The Zombie Goldfish's Orange Magic

Emma's goldfish, Splash, was doing something strange. He'd been floating still all morning, but now he started wiggling his fins and—GLOWING ORANGE!

"Mom! Splash is a zombie goldfish!" Emma called, but her mom was at work.

Splash jumped right out of his bowl and grew tiny legs! He pointed to the door with one fin.

Emma grabbed her old iphone—the one Mom let her keep for emergencies—and called her best friend Leo. "Leo! Bring your padel racket! Quick!"

Leo arrived in two minutes, his bright orange padel racket in hand. "What's happening?"

"Splash is taking us on an adventure!" Emma cheered.

Zombie Goldfish Splash led them down Maple Street, past Mrs. Green's house, all the way to Orange Park—a magical place where the grass was orange and the trees grew orange candies instead of leaves!

"We need your help," Splash said in a bubbly voice. "The Orange Wizard lost his magic wand. Without it, all the orange magic will fade away!"

Emma and Leo nodded bravely. They followed Splash through the orange forest, where butterflies with orange wings danced around them. The iphone in Emma's pocket started glowing, showing a magical map to the wizard's castle.

At the castle, they found the Orange Wizard looking sad. "My wand is hidden in the Cave of Riddles," he said.

Leo stepped forward. "I'm good at riddles!" Emma nodded. "And we have Splash!"

Inside the cave, a giant orange bird appeared. "Answer my riddle: What is orange, sweet to eat, and grows on trees?"

"ORANGES!" both children shouted together.

The bird nodded and revealed the magic wand. The Orange Wizard thanked them with a gift: Splash could stay a magical zombie goldfish forever, and the children could visit Orange Park anytime they wanted.

"You showed courage and friendship," the Wizard said. "Those are the greatest magic of all."

Emma and Leo walked home holding hands, Splash following close behind with his little orange-glowing fins. Sometimes the best friends come in the smallest packages—even fish-sized ones!