A Fate Averted
DISCLAIMER: The Vision of Escaflowne is not legally mine. If it was, Folken and Eries would have been together.
NOTE: This marks the end of this crazy multi-chapter mega-oneshot crackfic. Hope you liked it nevertheless.
Just a crazy idea that started from the whole "what if Eries had somehow saved Folken ten years ago" which evolved into this silly thing, probably because there aren't enough Folken/Eries stories to suit my fancy.
I am not naming their kids. I'm really bad at giving names to original characters. This is, after all, just an epilogue. So let's just leave it at the fact that there are little Aston-Fanels running around.
This bit is actually the comedic part, the part where I kind of not make the conflict of the series happen. That's why it's a crackfic, after all. It was so much fun to not so subtly insert some of my political comments and other crazy ideologies into this mix. This is not the Gaea we have known.
Still, I hope you somehow enjoyed this piece and I would dearly love a review.
EPILOGUE
"Sister!"
Millerna smiled cheerfully as she alighted from the levi-ship. It was not her first visit to Fanelia since her sister's marriage but she always eagerly looked forward to seeing her family there.
The youngest princess was greeted eagerly by her nephew and niece, who tugged at her skirt excitedly. The flustered aunt held their hands affectionately and allowed herself to be led to their mother, who welcomed her sister with a warm embrace.
As it turned out, it only three years for King Aston to think better of his second daughter. He retracted her banishment and allowed Millerna to visit her sister in Fanelia. The reasons were not exactly clear, but there were many theories on why the stubborn old king changed his mind.
First was the decline of the Zaibach Empire, and the eventual descent into madness of Emperor Dornkirk, all of whose plans were frustrated by his lack of competent scientists and diplomats. His four generals had taken a very aggressive stance against the other countries, which Asturia, Daedalus, and other allies refused to honor.
Folken had spoken in an international council earlier, warning against Zaibach's desire for war and violence, and urging the allies to see through Dornkirk's deception. While the king of Fanelia had acknowledged the nobility of the emperor's motives, Folken still argued against using war as a way of ending war. He seemed strangely enlightened and so passionate about his purpose, that the leaders of the other nations paid attention.
What contributed to his influence was the support of many of his friends who agreed with his ideas. There were merchants like Dryden Fassa, who understood that war was never a profitable undertaking. The Duke of Freid likewise stood by the young king, and not just because they were linked by marriage.
Another ally was the Heavenly Knight Allen Schezar who always had suspicions about Zaibach ever since a wounded dog-man soldier showed up at the knight's door, having rescued Allen's younger sister from a terrible fate. The stranger did not live long enough to give the details of what happened, and the young girl seemed not to remember what had happened to her. But Allen somehow sensed Zaibach was Celena Schezar's kidnapping.
It also helped that Fanelia was a shining example of how peaceful ways of ruling could still bring about great prosperity and progress. Folken, who had a natural knack for the scientific arts, focused on developing technology to help people. And with his wife's excellent administrative and diplomatic skills to complement his own, the so-called backwater flourished.
Meanwhile, lacking a skilled and organized Strategos, advanced military technology, and a competent army, Zaibach struggled and fell. Dornkirk supposedly went mad and spent the rest of his days muttering about some "missing elements" crucial to his plans, and lamenting a fate averted. No one really understood what he meant so he spent his final days in frustrated isolation.
More and more leaders of Gaea were seeing the sense in Folken's way of running a country. And others admired him enough for being someone worthy of the love of the most sensible princess of Asturia.
Recognizing all the political benefits of acknowledging his son-in-law and receiving some pressure from other leaders as well, King Aston retracted Eries' banishment, restored her inheritance, and openly welcomed her marriage.
But some also said that the king, for all his appearance of sternness, missed his daughter, and regretted his decision made in anger and resentment. The Aston family was duly reconciled and the sisters frequently visited each other.
After Marlene's death, Millerna would take every opportunity she could to visit Eries in Fanelia. As much as she loved Prince Chid, Millerna was more comfortable in the company of Eries' husband than Marlene's. It also helped that Folken encouraged her to pursue her study of medicine, even if Eries was initially doubtful of this. The older sister eventually supported her as well and Millerna was thankful.
She also became a great friend of Prince Van, who proved to be an excellent swordsman. But lately, he was plagued by strange visions, of a girl seemingly from the Mystic Moon. He and his brother did not know what to make of these, and Balgus dismissed such thoughts as crazy fantasies, but the dreams continued. Van often wondered if he would ever meet the mysterious girl.
Folken and Eries were happier than ever, never anticipating such favorable circumstances to befall them. Their family continued to grow just as Fanelia continued to prosper under their care. Never once did they regret their decision to pursue their love. Their efforts continuously rewarded them.
All was well in Gaea, and as each year passed, the shadow of war faded further and further away.
Much of the world's fate seemed to have changed dramatically all because one day ten years ago, a headstrong princess decided to meddle in an ancient dragon-slaying ritual.