What type of narrative often features fantastic characters and creatures, typically starting with "Once upon a time?"

The correct answer is fairy tale, which is characterized by its inclusion of magical elements, fantastic characters, and creatures such as fairies, witches, and talking animals. This genre often begins with phrases like "Once upon a time," setting a whimsical and timeless tone that transports readers into a world where the impossible becomes possible. Fairy tales often convey moral lessons, but they do so within a narrative framework that emphasizes enchantment and adventure.

Myths, fables, and legends each have distinct characteristics that separate them from fairy tales. Myths typically involve the origins of the world, gods, and the fundamental aspects of human experience, while fables are brief stories that impart moral lessons, usually featuring animals as characters who demonstrate certain behaviors. Legends, on the other hand, often focus on historical figures or events, blending truth with folklore, but they do not possess the same level of fantasy as fairy tales. Each of these genres serves a different purpose and appeals to distinct aspects of storytelling, making fairy tales unique in their focus on enchantment and the extraordinary.