Hello, and thanks for reading. This story loosely follows the Revelations route of Fire Emblem: Fates, but there will be a lot of major changes in the plot since I wasn't really a fan of the original story and I was bored, so I wrote this. For example, though Valla will still play a role, this story will focus more on the human conflicts within Fates rather than just having some sort of big, evil monster that is the cause of everything bad. The characters will more or less be the same, with the important exception of Corrin. In the games, Corrin is supposed to be an avatar, but instead of being a blank slate, he has a distinct (annoying) personality, which is why I decided to change it to make him more arrogant and less ignorant and saintly. He'll probably still be a bit annoying, but at least he won't be completely dumb like he is in the actual story. This story begins at the scene where Corrin is choosing between Nohr and Hoshido, and then diverges from the original story from there. Anyway, thanks again for reading, and without further ado...

"I refuse."

Ryoma frowned and Xander's eyes widened as Corrin's words rang out over the clamor of the battlefield.

"You refuse?" the Hoshidan High Prince echoed. "You mean you won't join us? You won't claim your birthright, and fight beside your Hoshidan kin?"

"I will not. And I will not fight beside Nohr either," Corrin replied, his red eyes resolute and his wild, dark hair swaying in the breeze. He sat atop a white palfrey, Azura beside him on her own horse. They were positioned in between the royal siblings of Nohr and Hoshido, preventing the two sides from tearing each other apart.

"What are you saying?" Xander demanded. "We have been your family for your whole life, and you are choosing to abandon us?"

Corrin scowled. "I am not abandoning anyone. I am just choosing not to fight either one of you."

"It's not that simple!" Leo interjected from his position behind Xander.

"He's right, Little Prince," Xander agreed. "Nohr and Hoshido are sworn enemies. No matter how hard you try, you won't be able to convince Father to end his conquest. Our two nations will be at war no matter what, and it's futile for one man to try and change that."

"I know full well how intransigent Father is. Even so, you can't expect me to raise my blade against people who are my family by blood. My mother… She died protecting me. I couldn't repay her sacrifice by spilling the blood of her people."

"Then fight with us!" Ryoma said.

Corrin shook his head. "I cannot do that either. I definitely won't fight against the family I grew up with and have known all my life."

"Then just what do you intend to do?" Xander asked, his blade emanating dark energy as he clenched his fist around its hilt.

"If you won't heed my words, then I have no choice but to force you. I'll do whatever it takes to stop this unneeded conflict."

"So you do intend to fight," Takumi observed from the Hoshidan side. "Then we are the ones with no choice. If you betray us, then you will die a traitor's death!"

Leo sighed as he rode up beside Xander. "See how quick they are to anger, Corrin? They don't think of you as family at all."

"That's not true!" Hinoka called out as she swooped in on her pegasus. "Corrin is our brother by blood, and your filthy Nohrian brainwashing spells won't change that!"

"Excuse me?"

"Enough of this," Corrin said, fed up. He drew his Yato, and the golden blade gleamed in the dim sunlight. "I've been babied my whole life, and I've never had the chance to make my own choices. Even now, you're all trying to force me to bend to your will… But hear this! I am Corrin, a Prince of Nohr as well as Hoshido. Therefore, it is only natural that I be able to overcome the greatest of odds. Even if you are all against me, I will prevail! I will crush both Nohr and Hoshido if I have to, and when you are thoroughly and utterly defeated, I will lift you back up and join your hands, whether you like it or not! Prepare yourselves!"

With that, Corrin pulled on the reins of his horse and bounded away from the royal siblings, Azura rushing after him.

"Corrin, wait!" Xander called out.

"My, my, he made such a bold speech and then ran off," Camilla said as she hefted her axe. "Should I go after him, Xander?"

"You won't have the chance!" Ryoma yelled as he launched himself at the Nohrians, his Rajinto crackling with electricity.

Xander barely blocked the blow with Siegfried, his arm going slightly numb as his sword made contact with Ryoma's electrifying blade. "We need to defeat these Hoshidan fools first! Then we can deal with Corrin!"

Corrin turned around and caught a quick glimpse of the scene as he galloped away, a frown on his slender face.

"Where are we going, Corrin?" Azura asked. "Was it really all right to leave them like that?"

Corrin grit his teeth. "I had no choice. We couldn't have taken all eight of them by ourselves, and so I needed to come up with another plan. We're going to defeat both armies instead."

Azura stared at him. "... I'm afraid I don't understand how defeating two armies is easier than fighting eight people."

"Well, if I'm being honest, we're not really up against two armies. The size of these two forces are about the same as a regiment at best. It looks like neither Ryoma nor Xander was expecting to fight a full-scale battle here."

"Right, but… That's still more difficult than taking on just the royal siblings, no?"

Corrin smirked. "We're not going to fight every single soldier here. This is where my ambiguity comes in. At the moment, neither the Nohrian nor the Hoshidan forces know which army I have sided with. First, we will go over to the Nohrian side of the battlefield, claiming to be allied with Nohr. Then, we will take out their commander and ride towards the Hoshidan side, using this as proof that we are loyal to Hoshido. Finally, when the Hoshidans accept us as an ally, we will kill their commander as well. With their command structure in tatters, the two sides will have no choice but to retreat."

Azura's expression was one of unease. "You realize this will most likely make you an enemy in the eyes of both sides, right?"

Corrin gripped his blade and the reins of his horse tighter. "I know… But it must be done. If Xander and Ryoma refuse to listen, then I will make them. Don't worry, Azura. I am every bit the tactician that Leo and Xander are, and so I will not lead us astray."

The two continued onwards, crossing the river which divided the battlefield at a shallow section, away from most of the fighting. When they made it over to the Nohrian side, a few of the black-armored soldiers gave them strange looks but made no move to attack.

Excellent, Corrin thought as he rode towards the camp the Nohrians had set up at the base of the cliff. These fools won't know what hit them.

When the pair finally arrived at the Nohrian camp, they found that it was mostly empty. As Corrin dismounted from his horse, a middle-aged man with a silver mustache emerged from the main tent at the center of the camp tent. He wore the black Nohrian armor and had a short sword strapped to his side, and his pale, blue eyes lit up in surprise as he saw Corrin.

"Ah, Prince Corrin! You have returned," the man called out.

"Yes," Corrin replied, his hand inching towards his blade as Azura watched uneasily. "Would you be the one in command here?"

"Er, yes, Your Grace. I am Captain Redfield, and I have been placed in command of our forces by Crown Prince Xander."

"I see," Corrin said as he drew his sword. "Then prepare yourself."

"Your Grace?" the captain asked, but before he could react, Corrin lunged at him with a roar and slashed his throat open. The man fell to the ground, his blood staining the clay ground red.

Azura stared at the corpse, an expression of unease on her face.

"Sorry, but it was necessary," the prince said as he used his cape to clean the blood off his sword. "Now, we need to ride around the edge of the camp and head towards the Hoshidan side once I behead this man and take his head as an offering to Hoshido."

The flaps of the tent flew open, and a young man with brown hair emerged. He stared in shock at the scene, then drew his own sword. Unable to even form words, the youth cried out in agony and anger as he rushed Corrin.

Corrin ducked under the soldier's initial strike, and his dragonstone necklace began to glow. Azura watched as Corrin's left arm transformed into a draconic claw, and she grimaced as the prince drove his arm into the boy's stomach, impaling him upon the appendage. The defeated Nohrian gasped in pain and shock before Corrin used Yato to slide the body off his arm. The corpse fell to the ground, blood pouring out the gaping hole in its stomach.

Corrin frowned in disgust as he stared at his arm, which was now coated in red. He bent down and severed Captain Redfield's head with one clean stroke, then shoved it into one of his saddlebags. "Well, let's get moving."

Azura followed as Corrin mounted his horse and rode off towards the edge of the camp, intending to join forces with the Hoshidans and then repeat the same scene there. Azura watched the prince with curiosity and sorrow as they crossed the river again.

He must be taking his anger out on these soldiers, she realized as she looked upon the prince's solemn countenance.

As the pair approached the Hoshidan side, the soldiers did not even think twice about letting Corrin through. Neither he nor Azura made any threatening moves, and the presence of the blue-haired princess was probably enough to convince the Hoshidans that they were not enemies. Corrin and Azura rode towards the back of the battlefield, where, as expected, the Hoshidan headquarters were stationed.

This time, before Corrin could dismount, he was cut off by a man with blue hair and a pair of glasses. Corrin recognized him as Yukimura, Hoshido's finest tactician. Yukimura was flanked by four Hoshidan soldiers, and the tactician wore a neutral expression as he regarded the pair.

"Ah, Prince Corrin. What might you be doing here?"

"What does it look like? I'm joining Hoshido," Corrin replied as he fished the Nohrian captain's head out of his saddlebag. He tossed the severed head at Yukimura's feet.

The tactician glanced at it with disgust and contempt. "I see… So you've killed their commander. No wonder their forces look to be in such a disarray. However, I'm afraid that we will have to confiscate your weapon until this battle is over and I get word from King Ryoma that you have truly abandoned your Nohrian family."

"Impossible. I need to fight alongside them. I can't sit here and do nothing," Corrin replied as he grew irritated, hoping Yukimura wouldn't see through his deception.

"Oh? But you have done more than enough already," Yukimura countered as he prodded the captain's head with his sandaled foot. "Besides, this battle will be over soon now that you have removed their commander. There is no need for you to put yourself in any further danger."

Corrin's face darkened as he realized that Yukimura had figured out his ploy with ease, and his red eyes flashed dangerously. He bared his fangs and roared, "You dare try and outwit me?!"

Before Yukimura's guards could react, Corrin pushed his steed forward, bowling over Yukimura and stabbing one of the soldiers in the eye in the process.

"Let's go, Azura!" Corrin called out, but Azura was already urging her horse forward as well.

The two sped away from the Hoshidan camp. They headed away from the battlefield, leaving the clashing of swords and pained screams behind as they moved to higher ground.

"Damn it!" Corrin exclaimed, once they were a significant distance away. "I didn't expect anyone to see through my plan…"

"Your plan still worked," Azura said calmly as she turned her head. Corrin followed her gaze and saw that both the Hoshidan and Nohrian forces were beginning to regroup and retreat, heading off in opposite directions.

"Yes. Though I did not kill him, it appears I put Yukimura out of commission for the time being," Corrin noted as he and Azura stopped their mounts, allowing the creatures a brief rest.

"We were successful here… But what do we do now?" Azura wondered. "We have surely made enemies out of Nohr and Hoshido, and we have no army to defend ourselves."

"We need to set up a base of operations of some sort," Corrin answered as he watched the two armies retreat. "There are plenty of neutral city-states that do not like being caught up in this war, so they should sympathize with our cause. We could head to Izumo first, since it's the closest."

"But even then, there is no guarantee that they will help us. We do not have much to offer."

Corrin sighed. "I know that, Azura, but we have no other choice. If you thought this plan was doomed for failure, then why did you even come with me?"

Azura's golden eyes were filled with an indiscernible emotion. "That's a good question. I suppose I do not want to see Nohr and Hoshido fight either. In terms of our family situation, you and I are similar, so I sided with you. There's also… Something about you that makes me want to see where you will go. Perhaps it is because Yato chose you."

Corrin smirked. "You've got an eye for talent, then. Come, let's get going."

"Your Grace."

Corrin and Azura jumped in shock at the sudden voice, and Corrin drew his golden sword, preparing for battle. However, as Corrin wheeled his horse around, he was greeted with a familiar sight.

"Kaze? What…"

"I happened to overhear your conversation, Your Grace, and I wish to lend you my aid," Kaze said.

"Were you following us?" Azura asked.

"Never mind that," Corrin said. "If you heard our conversation, then you know you may have to fight against Hoshido, right? You would still join us?"

Kaze frowned and crossed his arms. "That is of no concern to me. It is my duty to help you in any way I can, and if you wish to end this war, then I will make sure that you achieve that goal."

Corrin raised an eyebrow. "Not that I am not glad to have your help, but why are you so eager to fight for me?"

Kaze's normally stoic expression became one of disbelief. "You saved my life, Your Grace. Do you not remember?"

"Ah, that's right," Corrin recalled. "But that was nothing but a whim, if I'm being honest. I enjoyed our spar, and so I decided to free you."

"Even so, I am grateful," Kaze said. "There is another thing… Surely you noticed that the other members of the royal family have their own retainers. I, however, had no one to serve. When my brother and Kagero were chosen to serve as King Ryoma's retainers, I was left out. I convinced myself that this was simply because I was too young, but I knew that was a lie… However, Queen Mikoto consoled me by telling me there would come a day where I would finally have a purpose. I believe she was speaking of this day, and of you, Your Grace."

"I see," Corrin replied with a smile. "Then I am glad to have you, Kaze. I am sure we will win many victories together."

"His Grace already has plenty of fine retainers, thank you very much," another voice called out.

Corrin was suddenly aware of the sound of hooves hitting the ground, and he was surprised to see Jakob and Felicia emerge out of the tree line.

"Apologies for our tardiness, Your Grace," Jakob greeted, then glared at Felicia. "But Felicia here just couldn't stay atop her horse."

"S-sorry!"

"You two…? How did you get here?" Corrin asked.

"We came with the rest of the Nohrian forces," Jakob answered. "When we heard that Crown Prince Xander was leading a mission to recover you, we simply had to come along. We then saw you exiting the battlefield, and so we broke off from the main force and raced here."

"You realize that I am not siding with Nohr, correct? I won't be aiding Hoshido either, but that means that I have likely made enemies out of both of them. You still want to join me?"

Jakob nodded. "Yes, Your Grace. We will follow you to the ends of the earth."

"We'll fight with you no matter what, Prince Corrin," Felicia agreed, her blue eyes filled with determination.

"Thank you, both of you," Corrin said. "I am glad that I have such loyal retainers. Together, we will defeat all who oppose me. I am sure of it."

Azura smiled. "Well, we still lack an army, but five is better than two, at least."

Corrin nodded. "Indeed it is. Now, we should get going. The sooner we get to Izumo, the better."

The group then headed off at a slower pace so that Kaze, the only one without a horse, could keep up. Since Jakob had prudently brought a map along, the five were able to navigate their way fairly easily. They continued along the path until night fell, and they were forced to make camp and rest for the time being.

After a short dinner consisting of some rations Jakob and Felicia had brought with them, Corrin sat down beside the fire, the glowing embers reflecting off his crimson eyes. He stared into the flames as the rest of his rudimentary fighting force began preparing for bed.

I talk big on the battlefield, but how much of a chance do I really have? The prince wondered as the flames danced in the dark. And all those I left behind… Was this really the right choice?

Corrin thought of Elise's smiling face, Leo's haughty laugh, Camilla's warm embrace, and Xander's caring guidance. He thought of his father, and what King Garon must be feeling right now.

He'll probably order everyone to hunt me down and kill me.

Corrin suddenly remembered a time when he was younger. He recalled he and his father out in the fields near Castle Krakenberg. It was when Corrin was about seven years old, and it was the first time he had confronted King Garon about the topic of his birth. Corrin closed his eyes, and the warmth of the flames took him back.

"Father, I am not really your son, am I?" Corrin asked as he sat beside his father, the two of them sitting atop a hillside overlooking the rolling hills of Nohr.

"... What makes you ask that?" Garon replied, his long, golden hair swaying in the night breeze.

Corrin looked at the ground. "Well… I don't look like Xander or Camilla or you… And I heard rumors."

"Hmm… Well, it is true. You are not my son by birth."

Tears welled up in Corrin's eyes, but he quickly blinked them away. "Oh."

King Garon glanced over at Corrin, then frowned. "Are you crying, boy? What have I told you about acting like a weakling?"

"S-sorry."

"Hmph," Garon grunted. "This is all your siblings' doing. They are far too soft on you."

"But Elise cries all the time," Corrin protested, not wanting to be seen as the only weak one. "And Leo came crying to me that one time he was scolded by our tutor."

The Nohrian King sighed. "You are all weak, then. Are you satisfied now?"

"But… Camilla told me it's okay to cry, and that I can always come to her when I'm feeling sad. Xander said the same thing," Corrin pouted, refusing to accept defeat.

"See? I told you your siblings are far too soft on you." Garon turned his gaze towards the stars, which shone brightly in the unusually-clear sky over the dark landscape. "However… I suppose that is not necessarily a bad thing."

"Huh?"

"Though you may not be my son by birth, you are still a Prince of Nohr, and you are still part of the royal family," Garon admitted. "I suppose, if you must, you can rely on your family when you are in trouble. No matter what happens, they will always be there for you… As will I."

Corrin stared at his father in surprise, then broke out into a grin. "Thank you, Father. I promise I will do my best as a Prince of Nohr!"

Garon couldn't help but smile as well. "Good. I will hold you to that, boy."

The flames crackled, and Corrin was brought back to reality. His throat felt tight and his eyes were brimming with hot tears. Damn it… Why did I have to think of that now, of all times?

He rubbed his eyes, and his sorrowful expression was replaced by a look of determination.

The Father I once knew is gone. I don't know what happened to him, but he is a completely different person now. For his sake, and for all my siblings from both Nohr and Hoshido, I will end this war… Even if it means throwing away everything I've ever loved.