Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or any of the characters. I'm new to this particular fandom – CuriousArcher, MadArcher, whatever you want to call it. I mean, how hard was it to not love Robin and Alice? They're totally adorable! Thanks, OUaT!

Chapter 7

After going to grab Margot's coat, they had to stop for a moment to figure out who might be able to help them best.

"I have magic," Alice contemplated, "but I have no idea how to use it to get to the Wish Realm. Not from here, anyway. D'ya?"

Margot shook her head. "My mom has all the real power, not me. I guess we could call her?"

"Alright." Alice agreed. Margot got her phone, dialled her mother, then waited and let out a groan as Kelly's voicemail picked up.

"Mom, it's me. We really need some help. Call when you get this, please?" Margot left a hurried message and then hung up. She grimaced at Tilly. "She might be at her cycling class or doing something for the wedding. She'll call as soon as she can." If there was one thing that both Margot and Robin knew, it was that Kelly/Zelena would do anything for her daughter and their family. "You said Mr. Gold is with them - your dad, my aunt, Henry, Ella, and Lucy?"

"Yeah. I dunno how I know."

"It's okay. I believe you. So, who does that leave us for help?"

"Uh… Um. Oh, wait! What about Sabine?" Tilly asked.

"Sabine?"

"Sure. Her beignets are a bit magical, aren't they?" Tilly mused.

"I'm not sure beignet magic will be enough to open a portal," Margot said, sounding sceptical, but she and Tilly were already walking. "But maybe she can help us find something else that will help. She's Queen, after all."

"Oh, that's right!" Tilly grinned. "I forgot."

Sabine was surprised to see the two younger women on at her door when she answered. She let them in immediately, though, upon seeing the matching looks of trepidation on their faces.

"What's wrong?" She asked, shutting the door.

Tilly tried to explain, but the words got jumbled. Margot put a hand on her shoulder and she stopped talking, allowing the other girl to explain their problem. When she had, they waited for Sabine's response.

On hearing that Ella, Henry, and Lucy were in trouble, it was all Sabine could do to stay standing still. When Margot told her it was in another realm, her heart skipped a beat. How on Earth were they going to get to the Wish Realm?

"I'm sorry. There's not enough beignet magic in the world to open a portal." She told them, feeling her heart tear even as she said it. Ella was her very best friend and Henry and Lucy and Regina by extension, her family. She loved them all. They had been a great help in bringing about the downfall the corrupt king and his family, along with Lady Tremaine. They were also the type of family that she had always wanted - loving, loyal, and always ready to defend each other.

"No, but you must have something." Alice insisted, looking pained. Margot gripped her hand, reminding her that all was not lost.

"Maybe," she began, "being Queen, you could help us find some magic?"

Tiana's eyes widened and she took a deep breath. "Right. Queen." She sighed. She knew that these two women needed her help. She raised her chin.

"If we do find some magic, do you think it's really safe to just go to the Wish Realm?" Margot asked as they walked with Sabine to where her food truck was parked - across from Tilly's friend the Troll under the bridge.

Alice sucked in a breath and shook her head. "I dunno. I can't even tell what's wrong, just that it is."

"I have an idea," Robin said, slowly. "It's a long shot, but it could get us the help that we need."

"Tell me."

"Storybrooke." Robin stated. "If we could somehow get to Storybrooke, there's plenty of people there who could help. Emma, Snow White, Prince Charming… Even another version of Aunt Regina. If we tell them that Henry's in trouble, they'll definitely want to help."

Alice thought about that for a minute. "Okay. But how do we get there? Didn't you tell me that Storybrooke has a magic shield to keep outsiders, ya know, out? Plus, it's in Maine and we're on the opposite side of the country. And once we get there, how do we get to the Wish Realm?"

Robin bit her lip in thought. "Oh! My mom! She has a magic bean. She'll use it if we need it."

"You're sure?"

"That entire town is full of heroes and magic. Someone will help us." Robin assured her. She was confident that if they could get to Storybrooke, they could get the help they needed.

Alice was nodding now, a grim smile on her face. "I like the way you think, Nobin."

Robin laughed. "Why thank you, Tower Girl. Now, we just have to figure out how to get there, 'cause you're right, there is a shield. I was born there, so it might let me in. I don't know about you."

"Can we portal there or would the shield keep us out?"

Robin thought furiously, her brow furrowing. "I… don't know. I… I think we could do it if we were in a car or something."

They were approaching the Troll under the bridge and Alice grinned a little. "Too bad we don't have a yellow bug."

Robin smiled back at the shared memory. Then something else occurred to her. "A car! If we can get a portal up, inside the barrier around Storybrooke, we can drive right in. It just has to be inside the town line."

"But we haven't got a car." Alice pointed out, glumly. Sabine made her way to the Troll and stepped atop its hand, a place Tilly knew well, since she'd spent most of her time hanging out there before going to live with Detective Rogers.

"One thing at a time," Robin advised her, sagely. They both stood at the base of the statue, looking out over the crowd that was there, mostly, for food from Rollin' Bayou. Drew was manning the truck, today, and his attention focused on Sabine as she stood before the crowd.

"Folks! Please listen," Sabine began speaking. But, much to Alice and Robin's consternation, nobody - except Drew/Naveen - was paying her much heed. Sabine saw this, too, but gamely kept going. "Our people, o-our friends are in trouble and…" She trailed off. She looked over at the two distraught younger women, unsure of what to do.

Drew/Naveen scowled. "Hey!" He called from the truck, his voice carrying through the people milling around. People stopped, looking towards him. "Everyone, listen up," he commanded, gesturing to Sabine. Slowly, the people all turned to look at her. For the first time, Robin saw them see Queen Tiana, and not Sabine.

Tiana started speaking again, "These two young women are known to many of you." She indicated Tilly and Margot with her hands. They need to get to the Wish Realm to help others, perhaps even save lives. I know you may feel like you can't help, but… I think you can." Tiana's voice was strong and earnest and everyone was paying attention now. "You may have a pair of silver slippers, or a - a magic hat or a bean - something you haven't thought about in years. Find it. Your realm needs you. Your Queen needs you."

Alice and Robin smiled at each other and at Tiana. Drew looked proud from the serving window of the food truck. People began to talk amongst themselves quietly, taking furtive glances at Tiana as she stepped down off of the Troll, smiling at everyone and looking so queenly, that it took a moment for someone to approach.

It was, surprisingly, Remy, the sometimes bartender at Roni's bar and a caterer with a well-established reputation in Hyperion Heights.

"Your Majesty," he began, approaching Tiana, Robin, and Alice.

"Remy? Do you have something?" Tiana asked, her voice still sounding regal.

Remy was a nondescript man in his middle years, who had been a cook in the castle of the corrupt king and his family, until Tiana and her rebels deposed him. He swallowed hard and said, "Years ago, I was preparing a cassoulet," he reached into his coat pocket, "and I found this." He held out his hand for them to see. "A magic bean." Tiana approached him while Alice and Robin exchanged excited glances and grasped hands, moving to look as well. "I - I hid it, in case I ever needed it. The King… Well, you know."

Tiana nodded. She did know. He had been cruel, conniving, and an all-around bad person. His sons had learned from their father. The youngest son, Prince Gregor could have been a good man, had he not been corrupted and killed by Drizella. When Tiana had been crowned Queen, she had toured everywhere in the castle to show the people there that she was not the same kind of ruler that they had before. Remy was the first person to speak up in her presence, showing Tiana the kind of strength the man had. She respected him a great deal.

"When the curse broke, I - I found it again. After what you just said, I want you to have it." He looked seriously at all three women who broke out in simultaneous smiles of relief. Finally, things were starting to look up.

Both Alice and Robin thanked Remy profusely. He just smiled and shook their hands, telling them that he knew his bean was going to a good cause. He told Alice, "Your father used to visit the kitchen in the castle to make sure that we had everything we needed. If we had any complaints - which we didn't - he would make sure that Queen Tiana heard them. I hope you can save him."

"So do I," Alice replied.

Once people had started to break up and disperse, Drew came out of the Rollin' Bayou and approached them as well. He stood next to Tiana, his grin white against his dark skin. "Is there anything else we can do to help?" He asked.

Robin almost answered in the negative - after all, a magic bean was a lot of help already. But it was Alice who asked, "Have either of you got a car?"

Drew exchanged a glance with Tiana and then shook his head. "Sorry. I walk everywhere these days - or drive the truck. What do you need it for?"

"Mostly just to make sure we end up in the same place when we go through the portal," Robin told them.

Tiana shook her head as well. "Me, either. Or me, too? As Sabine, I took the bus or rode my bicycle, until I got the food truck." She stood and stared at the vehicle in question. Her face broke into a sudden sunny smile. "Why don't you take the truck?"

Alice and Robin blinked in surprise. "Won't that… cost you?" Margot asked.

Tiana shrugged and Drew put an arm around her shoulders. "I'd say that lives are worth more than lost wages." He said, earning him an affectionate pat on the chest from Tiana, who looked as comfortable in the protection of his arm as Alice felt whenever Robin did the same.

How long would it take before they noticed, she wondered. Alice hoped that she would be around to see it happen.

"I agree." Tiana told them. "Take the truck."

"Are you sure?" Margot asked, squeezing Tilly's shoulder in excitement.

"Yes. If it means you can help our friends, take it."

It took a short time to make sure the truck was safe to take on a ride. Since neither Tilly or Margot knew how far or how much they'd have to drive the truck, it was better to take the time, Tiana told them. Even though both young women were eager to go, they allowed Drew and Tiana to do what was needful and to get the truck into position and fill it up with gas.

"Do you want to come with us?" Tilly asked, when everything was ready.

"- Ah, no." Tiana told them, reluctantly. She did want to go, but she knew it would be better to stay put. "I should stay here and watch over my people. These are some strange and changing times and they need their queen right now."

Alice and Robin looked at her with great respect before Alice bobbed a sombre curtsy and Robin bowed low.

"No! No curtsies or bows." Tiana chided them, laughing. She held open her arms, Drew by her side doing the same, and they all shared a hug.

Then they stepped away and Margot and Tilly walked purposefully towards the food truck. Margot stepped up into it first, holding out her hand. Tilly took it and stepped into the truck, too.

"Thanks for the loan of the truck," Tilly told the pair. Margot's hand on her shoulder squeezed and released several times, the only sure sign that she was nervous about their endeavour.

"Good luck in the other realm," Tiana told them, her voice grave, despite her smile.

"Thanks," Margot replied, "We may need it. But, we're gonna make a quick stop, first."

"Where?" Tiana asked, curious now, because that wasn't part of the plan that she knew of. "Where are you going?"

Tilly grinned at her, full of confidence. Margot was smiling, too. "To get help from some friends," Tilly told her queen. She took aim down the street while Margot sat behind the wheel of the truck, putting on her seat belt, and then she threw the magic bean as hard as she could. When it hit the ground, the so familiar ring of red sparks appeared in front of the truck.

Tilly grinned once more at Sabine and Drew before she closed the door to the truck, turning around and sitting comfortably in the passenger seat. Margot looked down at her and they smiled at each other, taking comfort in knowing that they were doing whatever they could to save the people they loved. Together.

"Margot was right, you know," Tilly said as they approached the flickering ring of energy.

"I was?" Margot gripped the wheel tightly and silently began to pray that what they were about to do would work.

"She said that Tilly would go on great adventures, remember?" Alice took a deep breath as the front of the truck slammed into the circle…

… And passed through completely unharmed. Suddenly the city landscape was gone. It was replaced by a well grown forest of gigantic trees. Both women grinned at their success.

Robin let out a long breath that she hadn't realised she was holding. A green sign flashed by the window, but she was going too fast to read it. Faster than she should be, she realised, and belatedly tapped the truck's brakes. Not that she needed to read it. She knew what it said.

ENTERING STORYBROOKE

Author's Note: Well, this didn't take as long to write as I thought it would. Hurray! At any rate, want to thank smeyer0501 for the new review. As well as and mik321 for their loyal following and continued words of encouragement. You are all amazing and I hope you are still liking this story. Cheers!