STEP TWO: PROLOGUE

Our story begins in the Northern Fortress in Nohr. Corrin had been living there for eight years after the kidnapping. However, Corrin thought that instead the Nohrians had found them after they lost their memory and was eternally grateful, now living as a sibling to the Nohrian royals. It was lonely, but Corrin did have their retainers there to ease the pain. There was Jakob the butler, Flora and Felicia the maids, and Gunter the combat instructor. Lilith was a newer recruit who hadn't been around for very long but was already close friends with Corrin. A Nohrian soldier, one of Corrin's childhood friends named Silas, also dropped in from time to time.

Corrin wakes up to a combat lesson from Xander, the oldest prince of Nohr. Corrin and Xander duel for a little while before the latter is defeated. This acts as our prologue and introduction chapter. Xander then surprises Corrin, saying that their time in the Northern Fortress is over, as their father, King Garon, wants to see them at the palace to be released from the protective fortress to help fight in the Nohrian army against Hoshido. Excited, Corrin sets off to the palace in Windmire with Gunter and either Jakob or Felicia depending on the gender of Corrin. Lilith also tags along, if only to tend to the steeds they'll be riding to the capital.

Upon arriving, Corrin meets with Garon and briefly speaks with him about their knowledge regarding the war with Hoshido. Satisfied, Garon has a few guards bring in a pair of prisoners, these being Kaze and Rinkah. A few other Hoshidan soldiers accompany them. This chapter is mostly the same as the one in the game. After Kaze and Rinkah are down and defeated, Garon trusts that Corrin will kill them before leaving the room to attend a war meeting with Iago and Hans. Iago briefly appears before the meeting, greeting Corrin. Corrin briefly notes a scar on his arm but finds it rude to ask about it. Instead, Corrin waits for Iago and Garon to leave before hurriedly helping Kaze and Rinkah escape with Leo and Elise. Elise and Corrin both dislike the violent act of killing, so they persuade Leo to help them out. After the two are gone, Xander and Camilla appear and talk about the war for a little longer with Corrin. Corrin asks about the scar on Iago's arm, but none of them know much about it. What they do know is that it randomly appeared when Corrin was found, but no details are shared.

Not long after, Garon returns. He provides an official blade to Corrin, the Ganglari. Garon tells Corrin that he's been speaking with Hans and Iago about needing a fort evaluated on the border of Nohr and Hoshido. He sends Gunter, Hans, Corrin, and Jakob/Felicia to investigate if it's still in working order. Upon arrival, they find Saizo guarding the fort with a small troop of soldiers. Corrin tries to settle the matter peacefully, but Hans ends up attacking a soldier, killing him. This chapter is also mostly the same, but instead of killing the one guarding the fort (in this case Saizo), Corrin gives him the chance to retreat. Kagero appears not long after with Ryoma close behind to reinforce Saizo. In a panic, Hans attacks Gunter, knocking him unconscious. Everyone at the scene believes Gunter has died at the hands of Hans.

Next, Hans lashes out at Corrin and nearly kills them. However, Lilith appears behind Corrin and transports them to the Astral Plane, transforming into her dragon form permanently in the process. As an Astral Dragon, Lilith can freely move between the two planes of existence. Corrin wonders about this briefly but doesn't have much time for questions. Lilith tells her that it's time to return to the world of Nohr, as Corrin's siblings are undoubtedly worried about them. Corrin agrees and returns to the other side, though Lilith is unable to come due to her transformation. In this version, Lilith can transform back and forth between her draconic form and human form. As a human, she can use knives. But at this point in time, Lilith is unaware of how to turn back due to this being her first time. Her abilities were explained to her by Thalone, but how to turn back never came up. She does learn how to before Corrin returns to the Astral Plane though.

However, upon arriving back near the fort, Corrin ends up being captured by Saizo, who is back in control of the fort now that the Nohrians have retreated. Saizo is prepared to kill Corrin when Kaze appears alongside Rinkah, explaining to Saizo that this is the one who saved them from execution in Nohr. Saizo releases Corrin upon hearing them mutter their own name under their breath. Saizo has Kagero, who had been standing nearby the whole time, call in Ryoma. He had been in the area from the earlier Nohrian attack.

When he arrives, Ryoma recognizes Corrin and smiles, saying she needs to go to the capital of Shirasagi. Corrin is confused as to why the high prince isn't preparing their execution but follows along anyways despite their questions. Ryoma ends up finding Hinoka, who was running from a large faction of Faceless. They had appeared after Corrin and the Nohrians had arrived at the fort and had slipped by the defenses of the Hoshidan during the attempted invasion. Ryoma explains that the Faceless are conjured by Nohrian mages to attack Hoshidans on the border since the actual Nohrian soldiers are too focused on the war effort. Corrin ends up helping Rinkah, Kaze, Saizo, Kagero, and Ryoma break through to a surrounding Hinoka. This is our chapter four.

After fighting off the Faceless, Hinoka explains the situation behind Corrin's origin in Hoshido. Corrin tries to refute it, but Ryoma and Hinoka tell her to return with them to Shirasagi to speak with the queen and the remaining three royal children. Corrin goes along to learn what they're talking about.

Mikoto explains the truth to Corrin behind the kidnapping, but Corrin can't find the ability to care for her due to their memories being sealed away after the kidnapping. Corrin spends the next few days alone, befriending Azura in the process, as rumors circulate in Hoshido about a Nohrian spy being inside the palace. Much of this is the same as the game.

Mikoto plans to announce Corrin's return like in the game in the Shirasagi square. However, a robed figure appears from the shadows like in the game. Ganglari goes to their hands before exploding, killing many people in the area. However, instead of dying, Mikoto is just severely wounded and is escorted back to the palace by Yukimura. Corrin loses themselves to the anger and turns into a dragon for the first time and goes on a rampage, killing the invisible Vallite soldiers that have appeared while Ryoma duels with the mysterious hooded figure. This is chapter five, just like how it is in the game.

Not long after, Azura calms Corrin, who regains their memory of the kidnapping incident after turning back to normal. They see Sumeragi being stabbed by Iago and then killed by Garon. An arrow appears in their vision, shooting into Iago's arm just before Corrin passes out. Upon seeing this, Corrin realizes the truth to the claims of the Hoshidans but wants to know more about the Nohrians and their involvement in the incident. Saizo appears, stating that a large Nohrian force has gathered at the nearby border where he was patrolling. The royals all run off to defend their country from the invaders, but before leaving, Azura hastily gives Corrin the dragonstone passed down among the Vallite royals, knowing it would be better in their hands than in hers since she has much less draconic power than Corrin.

Note: Corrin does not receive the Yato here. That happens later.

Both the Nohrians and Hoshidans gather at the border. Now, the tensions of war are higher than ever before with the assassination attempt on Queen Mikoto. The Nohrian royals are at the border as well as the Hoshidan ones, so Corrin is forced to decide which end of the conflict to support. Corrin deliberates for quite some time before reaching a difficult choice...

- Defend Hoshido

- Fight with Nohr

- Refuse to choose a side

- Smash (kidding)