Fairy tale

A fairy tale is a type of mythic story often involving magical aspects and an elemental lesson to be learned by children.

The term can also be used in a derogatory manner in reference to something that the speaker might find absurd or ridiculous. Some Cardassians, such as Dukat, thought the Celestial Temple was a Bajoran "fairy tale" before the Bajoran wormhole was discovered in 2369. They also thought the same about ancient contact, at least until 2371. 

Chief O'Brien frequently read his daughter Molly fairy tale stories such as Rumpelstiltskin at bedtime. 

O'Brien later told Nog the Great Material Continuum sounded like a Ferengi fairy tale, but Nog told him it was real. 

"Smiley" O'Brien thought our universe and its Humans not being slaves to the Alliance sounded like a fairy tale, although one he would like to believe in. 

The Adventures of Flotter, a series of children's holonovels, utilized a fairy tale aesthetic and style. Naomi Wildman enjoyed the holoprograms during her time aboard the USS Voyager. Several adults aboard Voyager had similarly enjoyed these fairy tale-style adventures during their own childhoods. 

Fairy tale literature
Earth fairy tales include:
 * Rumpelstiltskin
 * Sleeping Beauty
 * The Boy Who Cried Wolf
 * The Little Mermaid

Fairy tale beings

 * Elf
 * Fairy
 * Changeling
 * Tooth fairy
 * Gremlin
 * Dwarf