I was watching Nagapedia’s new video today; “Predicting When Every Fire Emblem Game Will Be Remade”. The title of that video is rather straightforward; talking about the viability of specific titles being unlikely vs. very likely; but at some point, they did discuss Three Houses; and how it was unlikely to receive a ground-up remake; but rather an enhancement port for Switch 2 handled by a third party company ala how ILCA brought Pokemon fans BDSP (for better or for worse). However; my weirdo ass brain wasn’t satisfied with that.
My weirdo ass brain wants a faux-golden route injected into a theoretical re-release for Three Houses. Not your momma’s Relevations-style golden route; where decades of strife between countries is thrown out just because the protagonist said so; but one that still bears the consequences of what has already happened and still goes on to happen in the story.
So my formal request: Hear me out; on a restructuring of the story of Three Houses; that is…well it’s basically the Fire Emblem equivalent of Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance.
The revision of the main story begins with the in-between events of the Prologue & Chapter 1. Instead of being asked to lead one of the classes by Rhea; Byleth is instead asked to act as a substitute/assistant teacher for all three; with their wards changing on a pseudo month-to-month basis; though with the privilege of choosing who they wish to support during specific story events. Perhaps the incentive for picking any one house during those chapters by the by; is you get a support-bomb with each of the students involved in that house.
Here’s how I’m thinking this theoretical line of chapters would go:
- Rivalry of the Houses: Player Choice
- Red Canyon Dominance: Black Eagles
- The Magdred Ambush: Blue Lions
- Assault at the Rite of Rebirth: Golden Deer
- The Gautier Inheritance: Blue Lions
- The Underground Chamber: Golden Deer
- Battle of the Eagle & Lion: Player Choice
- The Remire Calamity: Black Eagles
- Salvation at the Chapel: All Houses
- The Sealed Forest Snare: Player Choice
- Conflict at the Holy Tomb: All Houses; sans Edelgard & Hubert (obviously)
Each chapter as I’ve listed feels specific to each house for one matter or another. Chapters 2 & 8 going to the Black Eagles feel appropriate; as they are the chapters related to TWSITD; or their hired hands. Chapters 3 & 5 going to Blue Lions by practical default as they deal directly with the families of their students. That leaves Chapters 4 & 6 for Golden Deer; not by default; but because they involve you investigating the monastery - a task I feel Claude would jump at.
When it comes to the chapters I listed as “All Houses”; I would just mean that all students are available to you for that month; and you can choose who you would like to pick from each house to bring with you into that chapter. The “Player Choice” chapters for Rivalry of the Houses & Battle of the Eagle & Lion are obvious; but I would put The Sealed Forest Snare as one as well; a method of showing which house Byleth trusts the most in hunting their father’s killer.
Thus leading us into Conflict at the Holy Tomb. I’ve always felt that this chapter is weird for that fact the other two houses unchosen by the player just kinda…sit at the wayside. They aren’t curious about whatever Rhea is going to have Byleth do in the Holy Tomb; they just ignore it until it’s revealed that Edelgard has launched an assault. This way; we could have a cutscene variation of Dimitri’s breakdown; where both Claude & Byleth attempt to calm him; and both are pushed aside so he can have his aura farming moment.
Following this is the Battle for Garreg Mach. Since the only thing this theoretical fourth route would include as far as Edelgard-specific goes is her C+ Support with Byleth where she recounts her trauma; the player would obviously have to fight her again; but it’s in a manner similar to Silver Snow; where none of the Black Eagles have chosen to vouch for her except Hubert; but also Petra as a unique twist. Since she is attending the academy under special transfer from Brigid; Edelgard perhaps threatens Brigid in order for her to fall in line.
And at the end of this chapter; Byleth is…kept in the story instead of being thrown into random FE Canyon #384. The timeskip of 5 years still occurs; but we don’t go effectively comatose for it. Perhaps they briefly depart from the front lines; choosing to lead Jeralt’s Mercenaries and think about how for them specifically - while that year in the Academy was the source of good memories; it was also one of great strife and loss. Byleth feels they failed as a teacher; but also as the child of their father. Alois perhaps is the one to see this and steps away from the Monastery as well; choosing to join the Mercenary Troupe to keep an eye on Byleth; though asking the church protect his family in these perilous times - a request that I feel Rhea & Seteth would accept.
5 Years pass and Alois reminds Byleth - who has had their ever so brief split from the story to calm themselves - of their promise to their students. To return to the Monastery when the Millennium Festival would have occurred. Byleth makes the decision to return; and the Reunion At Dawn-esque chapter sees Byleth, Alois, and a small horde of Mercenaries fighting Imperial Troops in order to return to the Monastery.
You return to the Monastery successfully; and Byleth reunites with the monastery staff & students of the Black Eagle house (once again, sans Edelgard & Hubert for obvious reasons); before being joined by all of Blue Lions except for Dimitri (Who is still rocking his bloodthirsty homeless era) and Dedue (who supposedly died protecting Dimitri during the 5 year skip) as well. All of the students, now grown adults; are ecstatic to see Byleth again; and Byleth is likely given access back to the Sublime Creator Sword (which I feel Rhea would demand the church keeps in exchange for letting Byleth leave 5 years prior).
However, similar to Silver Snow, Azure Moon, and Verdant Wind; Rhea had been kidnapped during the timeskip; leading to Seteth being the one to make that decision and also be the de-facto leader of the Church.
It is at this point that Chapter 14 happens. With this being a nearly identical chapters across all routes; it’s easy enough to combine this into one. As the Imperial Troops descend on the Monastery; hearing of the “Resistance Army” created of Monastery Staff and what remains of the Black Eagles & Blue Lions; Dimitri appears amidst the conflict as a Green Unit, going absolutely ham on Imperial Troops and more or less accidentally-ing his way into a reunion. He’s still a bit loose in the noggin; believing the dead are speaking to him; but he no longer believes Byleth is among their leagues like he does at the start of Azure Moon.
Dimitri is encouraged to stay at the Monastery; and while he vehemently denies at first; the Blue Lions are able to convince him to stay; though he only says it is “Until his next hunt of imperial troops begins”. Eventually, word of the Resistance spreads across all of Fodlan and not just Adrestia; leading to us getting in contact with Claude; and Felix specifically with Rodrigue. This brings us to Chapter 15; taking place in the Valley of Torment.
As we enter the Valley of Torment to join Faerghus Reinforcements led by Rodrigue and Alliance Troops led by Judith; we are attacked by the Imperial Troops led by Gwendal. Clearing this chapter splits our teams; as Byleth, the Monastery Staff, and the Black Eagles move forward to Deirdre but with an army their size; needing to cross the Great Bridge of Myrddin; while Dimitri & the Blue Lions return to the Monastery (The Fargheus Reinforcements + Rodrigue also head this way)
With the Great Bridge occupied by the Imperial Troops - and Acheron’s sect of the Alliance turned traitor - we end up provoking the chapter fight to cross towards Derdriu. About halfway through; Lorenz shows up with not-so-surprise guest Dedue; with his story being altered that he was gravely injured; and it was Leicester that was responsible for his care; leading to him now appearing in a search for Dimitri. With them in alliance with us; the Imperial Troops are crushed; and we’re able to pass safely through to Derdriu; though now accompanied by double-agent Fleche.
As we arrive in Derdriu, here is when we are rejoined by the Golden Deer; as well as Claude; who all express grief over not being able to keep their initial promise regarding meeting at the Monastery; but are still ecstatic to see Byleth. It is at this point we are told that Edelgard, Hubert, and Petra lead Imperial Troops towards the Monastery; and Dimitri & Kingdom Army are riding to Gronder Field to halt their advance; so we all quickly ride to back up our path in order to rejoin all of our quirky characters on Gronder Field.
With Dedue no longer present in the Blue Lions at this point; our objective for Blood of the Eagle & Lion map is to have Dedue meet with Dimitri & Rodrigue instead of for everybody to be routed. Once this happens; Edelgard sees that the Imperial Army is quickly outnumbered; and moves to retreat - with the battle properly ending once she, Hubert, and Petra have either escaped the map or the classic “I have been beaten, but I cannot fall here!” retreat.
Once this has happened; Fleche moves to kill Dimitri; has her knife blocked by Rodrigue’s chest; and Rodrigue gives Dimitri; along with later Byleth in that scene that once upon a time made me cry like a baby; his reason to fight and properly ends his Bloodthirsty Hobo phase. With the armies of the Church, Fargheus, and Leicester all aligned perfectly; the stage is set for Dimitri’s return to Fargheus.
So Byleth, Dimitri, and the Blue Lions now moves for Arianrhod; while Claude & Seteth move everybody else for Fort Merceus; though at a slower pace under the idea that “If we split up the army into two; we can attack Merceus from 2 sides”; making the Impenetrable Fortress seem a little more…penetrable. However, as the story goes; we revive Fargheus in a chapter announcing Dimitri’s return; and then immediately move for Merceus to meet the Death Knight in battle for the…fourth time in the story I wanna say.
Fort Merceus is then besieged by both the Kingdom Army led by us & Dimitri from the North; and Seteth, Claude, and the Resistance Army from the South. The chapter proceeds mostly as normal; however our favorite asshole Thales shows up after the Death Knight is defeated to immediately make due on his warning; nuking Merceus; trying to take all of us with.
It is at this point where the story would enter what I’d call the endgame chapters. We return to the Monastery, only to find Edelgard, Hubert, and Petra waiting there with Rhea - but no Imperial Troops to be seen or heard of. It seems that Fort Merceus was their own distraction for TWSITD; and they used it to sneak away from Enbarr with Rhea.
Before our very eyes; Edelgard announces her surrender and acceptance of punishment over what she has done under one formal plea; kill all remaining members of TWSITD. She explains everything that we could not have physically learned through the storyline thus far; and frees Rhea then and there - using Dimitri’s dagger - which also opens that scene from Blue Lions of them discussing their history. This is also where Hubert discloses the location of Shambhala.
As all party heads are there to discuss; Byleth, Rhea, Seteth, Dimitri, and Claude all break down what they believe to be the proper course of action. Rhea & Seteth are opposed to accepting Edelgard’s surrender; though still intend to deal with TWSITD; while Dimitri & Claude are in the camp to accept Edelgard’s surrender and deal with TWSITD.
It is here that the Player is awarded, for all their effort, one final choice. Choosing how the epilogue after the final two chapters will go. Choosing to deny Edelgard’s conditional surrender alongside Rhea & Seteth will imprison Edelgard & Hubert, with Petra being only allowed to join the final chapters as an adjutant; or choose to accept Edelgard’s conditional surrender with Dimitri & Claude - which would allow you to use Edelgard, Hubert, and Petra all as proper units in the final chapters. I did describe this as a sort of SMTV:V to Three Houses; but it’s not like Rhea & Seteth / Dimitri & Claude would turn on you here btw. Either party would accept the outcome; even if it is not their favored one.
Regardless of what choice you make here; the next target is Shambhala. You make your way there; and the chapter plays out all but basically exactly like it does in SS/VW; but however; when you open the door to Thales’ room; he retreats immediately - ending the map if you’ve routed the entire place or changing the “Defeat Boss” to “Rout Enemy” if you hadn’t.
As you go deep beneath Shambhala, to a place that not even Hubert could have suspected existed; you are given one final chapter. A re-enactment of the opening scene from the original game. Thales has revived Nemesis & the Ten Elites; and they are ready and armed with the darkened copies of the Relics. Rhea dons the armor she is seen in during Crimson Flower; and joins your army as your Gotoh-archetypal for the game.
As your army faces down the final opponents standing in your way; whether it’s with Edelgard & Hubert or not; you bring victory to Fodlan - and bring an end to Those Who Slither In The Dark.
The ending here then either details Edelgard being executed for her crimes during the story; or deposed of her royal status; depending on what the player made for their final story relevant choice. The curtains come to a close; and my version of Three Houses ends.
Sorry that this likely came across as one massive rant that is likely very easy to lose ones place in; but my brain wanted to final put this pen to paper. Or well, keyboard to website; I guess would be more accurate.
If you bothered to read everything? Or even if you didn’t. Thank you for at least scrolling all the way to bottom. I’d love to hear your thoughts of my “idealized” version of Three Houses’s story; even if you just take one fat dump on it.