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into swirling colors. They became two birds, flying toward a castle. Their wings beat in the air as if it were water. They flew into a window, into a chamber, where a woman walked who had a tiny moon circling her head. She glanced up, seeing them as they joined its orbit. But then they flew on, back out the window, and across the landscape to a great lake, where they dived down into the water and became two flying fish, touring a fabulous magical underwater setting where mermaids and mermen were just the beginning. Then back out to air, to the coast, which glistened like polished brass. On to another castle, and into that one, and to a room where six people stood. They landed, resuming their natural forms. They were back in the chamber with the others
    “Who was that woman?” Pia asked.
    Chlorine knew whom she meant. “That was Princess Ida, whose moon has all the folk who ever did. ever will, or ever might live on Xanth. She's very perceptive."
    “Yes,” Edsel said. “She saw us.”
    “Ever might.” Pia asked. “Like whom?”
    Chlorine looked at Nimby, then answered. “Like people Xanth doesn't have room for yet. Like Dol, the son of Magician Grey and Princess Ivy, whose talent is to turn inanimate things living. But they already have three children, so he must remain a might instead of an is.”
    “I suppose that makes sense,” Pia said dubiously.
    “There are also Xanth Waves from the future hidden on those moons,” Chlorine said. “If they came to the Xanth of today, there would be amazing complications.”
    “For sure,” Breanna agreed.
    “And that brass coast,” Edsel asked.
    “In the realm of dreams, or the gourd, there live the Brassies,” Chlorine said. “Men and women made of brass. They have set up a vacation resort in Xanth proper, near the Gold Coast, where things are less precious.”
    It was a persuasive demonstration. It might be illusion, but it had seemed real. “Okay,” Edsel said. “We won't tell.” He looked at Pia, who nodded agreement. “But just the brief glimpses we saw—would it be all right to use some of them in our software? I mean like maybe an animation of a Xanth theme park, with all the creatures of the land, air, sea, tiny moons, and magic? I think folk would love it, even just in a computer game.”
    “That would be all right.” Chlorine said. “As long as there is no mention of Nimby.”
    That reminded him. “No mention of Nimby. But why does anyone with this much power want to go to Mundania in someone else's body?”
    “There are other Demons,” Chorine explained “Most are associated with what you call planets, though their essence is not planetary but demonic. The demon X(A/N)th felt no need of a lot of territory, so took only a small segment of one globe, leaving the rest to the Demon E(A/R)th. But now, with increasing interaction between the denizens of Xanth and Earth, he would like to explore that other region. However, he has no magic power in Mundania, and the Demon E(A/R)th might do him mischief, being resentful of his status among Demons. So he needs to do it privately. This seems to be an opportunity.”
    Edsel was satisfied. “It works for me.” He looked at Pia. “You?”
    “Yes.” she agreed faintly. Not much impressed Pia, but this session evidently had.
    “Good enough.” Breanna said briskly. “Let's take a week to set things up, and meet here again, when the four of you will exchange, and the four of us—” she glanced at Justin, Dug, and Kim “—will be your Companions, to keep you out of mischief. We'll have to organize special tours, so as to get the most out of it. Okay?” She looked around.
    “Okay,” Edsel said, feeling exhilarated. If a tour in magic Xanth didn't change Pia's mind, nothing would.
    “Okay,” Kim said.
    “Of course.” Chlorine said.
    Then the scene dissolved, and the four of them from Mundania were standing at the O-Xone exit. Edsel hum-whistled, and they were back on their linked computers. Back