"You seem troubled, dearie."

Hungary's eyes flew open as she jolted away from the tree she'd been resting against. "Who's there?" she called, readying her sword for attack. She ignored the throbbing cut on her arm and refrained from wincing, knowing whoever it was would notice such a sign of injury if they'd been a soldier long enough. And they would be all too willing to take advantage of a weakness. "I'm armed!"

"Yes, I can see that..." There was a rustling in the bushes to her left and she faced them, heart pounding. Her sword steady, she tried to hide her surprise as someone emerged from them. It was a man, but that wasn't what startled her. There was something off about him... Something not quite human... As he stepped from the canopy of the trees the sun shone down on his face, and she was alarmed to see it looked weathered and hard, almost like leather. There was a gleam to it... Most definitely not human. But it was his eyes that startled her the most; they seemed to stare right through her, as though he was seeing something only he could see.

"Listen, the battle's over!" Hungary tightened the grip on her sword, staring right back at the peculiar man. He wasn't dressed like a soldier from either side, but that didn't mean he wasn't a mercenary or spy. Frankly she wouldn't have been surprised to learn he was working for Prussia with all his eccentricities... "Just go back to your encampment and no one has to die!" She'd seen enough casualties today. Even if the man wasn't one of hers, if she could avoid spilling any more blood she would try.

The man raised his hands in surrender, but she didn't lower her defenses. If anything, she raised her guard more as a smile came to his face. "My, listen to you! You are a feisty one, aren't you, dearie?" he said, taking a small step toward her.

"Not another step!" Hungary was satisfied to see he listened, but the expression on his face made it seem like it was of his own choosing and not as a result of her order. This annoyed her. "Are you a soldier?" she asked. "Or a spy? Who do you work for?"

"I don't work for anyone," he answered, his strange speech mannerism making her scowl. He sounded like this was all just a game. "The name's Rumplestiltskin, dearie." He made an elaborate bow, and she stared. He seemed more like a court jester than a man of war... "And if I might be so bold as to inquire your name?"

Hungary paused. If he was a soldier or otherwise involved in the war in any way, he would have surely heard about the countries being human. But if he was just a wayward civilian... "...Elizabeta," she replied.

His grin widened. "Ah, what a lovel-ly name!" he exclaimed. "E-liz-a-be-ta," he repeated, sounding the syllables out. "And you, my dear, are a country, are you not?"

Hungary tensed in alarm. "So you are a soldier!"

"No no, just a man that knows things. And happens to deal with other countries," Rumplestiltskin hinted.

"Are you working for Prussia? I swear, if he sent you to spy on me-"

"Ah ah!" Rumplestiltskin waved a finger in a scolding fashion. "I don't work for anyone, dearie."

"Then who are you working with?" Hungary amended.

The man laughed. "You-" He pointed at her. "Are a clever one! I like clever people. Well, as long as they're not as clever as me. Which they never are..." His thoughts seemed to wander, but then he quickly snapped his attention back to her. "Tell you what. I was originally here to make a deal with a country by the name of Romania. Heard of him?"

At the mention of Romania Hungary's brow twitched. "What kind of deal were you making with that bastard?" she growled.

"Ah! So you do know each other! Good, that makes things easier." Rumplestiltskin clasped his hands together and looked up at the sky. "Well. He wanted your territory. I ensured that would happen."

"What?!" Hungary made to stomp forward but he held up a hand, signaling he wasn't finished.

"However..." The man suddenly scowled and bared his teeth, looking furious. "It seems as though he's not going to uphold his end of the bargain, and I don't like that." He spun around. "The deal was simple: part of Hungary for some of your world's magic."

"M-Magic?" Had she really heard that right?

"Magic! You see, it's quite different from the magic where I'm from, and I was hoping to expand my horizons, so to speak." He spun back around. "But that Romania... I've been watching him, and I don't think he has what I'm looking for. It's all cheap magic, so simple a child could learn it. He led me to believe he knew of more... extraordinary magic."

Hungary snorted derisively. "That's who he is. That bastard talks big and brags about his magic, but that's all it is. Just talk. He's even worse than England."

"England, you say?" Rumplestiltskin appeared to make a mental note of the name. "Yes, I may have to pay this England a visit before I head back... Romania did mention him..."

Lowering her sword but still keeping her grip tight, Hungary looked the man over. He really did look like he might be from another world... "Where are you from?" she asked, curious.

"Oh, you wouldn't know of it." He simply waved the question away, but before she could ask more there was another rustling in the bushes and a second man appeared. This one was more normal in appearance, but he looked like the type to snap at the drop of a hat. It was just the look in his eyes...

"Rumplestiltskin, how much longer? The deal fell through. We should be going," the man said, looking between Rumplestiltskin and Hungary. "Oh, wait, let me guess: You found another deal."

"Perhaps..." Rumplestiltskin eyed Hungary with keen interest. "Depends on this dearie here."

Hungary was losing her patience. The battle was over. She was exhausted. She had injuries to tend to. Meetings to hold. Reports to listen to. She really needed to be going. The man who called himself Rumplestiltskin had to be crazy, with his talk of deals and magic. And this other man, well, he was probably twice as mad to even be with the strange dealmaker. "I'm sorry, but I have matters to attend to." She sheathed her sword. "Any territory I lose I'm going to win back. So consider that deal you made with that bastard pointless."

"Oh, it might not have worked out in my favor, my dear Elizabeta, but it was hardly pointless." Rumplestiltskin looked her over. "After all, it led me to you! Tell me, dearie, what if I told you I could help you win this war with something as small as a frying pan?"

Hungary frowned. "A... frying pan? How did you...?"

"How did I know it's your weapon of choice? Not important. Just know that I know. But answer the question." Rumplestiltskin folded his arms and leaned forward, eagerly awaiting her reply. Behind him, the other man leaned against a tree, looking bored.

"Uh... I'd have a hard time believing you..." She raised an eyebrow. "If a stranger from another world tells me I could win a war with a magic frying pan, of course I'm going to be skeptical."

"HA! As you should be!" He looked amused at her response and turned to the other man. "I quite like her spunk, Jefferson! You could stand to learn a thing or two from her!"

The man called Jefferson sighed. "I doubt it," he dully replied, sounding annoyed.

Hungary closed her eyes, growing rather annoyed herself. "If you have a point..."

"Ah, yes yes yes!" Rumplestiltskin made a gesture, and Hungary made a clumsy step back as a frying pan suddenly appeared in his hand. So his talk of magic really wasn't insane... "My point. The point. Right here." He waved his other hand over the pan, and it shimmered with a soft purple haze for just an instant. "This frying pan is no longer any ordinary frying pan. What you just saw was me putting a spell on it."

"I figured that much," Hungary said, still staring at the pan. "What kind of spell?"

"One that can... ease your troubles." He flipped the pan over, examining it. "You seem to have quite a few enemies at the moment."

"Just a few," Hungary replied warily. "But that's war."

"Just war, she says..." Rumplestiltskin laughed. The sound sent a sudden chill over Hungary. It sounded unnatural. "Those enemies... Do you wish for them to be killed?"

Hungary's eyes widened. She immediately thought of Prussia. He might have started this war, and they might be on opposing sides, but she would never wish that... Not in a million years. She wouldn't even wish that fate upon Romania... "No, of course not!" she exclaimed. "They might be my enemies, but I'm not that cruel!"

"Seems I used the right spell then," Rumplestiltskin mused. "Yes, I didn't take you to be... that cruel," he said, tilting his head slightly as he looked at her again. "But you do want them to be weakened, yes? Enough for you to defeat them?"

Hungary paused. "...I suppose," she answered slowly, trying to find the danger in his words.

"This frying pan, it now has the power to weaken any person you hit with it." He flipped the pan over again and gave it a little wave, as though to emphasize his words.

"How is that any different from hitting them with a normal pan?" Hungary asked, eyeing the frying pan with suspicion. "I can knock a person out just fine with any other one. What makes that one so special?"

"Because it's meant to be used on countries." He put the pan behind his back and began walking around her. "This pan is meant specifically to weaken other countries. You hit a normal human being with this, it will hurt sure enough and even knock them out, like an ordinary pan. A country, such as yourself..." He gestured to her. "Same thing, but there is, how shall I put this, more to it. Each time you hit a country, their country will be affected. Not just the person, but the state of their country as well." He stopped walking and stood facing her. "Leaving them vulnerable. Now, it is possible to kill a country with this, but don't be alarmed! It will only do so if you intend to. And it's only countries it can kill; it has no such effect on humans. So..." He paused. "You countries are all about besting one another, am I correct? Just simply tap them on the head however hard you may choose, and good luck's sure to come your way. Get some land, get rich... End a war. It could all be yours with the help of this frying pan. Now, there may be a few discrepancies down the road, with the magic wearing off and such, but I can guarantee it for a few centuries at least. That's a lot of years, dearie, but I'm sure to you it's nothing."

"So why would I want it, then? You're right, a few hundred years is nothing to us," Hungary stated. "And what you said, about getting land and money... That's something I could still get anyway. My country and its people are strong. We'll survive this war and win it."

"But what about your husband?"

At the mention of Austria Hungary's blood ran cold. "How do you know about Roderich?!" she demanded, curling her fist. This man knew way too much...!

"Just a small chat with Romania. He seemed pretty eager to tell me everything I wanted to know about this world and its current affairs. Including the union between you and Austria. What are they calling you two? The Austro-Hungarian Empire?" He smiled. "How sweet. But he also told me how weak Austria is. He needed your help to fight the Prussians back. And he's still having trouble with the battles he has to fight on his own, from what I heard. Doesn't make for a good situation." Rumplestiltskin stroked the frying pan. "But with this... I mean, there's so much death in war. Imagine all those battles... Can his country survive the war? You may be here to help, but you can't be expected to be everywhere when you're needed most. It could take just one battle for him to lose everything. But-!" He held the pan out to her. "With this, dearie, you need just hit the country you desire to be weakened, and you could have this war settled in no time. It won't be an overnight miracle, but it will speed the process up considerably, wouldn't you say? Half the years. Half the battles. Half the cost. Half the bloodshed. All with this lovel-ly magical frying pan." He bowed and held the pan steady. "What do you say, Elizabeta?"

Hungary could imagine it. Exactly as he said. Half the years of war... Half the miserable battles... Half the cost of both life and money... And he was right. Roderich wasn't as strong as she was. If something were to happen that would prevent her from being able to support him when he needed it most... Her eyes slowly lifted from the pan to Rumplestiltskin. "...Why would you help me?"

Jefferson gave a loud sigh as Rumplestiltskin gave another laugh. "Well, dearie, I'm not doing this for free, you know! Magic comes at a price."

"Then name it. And I'll decide if it's a good price." Hungary looked at the frying pan again. If what he said was true... And she could weaken a country just by hitting them with that pan... "What do you want for it?"

"First off, make sure you use it on that Romania fellow as payback of sorts for him falling short of our deal."

"With pleasure. But there's more, I assume?"

He grinned. "You really are smart. There is another condition. Just one more. With a side of forgetfulness."

"What is it?"

"When the magic wears off the frying pan, I'll be back to collect the results. For research and experimentation, you know. Magical use in this world might be quite interesting. And when I recollect the pan, you'll forget you ever had it."

Hungary was stunned. "...That's it?" she asked, not believing him. "You just want it back when the magic wears off?"

"Well, you'll also forget you had it, but yes, that's it. I value research, dearie."

"A little too much, I'd say," Jefferson said.

Hungary thought it over. This was crazy, this deal. If someone told her this was a dream she'd more readily believe that than what was actually happening. But if that frying pan could really change the tide of war... All she'd have to do would be to hit Prussia with it a few times. Just enough to weaken his army, his economic status... Not enough to crush him completely, but just enough to win the war. A few whacks to his buddies France and Spain might not hurt either if she could get to them. And she could get back at Romania too. And with a few centuries to use it... "Do you know when exactly you'll be back for it?" she asked.

"Do you know what a world war is yet, my dear?"

She furrowed her brows. "No, but... Judging from the sound of it, it involves the whole world..."

Rumplestiltskin grinned. "Right you are! I shall return for the pan when you are most desperate, in the last year of the second World War."

Hungary's eyes widened. "There's going to be two world wars?"

"Well... So far there's only two. But that's information you really shouldn't have, so keep your lips zipped on the matter."

"And you're going to live that long?" She'd never known anyone else that was able to live as long as the countries. "Who exactly are you? How do you know what's going to happen in my world?!"

"Time between our worlds is very different! It would be far too complicated to explain, so let's just agree to get down to business, shall we?"

"But-!"

"Trust me, dearie, explaining everything would just give you a migraine. I already told you about one, nay, two events in the future! I really think that's enough." He held his free hand out, and a piece of parchment and a quill appeared in his palm. He offered them to her. "Now. Just sign your name at the bottom and the pan is yours."

Hungary looked at the parchment. "I have to sign a contract?"

"Well, you are merely borrowing the pan. It is mine, along with the spell I used. Consider it assurance that you'll give it back. Otherwise I'd be forced to take it back by other means. And trust me, dearie..." He leaned forward a bit and whispered in a threatening tone, "We wouldn't want that."

Hesitating, Hungary looked to the man called Jefferson. "What do you think about this?" she asked him. He seemed like he would answer honestly, with his annoyance toward Rumplestiltskin being all too clear.

Jefferson shrugged. "Make the deal, don't make the deal, I don't care. I don't like to get personally involved with his deals." He paused. "He's a man of his word, though. I will say that much for him."

Rumplestiltskin clucked his tongue. "Tick tock, dearie. What's it going to be?"

Before she lost her nerve and changed her mind, Hungary snatched the parchment and quill from him. She was doing this for Roderich... But she would benefit from the deal, too. She didn't see any downsides to it. "Deal," she said, unsheathing her sword and placing it on the ground. As she kneeled and placed the parchment on top of the flat blade, she looked the writing already on it over. It seemed legit... It simply restated everything he'd already told her. She signed her name at the bottom and stood, sheathing her sword again. She held the parchment and quill out for Rumplestiltskin to take back. Instead it vanished, leaving her hand empty.

He grinned at her. "Thank you very much, dearie. Pleasure doing business with you." He offered her the pan, and she carefully took it. It didn't look or feel very magical, but there was just something about it that made it seem like a real weapon to be reckoned with. She ran her hand over the surface, and looked up to thank the strange man who had given her an equally strange gift.

He was gone.

She looked to the tree where Jefferson had been and found him to be gone as well. She took one last look around her surroundings and turned. With a sense of both parts unease and excitement, she began the long walk back to the encampment. Next battle... Next battle she planned to test the pan out on a certain obnoxious and totally unawesome pest...