Body **Author's Note: Thank you all for your wonderful reviews. Now I have to write more. Phooey :( This containers a spoiler for anyone who hasn't read Xone Of Contention by Piers Anthony, so if you haven't read this and care about having the end ruined then don't read this.

Chapter 2: History

"Are you OK?" Turn Key asked.

"Huh?" I shook my head to try and clear my brain, "Oh, yeah, I'm fine. . .I just . . .never mind." I couldn't tell him. I mean, how do you explain to a man you've known for less than twenty four hours that you're seeing things?

"Well, I brought you some breakfast. I'm really sorry about what happened. Edsel and Pia were wonderful people. They were very proud of you." Unlike others I'd talked to since the accident, Turn Key wasn't afraid to bring up my parents death.

"Yeah," I really didn't know what else to say to a comment like that, so I decided to move on to something else. "This is really good." I said, as I bit into a crisp piece of bacon. "I have a question. What should I call you? Are you my Uncle or what?"

"Just call me T.K. It'll be the easiest for both of us. I'm sure that's what my friends would call me, if I had any."

"You don't have any friends?"

"I've met a lot of people over the course of my life. . .but they never stay long. They all live far away, and yet, they are very near by."

That didn't make a lot of sense but I decided to let it go. We talked some more. I found out that he had met my parents when they passed through during a huge storm. They had kept in touch over the years and he had heard all about me from them. It puzzled me why they had never talked about him but, once again, I decided it better to keep my mouth shut.

"So, since today is your Sweet Sixteen, is there anything in particular that you would like to do?"

"Not really, I don't really know much about this area. Do you have any ideas?" I wasn't sure I really wanted to go anywhere but T.K. seemed nice and I wanted to talk to him a little more.

"Why yes, I do. But first I have a question for you. Do you believe in magic?"

"Magic? Well, I've never really thought about it before but, yes, I guess it's possible."

"Averia, I have something to tell you. You must promise to keep an open mind. I am telling you the truth. Despite what you may think, I am not crazy." I was really curious so I promised and waited for him to continue. "I told you earlier that my friends all live very far away, and yet close by. I will now explain. Right now we are in one of the few Mundane areas that has an ambiance of magic. That is because it is the portal to the magical land of Xanth. Sixteen years ago your parents went to the Land of Xanth in the bodies of Ideal Chlorine and her dragon-ass Nimby. They came here, to Mundania, in the bodies of your parents. While in Xanth your mother was impregnated and thus, her child would be born with a talent. That child with you. Now that you are in an area where the magic dust filters in you will start showing signs of your talent. Have you noticed anything weird?"

"Do you mean besides all this talk about 'Xanth' and 'Mundania'? I'm sorry, it just doesn't really make sense."

"Let me try to explain a little better. I'm sure you've heard of Demons, yes? Well, to of the Demons are the Demon Xanth and the Demon Earth. There's also Venus, Saturn and some others. They each have a Land. Xanth's is known as the Land of Xanth. All, the native inhabitants of Xanth have a talent. Some are very powerful, Magician- or Sorceress-Class talents, while others are of the simple spot-on-the-wall variety. No two people can have the exact same talent and no talents ever repeat. Some are similar but they always have something slightly different about them. In Xanth there are a myriad of magical plants and creatures, and also quite a few puns. In Mundania, however, the Land of the Demon Earth, there is no magic. Earth cares very little about the inhabitants of his Land, or us, if you will, so he keeps all the magic to himself. Does that make anymore sense?"

"I guess so. But, how do you know so much about it?"

"I run the only safe portal from Mundania to Xanth. That's all way too complicated to explain, so I'll leave it at that. I can do this because some of Xanth's magic has leaked over here. Now, have you noticed anything weird?"

"Well. . ." I looked into his eyes and saw a odd tree with a tangle of arms. "Well, yes, actually. Every time I look in your eyes I see something weird."

"That could be a lot of different things. We'll have to wait and explore it further. Now, however, we have a more pressing matter to attend to. We must go to Xanth. You see, I told you your mother was impregnated while in Xanth, but she and your father were in the bodies of others. They, in turn tried to summon the stork while in Mundania. Because of this, Nimby and Chlorine have a slight attachment to you. I am to take you to see them."

"Ummm. . .OK, I guess. Nothing really surprises me right now. Let's go."