The Final Straw is a Lilo & Stitch fanfic by Gullfriend31, first published April 14th 2022. It can be found on FanFiction.net
and Archive of Our Own.
One day in high school, Lilo realizes Mertle is a lost cause, so she tells her the truth.
This fanfic provides examples of:
- Everyone Has Standards: Elena, Teresa and Yuki are still bullies, but they are shocked when Mertle mocks Lilo when she's mourning her parents.
- Flash Forward Fic: The fic takes place when Lilo is seventeen, long after the events of canon, where she is a young child.
- Heel Realization: Implied with Mertle. After Lilo tells her off, Mertle sits there thinking about her life choices.
- Humans Are the Real Monsters: Lilo's "The Reason You Suck" Speech to Mertle has her point out that she faced off against aliens seeking to take over the galaxy and none of them were as unrelentingly awful as Mertle.
- Never My Fault: When both are sent to detention, Mertle blames Lilo for their situation even though Mertle started it.
- Rage Breaking Point: Lilo tries to ignore Mertle when she harasses her about Pudge controlling the weather, but attacks Mertle after she tells her her mother would have been disappointed in her for losing the hula contest.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Mrs. Akamai the Principal hears both Lilo and Mertle out. She tells Lilo she understands why she snapped at Mertle, but she doesn't let her off the hook. She only gives them an hour of detention and allows them to leave afterwards.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Lilo lays out Mertle's character flaws and how her actions will inevitably result in her being alone.Lilo: You know what, Mertle? I have to be honest. At first, it felt good to give in to my anger and tackle you, but now I just feel hollow. I feel…sorry for you because you must feel like that, too, so very often. I've dealt with a lot of unpleasant people; Gantu, Hämsterviel, you name it. I met you before I met them, though. No matter how often I save you from runaway aliens, you never treat me any differently. It really sucks, but you've made me realize that some people are just like that. Like you. You should know that what you do doesn't endear you to a lot of people. I'm surprised that your friends still keep you around from the way you boss them around, but it's only a matter of time before your actions catch up with you. And when that happens, I'll come and see you so I can show you that I still have an 'Ohana who isn't alienated from me because of my personality. Then I'll leave and you'll be alone. You'll be just…you.
- Schoolyard Bully All Grown Up: Seventeen years old, and Mertle still goes out of her way to sneer at Lilo as "a freak".
- Silence of Sadness: It's noted Lilo doesn't talk much unless someone speaks to her first due to her missing her parents.
- Too Unhappy to Be Hungry: During lunchtime, Lilo isn't in the mood to eat because she's thinking of her deceased parents. She is also stated to be one of the few who like the school lunches.
- Tranquil Fury: Lilo has this towards Mertle twice — she stands up calmly before tackling Mertle, and during her speech towards Mertle, she doesn't raise her voice once.This was more than Lilo could stand. Clenching her fists, she quietly stood up with an impassive expression as Mertle laughed at her. Mertle's smug contempt towards her was cut short when Lilo tackled her to the ground.
- Twitchy Eye: Lilo's eye twitches for a brief moment when Mertle tells her she should be in Special Ed.
- Vengeance Feels Empty: Lilo says she feels hollow from attacking Mertle because she feels how Mertle must feel all the time — alone.
- Villainous BSoD: After Lilo says her speech and leaves, Mertle still sits in silence, even after their detention is over.
- "Well Done, Daughter!" Girl: Lilo wishes she could have her mother's approval, if Lilo attacking Mertle for saying her mother would be disappointed in her for losing the hulu competition is anything to go by.
- Wounded Gazelle Gambit: When Mertle gets in trouble with the principal, she attempts to get out of it by saying Lilo attacked her for no reason. However, the principal sees right through her lies.
