The vessel slowly crept through the horizon as the tiniest hint of light from afar began to appear. 'It wouldn't be long until we arrive'. He thought as his palms clenched the smooth railings of the ship. He had so much confidence in his plan but a voice in the back of his head was telling him there is a flaw. The repeated in his head for over an hour.

He pushed himself away from the railings before turning on his heels to his private quarters. Scanning the nearby area to make sure no one could be within ear shot for what he planned to do next.

He began tearing apart the once organized room to a now chaotic room searching in every book for the name of the one who could tell the future.

He searched had for the letter that he had slipped into the inside of one of the books. One that was from the man himself who could see the future. One who could wield all sorts of magic. One that could give the key to his own success. The man jumped with a grin on his face as he found the letter with the senders name on front and did exactly what the letter had instructed. He scanned the name a few times to think of the proper pronunciation of it, then announcing the name.

"Rumplestiltskin, Rumplestiltskin, Rumplestilskin." Each time he said it his tongue got tied when pronouncing -stiltskin making the first 'T' a 'H' instead. After a moment or two of silence he huffed. The letter must have just been another one of the many pranks his brothers sent to him.

He paced to the desk pulling the chair out getting ready to sit down and most likely past out, but then instantly a man with the oddest of features appeared. His skin had looked like one of a crocodile and his hair grown down to his shoulders in loose waves with the finishing touch of bold all leather clothing, the man's features could stand out from a mile long view.

"It's pronounce -stilskin, your majesty." Rumplestiltskin corrected with one finger pointed up as he leaned back in the chair as if it were his own personal thrown.

"My apologies sir, I was wondering if you could-" He began his question that would be more of a proper beg but was interrupted.

"Oh don't give me that fake attitude. I know you're secret, dearie." He stated as if it were a common fact.

Hans quickly glanced around the room hoping no one was watching or listening as his eyes grew in fear. 'Had it been so obvious? I thought it was believable enough.'

"But don't worry it'll just be /our/ little secret." Rumple said wth a smug look then reaching his hand to the desk to mess around with all the trinkets Hans had lying around everywhere. Many being boring coins from all around while others stood out more such as the miniature wood carven statue that could be presumed to be it's kingdom's monarchs. Rumple then turned to look at the prince in the eyes. "You were saying."

He hesitated for a moment as he got lost into how the design of Rumplestiltskin's eyes just added to the man's eerie look. "I...want to /ensure/ that I do get the crown that I deserve."

"And how do you plan to get this crown?" Rumple asked out of pure amusement as he leaned against the back of the wooden chair.

"By marrying Queen Elsa."

He bursts out into laughter from the amusement of knowing so much it made the job so much easier and much more fun. He had missed doing this job, it was long overdue for his return. "Don't propose to her she's a hard one to crack, but her sister on the other hand" he paused to put emphasis on the next to words "is desperate. Charm her for an hour and she will be begging for a proposal."

"Really?" Hans thought to himself already imagining himself proposing that night."Thank you for the advice-"

The dark one quickly cut the prince off. "You think that's my advice? My all powerful advice? Sure you'll get her hand but you still need to prepare for something. Something only I know."

Hans stood for a moment which turned to be awkward as he was expecting an answer to come out of the dark one. "Well what is it?"

"You think I'm just gonna tell it to you? All magic comes with a price. The sooner you realize that the better." A contract then appeared on the palm of the dark one's hand and unraveled to the table with a quill appearing beside it. "I'll give you the guidance you need to become king in exchange for a future favor."

"What favor?" Hans asked with a raise of his eyebrow.

"It'll be a surprise in the future, don't worry dearie no harm should not come to your end." Rumple said before noticing Hans had not signed the contract yet. "Well aren't you going to sign? I thought becoming king was what you want? There are many others who would sign this in a split second. For if you aren't interested I could instantly go to them and tell them the key."

And just with that tease Hans' hand readily took the quill then signined the deal. "Now what is it?"

Rumple then scooted the chair back and stood now standing eye to eye with Hans. "At tomorrow's ball the queen will run away. Make sure of two things." The man said first pointing one finger up. "First publicly announce your engagement, do not go to Elsa for any blessing of it." Then the second finger went up. "And second. Don't. Let. Anna. Leave." Rumple said those four words firmly. "Make sure when the queen runs, the princess will not follow. Anna can never leave Arendelle."

"That's it? It sounds so simple." Hans said with a tone much more relaxed than Rumple's.

"Oh it might sound like that right now but when the snowball begins to roll down the mountain, be ready." With that Rumple laughed and with a flick of his hands, he and the contract were both gone as if they had never existed.

Hans repeated the two major keys needed to set his plan out over and over in his head but soon went to bed.

Anna woke up that morning the same way she wakes up on Christmas morning, very tired from getting little sleep the night before but full of excitement. She wanted to be there in person when those gates had opened up. She wanted to know every single citizen in Arendelle, she wanted to know everything she missed out on.

She quickly gotten on a dress one of the servants had placed out the night before. Tying her corset as tight as she could. Then went to the mirror and quickly placed her hair in a bun, she wanted to add a braid or even a ribbons into the bun, but that would be a waste of time that she could spend in the Arendelle market or talking to townsfolk. So the bun would definitely do for now.

She placed on her flats which she had picked personally out, best for running with the least amount of possible slips.

As soon as she was done she raced towards the gates which had still been closed. She eyed up to the clock tower which still had counted two minutes until eight.

Within these two minutes she fantasized how today will work. As she thought of her glorified new possible life a flashing picture of Elsa crossed her mind. She completely forgot the central part of today. She was hoping that part would have atleast talking involve. Before she could think any more about her sister a loud bang of the clock struck as the gates slowly began to open.

Her eyes glowed as everyone came pouring in as she headed out. She could smell the many treats the vendors were selling, she saw girls play act what was going to happen and many royal officials from all around. From dukes to kings they were all now stepping off their ships.

Anna could not think of an exact memory of meeting many royal officials before the gates closing, of course she was only a child when they closed. But she did remember one family who loved the color green and she would play with their only daughter, Tiana.

For the next hour Anna travelled all throughout Arendelle trying everything she could as possible to get a true taste of life outside the palace walls. She glanced down at the map she had received at the entrance of the market and she noticed she misssed a shop that had been selling beautiful, handmade snow globes. She still had five minutes to spare so this would be the perfect way to spend them. She quickly turned around to head towards the shop but then accidentally elbowing a man right in the stomach.

"Oh my god! I am so sorry. You see I'm trying to go to as many shops as possible before the coronation begins and I just noticed I missed one and I-" Her rambled explanation was cut off by the tall man who had a rather surprisingly calm expression as if he was not elbowed at all. He gently took both of her hands which were flying around in front of her during her ramble and pulled them down.

"Don't worry a little elbowing won't break a rib." He said in a calm voice which was rather somehow charming to her. He slipped his hands away taking a step back then bowed. "Prince Hans of the Southern Isles."

Her eyes were stuck staring at his face. She had never seen anyone look so handsome in her life. Her chest had felt a strange, new feeling of fluttering. Her cheeks' slight pink tint slowly got darker as she knew right then and there she had found the man of her dreams.

Instantly her mind zapped in realization that there had been an awkward moment of silence after his words. "Oh right!" She exclaimed before doing a curtsy "Princess Anna of Arendelle."

Hans fully understood now what Rumple had told him about how desperate she was. They only said a few words and she was already drooling. But he needed her to stay wrapped around his finger, to have all of her attention attracted to him. "Anna, what a lovely name." He said in the same gentle voice having his hand slip under her chin tilting it up to look at him.

She wanted to stare at him until it would be too dark to see two inches in front of herself but her romantic fantasies were soon put to an end from a single ring of the clock tower bell. She straightened her back, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I have to go my sister's coronation." She said slowly stepping back before bumping into a street lamp behind her. Her face turned bright red in embarrassment but tried to act like it hadn't never happened. "Will you be at the ball tonight?"

"Yes, hopefully we can share a few dances tonight." Anna had let out a small giggle in response but quickly tried to play it cool again.

"I look forward to it, Prince Hans." And just like that she was gone back to the castle just like that, with a few trips over her own feet on the way.

Hans wanted to smirk at the girl's naiveness but only presented a gentle smile instead to cover it. By tonight he would for sure have a ring on her finger. Hell, he could even marry her by tomorrow night if he wanted. But he needed to focus on the engagement first and whatever Queen Elsa had in store tonight.