Here is my new BATB fanfic. It is based off the new 2017 live-action film with Emma Watson as Belle, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Dan Stevens as Beast, Luke Evans as Gaston, and Josh Gad as Lefou. I'm both excited and scared to share this story. It's always nerve-wrecking to start posting a new story. I'm so glad how much you all seemed to enjoy my previous Gaston/Lissa fanfic Brother Dear. This is another story of the siblings, only with a different take.
I'm not sure how good I'll be able to do this, but after reading ladivina's story A Place Called Home, I'm going to take a deep breath and try my own hand at writing Gaston differently. I like stories where he has to learn to be a decent person. In here, will he be able to?
The first part of this story was partially inspired by ImagineATale's fanfic A Terrifying Turn of Events-one of my favorites by the way-. But the rest of it is pretty much just different. If you haven't read Brother Dear, some background details might not make sense.
This first chapter picks up from the chapter in Brother Dear, On the Hunt, when Lissa ran away from Gaston to rescue Maurice and Gaston, Lefou, Tom, Dick, and Stanley rode out to the woods to find her.
Yes, in the beginning of this story, Gaston is still the idiotic, narcissistic jerk we all know and hate, but in here he will not be a clinical narcissist. If he was, it'd be impossible to write this story, because true narcissists, as much as they say they care about people, they cannot truly connect to other's feelings though they might have a conscience. And to be honest, for this fanfic, I really want Gaston to be more human than that. Any of his behavior that doesn't make sense or seems uncharacteristic, I intend to elaborate on.
I'm changing some of the timing and a bit of the content from my story Brother Dear. In this one, Gaston didn't break Lissa's jaw. He knocked her out then took her home after she'd witnessed his plan of attempted murder. Then he kept her locked in her room for a whole week. In here, Gaston has been wrestling with guilt about his behavior, but he keeps brushing it off and suppressing it to make himself feel better. But people with a live conscience can't escape it forever, especially when the guilt truly sets in! Also in here, it was only a week, and not a few weeks when the argument between them occurred and Lissa ran away from Gaston. But it is not the night of the tavern scene where Maurice accused him.
Some people never learn from their awful ways, others do. For some, it takes something drastic to wake them up. I don't own Beauty and the Beast or the original characters. Even if Gaston becomes different, he's been a terrible person in the past, and some passed sins can come back to bite him! As I said, in here, Gaston has been wrestling with guilt for his terrible deeds but keeps shoving it aside. He is narcissistic, but I want to put that 'clinically speaking', he won't be a true mentally diagnosed narcissist.
Gaston is one of the biggest ego maniacs I have ever seen on screen. Luke Evans in one incredible actor! So, in Learning You Were Wrong, can Gaston learn to set his pride aside and put others before himself? Can he learn from his passed sins? Can he learn to love others? Does he have a heart in there somewhere after all?
This story will include Belle and the Prince eventually, but not right away. I bet I know what some of you are thinking: if Gaston can become different, will he find romance? One thing at a time, people! Sorry for the long intro, but I wanted to emphasize the main plot of this fanfic.
Unlike Brother Dear, the beginning of this fanfic is going to really be on the dramatic side! I don't want to mention spoilers! I have lots of plans.
Okay! HERE IT GOES! Breathe...breathe. Oh, yes. PLEASE, please do leave reviews!
Warning for Chapter: scary images, and peril
Gaston once told his sister that if he lost her, it would break him. He was being a manipulative tyrant then. But he had no idea just how real and terrifying it would actually become! Will Lissa survive? And if she does, is it even possible for Gaston to regain her trust?
It wasn't raining yet, but the clambering thunder overhead indicated it was about to downpour heavily. Brisa reared frightfully, snorting furiously and twitching her ears. "Whoa, whoa, girl." Lissa tried to say calmly to her beautiful Palomino thoroughbred, but she was scared. She never should've come this far, alone, unarmed, in the woods, and with a heavy storm brewing! But she'd been so determined to try and save her friend Maurice. "Come on, girl. Let's turn back!" Lissa told her horse-hoping maybe they could find some shelter then venture out again to find Maurice after the storm let up-and pulled the reigns in the opposite direction from where they came when a chilling sound close behind made her recoil in paralyzing fear: the howl of wolves! Brisa neighed loudly, rearing her front legs. Lissa guided her to head back down the trail and Brisa ran quickly, until...they saw a pack of hungry, snarling wolves right before them! Lissa gasped and Brisa skidded and turned in the opposite direction, but the wild animals gave pursuit! "Run, girl! Faster!" Lissa urged her petrified horse. Brisa galloped with all her strength. Lissa was so scared, she didn't know which direction they were going especially in the dark shadows of the thick trees, but the wolves were close on their heels. "Lord, give this horse wings to fly!" Lissa wailed.
"The rain's coming in fast." Dick said. "We need to head back if we don't want to get stranded out here."
"I think he's right, Gaston. Besides, it was her own stupid fault to take off in this mess." Stanley said, trying to keep his hat from blowing away in the wind.
Gaston halted his horse, weighing his options. Lissa had escaped his clutches, a very dangerous move on her part, and he wasn't going to let her get away with how much she knew, just like that! He'd felt a twinge of guilt for the way he'd treated her today-yelling at her, slapping her face, tying her to a chair, gagging her, then locking her in her own room-, but he kept trying to bury it by convincing himself that he was right and she had been disobedient. He'd have to punish her when he brought her home, but he decided to not be as severe, considering that she'd fled from him in fear. If he was going to get her back to the village, he'd have to convince her without scaring her this time. Even Gaston had to admit, he'd gone a little overboard today.
"Gaston, we can't leave her out here." Lefou pleaded. Gaston frowned.
"We keep looking," he said firmly, "at least until it rains." He had been so calloused lately towards the pain and feelings of others, but he was feeling worried about the potential danger from these woods that Lissa could end up in and hoped to find her before something like that could happen. Well, if it did, he would easily swoop into her rescue and be the hero, like he always did.
They continued on. Right then, a ways away, but not too far away, they heard the howl of a wolf. "Gaston..." Lefou gulped nervously, looking at his friend. Tom, Dick, and Stanley eyed him too for guidance.
"Let's go." Gaston said, his eyes peeled straight ahead of them. "Oh, it's hero time." Gaston sighed to himself. He'd have to save his sister from being trapped by wild animals and she'd come crawling back to him for safety and promise to never reveal what he'd done. Then he wouldn't have to get 'firm' again. Everything will be just fine, he told himself calmly.
Lissa could never remember feeling this terrified in her whole life! Fear and adrenaline raced through her body. Brisa picked up speed and ran as fast as she could. Then one of the wolves jumped up and caught its teeth in the back of Lissa's cloak! She jabbed him repeatedly with her elbow, but it didn't do any good. She reached into her pocket, pulling out Gaston's knife and tried to cut the cloak off of herself. She managed to cut the ties, but at that second, Brisa reared back, flailing her front legs, her hoarse neigh echoing into the night. Lissa fought to hold on, but with the wolf tugging on her it was so hard. Lissa's fingers slipped and she was thrown from her faithful horse. She hit a tree then skidded in the dirt, landing hard on her side and scraping her face. Her ribs hurt terribly, knocking the wind out of her. Brisa, turned tail and galloped away in fear.
Lissa frantically looked around for the knife, she'd dropped it! There it was! Wincing from the pain in her ribs, she crawled forward and anxiously grabbed its handle, then looked up. Wolves were surrounding her on all sides, there had to be at least ten of them! She couldn't scramble to her feet and run or climb a tall tree, the night howlers would overpower her before she even started. Clenching her brother's knife like a life-line, she stayed where she was, trying desperately not to make any sudden moves. The hungry predators were viciously curling their lips, their murderous eyes and razor-sharp teeth gleaming with evil. Lissa's blood froze in terror, paralyzing her. It was at that moment, the alpha wolf pounced and led the attack.
The men were gripping the butts of their weapons just for good measure as they got closer to where they'd heard the wolves. Then they froze when they heard galloping hoof-beats coming straight at them! "Halt!" Gaston shouted, holding his hand up to the swift rider. But then he gaped: the horse was riderless, and it was his sister's horse! Now Gaston truly did feel worried! Something had happened and Lissa was in trouble! He'd known it might happen and at first he'd kept telling himself it would be her own fault, but now...it still caught him by surprise and made him shudder like he hadn't in years. Maybe she'd been thrown and was lying badly hurt somewhere. Maybe she'd fallen and broken her neck, dying instantly. Maybe the two got separated and Lissa was lost by herself. Gaston had expected Lissa to be the one running back to him for help, not her horse! This twist in his plans began to worry him a bit.
Lefou jumped down from his own horse and reached out his arms for Brisa's reigns."Whoa, whoa, whoa, Brisa!" He called calmly. "Easy, girl. It's Lefou. Easy, easy." The horse wagged her head in panic as Lefou tightly gripped her reigns and gently touched her nuzzle. He looked up at Gaston. "Gaston! Something's wrong." Gaston sat there on Magnifique with a blank look on his face, but Lefou was sure he saw beads of sweat running down his face.
Then they heard another sound, one that made Gaston's blood run cold. They heard howling, angry wolves. But...not only that, they also heard someone screaming in pure terror and agony. And Gaston recognized that scream all too well.
Something inside Gaston snapped and he felt a surge of electricity bolt through his entire being. "NO!" He yelled, his cry echoing through the forest. He tightly gripped his rifle and dug his sharp spurs into Magnifique's flanks. His large horse pounded his hooves on the ground and charged forward like a mad bull. Gaston forgot all about his hunting companions, he didn't wait for them or order them to follow him. He didn't pose in his usual heroic peacock strut. He didn't hold his head high to make sure all eyes were on him. Heck, for once he didn't even bother or think to tell himself that it was hero time! He rode forward, pushing his horse as hard as he could. Nothing else mattered right now, except one thing: Gaston's younger sister was in grave danger, and if he didn't find her in time, it would be too late!
Can Gaston reach and save her before it's too late? Please do leave reviews!