The characters from this belong to Disney, except for Kendra. Who will be only in the beginning. Rated teen because I like to have room to do what I want. The big plot I'm building off of is a headcanon for the thirteen princes done by we-finish-each-others-sandwiches on tumblr as well as a culmination of all Hans headcanons I can find. If you see one that you think could have been originally yours, let me know and I will give you complete credit for it c: be patient, and enjoy.
The summary is derived from my inspiration for this story, a movie poster that can be found on my page or seen in the clip art.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"Mother, look!"
The queen of the southern isles looked over at her youngest son playing by the fire.
The four year old's fingertips were spitting up flames nearly as red as his hair, hotter than the ones produced by the fireplace.
She smiled adoringly and waved him over.
"Now dear, you know the rules." He pouted as she slipped his white gloves over his hands. "You're supposed to be controlling them, not playing with them. You heard what Pabbie said."
"But mother, why can't I learn to use them?" he whined.
"You are the only one of your brothers to have these powers. What if people were to think you different from us?" The queen pursed her lips here. Strangely, Hans was her only child to be born with any sort of magical quality. In the darker parts of the Southern Isles, people were already whispering about why they had continued to produce children after twelve, since thirteen was considered an unlucky number.
"Where else would I have come from, mother?"
She didn't want her youngest son to be considered the Antichrist.
"Just...it isn't safe, darling." She kissed her son on the head and ruffled his hair. "If you can't control the powers, learn to use them for something other than destruction."
His face bent to the floor in shame. "I don't mean to...they just spread so fast."
"I know, but fire isn't something to be played with. Now look at the time." She glanced out the window and saw Aurora Borealis painting the night sky. "The sky is awake, so you must go to sleep."As he stood to kiss her on the cheek, she whispered in his ear, "I know your brothers tease you, Hansel. Just know that every single one of you is important in your own way. You'll come to see that as you get older. My little king."
He looked up at her with hopeful eyes then ran off to his room before any of his brothers could catch up with him.
Riding through the darkest part of the Southern Isles was the last thing sixteen year old Prince Hans wanted to do. He wanted to curl up in his room and read. But instead he was making his way back from the Southernmost part of the islands on a horse as black as the hood draped around him. It was obvious there was something underhanded going on; something that concerned whispers only heard above the crackling of the fireplace, and yet Hans was oblivious to the scheme.
It wasn't as though he appreciated being kept in the dark, but the youngest of thirteen wasn't considered too important and was sadly used to it by now.
A letter with the royal seal of Arendelle hung securely in the pouch strapped to the side of his horse with strict orders not to open it or even look too closely at the messenger. Always eager to prove himself, Hans was determined to get the letter to the castle without a wrinkle on it.
The horse was making good time down the street when a dark shadow darted out in front of him. The horse's chest ran straight into a small girl close to his age, knocking her back at least a good five feet.
"What-?"
A large man came rushing out of the alley looking around for something. He grunted when he saw the limp body on the street and swung her over his shoulder.
"Thanks bub, you didn't see any of this."
Hans' eyes narrowed as his gloved fingertips started tingling.
"Put her down." He ordered.
The man sneered.
"Or what? You'll knock me back? I can guarantee I'm heavier than this little bitch."
Hans flushed with anger and squeezed the reigns of the horse tighter, willing the man to back off in case the gloves weren't enough to calm his temper. He swung his leg off the horse, making sure the hood covered his face.
"I said to leave her alone."
The man tossed her back on the ground, starting towards him.
"And I suppose you and those pretty little gloves will make me?" The man grabbed his arm aggressively and tugged, accidentally ripping a glove.
"I wouldn't suggest coming closer." Hans was suddenly very timid, holding his bare hand ajar. The angry heat from his face was starting to fill his arm and rush to his fingertips.
The offender scowled and came at him again. Hans didn't have time to do anything but throw his hands up in defense.
A loud roar filled the night as red, scorching flames jumped from the prince's hand. The man screamed half in fear and half from pain and ran, trying to pat the flames leaping off his skin.
Hans grimaced and pulled the shredded glove in the best he could. Hopefully no one would believe the thug, but he needed to leave soon before people came to see what the screaming was about.
He looked over at the girl who was fairly bruised after being banged around. She had matted silver blonde hair that looked almost brown because of the grunge.
Judging from what he had seen, this wasn't the best place to leave a girl beaten up and unconscious.
He swung her up into the saddle in front of him and laid her back against his chest, urging his horse to move quickly.
The King wouldn't take kindly to him bringing home a peasant. He led the horse into the farthest stable with only a pregnant palomino and carried the girl to a pile of hay, making sure her head didn't hit when he set her down. There was sure to be a lump. After Putting up his riding supplies, he took the letter and ran into the castle.
The paper was pristine despite the journey to get it and he presented it proudly.
"Thank you, Hans." The king muttered, taking the letter without a second glance to him.
His chest deflated as though a balloon was being popped.
"Is there-"
"You may leave."
He was shooed out of the study into the stone hallway by guards, the door slamming shut behind him.
"Awww." Teasing voices chorused from behind him.
He didn't need them right now. His older brothers, Nikolai and Tobias were leaning against the pillars on either side of the doorway he had just been kicked out of. The twins were eleventh and twelfth in line and tended to pick on him the most as he was the only one younger than them.
"Did daddy kick ickle Hansel out of his roooom?" Nikolai cooed.
"Shut up." His cheeks heated up as he started towards the medical supply closet and then stopped, thinking it would be best if the two in his company didn't know about the surprise in the stable.
Tobias poked him in the side, making him squirm.
"I'm sure he worked so hard to know what was in that-" his voice dropped down to a whisper. "secret letter!"
"That we know all about." Nikolai stepped in.
"No you don't." Hans whirled and stared at them in disbelief.
"Yeah we do!" Tobias cackled. "You get told about the Plan when you become an adult. And we, as you know, turned this year."
Hans glared at them both. They had to be lying; that would mean he was the only one in the dark.
"Tell me!" He snapped. The twins were already cackling down the hall.
Hans huffed in annoyance and went down to the medical cabinet, going back out to the stable.
They were lying. That letter that he had been trusted to deliver was much too important for their eyes.
He pursed his lips and opened the door silently, looking around in the moonlight. The hay pile he had left her on was empty. He crept in, and narrowed his eyes. Why didn't he light a lantern on his way out?
CLANG
A sharp pain split through his skull from the back and a groan fell from his lips as his knees buckled.
"What...was that for?" He mumbled, looking back at the girl holding a metal lantern above him.
Her eyes traveled over the water and bandages he had brought and backed away.
"Why..why did you bring me here?"
Hans bit back a smart comment and tried to remember his upbringing.
"I apologize for startling you," he stood up rubbing his head and bowed to her. "I saw that you were being chased and thought you could use help."
The girl looked at him like she had never seen anyone bow to her.
"Where am I? Who are you?"
"My name is Prince Hans. You're in one of the castle stables." He was beginning to get annoyed now. Couldn't someone appreciate kindness?
She lowered the lantern and shifted her weight, looking almost ashamed of herself.
"S-sorry. I didn't realize...I'm not used to...castle stables?"
He sighed and picked the supplies back up, guiding her over to the pile of straw.
"I didn't think my father would take to me bringing a random girl from the village into the castle."
"...I don't believe you're a prince." She said hesitantly, flopping back down on the straw.
Hans grimaced and dampened a rag with cold water.
"I don't suppose you really need to, though a little recognition would be nice." He tried to keep the depression at bay since his mother died of sickness five years ago. There had been no one stopping his brothers from converging on him. There were the oldest two, Theodore and Bastian, to who he might as well be invisible. They were the first in line for the throne and would probably really know what was in the letter. Next was Anders who had actually considered Hans invisible for two years. Johan and Erik, who had wanted to impress their older brother, also joined the 'invisible' bandwagon. They would still call him nobody from time to time. The silver lining of his family was the third oldest, Christian, who had taught Hans how to sail to take his mind off his grief in the months following mother's death. The fifth brother, Morten, had usually come with them but had kept his distance from his youngest sibling. His seventh brother, Frederick, had tagged along too and taught Hans to navigate the stars. Out of all the bad eggs in his family, Christian and Frederick would probably be the ones he tried to stay closest to at dinner every night.
The girl stayed silent for a long time as he tried to soothe her head.
"...thank you." She muttered finally.
"What was that?" he looked over with a smirk on his face "I didn't hear you."
She rolled her eyes and sat up straighter, feeling the lump on her head.
"You heard me, your Highness. My name is Kendra."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Hello again, internet! There is nothing more I want than to sit around and type all day, but I've been distracted. It's been a while so I am quite rusty. Reviews will be needed to improve my writing skills to what they were before, so they're appreciated. This is my first Frozen fanfic and I hope I do Prince Hans justice. This starts as his backstory and will later turn into some Iceburns(Hans/Elsa), but I will make it so its easy to leave off if you don't like the pairing.