She's going to the edge for a better view."
He wasn't too far off, for when Libby reached the edge, she started to climb over it.
"LIBBY!" Molly and Scratch rushed to stop their fearless friend.
"Banzai!" Libby leapt off with her back to the water.
*Splash!* She was now in danger, causing the entire audience to gasp and/or scream. The shark started coming her way and she simply waved to it. Scratch got into Libby's body first and made it look like she leapt out of the water like a fish. Molly grabbed her and brought her back to solid ground. Then a couple of angry guards showed up.
"We're banned, aren't we?"
After they left the aquarium, Scratch left Libby's body so Molly could scold her.
"What the heck, Libby!? That shark could've eaten you!"
"Yeah! His name is Killer for crying out loud!" Scratch added.
"I'm not scared, remember?" Libby replied. "Besides, sharks prefer fish and fat sea mammals."
"Fair point, but you still shouldn't risk your life so easily! Being afraid of nothing is supposed to be a good thing, not some...kind...of...curse?" And that's when Molly put two and two together. "Scraaaaaatch. Did you have something to do with this?"
"Fine. Yes, I cursed Libby so she wouldn't be afraid of squat." Scratch confessed. "She begged me and promised to do anything. Which reminds me. Oh Libbyyyyy."
"Yes, Scratch?"
"It's time to pay the piper. And I only want one thing." Scratch pulled out a small poster from his body and gave it to Libby.
"Isn't this the county fair Molly got kicked out of?" Libby asked.
"Nope, this one is completely different." Scratch said. "With one exception."
At the famous Turkey Tina's Gobble Hut, the tallest pile of food ever seen by anyone was dunked into the big fryer.
"It's even bigger than the masterpiece I was denied." Scratch praised with tearful eyes.
After somehow paying for all that food, Libby and Molly carried the unbalanced tower to a place where nobody would see it get eaten.
"Finally, I can enjoy every morsel of the greatest thing ever made." Scratch dug in.
While he was chowing down, Molly and Libby had a little talk.
"Libby, I know you're enjoying all this courage Scratch gave you and I'm still happy for you, but you should be more careful. You're brave, not invincible." Molly said.
"I appreciate the advice, Molly, but I can take care of myself." Libby replied.
"Are you sure? Because it didn't look that way before."
"I just want to do everything I never could until today. Speaking of which, here comes something I've been wanting to do for a long time."
Libby walked off and turned her hands into fists. Molly looked where Libby was going, but must've missed what she saw.
"Ewe! Why am I suddenly covered in scraps of food?" a voice said.
Molly turned around and saw a random woman who looked like she just came out of a dumpster walking off. Then she saw Scratch who was so fat that he was bigger than a family van. (His personal best.)
"Hey, it's not my fault humans can walk right through me." he said. "So where's Libby going?"
"Let's find out." Molly said.
"Can't yet. I just ate. And it was more delicious than I ever dreamed."
"Alright. I'll do it myself." Molly ran off to catch up with her fearless friend.
It wasn't until she found Libby walking up to Andrea that she figured out what was going to happen.
"Hello Ann-drea." Libby said.
"That's Awn-drea." Andrea corrected.
"Oh really? What are you going to do about it? Ruin my social life again LIKE THE BULLYING SNOB THAT YOU ARE!?"
"How dare you!?" Andrea said. "I am a Davenport, and a very popular one at that."
"Oh excuse me!" Libby retorted. "I guess money and the internet actually make some people better than others because WITHOUT THEM, YOU ARE NOTHING!"
The look on Andrea's face was practically that of pure terror.
"Libby, that's enough!" Molly grabbed Libby's arm and tried to pull her away.
"Oh I'm not done yet." Libby said. "Guess what else I have to say about you, Ann-drea!"
Libby screamed a long awaited speech that was so revolting, so unbelievable, and so full of swears that everyone within hearing range wished they could unhear all of it. Some of those swears weren't even words that anyone else there knew. Andrea fainted after the rant she had coming.
"Why don't we go do something else?" Molly finally pulled Libby away. "As far away from here as possible. Before we get banned for disturbing the peace."
"Eh, it wouldn't be as fun to punch her while she's out anyway." Libby said.
Molly, Libby, and the no longer fat Scratch were sitting on a bench next to the road.
"Libby, I know you went through a rough time because of Andrea, but will you please stop giving courage a bad name?" Molly asked.
"I'm not giving courage a bad name." Libby said. "I'm just enjoying my new fear-free life."
"By being mean to someone and endangering your life!?"
"She had it coming! And none of that was endangering my life! This is!" Libby got up and walked onto the road with her eyes shut as a few vehicles came along.
"LIBBY!" Molly and Scratch screamed again.
All of the vehicles stopped in time, but crashed into each other. Libby reached the other side unharmed and smugly looked at her friends who couldn't believe what just happened.
"You see? Now I could've been killed." she said with out a care in the world. "Luckily, I was not."
"That's it! Being fearless is officially a bad thing." Molly marched across the road and grabbed Libby. "Scratch, how do we break the curse?"
"No worries, Moll. This time, I thought my curse through." Scratch tapped his head with his finger.
He then floated in front of Libby and turned his arms into snakes. But Libby didn't react to them at all. Scratch's snake-arms slowly drooped in shock.
"Hey, what gives!? You're supposed to be scared again once you see your biggest fear. You said it was snakes!"
"Oops. I guess I lied." Libby said.
"You thought your curse through, huh?" Molly said. "Okay, Libby. Since your so fearless now, you shouldn't be worried about telling us your real biggest fear. So what is it?"
"That's the best part." Libby bragged. "I had so many candidates for biggest fear that I don't know."
"Then we'll just have to keep scaring you until we find it."
First Scratch and Molly took Libby to the zoo and showed her every animal there. Libby tried to endanger herself again. Then they brought her to their house and put her in the basement, making it so dark they all might as well be blind. Libby was completely relaxed. They showed her jump-scare videos on the internet. Libby didn't even flinch. Next they set up a safe fire after explaining to the family what was going on. Libby of course tried to touch the flames. They even borrowed Darryl's pet tarantula though Molly had to set that one out. Libby just petted Heidi which disgusted her friend. Not to mention they used a noise-maker app to scare her with every sound available from lightning to explosions. It seemed like music to Libby's ears. They tried every other fear they could think of, but eventually ran out of ideas. Libby was still fearless.
"That was a lot of fun." Libby said as the three of them arrived in her mother's bookstore. "Maybe next time we can do something illegal. It's not like I'm afraid of the law."
"No, Libby!" Molly shouted. "No more!"
"No more what?" Libby asked with a raised eyebrow.
"What do you think no more!" Scratch said. "We're done with this."
He then left the girls by themselves.
"Ah he's no fun." Libby dismissed.
"No. Scratch is right." Molly sadly said. "Being fearless really is a curse. It's ruined you, Libby. I liked you better when you were shy and insecure."
"The way I was before was pathetic." Libby said. "Now I can do anything I want, so there."
Then Molly said something she never wanted to say.
"If you can't be your old self again, then..." *sniff* "...then I can't be your friend anymore."
She turned around and walked to the door as tears fell from her eyes.
"Goodbye, Libby."
The moment Molly said that last part, something felt off to Libby. The further her former friend walked away, the worse it felt. She looked around the store like she was hearing things. Then she felt more aware that nobody else was there. Not even her mom. When Molly closed the door behind her, Libby started remembering the years she spent as a social outcast. Her breathing got heavier. Then the memories since Molly first came to school came forth. Now her pupils had shrunk and she was hyperventilating. She could still see Molly through the windows for a few seconds. The moment when Molly was no longer in sight, all of Libby's fears returned to her like a tidal wave and an explosion put together.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Libby panicked and ran for the door.
She got outside, rushed to Molly who was only a couple feet from the store, and surprised her with a tight, desperate hug.
"Don't go! I'll run from clowns! I'll stand on a stool when I see a mouse! I'll even cower from my own shadow! Just please! Don't leave me! I don't
wanna go back to being a social outcast!"
Libby was bawling like a baby, Molly stood in shock, and Scratch checked his paper to see if Libby was no longer cursed. The paper faded away.
"She's back." Scratch said.
Molly hugged Libby back and said "It's okay, Libby. I'm not going anywhere."
They went back in the bookstore and sat down until Libby was done crying.
"I'm sorry for how I behaved." Libby said. "I just didn't want to be held back by my own fears anymore. At least I had fun while it lasted."
"It's okay, Libby. We all thought that curse was a good thing." Molly said. "Besides, you never needed that curse before and look what happened. But I gotta say. Who would've thought that you had the same worst fear as me?"
"Yeah." Scratch said. "You've clearly gotten so used to your new life that you didn't want to lose it."
"Wait, you're afraid of being alone too, Molly?" Libby was stunned.
"Yeah. Like I said before, I've moved a lot and left behind a lot of friends. Each one hurt more than the last. I can't even finish watching an old show where some guy enters an empty town."
"That sounds pretty ba..." Libby just realized something. "Oh my gosh! I could've gotten myself killed today!"
Molly and Scratch laughed at what they've been trying to tell their friend.
"It's good to have you back, Libby." Molly said.
"So, what do we want to do now?" Scratch asked. "The day's not over yet."
"Why don't we let Libby decide." Molly said.
"Well, I was thinking maybe we could read a book and then talk about it's contents." Libby shyly suggested.
"That sounds great." Molly said.
"I guess that won't be so bad." Scratch agreed.
And so they grabbed three of the same book and sat down to read. The rest of their Awesome Best Friends Day wasn't very exciting, but all that mattered to them was that they were still best friends.
Author's Note: First of all, yes I've seen the entire first season. I just wanted to give Libby some justice for what Andrea did. Also, I know Libby made a lot of progress with her fears and insecurities, but she seems like she still has some of them. However, none of that is why I came up with this particular story. The real reason involves the newish temporarily fearless episode trope. As interesting as it is, I have one issue with it. Every time a character becomes fearful again, they forget the whole experience. Hypnosis I can understand and there was one character who was better off forgetting, but otherwise it makes the whole episode look pointless. How is a scared character supposed to learn the silver lining of fear if they don't remember being fearless? They can't, that's how. I'm sorry, but it needed to be said. As for my choice of a worst fear for Libby, it just seemed like a good idea since all three characters have a lot of experience being alone. And in case you were wondering, I do find the idea of Mollibby adorable. However, this anthology is about curses, not love, so I'm leaving that ship out of this. Next time, Andrea will be punished. (Trust me. I know what I'm doing.)
P.S. Can you guess what show Molly was referring to?