Episode 39

**Episode 39** of Forever After is the thirty-ninth episode in the series.

## Summary

Robin realizes how to help Hira and close the story, but needs to convince Hira that what she needs is friends.

## Plot

As Tank leaves *Little Briar Rose*, Robin has successfully gained Hira's attention, and the most powerful of the Wise Women transports herself and Robin to where the rest of the Wise Women are. Hira comments about turning into a dragon to scare them, but huffs when she realizes that Robin is upset about her disagreement with Tank.

Hira snaps a table and drinks into existence as she comments on companions being overrated because Robin has been laid low by the opinion of a winged ball of emotion. Hira notes that heroes are so desperate to be loved, and Robin says that Hira gives her too much credit. Her whole life, Robin told herself she was looking for "true love" but all she wanted was attention to the point of obsession. She thought that her happily-ever-after was a place where her needs were met, and she would never have to lift a finger.

Hira continues the narrative, that Robin now has feelings for the one person she never tried to impress, and that the witch had seen it happen a million different ways. Robin denied Hira's explanation, clarifying that it wasn't about her feelings, and realized that Tank was a true friend, being there for her when she least deserved it. Hira agrees, stating that you can always tell a true friend by the pain they cause you, and Robin asks about Hira's deal with friends, inquiring about her closeness with Makemnoit.

Hira replies that they understand each other, but they're not from the same tale, so they can only see each other when both of their stories are open. Robin asks how rare that is, and Hira replies that they've never had this much time together. In the past, having 2 heroes doing their stories at the same time meant the Fates were really bored, and Robin concludes that her situation is not normal.

Hira agrees that it's not normal for every tale to be active at once, for the Fates to be running around like a thrice-headless chicken, or for heroes to be crisscrossing as they pleased. And the one they had to thank for that was the Usurper. Robin asks who that is, and Hira explains that it's the "Wicked Witch" as he calls himself, not that he deserved the title.

Robin asks if he wasn't always the Wicked Witch, and Hira replies that he wishes and wasn't one of the real story villains. Robin asks what Hira meant, and Hira asked if Tank hadn't explained things to her. Robin confessed that Tank had hinted at some things, and Hira explains that the Wicked Witch has been a Prince Charming like her.

The current Wicked Witch didn't belong in Forever After. He took the *story* he inhabits by force after slaying the rightful occupant and disrupting the natural order. Robin is shaking at the revelation, but Hira brings her attention back to the task at hand, her revenge.

The pair enter the Wise Women's meeting hall, and Hira boils in anger upon seeing that they had been in a council meeting without her when her curse took hold. Hira plans to draw on their faces, but Robin asks her to hold off. Hira snaps that she was done with Robin's drama and wanted to focus on herself. Robin states that she believes she has Hira figured out, and Hira cautions Robin to be careful with her words.

Robin explains that Hira keeps saying that friendship is a burden, but she has seen Hira with Makemnoit, the hurt that is in her eyes, and the real reason that Hira doesn't want the story to end is that she doesn't want to be alone again. Hira yells at Robin, demanding to know what she knows about being alone, and Robin explains that she knows it's self-induced sometimes.

Robin goes on to explain that she pushed away everyone who asked anything of her, and that she was still doing it here in Forever After. Hira admits that she had never done anything to the other Wise Women, and Robin asks if she tried to approach them. Hira looked away, not saying anything, and Robin explains that she understands, remembering back on the times she had to swallow her pride and ask for help from her own friends.

Hira states that she doesn't want to make nice, and Robin asks what she's afraid of. Worst-case scenario, the Wise Women prove Hira right and she can give Robin a vindicated I-told-you-so. Hira states it's not good enough, and if she's right, Robin will leave the story and never return. Robin agrees, and Hira's magic binds her to her words.

## Important Events

* Robin makes a new deal with Hira, risking being able to close the story in the process
* It is revealed that the current Wicked Witch had usurped his role from the original Wicked Witch

## Characters

Tank

Robin Jane Brown

Hira

Jason (Cameo)

Makemnoit (Cameo)

The Fates (Cameo)

Wicked Witch (Cameo)

Bastinda (Cameo)

Mariah (Cameo)

Robin’s Parents (Cameo)

Wise Women

Lea (Cameo)

## Credits

*Written by Violet Matter*

*Storyboarding by Valery Yu*

*Art by Hannah Patten*

Backgrounds by Megan Roberts

*Lettering by Kylie Hunsinger*

*Copy editing by Kat Vendetti*

*Produced by Quinn Sosna-Spear and Wil Kennedy*