The Little Turtle's Big Dream

    By Joacles

    The Little Turtle's Big Dream cover image

    03 Mar, 2024

    a cartoon turtle is walking through a forest with trees and leaves on the ground and a path leading to the ground, sots art, a character portrait, Chris LaBrooy, magic the gathering artwork

    Once upon a time, in a lush and lively forest lived a tiny turtle named Martinha. She was not your average turtle, as she had a dream, a dream to become a racing star among the forest animals.

    a girl riding on top of a turtle in a river with a turtle nearby on a sunny day with a sun shining, sots art, a storybook illustration, Chris LaBrooy, storybook illustration

    Every day, Martinha would practice racing against the wind, the flowing stream, and even her own shadow. She was determined and worked hard, believing in her dream, never allowing anything to slow her down.

    a turtle in the middle of a forest with other animals around it and a sunbeam in the background, sots art, a character portrait, Chris LaBrooy, game art

    One sunny day, Martinha's dream was overheard by some of the forest animals. They laughed and made fun of her, saying that turtles are too slow to win any races.

    a cartoon turtle is sitting on the ground in the middle of a forest with rocks and plants around it, sots art, a character portrait, Dan Mumford, game art

    Their words pierced her like thorns, and she felt her dreams shatter. She became quiet, her bright eyes dimmed, and her spirit was crushed. The once vibrant Martinha was now a sad little turtle.

    a painting of an owl sitting on a log in a forest with daisies and trees in the background, fantasy art, an airbrush painting, Dan Mumford, magic the gathering artwork

    Seeing her in such a state, a wise old owl named Oliver decided to approach her. He was known for his wisdom and was respected by all the forest animals.

    two owls sitting on a log in a forest with sunlight shining through the trees behind them and a tree trunk, sots art, a digital painting, Chris LaBrooy, highly detailed digital painting

    "Why so glum, little turtle?" Oliver asked. Martinha told him about her dream and the discouraging words of the other animals. Oliver listened patiently, his wise eyes twinkling in the sunlight.

    a cartoon owl sitting on a log in a forest with a bright sun in the background and leaves around it, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Dan Mumford, storybook illustration

    With a gentle smile, Oliver told Martinha, "Just because you're small and slow, doesn't mean you can't achieve great things. It's the size of your courage that matters, not your speed."

    a woman with a backpack and an owl on her shoulder, standing in front of a forest background, with a green hoodie on, fantasy art, a character portrait, Charlie Bowater, cushart krenz

    Martinha looked up at Oliver, her eyes filled with hope. She felt a surge of determination and decided to prove the other animals wrong. She thanked Oliver and started her training again with renewed vigor.

    a turtle is sitting on a rock in the water and looking at the sun through the trees and rocks, sots art, a storybook illustration, Chris LaBrooy, magic the gathering artwork

    Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. Martinha trained hard, never losing her spirit. She raced against the wind, the flowing stream, and her own shadow, getting faster each day.

    a turtle in the middle of a forest with butterflies flying around it's head and a sunbeam in the background, sots art, a storybook illustration, Chris LaBrooy, magic the gathering artwork

    Eventually, the day of the big race arrived. The forest was buzzing with excitement. All the animals gathered to witness the race. Martinha, though nervous, was ready to prove her mettle.

    a painting of an owl in a field of flowers and grass with a bird flying above it and a mountain in the background, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Chris LaBrooy, highly detailed digital painting

    As the race started, the other animals sped off, leaving Martinha behind. But she didn't lose hope. She remembered Oliver's words and kept moving forward with all her might.

    a turtle is walking through the forest on a path with leaves and trees around it, with the sun shining on the ground, sots art, an illustration of, Dan Mumford, official art

    One by one, the other animals grew tired and slowed down. But Martinha, with her consistent pace, managed to overtake them. The crowd watched in awe as the little turtle took the lead.

    a green turtle is walking through the forest with a bright light on its face and head, with a path leading to the forest, sots art, a storybook illustration, Chris LaBrooy, storybook illustration

    As she crossed the finish line, the forest erupted in cheers. Martinha, the little turtle, had won the race! She had proven that it's not the speed, but the spirit that matters in a race.

    a turtle sitting on a path in the middle of a forest with a light shining on it's head, sots art, a storybook illustration, Chris LaBrooy, magic the gathering artwork

    The once mocking animals now admired her, and she became an inspiration for all. Martinha had not just won a race, she had won the hearts of everyone in the forest.

    a cartoon turtle is walking down a path in a field of flowers and grass with a sun in the background, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Chris LaBrooy, storybook illustration

    That day, Martinha learnt that it's not about how fast you can go, but how long you can keep going. She understood the value of perseverance and the power of believing in oneself.

    a painting of an owl and a frog in a forest with trees and grass and sunlight shining through the trees, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Chris LaBrooy, magic the gathering artwork

    Oliver, watching from a distance, felt a sense of pride. He had believed in Martinha, and she had proved him right. She was a true champion, not because she was fast, but because she was brave.

    a turtle is sitting in the grass with flowers and birds around it, and a sun is shining in the background, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Chris LaBrooy, magic the gathering artwork

    From that day onwards, no one ever laughed at Martinha's dreams. She continued to inspire others, proving that no matter how small you are, you can achieve big things if you believe in yourself.

    a turtle in the middle of a forest with a light shining on it's head and head,, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, Brom, magic the gathering artwork

    The forest was no longer just a place of survival, but a place of hope and dreams, all thanks to the little turtle named Martinha. Her story echoed among the trees, inspiring all who heard it.

    a turtle is walking through a forest with flowers and trees in the background, with the sun shining through the trees, fantasy art, a digital painting, Chris LaBrooy, magic the gathering artwork

    Martinha's tale is a reminder to all of us that it's not about how fast or slow we are, but how determined we are to reach our goals. So, believe in yourself and never give up, just like Martinha.

    a green turtle is walking through a forest with leaves on the ground and a sunbeam in the background, sots art, a digital painting, Chris LaBrooy, magic the gathering artwork

    And so, in the heart of the forest, the legend of the little turtle who had a big dream lives on. Every time the wind blows, it whispers her tale, spreading the message of courage and determination.

    a turtle in a field of flowers with butterflies flying above it and a sun setting behind it, with a field of flowers and butterflies, sots art, a storybook illustration, Chris LaBrooy, highly detailed digital painting

    The story of Martinha, the little turtle with a big dream, serves as an inspiration. It proves that dreams can become reality, if only we have the courage to pursue them, no matter what others say.

    a turtle sitting on a rock in the middle of a forest with flowers and trees around it, with the sun shining through the trees, fantasy art, a digital painting, Chris LaBrooy, magic the gathering artwork

    So, the next time you feel small or slow, remember Martinha. Remember that it's not about the size or speed, but the strength of your will. So, dream big, work hard, and never stop believing in yourself.

    a girl sitting on top of a turtle in a field of flowers and butterflies with a butterfly flying above her, sots art, a storybook illustration, Drew Struzan, official art

    Because in the end, it's not about who's the fastest or the strongest, but who has the courage to dream and the will to make that dream come true. Just like Martinha, the little turtle with a big dream.

    a cartoon girl sitting on top of a turtle in the desert at night with a full moon in the sky, sots art, a storybook illustration, Cliff Childs, 2 d game art

    Remember, it's your journey, and only you can determine its pace. So, go at your own pace, and let your dreams guide you, just like Martinha. Believe in yourself, and you too can become a star in your own right.

    a painting of a turtle swimming in the ocean with corals and fish around it, with sunlight shining through the water, fantasy art, an airbrush painting, Dan Mumford, highly detailed digital painting

    So, let's keep Martinha's spirit alive. Let's keep dreaming, keep trying, and keep moving forward, just like the little turtle who dared to dream big and proved that dreams do come true.