Disclaimer: Fire Emblem Fates was developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo. This is only a fan-made story so please support the official release!
"There you are my beautiful baby boy." A black haired priestess cooed as she held a small child in her arms
Where am I? Who are you? Corrin thought, disoriented by his small form and the unfamiliar arms in which he was held. The prince tried to voice his concerns but his questions came out as a small gurgle.
"It's time to go Corrin." The Priestess said. "Your father Sumeragi is waiting and I'm sure your siblings Ryoma, Hinoka, Takumi and even baby Hinoka are excited to meet you."
Who are you talking about? My father is King Garon of Nohr and my siblings are Xander, Camilla, Leo and Elise! I have no idea who these people are!
While Corrin truly believed this to be true, an unbelievable sense of familiarity washed over him as his tiny eyes gazed upon three small children: a boy with shaggy brown hair, a girl with short red hair, another boy with light brown hair and a crawling baby with salmon-colored hair. His gaze only met them for a second before the Priestess began to hand him off to an older man, dressed in white samurai armor.
"Hello my son." The samurai said warmly. Yet as he reached out to take the young Corrin into his arms, the world faded to black. When the world returned, the kind samurai was replaced by King Garon who proclaimed,"You're mine now!" with an outstretched hand.
The world faded to black once more before Corrin awoke in the familiarity of his Northern Fortress bedroom.
"Are you awake milord?" Flora asked from one side of the bed. Her sister Felicia stood on the opposite side eager to serve.
"Just barely..." Corrin replied groggily. "I just had the strangest dream..."
"Well you'd best join the world of the living sire." Jakob chimed in from across the room where he stood with Gunter. "You have a busy day ahead."
"I think we can help with that!" Felicia said happily. "Let's do it Flora!"
"Yes sister." Flora replied as she and Felicia placed their hands on the young lord's cheeks. "This is how we deal with sleepyheads in the Ice Tribe!"
Ice magic poured out of both sister's hands, snapping Corrin awake immediately.
"I'm up! I'm up!" Corrin yelled, nearly jumping out of the bed. "You said I had a busy day ahead. What do I have planned?"
"Your siblings have just arrived from the capital and will wish to spend a great deal of time with you." Jakob replied.
"That means your usual combat practice will be handled by Xander today milord." Gunter added. "You'd best be prepared for a workout."
"Thanks for the warning Gunter." The prince replied before turning to Jakob, "If you could tell my siblings to meet at the fortress entrance, I'll be down to meet them shortly."
"Yes milord." The butler replied. "We will inform your siblings right away. Felicia has placed your best suit of armor by the dresser when you are ready."
"Thank you. That will be all."
As soon as his retainers left the room Corrin ran to put his armor on, excited that his siblings had come to visit. Very little excitement occurred in the cold fortress so visits from any his of his siblings were always welcome, but this time all four had come to see him, making Corrin even more excited.
Maybe all this excitement is why I had that weird dream... Corrin thought as he put on his cape. Any remaining thoughts about his dreams were pushed aside as Corrin raced out of his room to meet his siblings. When he finally arrived at the meeting place, only Leo had arrived.
"Leo!"
"Hello Corrin! It's been quite a while." The fellow prince replied. "Have you kept up with your studies?"
"Of course! Gunter trains me in combat and tactics each day." Corrin replied with a smirk on his face.
"What has you so happy this morning?"
"Even though I don't see you all very often, its nice to know some things never change."
"What do you mean?"
"You have your cape on backwards."
"Why didn't you mention anything sooner!?" Leo replied before rushing inside past Camilla and Elise, to remedy the problem.
"Someone dressed half-sleep this morning." Camilla said, gesturing slightly toward Leo.
"Big brother!" Elise said as she nearly tackled Corrin into a hug. "Its been so long since I saw you!"
"I know. I hear you've been busy with your duties as a princess."
"I have, but they're boring!" The youngest sibling said with a pout. "I'd much rather be having fun here with you!"
"We all have duties to fulfill as part of the royal family Elise." Camilla said, "Even Corrin will have duties to fulfill when the time comes."
"I don't know if that day will ever come..." Corrin replied. "Sometimes it feels like I'll just waste away in this castle for the rest of my life."
"There, there." Camilla said as she placed her brother's head within her bosom. "Father simply wants to be sure that you're ready for the responsibilities that come with being a part of the court. I'm sure you'll be out of here before you know it."
"Definitely!" Leo cut in as he rejoined the group with his cape fixed. "I can tell you've matured quite a bit since I last saw you, unlike some people."
"What's that supposed to mean!?" Elise cried defensively. "I've matured plenty!"
"What makes you think I was referring to you?" Leo replied smugly. "I could have been referring to my retainer. A guilty conscience needs no accuser."
"Camilla, Leo's making fun of me!"
"It's Ok honey. That's just how he shows he cares."
"I-I don't know what you're talking about..." Leo replied blushing.
"Sure, sure Mr. Tough Guy." Corrin chuckled, "Speaking of tough guys, where's Xander? Wasn't he supposed to come with you?"
"Oh you know how he is." Camilla said, off-handedly, "He said your reunion should be over crossed blades or something of the like."
"Xander wants you to meet him on the roof for training." Leo interpreted. "He's been very eager to see how you've grown."
"I'll grab my blade and head to the roof right away then!"
"But I wanted to play with you a bit big brother!"
"We'll play later Elise!" Corrin said as he started toward the door. "I shouldn't keep Xander waiting."
Only stopping to grab a Bronze Sword, Corrin rushed to the top of one of the castle's pillars which he and Xander used constantly for training. When the young prince finally arrived and stepped out onto the dark rooftop, Xander was nowhere to be found.
I thought Leo said Xander would be waiting for me here. Where could he be?
As Corrin was lost in thought, a shadow began charging from behind him. Feeling the aggression of his enemy, Corrin turned and was able to block the assailant's attack at the last moment.
"You're becoming more aware of your surroundings." Xander said as he and his younger brother locked blades. "That bodes well for your training today."
"Well hello to you to Xander." The younger prince replied. "Do you have to jump me like that every time we start training?"
"It sharpens the mind and gets your blood pumping." Xander said, stepping back slightly so that the fight could continue. "Now show me how much you've grown!"
"With pleasure!" Corrin replied before the two brothers charged at one another.
Xander paused for a moment to allow Corrin the first blow: a powerful vertical slash aimed at the head. The attack was blocked by Xander who countered by quickly twisting his blade, placing Corrin's sword below his own, and opening the younger prince for a direct slash at his neck. Corrin dodged the attack by spinning away from the blade and used the momentum to launch his next attack: a horizontal slash at Xander's side which landed successfully leaving a small dent in the crown prince's armor.
"You may have landed the first blow, but our match is far from over!" Xander declared before the two locked blades again.
The match raged on with both sides unwilling to give a single inch. While Corrin started the match strong, his energy soon faded and Xander, with superior strength and endurance from years of training and battles, began to control the pace of the battle.
"I... won't lose!" Corrin said as he tried to catch his breath.
"Your skill and strategy with a blade are most impressive." Xander declared a short distance away. "I think you're ready to learn about Dragon Veins."
"Dragon... Veins?"
"Dragon Veins are fonts of magical energy imbued into the Earth that have the power to completely change the flow of battle."
"In what way?"
"Dragon Veins can have a variety of effects from changing the landscape, changing the weather or even healing wounded combatants." Xander explained. "However, this power can not be tapped by anyone. You must have royal blood within you if you wish to call upon the Dragon Vein's power."
"So only the royal families of Nohr and Hoshido can activate Dragon Veins?"
"Exactly. Now use your senses and examine the rooftop. You should be able to locate the Dragon Vein up here."
"Ok. I'll try." Corrin replied before closing his eyes and opening his senses up to examine the rooftop. "I think I feel something just over here." The young prince declared as he walked over to the designated spot.
"Very good." Xander said with a smile. "Now activate it! Dragon Veins hold magical power like a glass of water. Break the glass with a jolt of magical power and the power will come rushing out."
"Here goes!" Corrin declared before sending a small pulse of magic into the roof where the Dragon Vein laid. Almost immediately, a rush of power began to flow over him, re-energizing Corrin to continue the match with Xander.
"Your stamina has been restored." Xander said. "Now pick up your blade and face me once more!"
"Ok, but remember you asked for this!" Corrin replied before taking his blade and charging his older brother once more.
Any signs of his previous fatigue were completely erased by the Dragon Vein, allowing Corrin to fight to his fullest while Xander still showed signs of fatigue from their first round of combat. The battle was fierce and lasted for quite some time, eventually drawing the other Nohrian royal siblings to the rooftop to spectate. Although Xander was able to hold his own for a time, helping Corrin burn off the extra energy given to him from the Dragon Vein, the crown prince eventually tired.
"You've... done well... little prince." Xander said between deep breaths, a sheen of sweat visible on his brow.
"That's... only because... I've had such a good teacher." Corrin replied, once again exhausted and out of breath. "How did you know that Dragon Vein... would heal me?"
"The more you activate Dragon Veins, the more familiar you will become with them. Eventually you will be able to predict their effects just as I have done." Xander said. "And with that I think you are ready."
"Ready? Ready for what?"
"Oh! Oh! Can I tell him!?" Elise exclaimed excitedly.
"Go on ahead Elise." Camilla said with a knowing grin on her face.
"What? What are you guys going to tell me?"
"You're coming back to Windmere with us!" Elise nearly yelled.
"Father has called me to the capital? I'm leaving the Northern Fortress!?"
"The truth is, we didn't come to simply visit you." Leo explained. "We were sent to evaluate whether you were ready to join the court. By learning about Dragon Veins and fighting Xander to a standstill, you've proven you're ready to help us restore Nohr to its proper glory."
"Wh-When will we be leaving?" Corrin asked.
"In two days time." Xander declared. "It will give us sufficient time to catch up and for you to prepare for your move to Castle Krakenburg."
The next two days went by in a flash and before Corrin realized, it was time to leave the Northern Fortress for good.
"It saddens me deeply to see you go milord." Jakob began. "I would accompany you but I've been tasked with maintaining the castle in your absence."
"Everyone at the Northern Fortress will miss you Master Corrin." Flora added. "But you should be in good hands with Felicia and Gunter by your side."
"Don't worry about a thing sis!" Felicia said, "I'll definitely make sure to take care of anything Master Corrin needs!"
"That's what I'm worried about." Jakob mumbled before turning to Gunter, "Be sure to watch over him, all right?"
"Worry not Jakob, I may be old but I've still got more than enough fight left in me to protect the young master."
"I believe we're all set then!" Corrin declared as he saddled his horse for the long journey ahead. "Let's go to Castle Krakenburg!"
AN: Hello everyone and welcome to Conquest Revamped! Fates has received a lot of criticism about its poor storytelling since its release despite its amazing game-play, especially in the case of Conquest. In this retelling of Fire Emblem Fates Conquest I'm going to try and spruce up the story to what it could have, and should have been. While I will try to follow the general story line of Conquest, not everything will be exactly as in the game! Some game-play elements don't transfer well to a written format and as such will be taken out.
Not much changed in this prologue but I did change the initial dream sequence and removed Lilith from the story. While the initial dream sequence in the game serves as a nice tutorial for the player entering the game, it doesn't make sense that Corrin is able to 'dream' into the future. As such, I've changed the dream to a memory of his birth in Hoshido. As for taking Lilith out of the story, that is simply because the My Castle aspect of Fates, while extremely fun and enjoyable, played little to no part in the actual plot.
With introductions done and changes explained! That will be it for this chapter of Conquest Revamped! Feel free to leave a review with your thoughts but be courteous and don't leave spoilers for Birthright or Revelations. Thank you and see you next time!