Father's day is over, meh.

Ah, well.

FINAL FANTASY III/THREE/3 AND THE CHARACTERS DEPICTED (Except Drogan and 'Noah') DO NOT BELONG TO ME.

CAREFREE CELEBRATIONS

"The Grand Magus and the Master Smith have come, your highness." The guard's voice boomed inside the throne room. Sara sat on the throne with as much elegance that she could muster whilst Ingus stood erect and unwavering beside her, his right hand resting on the hilt of his sword "Send them in." Sara muttered, earning her a bow from the guard.

The guard went outside and nodded "The Queen shall see you now." Arc audibly gulped and tried to fix his clothes, earning him a snort from Refia "Don't worry, she isn't the type to be all formal and you know that." The redhead smiled, going inside before being followed by an awkward Arc.

"They're you're friends!" Sara furrowed her brows "You don't have to act all 'milord' or 'milady' and all that jazz!" The Queen huffed, pulling at Ingus' arm even further "Yes, yes. I understand." The blond muttered through grit teeth "Now, could you perhaps, let go of me, your highness?" Sara let go of Ingus' arm and removed her foot from his cheek "Agh! Stop calling me that!"

Ingus stood up from the ground and brushed the dirt off his clothes and face "But your highness-" Sara screamed in irk, pulling at her hair "What did I just say?"

"S-sorry." The blond pursed his lips, earning him a raised brow "Sorry what?" Ingus sighed in defeat and lowered his face "Sorry… Sara." The Queen hugged him tightly and giggled "You know I could never stay angry at you~"

"Ahem." Refia cleared her throat, trying to hide her grin and increasing amusement "Ah!" Sara let go of Ingus, who fell to the ground "Refia! How have you been?" She smiled, clasping her arms around the redhead's "I've been doing good, thanks."

"I don't remember her being that… strong." Arc offered an arm towards the blond, who accepted it happily "She's been insistent in learning something else rather than White Magic." Ingus looked displeased "And what is she training to become?" The brunet asked carefully, knowing well that the blond is not too fond of the princess; I mean queens, choice in Job change.

"A Black Belt." The blond looked as if his soul had left his body "S-she didn't turn into a Monk first?" Arc asked incredulously, earning him a huff from Ingus "She's already mastered the ways of the Monk." The brunet felt his jaw drop "A-and she can still do White Magic, yes?" The blond gulped audibly, nodding slowly.

The two men looked on in fear at Sara; such a beautiful and delicate person at first glance, Arc thought. With Ingus here in Sasune, why else would they need a defensive garrison? They've already got the Queen and her bodyguard. Then a mischievous thought struck Arc and he couldn't help but grin to himself.

"So I suppose you're King now, hm?" Ingus choked on his own spit and looked at the brunet incredulously "What?!" Arc smiled nervously, shaking his hands "Well, seeing as how Sara is queen and that you're married to her and all-" The blond's eye twitched and he choked on his own words "I-I am not- Sara is not- Married- What?"

Ingus shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose "Let me indulge you on a little 'secret'." Arc raised a brow curiously "I am not married to Sara." The blond stated flatly, earning him a few blinks from the brunet "But I thought-"

Arc was cut off when Sara had draped her arms around Ingus "Now what're you saying to poor little Arc here?" Ingus stiffened in place and gulped audibly "N-nothing your high-" The queen glared at him and he laughed nervously "I was telling him nothing… Sara."

Sara giggled, kissing the blond on the cheek "That's what I thought." Arc stifled a laugh "Don't worry-" The White Mage-Black Belt turned towards Arc "We'll be sure to send you an invitation through Mognet once the plans are done." Ingus sighed in defeat as Sara kissed him on the cheek once more before running off towards Refia.

"I see you've been busy the past thirteen years." Arc teased, earning him a groan from Ingus "Please, don't."

"That's wonderful!" Sara beamed, clasping her hands together "You mean to tell me-" Ingus started, furrowing his brows "That you've just been turned into the Master Smith by the previous one?" He turned towards Refia "And that you've been the Grand Magus ever since-"

"Ten years ago." Arc finished for the blond "Ah, but that's-" Sara placed her hand on Ingus' face "Oh, hush now!" She stood up, smiling and giggling uncontrollably "This is more than reason for a celebration!"

"How about Luneth?" The brunet asked no one in particular, earning him sad looks from the others "Oh, don't worry about that idiot." Refia smiled "He's probably out there in some ancient ruins or something."

Ingus nodded in agreement "Then I shall start with the preparations." He bowed at Sara "If you excuse me, your high- Sara." The blond pursed his lips; quickly walking away from the queen "Isn't he adorable?" Sara laughed, earning her laughs from the other two.

"Okay, this Bahamut scale better be worth it." Luneth whispered to himself, slowly chipping away at the large hide of the legendary dragon "Almost… there-AH!" The silveret's eyes widened in horror.

"AHCHOO!"

Luneth's sneeze resounded through the mountaintop, shaking the earth beneath him due to the sheer strength of the sound of his sneeze.

Bahamut stirred from its sleep and screamed a feral growl, pushing Luneth off.

"Ah, shi-"

"Isn't this… a bit too much?" Arc laughed nervously, looking at the castle lobby incredulously. It was decorated with different gems and stones, with tables and chairs placed neatly in between of the pillars. A long table spanned the entirety of the room; various foods littered the surface of the long table. The smell itself was enough to make Arc feel full.

"I have to say-" Sara started, a small smile creeping up her face "Ingus certainly made it a bit too… grandiose." Arc laughed "I guess he has missed you very much." The queen smiled "If you excuse me, I need to go on an errand." Sara nodded her head before taking her leave.

"Luneth would be so excited-" Refia started "That he'd probably eat right off the bat." Arc chuckled, sighing contentedly "Yeah, you're probably right."

"GRRROOOAAHHH!" Bahamut bellowed, electricity crackling in its mouth as it chased Luneth.

"AHCHOOO!" The silveret wiped at his face using his sleeve "Of all the days-" He jumped off the mountain "Why is it today that I had to catch a cold?!"

"This is great." Arc smiled, taking small sips from his glass "Indeed." Ingus drank from his glass, looking at the denizens of Sasune castle and the invited townspeople at the celebration. They were happily eating while talking and drinking, making a small smile creep up on Arc's face "Have you ever thought if we weren't the Warriors of Light?"

The blond raised a brow curiously as he finished the contents of his glass, placing it on the table before taking another glass "What do you mean?" Arc furrowed his brows and shrugged "If we were not the Warriors of Light- Would we be right here… right now?"

Ingus was about to speak when Arc had continued "I-I mean if others were chosen to be the Warriors of Light instead of us." The blond snorted, understanding his friend's question "Well, I suppose it'd still be the same." Ingus drank from his glass "I suppose we wouldn't be in the same places as we are now. We probably do not even know each other."

Arc's eyes widened in surprise and he bit his lip; the notion of not having met Luneth, Refia, Ingus, Sara, Cid, Desch, Aria, and everyone else almost felt too surreal; like it was impossible that it would not happen "But I suppose we would be happy." The blond smiled, cutting Arc off from his thoughts "We'd be living simple, normal lives."

"We would probably have children-" Arc said unconsciously "The prospect of that doesn't sound too bad." Ingus laughed, placing an arm on the brunet's shoulder "If you had just wanted to ask for help with Refia, then you should have just asked."

The brunet blinked his eyes owlishly and choked on his drink, beating at his chest to clear his throat "W-what?!" The blond snickered, patting Arc on the back "I suppose it IS high time that you try and propose to her." The brunet looked downwards, absolutely embarrassed about the notion of asking for Refia's hand in marriage-

"Sir!" A guard mocked salute at Ingus "The queen has drank too much and is out of control." The blond sighed in disbelief and pinched the bridge of his nose "Sorry about this, but please do excuse me." Ingus placed an arm on Arc's shoulder "I am sure she'd accept your proposal." The blond rushed towards an intoxicated Sara along with the guard that had reported to him.

Arc looked at his reflection on the brownish liquid in his glass "What would she possibly like in me?" He sighed in disbelief, laughing at his own brooding. He looked at Sara, who was easily beating the daylights out of her own guards. The brunet chuckled at Ingus who was barking orders at the guards, telling them to not hurt the queen in the slightest.

"If only it were that simple…" He smiled, downing his beverage in one drink.

"That was…" Arc hiccupped, his cheeks slightly tinted with red "Quite the celebration." He smiled for no reason, laughing and chuckling at random times "Especially when Queen Sara had- Hm?" The brunet lazily raised a brow curiously, he could see someone going towards him and they did not looked pleased one bit.

"Where have you been?!" Refia planted her arms on her hips, frowning at the brunet "Er-" Arc blinked a few times, his intoxicated brain functioned slower than normal "I was at the-" The brunet hiccupped, smiling "Castle lobby with the others."

The redhead narrowed her eyes "Are you drunk?" Arc laughed "What're you talking about?" Refia slapped her forehead, groaning in disbelief "You've got to be kidding me." She took the brunet's arm and dragged him upwards the castle "Where're we going?" Arc asked in a groggy tone, laughing at random intervals.

"To sleep." The redhead groaned "Can't believe you've got yourself drunk-" She opened the door to one of the guest rooms in the castle, leading Arc towards the single bed that lay within "Now go get some sleep!" She sighed in disbelief, turning around to leave the room.

"Wait." Arc commanded, tugging at the redhead's arm with unnecessary force, making her fall on him on the bed "That's better." He smiled, closing his eyes while wrapping his arms around the redhead "L-let go!" Refia stuttered, trying to compose herself "Mmmn… No." The brunet turned sideways, making Refia lie on the bed. Arc buried his face on her neck and drifted to sleep.

"Ah, damn." The redhead sighed in defeat, placing one of her hands on the brunet's hair, slightly caressing it.

"As you're queen, I order you to remove your clothes." Sara commanded, pointing at Ingus. The blond furrowed his brows and waved at her dismissively "With all due respect, you're the one who stripped in front of me, Sara."

The queen pouted and jumped towards Ingus, pinning his arms on the floor "Then I suppose I'll just have to strip you myself~" The blond struggled and squirmed, a sheepish smile gracing his features "Come now, I would rather not do something that we'd both regret."

"You mean, you don't want to have children?" Sara faked sadness "T-that's not what I meant-" The door to Sara's chambers had suddenly swung open and a guard did a mock salute "Good morning, your highness and Sir Ingus." His voice boomed and echoed in the queen's chambers "I am here to report that the Grand Magus and the Master Smith are departing."

"It's not what it looks like." Ingus muttered lamely, earning him a small snicker from the guard "Of course it isn't Sir Ingus." Sara released her grip on the blond and stood up, dressing herself "Well, we should see them off then, Ingus." The blond stood up and nodded in agreement.

The guard cleared his throat, earning him the curious looks of the two "I suggest using the bed next time-" He stated nonchalantly "Much more comfortable compared to the cold floor."

Ingus slapped his face with all the might that he could muster "Please, just stop, Drogan."

"Feel free to come back anytime!" Sara smiled "You two are more than welcome here." Ingus smiled as well, shaking Arc's arm.

"S-sure." The brunet smiled sheepishly, looking strangely embarrassed "Is something the matter?-" Ingus was cut off when Refia had spoken "Thanks for everything, Sara and Ingus." She smiled a toothy grin, turning around to walk away. Arc nodded in agreement and bowed, fixing his cloak before following after the redhead.

"They seem… tense." Sara cupped at her chin thoughtfully "Indeed. I wonder why?" Ingus asked no one in particular. Drogan had cleared his throat "If I may, your highness, sir Ingus." The two looked behind them and saw Drogan, Ingus' lieutenant "I had went to the guest rooms to inform them of breakfast-" A small smile crept up Drogan's face but the guard quickly regained his composure.

"And it would seem that not only the queen and sir Ingus were 'busy' last night." Sara furrowed her brows "What do you mean?" Ingus laughed, he stifled his laughter when the queen had looked at him "A little unorthodox, but I suppose it worked out in the end, hmm, Arc?" The blond smiled, looking at the shrinking backs of the two warriors of light.

"So…" Arc cleared his throat, there was a relatively large distance between the two of them "I was drunk… right?" Refia bit her lip and nodded, not even bothering to speak "Did I… we do anything-" The redhead looked at Arc incredulously, her cheeks red "W-what? No! We didn't do anything!" She stuttered, shaking her head violently.

"But I was drunk-" The brunet started, feeling more and more awkward "And I woke up next to you-" Refia sighed "Well, you did assault me-" She started, making Arc's eyes grow in surprise "But that's about it." The redhead shrugged "You pushed me onto the bed and slept like a baby." She sheepishly looked at the brunet, trying to find out how he'd react to that.

Arc laughed heartily, slapping his face. To think, he was worrying about something that he didn't do "Sorry." He smiled "For that awkward conversation." He smiled sheepishly "And for assaulting you last night." Refia laughed and went closer to Arc, linking their arms together "It's okay, you dummy." The brunet smiled, sighing contentedly.

"Well, I'll be off then." Arc smiled saluting at Refia using a book. The brunet had stayed with Refia and Takka for a week and he felt that he has done enough intruding "I'll be sure to go out every now and then." He smiled sheepishly at Refia "And I'll try to visit more often."

The brunet left their house while Refia looked at the door dumbfounded, earning her a snort from her foster father "And I thought ye'd make the move?" His tone was more reprimanding than teasing "Shut up, dad!" She fumed, her cheeks turning pink "I-I just couldn't find the perfect time-" Takka threw a large and ornately decorated hammer towards Refia "Then I reckon now's the best time." He smiled and toothy grin "Go on, before he's gone for the next ten years."

Refia gulped audibly, looking at her reflection in the hammer before running outside, chasing after Arc.

"Stupid!" Arc slapped his forehead using the book he was holding "I had an entire week!" He grit his teeth, mumbling something under his breath "Well, it's not like she likes me like that, anyway." He smiled sadly, keeping the book under his robes while fishing for his notebook "Let's see…" The brunet rubbed at his chin thoughtfully, flipping through the pages quickly.

He closed his notebook and placed it inside of his robes "Who am I kidding?" The brunet smiled, turning around back to Kazus "Being a hermit's good and all-" His smile grew bigger "But I suppose having no legacy to pass my knowledge on to is counterproductive and ironic." Arc ran towards Kazus, remembering his words to Ingus, about how the prospect of having children wasn't too bad-

Arc was cut off from his thoughts when he had bumped into something, successfully pushing him downwards. The brunet hissed in pain and stood up, brushing the dirt off his clothes "P-pardon me, I wasn't looking-" His eyes widened in surprise when he saw Refia, rubbing at her behind gingerly.

"Refia?" He asked incredulously, helping the redhead up "Uhm, hi." She smiled sheepishly, picking up the hammer that she was holding on to earlier "What are you doing here?" Arc smiled, confused as to why the redhead was running towards his direction.

"I-I just wanted to say goodbye and all-" She bit her lip and shuffled her feet awkwardly "You know, because… damn!" The redhead groaned, earning her a surprised look from the brunet "I just.. you… I mean… here!" She offered the hammer to Arc, earning her an even curious look.

The brunet furrowed his brows "W-what's this?" He took the hammer from her, and almost fell over because he underestimated its weight "I-it's my family's heirloom." Refia tried to avoid his gaze "Why are you giving me such an important thing?"

The redhead cleared her throat "There's a tradition amongst smiths-" She started, awkwardly looking away "That the family hammer is to be given to the next head smith." The redhead bit her lip "Well, wouldn't that be you?" Arc smiled, still genuinely confused "T-technically, yes." Refia mustered all her strength and looked Arc in the eyes.

"B-but before I am a smith, I am a woman." Arc's eyes widened in disbelief and he tried speaking but no words came out of his mouth. He had read of such traditions before, where tokens, items, or objects were given to another person to ask their hand in marriage "I-I…" The brunet gulped audibly, he couldn't look away from her crimson orbs, and they were far too captivating-

"Your answer?" Refia squeaked, snapping Arc away from his gawking. The brunet gulped audibly, the main reason he had come back was to ask Refia's hand in marriage. Strangely enough, here she is, asking HIM for his hand in marriage. Arc laughed heartily, thinking how strange fate works. Refia looked at him strangely "Sorry." The brunet wiped a tear of mirth from his eye.

"All this time, I thought this was one-sided." Arc sighed contentedly, giving Refia her hammer back "I'm sorry but I can't accept the hammer-" The brunet smiled "But I'll be more than happy to make you my wife." Refia furrowed her brows and hit Arc with the hammer "Ow, hey!" The brunet frowned "What was that for?" The redhead stuck her tongue out "Sorry, but the hammer's part of the package~"

"You're… what?" Ingus blinked his eyes a few times "Getting married." Arc stated flatly, smiling at the blond. The knight furrowed his brows "And when is this happening?" The blond crossed his arms "A week from now."

Ingus smiled, placing an arm on the brunet's shoulder "That's enough time, then." Arc furrowed his brows, looking at Ingus curiously "To find Luneth." The blond smiled, earning him a smile from Arc.

"I appreciate the wishful thinking." Arc started "But the only one who can find Luneth- Is Luneth." Ingus laughed, draping his arm over Arc's shoulder.

"AHCHOO!" Luneth wiped at his nose "The hell did this cold come from?!" The silveret rubbed his hands together. He was in the woods near the temple of water, and he couldn't help but look at the temple.

A sad smiled crept up his face and he sighed "Oh, Aria. I hope the others are having much more fun than I am."

"I'll be back to check on you guys next week." Arc saluted using his book; a large intricate symbol appeared underneath his feet "Yes Grand Magus." One of the Moogles muttered, they were too busy playing with cards to even bother looking at the brunet.

He laughed, entering his house which was in between of Castle Sasune and Kazus "Cute little buggers." Ingus, Takka and the guards of Sasune had helped in constructing his house a few years ago "I'm home!" Arc placed the book on the table near the door.

"Dad!" A small child with a messy mop of red hair rushed towards him, laughing while hugging his leg "What is this?" He picked the child up, tossing him in the air and catching him repeatedly "Did a goblin manage to sneak inside of my house?"

The child laughed "It's just me, dad!" Arc kissed him on the forehead "I was just joking, Noah." The brunet lowered his son to the floor "I've brought a new book!" Arc smiled, taking the book that he placed on the table earlier "Ready to learn new spells?" The brunet conjured a combination of Fire and Lightning on his hand.

"Wow!" His son, Noah smiled and laughed "Can I do that?" Arc ruffled his hair "You'll be able to, with lots and lots of hard work."

Refia went out from the kitchen and kissed Arc on the cheek "How are the Moogles?" She smiled, picking Noah up "They're fine," Arc laughed "They've started to look at me less seriously." The redhead took the book from Arc "Well, that's what you wanted, right?" The brunet shrugged "Well, I suppose."

Arc sat down on the nearest chair and removed his cloak "So, how are Ingus and Sara?" Refia lowered her son and gave him the book that Arc brought "You mean King Ingus?" The brunet stifled a laugh "Right, right." The redhead smiled "They're doing fine." Refia then smiled "Oh! I just remembered, Luneth is here-"

"I would've never thought that you could cook so well!" Luneth came outside from the kitchen, his mouth full of food "Uncle Luneth!" Noah pushed the open book towards the silveret "What does this mean?" Luneth rubbed at his chin thoughtfully, taking the book from the child.

"Ah, it means that your father is a bastard." Refia furrowed her brows at Luneth and the silveret shrugged "What's a bastard?" Luneth laughed while Arc slapped his face "Don't use that word, Noah." The brunet sighed "It's bad."

"Okay!" Noah beamed, running to his room with the book that Arc had brought "Hello to you too, Luneth." Arc stood up, smiling at the silveret "You should try Refia's cooking-" Luneth sighed contentedly "It's just awesome."

Arc laughed, smiling at the silveret "I do. Every day." Luneth sat down on the nearest chair and fished something out of his satchel "I wanted to give you this." The silveret brought something out that looked like a medallion "Found it in the Saronian catacombs. No idea what it's for." Luneth shrugged, handing the item to Arc.

"Interesting." The brunet furrowed his brows, examining the item "How long are you going to be staying with us?" Refia asked, placing plates on the large table in the middle of the room "Two days tops." Luneth shrugged "I was gonna visit Ingus and Sara before I went back to the surface."

Arc snickered "You mean King Ingus?" The silveret guffawed, slapping his leg "Right, right." Luneth sighed contentedly, wiping away a tear of mirth "So, figured out what that thing is?" The silveret raised a brow curiously.

"No clue-" Arc was cut off from his words when he had pushed a hidden button on the side of the medallion. The middle of the item had opened, and the hole secreted a greenish gas that assaulted Arc's senses.

The brunet fell to the floor, he could vaguely hear Refia and Luneth's screams of concern. He struggled to keep conscious, but the gas was far too potent than any that he had encountered before. Arc saw Refia shaking him frantically while Luneth tried to wave the gas away before consciousness left him.

"Arc."

"Arc!"

"ARC!"

The brunet opened his eyes and he saw the concerned gazes of his companions "Thank goodness." Ingus sighed in relief "What happened?" Arc blinked a few times, rubbing at his eyes "You wouldn't wake up." Refia bit her lip "And we thought you were-" Luneth cut her off "He's fine, see?"

Luneth hugged Arc with all his might "You can't die while sleeping… that's pathetic!" Ingus slapped his face while Refia slapped the back of Luneth's head.

"Well, I guess we should go to the Crystal Tower." Luneth shrugged, driving the Invincible with as much finesse that he could muster "We don't have any other lead." Ingus looked at the map that he was holding "We already have the four fangs and the keys to the Crystal Tower and Eureka."

Arc looked blankly at his notebook. Was that all a dream? Those events, those memories; were they just a fantasy in the brunet's mind? Arc bit his lip and sighed in defeat, his dream WAS a bit too good to be true.

He looked over to the three, who were bickering about Noah knows what. The brunet smiled, they were all still so lively, especially Refia. Arc felt his face heat up and he shook his head, it was just a dream, after all.

"Ah, don't think about it too much, boy." Arc's eyes widened in surprise "Unei?" He looked around, but the old woman was nowhere to be seen "I still am the guardian of the dream world." The voice laughed "Think of that as a glimpse into the future."

Arc smiled to himself, scribbling something in his notebook:

Entry 87

Departed for the Crystal Tower with the others.

Had the strangest dream today. Would rather not put details in here.

It would seem that this adventure is almost at an end.

But the dream I had, states otherwise.

"Hey, Arc!" Luneth grinned "Look at that!" The silveret pointed towards the front of the ship. Arc stood up and wonder and awe struck the brunet. It was the Crystal Tower, in all of its majesty "Wow." He muttered, getting giddy at the sight.

Ingus and Luneth started bickering again while Refia tried her best to stop the two. Seeing as how words will have no effect, she simply punched them both in the guts.

Arc laughed to himself, keeping the notebook within his robes before going to his companions.

"This will be one big adventure…" The brunet smiled, readying himself for the dangers within the Crystal Tower.

And done.

My sister has always had this head canon that Sara was a Monk, due to the fact that she's too manly to be a White Mage (at least, that's how I perceive the way she talks about it.)

I decided to add that little bit to this story, making Sara literally and figuratively wear the pants in her and Ingus' relationship.

Hope you guys enjoyed and happy father's day once more.