Part XX -- Prize
Vader opened his eyes. He was sprawled on the damp, rocky ground at the shore of Lake Eerie. As he sat up, his shoulder joints and spine cracked loudly. Stang, how long had he been asleep?
Luke lay face down nearby, mouth open and drooling in typical teenager fashion. Sammy was curled up between Luke's shoulder blades in a catnap. Jenny lay on her side close by, and Chang and Wara slept side by side, his arms draped around her equine neck. Metria was visible as a gently shifting patch of smoke -- a patch of smoke that snored loudly.
The battle was over. Darius was dead. Their galaxy was no longer in danger. They had won.
But the conflict within Vader was hardly over.
Darius had certainly scored with his accusation. How indeed could Vader support one tyrant and oppose another? Upon learning of the dracotaur's sinister dealings, he had immediately declared war on him. But his master was just as cruel and twisted in his affairs, and he obeyed him unquestioningly.
He watched Luke sleep, a gentle smile touching his lips. The boy was still so full of sky-high hopes and equally high ideals. At first Vader had been frustrated by that, as it was an enormous obstacle in his struggle to turn him. But now he found he envied that idealism. At least Luke could battle Darius without immersing himself in a moral quandary.
Which brought him right back to his original plan to convert his son to the dark side. Though his master commanded it, he wished to carry the order out not out of obedience to the Emperor, but in an effort to preserve his son's life. Someday soon, the son of Skywalker would ally himself with the Sith.
But not today. Today Luke would go free.
A dark form close by attracted his attention, and he looked to see Misty sitting near Luke's feet. She seemed to realize Vader had noticed her, and she stood and padded over to him, nuzzling his hand for a pat. He complied, rubbing her ears.
"You're an exceptional animal, Misty," he told her. "We owe our victory today to you. Thank you."
Something flickered in her eyes, and they suddenly shifted from golden to brown. Before his astonished eyes Misty went from dog form to human form. A strikingly beautiful woman, her dark brown hair fell in waves to her shoulders, and a smile graced her regal features. A simple but elegant brown dress, trimmed in black with a white ivory brooch over the chest, complimented her beauty.
"You're welcome," she replied.
His chest constricted. "Padme!"
Her smile broadened. "Ani."
He shook his head in disbelief. He was dreaming or hallucinating. This couldn't be her! She was long dead...
Wara's words returned to him -- "Sometimes something bad happens to a good person, and instead of dying that person comes to live in Xanth."
"It's really me, Anakin," she whispered, taking his hand.
He looked away, suddenly inundated with shame. How he had brutalized Padme at the end, how he had caused her so much agony! She should hate him, scorn him! But she had forgiven him, aided them in their quest, her love unconditional and lasting.
"Please, Padme," he said quietly. "I'm no longer worthy of that name. Anakin Skywalker is dead. I killed him long ago."
"Is that so?" she inquired. "Well, Darth Vader would never have fought Darius. Nor would he have selected a child as a Companion or saved her life. But Anakin would have."
For a long time they simply stared at each other, basking in each other's presences, glorying in the moment. How he longed to be able to touch her, kiss her, embrace her! But for now, the mere pleasure of her presence was like water for a man dying of thirst.
At last her gaze went to Luke. "I had to hide him after you... left," she said quietly, tears filling her eyes. "I... I'm sorry..."
"Perhaps," Vader replied, "you were not entirely wrong in doing so." He squeezed her hand. "We should wake him up. I know he would want to meet you."
She leaned over and shook him gently. "Get up, Luke."
Sammy made a displeased sound and hopped off of Luke's back. Luke gave a reluctant groan but was otherwise still.
"Luke, wake up."
"Don't wanna get up, Mom."
"You can't sleep all day, silly boy."
"Five more minutes, Mom..." His eyes shot open. "Mom?!"
He scrambled to his feet, eyes wide, talking a kilometer a minute. "How did you get here? Father told me you were dead! How did you find us?"
She laughed. "I never died in our galaxy. I was simply taken to Xanth to continue life here. When I learned you two were in Xanth on a quest, I begged Demon Grossclout to allow me to participate in some role in the game. He relented and gave me a talent that I might aid you -- the talent to assume the form of any land-bound animal. I feared I wouldn't reach you before you defeated Darius."
Luke opened his mouth in an attempt to say more, but no words came out.
Padme took him in her arms. "I love you, son," she whispered tearfully.
He returned the embrace. "I missed you, Mom," he replied in a tight voice.
"Come with us, Padme," urged Vader. "Back to our world."
She shook her head. "If I leave Xanth, I die -- for real. I can't go with you."
"Then we'll stay here," volunteered Luke.
"Don't be silly," she chided. "The galaxy needs you two."
"But Mother, we need you!" Luke insisted.
"I cannot lose you again," Vader added forcefully.
"I'm always with you," she replied. "Both of you should know by now that you can't keep those you love alive forever. You can resuscitate them, heal their wounds, rescue them from deadly situations, but eventually they pass away despite all you do. But if you continue to love them, they never entirely leave you. And I have never left the two of you."
There was a faraway shout, and Vader could barely discern the words: "Quit jouncing my old bones around, you miserable flying alley cat! Just be glad your year of service ends today, or it'll be back to challenge duty!"
"I must go," she told them. "The Good Magician didn't approve of me being in the game, and he's coming. And besides, you'll be going back soon."
Vader took Padme in his arms and embraced her gently. "I love you."
"I know, Anakin," she replied.
She stepped back a few paces and assumed canine form again. She barked a farewell and trotted into the mists.
"I knew there was more to her than we could see," Vader said roughly. "But I never expected... that."
"You truly do love her," Luke noted. "If someone had told me a week ago that you were capable of love, I would have called them insane. But I know better now."
Two figures stepped out of the fog. The first was the Good Magician astride Gregory Griffon, a book spread open across the beast's shoulders. The second, riding the night mare-hippogriff crossbreed they had seen earlier, was a familiar woman with short hair and glasses.
"Kenya Starflight," Vader noted. "You've been involved in this from the very beginning."
She grinned mischievously. "Guilty as charged, my lord."
"Serving as your first challenge at my castle was only part of her year of service," Humphrey told him. "She was sent to the temple of the Muses shortly thereafter to help record an account of your quest, to be released in Mundania via Internet. Usually a Mundanian man named Piers Anthony transfers the Muses' books to that land, but he wasn't available, so we hired a replacement." He raised his voice. "Wake up!"
The others stirred groggily, getting to their feet. Metria gathered herself into human form, grumbling.
"I thought demons didn't sleep," said Luke.
"I wasn't asleep," she said thickly, stifling a yawn.
"Why is the crossbreed hippogriff with you?" asked Wara, shifting to human form.
"Nina Night-griff is the mate of Gregory Griffon," Humphrey explained. "They met on our way to Lake Eerie. But that's beside the point."
"We did it, Magician Humphrey!" exclaimed Jenny.
"I wouldn't use a singular term such as 'it,'" the Good Magician replied. "Your group has left a path of mischief in your wake -- harassing a goblin tribe, flooding the Gap Chasm, endangering the Gap Dragon and his mate and child, forcing an underage Companion to break the Adult Conspiracy, destroying over a thousand harpies, doing damage to an ogre..."
"With all due respect, I think the ogre did more damage to us," Vader countered.
"Ease up, Magician," Kenya advised. "They did save Xanth. That's what matters."
"Indeed," he replied. "You did save Xanth and the Galaxy Far, Far Away. But had you failed in your quest, you'd be hearing it from me!"
"Aren't we hearing it already?" humphed Metria.
"Then our quest is complete?" inquired Vader.
"Not quite. In your haste to escape the tunnels, you forgot something -- the prize." He pulled a battered gold wooden box from his robes and tossed it at the Players' feet. "I took the liberty of excavating it from what was left of Darius' crossbreed village for you."
They stared at the prize a moment, each expecting the other to claim it.
"You take it," Luke said finally.
"You take it," Vader replied.
"You take it."
"YOU take it."
"I don't want it."
"Neither do I."
"You saved my life at the Gap. You deserve it."
"You saved MY life in the tunnels. You deserve it."
"You defeated Com Pewter."
"You outsmarted Fracto."
"You fought an ogre."
"You braved a forget-whorl."
"I'm not taking it!"
"Then it's going to sit there awhile, isn't it?"
Vader realized everyone was laughing at them. Even the Good Magician had almost cracked a smile despite his efforts.
"Which of us will need the prize more?" Luke asked.
The Good Magician pondered that a moment. "If it's a question of who needs it," he said at last, "then the prize should go to Darth Vader."
Reluctantly he bent down and picked up the box. He lifted the lid to reveal an orb the size of a man's eye, shimmering with a deep blue light. Hesitantly he closed a hand around the sphere, but it vanished on contact, and his hand glowed blue for a few moments. In those moments a voice sounded in his head.
[I am the talent of shape-shifting. I will enable you to assume the form of any flying beast of any size, from the smallest insect to the largest roc. Use me wisely.]
He closed his eyes, envisioning a dragon. A brief feeling of light-headedness took him, then a surge of power rushed through his limbs. When he opened his eyes, he was no longer human, but well over five tons of jet-black scales and sinewy muscle. Never had he felt so powerful, so free! A sweet desire to break free from the bonds of gravity, to fly fast and far, away from this dreary lake, burned in his breast...
Swiftly he returned to his natural form. What a powerful talent!
"Thank you," he told the Magician.
"Well, don't just stand there," Humphrey advised. "Take a test flight. Make sure that talent Grossclout provided is any good."
Vader turned to Luke. "Care for a ride?"
"Do I ever!" Luke replied eagerly.
He returned to the dragon shape, lowering his head to allow his son to mount. Once he was sure Luke's grip was secure, he crouched and sprang.
The wind caressed his body as he soared, catching a thermal and rising with it, stretching his wings to their farthest reach. He gave an exultant roar. This was bliss! All his life he'd loved to fly, but being able to achieve flight without mechanical aid was the ultimate glory. He circled higher still, above the clouds, until Xanth was spread below them like a map, all green and blue with the jagged black line of the Gap splitting it from east coast to west.
At last, weary but happy, he spiraled down, landing close to the others and allowing Luke to dismount before becoming human again.
"That was wild!" Luke exclaimed. "Thanks!"
"A few more matters to clear up," Humphrey stated. "First, your talents. Once you two leave Xanth, your talents will revert back to what they were before Darius changed them. Vader, once you leave Xanth, your game-awarded talent will be rendered inactive until you return."
"Understood," Vader replied.
"Second, the lake. Darius is dead, and the imp army and the cave-in destroyed over half his army. However, hundreds of crossbreeds still exist throughout Xanth, many too bizarre to be accepted into any culture. With the village gone, they have nowhere to go."
Chang stepped forward. "I volunteer to begin construction on a new village here at Lake Eerie. It shall be a haven for unusual crossbreeds, as well as other outcasts like Mundanians and centaurs with talents. And my fiance and I will rule justly."
Wara looked up at him adoringly. "You mean it?"
"Of course, my love." He bent down to kiss her lovingly.
"Oh, gag," choked Metria. "Mush again."
"Shut up," Luke snapped.
"Very good," Humphrey replied. "After all this is settled, Gregory Griffon and Nina Night-griff will join your village."
"Then that is settled," Vader noted. "Anything else?"
The Good Magician shook his head. "Your quest is complete. Your world awaits. Return to it."
A portal opened in the mists.
Jenny looked up at Vader, tears in her eyes. "I'm going to miss you, Lord Vader."
He cupped her chin in his hand. "You're an extraordinary young woman, Jenny. Were it not for you, I would never have made it this far. I will miss you."
She hugged him around the waist. "Will you be back?"
"That remains to be seen," he replied, patting her back. "But rest assured that I will never forget you."
Meanwhile, Luke was saying farewell to Metria.
"I couldn't have done it without you, Metria," he told her. "You did so much for me. I'm really going to miss you, quirks and all." He extended a hand.
"Who needs handshakes?" she replied, and she grabbed his head and kissed him fiercely. "Stay out of trouble, Skysinger. I can't come to your galaxy to save you, you know."
"I'll remember," he replied, pulling free of her grip.
Chang and Wara weren't quite as emotional in their goodbyes, settling for shaking hands.
"We thank you," Chang told them. "You helped us achieve our dreams and ensure the man who hurt us will not harm anyone else."
"If you ever return to Xanth, be sure to visit," Wara added.
Sammy meowed and twined around Luke and Vader's ankles.
"Yes, we'll miss you too, Sammy," said Vader.
Luke turned to the Good Magician. "Thank..."
"Bah, just doing my job," he said dismissively.
Kenya smiled. "Good to meet you two. Never thought I'd see you both in the flesh."
"Will anyone in Mundania truly believe you came to Xanth and encountered us?" Vader asked.
"Probably not, but I can gloat a little," she replied. "I hope to see you again sometime."
Luke gestured to the portal. "You first."
Vader strode through the portal and out of Xanth.
***
He awoke with a start. He was still seated at his computer. A glance at the chrono on his desk told him that no time at all had passed in their world between entering and exiting the game. When he looked back at the monitor, it had gone blank.
Had it all been a dream?
He took a minute to examine his armor and cloak. There were no scratches, dents, or tears, even though he had suffered plenty of those while in the game. It was as if he'd simply dozed off in his chair for a few seconds and had an incredibly vivid dream.
But it had all been real! Jenny, Metria, Chang, Wara, Sammy, the Good Magician, Fracto, Com Pewter, Darius, Kenya, the ogres, the Imp Ire, the Gap Dragon... they truly existed in a world all their own! He was sure of it!
A glint of gold caught his eye. Resting on the desk beside the chrono was the beat-up box that had contained his talent. Gently he took it and examined it. It was of no make familiar to this galaxy -- and solid proof of his exploits in Xanth.
Three things occurred to him as he sat there, staring at the box. First, it was going to be harder than ever for him to convert Luke. His and Luke's journey together, as well as his encounter with Padme, had seen to that. For though allowing Luke to become a Jedi would mean his death, could he truly force him down the torturous path of the dark side?
Second, the Emperor would want to be informed of Xanth's existence. He had made it clear that any unusual occurrence, no matter how trivial it seemed, should be reported. In the struggle against the Rebellion, nothing could be overlooked, lest it be a missed opportunity or an ignored threat.
Third, telling his master of Xanth would undoubtedly mean the destruction of that unique alternate reality. Either Palpatine would order the land razed to destroy all vestiges of magic, or he would invade, bringing it under his cruel dominion. And the thought of Xanth meeting either fate chilled Vader to the core.
He pulled the disk from its drive and placed it in the box, latching it securely. Then he opened the file manager on his computer and set to work. Within a few minutes, he had purged the computer's memory of any trace of the program.
As for the disk... he would have to destroy it. It was the gateway to Xanth and thus a means to exploit the land. But as he reached purposefully for the box, he found he couldn't bring himself to throw it away. At last he took it and left his quarters, lost in thought.
"...I still say you should take the matter to Lord Vader, Lieutenant."
"Are you kidding? I find I enjoy breathing, sir."
"If you want an extra day of leave, you have to take it up with him. It's procedure."
"He'll deny it. He always does. I was lucky enough to get the weekend of my son's birthday off, and I'm not going to push that any farther."
"But how will you get a gift for him in time..."
Admiral Piett and a newly assigned officer, Lieutenant Koho, rounded a corner and came into view. Their conversation trailed off when they saw the Dark Lord.
"How old is your son, Lieutenant?" asked Vader.
Koho opened his mouth once or twice before he could make any sound. "He'll be seventeen next month, my lord."
Vader extended the box toward him. "The disk the Rebel pilot was carrying contained only a computer game. I have inspected it thoroughly and found it of no use to the Empire. Perhaps your son will appreciate it."
Disbelief, then incredulity, and finally amazed gratitude crossed Koho's face as he took the box. "Thank you very much, my lord."
"And you are granted that extra day of leave. I will assign someone to cover your position."
"My lord, is all well?" asked Piett. Vader could tell that he really meant "Is Darth Vader going crazy or is he just sick?"
"All is well," Vader replied. "I simply wish to be rid of the game. I elected to give it to someone who will use it -- preferably someone not subject to the Adult Conspiracy."
"Ah, yes, my lord," Piett replied.
Vader turned and walked back to his quarters, enjoying a private laugh as Piett and Koho debated what in the name of the Force the Adult Conspiracy was.
***
Luke sat bolt upright, shaking his head. He was back in his chair, still at the computer, though the screen was now dark. His clothes were no longer ragged and dirty; in fact, there was no sign that he had just spent a week in a pun-infested jungle world. Even his wall chrono still showed the exact time and date of his departure.
Had it really happened?
On a whim he thrust his hand into his pocket, feeling around. His fingers brushed something hard and faceted, and he drew it out and examined it. It was an emerald, the gift from the Imp-eror.
It HAD happened! He had really gone on a journey in Xanth with his father! He had really encountered magicians, dragons, centaurs, unicorns, elves, demons, imps, ogres, even his mother! Xanth was real!
He couldn't wait until he ran into Wedge again! What a story he had to tell! But suddenly he realized that he would be the laughingstock of the Alliance if he told anyone he'd been sucked into a computer game.
Carefully he removed the disk from his computer, then locked it in the trunk containing his personal supplies. He would have to guard the game carefully. There was no telling what damage would be inflicted on either Xanth or their galaxy if it fell into the wrong hands.
Again he examined the jewel, lost in thought. So many mysteries had been solved on this quest. Vader was truly his father -- and so was Anakin. He had a mother, and he had met her face to face. And despite all that Vader had done, there was still much good in the man. When he next met Yoda, he would have to confront him with all he knew. Perhaps the ancient Jedi could help him turn his father back to the good side.
He stuffed the gem into his supply trunk, beneath a set of black Jedi attire he had acquired recently. It would come in handy when the time came to build a new weapon. He was getting tired of relying on a blast-her -- uh, blaster. Stang, the real world was going to take some getting used to now!
"Luke?"
He looked up. "Hi, Wedge. How'd the game go?"
"It hasn't started yet," Wedge complained. "Dunkan from ground crew lost the ball, and we had to spend an hour looking for it. Finally found it in the control room under General Madine's terminal. How it got there, we'll never know. But I decided to come check up on you before we started the game."
Too bad they didn't have Sammy's help in locating the ball. "I'm feeling a lot better, actually. I think I'm up for joining you, if you still need that halfback."
"Really?" Wedge asked.
"Yeah. Just let me get my helmet."
His fellow pilot looked at him quizzically. "Something's up, Luke. You just seem... changed, somehow."
"So?"
"It's odd. How can you go from depressed to cheery in just an hour?"
Luke shrugged. "Maybe I got some reverse wood for my mood."
"Come again?"
Luke laughed and pulled on his smashball helmet. "Oh, let's start this game already!"
Vader opened his eyes. He was sprawled on the damp, rocky ground at the shore of Lake Eerie. As he sat up, his shoulder joints and spine cracked loudly. Stang, how long had he been asleep?
Luke lay face down nearby, mouth open and drooling in typical teenager fashion. Sammy was curled up between Luke's shoulder blades in a catnap. Jenny lay on her side close by, and Chang and Wara slept side by side, his arms draped around her equine neck. Metria was visible as a gently shifting patch of smoke -- a patch of smoke that snored loudly.
The battle was over. Darius was dead. Their galaxy was no longer in danger. They had won.
But the conflict within Vader was hardly over.
Darius had certainly scored with his accusation. How indeed could Vader support one tyrant and oppose another? Upon learning of the dracotaur's sinister dealings, he had immediately declared war on him. But his master was just as cruel and twisted in his affairs, and he obeyed him unquestioningly.
He watched Luke sleep, a gentle smile touching his lips. The boy was still so full of sky-high hopes and equally high ideals. At first Vader had been frustrated by that, as it was an enormous obstacle in his struggle to turn him. But now he found he envied that idealism. At least Luke could battle Darius without immersing himself in a moral quandary.
Which brought him right back to his original plan to convert his son to the dark side. Though his master commanded it, he wished to carry the order out not out of obedience to the Emperor, but in an effort to preserve his son's life. Someday soon, the son of Skywalker would ally himself with the Sith.
But not today. Today Luke would go free.
A dark form close by attracted his attention, and he looked to see Misty sitting near Luke's feet. She seemed to realize Vader had noticed her, and she stood and padded over to him, nuzzling his hand for a pat. He complied, rubbing her ears.
"You're an exceptional animal, Misty," he told her. "We owe our victory today to you. Thank you."
Something flickered in her eyes, and they suddenly shifted from golden to brown. Before his astonished eyes Misty went from dog form to human form. A strikingly beautiful woman, her dark brown hair fell in waves to her shoulders, and a smile graced her regal features. A simple but elegant brown dress, trimmed in black with a white ivory brooch over the chest, complimented her beauty.
"You're welcome," she replied.
His chest constricted. "Padme!"
Her smile broadened. "Ani."
He shook his head in disbelief. He was dreaming or hallucinating. This couldn't be her! She was long dead...
Wara's words returned to him -- "Sometimes something bad happens to a good person, and instead of dying that person comes to live in Xanth."
"It's really me, Anakin," she whispered, taking his hand.
He looked away, suddenly inundated with shame. How he had brutalized Padme at the end, how he had caused her so much agony! She should hate him, scorn him! But she had forgiven him, aided them in their quest, her love unconditional and lasting.
"Please, Padme," he said quietly. "I'm no longer worthy of that name. Anakin Skywalker is dead. I killed him long ago."
"Is that so?" she inquired. "Well, Darth Vader would never have fought Darius. Nor would he have selected a child as a Companion or saved her life. But Anakin would have."
For a long time they simply stared at each other, basking in each other's presences, glorying in the moment. How he longed to be able to touch her, kiss her, embrace her! But for now, the mere pleasure of her presence was like water for a man dying of thirst.
At last her gaze went to Luke. "I had to hide him after you... left," she said quietly, tears filling her eyes. "I... I'm sorry..."
"Perhaps," Vader replied, "you were not entirely wrong in doing so." He squeezed her hand. "We should wake him up. I know he would want to meet you."
She leaned over and shook him gently. "Get up, Luke."
Sammy made a displeased sound and hopped off of Luke's back. Luke gave a reluctant groan but was otherwise still.
"Luke, wake up."
"Don't wanna get up, Mom."
"You can't sleep all day, silly boy."
"Five more minutes, Mom..." His eyes shot open. "Mom?!"
He scrambled to his feet, eyes wide, talking a kilometer a minute. "How did you get here? Father told me you were dead! How did you find us?"
She laughed. "I never died in our galaxy. I was simply taken to Xanth to continue life here. When I learned you two were in Xanth on a quest, I begged Demon Grossclout to allow me to participate in some role in the game. He relented and gave me a talent that I might aid you -- the talent to assume the form of any land-bound animal. I feared I wouldn't reach you before you defeated Darius."
Luke opened his mouth in an attempt to say more, but no words came out.
Padme took him in her arms. "I love you, son," she whispered tearfully.
He returned the embrace. "I missed you, Mom," he replied in a tight voice.
"Come with us, Padme," urged Vader. "Back to our world."
She shook her head. "If I leave Xanth, I die -- for real. I can't go with you."
"Then we'll stay here," volunteered Luke.
"Don't be silly," she chided. "The galaxy needs you two."
"But Mother, we need you!" Luke insisted.
"I cannot lose you again," Vader added forcefully.
"I'm always with you," she replied. "Both of you should know by now that you can't keep those you love alive forever. You can resuscitate them, heal their wounds, rescue them from deadly situations, but eventually they pass away despite all you do. But if you continue to love them, they never entirely leave you. And I have never left the two of you."
There was a faraway shout, and Vader could barely discern the words: "Quit jouncing my old bones around, you miserable flying alley cat! Just be glad your year of service ends today, or it'll be back to challenge duty!"
"I must go," she told them. "The Good Magician didn't approve of me being in the game, and he's coming. And besides, you'll be going back soon."
Vader took Padme in his arms and embraced her gently. "I love you."
"I know, Anakin," she replied.
She stepped back a few paces and assumed canine form again. She barked a farewell and trotted into the mists.
"I knew there was more to her than we could see," Vader said roughly. "But I never expected... that."
"You truly do love her," Luke noted. "If someone had told me a week ago that you were capable of love, I would have called them insane. But I know better now."
Two figures stepped out of the fog. The first was the Good Magician astride Gregory Griffon, a book spread open across the beast's shoulders. The second, riding the night mare-hippogriff crossbreed they had seen earlier, was a familiar woman with short hair and glasses.
"Kenya Starflight," Vader noted. "You've been involved in this from the very beginning."
She grinned mischievously. "Guilty as charged, my lord."
"Serving as your first challenge at my castle was only part of her year of service," Humphrey told him. "She was sent to the temple of the Muses shortly thereafter to help record an account of your quest, to be released in Mundania via Internet. Usually a Mundanian man named Piers Anthony transfers the Muses' books to that land, but he wasn't available, so we hired a replacement." He raised his voice. "Wake up!"
The others stirred groggily, getting to their feet. Metria gathered herself into human form, grumbling.
"I thought demons didn't sleep," said Luke.
"I wasn't asleep," she said thickly, stifling a yawn.
"Why is the crossbreed hippogriff with you?" asked Wara, shifting to human form.
"Nina Night-griff is the mate of Gregory Griffon," Humphrey explained. "They met on our way to Lake Eerie. But that's beside the point."
"We did it, Magician Humphrey!" exclaimed Jenny.
"I wouldn't use a singular term such as 'it,'" the Good Magician replied. "Your group has left a path of mischief in your wake -- harassing a goblin tribe, flooding the Gap Chasm, endangering the Gap Dragon and his mate and child, forcing an underage Companion to break the Adult Conspiracy, destroying over a thousand harpies, doing damage to an ogre..."
"With all due respect, I think the ogre did more damage to us," Vader countered.
"Ease up, Magician," Kenya advised. "They did save Xanth. That's what matters."
"Indeed," he replied. "You did save Xanth and the Galaxy Far, Far Away. But had you failed in your quest, you'd be hearing it from me!"
"Aren't we hearing it already?" humphed Metria.
"Then our quest is complete?" inquired Vader.
"Not quite. In your haste to escape the tunnels, you forgot something -- the prize." He pulled a battered gold wooden box from his robes and tossed it at the Players' feet. "I took the liberty of excavating it from what was left of Darius' crossbreed village for you."
They stared at the prize a moment, each expecting the other to claim it.
"You take it," Luke said finally.
"You take it," Vader replied.
"You take it."
"YOU take it."
"I don't want it."
"Neither do I."
"You saved my life at the Gap. You deserve it."
"You saved MY life in the tunnels. You deserve it."
"You defeated Com Pewter."
"You outsmarted Fracto."
"You fought an ogre."
"You braved a forget-whorl."
"I'm not taking it!"
"Then it's going to sit there awhile, isn't it?"
Vader realized everyone was laughing at them. Even the Good Magician had almost cracked a smile despite his efforts.
"Which of us will need the prize more?" Luke asked.
The Good Magician pondered that a moment. "If it's a question of who needs it," he said at last, "then the prize should go to Darth Vader."
Reluctantly he bent down and picked up the box. He lifted the lid to reveal an orb the size of a man's eye, shimmering with a deep blue light. Hesitantly he closed a hand around the sphere, but it vanished on contact, and his hand glowed blue for a few moments. In those moments a voice sounded in his head.
[I am the talent of shape-shifting. I will enable you to assume the form of any flying beast of any size, from the smallest insect to the largest roc. Use me wisely.]
He closed his eyes, envisioning a dragon. A brief feeling of light-headedness took him, then a surge of power rushed through his limbs. When he opened his eyes, he was no longer human, but well over five tons of jet-black scales and sinewy muscle. Never had he felt so powerful, so free! A sweet desire to break free from the bonds of gravity, to fly fast and far, away from this dreary lake, burned in his breast...
Swiftly he returned to his natural form. What a powerful talent!
"Thank you," he told the Magician.
"Well, don't just stand there," Humphrey advised. "Take a test flight. Make sure that talent Grossclout provided is any good."
Vader turned to Luke. "Care for a ride?"
"Do I ever!" Luke replied eagerly.
He returned to the dragon shape, lowering his head to allow his son to mount. Once he was sure Luke's grip was secure, he crouched and sprang.
The wind caressed his body as he soared, catching a thermal and rising with it, stretching his wings to their farthest reach. He gave an exultant roar. This was bliss! All his life he'd loved to fly, but being able to achieve flight without mechanical aid was the ultimate glory. He circled higher still, above the clouds, until Xanth was spread below them like a map, all green and blue with the jagged black line of the Gap splitting it from east coast to west.
At last, weary but happy, he spiraled down, landing close to the others and allowing Luke to dismount before becoming human again.
"That was wild!" Luke exclaimed. "Thanks!"
"A few more matters to clear up," Humphrey stated. "First, your talents. Once you two leave Xanth, your talents will revert back to what they were before Darius changed them. Vader, once you leave Xanth, your game-awarded talent will be rendered inactive until you return."
"Understood," Vader replied.
"Second, the lake. Darius is dead, and the imp army and the cave-in destroyed over half his army. However, hundreds of crossbreeds still exist throughout Xanth, many too bizarre to be accepted into any culture. With the village gone, they have nowhere to go."
Chang stepped forward. "I volunteer to begin construction on a new village here at Lake Eerie. It shall be a haven for unusual crossbreeds, as well as other outcasts like Mundanians and centaurs with talents. And my fiance and I will rule justly."
Wara looked up at him adoringly. "You mean it?"
"Of course, my love." He bent down to kiss her lovingly.
"Oh, gag," choked Metria. "Mush again."
"Shut up," Luke snapped.
"Very good," Humphrey replied. "After all this is settled, Gregory Griffon and Nina Night-griff will join your village."
"Then that is settled," Vader noted. "Anything else?"
The Good Magician shook his head. "Your quest is complete. Your world awaits. Return to it."
A portal opened in the mists.
Jenny looked up at Vader, tears in her eyes. "I'm going to miss you, Lord Vader."
He cupped her chin in his hand. "You're an extraordinary young woman, Jenny. Were it not for you, I would never have made it this far. I will miss you."
She hugged him around the waist. "Will you be back?"
"That remains to be seen," he replied, patting her back. "But rest assured that I will never forget you."
Meanwhile, Luke was saying farewell to Metria.
"I couldn't have done it without you, Metria," he told her. "You did so much for me. I'm really going to miss you, quirks and all." He extended a hand.
"Who needs handshakes?" she replied, and she grabbed his head and kissed him fiercely. "Stay out of trouble, Skysinger. I can't come to your galaxy to save you, you know."
"I'll remember," he replied, pulling free of her grip.
Chang and Wara weren't quite as emotional in their goodbyes, settling for shaking hands.
"We thank you," Chang told them. "You helped us achieve our dreams and ensure the man who hurt us will not harm anyone else."
"If you ever return to Xanth, be sure to visit," Wara added.
Sammy meowed and twined around Luke and Vader's ankles.
"Yes, we'll miss you too, Sammy," said Vader.
Luke turned to the Good Magician. "Thank..."
"Bah, just doing my job," he said dismissively.
Kenya smiled. "Good to meet you two. Never thought I'd see you both in the flesh."
"Will anyone in Mundania truly believe you came to Xanth and encountered us?" Vader asked.
"Probably not, but I can gloat a little," she replied. "I hope to see you again sometime."
Luke gestured to the portal. "You first."
Vader strode through the portal and out of Xanth.
***
He awoke with a start. He was still seated at his computer. A glance at the chrono on his desk told him that no time at all had passed in their world between entering and exiting the game. When he looked back at the monitor, it had gone blank.
Had it all been a dream?
He took a minute to examine his armor and cloak. There were no scratches, dents, or tears, even though he had suffered plenty of those while in the game. It was as if he'd simply dozed off in his chair for a few seconds and had an incredibly vivid dream.
But it had all been real! Jenny, Metria, Chang, Wara, Sammy, the Good Magician, Fracto, Com Pewter, Darius, Kenya, the ogres, the Imp Ire, the Gap Dragon... they truly existed in a world all their own! He was sure of it!
A glint of gold caught his eye. Resting on the desk beside the chrono was the beat-up box that had contained his talent. Gently he took it and examined it. It was of no make familiar to this galaxy -- and solid proof of his exploits in Xanth.
Three things occurred to him as he sat there, staring at the box. First, it was going to be harder than ever for him to convert Luke. His and Luke's journey together, as well as his encounter with Padme, had seen to that. For though allowing Luke to become a Jedi would mean his death, could he truly force him down the torturous path of the dark side?
Second, the Emperor would want to be informed of Xanth's existence. He had made it clear that any unusual occurrence, no matter how trivial it seemed, should be reported. In the struggle against the Rebellion, nothing could be overlooked, lest it be a missed opportunity or an ignored threat.
Third, telling his master of Xanth would undoubtedly mean the destruction of that unique alternate reality. Either Palpatine would order the land razed to destroy all vestiges of magic, or he would invade, bringing it under his cruel dominion. And the thought of Xanth meeting either fate chilled Vader to the core.
He pulled the disk from its drive and placed it in the box, latching it securely. Then he opened the file manager on his computer and set to work. Within a few minutes, he had purged the computer's memory of any trace of the program.
As for the disk... he would have to destroy it. It was the gateway to Xanth and thus a means to exploit the land. But as he reached purposefully for the box, he found he couldn't bring himself to throw it away. At last he took it and left his quarters, lost in thought.
"...I still say you should take the matter to Lord Vader, Lieutenant."
"Are you kidding? I find I enjoy breathing, sir."
"If you want an extra day of leave, you have to take it up with him. It's procedure."
"He'll deny it. He always does. I was lucky enough to get the weekend of my son's birthday off, and I'm not going to push that any farther."
"But how will you get a gift for him in time..."
Admiral Piett and a newly assigned officer, Lieutenant Koho, rounded a corner and came into view. Their conversation trailed off when they saw the Dark Lord.
"How old is your son, Lieutenant?" asked Vader.
Koho opened his mouth once or twice before he could make any sound. "He'll be seventeen next month, my lord."
Vader extended the box toward him. "The disk the Rebel pilot was carrying contained only a computer game. I have inspected it thoroughly and found it of no use to the Empire. Perhaps your son will appreciate it."
Disbelief, then incredulity, and finally amazed gratitude crossed Koho's face as he took the box. "Thank you very much, my lord."
"And you are granted that extra day of leave. I will assign someone to cover your position."
"My lord, is all well?" asked Piett. Vader could tell that he really meant "Is Darth Vader going crazy or is he just sick?"
"All is well," Vader replied. "I simply wish to be rid of the game. I elected to give it to someone who will use it -- preferably someone not subject to the Adult Conspiracy."
"Ah, yes, my lord," Piett replied.
Vader turned and walked back to his quarters, enjoying a private laugh as Piett and Koho debated what in the name of the Force the Adult Conspiracy was.
***
Luke sat bolt upright, shaking his head. He was back in his chair, still at the computer, though the screen was now dark. His clothes were no longer ragged and dirty; in fact, there was no sign that he had just spent a week in a pun-infested jungle world. Even his wall chrono still showed the exact time and date of his departure.
Had it really happened?
On a whim he thrust his hand into his pocket, feeling around. His fingers brushed something hard and faceted, and he drew it out and examined it. It was an emerald, the gift from the Imp-eror.
It HAD happened! He had really gone on a journey in Xanth with his father! He had really encountered magicians, dragons, centaurs, unicorns, elves, demons, imps, ogres, even his mother! Xanth was real!
He couldn't wait until he ran into Wedge again! What a story he had to tell! But suddenly he realized that he would be the laughingstock of the Alliance if he told anyone he'd been sucked into a computer game.
Carefully he removed the disk from his computer, then locked it in the trunk containing his personal supplies. He would have to guard the game carefully. There was no telling what damage would be inflicted on either Xanth or their galaxy if it fell into the wrong hands.
Again he examined the jewel, lost in thought. So many mysteries had been solved on this quest. Vader was truly his father -- and so was Anakin. He had a mother, and he had met her face to face. And despite all that Vader had done, there was still much good in the man. When he next met Yoda, he would have to confront him with all he knew. Perhaps the ancient Jedi could help him turn his father back to the good side.
He stuffed the gem into his supply trunk, beneath a set of black Jedi attire he had acquired recently. It would come in handy when the time came to build a new weapon. He was getting tired of relying on a blast-her -- uh, blaster. Stang, the real world was going to take some getting used to now!
"Luke?"
He looked up. "Hi, Wedge. How'd the game go?"
"It hasn't started yet," Wedge complained. "Dunkan from ground crew lost the ball, and we had to spend an hour looking for it. Finally found it in the control room under General Madine's terminal. How it got there, we'll never know. But I decided to come check up on you before we started the game."
Too bad they didn't have Sammy's help in locating the ball. "I'm feeling a lot better, actually. I think I'm up for joining you, if you still need that halfback."
"Really?" Wedge asked.
"Yeah. Just let me get my helmet."
His fellow pilot looked at him quizzically. "Something's up, Luke. You just seem... changed, somehow."
"So?"
"It's odd. How can you go from depressed to cheery in just an hour?"
Luke shrugged. "Maybe I got some reverse wood for my mood."
"Come again?"
Luke laughed and pulled on his smashball helmet. "Oh, let's start this game already!"