Chapter 31: Unexpected Complications
Robin couldn't help but feel responsible for this.
This is all my fault.
I should have said something.
I should have warned him.
A groan echoed out from the massive pitfall trap at Robin's feet as Corrin seemed to regain some manner of his senses. The prince sat upright, rubbing his head painfully.
"What is this…? Where in the…?"
"Sorry, I should have noticed it sooner. But by the time I did…" Robin winced as he trailed off, watching as Corrin attempted to scramble back up the dirt walls of the nearly twenty foot deep hole. "Not to mention I should have suspected this the instant I saw how pleased Morgan looked with herself at breakfast."
Or when Kana dragged us all the way out here only to run ahead without warning us, Robin added to himself. Yeah, come to think of it, that really should have tipped me off. Especially with how much time she's been spending with Morgan of late.
"Wait, what? Morgan did this?" Corrin asked incredulously, managing to pull himself up to the edge of the pit.
"Oh, of course. She does it on a near constant basis, in fact," Robin answered, stooping down and offering a hand. Corrin taking hold of it, Robin heaved, helping him the rest of the way out of the trap.
"I... " Corrin stared at him for a moment, then at the pit, then back at Robin, blinking dumbly the entire time struggling to process this information. "This just raises even more questions. Just… how? Why? What? How?"
"It's better to not question it with Morgan. Less of a headache that way," Robin said, sighing. "Emphasis on less."
Corrin opened his mouth to say something more, only for the tell-tale sound of movement rustling through the nearby bushes to reach their ears. Turning in unison, the two managed to catch a glimpse of two unmistakable figures darting deeper into the woods, giggles and stifled laughter heralding their retreat.
"I'm sorry," Robin said again, only in that moment grasping the true gravity of what had transpired.
"What?" Corrin asked, confusion plain on his features. "You already apologized about not seeing the trap. It would be petty for me to blame you for something as little as…"
Robin shook his head solemnly. "No, I mean… Not that. I was referring to the fact that my daughter has corrupted yours."
"Oh…" Corrin said, the same realization dawning on him. "That."
There was a long, awkward pause. Robin coughed into a fist, doing his best to avoid eye contact.
"For what it's worth, I don't blame you for that either," Corrin said after a moment.
"You say that. But I don't think you understand the monster Morgan has undoubtedly created in your daughter," he told him. Sighing once again, Robin dragged a hand over his face, steeling himself for the task that had now been thrust upon him
"Sorry, but, I'll be right back. I need to catch Morgan before she gets too far away and make sure she fills in this pit before someone else falls in." Robin told him, starting off in the direction Morgan had fled with Kana.
"Are you sure?" Corrin asked, his voice hesitant, as if considering following along as well.
Robin shook his head as he kept going. "No. To be entirely honest, I've been meaning to have a talk with her for awhile. This is about as good an excuse as I will get."
Hopefully everyone else's morning had been turning out less trying than this.
. . . . .
It didn't take long for Robin to find his and Corrin's respective daughters. They were standing alone in a wide patch of dirt right in center of the thicket of trees, still laughing at what must have seemed to be a resounding success to their little plot.
"Morgan," Robin called out, stepping out into the open.
The two girls turned, the grin Morgan already wore somehow becoming even wider as her eyes fell on her father. Kana took a moment to follow suit, only allowing herself to grin as well after confirming Morgan had done the same.
"Oh, heya, father. What brings you around here?" Morgan asked innocently, her tone a poor match for the complete self-satisfaction implicit in her expression.
"Can't complain really. It's been fine for the most part," Robin replied, playing along. For a single split second both girls seemed to hesitate. Evidently they hadn't been expecting such a reaction from him.
Morgan regained her composure quickest, managing to pick up where she left off without scarcely missing a beat. "That's good. I've just been teaching Kana my super special brand of tactics. Right? … Right?" Morgan gave the younger girl a quick nudge with her elbow to get her attention.
"Yes, for sure! Morgan's been teaching me lots of cool stuff. Especially how to make traps! I've been helping her dig them all morning and-" Morgan promptly nudged Kana a second time, hissing something sharply under her breath. "Erm, I mean, lots of tactical things. No traps. Nope, nothing to do with traps," Kana quickly recovered, ending with a nervous giggle.
"Really? That sounds like fun. Mind if I join you? Robin asked. Without waiting for a reply, he started towards them, crossing the first couple steps with little incident. Then he stopped and began to walk in a circuitous arc around the space between them before looping back around. He made it halfway before he stopped again, again looping even further around before at last coming to a stop before the two stunned girls.
"But you were supposed to… how did you… but you didn't… but I thought...what?!" Morgan babbled, pointing frantically between him and the two spots he'd painstakingly avoided. Kana seemed absolutely speechless, her mouth half open as she stared in shock.
A moment passed of continued fragmented gibbering from Morgan before she managed to collect herself. Or at least, enough to form full sentences after being forced to pause to actually breath. "But they were so well hidden! Even I almost forgot where they were! How did you notice them!?"
"I didn't. I just know you well enough you'd try something like this. Also you and Kana both tensed up each time I was about to fall it. Your reactions told me everything I needed to know," Robin answered.
"Really? But I was sure I got the whole subterfuge and misdirection part down pat this time!" Morgan exclaimed. "And dang, after all that hard work and multiple misfires too. Had to reset these like a bazillion times before Kana went to get you."
"Misfires… wait, you mean other people have fallen into these!" Robin asked incredulously, horror falling over him as he suddenly grasped just what his daughter was saying.
"Oh no, not multiple people." Morgan laughed, shaking her head.
"Oh, good, I thought-"
"It was just Setsuna. Multiple times," Morgan said.
"What!?" Robin shouted. "How did you manage that?!"
"Look, I'm as baffled as you, father. Like, every time I finished a trap- Every time! I'd look away and within seconds she'd have fallen into it. I don't know how she even reached the traps as fast as she did. She was nowhere nearby whenever I looked away in the first place," Morgan assured him.
"She's not lying. We really tried to keep her from falling in. It kept happening no matter what we did, even when we told her where we were digging." Kana added, leaping to Morgan's defense.
"Yeah! And a couple we didn't even have a chance to cover up first. It's like she's a moth, only instead of fire she's drawn to brilliant traps created by a true master genius. Not that I can blame her, now that I really think about it. My traps are pretty great."
"I…" Robin pinched the bridge of his nose. Drop it, Robin. It's not important right now. Just drop it, worry about it later. "Just… please tell me she's not in a pit right now."
Morgan looked shiftily away.
"Morgan…" Robin warned.
"Look, on the eighth one she told us to just leave her there. So, you know, we did. Don't blame us on this one," Morgan argued.
"I… just…" Robin covered his face in his hands. This was the last thing he'd expected to be dealing with today.
He should really stop doing that. Having expectations.
"So... what now?" Morgan asked.
Robin lifted his head from his hands. "You mean besides filling in the twenty foot pit you dug?" Robin asked, keeping his voice stern enough to make it clear this was less a question and more of a strong suggestion. Or command.
"Wait, what? You mean I have to…" Morgan trailed off, seeing the continued look he was giving her. "I… but… " Morgan's shoulders slumped in surrender. "Fine, you win. Guess I better get going, huh? Come on, Kana, you heard my father. Let's-" She began to skulk off back towards the trap, only to be stopped as Robin reached out and grabbed hold of the back of her coat, keeping her in place.
"Hey, what gives! I'm already going, just like you asked." Morgan yelped, stretching and flailing her arms towards the other side of the clearing, Robin dragging her back with each step she took.
"Later, first off you and me need to have a talk," Robin told her.
"But-"
"Alone," he asked. Turning to Kana, Robin softened his expression, speaking in a much more gentle tone as he addressed Corrin's daughter. Afterall, it wasn't his place to lecture his friend's child. "Kana, please go find your father. And while I know it was a prank and while your father isn't angry at you, you should still apologize to him. Okay?"
"Okay, I promise," Kana said, bowing her head slightly.
"Oh, and before I forget, please also make sure to go back for Setsuna. I'd hate it if we forgot about her and left her stranded in a pit out in the middle of nowhere. Thanks," Robin added.
"Sure. That would be really mean if we left her there, huh?"
"No doubt. Which is why I am counting on you to make sure we don't," Robin told her, stooping down slightly so they were at eye level. Morgan tried to take advantage of this, attempting to squirm away, but Robin held his grip firm.
"Yes! I can do it!" Kana hopped up and down excitedly. She half turned, about to run off, only to catch herself at the last second and give Robin another little bow to thank him. Then she sprinted away, leaving Morgan and him alone.
Only once Kana had gone did Robin release Morgan, letting her right herself as he straightened himself back to his full height.
"Alright, what is this about then, father? What did I do this time?" Morgan asked, exasperation thick in her voice. Clearly she considered this whole song and dance nothing but old hat at this point.
For a moment Robin said nothing instead dusting off his coat where it had dragged in the dirt while he'd knelt down to speak with Kana directly. Not to mention to take a chance to fully collect his thoughts and determine his plan of attacking the situation. Yes, he'd need to make sure this conversation went differently than those that Morgan had certainly become all-to-weary of.
"Morgan, are you okay?" Robin asked, broaching the silence at last. He gazed at his daughter's face thoughtfully, waiting for the smallest of changes in her expression that would act as a window into her thoughts.
Morgan blinked in surprise at this question, but quickly shook this off. "What do you mean?" she asked quickly.
"You know what I'm talking about."
Morgan flinched, but recovered quickly, turning away. "I'm fine. I have no reason to not be."
"Morgan… you can talk to me. Please," Robin told her. Taking a step towards his daughter, he tried to place a hand on her arm. She pulled away, leaving his arm hanging there in mid air. Robin sighed then lowered it. "Look, I know you aren't being truthful, maybe even to yourself. Your actions over the past few days show that."
"What do you mean? How is anything I've done different than what I normally do?" Morgan asked incredulously, spinning back to face him.
"You've been sloppy. Normally this whole thing would be way more thought out, but as your traps go you overdid it today and to poor results," Robin explained, motioning behind him vaguely towards the traps. "Same with everything else you've done since your fight with Inigo. You're trying to act like nothing's wrong, and trying too hard at that. Like you need to prove you aren't upset."
"I'm fine," Morgan repeated, her jaw tightening as she grimaced. "Really. I'm fine."
"Morgan…" Robin said gently.
"I'm fine, father," Morgan snapped, stamping a foot down in frustration. "I… Even if I am upset, why should that matter?! I have every right to be, don't I? He's the one who was wrong, not me!"
Ah, there it is, Robin thought to himself. Her choice of words made it plain as day what this was about.
"Sounds to me like Inigo isn't the only one you're blaming right," Robin noted, voicing his realization out loud.
"If I am, it's stupid and dumb and I shouldn't feel that way!" Morgan countered. "He was the one who left, father! He abandoned me! He lied to me! He did, not me! How could any of that be my fault?!"
"Because…" Robin frowned, picking his words carefully. "I think you know it's more complicated than that."
Morgan said nothing, turning her head again. Reaching out, Robin tried again to place his hand on his daughter's arm. This time she did not pull away.
"I am not defending Inigo. Nor am I saying I agree with his choice. But you know he, not to mention Owain and Severa, would have only left if they had a good reason to."
Morgan stiffened at this. For an instant she stood there, motionless as a statue. Then she spun around, knocking Robin's hand from her arm. "Why should I care? Whatever the reason, maybe it was good enough for them. But not for me! Because he left me, father. Me!
Robin stood there, stunned by this outburst. Had he pushed too far? He'd been so close to getting to the heart of the issue, he'd thought…
"I…" Morgan lowered her head, staring at her feet. "I'm sorry, father. I don't want to talk about this anymore. I'm sorry for snapping at you. I just don't want to talk about this."
"Morgan," Robin started to say. Before he could stop her Morgan turned and staggered over to a nearby patch of bushes, retrieving a shovel she must have stowed there some time earlier.
"I'm going to clean up my mess. Just… I'm fine, father. Thanks for asking, but… I'm fine," she said, her gaze remaining downcast even as she continued to walk away.
Robin lifted a hand, about to stop her, only to let it fall limply to his side and let her go. He didn't want to risk making things worse. The last thing he needed was to make Morgan hate him too by pursuing to issue any further. Yes, it would be best if he waited. Give her time to cool off at least.
He watched her go, vanishing into the treeline back towards the hole Corrin had fallen into. As he did an uneasiness fell over him, already beginning to second guess his choice. Had he done the right thing? Had he given in too easily when he ought have stood his ground and made Morgan confront what she was feeling?
Yet despite these question Robin made no move the follow. For all his uncertainty he remained there, doing nothing. Both caution and his own fear yet staying his hand.
At the end of the day, he didn't want to risk making things any worse for her.
. . . . .
Never before had Robin been so glad for a mundane task to take his attention away from the failure that had been his attempt to get through to Morgan.
Not long after returning to camp, he'd found Corrin waiting for him. Apparently he'd just gotten back from talking to Xander (and thankfully rescuing Setsuna from her self-imposed entrapment in one of Morgan's pitfall traps). Apparently, as Corrin had explained, there was a medium sized town in the foothills nearby, one where they could restock on supplies for the rest of their trip to the Ethereal Summit, and at Xander's request was putting a small party together to complete the erand.
Robin agreed on the spot. Better than sitting around and mopping with so little else to do. Besides, it would give him a chance to think. Perhaps even come up with a solution to this little Morgan problem. And with Lucina agreeing to accompany them as well, the two of them would be far more likely to do just that than he would on his own.
Meeting Corrin at the edge of their camp, the two of them found the others who'd be accompanying them already waiting. Along with Corrin's acting retainers, Silas and Kaze, Robin was surprised to see Inigo there as well. Then again, it made some sense, considering it was on Xander's request that they were undertaking this mission. Still, it was odd for him to assign one of his retainers to this task.
"I volunteered. Gives me something useful to keep myself occupied with," Inigo explained, noticing Robin's stare.
"Are you well?" Lucina asked. She visibly eyed the scab on Inigo's lip. Even in the week since his and Morgan's argument, the injury from when she struck him had not fully healed.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Inigo told her, brushing them both off as he sulked away to walk with the others as they started off toward down the road.
Robin exchanged a worried glance with Lucina. Certainly only a fool would think nothing was wrong. But, considering how the matter involved their daughter, was it really their place to meddle in both sides of the conflict?
Sorting out Morgan is our priority. After that… well, if he and Morgan do reconcile, it will be up to them to take that step.
Starting off as well, Robin began relaying the morning's events to Lucina, it taking handful of minutes to give the full account of things.
"I'm afraid I don't have any answers myself, Robin," Lucina told him once he'd finished filling her in. The two of them walked towards the back of the group, making sure to keep out of earshot of Inigo in particular. Best not to complicate things in that way right now. "I can't say I truly blame Morgan for acting the way she is. But even so, the selfishness of believing she is the only hurt party…" she trailed off, shaking her head sadly.
"Yeah. For all the traits to have inherited from us, the combination of my penchant to take full ownership of even the smallest of problems and your stubbornness in the face of adversary has certainly not made this easy to get Morgan to see reason," Robin agreed. "Only difference between me and her is that Morgan, rather than accept the guilt she is feeling, is turning it back around on Inigo and scapegoats the blame she puts on herself onto him."
"Yes, exactly. I am certain it is a large portion of what afflicts her," Lucina confirmed. "But…"
"What?" Robin asked.
"I don't know. Something still doesn't sit right with me. Like we are missing some other reason Morgan has," Lucina told him.
Robin considered this for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, you're right. I can't help but think there is something else too, but… I really don't know either." He sighed, letting his shoulders slump. "Did I do the right thing? Giving her space instead of pressing her further? Maybe I could have gotten through to her somehow if I just tried to say something else and-"
"It's alright, Robin. There is no sense worrying about what might have been now," Lucina assured him. "Instead we should focus on our duty as parents to help Morgan through these trying times moving forward."
"Yeah… guess you're right," Robin said. He sighed again. "But how? That's the real question."
"Yes. To that I fear I still have no answers," Lucina told him sadly. "Perhaps the best route ahead of us is to just try talking to her again. Maybe she will be more willing to talk more openly in different circumstances."
"Yeah, maybe that's it. We just need to try and-"
The thought was cut short as the pace of the rest of the group began to slow, Corrin and Silas in particular dropping back to walk alongside them.
"Sorry to interrupt, but the town should be just over that hill," Silas announced, pointing up the road ahead.
"Oh, good," Robin said, dipping his head in thanks for the warning. Guess he and Lucina would have to shelve their discussion for later.
They walked in silence for several minutes, climbing higher into the rocky terrain.
"Is there any concern that the village might react poorly due to our association with Nohr?" Lucina asked. "I suppose this would not be a problem for Robin and myself, should it come to that. Afterall, we are still in Hoshido, are we not?"
"Possibly, but less likely than you'd think. Going back only a couple decades this areas was under Nohr's dominion and are not likely to hold much animosity against us," Silas answered.
"They were? But how is that possible, isn't this well within Hoshidan lands?" Lucina asked.
"War," the cavalier answered simply, shrugging his shoulders. "For as far back as our histories go, Nohr and Hoshido have been at each other's throats. Rarely did things escalate to all out war, but skirmishes and minor engagements were all too common, especially along the border."
"Even with the natural barrier these mountains provide, the lands directly surrounding the border, particularly those near the main pass over the bottomless canyon, have traded hands more times than any can count," Kaze added.
"Huh, I didn't know that. I had know idea how deeply rooted conflict is in the very identity of this region," Corrin noted, shaking his head.
"But for once it sounds like it may work in our favor. So long as they are used to such regular changes in national ties, then they should have no qualms parting with the supplies we need at a reasonable price," Inigo interjected. "Too often have we been forced to take what we need or pay exorbanate rates during the war."
Robin noted the clear attempt to put on a playful tone. For all all Inigo's effort, he could not hide the tinge of weariness in his voice, as if straining to keep up the act. Clearly Morgan was not the only one pretending as if nothing was wrong.
At last they reached the crest of the hill, their destination at last coming into view.
From the looks of it, the settlement was a mining town, nestled in the mountain foothills. Squat stone buildings made up most of the structures, their design marrying aspects of both Nohrian and Hoshidan architecture.
However, those details were quickly pushed from the foreground of Robin's mind as he noticed the rest of the scene before them. Surrounding the town were lines of barricades and trenches. At first he took these for defenses, only to realize they were arrayed facing inward, as if to keep the citizens trapped within. Dark figures moved throughout the trenches, gathering towards the town's entrance. Who or what they were, Robin could not make out, the distance preventing him from catching more vague silhouettes.
"Dammit! Invisible Soldiers?" Silas asked.
Corrin shook his head. "No. I can see them from here. They're normal people." Corrin squinted as he visibly strained to make out any more details. "No markings or banners. Bandits no doubt, probably about the sack tthe whole place!"
"What? Then we've got to get in there and help!" Ingo said. He drew his sword, looking as though he was about ready to charge down the hill at any moment.
Corrin too looked on edge, his fingers twitching over the hilt of his own sword. But he hesitated, looking to Robin for confirmation.
Robin nodded to him. "Corrin, how much time?" he asked. It was too far for him to make out the enemy's movements. How and when the bandit's attack was to begin could drastically alter the best move they themselves should take to counter this threat.
"They're amassing now. Best I can tell they were repelled by someone, and are now regrouping for a larger assault," Corrin related, turning back to the town.
"Then we move now and time it so we reach the town just as they move it. We hit them from the flank and catch them off guard," Robin told him. "At best that should throw them into disarray, buy us some time. Better if we can get reinforcements."
"Lord Corrin could reach the others in the shortest time, but as I fear you will need him for this assault, I can go in his stead," Kaze offered. "Do you five believe you can manage alone?"
"Go," Corrin told him.
The ninja dipped his head in a bow, and then darted away. He vanished into the forest, forgoing the road to instead the most direct route to their army's camp.
"Robin, we wait for your word," Lucina told him, drawing Falchion as she spoke. The divine blade hummed softly, casting a gentle blue light. "Are you ready?"
"Ready as I can be," he assured her.
And here I had hoped the rest of the day would be free of more unforeseen complications. First Morgan's antics and now a pack of brigands to deal with, Robin thought.
Guess now I can just hope for no further surprises today. Or would that be too much to ask?
. . . . .
With a gurgling cry the last bandit fell to the ground, his remaining comrades having long since turned tail and fled out of the town's square.
Flicking her sword to the side to clean the blood from it, the woman who'd felled the bandit stepped back, wiping the sweat from her brow on the back of her sleeve. "Whew, see, not a problem at all. It's like I told you, you're all safe now," she announced, turning back to the crowd of people she'd been defending.
I still don't see why they made such a big deal about this. Oh, it's so dangerous to travel to other worlds and times. You might harm the fabric of reality or whatever. Don't even think about trying it, blahdy blahdy blah blah, she added. Internally, of course. Best not go telling everyone she met that little backstory detail. Not that any of them would believe her. Been here for what, a week or two, and reality it fine and dandy. No universe ending booms or anything. Looks like I showed you wrong, gramps.
One of the villagers, a really cute girl with red hair, stepped forward, bowing slightly to her.
"Thank you, so much. I don't know what would have happened if you didn't step in when you did," she thanked, her, bowing her head a second time. A chorus of similar thanks followed from the other villagers. "Please, if there is anything we can do to replay you, all you need to do is a-" the girl started to add.
"No sweat it. It's what I do! I'm just glad I sent those thugs packing with their tails between their legs like the dogs they are," she interrupted before the girl could finish, grinning and giving a thumbs up. It would be wrong to ask for anything in return at any rate. Then again, the girl was really cute, so… Winking, the swordswoman address the girl directly now, adding, "Though you know, maybe later you and I could get some-"
The sound of multiple swords clearing scabbards cut her standment short. The swordswoman spun around, seeing a dozen or more bandits standing across the square. Those on either flank fanned out to either side, already moving around the perimeter to surround her.
"What's this about turning tail and running like dogs?" shouted the lead bandit. Even from the distance, his confidant tone betrayed the smirk he wore. "We didn't run, silly girl. We were just calling some friends to this little party."
"Um… oh…" the swordswoman said lamely, mentally counting the encircling ruffians. That sure was a lot of them. This might be more tricky than she thought.
"What's that? You were talking such a big game before, girly," the bandit laughed. "Let's see if you're still have that smile from before when my friends get the best of you."
The swordswoman confidentially flipped back her long blue hair, her smile unwavering both in spite of, and because of, the threat. "Well, when this is all done I can guarantee one of us will still be smiling. Spoiler, it will be me. Because this world, my world, or any other, I'm the best there is. So ha!"
"Are you sure about it? There are so many of them and you're all by yourself," the girl told her, fear in her eyes.
"Come on! Turn that frown upside down. Just like I told you before, I got this," the swordswoman reassured her, doing her best to smile all the brighter. "Would you believe me if I told you fighting against impossible odds runs in the family? It's in my blood!"
A chorus of bellowing cries rang out from across the square as the bandits began their assault, charging forward.
"Better stay back. This could get messy," the swordswoman added, readying her sword.
You know, maybe things didn't turn out quite like I thought they would with this whole time travel thing. Just a tinsy, bit.
Author's Note: Holy crap, a chapter out in less than four weeks? What is this sorcery?!
For once In found time to write, as well as being extra motivated to finally get to this part of the story. This is something I've been planning since the beginning, and I am curious to see how many people expected this character to appear and how many were caught off guard. As you may have been able to tell, the circumstanced for this character's inclusion will be greatly different from how it was in the game itself and be safe assured I will delve into this a lot more in future chapters.
Another detail I wanted to really touch on her was the bit of extra world building I did regarding this region of the Fates world. As many of you may or may not guess, this region that has changed hands many many times is the same lands that, in Revelations, is given to Corrin to establish a new kingdom of Valla. I felt it fitting then to say that due to how much Hoshido and Nohr have fought over centuries that the land in between has melded cultures and thus would be the perfect area for Corrin to rule over. At least in that timeline.
Anyhow, that's all for now. Please let me know what you guys thought of this one as well as the potential little plot twist this chapter introduced. I always look forward to hearing from you guys. Until the next time, please, have a wonderful day. Peace!