The Legend of the Star Apple

    By CHLOE MARGARETTE DE LEON

    The Legend of the Star Apple cover image

    24 Sep, 2024

    a painting of a man walking through a forest with a bird flying overhead over him and a stream running through the forest, Dan Mumford, primitivism, an oil painting, comic cover art

    In a distant tropical village lived a young boy named Ado. He was known for his curiosity and loved exploring the dense forest surrounding their village.

    a painting of two people walking down a dirt path in a forest with trees and ferns on either side of the path, David A Hardy, fantastic realism, a fine art painting, official art

    One day, Ado ventured deeper into the forest than ever before. He found himself in an enchanted part of the woods, where the sunlight barely pierced through the thick canopy.

    a painting of a person walking down a path in a forest with trees and leaves on both sides of the path, Christophe Vacher, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, forest

    In the heart of this enchanted forest, stood a majestic tree with fruits shaped like stars. Ado was fascinated by the giant tree and the star-shaped fruits it bore.

    a painting of a boy holding an apple in front of a tree with apples on it and a green background, Aaron Jasinski, figurative art, a detailed painting, highly detailed oil painting

    Unable to resist, Ado picked a fruit from the tree. As he bit into it, he was surprised by the sweet and tangy taste. He decided to take some fruits back to his village.

    a painting of a man and a boy in a fruit stand with a mountain view in the background and a woman standing in front of a basket of fruit, Chen Chun, figurative art, a storybook illustration, phuoc quan

    Ado returned to his village and shared the star-shaped fruits with everyone. The villagers loved the taste and were curious about the fruit's origin.

    a painting of two people walking down a path in the woods with trees on either side of them and a trail leading to the top of the trees, Brothers Hildebrandt, fantastic realism, an oil on canvas painting, official art

    Ado told them about the giant tree in the enchanted part of the forest. The villagers were amazed and decided to grow these trees in their village.

    a painting of a group of people picking oranges from a tree in a forest with a large trunk, Elsa Beskow, qajar art, a storybook illustration, storybook illustration

    The villagers, led by Ado, visited the giant tree. They collected seeds from the star-shaped fruits and thanked the tree for its bounty.

    a painting of children walking through a forest with oranges on trees and a man standing in the background, Aaron Jasinski, naive art, a storybook illustration, storybook illustration

    They planted the seeds around their village, hoping to grow their own star fruit trees. Ado was hailed as a hero and the star fruit became a symbol of prosperity for the village.

    a painting of two boys walking down a path with fruit on the ground and trees in the background,, Art Brenner, naive art, a storybook illustration, highly detailed oil painting

    Years passed and the village flourished, surrounded by thriving star fruit trees. The villagers enjoyed the sweet fruits and traded them with neighboring villages.

    a painting of a man walking down a path in a forest with trees and leaves on both sides of the path, Christophe Vacher, fantasy art, an oil on canvas painting, forest

    Ado, now a grown man, still loved exploring the forest. He would often visit the giant tree, thanking it for the prosperity it had brought to his village.

    a painting of a tree with a hole in it's trunk in the middle of a forest with a trail leading to it, Chris LaBrooy, magical realism, a detailed matte painting, matte fantasy painting

    One day, while Ado was sitting under the giant tree, he noticed a soft glow emanating from its trunk. He approached it, intrigued by this new phenomenon.

    a painting of a person walking down a path in a forest with oranges on the trees and a person in the distance, Aaron Jasinski, fantasy art, a storybook illustration, storybook illustration

    As Ado touched the glowing trunk, he heard a soft voice thanking him for spreading its seeds and respecting the forest. The voice was the spirit of the tree expressing its gratitude.

    a painting of a group of people standing in front of a tree filled with oranges and a man holding a stick, Ding Yunpeng, naive art, a storybook illustration, orange

    Ado returned to the village and shared his encounter with the villagers. They were amazed and felt a deeper respect for the forest and the star fruit tree.

    a painting of a boy surrounded by fruit trees and oranges with mountains in the background and a sun, Aaron Jasinski, lyco art, an oil on canvas painting, book cover

    From then on, the villagers held a yearly festival to celebrate the star fruit tree and the prosperity it brought. It was a day of joy, gratitude, and respect for nature.

    a painting of a group of women in colorful clothing standing in front of orange trees with oranges on them, Afewerk Tekle, figurative art, a detailed painting, highly detailed oil painting

    The festival became a grand event, with people from neighboring villages joining in the celebration. They sang, danced, and feasted on the star fruits, creating a cheerful atmosphere.

    a painting of a group of people dancing in front of a tree with oranges hanging from it's branches, Art Brenner, naive art, an oil on canvas painting, highly detailed oil painting

    Ado would always share the story of the giant tree and the spirit within it. The tale became a legend, passed down from generation to generation.

    a painting of people surrounded by fruit and flowers on a green background with oranges and pomegranates, Edward Sorel, qajar art, a detailed painting, in gouache detailed paintings

    Many generations passed, but the legend lived on. The descendants of the village still celebrated the festival, showing their respect for the forest and the star fruit tree.

    a painting of a group of people standing in front of a tree with oranges on it and a man holding a basket, Boetius Adamsz Bolswert, primitivism, a detailed painting, orange

    The story of Ado and the giant tree became a cherished legend. It was a tale of respect for nature, the power of curiosity, and the reward of sharing.

    a painting of a group of people standing in front of a tree in a forest with many trees in the background, Christophe Vacher, metaphysical painting, a storybook illustration, roots

    Even today, children are taken to the giant tree in the enchanted part of the forest. They sit around it, listening to the legend of Ado and the star fruit tree.

    a painting of a group of people sitting under a tree with oranges on it and a man sitting under a tree with oranges, Chris LaBrooy, folk art, a detailed painting, orange

    The legend reminds them of their roots, the importance of respect for nature, and the prosperity that comes with sharing. The star fruit tree continues to thrive, a symbol of the village's prosperity.

    a painting of a group of people walking down a street under a tree filled with oranges on it, Art Brenner, figurative art, an oil on canvas painting, highly detailed oil painting

    As the sun sets, the village glows under its warm light, the star fruit trees swaying gently in the breeze. The spirit of the giant tree watches over, content and proud.

    a painting of a tree with oranges on it's branches and people standing around it, in front of a hut, Boetius Adamsz Bolswert, folk art, a detailed painting, highly detailed digital painting

    Thus, the legend of the star apple, known to us as the star fruit, continues to inspire and guide, a testament to the bond between humans and nature.

    The Legend of the Star Apple