Morgan watched absently during the war council. The Valmese fleet had been sighted and their own fleet was preparing to engage. Her father had prepared a strategy, but she was too distracted for even that to rouse her.
Her mother had essentially rejected her, and it hurt. She had cried herself to sleep the previous night just to awaken after another memory resurfaced.
"Mommy! Mommy! Look what I drew!" Morgan presented her drawing to her mother, "It's you, me, and daddy."
"I can see that," her mother was not smiling though, "Honey, did you take this paper from one of your father's books?"
"Uh, I had trouble finding paper. I just wanted to draw you and daddy a picture. I thought that would make it okay."
"I know, sweetie," Lucina bent down and looked her in the eye. The brand in her mother's eye always intrigued her, "But you shouldn't draw in your father's books, and you definitely shouldn't take pages out of them."
"I'm sorry. Are you mad?"
The smile was back, "No, but you should apologize to your father when he gets back."
She was not looking forward to that.
"Don't worry, I'll come with you when you do. I'll be right there."
"Thank you," she hugged her mother's neck, "I love you, mommy."
"And I love you too, Morgan," she wrapped her arms around her daughter.
"Morgan?" said girl quickly rechecked her composure and turned to face her father.
"Yes, father?"
"We're about to begin preparations. You'll be assigned to the flagship as reserve coordinator," She did not respond causing Robin to sigh, "Look, I'm sorry if I upset you last night. I didn't know it meant so much to you that I go after her."
"I want to go with you."
"What?"
"I want to go with you on the assault against the Valmese flagship."
"Morgan, no, it's too dangerous."
"So I'm supposed to stay back and be another mouth to feed during the rest of this war? You know how good I am with magic, and I can hold my own against Lucina with a sword."
"There are other ways to contribute besides fighting on the front lines."
"But you always said that a tactician who fights on the battlefield will have a greater understanding of tactics as well as a greater appreciation for the lives of the soldiers under their command."
"That does sound like something I'd say," Robin sighed in defeat, "Fine, I'll make some adjustments to the plan. You'll be with Lucina in the rearguard. I'm not putting you in the vanguard, so don't even ask."
"Fine."
Robin looked at her, "Be safe, Morgan. I don't want anything to happen to you."
"I'll be fine."
"I love you, kiddo," he smiled.
"I love you too, dad."
Morgan did her best to collect herself before the attack. She thought that maybe her mother was too preoccupied with her mission. Morgan thought maybe if she could help see her mother's mission through, then she might accept her.
That did not mean she was not nervous though. This was real combat with real soldiers and a very real chance of injury and death. She was scared.
Add on top of that the fact that her partner for the battle was her now estranged mother, and it was not exactly an ideal scenario. The two hardly said a word to each other despite how much Morgan wanted to talk to her. She was determined to help her mother though, so into battle she went.
When the time came, she and her mother wordlessly fulfilled their duties. As the rearguard, neither of them saw much combat. That was, until a small group of Valmese got past the vanguard.
Morgan quickly found her mind racing in a panicked frenzy. She kept looking from foe to foe unsure of what exactly to do. Her tactical mind was clouded by the chaos and panic of battle. However, she snapped back to reality when she saw her mother fending a Valmese with another one closing in. Morgan felt her stomach drop. She should have kept her from getting flanked. She was supposed to keep her mother safe.
The best she could manage was a warning shout which did alert Lucina in time to avoid a fatal wound, but she did not come out unscathed. She barely managed to run her attackers through before collapsing in a pool of her own blood.
"Healer!" Morgan ran to her mother's side, "Someone! Help!"
Fortunately, her grandmother was able to evacuate her mother, but it still left Morgan frozen in shock until her father found her.
"Morgan, come on! We have to go!"
Nodding silently, Morgan followed everyone else to their flagship all the while thinking that her mother may be dead and it was her fault.
Her father's plan was successful, but she was in no mood to celebrate the victory. To her, it felt like a crushing defeat. She went out there to prove her worth and to help her mother and ended up only getting her mother hurt. Was she really so worthless? If Lucina wanted nothing to do with her before, how would she treat her now? Did she blame Morgan? Did she…hate her?
"Morgan," her father knocked on the door, "Can I come in?" She did not answer. "Morgan, if you don't say anything, I'm coming in, so if this is a girl thing you'd better tell me now."
True to his word, he came in the little cabin when she did not reply. He sat next to her on the bed and for a while did not say anything.
"Morgan," He finally started, "I know how it feels to let down a friend, but you can't let that feeling rule you. Lucina is alive, and Lissa says she'll make a full recovery."
"I panicked," Morgan weakly forced out, "I wasn't ready."
"I never should've have let you go in there," Robin put his arm around her shoulder, "You're so young, and I wish you never had to see a battlefield. I could have you assigned back to Ylisstol for the rest of the war. I could put you over the garrison."
"No," Morgan replied quietly, "I won't run away. Not while everyone else is doing their part."
"Alright," her father replied sadly, "Just know that I'm here for you."
"I know, father."
"Now get some sleep. It's been a rough day."
He tucked her in and left her in the cabin. In the dark, swaying cabin, she vowed that she would work until she was able to help her parents on their mission. She was determined to win her mother's approval one way or another.