Episode 22

**Episode 22** of Forever After is the twenty-second episode in the series.

## Summary

On their way to the Island of Devils, Tank and Robin learn more about Momotaro, and the stories that Lea has tried to complete.

## Plot

Momotaro, Lea, Robin, and Tank sail in a small boat across the sea, and Robin whispers to Tank her concern about Momotaro's willingness to just take them abroad. Momotaro asks if there are any questions, and Robin asks why he was called Peach Boy, with Tank wondering if his head was secretly shaped like one. Momotaro explains that it was because he was born of a peach, and Robin's mind takes a dirty turn before Lea corrects her with a kick, saying he was born from a literal peach.

Tank questions how literal, and Lea explains that babies being found in random produce was common in Japanese folktales. Momotaro tells them that his mother had found a giant peach floating down the river one day and brought it home to his father, and once they cut it open, found him inside. Robin asks if he was a Japanese Moses, and Lea kicks her again.

Tank asks if Robin's mother had ever read the story of *Momotaro* to her, and she reminds him that she only wanted to hear princess stories where the princess would get everything she wanted and live happily ever after. While she did know the stories of *Urikohime*, *Guanyin*, and *Tam and Cam*, she didn't like them because the princesses died.

Momotaro tells Robin that death is always a possibility, but that is no reason to shirk from virtue and duty. All of their lives are but drops of water in the ocean, but it was only together that they would become a wave of change. Momotaro knew that it was destiny, not an accident, the brought the peach that held him to this land, for he was the one who was meant to defeat the demons and bring peace to the land, and if they died in the process, so be it.

Lea comments on what an intense protagonist Momotaro is, and Robin points out that all the protagonists were special in their own way. Lea admits that she hadn't gotten to know the protagonists, so Tank asks which stories she had done.

Lea says that she killed the wolf in Red Riding Hood and burned the cannibal witch in *Hansel and Gretel*, but then she got stuck. Cutting down the beanstalk didn't work in *The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean*, fighting the Three Bears in *Goldilocks and the Three Bears* didn't work either, and Hook, who Lea recommends avoiding, had kicked her butt all across Neverland in *Peter Pan*.

Tank tells Lea that he keeps telling Robin how hard it is as Robin points out that Lea is purposefully picking the hard stories. Tank emphasizes that they need to do all the stories, and Robin insists that they need to work up to the challenging ones. Lea explains that she came to *Momotaro* next because she wanted a good fight, and had actually wanted to kill the dragon in *Sleeping Beauty*, but Robin shakes her head as she explains that there is no dragon.

Robin tries to explain that killing things might not be the best option, but Lea cuts her off by saying not everyone can smile their way out of trouble and mockingly calls her a princess. Upset, Robin points out that she was a Prince Charming like Lea, and Tank separates the girls again, waiting for them to apologise to one another.

Much to Tank's dismay, the two refuse to apologise. Tank mentions that he feels as though it would be a long trip as the boat shakes upon reaching the shores of the Island of Devils.

Momotaro steps onto the shore with Lea excited, Robin nervous, and Tank in awe at the curved mountain. He instructs his companions to prepare themselves, for they have arrived.

## Important Events

* Robin and Tank learn that the stories of *Red Riding Hood* and *Hansel and Gretel* have been completed by Lea
* They arrive at the Island of Devils

## Characters

 Momotaro

Robin

Tank

Lea

Urikohime (Mentioned)

Snow White (Cameo)

Briar Rose (Cameo)

Aurelia (Cameo)

Rapunzel (Cameo)

Rapunzel's Children (Cameo)

Three Bears (Cameo)

Captain Hook (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*