Recap of the Birthright branch of Fire Emblem Fates.
Xander attacks Corrin, but Ryoma intervenes, fighting off the Nohrian Crown Prince. Eventually, the Hoshidans drive off Xander and his siblings. The battle proves to be one of the hardest Corrin has had to fight in his life, and the trials ahead would be more grueling still, but he cannot turn back from the path he has taken. With his family in Hoshido, and Azura, on his side, he would defeat Garon and end the war between Hoshido and Nohr.
There is no time to rest, however: a group of Nohrian soldiers arrive to rain the building! Leading them is a cavalier named Silas, who claims Corrin was his best friend as a child. At first, Corrin has no memory of Silas. After defeating Silas in combat, however, the knight leaves himself at Corrin's mercy: after describing how he helped Corrin sneak out of the castle one day for a picnic, and how Corrin saved Silas from being executed afterwards, Silas proclaims that his friendship to Corrin is worth more than his own life.
Corrin remembers the picnic, and finally recognizes Silas. He enlists Silas's aid in his war against King Garon. He is pressed into service soon after, when word reaches Corrin that Ryoma and Takumi have gone missing! Joined by one of Ryoma's retainers whom Corrin met at the Bottomless Canyon, the ninja Saizo, and a diviner who once served Queen Mikoto, Orochi, Corrin sets out to find his brothers.
This places Corrin in a precarious position with the Wind Tribe. He elects to proceed directly to the Wind Tribe to resolve matters with them, rather than sneak around. As expected, they are set upon by Wind Tribesmen under the command of the village's chieftan, Fuga.
Joined by Hinoka and her retainers, the lackadaisical archer Setsuna and the air-headed monk Azama, Corrin tests his mettle against Fuga. After the battle, Fuga reveals he had been testing Corrin to see if he was worthy to wield the Yato, and through their fight, recognized the earnestness of Corrin's efforts. One worthy to wield the Yato, which would link the power of the Seal of Flames and bring about the end of the war, would not attack innocents without reason.
As a show of goodwill to Corrin and his group, Fuga sends his son, a prodigious diviner named Hayato, along with him to explore the world outside the Wind Tribe.
As the battle turns in Corrin's favor, Zola attempts to escape, but is halted by Leo, who, knowing Zola's corruption, plans to execute him where he stands. Corrin manages to convince Leo to spare him, but Leo warns Corrin that he is still a traitor and that he would show no quarter when next they met.
As thanks for rescuing him, Izana offers to aid Corrin by telling him that Ryoma and Takumi's battles had lead them to the Bottomless Canyon. He also tells Corrin's fortune, which seems less than helpful at first, but Azura recognizes the fortune as lyrics from a song her mother taught her...
They are suddenly ambushed by ninja from the region, the Mokushujin. Their leader, Kotaro, had formed an alliance with Nohr, with Garon promising more territory for Mokushu after the war.
During the battle Takumi appears. He turns his Fujin Yumi on Corrin and the others, however, acting like a man possessed! Azura, noticing something strange about Takumi's eyes, sings to him, using the magic in her music to dispel the curse possessing him and return him to his senses.
The party emerges victorious over the Mokushujin, and in the process, rescue Kagero, Saizo and Kaze's fellow ninja and a retainer for Ryoma. Kagero has important information about Ryoma's whereabouts: after hearing of civil strife in the Nohrian territory of Cheve, Ryoma traveled there. Nothing is known of him after that point, but it is the best lead Corrin has had since his journey began. The party set off for a port, so that they can get to Cheve quickly by sea.
The group learns from one of the dancers that make Cyrkensia famous, Layla, that Garon was present to watch a performance! She can't perform, however, due to worry over her ailing mother. Azura offers to perform in her stead, giving her a key opportunity to strike a blow against Garon while he is present and vulnurable. Zola offers to use his magic to create an illusion that would make Azura appear to Nohrians as Layla.
In the opera house where King Garon is present, Azura sings the song that she had used to aid Corrin and Takumi before, this time with such power that it causes Garon a great deal of pain. Garon, however, finds Corrin. As it turns out, there was a mole amongst them: Zola! Zola, having started to develop a conscience, begs Garon to spare Corrin, but is struck down by the heartless king!
With Nohrian soldiers surrounding them quickly, Corrin is left with no choice but to escape. Xander chases after Corrin, but Elise, still believing in her beloved brother, stops him, giving Corrin the chance he needs to run.
After the battle, something seems amiss with Azura: she seems to be in a great deal of pain. She hides her pain from Corrin, however, and reminds him they must still find Ryoma.
Both are chased off by Ryoma, disguised as a civlian, and Scarlet, the leader of the Chevois rebels.
They arrive at a massive wall protecting Nohr's territory, guarded by several thousand troops. They manage to break through, but that night, Corrin finds Azura alone. Her body is covered in violet splotches, and she is in great pain. As it turns out, Azura is under a powerful curse, one that affects her whenever she sings her mother's song in combination with her pendant's power. Even though it causes great pain, though, that power would be needed to defeat Garon. Corrin asks Azura not to needlessly endanger herself with her curse.
As Corrin and his party make their way through, they are attacked by Wolfskins lead by Keaton. Corrin tries to explain that he is simply trying to pass through without incident, and it appears that Keaton is convinced. A dark magic attack suddenly slays one of the Wolfskin, however, causing Keaton to believe Corrin was trying to trick them and kill them.
Tragically, the Wolfskin are wiped out in the battle, Corrin having no choice but to kill them lest he be killed.
Corrin and company arrive in Macarath, a town that appears to be deserted. Takumi has come down with a strange illness unique to the region, one that could prove fatal if left untreated. The one hope for Takumi to survive is with medicine from the apothecary at Palace Macarath.
Within the palace, the group encounter Felicia's sister, Flora. She explains that after Corrin left the Northern Fortress, the hired help were sent away, with Flora re-assigned to Macarath. She offers to give the medicine they need to save Takumi and help them sneak out.
Unfortunately, Iago is waiting for them. In the battle that follows, Iago confirms that Corrin's party has a traitor. After he escapes, Flora gets the medicine that Takumi desperately needs, helping him to recover. Flora offers Corrin refuge in her homeland, the Ice Tribe's village.
Unfortunately, Flora has lead Corrin and his party into an ambush! Ice Tribesmen, lead by Flora, attack Corrin. Flora tries to convince Felicia to help her defeat Corrin, but Felicia refuses, having seen Garon's atrocities firsthand.
After Corrin defeats her, Flora reveals that Garon threatened to raze her village and kill her if she refused. Having betrayed Corrin and her kin, there is only one thing left for her to do: in a final show of defiance against Garon, she immolates herself.
In the battle, Corrin reveals his love and respect for Leo: even though they are of different lineages and alliances, he still considers him a dear brother. Leo eventually relents: although he cannot join Corrin, he tells him that if he truly seeks to defeat Garon, he must travel to Notre Sagesse. There, he would meet the Rainbow Sage, a philosopher whom Xander visited many years ago who gifted him with great power. Because Notre Sagesse is so far away, Leo teleports Corrin and his friends there to save time.
The treck up to the top of the Sevenfold Sanctuary is treacherous and wrought with powerful illusory enemies, but Corrin manages to make it. There, he finds the old man he had met before, who is the actual Rainbow Sage! He offers to unlock some the power of the Seal of Flames within the Yato by drawing some strength from Takumi's Fujin Yumi, transforming the sacred sword into the Noble Yato. With this new power, Corrin returns to Nohr...
The party manages to escape from Fort Dragonfall, but the curse is taking its toll on Azura's body. The true extent of the curse is revealed to Corrin: the more power Azura puts into her magical song, the more the curse ravages her. If she uses too much power, she would die! Azura promises Corrin that, though the song is needed to defeat Garon, she would be cautious and not put herself in danger needlessly.
Meanwhile, Corrin and company are sailing towards the capital. Messages from Hoshido have revealed the situation there is deteriorating. As if matters couldn't get any worse, the only way to the capital now is through Demon's Fall, a waterfall made of fire!
Golems appear to attack Corrin. He fends them off and, through a cave, manages to help the boat arrive in Windmire, the capital of Nohr!
The group is attacked by one such outlaw, Shura. The group capture him and are about to kill him, but Azura has him spared, since his knowledge as a thief could help them sneak into Castle Krakenburg. When Ryoma reveals himself, however, Shura reveals that he is actually a ninja from the village of Kohga, which had been exterminated by Mokushu. Having been displaced following Kohga's fall, he wound up in Nohr and became an outlaw to survive. With Ryoma here, however, he offers his aid.
Shura guides Corrin and his group to an underground market, what Shura calls the "real" Nohr, free from the prying eyes of royals and spies. There, they find Elise, disguised as a flower girl. Elise explains that Nohr has deteriorated since Corrin left. Even Garon seems different, something Xander has noticed.
Corrin manages to defeat Iago, who begs for his life, claiming to be possessed as well. Leo appears and, disgusted with Iago's cruelty and cowardice, executes him. He cautions Corrin that Xander is waiting for him nearby. Although he cannot help Corrin, Leo offers to stand aside and let Corrin do what he must.
...but at the last second, Elise throws herself inbetween them, taking a fatal blow. With her dying breath, she begs Xander to try and be at peace.
With Elise dead, Xander becomes ever more determined to settle the score between himself and Corrin.
The two duel, and in the end, Corrin emerges victorious. As Xander dies in his arms, he regails Corrin with memories of a more pleasant life before the war, along with Elise, Camilla, and Leo. He regrets that, as High Prince, he never had the choice to join Corrin when he sided with Hoshido, nor could he lead the world to peace. Just before passing on, he entrusts Corrin with the task of ending the war, however he feels is necessary, and bringing peace to the land.
Just as all hope seems lost, however, Ryoma's Raijinto begins to glow. It resonates with the Yato, transforming it into its final form: the Blazing Yato.
Corrin manages to defeat Garon with the Blazing Yato...or so it seems. Garon revives as a monstrous dragon, and lands a fell blow upon Corrin!
When Corrin asks if he is dead, Xander tells him that he isn't...yet. If he so chose, he could remain in the hereafter with those he had lost in the war, or return to the land of the living and help his allies who still draw breath. As they speak, Garon relentlessly attacks Corrin's friends. Corrin can hear his friends calling out to him, trying to revive him.
Corrin makes his decision to return and end the war once and for all. He says his final farewells to his friends and family in the afterlife before returning to the real world, awakening and ready to fight Garon.
Azura begins to sing her song, pouring all of her power into her pendant to weaken Garon.
At long last, Garon is defeated. As the dark king laments that he was already dead, Corrin's friends celebrate. Unfortunately, it is a victory that comes at great cost: Azura had used so much power in her last song that the curse would kill her. As her body vanishes, leaving no trace of her ever existing in this world, she begs Corrin to smile. Corrin vows to make good of his promise, to bring peace to his world.
The war between Hoshido and Nohr comes to a close, and the two kingdoms make peace, with Hoshido helping Nohr in its reconstruction. Camilla and Leo attend Ryoma's coronation and vow to help make the world a peaceful place as the new rulers of Nohr, for Xander and Elise's sake.
Corrin looks out on a lake during the festivities, his thoughts turning to Azura, who appears before him but for a brief moment.
The day after, Corrin joins his family in Hoshido as Ryoma vows to carry on Mikoto's legacy of peace.
