…And they lived happily ever after…

That’s how most fairytales end, Reader. With family and friends. A big party and a delicious feast. And all problems solved and tied up with a nice little bow. 🎀

It’s how most stories end…with the happily ever after.

The slaying of dragons.

The defeating of evil wizards.

The takedown of corrupt governments…

And of course, the wedding of two characters destined to be together. It’s usually the end of the story, but what if it was the beginning?

And I’m not talking about stories where 95% of the plot is told in tragic retrospective like Moulin Rouge or The Great Gatsby. I’m talking about stories where the happily ever after is the first 1-5% of the plot, and the actual story is everything that comes next.

You might be thinking that it can’t be done. But, Reader, here are just a few stories that prove it’s possible.

5 stories that start after “THE END:”

1) Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

The most recent Dungeons & Dragons movie starts with a jailbreak (that turns out to be unnecessary), only for the two characters to learn they were betrayed by their former party members. The plot then turns into a surprisingly heartwarming found family heist, complete with damsel rescuing, hilarious hijinks, and even a chonky dragon.

2) Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

In Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (yep, it literally tells you it’s after the standard HEA of a story), the heroes of Himmel’s party are returning to the capital after their 10-year quest to kill the Demon King. There’s a capital-wide celebration in their honor, complete with feasting, drinking, merriment, and even a once-in-a-half-century meteor shower.

The 13-volume manga chronicles what happens 70 years after that night. When Frieren, the elven mage, embarks on a journey to reach the resting place of souls in order to reunite with her former comrade Himmel, who died 20 years earlier. And in each volume (or episode of the anime), we’re treated to how the past and present seem to collide in unexpected ways as she discovers what it is to be human.

3) So This is Ever After

​So This is Ever After is about what comes after you behead the evil ruler and liberate the kingdom, only to learn the princess in the tower is long dead. The real story centers around newly minted king (and beheader) Arek trying to discover his soulmate to save his own life.

4) Heaven Official’s Blessing

​Heaven Official’s Blessing starts with Xie Lian—the former crown prince of the Kingdom of Xianle—ascending to the heavens as a deity for the third time. And when I say “ascending,” I mean literally crash landing in the middle of his fellow deities and sorta wrecking the place.

They don’t really spend time going into how or why he became a deity (in this volume). Possibly because the main problem Xie Lian’s gotta solve is how to pay back all the damage he’s just caused.

5)Once Upon a Time

In the TV show Once Upon a Time, the wedding of Snow White and Prince Charming is interrupted by Evil Queen Regina in the opening minutes of the show. Then, in a swirl of dark magic, everyone is transported to the seaside town of Storybrooke, Maine, after having their memories stolen.

The series then continues for 7 seasons in a twisting plot that jumps back and forth between the two realms while exploring what comes after happily ever after. In an epic feat of storytelling, each character’s fairytale and real-world arcs are resolved by the end. It’s well worth a watch.

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So there you have it, Reader, 5 different creators’ takes on how to start a story from the end. Now, maybe the next time you’re struggling with how to start your story, you might consider reaching for a classic fairytale’s Happily Ever After for a bit of inspiration.

Until next time, Reader, this is your friendly neighborhood storytelling Kat wishing you a wonderfully creative weekend.

Your cohort in storytelling,

Kat Vancil

🐱

PS 👉 Do you have a favorite story that starts with the end you’d like to suggest for my list? Hit reply and let me know.

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AB. Mala AB. Mala, a masterful storyteller, brings fantasy to life with vibrant worlds and unforgettable characters. Inspired by epic lore and timeless myths, AB's works captivate readers around the world. When she's not writing, you'll find her cosplaying or painting illustrations for her books. Subscribe to her newsletter. Subscribe​

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