Episode 23

**Episode 23** of Forever After is the twenty-third episode in the series.

## Summary

Robin, Tank, and Lea work their way to the Demon King's keep with Momotaro.

## Plot

Robin, Tank, and Lea exit the boat to join Momotaro on the shores of the Island of Devils. Momotaro takes charge and has Tank go scout for a path that doesn't involve mountain climbing.

Tank salutes and goes off, finding a nearby gate with stairs that are being guarded by demons, and more demons keeping watch over a group of humans on the other side of the island on their way to the river. Tank carefully considers everything and reports back, and Momotaro declares they will cut through the jungle and take the demons by surprise.

Robin questions why they just don't sail around to the other side of the island, and Lea teases her about being scared, but is rebuffed by Robin asking why they had to do things the hardest way possible. Lea explains that in fairy tales it's not about doing what is easy, it's about the story, something she thought that the fairy tale obsessed Robin would know.

Tank tries to encourage Robin, reminding her that they have been in forests before, but Lea and Robin later get stuck in quicksand. Tank quickly gets them out with a vine, and Robin sarcastically comments about what a great and riveting the story was, much to Lea's nervous embarrassment.

Momotaro calls for Robin's skills at a wall of vines, wanting her to climb up to the treetops to get a bearing on where they were. Nervously, Robin begins to climb up as Tank calls up encouragement and Lea jeers at her form, distracting Robin and causing her to lose her grip, but the monkey tail she had gained for the story wraps around a nearby tree branch to keep her from falling.

Once safely on top of the branch, Robin angrily snaps at Lea as Tank points out that she climbed the tree by herself, much to Robin's great surprise. The Caterpillar watches as Robin spots the Demon King's keep, and joins the group again as she reports that they are only halfway there and should move a little more east. Momotaro thanks Robin for her help, and Lea comments that she might not be so useless, and Robin grows angry again as Tank reminds her that they can split up once they finish the story.

Now on the other side of the island, Momotaro has Lea sniff out the path, and she soon finds the villagers Tank had seen from the air washing laundry, which includes a cloak and cabana shirt. Momotaro explains that they are captive stolen from the villages of his people, and moves on as Robin asks if they should save them, so he explains that they will be free once the demons are defeated.

    Lea continues to lead the way and gets them to the Demon King's keep until they realize the gate to enter it is locked. Robin jumps over the wall to unlock the gate to open it from the inside. Momotaro gives his attack orders, Tank to distract from above, and for Lea and Robin to stay with him, making Robin very nervous about the lack of actual plan, but Lea says that sometimes you just have to kill things, which concerns Robin.

Momotaro orders the attack, and the group rushes inside the open gate, but to their surprise, there is an army of demons waiting inside. In the middle of the army, there is a scaffold with a post that has a young maiden tied to it, and next to her is the Demon King. Or rather, the Wicked Witch who chides them for taking such a long time.

## Important Events

* Robin, Tank, Lea, and Momotaro arrive at the Demon King's keep
* The Wicked Witch is revealed to have the role of the Demon King.

## Characters

 Momotaro

Robin

Lea

Tank

Demon Army

Caterpillar

Wicked Witch

Urikohime

## 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*