Lunar urges us out of the boat and onto the stone bank. I clamber onto the bank, still carrying Star. My Velcro-girlie still has her arms wrapped around me.

Lunar gestures towards a large, steel door. “This is my creation room,” she says. “I want no messing about when you go in. No touching anything and no tasting. Is that understood?” The kids all respond with nods and promises not to mess around.

Lunar unlocks the door and we follow her inside the creation room, which is filled with bubbling cauldrons and whirring machines. The place is like a huge kitchen, full of colourful smoke and steam. I set Star down on the floor and take her little green hand in my own. Her shiny green nose twitches as she looks around with wide eyes. “There’s a million smells here daddy,” she says excitedly.

“There are a lot of rich smells,” I agree. “Can you smell what they all are, Star? What’s your favourite smell?”

Star giggles. “You’re my favourite smell, daddy.”

I feel a wave of warmth wash over me. It’s these quirky things my ogre-girl says that are a part of why she’s so endearing. I pick her up and she rubs her shiny green nose against my nose.

Tabbie walks up to us, still swaying slightly. “What do I smell like, Star?” Her speech is a little slurred.

“You smell like my mommy,” says Star.

Lunar leads us to a table where there is a large platter of delicious looking sweets. “Now this,” she says, “is something special. These sweets are magic. You just think of your favourite flavour and the sweet will take on that taste.”

Vera, the little girl in the ermine coat speaks up and says, “I want one.”

Lunar shakes her head and her long red hair ripples and bounces. “I said you cannot taste anything in this room. Now look at this, here is something incredible.”

Lunar shows us a towering machine in the middle of the creation room. The machine bristles with pipes that curl down towards a large sink. “Now watch this.” Lunar pulls a lever and the machine squirts yellow and blue goo into the sink until it’s filled with runny yellow and blue sludge. Then there is a sucking sound and the goo is sucked out of the bottom of the sink and into the machine. The machine rumbles and then a little pipe pops out of its side and squirts a tiny dollop of glowing green goo onto a plate that sits on a table beside the machine. The goo solidifies into a fluorescent yellowish green cube.

“That’s all?” says Vera.

“That’s all,” says Lunar, a trace of coolness in her voice. “This is a new enterprise… A pill that gives superpowers. If it works. It’s not ready though. This is just a prototype.”

A lot of the kids and parents murmur in response, their curiosity piqued.

“A pill that gives superpowers?” says Scarlett, her eyes wide. “Let me try it out.”

Lunar rejects the offer. “I’m sorry,” she says firmly. “It’s not ready for consumption. It’s still in the prototype stage.”

Then to everyone’s surprise, Scarlett snatches the green pill from the plate and swallows it defiantly.

Lunar glares. “How dare you!” She exclaims angrily. “That wasn’t ready for consumption yet!”

Scarlett shrugs. “I don’t feel any different. Where are the superpowers?”

But now Scarlett’s nose and cheeks are turning green. And a second later, her whole face turns a bright yellowish-green colour. Her mother points at her face. “You’ve gone green!”

Scarlett lifts up her hands which have now gone green as well. “Huh.” She starts bending her arms backwards as though they were rubber and then contorts her whole body backwards. The other kids gasp in amazement, their eyes wide with excitement. Lunar just folds her arms and glares.

Scarlett’s extending her green neck, making it three feet long. She suddenly leans her face close to mine and flutters her eyelashes. “I can be a superheroine,” she says with a sly smile. “Aren’t you impressed?”

Tabbie scowls at her. “You are a rude girl.”

Star is staring up at Scarlett with wide brown eyes.

Scarlett lengthens her green neck further and then bends it down to be at eye level with me. “Why be loyal to that boozy lady with the tatted face? You could marry a superheroine!”

OK, I am shocked by the girl’s forwardness. I mean, where did that come from?

Tabbie links both her arms with one of mine. “Jori is happily married to me. You should leave him alone.”

Little Star clings more tightly to my other arm. Her little green face crinkles in a scowl as she looks up at Scarlett. “You’re being mean. Why are you being mean?”

Lunar claps her hands together and addresses Scarlett. “Enough of this,” she says firmly. “You disobeyed me by taking that pill when I told you not to.” A group of goblins surround Scarlett and Lunar orders them to escort her off the premises. “Your tour is over,” Lunar tells Scarlett.

The goblins escort Scarlett and her parents towards the door, but Scarlett twists her long green neck backwards so she can keep looking at me, even as she walks away. “I will be a superheroine,” she says confidently. “Just wait.” With that, Scarlett blows me an exaggerated kiss goodbye.

Scarlett and her parents are escorted out of the room and onto the bank of the rainbow river where the boat awaits to take them home. Lunar shakes her head. “Superheroine indeed. Huh. A real heroine needs discipline.”

“Why would she want that dad to marry her?” asks Vera, pointing a finger at me.

“A good husband and father has a certain charm,” says Lunar smoothly. “That may apply even when he is clearly not available. Teenagers aren’t always rational. Now, come… the boat is taking Scarlett home so we can’t use it. We’re going to have to walk the next part of the tour, but don’t dawdle. Let’s go!” She leads us through a small door at the far end of her creation room and into a long blue corridor, like the one at the start of the tour. Other corridors branch off from the main corridor at intervals. Lunar leads us down the corridor, pointing out doors with signs that describe various types of candy. The green woman looks at a door marked “Peppermint Marshmallow Swirl” and smiles. “That’s where we make our peppermint marshmallows,” she says. “They’re a customer favourite.”

The next door we pass is a door marked “Fruit Salad Gummies” and explains: “This is where we make our fruit salad gummies. They’re a big hit with kids and adults alike.”

Lunar pauses by the next door. “OK, let’s stop here.” Lunar leads us through a door marked “Super Bunnies.” We file though the door and step onto a platform overlooking an underground field where adorable bunnies are digging up colourful crystals from the pale blue soil. “The crystals they’re digging up are called cube roots,” explains Lunar. “They’re candies, and these bunnies were specially bred for this task.”

The three girls all “aww” over the cute bunnies and Vera pleads to hold one. However, Lunar quickly responds with a firm refusal: “Sorry, these bunnies are very important workers. They’re not pets.”

Vera pouts. “I really wanna cuddle one,” she says with a sad face.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Well you may not,” says Lunar.

“Listen to Lunar, dear,” says Vera’s mother mildly.

“I wanna cuddle a bunny!” shouts Vera, her blue eyes glinting. Ignoring Lunar’s warning not to touch the bunnies, she runs down the steps and grabs one. She hugs it tightly and coos “hello, cutie wootie!” Mica and Star are gazing down from the platform at Vera and the bunny and now their big brown eyes flicker up to Lunar who is glaring and folding her arms. They can guess what’s coming next, just as I can.

Lunar claps her hands together and doors open on both sides of the field. Goblins emerge from the doors. “It’s time for Vera and her parents to leave,” says Lunar firmly. “Goblin workers, please escort them out of the factory. Breaking my rules will not be tolerated.”

The goblins take the bunny from Vera and carry her back up the stairs to the platform, despite her struggles and tears. They set her down on the platform and lead her and her parents out through a door in the blue corridor. “Well,” says Lunar. “That was unfortunate.” Mica and Star are exchanging uneasy glances. I stroke Star’s long red hair to reassure her. Lunar demands we follow her lead, and we’re back in the corridor again, passing doors with signs that advertise weird and wonderful candies. Star and Mica are holding hands now and trotting to keep up with Lunar. They're murmuring to each other. Mica's hardly said a word up until now.

“Please,” says Star after a couple of minutes. “Mica’s tired. Can we rest?”

Lunar peers down at the two little girls and nods. “If you’re tired, let’s take the lift.”

Lunar leads us through a pair of double doors and down a short passageway to an open lift. We step into the lift and are immediately confronted with hundreds of buttons on all the walls. Each button has a label indicating where it will take us. “The two good little girls each get to choose one room,” says Lunar with a smile.

Star looks up at Lunar and grins. “I’m going to let daddy choose for me,” she says.

Lunar chuckles. “Alright then,” she replies. “What about you, Mica? Do you want to make a choice or have someone else do it for you?”

Mica looks at the buttons and points to one that’s eye level for her. The button is labelled “Floatie Pop, the drink that lets kids fly!”

“Oh, you want to see how floatie pop is made?” says Lunar with a smile. “Well push the button.”

Mica pushes the button and the lift doors close. Then the lift suddenly lurches to the right, causing everyone to stumble. I instinctively grab Star, holding her rightly. The little green girl whimpers as the lift plummets downwards like a stone.

“I’m going to be sick,” complains Tabbie.

“Don’t be,” says Lunar firmly. “We’ve arrived.”

The lift doors open. “That was like a roller coaster,” exclaims little Mica.

Star’s clinging to me. “OK, sweetpea?” I ask, looking at her little green face. She nods.

Tabbie staggers out of the lift. “That was awful.”

We all step down a passage that opens out into a gleaming tiled hall with tables and benches. A little goblin with an oversized head is busy mixing liquids from test tubes. “This guy here,” says Lunar with pride, “is my resident brainiac. He’s the only goblin smart enough to brew Floatie Pop without me needing to supervise.”

The goblin looks up from his work and greets us. “Ah, hello!” he says, his voice croaky like an old green frog, “welcome to the Floatie Pop lab.”

Lunar picks up two small green bottles from the table and holds them out to Mica and Star. “Want a taste of Floatie Pop girls?” she asks. “It’ll make you fly.”

Both girls reach out eagerly and take a bottle each from Lunar. “Now,” says Lunar with a smile. “Drink it all up.”

Mica and Star quickly down their Floatie Pop. Immediately they giggle and begin floating upwards.

“They’re floating,” says Lunar. “How do you feel, girls?”

Mica and Star look at each other as they float in the air. They both reply together. “Floating feels amazing!”

“Lovely,” says Lunar.

“Catch me, Star!” pipes Mica.

The little girls start to playfully chase each other around above our heads, floating effortlessly in the air. Mica’s long black hair streams behind her as she flies towards the ceiling. “Can’t catch me!” she calls out with a laugh. Star chases after Mica, her own long red hair flowing behind her. “I can smell ya,” she replies, her little green nose twitching as she closes the gap between them. Star reaches out and grabs Mica as she floats near her. “Gotcha!” she exclaims. “Now I can hug ya,” she adds with a grin. Mica giggles as Star wraps her arms around in a tight embrace.

“The kids are getting on well,” says Mica’s mum, looking up at the floating girls.

“Looks like Floatie Pop worked,” says Luna, also looking up at the girls floating and giggling together.

The girls decide to use their newfound flying skills by practicing flips in the air. They laugh as they somersault and spin through the room.

Star looks at me with a big smile on her green face as she does a somersault in mid-air. “Look at me, daddy!” she calls out excitedly.

“Good job, Star!” I call back. Star grins even wider and her little green face glows with happiness.

After a while, the effects of the Floatie Pop start to wear off and Mica and Star begin to slowly descend ack down to the floor where they land gently.

Star scurries up to me, her long red hair dishevelled from all the flying. She looks up at me with a big smile on her shiny green face. I start smoothing down her hair for her. “Looks like someone’s a champion flier.”

Star giggles happily. “Yeah Daddy.”

I smile back at her and pat her head gently.

Lunar quickly guides us all back to the lift with all the buttons. Star looks up at me, her eyes wide as she waits for me to choose the next room. I spot a button labelled ‘Leisure Centre’ and press it without hesitation. The lift doors slide shut, and I pick Star up, remembering how the erratic movement of the lift upset my little ogre-girl last time. The lift jerks into motion, lurching from side to side before plummeting like a stone downwards. Star whimpers in my arms as we descend rapidly. Mica’s squealing in excitement. Tabbie’s complaining that she feels sick…

The lift comes to a sudden halt and the doors open. We all step out into a cavern that is illuminated by a light similar to sunshine. A crystal clear blue lake sits in the middle of the cavern, surrounded by pristine white sand.

“You can swim or play on the beach,” says Lunar, the sunny light shining off her green nose and cheeks and glinting off her red hair. “There are swimming costumes in the changing cubicles.”

Tabbie is tired and unwell after riding in the bumpy lift, so she lies down on a mat on the soft sand. I take Star’s hand and lead her towards a changing cubicle. The cubicles are little wooden huts on the edge of the cavern.

Inside the cubicle, I help Star change into a swimsuit that I find in the cupboard. “All ready to go swimming?” I ask, fixing her long red hair into a pony-tail in readiness for the water.

Star grins excitedly up at me, her little green face radiating happiness. “Yeah, Daddy!” she exclaims.

I smile back and take her hand. “Then let’s go!”

We make our way to the lakeshore. I test the water with my toes. Fortunately it’s tepid rather than cold. Star runs right in and splashes around. “Who’m I?” she squeals.

“Who are you supposed to be?” I ask.

“I’m Freddy Frog!” Star exclaims with a big grin on her green face. Of course, Freddy Frog is her favourite bath time story. We have a little picture book made of water proof plastic that I’ve had for decades since I was little.

I smile as I watch my daughter splashing around in the water. “How far can you swim, little frog girl?” I ask.

Star looks up, her green face determined. “I can swim really far, Daddy!”

I approve of her confidence. Star is a strong swimmer compared to human kids her age. She already has her ten meter badge. I didn’t get my five meter badge until I was seven. “Try and swim faster than you old dad, Star,” I challenge. Star takes off towards the centre of the lake, while I playfully chase after her. I catch up with my little green girl and scoop her up into my arms. “Gotcha, my little frog girl,” I say with a laugh, holding her close.

Star wraps her little arms around my shoulders, hugging me tightly. “I love you, Daddy,” she says softly.

I smile warmly, feeling a surge of affection for my daughter. “I love you too, little frog girl,” I say back, giving her a tight squeeze before setting her down in the water again.

Lunar calls out a warning: “The wave machine is coming on!”

I quickly grab Star just in time as the waves start to roll in. We’re both swept back into the shallows, soaked head to toe. “Whoa there!” I exclaim with a laugh. Star giggles and splutters, her red hair plastered to her face. She looks like a little green mermaid.

Star lets out a joyful giggle and nuzzles my cheek. “We’re having so much fun, Daddy! You’re the bestest,” she exclaims happily. I laugh along with her, feeling a sense of contentment wash over me. I feel a warm sense of love and pride for my little green girl. Being her dad is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love making her laugh, playing games with her, and watching her explore the world around her. Before Star was born, I could never have imagined how much joy and fulfilment being a father would bring me. My little ogre-girl has brought so much richness and love into my life. She has taught me what it truly means to be a dad and made me feel complete.

Next, Star and Mica play catch with a giant beach ball that looks like a bubble. I join in and so does Mica’s mum – we’re laughing and trying to keep up with the children. Star invented a variant on the standard game of catch which she picked up from playing catch with my own father. Her grandad got the names of the other players mixed up when he was playing and when he called to someone to catch the ball, he would chuck it to someone else. Star found this hilariously funny, so in this game, every time Star calls out someone’s name to throw the ball to, she throws it to someone else instead. She laughs uncontrollably at this joke, her shiny green nose crinkling with each giggle.

All too soon, Lunar is hurrying us on, urging us to get changed and into the lift again. Tabbie has been drinking a glass of cool sherbet as she reclines on her mat on the sand. She sighs at the prospect of another ride in the bumpy lift.

“I will choose the destination this time,” says Lunar, as I walk past her to the changing cubicle, little Star clinging to me.

I hear Lunar mumbling to herself as she paces around near the lift door. “How to choose, how to choose? They’re both so sweet… The next room will put them all to the test.”