Summary: A three-chapter fic exploring a 'what-if' scenario involving reincarnation. The first two will involve Xander and Ryoma waking up from a nightmare that involves Corrin siding on the other side... a nightmare that turns out to have actually happen. Both end up swearing to themselves that they will give Corrin more reason to choose their respective sides.

The problem? The two reincarnated Princes are in the same universe/timeline.

First chapter will focus on 'Birthright' Xander.

Second will be 'Conquest' Ryoma.

Third will be Corrin's choice.

Crown Prince Xander looks over the room he stands guard in… the last line of defense before his father's throne. Corrin will arrive soon, her and her 'Hoshidan' army. It still angers him, that she would just abandon Nohr, the people who have raised her lovingly for over seventeen years, an effort that seems wasted now. "At your si…" Laslow starts.

"No." Even a simple word manages to feel like the Dusk Dragon himself said it with such force that it would change fate itself. "I am challenging Corrin on my own, Laslow."

Peri giggles, "Does that mean we can smash the blood out of her troops?"

"I care not for her 'army', round up who you please, but do not interfere with my duel." He scoffs.

"You're the best, Lord Xander." She skips around, "Alright men, you heard the Crown Prince…" The rest of her chatter falls to background noise.

"Permission to speak freely?" Laslow slowly asks.

He shakes his head, "Not this time, go join the others."

He hesitates, but ultimately nods, "Yes, Lord Xander."

Footsteps echo from both sides as the traitor shows herself, "Corrin… you arrived." He grips Siegfried's handle and slowly pulls it out of its sheath, yet that simple action alone is enough to pulse its dark power. The very flames peppered around the room threaten to sizzle out.

"Big Br…"

"Do not call me that." She flinches, "Corrin, princess of the 'Hoshidan', I, Crown Prince of Nohr, Xander, challenge you to single combat."

A number of whispers float about from her army, her siblings are obviously trying to get her not to, "I accept." She states after over a minute of silence. Xander gestures towards the arena behind him and the two enter. She pulls out her 'Blazing Yato'. "My only wish is that this would have not happened at all… you don't understand how much this hurts me to fight you all."

His heart falters, "The only way these gates will open is if one of us falls." He mounts his faithful steed, "Corrin, if you do not fight with everything you have. You will die."

She gasps, but nods, "For Hoshido!"

Xander awoke with a startled gasp and a firm grip on the dagger under his pillow, his trained eyes scanning over his room. Wait, he is in his room? Gods, that must have been a nightmare, absolutely the longest, most detailed nightmare he had ever had.

"Lord Xander!" The call of his smooth-voiced retainer, Laslow came in, his own sword at the ready. "Gods, are you okay?" He looks tense, ready for a fight. "I heard yelling…"

"I'm fine." He placed the dagger back in its resting spot, "Thank you for your concern, return to your post."

Laslow breathes a sigh of relief before sheathing his sword, "Yes, Lord Xander." He moves towards the door and exits.

The Crown Prince rises out of bed, and makes his way towards the bath, he needs to relieve his mind of those images. Corrin, siding with Hoshido? Leading an army against her Nohrian family? The idea is absurd, a product of his imagination. She would never do such a thing.

"Gods!" If he wasn't awake before, he is now, as he looks in the mirror. Cuts and gashes line his body, open, but not bleeding. In fact, those cuts look just like the ones Corrin's sword had made in his… was it a dream? But, he died in his dream, did he actually die? If so, then why is he alive.

A thought as absurd as the scenario passed by, perhaps he did and maybe… just maybe, he was given a second chance. A second chance at what, though? Is Elise alive? Are Camilla and Leo well?

Is Corrin still with Hoshido? "Laslow!" He calls out as he exits the small bathroom and pulls his armor on.

"Yes, Lord Xander?" His retainer enters the room.

Now, how is the Crown Prince supposed to get this type of information without coming out as suspicious? "Has there been any important notices recently?" He asks as he looks his armor over, it has been recently polished. "Anything planned?"

Laslow raises an eyebrow, but otherwise simply answers, "Other than the trip to the Northern Fortress with Lady Camilla, Lady Elise, and Lord Leo? There is nothing else of importance to bring up… excluding the rising tensions with Hoshido, of course."

Xander furrows his brow, before glancing at the clock, it's barely even breakfast time yet, he hasn't met with Corrin for the spar before her departure, if he were to assume that he actually did live that dream… or if it was a vision. "Inform Princess Camilla that I would like to have a talk with her, it is an important matter." If Corrin chose Hoshido… then he needs to bring reason for her to stay with Nohr, and what better source of that type of information than the doting mother figure of the family?

"Consider it done, Lord Xander."

Xander sighs and places his crown on his head, perhaps he is putting too much thought into this… perhaps it was all just a fantastical nightmare, but that doesn't explain the vividness of it nor the scars that are now healing on his body. Though, if it is true, if this is either a prophecy… or he really did die and is given a second chance, regardless, there is one thing for certain. He will set things right...

Corrin will stick with Nohr.

The Crown Prince sat in the library, glancing over various books as he waited for the eldest Nohrian sister to arrive.

"Lord Xander…" Laslow starts, "May I speak freely?"

Xander chuckles, "You always have that right when it's just us or the family, Laslow."

"Of course, it just feels wrong without asking first." The womanizer takes a breath, "You seem… stressed, more so than usual."

"Being the Crown Prince is a heavy burden." He gently dismisses, "It would be stranger to see me relaxed."

"Normally, I would agree, but today you have this… troubled aura around you." The retainer uncertainty states.

"I simply woke up from a nightmare, nothing to be concerned of…" Xander ideally flips through another book before grabbing another, he didn't bother reading titles, and he is barely even reading the pages. Just something to pass time as Camilla makes her way here.

"There is our hard-working big brother!" Camilla announces as the doors open, "What's troubling you, Xander?" Laslow bows his head and takes his leave.

"I…" He starts, uncertain of how to exactly word it, "I was hoping for some advice, Camilla."

"Whatever you need." She smiles.

"It is for Corrin, I realize that we haven't spent as much time as we would like with her, and I was hoping we could do… something together, as a family."

Her eyes light up, and Xander can practically see the gears turning, "Absolutely!" She pulls out a small sheet of paper from her… bra? "There are a number of spots near the Northern Fortress that I wanted to take our dear sister to, we could plan a family picnic!"

"I see you have things planned already… well, then I am leaving this to…"

She tuts and shakes her head, " We are going to plan this, this is going to be a family event, so we all have to contribute." She giggles, "I'll get Elise and Leo immediately! Trust me when I say, we'll give our dearest sister the best day she will ever have, a day she won't ever forget and will always cherish!"

While Xander felt relieved with Camilla's efforts, he couldn't help but internally grimace at the way she worded that sentence… did Camilla also get sent back? Or was he the only one? "I am looking forward to it."

"Don't hold back, sister." Xander calmly states, "A mercenary or bandit will not be granting you the same reprieve you are getting here." He decided to tone back the harshness, perhaps he was too negative last time?

The adopted sister stood on the opposite side of the roof, her stance is faltering as she shakily holds her sword, both from exhaustion and the intensity of today's bout. Unlike last time, however, Xander chose to wield a bronze sword, as Corrin does. "R-right." She takes a breath and nods, her form becoming sturdy and she tightens her grip. "I can do this."

She charges once more and Xander takes a defensive stance, intending on deflecting and countering the incoming slash… but then, just for a split-second as she began the attack, he saw her wielding the 'Blazing Yato' and his own stance faltered. "For Hoshido!" He clearly heard the dream-Corrin's voice yell. Corrin's attack bit harder than it should have, and he stumbled down in an awkward manner.

Corrin's eyes widened as she saw Xander fall down, "Big brother! Elise!" She dropped her sword and ran towards the Crown Prince, "Gods, I didn't mean…"

"It's alright." He interrupts, even as he felt one of his wounds reopen, "You did well." Elise pulled out her staff and closed the cut.

"Woooow," The youngest princess gasps, "Corrin got you good." Her expression is a mix of concern for Xander's injury and awe for Corrin's performance.

"It seems as if our big brother is getting old…" Leo quips as he walks closer.

"It was just a lucky hit." Corrin dismisses. "It happens."

"Our dear Corrin is becoming quite the fighter, isn't she?" Camilla runs her hand through Corrin's hair, prompting the woman to blush and mutter about how she isn't a child anymore, "Xander has something to tell you, doesn't he?"

Of course she would have Xander tell her, and telling from the looks he is receiving from Elise, Camilla, and Leo, there is no way he was going to be able to pass the honor off, "Corrin… sister." He addresses her, "Ready yourself for a journey, we're taking a trip." He tries to remain as vague as possible.

"Really?!" She brightens up regardless, "I'm getting out of here?" She throws herself onto Xander and hugs him. He slowly returns a gentle hug. "Oh, thank you so much!" Xander smiles in kind.

The entire Royal family and their retainers, well for Corrin it meant her Maids and Butler, trekked on a dirt path, Camilla had indicated a spot north-east of the Northern Castle. Laslow takes a deep breath, "I must say, it feels better than usual, like only half of my body will freeze instead of all of it." Still he smiles, despite it all.

Odin gasps, "Why would my fellow agent not bring this foul notion to me, Odin Dark, earlier? I could have banished the icy claws of death that seek to torment my fellow comrade."

Selena scoffs, "I'm pretty sure the hot air you produce would be more than enough to keep us all warm."

"Ouch, that had to hurt ." Niles smirks.

Beruka's wyvern lets out a small cry, "Targets incoming." The emotionless retainer announces.

"Bandits, here?" Leo scoffs, "Fools." With his Divine Tome in hand he faces the group of idiots who dare attack the entire royal family…

"Uh… boss, those are the…" One of their faces pale and he sprints off in a second's notice.

"Camilla…" Xander notions, but she has already taken off with her own Wyvern.

"Beruka, dear." Camilla coos as she lands in front of the fleeing bandit, "Let's cut them off."

"Ooo, which limb will we cut off first?" Peri's horse neighs as she covers another spot.

"Stand down, foul knaves, Justice will prevail!" Arthur takes another spot and now the bandits are backing into each other.

"You can't get by me, weaklings!" Effie shouts.

"Even the darkest and terrible spectres of the void will grant you no quarter." Odin exclaims.

"Let's string them up and make their cries known to the world…" Niles states.

By now, all possible exits have been covered, yet despite the impossibility of the bandits getting anything done, Corrin shakes as her grip on her sword falters. 'That's right, she hates fighting…' Xander recalls, he gently walks over to his little sister and places a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Th-They didn't do anything… They want to run…" She is still trembling. "But…"

She stops as he moves his hand away and approaches the ring that the royals and their retainers have form, Effie and Odin automatically take a step apart to let the Crown Prince in, then close it just as fast. "You would dare assault not just my people, but Nohrian royalty?" His voice booms out, and the bandits shrink back. He unsheathes his own Divine Sword, and Siegfried pulses a dark energy. "This is something I will not stand for…" He readies his blade…

And slams it into the dirt, "But, in light of my younger sister, Corrin's, wishes, you will have one chance." Everyone else goes silent, "Drop your weapons and leave, I will not grant you the same mercy again."

The bandits shake, but eagerly comply, "Y-Yes, of course Cr-Crown Prince! W-We're changed men! We swear it!" The leader quickly nods.

Satisfied Xander notions towards the spot he entered from, "Let them leave." Effie and Odin part once more and the Bandits sprint off. He sighs and draws Siegfried from the ground, before sheathing it once more.

"B-Big brother?" Corrin approaches him, yet despite the curiosity and anxiety clouding her eyes, there is a distinct air of love and admiration, "Did you mean that… you let them go… because I wanted them to live?"

Xander simply nods, "I realize I have devoted most, if not all of my attention to my duties, and it has occurred to me that I should spare time for my family's concerns. So yes, little sister, I did this for you."

Tears start to stream from her eyes and she carelessly tosses her sword aside, before leaping at her big brother and wrapping her arms around him, "Thank you so much, big brother… you don't understand how much that means to me…"

Xander smiles, 'That should be more than enough to have her choose Nohr… but I'll keep pushing, just to be sure. I… Nohr will not lose her again.'