Well...I wrote this chapter in...maybe three hours? So I'm actually really proud of myself!...
I know this is long and I doubt a lot of people will bother reading it, but...it's important.
I know it probably doesn't seem like it, with how quickly this chapter was done, but I was actually contemplating quitting this story. Yeah...pretty sudden, right? I posted my last chspter right before I went to bed, and had planned to start this chapter when I woke up...I checked my email when I woke up, one of the first things I always do when I wake up, and saw that the previous chapter already had a review. I was so happy! So I opened the email to see what the review was...only to have some guest accusing me of character bashing every character that isn't Robin, and saying it was unrealistic because people were listening to Inigo (who isn't a tactician at all) instead of Robin (I moderate reviews and refused to allow that one to show on my reviews, if you're wondering why you can't see the review...if you care enough I can send a copy from email to you to read). I cried and wanted to quit, even though I didn't even know who sent that review...I offhandedly mentioned to my husband that I didn't want to write anymore, and he remembered how excited I was to write this chapter...when I told him what happened he asked me if I thought they were right. I didn't even answer, just stared at the floor...it was him who reminded me that I wasn't doing either, or at least the latter. It's natural for people to not follow people they don't trust, look at civil wars and such...it makes complete sense that those who felt betrayed by Robin not telling them she was waking up would choose someone else to tell them what to do in battle, even if that new person is inferior.
So yeah...you fans of this story have my husband to thank for this story continuing.
Anyway, enough depressing stuff, hope you all enjoy! Leave a positive review or two for me, ok?
She had never meant to become...whatever it was she became. She regretted letting it happen, letting everything that had has happened get to her...but she knew someone else regretted the things they had done even more.
"Morgan." Robin called her son's name from the front of the army as they walked towards the imperial capital.
"Here Mother!" Morgan grinned as he seemingly appeared as his mother's side, causing the red eyes to blink.
"Did you meet with Owain regarding the battle tactics?" The grin didn't fade, but there was a slight twitch at the words.
"He lied Mother, there were no plans. He just wanted to try and convince me something is wrong with you again." The white haired boy explained, receiving a slight nod.
"I had expected as much." The orange haired teenager stated, absently brushing one pigtail back over her shoulder. "And your response?" The grin got wider.
"I told him there's nothing wrong at all!" Another slight nod, the uncovered hand of the red eyed teenager making brief contact with the boy's head, almost like a pat, but not quite...the action made that grin impossibly wider.
"And Henry?" The smile fell, a scoff leaving the younger's mouth.
"Same as Owain." The lack of response from the older made the smile return. "They've been making a big deal about this since it happened a couple days ago, but it's just silly! It'd be almost impossible for you to lead everyone and win this war the way you were before!" A hum from the skilled tactician.
"That stuttering mess could barely use my powers." Though there was no fire nearby to control the cloaked teenager still made her point as a wave of heat seemed to erupt around her. "Always wracked with such anxiety, exhausted from mere thoughts...to have lived so long like that must have been the gods doing." The cloaked boy bounced twice before hurrying to catch up with her brisk pace.
"I was thinking the same thing Mother!" He agreed with the same wide grin.
"What of the little 'divide'?" A laugh echoed from the black eyed boy.
"I'd hardly call it that anymore Mother!" The grin gained an almost sadistic edge to it. "The king and his family still refuse to follow you, demanding for the 'old' you, but almost everyone else from this timeline seems to have realized that following you is in their best interest."
"Foolish Ylissian royalty." The pigtailed teenager grumbled.
"Life is nothing more than patterns and numbers. Even people." The short haired boy spoke the words almost like a treasured mantra.
"And anyone who doesn't fall within the pattern I have set are expendable." Another laugh left the ecstatic boy.
"It's just like you always taught me Mother!" He would have skipped along in childish glee, if the one he was talking to hadn't already chastised him for using so much energy unnecessarily when they could be attacked at any moment. "Anyone who follows your plans will be fine, if that traitorous king and his family are too stupid to figure that out whatever happens is their own fault." Another 'pat' on the head, another two hops of sheer delight before catching up.
"You're right, of course." Robin agreed, another blink as her eyes scanned the surroundings ahead. "I warned them. Their fate now is out of my hands."
"Hey! Tactician!" Chrom hadn't called her by name since they left the volcano, just as Owain and Henry had refused to do. An annoyed groan left her as their 'general' called to get her attention, knowing it would prove to be as much of a time waster as the previous times...but stopping here and speaking with him was faster than trying to continue, as he would simply find a way to halt them later and would likely be far louder, which had already drawn enemies to them before.
"Yes Chrom?" She stopped for the blue haired man to catch up, son bouncing needlessly at her side.
"Care to explain this plan of yours to us?" Chrom gestured to the army that had stopped behind him, eyes narrow and mistrusting...the orange haired teenager sighed.
"Have we not been over this already?" She questioned, though he made no sound to answer. "I would tell you my plan had I any belief you would actually follow it. As it stands, I am almost certain you would instead find a way to sabotage said plan and get several of our comrades killed...I will tell you once you and the other royals have moved passed being so disgustingly petty." Blue eyes widened before an enraged snarl left the owner's throat.
"Petty?! You-" The glowing eyes had narrowed now. Morgan moved without the order, kicking the back of the man's knees, causing him to begin falling forward. He was caught by the pigtailed teenager grabbing the front of his cape, his 'attacker' returning to her side, and a small hand clamping over his mouth.
"Have told you time and again to keep your voice down!" She hissed lowly. "Unless, of course, it is your intention to kill the aforementioned comrades now." The accusation got another glare, but his lack of speech when the hand was pulled back showed it had gotten the point across...a simple shove to his shoulders and the sword user was standing again, though almost stumbled from how sudden the movement was.
"I am not being petty. No one is being petty." The marked man disagreed, though his volume was kept at least relatively normal.
"Refusing to cooperate with me-"
"You aren't Robin!" The words came out as a snarl, but they didn't phase the cloaked teenager at all.
"That very thinking is what is petty Chrom." This man really did insist on wasting their time. He opened his mouth, only to be cut off. "Besides, you weren't listening to your precious 'Robin' either, in case you have so quickly forgotten." The flinch was one of four possible ways he could react, given the pattern of his previous reactions, so it didn't shock her at all.
"That's right! We were worried sick about her because of what you did!" Morgan agreed, though his giddy behaviour and appearance didn't falter.
"None of your little 'divide' seems to comprehend that the decision to hide the frequent awakenings were for your benefit and safety." The king didn't get mad this time, merely looking off to the side and allowing her to speak...one of three possibilities. "Had any of you actually considered the ramifications of the truth? If you had all known 'Robin' could wake up at random intervals you would have relied on her for your strategies in battle." If he was going to refer to how she was before as a different person so would she.
"How is that-"
"It's different because she would fall unconscious again just as suddenly! At any point during the battles you all fought while thinking she was comatose she may have woken up to give orders, only to lose that consciousness without warning!" Words were spat, almost as though they tasted vile. No response, making her let out her own low snarl...the same three. "Owain and Morgan were chosen because they were both trained in tactics and strategy, they weren't at as high a skill but would be available whenever needed! Yet those attempts to protect you were ignored in favor of the ridiculous belief that she had kept some unforgivable secret, and instead of gratitude she was given merciless distrust!"
"I-I didn't-" Chrom stammered over his words, but was cut off.
"You wanted to know why she chose those three to confide in?" Eyes widened. "She may not have known them, but they knew her...more than I can say about you." The red eyes returned to black for just a moment, a single tear slipping from her left eye, orange pigtails brushing the king's shoulder as the teenager turned away from him. "You're the one who made me into this Chrom...so you'd best get used to it." The black eyes of her son glared at the man as she walked away, expression only of anger and disgust.
"...Just like Dad." He muttered before running after his precious mother.
Here we have a Robin who is done with the treatment of Chrom and his group of the Shepherds, finally snapping at him in her current part Grima personality-part Robin personality self. We also get to see a far more cheerful Morgan through most of this chapter, and get a lot of hints towards his backstory. I did have a lot of fun writing this.
Hope you all enjoyed, see you all soon!