Episode 31

**Episode 31** of Forever After is the thirty-first episode in the series.

## Summary

Alice, with the encouragement of Tank and Robin, confronts the citizens of Wonderland that had previously caused them doubt.

## Plot

Robin, Tank, and Alice leave the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, and Robin is immediately startled by a piglet dressed in baby clothes walking by. Robin weakly questions what she had seen, and Tank flatly states to not ask before Alice adds that while it would have made a very ugly baby, it made a very handsome pig. Robin glances down at some mushrooms that have been eaten and comments that it felt like they've been there before, and Tank and Alice reply that they have.

Robin asks what the plan is, and Alice says there is none, Tank explaining that Wonderland is impossible to navigate except by luck. Robin thinks things over and begins to loudly proclaim that their group was very lost. Tank is shocked and Alice wants to know what she is doing, so Robin explains that fairy tale rules still apply, so wandering loudly would have something or someone coming to help, just like when she wandered loudly in the story of Rapunzel.

Tank quickly realizes that Robin is right, which means the one who was going to help them was the Cheshire Cat, who appears and lounges in a tree in front of the group. The Cheshire Cat jumps down to the path, commenting that they are the strangers he has been looking for as Alice hides behind Robin, scared. Robin says she is certain that everyone else is looking too, which the Cheshire Cat confirms as the Queen of Hearts is in quite a tizzy.

Tank mentions to Alice that he thought they liked cats and Alice says that the Cheshire Cat is nothing like their cat, Dinah. The Cheshire Cat continues explaining that the Queen of Hearts is sentencing everyone to beheading, even himself, but he escaped the execution since his head is already detached.

Alice points out there is a logic to what the Queen of Hearts is doing, and wonders if she can be rational. The Cheshire Cat says that the Queen can be "rash-" but not "-onal", and Alice claims that he is talking nonsense again. The Cheshire Cat claims it's better to speak honest nonsense than dishonest reason, but Alice feels that isn't right, so the Cheshire Cat calmly asks how they know it is wrong.

Alice confidently declares that "honest nonsense" is a contradiction, their earlier fear of the Cheshire Cat gone, explaining that if one knowing speaks against sense, they aren't being honest. The Cheshire Cat grins happily, delighted to have found the real Alice who stands up for themself, and leaves the group, saying he believes that they will see a way through after all. Robin questions why all guides seem to be useless as Tank praises Alice for standing up to the Cheshire Cat before they continue down the path, curiously looking at some plants.

Robin asks Tank why they were proud of Alice for talking to the Cheshire Cat, and Tank explains that he thinks reasoning is part of the story. The first time he did *Alice's Adventures in Wonderland*, Tank tried to fight the Card Soldiers and it didn't work because there were too many. Tank then realises that the story is not about fighting, and that they're instead supposed to help Alice grow their self-confidence and self-awareness, so they learn to speak up when something feels wrong. Robin praises Tank for learning about the symbolism of fairy tales, and he playfully blames her for teaching him how to see past the obvious conflict.

Alice is thrown back into Robin, and Tank grows angry at seeing the ones who did it were the Mad Hatter and the March Hare, who scolds Alice for keeping poor company while Robin wonders where Johnny Depp is.

Alice tells the March Hare it is none of his business who they keep company with, and the Mad Hatter says they are a rude child even after they were invited to tea.

Alice points out they didn't ask even though there was plenty of room, and the March Hare says they sat down anyway. The Mad Hatter believes that such a person would steal the Queen of Hearts' wig, and Alice says they don't know what the two are talking about as Robin and Tank nervously glance at each other. The March Hare mocks Alice, saying they never know what anyone is talking about, and the Mad Hatter says it doesn’t matter if Alice did or didn't steal the wig, the Queen of Hearts said they did, so therefore they did.

Alice denies the accusation, and the March Hare blames them for having himself and the Mad Hatter arrested for conspiracy, which Alice also denies. The March Hare states he thinks they did, and the Mad Hatter believes that Alice may as well have. Alice loudly declares that isn't fair as they stomp their foot, stunning the Mad Hatter and March Hare into silence as Robin tries to calm a nervous Tank.

Alice continues, declaring they have nothing to do with the arrest, and the two not believing it didn't change the truth. Alice states that they didn't steal anything from the Queen of Hearts, and if she wants to blame them, she should accuse them herself.

    The Mad Hatter ask if that was how Alice feels, and they respond that it is what they know. The Mad Hatter then bows to their word, as he and the March Hare are surrounded by Card Soldiers as Tank realizes that it was a trap. Robin tells Alice to get behind her and Tank, but Alice refuses, having enough of the nonsense that is Wonderland and marches right up to the Card Soldiers, demanding to be taken to the Queen of Hearts.

## Important Events

* Alice confronts the nonsense and contradiction of the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, and March Hare
* Alice declares an audience with the Queen of Hearts

## Characters

Robin

Tank

Alice

Cheshire Cat

Queen of Hearts (Mentioned)

March Hare

Mad Hatter

Queen of Hearts' Soldiers

## 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*

## Trivia

* Robin questioning where Johnny Depp was, is a reference to when he played as the Mad Hatter in the live action movie, Alice in Wonderland.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1014759/fullcredits?ref\_=tt\_ov\_st\_sm