Maya, your broccoli is staring at you," Amma said, pointing to the green mound on Maya's plate.

Maya leaned in, eyes narrowed. "Good. Maybe it'll blink and disappear."

Amma chuckled. "Nice try. But those tiny trees are here to stay."

"But Ammaaa," Maya whined, dramatically drooping over her chair like a wilted lettuce. "Vegetables are so... green. And mushy. And suspicious."

"Suspicious?" Amma raised an eyebrow.

"Yes! Who decided we should eat things that smell like garden soil?"

Amma laughed so hard she nearly dropped her spoon. "Okay, Miss Detective. Let me introduce you to... the Veggie Avengers."

Maya sat up. "Veggie what now?"

Amma nodded seriously. "Meet Captain Carrot, who gives you laser-sharp vision. Brocco the Brave, the defender of your body. Spinachella, the leafy warrior of strength. And - drumroll - Beetroot Boom, who makes your heart go BOOM-BOOM with power!"

Maya stared at her mother. "You made that up."

Amma whispered, "Or did I? Do you think Amma would lie about superheroes?"

Maya narrowed her eyes. "You might."

"Fine," Amma said, lifting a piece of broccoli with flair. "Brocco the Brave, report for duty!"

Maya giggled. "What's his superpower?"

"He blocks Germzilla, the sneaky villain who tries to invade your nose and tummy."

Maya poked Brocco with her fork. "Hmm. He looks too tiny to fight anyone."

"Size doesn't matter," Amma said. "Even tiny trees can be mighty."

Maya sighed. "Okay, I'll take one bite. But only because Germzilla sounds gross."

CHOMP.

She chewed slowly. "Not bad. A little... foresty."

"That's the flavor of power," Amma said, flexing her bicep.

Maya giggled again. "Amma, you're so weird."

"And proud of it!"

The next evening, Amma came into the dining room wearing a paper crown.

"Hear ye, hear ye! Princess Maya is hereby invited to a royal tasting of the enchanted Rainbow Garden Pasta!"

Maya squinted at the plate. "What's in it?"

Amma grinned. "Red peppers, yellow corn, green peas, purple cabbage, and orange carrots - all chopped up and hiding like spies."

Maya sniffed suspiciously. "Hiding, huh? Are they tasty spies?"

"Only one way to find out."

Maya twirled her fork. "If I eat one bite of each, do I get a badge?"

"Nope," Amma said, "you get sparkly dragon energy. Much better than a badge."

Maya took a deep breath and bravely munched. "Whoa? this tastes like a crunchy rainbow!"

Amma beamed. "That's the magic working!"

Later that week?

"Amma!" Maya yelled from the living room. "I didn't get tired during P.E. today. I ran four whole laps!"

"See?" Amma said, appearing with a tray of cucumber slices. "You're turning into a veggie-powered rocket."

"Do cucumbers give you speed?"

"Nope. They keep your skin soft and your brain cool. Like a cucumber computer!"

Maya popped a slice into her mouth. "I am becoming a vegetable-powered machine!"

Amma high-fived her. "Next stop: Pumpkin Planet Pizza!"

One Sunday, while helping Amma cook, Maya picked up a beetroot.

"Beetroot Boom, reporting for duty!" she said in a deep voice.

Amma gasped. "Captain Carrot, we have a new recruit!"

Maya nodded seriously. "Let's mash them into our battle potion - uh, I mean soup!"

They burst into laughter as they stirred the pot like witches casting a healthy spell.

A month later, Maya's teacher asked in class, "Who knows what helps us grow strong and not fall sick?"

Maya's hand shot up. "VEGETABLES! They're like tiny soldiers inside your body. Some fight germs, some give you super vision, and some make your muscles strong."

The whole class stared.

"Wow," said her friend Ravi. "That's cooler than my protein bars."

"Totally," Maya said. "You should meet Spinachella sometime."

That night, Maya sat at the table, happily munching on a veggie stir-fry. No drama. No suspicious sniffing.

Amma looked at her in surprise. "No faces today?"

"Nope," Maya said between bites. "I think the veggies and I have become friends."

"Do they still talk to you?" Amma teased.

"Only when I forget to eat them. Beetroot Boom gets very loud."

They both laughed.

"Amma?"

"Yes, love?"

"Thanks for not giving up on me."

Amma smiled and kissed her forehead. "Always. Superheroes don't give up on their teammates."