The Second Last Chapter
Just as Lyndsey was about to reach up and knock on the door, it swung open. Wira was standing there.
"Hello Lynds!" she said happily, reaching and giving her a hug. "Ip, Peep, it is a pleasure-." She smiled at them.
"Good to meet you too," Ip said. He was smiling too. Wira had deliberately shortened Lyndsey's name so he wouldn't interrupt, and had stopped her previous sentence on her own. Ip was pleased that he didn't feel like he was being rude.
"Pleasure," Peep said, grinning. He knew how to dance around Ip's talent, too.
"Please come," Wira said, stepping back. She gestured into the castle. The trio stepped in. "Ip, you will-" she started, nodding towards a separate room.
"Wait here," he finished sadly. "I know the drill." No one liked to send him away; they had all grown to like him, despite his unusual talent. But it was necessary for him to be gone if they were to have a real conversation.
Ip walked into the other room, and the others sat down. "I will fetch Day, Night, and Raven," Wira said, stepping out. "And Grundy," she added. Lyndsey hit her head. She had forgotten about Grundy again! Poor little guy. She'd have to remember to apologize. A moment later, Day and Night stepped in. Grundy was on Night's shoulder. Raven was by Day's side. The Brain Coral water was no longer with them.
"What happened?" Lyndsey asked, rushing up to them.
"Umm…" Day started.
"It was kinda weird," Night said.
"We brought him the Brain Coral water…"
"…and asked him how we could stay in Xanth."
"That's what we both want," Day said, smiling up at Raven.
"And he said that the answer would arrive shortly," Night said, "even though we don't know what that means."
"And he wouldn't tell us what the Brain Coral water was for," Day said, frowning. Apparently, the girls both felt a little disappointed.
"I do so dislike to have people unhappy," Wira said. "I believe I can explain a little." The girls smiled and nodded eagerly. "I believe the Good Magician will use the Brain Coral water will a reverse spell, which will cause him to be able to sleep in it for a short period of time, but it will seem like an eternity, to him. He does not get much rest around here." The girls' eyes opened wide. That was so clever! "As for your answer, we have a visitor expected soon. She must be what you need." Day and Night nodded. That was enough of an explanation for them.
"What about my Question?" Lyndsey asked. "I don't even know what it is." Wira smiled.
"I believe you do. And if you truly do not, it will become clear when the Good Magician gives you his Answer." Then she frowned. "But he wishes you to know that he is not in need of a deed at the moment. You will have to perform the one year's service." Lyndsey looked up at Peep, who nodded.
"I guess that's ok," she said. "As long as Peep can stay with me."
Wira nodded. "He will be allowed to remain."
Lyndsey clapped her hands. "Well, let's get on with it, then!"
"Very well," Wira said. "Please follow me, Lyndsey. Day, Night, Raven, Peep, Grundy- I must ask you to remain here." They all nodded. Lyndsey followed Wira into the room where Ip was.
"Let's g-"
"Go see the Good Magician?" Ip asked. Wira nodded. The trio walked up the stairs towards the Good Magician's study. He was hunched over a book in the middle of the overcrowded, messy room.
"Go ahead," Wira directed them. Nodding, they stepped towards him.
"You understand you have to serve?" Humfrey grumped. Apparenly, Ip's talent didn't affect him. Or maybe the severity of the situation had just rendered Ip speechless.
"Yes," Lyndsey said.
"Yes," Ip echoed.
"Very well. Here is your Answer: Neo-Sorceress Lyndsey, the answer you wish for lies on the Isle of Talents. Go there with one who dislikes his talent, and you may collect all the talents you wish, until that person finds one he likes. This will return your status to full Sorceress." Lyndsey looked confused. Humfrey went on, undaunted.
"Ip, you will accompany Lyndsey." Then Humfrey turned back to his book, ignoring the two.
"This way, please," Wira said. Lyndsey sighed and followed her out. She wasn't satisfied with her Answer, but supposed there was nothing to be done now. At least she had gotten more than Ip.
"Wira," Lyndsey asked, just before they reached the others." Ip had run ahead, and as such, their speech was not impaired.
"Yes?" Wira asked kindly.
"What is the Isle of Talents?"
"I believe that when one touches the ground on the isle, one loses their talent, but that their talent is replaced with a new one."
Lyndsey got a lightbulb. If she went to the Isle with Ip…he could change his talent! And she could take all of the talents until he found one he liked! It was the perfect solution. She smiled, now perfectly content. She couldn't wait to tell Ip. Or, almost tell Ip. She smiled ironically.
"Hey, Lynds, how did it-" Day started.
"Excuse me," Ip said sadly, moving into the next room.
"How did it go?" Day finished.
"Great! Now I have a way to get rid of Ip's talent, and get a few more for myself!"
"That's great!" Night said. The three shared a group hug. They had not noticed that Wira had disappeared.
"Oh, Grundy!" Lyndsey said, bending down to him. "I'm so sorry I forgot about you! If you were Guinever, we'd all be in trouble!" She laughed.
"We're sorry too," Day and Night said in unison.
"Don't worry about it, birdbrains," Grundy said. "You think I care?" But he was blushing, obviously pleased with the attention he was being given.
"Hey, I just thought of something," Day said.
"What?" Night asked.
"We never needed Grundy to translate for us at all."
"You're right! But how is that possible? We speak Mundanian, not Xanthian," Night said, surprised.
"I can answer that!" Lyndsey said. The girls turned to her. "Xanth is magical. When you come here, you can automatically speak the language of Xanth. If a Xanthian went to Mundania, it would be a different story. But this way, it's ok."
"Ohhhhh," Day and Night said together.
"Hey, where did Wira go?" Peep asked, tired of being on the sideline. Raven, sharing his sentiment, moved closer to Day and put his arm around here.
"I am right here," Wira said, stepping into the room. "And I have brought Destiny."
"Destiny?" Day asked. A young girl stepped out from behind Wira. She had deep purple coloured hair- almost purple black. It was long, and matched the colour of her eyes.
"Hello," she said, somewhat shyly. "I'm supposed to help you," she said.
"How?" Night asked, stepping up to her. Day went too.
"My talent is to change people's destinies. I don't get to use my talent much- I can only change destinies, not see them, and it would be a waste to unnecessarily change someone's destiny. But the Good Magician sent word, saying I would need to change two destinies today."
"But what is our destiny?" Day asked, looking at Night.
"To stay in Mundania," Wira answered. Apparently Humfrey had informed her of the situation. "It was not by chance that you transported yourself and Night out, so long ago. It was destiny. You were mean to live in Mundania." Both girls looked horrified.
"But I can change that!" Destiny said quickly. "I can change your destinies so that you are meant to stay in Xanth." She smiled.
"Oh yes, please do!" Day cried.
"As soon as you can!" Night said eagerly.
"Very well," Destiny said, smiling. She stepped up to Day, and put her arms on Day's shoulders. She closed her eyes and began to hum. A moment later, she stepped back. "Done," she said.
"Now me!" Night said. Chuckling, Destiny stepped up to Night, and repeated the ritual.
"Now you will remain in Xanth," Destiny said.
"Oh, thank you so much!" Day said, throwing her arms around Destiny. "How can we ever repay you?"
"Yes, anything!" Night said, hugging her too.
Destiny smiled. "You don't owe me anything. I'm happy to have been mentioned in a story, and to have the chance to use my talent. I need nothing more." She glanced around. "But I'm afraid I must go now." She looked disappointed.
"Do you have to? You could stay with us for a while," Day offered.
"I'm afraid I must," Destiny said. She turned to walk out of the castle.
"Thank you!" Day and Night called. Then they looked at each other. "We can stay!" The smiles on their faces lit up the whole room. Day ran to Raven and clung to him, and Night hugged Lyndsey. Next Day hugged little Grundy, with some difficulty, and Night hugged Peep. They continued this until everyone in the room had been hugged. It was a wonderful ending to the story.
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Just as Lyndsey was about to reach up and knock on the door, it swung open. Wira was standing there.
"Hello Lynds!" she said happily, reaching and giving her a hug. "Ip, Peep, it is a pleasure-." She smiled at them.
"Good to meet you too," Ip said. He was smiling too. Wira had deliberately shortened Lyndsey's name so he wouldn't interrupt, and had stopped her previous sentence on her own. Ip was pleased that he didn't feel like he was being rude.
"Pleasure," Peep said, grinning. He knew how to dance around Ip's talent, too.
"Please come," Wira said, stepping back. She gestured into the castle. The trio stepped in. "Ip, you will-" she started, nodding towards a separate room.
"Wait here," he finished sadly. "I know the drill." No one liked to send him away; they had all grown to like him, despite his unusual talent. But it was necessary for him to be gone if they were to have a real conversation.
Ip walked into the other room, and the others sat down. "I will fetch Day, Night, and Raven," Wira said, stepping out. "And Grundy," she added. Lyndsey hit her head. She had forgotten about Grundy again! Poor little guy. She'd have to remember to apologize. A moment later, Day and Night stepped in. Grundy was on Night's shoulder. Raven was by Day's side. The Brain Coral water was no longer with them.
"What happened?" Lyndsey asked, rushing up to them.
"Umm…" Day started.
"It was kinda weird," Night said.
"We brought him the Brain Coral water…"
"…and asked him how we could stay in Xanth."
"That's what we both want," Day said, smiling up at Raven.
"And he said that the answer would arrive shortly," Night said, "even though we don't know what that means."
"And he wouldn't tell us what the Brain Coral water was for," Day said, frowning. Apparently, the girls both felt a little disappointed.
"I do so dislike to have people unhappy," Wira said. "I believe I can explain a little." The girls smiled and nodded eagerly. "I believe the Good Magician will use the Brain Coral water will a reverse spell, which will cause him to be able to sleep in it for a short period of time, but it will seem like an eternity, to him. He does not get much rest around here." The girls' eyes opened wide. That was so clever! "As for your answer, we have a visitor expected soon. She must be what you need." Day and Night nodded. That was enough of an explanation for them.
"What about my Question?" Lyndsey asked. "I don't even know what it is." Wira smiled.
"I believe you do. And if you truly do not, it will become clear when the Good Magician gives you his Answer." Then she frowned. "But he wishes you to know that he is not in need of a deed at the moment. You will have to perform the one year's service." Lyndsey looked up at Peep, who nodded.
"I guess that's ok," she said. "As long as Peep can stay with me."
Wira nodded. "He will be allowed to remain."
Lyndsey clapped her hands. "Well, let's get on with it, then!"
"Very well," Wira said. "Please follow me, Lyndsey. Day, Night, Raven, Peep, Grundy- I must ask you to remain here." They all nodded. Lyndsey followed Wira into the room where Ip was.
"Let's g-"
"Go see the Good Magician?" Ip asked. Wira nodded. The trio walked up the stairs towards the Good Magician's study. He was hunched over a book in the middle of the overcrowded, messy room.
"Go ahead," Wira directed them. Nodding, they stepped towards him.
"You understand you have to serve?" Humfrey grumped. Apparenly, Ip's talent didn't affect him. Or maybe the severity of the situation had just rendered Ip speechless.
"Yes," Lyndsey said.
"Yes," Ip echoed.
"Very well. Here is your Answer: Neo-Sorceress Lyndsey, the answer you wish for lies on the Isle of Talents. Go there with one who dislikes his talent, and you may collect all the talents you wish, until that person finds one he likes. This will return your status to full Sorceress." Lyndsey looked confused. Humfrey went on, undaunted.
"Ip, you will accompany Lyndsey." Then Humfrey turned back to his book, ignoring the two.
"This way, please," Wira said. Lyndsey sighed and followed her out. She wasn't satisfied with her Answer, but supposed there was nothing to be done now. At least she had gotten more than Ip.
"Wira," Lyndsey asked, just before they reached the others." Ip had run ahead, and as such, their speech was not impaired.
"Yes?" Wira asked kindly.
"What is the Isle of Talents?"
"I believe that when one touches the ground on the isle, one loses their talent, but that their talent is replaced with a new one."
Lyndsey got a lightbulb. If she went to the Isle with Ip…he could change his talent! And she could take all of the talents until he found one he liked! It was the perfect solution. She smiled, now perfectly content. She couldn't wait to tell Ip. Or, almost tell Ip. She smiled ironically.
"Hey, Lynds, how did it-" Day started.
"Excuse me," Ip said sadly, moving into the next room.
"How did it go?" Day finished.
"Great! Now I have a way to get rid of Ip's talent, and get a few more for myself!"
"That's great!" Night said. The three shared a group hug. They had not noticed that Wira had disappeared.
"Oh, Grundy!" Lyndsey said, bending down to him. "I'm so sorry I forgot about you! If you were Guinever, we'd all be in trouble!" She laughed.
"We're sorry too," Day and Night said in unison.
"Don't worry about it, birdbrains," Grundy said. "You think I care?" But he was blushing, obviously pleased with the attention he was being given.
"Hey, I just thought of something," Day said.
"What?" Night asked.
"We never needed Grundy to translate for us at all."
"You're right! But how is that possible? We speak Mundanian, not Xanthian," Night said, surprised.
"I can answer that!" Lyndsey said. The girls turned to her. "Xanth is magical. When you come here, you can automatically speak the language of Xanth. If a Xanthian went to Mundania, it would be a different story. But this way, it's ok."
"Ohhhhh," Day and Night said together.
"Hey, where did Wira go?" Peep asked, tired of being on the sideline. Raven, sharing his sentiment, moved closer to Day and put his arm around here.
"I am right here," Wira said, stepping into the room. "And I have brought Destiny."
"Destiny?" Day asked. A young girl stepped out from behind Wira. She had deep purple coloured hair- almost purple black. It was long, and matched the colour of her eyes.
"Hello," she said, somewhat shyly. "I'm supposed to help you," she said.
"How?" Night asked, stepping up to her. Day went too.
"My talent is to change people's destinies. I don't get to use my talent much- I can only change destinies, not see them, and it would be a waste to unnecessarily change someone's destiny. But the Good Magician sent word, saying I would need to change two destinies today."
"But what is our destiny?" Day asked, looking at Night.
"To stay in Mundania," Wira answered. Apparently Humfrey had informed her of the situation. "It was not by chance that you transported yourself and Night out, so long ago. It was destiny. You were mean to live in Mundania." Both girls looked horrified.
"But I can change that!" Destiny said quickly. "I can change your destinies so that you are meant to stay in Xanth." She smiled.
"Oh yes, please do!" Day cried.
"As soon as you can!" Night said eagerly.
"Very well," Destiny said, smiling. She stepped up to Day, and put her arms on Day's shoulders. She closed her eyes and began to hum. A moment later, she stepped back. "Done," she said.
"Now me!" Night said. Chuckling, Destiny stepped up to Night, and repeated the ritual.
"Now you will remain in Xanth," Destiny said.
"Oh, thank you so much!" Day said, throwing her arms around Destiny. "How can we ever repay you?"
"Yes, anything!" Night said, hugging her too.
Destiny smiled. "You don't owe me anything. I'm happy to have been mentioned in a story, and to have the chance to use my talent. I need nothing more." She glanced around. "But I'm afraid I must go now." She looked disappointed.
"Do you have to? You could stay with us for a while," Day offered.
"I'm afraid I must," Destiny said. She turned to walk out of the castle.
"Thank you!" Day and Night called. Then they looked at each other. "We can stay!" The smiles on their faces lit up the whole room. Day ran to Raven and clung to him, and Night hugged Lyndsey. Next Day hugged little Grundy, with some difficulty, and Night hugged Peep. They continued this until everyone in the room had been hugged. It was a wonderful ending to the story.
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