Episode 7

**Episode 7** of Forever After is the seventh episode in the series.

## Summary

Finally freed from the stone curse, Robin and Tank venture through the world of Briar Rose fifteen years later.

## Plot

The stone statue of Robin and Tank shatters as Robin sneezes. The nearby guards immediately go to tell the King as Robin removes a bird nest with eggs from her head and Tank asks what happened. Robin assumes it was the Fates, but Tank shoots down the idea as a much older King and Queen from *Little Briar Rose* arrive, saying that they thought she would be a statue forever and had a memorial fountain made in her honor.

Robin startles, slips off the pedestal, and falls into the water before demanding to know what happened with Hira. The King explains that it had been many years, and is interrupted by Briar Rose asking if all the statues were going to come to life. The King tells his child that it is not likely since they weren't cursed people, and Briar inquires if their father is sure that the naked ones won't.

The King apologizes to Robin, saying that his son is at that certain age, and Robin is shocked that Briar Rose is male, and that she had been a statue for at least 10 years. The King corrects Robin and says that it had been 15 years, and the Queen adds that Robin hadn't aged a bit as Briar Rose runs around his parents while asking if there will be cake at his birthday party. The King explains that there is an adult function they need to go to, and Briar is disappointed, even though his parents say they'll be there later.

Robin demands to know about the curse Hira placed, since today is supposed to be the last day that it is effective, but the King says they took care of it by burning all the spinning wheels in the kingdom, though the price of imported cotton was getting out of hand. Tank whispers to Robin that the King and Queen were making a mistake by letting their guard down, and the royal parents leave, 'asking' Robin to watch Briar while they're gone.

Briar asks with Robin is his wife now, and if he could touch her fairy, both questions being met with refusal. Robin tells Briar that he needs to not touch any spindles on spinning wheels, and is shocked to find out that he doesn't know what either of those objects is, and grumbles about Briar's parents not teaching him about the one thing in the world that can hurt him.

But since there are only a few hours until the curse is over, Robin asks Briar what he usually does when his parents aren't there, and he says that he plays by himself, but he wants to play Hide and Seek with Robin counting first and quickly runs off. For the next few hours, Robin and Tank chase after Briar, doing their best to keep him away from *any* sharp edges. Once sundown arrives, Robin sits down and agrees to one more game since the story is over.

Briar goes off again as his parents arrive, surprised that Robin is still there and inquires about their son's whereabouts. Briar watches from behind a wall, and notices a door behind him as it creaks open. Robin and Tank cheer about breaking the curse, and are horrified to find out from Briar's parents that Hira's curse was until moondown on his 15th birthday, not the assumed sundown, meaning that Briar Rose is still in danger.

Meanwhile, Briar Rose walks through the door to find an old woman with a spinning wheel. The old woman tells him to come closer to her magic wheel that grants wishes when they touch the shiny part, the spindle. At first, Briar doesn't know what to wish for since he has everything, and then asks if he can wish for a friend. As Robin and Tank frantically look for the young royal, Briar Rose pricks his finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel.

## Characters

Hira

Briar Rose

Robin

Tank

Messengers

Briar Rose's Parents

## 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*