Zelda and Zombie Goldie

Seven-year-old Zelda sat by her fishbowl, tears dripping onto her orange carpet. Her goldfish, Goldie, floated at the top, not moving.

"I'll miss you, Goldie," she whispered.

Suddenly, a sparkly blue butterfly fluttered through the open window. It dropped something into Zelda's hand—a glowing orange vitamin that smelled like sunshine and strawberries.

"This is a magic zombie vitamin," the butterfly seemed to say. "One bite brings back friends for one whole day of adventures."

Zelda's heart raced. She dropped the vitamin into the bowl.

Goldie's scales shimmered. His googly eyes opened wide. He did a flip! A splash! A wiggle!

"I'm a zombie goldfish!" Goldie squeaked, popping out of the water to float beside Zelda. "And I can fly!"

Zelda giggled as Goldie zoomed around her room. "Let's go outside!"

All day long, they had the most magical adventures. Goldie showed Zelda secret fairy gardens in her backyard. They raced clouds across the sky. Goldie even helped a lost baby bird find its way home, using his new zombie super-sight.

"Being a zombie is wonderful," Goldie said, "but it's your love that made me come back. The vitamin only worked because you cared so much."

As sunset painted the sky purple, Goldie grew sleepy.

"Thank you for the best day, Zelda," Goldie whispered, fading back into the water. "Love is the strongest magic of all."

The next morning, Zelda found her fishbowl empty. But in its place swam three tiny goldfish babies, each with a sparkly orange scale just like Goldie's.

She smiled, touching her heart. Love never really disappears. It just swims on in new and magical ways.