This chapter focuses on Morgan and his past, rather than Robin (sorry Attitude Robin Fans!). I had planned on having him explain about his dad in this chapter too, but realized it was beginning to get longer than I expected, so I seperated it into two chapters instead. Read and Review, hope you enjoy!
It was hard to forget Morgan's obvious happiness at her change in personality, and the curiosity she still felt over why.
Morgan's eyes scanned the books in front of him, frequently looking at the open scrolls of Shepherds' plans then back to the books...it was a great deal of text and pictures he knew he hadn't been able to understand at one point, while the tactician would normally be there to point out things he was missing she was currently making rounds of the newly set-up camp and the surrounding area, which she would at least continue until the moon was at it's highest point. While some would call such actions as foolish, or even dangerous, but he had always idolized the determination and attention to detail behind such things.
"Mother really is amazing." The black eyed boy loved his mother dearly, the grin he wore having been there most of the day. He was supposed to be cross-referencing between the books and purposely failing plans, mark the problems and write or redraw how to fix them...it had actually been a rather common tactician training, as it was what he spent most of his time in the future doing it too...but the time traveller ended up being too ridiculously giddy to focus long enough to make any headway. "And she's finally taking this seriously!" There was no one he met who could outsmart the orange haired teenager, as long as she was taking a situation seriously...which happened at such a low rate it used to concern him, but he could understand now that taking it seriously was pointless when the possibility of you losing was next to nonexistent; which meant Walhart was very dangerous, and the Shepherds had mistreated the person who was both their greatest ally and greatest foe.
Grima, the Fell Dragon, immortal Dragon who the Shepherds planned to find a way and 'deal' with. Those of Owain's time spoke of the horrors it had committed in their world, and he was the only one certain that the vessel had her own mind. Morgan's view of such things was far simpler though-
"Morgan?" His grin twitched, because of course Owain would try talking to him again with him alone in the tent.
"I'm busy." The words didn't stop the older from moving aside the flap and entering, though he hadn't really expected it to. "Don't you have anything better to-" The black eyed boy looked over his shoulder, eyes narrowing upon seeing a head of white hair behind the time traveller.
"You look so much like your father when you smile like that." He hadn't expected the sudden memory, even if it was just a voice, gritting his teeth in quickly growing anger. "Must make Robin happy to see so much of him in you."
"I'd prefer if you didn't talk about him around me Mi'lady." The boy used to remind people time and again how he didn't want that man mentioned, but they always ended up forgetting...or they didn't care. A quick shake of the head returned his mind to the present. "He isn't allowed here." He hissed, not bothering with the false happiness right now. "Neither of you are, but especially not him."
"We just want to ta-" The younger spun in the chair to stand in front of the 'desk', rage flaring as he wished his eyes would go red like Mother's instead of the only sign of it being standing to his full (rather miniscule in comparison to them) height.
"And I've made it clear that I DON'T!" It wasn't supposed to be almost a yell, he didn't want his precious parent to hear that they were here, but it was hard not to lose patience with them. "Not only have you attempted to trick me into speaking with you and insisting there is something wrong with my dear mother, but now you dare bring HIM into our tent?!" Blue eyes widened at the venomous words.
"I thought thou hath forgive thine father." By Grima, was the prince really so dense?
"Of course I haven't!" More anger, causing the tactician's hand to twitch as he forced his hands to remain at his side rather than grab his nearby Elthunder tome. "And drop that ridiculous act already!"
"...What's gotten into you Morgan? This isn't like you." He much preferred the older asking about him and speaking normally...he still didn't want them here, but answering the question shouldn't cause any real problem.
"For someone who is constantly acting you aren't very adept at telling when one has been dropped, are you?"
"Acting? ...Wait, that was all an act?!" The blond stared in what could only be described as horror, getting a smile and closed eyes in some sort of sadistic joy in return.
"Just acting the part of his child." A vague gesture towards the closed eyed boy who currently wore his own large grin, the smile didn't fade when the young time traveller looked at him. "You always smile the most when you're upset or hurt, right?" There was no response, his child's smile getting all the wider. The black eyes snapped back open suddenly. "I'm glad you're smiling so wide. After everything you've done to Mother I'm hoping to cause you as much pain as possible." Any attempt at being civilized shattered with the words, the sword-user unable to stand such words toward a man he deeply respected.
"How dare you speak to him like that! As a prince of Ylisse I demand you apologize!" The sudden outburst didn't effect the preteen at all.
"So that's how you want to do this? Fine by me." The commanding aura that seemed to come off of the myrmadon held nothing compared to that of the younger as he stared into the other's eyes. "I am Morgan, honorary member of House Ylisse and child of the legendary tactician Robin. My job is to take over as tactician in the absence of my mother, ordering the royal family should a war ensue...as my mother is currently doing rounds and we are in the middle of a war this gives me the authority to give commands to you. As such..." While he had seemed relatively calm until now the anger came back with a vengeance, eyes narrowed in warning as his voice rose again. "I command you out of my tent! And take him with you!" Owain merely stood in shock, but it seemed Henry was smart enough to realize staying here wasn't going to get them anywhere, the dark mage grabbing his arm and wordlessly pulling him from the tent. Knowing that any attempts at the plans now would prove even more futile than before the child sighed, closing the books before laying in his bed.
¬NF¬
"You...you really love your mother, don't you?" Morgan's attention snapped back to the present, finding himself sitting at a table in the camp across from Noire, who was the one currently talking to him...to be frank he knew next to nothing about her, doubted she had even existed in his time, but she was the only one willing to talk to him without focussing on his mother's recent change of attitude.
"Of course I do, Mother is the greatest!" The smiles he had around this girl were as real as those he had around the mentioned woman, and he found himself enjoying talking to someone who didn't question or insult her.
"I-I hope you don't mind me asking, but...um...how so?" If the boy hadn't been annoyed by his mother's stuttering it this world he may have found the archer's to be cute...the look in her eyes told him the question was of honest curiosity, so he had no reason to be mad at her.
"It'll probably take a while, I have a lot to say." The tactician warned, surprised when he got a small smile in return.
"I was h-hoping so." All he could do was blink for a few seconds and it seemed the black haired girl took that opportunity to explain. "Everyone around me has...different opinions of her. I wanted...I wanted to hear it f-from you, those things that make you happy with her like this." She had said 'like this'...it wasn't saying there was something wrong, like everyone else, just a simple two words of description. He smiled, genuinely, a little bigger.
"The easiest and quickest way to explain that is where I'll start then." The black head of hair nodded. "The woman she is right now, her attitude and even the red eyes...THAT'S my mother." Her eyes widened, in shock and curiosity rather than horror or disgust, and he just smiled even wider. "My mother is amazing! She had the whole of Ylisstol guarded so well that no one could EVER get in without us knowing! She had a few guards in the nearby villages each to watch for brigands, and she'd go kill them all by herself if there were any!"
"That's amazing..." The dark eyed girl was in clear awe, and it felt so GOOD to talk to someone about this stuff.
"There were more portraits and statues of her in the castle and around the town than the royal family! And even though she never fought in any wars she became the royal tactician in four days after arriving at the castle, and nobody ever wanted to attack Ylisse because she was there, but she never made an effort to make anyone afraid of her!" The white haired boy had long began rambling, seemingly never running out of reasons for his adoration of his mother.
"B-but isn't she...I-I mean, isn't HE..." The girl stumbled over her words when she suddenly cut him off, causing him to pause.
"Well...sorta. I mean...how to describe this..." The black eyed boy sat in silence for what must have felt like an eternity to her. "It's sort of like...a Robin with his influence. Or him with human emotions and attachment." She looked relieved.
"So she's...not d-destructive?" He snorted.
"Less than any brigand you'll meet." The response was immediate. "She needs a reason to destroy anything, just like you or me." Morgan found himself happy to see her relief, which he refused to look too deeply into, knowing her fear was only because of how she had grown up.
"But...she m-must be close...to having him t-take over..." Noire pointed out hesitantly, and he blinked in surprise, having expected the subject dropped now.
"I suppose so, if you want to be technical." The tactician agreed. "Do you remember what happened when I was attacked in that battle?"
"Y-you mean when she..." The archer trailed off, getting a nod.
"You know how that only happens when she 'consumes' life energy?" It was her turn to nod. "Mother needs it too, though not nearly as much."
"Th-that must mean...he's c-close to taking o-over, right?"
"I guess, but I'm not worried about it. He never took over in my time." The white haired boy reassured her. "I think they're in a sort of...symbiotic relationship when they're like this, neither has complete control, it's like a mix of both."
"Wait, then...w-we're SAFER with her like this?" The black haired girl questioned with wide eyes.
"Everything I've seen would suggest it, at the least." The white haired boy agreed. "That's another part of why she's so amazing!" She laughed a bit at how quickly he returned to telling her about his mother's achievements and strengths, despite the laugh she didn't seem to mind, and was just as enthralled by it all as he wished someone would be.
I have no idea why, but reading Morgan order Owain (and Henry) from his tent sends me into near hysterics every time...it's a little weird, but whatever I guess. The more I write him 'interacting' with his dad now that his memory has returned the more apparent I make it that he has some DEEP rooted problems with the Henry from his world, with a semi-hidden hint as to why that may be in this very chapter!
While trying to figure out pairings for the children for this story I found myself focusing mostly on Morgan, and who he would end up with...I eventually decided on Noire, due to her having at least a bit of understanding when it comes to caring about a mother that most are afraid or displeased with. I think the two of them, with this Morgan, actually make a really cute couple. Still trying to figure out a few of the other child pairings, but they'll come in time I'm sure. Hope you enjoyed, see you soon!