The Stolen Dreams

Once upon a time, in a distant forest, there lived a cruel tiger named Stripes. His favorite pastime was destroying children's dreams, leaving them hopeless and disheartened.

One Mid-Autumn Festival evening, the moon hung high in the night sky, its round face glowing softly. Kevin and his family sat on the grass, admiring the moon while savoring sweet mooncakes.

"Kevin," his mother asked, "what is your dream?"

Pointing at the twinkling stars above, Kevin exclaimed, "I want to be an astronaut and stand among the stars!"

Nearby, Stripes was hiding in the bushes, eavesdropping on Kevin's dream. With a wicked grin, the tiger leapt into the sky and, with one enormous gulp, swallowed all the stars.

When Kevin looked up again, the stars were gone. His dream crumbled in an instant, and tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Ha! Now you'll never achieve your dream!" Stripes laughed, his voice echoing through the forest.

Elsewhere in the forest lived Anna, a little girl who loved to sing. Her dream was to become a famous singer one day.

One afternoon, as Anna practiced her songs among the trees, Stripes approached her, pretending to be kind.

"Anna," he said with a sly smile, "your voice is beautiful! I have a special gift for you." From his bag, he produced a bottle of shimmering purple potion.

Curious, Anna asked, "What is it?"

"It's a magic elixir," Stripes replied. "Just one sip, and your voice will be so enchanting that everyone in the forest will adore you."

Excited, Anna took the bottle and drank without hesitation. At first, warmth spread through her body, but soon she realized her voice was fading. Moments later, she couldn’t make a sound at all.

Panicked and heartbroken, Anna wept as Stripes roared with laughter.

One sunny day, a boy named Charlie was playing with his friends by the sea. Staring at the endless blue waves, Charlie said, "One day, I’ll be a captain and sail across the world!"

Hearing this, Stripes crept up to the shore. Pulling a freezing stone from his bag, he tossed it into the sea. The water turned to ice, transforming the ocean into a vast, frozen field.

Charlie’s dream shattered as he gazed at the frozen horizon, knowing he could no longer sail. He sat on the shore, despair etched on his face, as Stripes grinned smugly.

The children, devastated by Stripes’ cruelty, decided to unite against him. They devised a clever plan and prepared a grand feast, inviting all the animals in the forest to join.

On the day of the feast, the forest was filled with the scent of delicious food. Tempted by the aroma, Stripes arrived, his eyes glinting with greed. Seeing the table piled high with treats and drinks, he began devouring everything in sight.

Unbeknownst to him, the children had prepared strong drinks to tire him out. After guzzling the last drop, Stripes collapsed in a drunken slumber.

While he slept, Anna found a bottle of antidote in Stripes’ bag and drank it. Her voice returned, more beautiful than ever.

Charlie discovered a thawing stone. He threw it onto the frozen sea, and the ice began to melt, restoring the ocean to its former glory.

Kevin, meanwhile, bravely took a small knife and carefully cut open Stripes’ belly. One by one, the stars floated back into the sky, illuminating the forest once again.

The stars, grateful to the children, used their combined power to banish Stripes to the moon. There, he would spend the rest of his days alone, unable to harm anyone's dreams ever again.

With hope rekindled, the children resumed chasing their dreams.

Twenty years later, Kevin became an astronaut, exploring planets among the stars he had once saved.

Anna’s enchanting voice made her a world-famous singer, her songs resonating across every corner of the globe.

As for Charlie, he finally became a captain. He sailed his ship across vast oceans, discovering the wonders of the world.

The dreams that Stripes tried to destroy were not only restored but brought to life, shining brighter than ever before