EDIT: Added a few minor things to this chapter, though it's nothing that will change the plot. When I originally typed it, I was going rather quickly since my original draft self-destructed and got deleted. However, now that I've had a bit more time, I was able to touch up on a few things like internal conflict and such. Enjoy the new version!


STEP THREE: BIRTHRIGHT

At the branch of fate, Corrin chooses to side with Hoshido. They simply cannot go back to Nohr with King Garon after witnessing the atrocities he has committed against Hoshido. After making their choice, Corrin is pushed into the fighting against Nohr. In a defend mission, the Hoshidan army tries to hold back Nohr to keep them from breaking through to Hoshido. This is chapter six. Both sides retreat after the fight comes to an end. Jakob/Felicia appears and goes with Corrin to help the soldiers retreat from the battle. Corrin regrets leaving the Nohrian siblings, and they express their dissatisfaction before retreating. Corrin feels bad, but they don't have a moment to linger on it if Hoshido is to remain secure.

The royals all split up and go separate ways. Sakura goes to a fort to heal the injured soldiers from the previous battle. Hinoka heads to the Wind Tribe to gain alliance from Fuga. Takumi fights off Hans and a faction of his soldiers on the border. Azura returns to the palace to help care for the injured Mikoto. Ryoma goes to Cheve. Yukimura had received a letter from the leader of the Chevois rebels who were requesting Hoshidan help to free the country from Nohrian occupation, so Ryoma goes there.

Corrin ends up following Sakura to help out in healing the soldiers that have been hurt. Hana and Subaki are running themselves ragged to help Sakura in healing. Once Corrin, Felicia/Jakob, Kaze, and Rinkah arrive at the fort, they end up surrounded. Silas had been sent by Garon to capture Corrin after hearing of their betrayal. In another defend mission, the army holds of the Nohrians until Silas arrives at the entrance to the fort, where he recognizes Corrin and speaks with them. Silas decides to defect to the Hoshidan army, agreeing that Nohr has harmed people and wanting to help.

On the way, the army passes through a village overrun by Faceless. Instead of giving Mozu a paralogue, she joins in this chapter. Upon being rescued as the only survivor, she joins the army to repay Corrin and their group for saving her life.

Next, the army, now assisted by Sakura, Hana, and Subaki, heads to the Wind Tribe to see how things are going with Hinoka. They find her, Azama, Setsuna, Fuga, and Hayato defending the Wind Tribe village from a faction of Faceless. The army rushes to their aid and helps them out. They gain the alliance of the Wind Tribe as well as the assistance of Hayato, Hinoka, and her retainers. Fuga stays behind to protect the village for the time being.

The next destination is Izumo. The army needs the assistance of Izana to press on through Izumite land without any conflict. The army arrives at Izana's palace, but they find it abandoned. After a short period of investigation, the group is trapped by a large number of Nohrians, who had already captured Izumo and were holding Izana hostage. Oboro and Hinata appear and help the army break through the Nohrian line. The army fights their way out and frees Izana, who grants them the alliance they need. Afterwards, Izana warns them that he senses danger for Takumi. Oboro and Hinata confirm this, as they had been fighting with him before he had gone missing mysteriously. Corrin's army makes it a priority to find Takumi and keep him from coming to further harm.

While traveling, the group runs into a pack of bandits trying to capture a redheaded girl named Anna. The group manages to rescue her. Anna gives them her thanks before learning that they are royalty. Being as greedy as she is, Anna joins them hoping that she'll get something out of it. Why? Because this is Anna we're talking about.

On the way to find Takumi, the group encounters Kotaro, the daimyo of Mokushu. He claims that he's allied with Hoshido in the war and offers to help the group through the land. However, Kotaro recognizes Kaze among the army and lashes out at them. Kaze hears Kotaro's name and recognizes it from somewhere, but he never gets his answers. Kotaro manages to escape from the army when a distraction appears.

Takumi has appeared with a faction of invisible soldiers. The group fights off the soldiers but aren't able to snap Takumi out of his daze until Azura appears and sings for him having come from the Hoshidan palace. Takumi finally is freed from his possession, even if it's only temporary.

When Takumi disappeared, he had fallen down a cliff when fighting with Hans. He had fallen into Valla (NOT IN A CHASM), where he met Thalone. Thalone took care of him for a brief time before he learned Takumi was Hoshidan royalty. He lashed out and knocked Takumi unconscious before controlling him. This makes Takumi a puppet for Thalone to use. So long as Thalone can see Takumi, he can have him turn into his darker version where the power of Anankos and his will for revenge push him forwards.

Next, the group passes through Nestra, hoping to catch a boat there to reach Cheve and help out Ryoma. Hinoka is on edge for some reason, though nobody can ask her why without her refusing to answer. They spot Garon walking into the opera house with the duke of Nestra. Corrin feels a small pang of guilt, not because of Garon, but because they wish their Nohrian siblings would be willing to work with them. The army follows after him, but while there, Azura ends up being mistaken for a performer meant to sing for Garon and is shoved on stage. After she sings Lost in Thoughts, Garon groans in discomfort since he loves doing that. Garon grows angry and asks the Nohrians to find her and kill her. Corrin's army fights through and manages to break free of the Nohrians. They are joined by Saizo, Kagero, Orochi, and Reina, who have finally caught up with the group. Kaden ends up being sucked into the fighting to keep Nohrian hunters from getting to him. Meanwhile, Garon asks the duke of Nestra for an alliance in the war. The duke refuses, so Garon kills him and tells the Nohrian soldiers under his command to burn Nestra and destroy it in revenge. Great guy.

The group hitches a ride to Cheve on a boat, but on the way, they end up passing Notre Sagesse. The Rainbow Sage's home on top of the mountain kingdom is being invaded by a faction of invisible soldiers. Insisting on helping, Corrin has the boat dock. They travel up to the top of the mountain and save the Rainbow Sage from the invaders. Upon saving him, the Rainbow Sage asks to see Azura and Corrin alone.

The Rainbow Sage gives Corrin the Yato and Azura receives Safaia. The Sage says that he found them when he visited a fallen kingdom. However, he doesn't have much time to explain. The Sage tells Corrin and Azura that Ryoma is facing danger and that they must get going if they want to save him. They quickly return to their boat and continue sailing towards Cheve.

When the group finally arrives in Cheve, they find Nohrians surrounding a building where a group of rebels is hiding. Leading the fighters is Camilla, who was told to bring Corrin back to Nohr. With the help of Scarlet, who had broken free from the safe house, they manage to drive Camilla, Selena, and Beruka away, all of whom retreat back to the Nohrian palace. Corrin pleads with Camilla to join them on the other side to stop Garon since he is no longer himself, but Camilla pushes them away, still pained by their betrayal and not wanting to talk to them anymore.

Scarlet brings out her masked general, who reveals himself to be Ryoma. The royals all share an excited reunion. However, they don't have much time to celebrate the victory. The Nohrian general overlooking Cheve is angered by their defeating Camilla and wants to crush the royals once and for all. The group fights the general and kills him, sending all the soldiers under him scattering. With Cheve now free, Scarlet joins the army alongside Ryoma to help drive back Nohr and kill Garon. Also, Scarlet can marry Ryoma in this. Her not being able to do that was stupid.

On their way to the capital, the group passes through Mount Garou. The army needs to reach Nohr as soon as possible to save Hoshido from potential invasion. Corrin tries to negotiate a peaceful solution to get through without fighting, but Iago teleports in briefly and shoots a beam of fire at Sakura. Takumi rescues her from the attack, but it hits a Wolfskin. Keaton, leader of the tribe, angrily attacks the group, thinking one of their own was responsible for the murder. Corrin's army manages to escape and heads for a nearby abandoned castle to be used as a safe house for the time being since the troops need a break from the escape. Also, no Kaze death scene here. That was also stupid.

Once the group gets there, they find Flora and Felicia/Jakob (whoever did not go with Corrin at the start of Fates) inside the castle. The Nohrians had cast them away in anger, thinking they were working with Corrin, who had been branded a traitor. Flora offers to help them escape once they had recovered, but before they get the chance, Iago appears. One of his soldiers shoots an arrow at Hinoka, badly wounding her. The army fights back to protect Hinoka and Sakura, the latter of whom is healing Hinoka. After the fight, Iago teleports away, dropping a knife in the process.

Hinoka, now recovered from the shot, picks up the knife and begins to shake. Her siblings manage to calm her down. Once relaxed, she explains that the owner of the knife Spectre, now known to be Iago, was the one who killed Ikona. She recounts the murder of her birth mother and how she only saw the knife of the culprit and that this was the one. She also tells of the kidnapping incident where Iago dealt the first blow against Sumeragi and took Corrin, so Hinoka fired an arrow into his arm, scarring him. Now that she knew the identity of the man who had done so much to her family, Hinoka vowed to take revenge on Iago and kill him herself.

On their way to Nohr, the group stops at the Ice Tribe village, where Nohrian soldiers are waiting to fight them. Flora reveals that she must kill Corrin under the orders of Garon. Hesitantly, the army defeats her. Flora explains how Garon threatened to destroy the Ice Tribe if she didn't kill Corrin and says that she'll face death for failure. Not wanting to let Garon kill her, she stabs herself in the stomach with her dagger. With persuasion from Sakura, Felicia, and Corrin, Flora decides to become a rogue and defect to the Hoshidan army. Sakura heals her wound while saying how her people need her and that Flora can't just leave them to suffer without helping them. Flora agrees and promises to save her villagers after the war has ended.

Now on the homestretch to Windmire, the group encounters Leo. He fights them with a hoard of Faceless gifted to him by Iago. After the Faceless are defeated, Corrin asks Leo if he truly wants to fight. They had been wanting to get the Nohrian siblings with them for quite some time and saw this as a perfect opportunity to get Leo with them. After a bit of arguing over it, Leo cracks and reveals that he's sick of the fighting. Xander has grown distant, Camilla has slipped into depression, and Elise is considering running away from home to be with Corrin. Leo admits that he wants to join the army, but he needs to speak with Camilla about it first, so he leaves, telling Corrin that this will not be the last time they meet. Leo has found Garon's atrocities to be unforgivable and wants to put an end to them if he can.

Next, the group combats Camilla for a second time near Windmire. Camilla is defeated once again, but she admits that she has seen change in her father now that Corrin has mentioned it and wants to join the army to help him come to his senses. Camilla is tempted to join Corrin after this fight. Unfortunately, Camilla cannot do so since Elise has gone missing and she needs to find her. In truth, Elise has run away from Nohr to join Corrin in stopping the fighting once and for all, also having noticed a change in her siblings and father.

Exhausted from fighting both Leo and Camilla back to back, the group retreats to the Astral Plane. The peace is short-lived, as Hans has received power from Thalone to enter the Astral Plane. The army defends themselves from Hans and defeat him, which is when he dies, but he takes Lilith down with him. Lilith trusts that Corrin will win the war before dying in their arms. Angered and needing to avenge Lilith, Corrin goes on forwards, ready to defeat Garon once and for all.

With Lilith's sacrifice in the forefront of their mind, the group next fights Kotaro, who reveals himself to have escaped from the fighting in Mokushu. Saizo instantly recognizes him and vows that he will get revenge from his father's killing. Shura is already fighting them alone, needing his own revenge for the death of his kingdom of Kohga. He joins the group. A trio of masked fighters nearby also help out. The army is victorious and both Saizo and Kaze reach a satisfying conclusion with their father's murderer now dead himself. Elise appears after the fighting, asking to join Corrin. Seeing no safer option, Corrin allows her to tag along, though they internally promise to return her to Camilla as soon as possible since she was worried for Elise. Deep down, Corrin is excited that Elise has joined them and thinks that maybe their wish for peace will come to pass now that Elise has joined their side. Corrin thinks that Elise's switching of sides will persuade the other three Nohrian siblings to change sides.

The masked fighters reveal themselves to be Izana, Fuga, and Yukimura. Yukimura brings news that Mikoto was killed in her sleep by a mage with a scar on his arm. The group recognizes that it's none other than Iago, fueling their anger against him. The trio all join the fighting to win the war.

While the group is fighting Kotaro, Garon calls in Thalone. Garon is sensing that Camilla and Leo are slipping from his grasp, so he asks for Thalone to help him. Thalone reveals that he has been controlling Garon for quite some time, as Garon died much earlier on in the war in his sleep. Thalone offered Garon a second chance at life with his excess power just so long as they crushed Hoshido together. In truth, Thalone was going to watch Hoshido fall before killing Garon himself to get revenge on Nohr as well, though he doesn't mention this around Garon.

Garon calls in the three older Nohrian royals before having Thalone control them. He decides to use them to crush Corrin, knowing that they'll be unable to fight off three royals. Thalone tells him that it won't be just three, as he as a trump card hiding up his sleeve…

Next, the group combats Iago just outside the palace. He has a large number of Faceless with him, ready to kill Corrin. Iago recognizes Hinoka as the one who had scarred him all those years ago and prepares to fight the army to kill her. The group fights Iago in the minutes that follow. Hinoka gets her revenge on Iago, killing him after he's done so much to the Hosidan royals. Nobody cares that he died because he's awful.

Once the group enters the palace of Krakenburg, they are met by none other than Garon. Thalone is by his side. The possessed Nohrian royals are present as well. Thalone snaps his fingers, which makes Takumi begin to scream as he holds his head. Takumi ignites with the purple flames surrounding the Nohrian royals. Azura plans to sing to free them from the possession, but Garon badly injures her in the process, leaving her unable to fight. She passes out not long after from blood loss. The army battles with the four possessed royals, snapping Camilla, Leo, and Takumi out of it in the process. Thalone is killed in the battle. Now that Camilla and Leo have snapped out of their daze and know that Elise is safe, Corrin suspects that they will join their army, but they don't get the chance to ask.

Xander appears to be back to normal after the fight, but he suddenly goes back to being possessed and badly wounds Corrin. Before he can deliver the finishing blow, Elise jumps in the way. In her last moments, she tells her siblings how she loves him and asks for them to stop fighting. Xander, back to normal, follows Elise's wishes and lays down his sword to surrender to Hoshido. He begins to cry silently over how he killed his youngest sister. Camilla and Leo are both surprised by Elise's sudden death, but they still plan to surrender as well to end the war.

However, Garon isn't allowing this. He lashes out and throws his axe at Xander, killing him instantly, claiming Xander was a traitor. He collects his axe once again and tries to kill Camilla and Leo, but Corrin and Ryoma use the Yato and Raijinto respectively to keep the two safe. Angered with their father's behavior and killing of Xander, Camilla and Leo join Corrin to kill Garon. They realize that he's too far gone and that he must be eliminated for killing Xander. Camilla and Leo are units exclusive to the endgame, so you can recruit them, but just for the one chapter. In the end, Garon is defeated.

Garon's life is not the only one lost, however. Azura succumbs to her injuries and passes away, saying farewell to her siblings as she lay dying. She says how she loves them also before closing her eyes once and for all. The Hoshidans mourn for her loss and promise to establish a world of peace in her honor.

Leo is crowned king of Nohr after Camilla denies the chance to rule. Ryoma becomes king of Hoshido due to the death of Mikoto at Iago's hands. Both men agree to establish peace. Leo asks Ryoma for help in feeding his people as his ancestor had, but this time, an official agreement is passed. Both kingdoms enjoy an era of happiness and peace not seen in generations.

You have followed through to the end of the path of birthrights and love. However, you can't help but wonder what would have happened if your choice had been different…