Fairy tale ending?

The answer to the crossword question ‘Fairy tale ending?’ is AFTER is meant to be interpreted figuratively rather than literally. In many classic fairy tales, the phrase “happily ever after” is used to denote the ending, and “after” is used as a synonym for “happily ever.” Therefore, the answer to the crossword question is “after,” as it represents the ending of a fairy tale. Additionally, the question may hint at the common retelling of fairy tales after they’ve ended, often in modern adaptations or sequels, which moves the story forward “after” the original fairy tale has ended.