The hell I just read... what... w-wait a minute... whaaaat?

I don't even...

Well, for starters, I should thank you for translating this. I was always wondering why the heck Claus was wheelchair-bound in Fam, but the reason is... underwhelming, to say the least. I guess I should go point-by-point:

Dio and Lucciola: If it weren't obvious enough already, this just basically confirms that Dio is gay. And I am absolutely fine with that.

Claus: It's already been established that he is selfless and self-sacrificing. But I doubt even Claus would go so far as arrange a duel with Dio with the intention of ending up in a live-threatening position just to snap him out of his mind-fuckery. Also, it runs counter to his intentions of being Al and Lavie's protector. Speaking of Lavie...

Lavie: Of all of main characters in this story, she was perhaps the most out of character. Seriously, it took her five months to start worrying about Claus? In the series proper, he's gone for a day or two and she gets worried sick. And it is also incredibly unlikely she would have just let him run back off to Prester by himself. She would have either tried to talk him out of it, or would have went with him.

David Mad-Thane: A completely pointless death. The author could have easily created a throwaway character to be a victim, but no.

The Timeline: Makes absolutely no bloody sense. Of course, if this was conceived of before Fam was even a concept, then it would make slight sense. However, I don't see why it wasn't just simply rewritten to tie-in with the new canon. Also, where the heck does Travelers of the Hourglass fit into all of this? Or the image from the art-book that shows Dio walking towards the everyone doing laundry? The supplementary materials just make a bloody mess of chronology. Also, as pointed out, it couldn't possibly have been Dio's birthday with the time that already elapsed in-story.

Dio's actions being so easily forgiven: With the seeming exception of Tatiana (whom doesn't really like Dio that much anyway), everyone seems perfectly fine with his actions, even taking into account if he was brainwashed and crazy. I mean, sure, perhaps Claus, Lavie, and Alvis would forgive him, as they understand that he was mind-fucked by perhaps the craziest bitch in all anime. But the families of the guards? I just don't see it happening. For starters, they don't know Dio personally. To them, he was just another Guild assassin. And even if Sophia officially pardoned him, such an action would have probably been cause for division, which is very unlikely if she was trying to get people all aboard the "Immigrate to Earth" platform.

Coci, Apis and Ros: Okay, for starters, I forgot that they even existed in the show proper. But even then, in their appearance in the show, they were clearly in favor of Delphine being killed. So the complete 180 is completely flabbergasting. And then Ros. By the Waters of the Great Lake, where do I even begin with her? Sure, she bears a striking resemblance to Lucciola, besides, you know, the side-tail and THE TITS. Even if Dio was brainwashed, I'm sure that spending months with his head in her lap would have sooner or later wondered how Lucciola suddenly became a girl. Or why he didn't feel a slight bulge in that skin-tight Guild outfit. But still... TITS.

Things I liked: MullinxDunya OTP forever. I was slightly disappointed they didn't at least make a cameo in Fam. Whatev, Babies ever after. Also, Vincent being badass. If he didn't already show up in Fam, he would have probably died as well. His death in the story would have made it TOO contradictory with the established timeline. And as mentioned, Dio is now for all intents and purposes canonically gay, at least for Lucciola.

In conclusion, though I like aspects of the story, it just doesn't jive well at all with the rest of the series. I would have preferred a longer story, not too long, but long enough where it didn't seem rushed, which this story definitely feels like. I always assumed Claus got injured in a horrible Vanship accident (which, given his love of flying, would have made more sense). Also, it would have provided the perfect setup to resolve the Lavie-Claus-Tatiana Triangle: having had a horrific crash, Lavie resolves to take care of him. Tatiana, realizing that Lavie can do much more for Claus on the personal and emotional level then she possibly could, leaves him in her care, and goes on to pursue a career in the Vanguard as the Captain of the Silvius.In other words, it would have been resolved as a case of "I want my Beloved to be Happy". Doubtless she would still have feelings for him, but it would probably be of a form closer to platonic, which fits her character better anyway.

Anyway, I shall now dismount my soapbox. Thanks again for the translation.