Episode 32

**Episode 32** of Forever After is the thirty-second episode in the series.

## Summary

Accused of stealing the execution wig of the Queen of Hearts, Alice stands trial.

## Plot

The Card Soldiers surround Alice, Robin, and Tank, and bring the group back to the Queen of Hearts' castle, where one soldier announces to the Queen of Hearts that they have captured the renegade, Alice.

Alice corrects the soldier, saying that they come and go as they choose, and would like a word with the Queen, walking directly towards the Queen of Heart on her elevated throne. Tank and Robin join the crowd that is watching, knowing they can not do anything else for Alice at this time.

The Queen asks for Alice to confirm they are Alice, which they do, and the Queen says that Alice is not there to have a word with her, rather, they are there so she can have a word with them. The King of Hearts tells the jurors to write that down as Alice tells the Queen that them having a word with the Queen and the Queen having a word with them amounts to the same thing. The jurors write that down as well, with the King telling them not to.

The Queen yells for the courtroom to be quiet, and lays out Knave of Heart's accusation of stealing a very important and beautiful wig. She asks Alice how they plead, to which Alice replies that they are not guilty. The Queen declares that Alice is a liar and wants them executed. Alice proclaims that they are not a liar and the Queen of Hearts has no proof that they stole the wig.

The Queen of Hearts orders the Knave of Hearts, who is kneeling at the base of her throne with a sign that says 'Wig Thief' on his front, to tell the court what happened. The tearful Knave says that no one in Wonderland would dare to steal the Queen's wig, so it must have been an outsider, someone who is not from Wonderland, which would be Alice. Robin trembles, scared that her actions would get Alice in trouble as Tank wraps a wing around her for comfort.

Alice points out that the proof of them being a stranger in Wonderland is hearsay, nothing but gossip or unfounded information. Alice says that they do not know the Knave of Hearts, and if asked, they might have said his name is Jack, asking how could he say what they might or might not do.

The Queen of Hearts says that Alice doesn't know the Knave because they don't belong in Wonderland, which was the point of the trial, and Alice replies that not belonging isn't a crime. The Queen of Hearts throws a fit, kicking her legs like a child throwing a temper tantrum and yelling that stealing her wig is a crime. Alice asks how she knows the wig was stolen, and the Queen replies that it's not in any of her rooms. Alice asks the Queen if she is sure she hadn't misplaced it. The Queen responds that she is certain. In responce, Alice asks when was the last time the Queen of Hearts wore the wig, to which the Queen replies that it was at the last execution. Alice asks when the last execution was and the Queen is unable to answer.

Alice asks if she can't remember the last time she wore it, questioning how the Queen of Hearts could possibly know that her wig wasn't stolen long before their arrival in Wonderland. The Queen tries to recover the situation by saying she believes that the last execution has been recent and the King of Hearts stutters that with the law being what it is and pardons coming as they do, Alice realizes that no one in Wonderland had ever been executed. Robin asks if that was right, and Tank thinks it over and begins to believe that Alice is correct.

Angry, the Queen of Hearts demands that the scared King tell them that she had executed many people before Alice reveals the truth, Every time someone is ordered to be executed, the King pardons them or the Card Soldiers pretend to kill them. The Queen weakly denies it, affirming that she is the Queen.

Alice gently replies that she isn't because real queens have power, and the Queen of Hearts has none, saying that the Queen is nothing more than a sulky child playing dress up, and everyone around her has humored her and allowed it in the worst possible way. Alice then declares that it was time for everyone to grow up.

With this declaration of words, Alice, Robin, Tank, and the Queen of Hearts grow to their real size, the Castle of Card toppled, and the residence from within shown to be real animals with no special traits. The Queen kneels on the ground, holding the cards as tears fall from her eyes as she mourns the loss of her castle and kingdom. Alice points out that none of it had been hers, and if she wants to rule something real, she ought to build it herself.

The Queen of Hearts realizes that she had been asleep for a real long time, removes the wig she is wearing, and peacefully leaves. Alice watches her go before turning to Robin and Tank and informs the two that they would like to wake up now too. Robin and Tank look at each other, understanding that the story has been resolved and can now be completed, agreeing to Alice's words as they lay down.

Robin opens her book, but hesitates. Tank asks what she is waiting for, and Robin explains that when they leave the story, Tank will be small again. With a soft smile, Tank points out that he can't stay in Wonderland forever and Robin protests the fairness of it.

Tank wraps an arm around Robin's shoulders as he tells her that finishing the stories was more important than his pride, and that only getting home matters.

Robin agrees and so, as the sun behind Tank and her sets, with cards being gently blown across the grassy field as Alice sleeps, Robin proclaims that Alice lived happily every after, ending the story of *Alice's Adventures in Wonderland*.

## Important Events

* Alice calmly uses logic to defeat the Queen of Hearts, who peacefully leaves Wonderland
* Robin and Tank finish the story of *Alice's Adventures in Wonderland*

## Characters

Alice

Robin

Tank

Queen of Hearts

King of Hearts

Knave of Hearts

## 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*