Chapter One – Nohr
An endless dream. A dream of family, of enemies, of connections and ties. A dream that repeated itself throughout my dreams. From the moment I entered the plains, to the moment that the question was asked, it was the same for days.
Maybe it was the isolation of this northern fortress? Perhaps it was simply the stress of training to appease Father. No matter what, it was painful. The people that were there…. I knew them. The one with the electric katana, the one with the bow, the girl with the blood red hair, and the other one with a rod.
It was odd, I felt as though I had known them my entire life, yet I had never once met them before. I didn't know the names, but they were a part of me. It kept on repeating. The bloodshed, the ambush, the decision…. It was different every time for the past three days. On the first day, I sided with the strangers. The next, I had gone with Xander. And today…. I refused to choose. I had gone my own path, trying to avoid bloodshed.
Feeling the freezing cold I had somewhat gotten used to around my head, jumping awake with a loud gasp, my hair rising slightly, the tiniest flakes forming in my hair before melting, the twins in front of me stopping as they leave me panting. "Nngh…!"
Jumping upwards from the feeling, quickly rubbing my eyes open as I glance around the room, I would pant on my bed. Angling my head upwards at the two maids. "Awake now, Lady Corrin?" The blue haired retainer would ask, giving me that gentle warm smile, something I had thought impossible from her icy blood.
"Yes… and freezing cold…" I grumble at the two, slowly getting up to stretch my body, noticing the aged purple haired knight standing off to the side. "Gunter…. Training again today?" I would ask with a sigh, my body still sore from the prior days training sessions. "Afraid so, but today I will not be your sparring partner." The retired general shook his head, his posture neat and straight, fitting of a great knight as the two maids brought over a tray of food. "Here you go Lady Corrin! I tried cooking some of it, but… ehem…." The pink haired maid flustered herself, rubbing the back of her head before quickly backing up. "It's fine Felicia, I'm sure it still tastes delicious." I try to comfort her as I look down at the charred toast, surprised it hadn't become ashes yet.
"Not to worry Milady, I attempted to give her the best guidance that I could, and she is greatly improving. The outside is the most burnt part after all!" her sister would chime in, both of my retainers giving a slight bow. "Now, you'd best eat up. Today IS a special day after all."
"Thank you, Flora, I'll do that." I would nod at the two, quickly scarfing down the generous portion of food before getting back up, lifting my practice sword from the desk next to my bed, recently sharpened and refined. Lifting the bronze sword, I would drag my body out towards the practice field, trying to recall what Flora was talking about when she mentioned a… 'special day'.
After the short waking stroll down the tower, it would have finally clicked in my head. How could I have forgotten? Today was the day that my siblings were visiting! Finally awake and ready, I would grip the banister of the spiral staircase, I would quickly try to slide down, eager to get to meet with my brothers and sisters.
Finally reaching the bottom, I would slam the door open, the door quickly caught by the towering blonde haired hero, and my beloved brother, Xander. Staring up at him in slight shock from the sudden entry, I would take a second to breathe before wrapping my arms around my older brother. "Xander! It's so nice to see you again!" I would chirp up at him, used to the heavy breastplate he was always wearing as he hugged me back. "Little princess, you're up early I can see." He gave a teasing grin, using that old nickname that he had held onto for years.
"Well, I'm only up thanks to Felicia and Flora." I slowly let go of him, leaning back as I make sure to close the door behind me. "You had best fix that if your intent is to leave this place someday. Father doesn't tolerate lateness." He sounded serious, but I knew he was joking with me. Even if Father was the strictest person in this world, he wouldn't go that far. Then again, not like I would know, having been sent to this fortress for my whole life.
"Just so you know, Jakob is downstairs preparing the armor. You do know what today is, do you?" Xander lets go, gently pulling me down the garrison of the fort, the eternally hanging moon glaring down at us as we move. "Today is the day of my test, to see if I'm ready to leave here and join Nohr in the fight against Hoshido, right?"
Giving a nod as he ruffles my hair, he would lead me down to the sparring area, an angular rooftop that was just flat enough for combat practice. "Correct. Your task is to beat me in fair combat. Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."
The silver haired butler, Jakob, would open one of the doors up to the garrison, setting freshly cleaned armor, and a recently sharpened sword for Xander. "Good luck my Lady, I have the utmost confidence in you." He would smile at me, giving a slight bow before heading back down. Just as I turned around, I would have caught a glimpse of purple hair behind me.
Not letting my siblings distract me, I would stride up to Xander, somehow having gotten his horse, Excalibur, up on the roof. "Alright Little Princess, it's time. If you can knock me off Excalibur, then Father will give you permission to join the Nohrian Army." He would nod, drawing the bronze blade, a sharp twang echoing slightly as I squeeze my sword tightly, bending my knees slightly before lurching forward, blade outstretched to meet his breastplate.
Quickly lifting his shield arm to block my lunge, Xander would quickly swing in an upward arc, just barely catching my side as I hop backwards. Grunting from the scratch at my side, I would twist my sword to hold it backhand style, Xander's stalwart gaze ready for my every move. He was ready for my twirling cut, and he was ready for my leaping strike.
Easily countered by the superior knight, knocked back once again, with a few dents and cracks in my armor already. It was if the horse and master could read each other's minds, Excalibur moving in perfect sync with Xander as they both contested and dodged my blows.
Worn down within under ten minutes of the duel, Xander would let out a sigh of disappointment. "Is that all, Little Princess? Your blows are weak and cowardly. They don't have any emotion or heart put into them aside from fear. You must try and genuinely kill me." He stares me down coldly, lifting up his shield arm, a slight glowing wind surrounding the area around Xander, a bright light slamming down just behind me, a blue sigil suddenly engraved on the ground.
"There was a Dragon Vein around here….?!" I pant loudly, not having been able to feel the blood of the dragon nearby until Xander had activated it. "As a descendent of the dragons, you should know how to sense these veins. These spots of power that allow us to access our ancestors power." Xander would nod back.
"That there is a heal tile. Stand there, and recover your strength before attempting to strike me again." He would command, letting his sword arm relax, Excalibur letting out a snort as I retreat, the tile invigorating me, the power of the Dragon flowing through my body as it slowly mends the scratches on my body.
Flicking my sword slightly, feeling this new energy pulsing in my body, I would once again sprint towards Xander, letting out a loud yell as I leap upwards, slamming my sword down just as his shield is raised. As soon as the blade touched the sturdy shield, I would plant my feet on the blade, pushing off it harshly with an audible crack beneath me, his shield having nearly shattered, and Xander losing his balance.
"Whoa…!" He would grunt, quickly trying to grab onto Excalibur's reigns, undefended as I ram my body into his on my way down, knocking him off of his horse, and onto the ground as my sword clatters to the floor loudly, the broken bits of Xander's shield raining to the ground. "Hah…. Well done, Little Princess…"
I would slowly get up off Xander, rolling to my side to stare up at the sky, sweat dripping down my forehead as I pant loudly, a small group of people rushing over as Xander pulls himself up. "You've done well… I didn't see that one coming." He would smile, extending an arm to help me up. Gratefully grasping his hand, Xander would tug me up onto my feet, wobbling slightly, I would look around at the celebrating faces.
All three of my retainers, Felicia, Flora, and Jakob standing tall and proud, with Gunter standing behind them, the other three siblings of mine would quickly come around, the tall mage Leo smiling and ruffling my hair, the young and short Elise tugging on my arm, and finally my older sister Camilla, wrapping her arms around my back. "Congratulations Corrin!" Elise would chirp, as happy and bubbly as ever, the three slowly backing up. "You have the devil's own luck, little sister." Leo would grin down at me, his usual phrase when I did something praiseworthy irking me slightly, but I ignored it, too focused on Camilla pulling me close. "Xander didn't hurt you now did he, my beloved little Corrin?" she would get down on her knees, inspecting my body for any cuts or bruises the test might have left, before giving me that soft smile she was known so well for.
"You've done well, Little Princess. I shall send word to the Castle immediately, and have preparations for you and your retainers to come with us to Krakenburg." Xander would nod, opening the door down to the rest of the fort below, Elise jumping up to get my attention. "You can really come back with us? You did it?" she asks excitedly, tugging on my arm again. "Yes… Yes. I'll be going with all of you." I nod, following Xander downstairs with the rest of my siblings, my retainers having already left to go pack up my things.
After dispersing to go prepare for the journey back to the capital of Nohr, I would drag my already tired feet into the kitchen, seeing one of the housemaids working hard to stock up rations for the trip. "Oh, Lilith. Do you need help with that?" I would ask the blue haired maid, instantly shaking her head. "Not at all Lady Corrin, you deserve to rest after trumping Xander."
"Please, I just got lucky with that one." I roll my eyes, getting down on my knees to help, Lilith quickly moving away. "Nope, this is my job Milady. What maid would I be if I couldn't pack up by myself?" she frowns down at me, before getting back down as soon as I back off. "Alright, you win." I get back up in the wooden chair, watching her hard at work.
"Oh, just so you know Lady Corrin… I may not be able to make the trip with you to the capital." Lilith stops for a moment, before getting back to her duties. "Oh… What a shame. You were always so hardworking and kind." I frown at the news, shaking my head before fixing up my hair.
"It's quite alright. Someone has to take care of this old place anyways." She would shake her head, putting a crate full of rations and bread on the table. "You just make sure to stay alive, and to stay healthy." Lilith would smile down at me, those odd yellow eyes alluring me every time. "I promise, Lilith."
Game Saved
Salutations readers, reviewers, tip seekers and more! This is the first chapter of hopefully the revival of my writing… career? Anyways, I hope that you all have enjoyed the first chapter. This will be a full rewrite of Fire Emblem Fates, giving some of the characters more personality and drive. Please, leave a review, and for the first 6 chapters I will be holding a poll to see which path that Corrin with go down, Birthright, Conquest, or Revelations. Vote soon, and read the story unfold!