The Color Of Her Panties by Piers Anthony

isn't like the place I came from.”
    “How do we let them know we are friends?” Gwenny asked.
    “We identify ourselves and state our mission,” he said.
    “Once they know us, they won't bother us again.”
    So the goblin girl approached the crossed branches.  “I am Gwendolyn Goblin, heir to the chiefship of Goblin Mountain, on the way to consult the Good Magician about something I need if I am to succeed in becoming the first female chief among the goblins.”
    The leaves of the trees rustled.  After a moment the two big branches lifted up, letting her pass.  But they dropped back into place behind her.
    Jenny stepped up again.  “I am Jenny from the World of Two Moons.  I'm Gwenny's friend, and I want to help her.”
    The leaves rustled again, and then the branches lifted, letting her pass.
    Che stepped up.  “I am Che Centaur, Gwenny's companion.  I may be destined to help change the course of the history of Xanth.”
    The trees let him pass also.  “Thank you,” he said.
    They moved on through the orchard, where all manner of trees grew with their fruit.  There were cherries in varieties ranging from chocolate to bomb, and pies ranging from lemon to cow, and footwear trees ranging from boot to lady's slipper.  They looked at these, sorely tempted, but knew that they had to present themselves at Castle Roogna before touching anything.
    Then the castle itself loomed up forbiddingly, surrounded by a deep moat.  A serpentine moat monster lifted its head to stare at them.  But it recognized them, and relaxed.  They had, after all, been here before.  They just hadn't come by foot, then.
    There was a scream from inside.  In a moment a young woman in blue jeans and shirttails dashed out, her braids flying.  “Che!  Gwenny!  Jenny!” she cried.
    It was Electra, the first princess of Xanth to wear such informal clothing.  They had been at her wedding, two years before.  She was actually twenty years old, but looked sixteen.  That was fine, because her husband Prince Dolph was seventeen, and women were supposed to be younger than men, and if they weren't, they had to fake it.  Che wasn't sure of the origin of that particular rule, but it was in the big book of rules somewhere.
    Electra hugged them all and ushered them into the castle.  She took them to the nursery to show off the twin girls the stork had brought her, Dawn and Eve.  It was hard to imagine this girlishly freckled person as either princess or mother, but she was, and evidently quite happy to be so.
    They were given a room to share, and Che gazed out the window while the girls took baths and changed clothing.  Centaurs did not have the same conventions as the human folk, but honored them when in human company.
    So he did not try to sneak a peek at anyone's panties, tempting as the prospect was.
    Then they were escorted to the main dining hall for dinner.  Now they met King Dor and Queen Irene, who were gracious.  Prince Dolph was also present, looking somewhat gangly.  Then Electra appeared, and for a moment Che did not recognize her, for she had been transformed.
    She wore a pale green gown speckled with golden motes, and a tiara in her hair, and her feet were dainty in lady's slippers.  Her face remained freckled, but now it was adult and beautiful.  She looked almost as wonderful as she had on the day she married Dolph, when the magic wedding dress had changed her from nothing to lovely.
    “You seem surprised,” Queen Irene remarked.  Che glanced guiltily around, and realized that she was speaking to Gwenny and Jenny, whose mouths had sagged open.
    That was a relief; Che's mouth had almost done the same.
    “Electra's so different,” Jenny said.  “Just a moment ago she was in blue jeans.”
    “We have learned the art of compromise,” Queen Irene said.  “By day, and in informal situations, Electra dresses and acts as she pleases.  In the evening, and when formal, she dresses for the part.  She is after all a