I can't remember the fate of Misheil, Minerva and Maria's mother, so in this she's alive but getting up in hears. If I'm wrong, my apologies. XD Also for the sake of logic pegasi don't actually become dragons when the riders promote.
I'm somehow ridiculously fond of Red Social Knight/Pegasus Knight pairings. Even the non-canon ones.
It's been a year since Abel left with the promise that he would return when he found Est, but no one's heard from either of them since. Kain has more or less accepted that his oldest and dearest friend isn't coming back, but some days it's painful just to remain in Altea, their cherished home.
One day Marth asks him to travel to Macedonia. Ever since the royal family has all but disbanded, the aging Queen is having trouble keeping the country on its feet even with the help of her daughters and many advisors. Kain eagerly accepts the task, it's what he needs to take his mind off Abel.
Or so he thinks. As soon as he arrives, white wings fill his vision and he's met with another reminder of his friend.
"Sir Kain!"
Paola. Once in love with Abel, she'd ultimately pushed her feelings aside for the sake of her sister's happiness. They exchange a stiff, formal handshake...and suddenly she's falling into his arms in tears, and as Kain holds her he realizes he's crying too. Maybe it's not a coincidence that she was the one to greet him.
After they've spent their sorrows, they go to speak with the Queen.
*
It's several months before Macedonia is strong, and in that time Kain realizes how close he's grown to Paola. What started as two people bound by their loss of one person has become a relationship based on so much more, and he's almost reluctant to leave. Paola smiles as she sees him off, and he promises he'll be back to see her again.
True to his word, he makes several visits to Macedonia over the next few years, and their love blossoms. One day he asks if she might ever want to marry him.
"Perhaps," she said, "but I cannot leave my Queen."
Five years after his first trip to Macedonia, Paola arrives at Altea's gates with full saddlebags and a smile on her face.
"The Queen has given me her leave," she says, rushing into his arms, and he kisses her. That night he asks her to marry him, and this time she says yes.
Abel and Est mysteriously return the next day. Everyone asks them a million questions, but all Abel will say is that "the time was finally right".