AuthorNotes: I've decided as compensation for having only two chapters instead of three or four, I'll do four requests (since there are four people reviewing). So claim your request by Friday night! Any pairing, any prompt for FF3.

Warnings: Eh, nothing more than Refia being a loon. Okay, maybe a wee bit of OOCness…and by 'wee bit' I mean enough to feed an overweight wailmer for a week, if OOCness were edible, that is. This one's also a bit weirder than the last & comes to a whole page in length.

Pairings: IngusLuneth, methinks…

Rating: G-K+

Notes: Part two, but while it does make sense to read the other one first, they're separated enough that it doesn't really matter.

28 Planning Ahead

By the end of it all Arc had decided that if all girls were this crazy, then he was very glad not to be one. He and Refia practiced for a week just to make sure all of their magic was right. Arc was used to causing as much damage as possible with his magic, which was the opposite of what was needed for Refia's big plan (Arc was sure it out-plotted anything Xande could come up with).

Refia set the plan in motion by informing Luneth and Ingus that she and Arc were going into the nearest town for some potions. She had specifically chosen this moment, because after much study (a whole week!) this was around the time Luneth and Ingus got tired of sparring and sat at the fire to rest until they all went to sleep.

Three first-degree burns, a few aeros, and a chocobo later, Ingus was beginning to suspect something. This meant the plan was not going as planned. Ingus had flat-out refused to heal Luneth, as well as being generally irritated at the oddly-behaved wind.

Arc was the first to be caught, and called out for Refia's help, drawing her out of hiding as well. She instantly began to panic, blurting out all sorts of random things, "…no, no, don't hurt us! It wasn't my fault! It was the chocobo, it was umm…"

Ingus casted a thunder spell on both of them, doing very little damage, as Refia and Arc were both very skilled mages, but having the desired effect of calming both of them down. He grabbed Refia's hood and the back of Arc's robe and spoke, "Talk slowly. What do you hope to achieve by burning Luneth and trying to drive us mad with all of the wind?"

Refia replied first, a bit nervously, but doing her best to put on an innocent expression, "Well, you see, I was grooming the chocobo, and Arc came up with this big plan to get you and Luneth together, and obviously it failed, but I was just on my way back from town, honest!"

"Refia's lying! That's not fair! You came up with the plan, I just told you to keep the other stuff a secret," Arc shot back.

Luneth, having recovered from the light burns with a potion, came over to the argument. "Now, now children, calm down, one at a time," he replied, grinning mockingly.

"Yes, mommy-Luneth," Refia said innocently, nudging Arc to get him to play along.

Luneth jumped back. "I'm not your mother!" he exclaimed indignantly.

At first he was confused, but Arc began to see what Refia was trying, and contributed by saying, "Make daddy put us down!"

Ingus dropped both of the light warrior mages, choosing to stand back and glare menacingly.

Arc silently pleaded for Luneth to join in the game, to which Luneth flat-out refused until Refia began casting Aero again. He gladly joined their little game after that. "Ingus, honey, stop glaring at the children."

Ingus turned faintly pink (a blush of anger, not embarrassment, honestly!) and dragged Luneth off, while telling Arc and Refia that, "All good children should be in bed already."

Later Luneth would swear that that spot on his neck was a bruise. Refia knew better of course, and quickly began plotting for the next match-up: Arc and Alus.