Xone of Contention

by Piers Anthony

  "This is wonderful but weird," Breanna said, looking on somewhat enviously.

  Nimby touched her hand.

  "But my turn will come," Breanna added, awed. "And be worth waiting for." Behind her. Justin's eyes widened in surprised surmise.

  But after a moment of thought. Pia got serious "I don't want to seem ungrateful, but I don't think I want these—these gifts."

  Kim winced "Pia, this isn't exactly something you can turn down Nimby is—"

  “I know who Nimby is" Pia faced him. “I appreciate all this, Nimby I really do. But they arc selfish things. I've been selfish all my life, but in Xanth I discovered that I don't like that style 1 want to—to do something useful with my life. So with all due respect, take back your gifts. I do want to be beautiful, and free of illness, and now I do want to make a family, but I would trade them all for the ability to accomplish my new purpose, which I think is to save the great old trees of Mundania, just as I helped save them in Xanth. And I guess that's something I'll just have to do by myself. I think I can do it all, the hard way."

  Nimby looked at Edsel.

  "No argument here," Edsel said. "All I wanted was Pia back, and I think I like her even better this way."

  Nimby extended his hand to Pia. She stepped forward and took it. Nothing showed, but Chlorine knew that there was a pulse of magic. They were all in magic, all the way out to the library terminals that Nimby’s magic was animating.

  Then Pia stepped back. Nimby touched Chlorine's hand.

  "You now have additional intelligence, courage, and persuasiveness," Chlorine told Pia. "These qualities will help you to accomplish your purpose."

  Pia smiled with genuine gratitude. "Thank you so much, Nimby. These gifts I will use well. I will always treasure my time in Xanth, but my true mission is in Mundania."

  Nimby turned away. The job was done.

  The others bade each other quick farewells. Then the four Mundanians departed, and Nimby and Chlorine went back toward Xanth, leaving Justin and Breanna in the Leaf.

  "Wait till Pia discovers that those last gifts weren't in exchange for the first ones, but in addition," Chlorine murmured. "And wait till Edsel discovers your influence on his Lemon motorcycle, when Midrange hides the magic locket in it."

  Nimby didn't reply, but he smiled. He was learning about niceness, too.