NOTE: This story takes place 2 years before the movie timeline.

Outcast

Chapter 1: The Fire

Laraine suddenly awoke, panting and heaving. She sighed, 'It was just a dream… but a bad dream at that.' She wiped the sweat from her forehead and sighed again, "I might as well get up. I doubt that I'll be able to fall asleep after that."

Yawning, the now 24 year-old stretched and pulled her thick purple blanket off of her. She slowly got up and turned to look at herself in the mirror. She frowned. Laraine was different. Different from everyone in her gypsy clan. For starters, she did not have thick curly, wavy hair; she had long, thick strands of straight hair. Her skin was a slightly lighter tone that everyone else's (not that any of the priests cared, they all looked the same to them) but to everyone in her clan, it mattered. She had dark, deep, ocean blue eyes, not the beautiful chilling forest green eyes that her mother had. She was an outcast, an outcast whose father was a white man. A white priest.

She reached for her silver brush and sadly brushed her long black hair, "I wish that I never had heard that woman talk. Then I wouldn't have to live with being… different. It was better when I was little when I didn't know. Ignorance is bliss." She then tied her hair to the right side of her head with a blue ribbon, leaving a small chunk of hair on her left.

"Well," she sighed. "Today's a new day. Maybe, and probably highly unlikely, people will actually look at you today."

Laraine put on her silver hoop earrings and rolled her eyes, "But we all know that's never going to happen, non?" She then reached for an old wooden chest and heaved it open. Inside of it, lay the clothes that she wore probably each and every day: her shoulder less teal shirt that had royal purple sleeves, her long dark blue skirt (that matched her eyes) with a silver fringe, and her forest green shawl with silver coins sewn onto the fringe that would be wrapped over her skirt. On the bottom lay her simple slippers – they were nothing fancy, but it was easy to run away from guards and officials in them. She also picked up a black hooded cloak that helped her blend in with the people around her.

After she put on her clothes and shoes, she reached into the chest and picked up a smooth black box. She opened the box to find her beautiful silver flute. She smiled, "Are you ready for another day, mon ami?"

The flute did not reply.

Laraine smiled, "Let us go then." She pulled open the flaps of her tent and stepped out.

"Ah!" Laraine inhaled the sweet-smelling air full of fresh baking bread, pastries, and sweets. "A great way to start the day, and now…" She bent over to pick up a small frayed hat, "Off to work."

Laraine made her way through the Gypsy camp, ignoring the odd looks and talk of blasphemy and abomination under their breaths. She felt so much more at ease when she reached the city. She set her old hat to collect coins on the floor and got out her flute and began to play. It was a beautifully sad tune that carried to a small little girl buying bread for her mother.

"It's so pretty!" She turned to the owner of the Boulangerie and said, "I would like another loaf of bread, s'il vous plait."

The man smiled, "Oui, petit chéri." He pulled, fresh out of the oven, another warm sweet-smelling loaf of bread for her and smiled when she put the loaf in a quaint little basket with a red cloth to keep the bread warm.

"Au revoir, petit chéri. And send my regards to your Maman," he said, turning his attention once again to the baking loaves of bread.

The girl smiled as she ran off, her blonde curls bouncing after her, "Oui, monsieur! I will!"

Laraine started up another song, one that was even more beautiful than the first. Before she knew it, there was a girl tugging on her skirt. She looked down and took her lips off of the flute. She smiled, "Why bonjour, fifille." (Little girl.)

The girl smiled, showing Laraine the most beautiful pearly white teeth she had ever seen, "Bonjour, madame! I just thought that your flute playing was so pretty that I bought you this-" The girl unwrapped the cloth in her small little basket and gave Laraine a warm loaf of bread.

Laraine looked at the bread and then at the girl, "Is this really for me?"

The girl nodded, "Oui, please take it! Your flute playing is so pretty!"

Laraine smiled, sat down, and took a bite out of the warm bread. She moaned; it was so light and buttery that it melted in her mouth. It had been such a long time since she had tasted bread this good.

The girl sat down next to the gypsy woman, "You're pretty."

Laraine was busy chewing a large piece of bread. She swallowed and gasped out, "Quoi?"

The girl giggled, "I said that you're pretty."

Laraine felt a small tear trickle down her face. She wiped it away with her arm and smiled, "Merci vraiment." (Thank you kindly.) She thought to herself, 'Now if only everyone else in my camp would think the way she does.'

The girl grinned, "My name is Lyra, by the way. Lyra St. Germaine. What is yours?"

Laraine finished the rest of her bead, "Laraine, Laraine Allaire."

The girl smiled up at her again, "You have a pretty name, too."

Laraine chuckled, "And so I do."

Lyra looked at her shoes, "So… you're a gypsy?"

Laraine nodded, "Yes I am."

"I wish I was a gypsy," Lyra confessed.

Laraine chuckled, "I don't think you do."

Lyra looked up, puzzled, "Why? What's wrong?"

Laraine closed her eyes, gripping her flute tight, "There are people out there in the world… who don't like gypsies. Also, it's hard. You have no real roof over your head and you're moving constantly. There's nothing special to it."

Lyra shrugged, "Hmph, but it's more interesting than not being a gypsy."

Laraine smirked, "What makes you think that?"

Lyra pouted, "It's just… I don't have any fun. I have to learn my lessons, read the scriptures, run errands, and just… work. I don't get any fun! You look like you're having fun!"

Laraine laughed, "Having fun you say?" She looked up at the clouds, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "We do have fun sometimes, yes."

Lyra gasped, "Oh no! I should have gotten back to Maman some time ago! I must go!" She quickly got up and brushed off her dress. She ran off, yelling back to Laraine, "Au revoir, Laraine! I'll try and see you tomorrow!"

Laraine smiled, saying quietly to herself, "I would like that."

After about eight hours of playing her flute, Laraine looked in her hat to see how much she had collected.

"Not bad," she said. "I got a wonderful loaf of bread from, Lyra and about 20 gold pieces." She put the pieces in a small purse that she kept in one of her long sleeves.

She put on her black cloak and walked back to the camp, "I might as well get back now. It's almost supper time."

When Laraine was close to the gypsy camp, she heard terrified screams and swore she smelled the musky aroma of smoke.

'Oh no!' she thought with fear. She ran as fast as she could over to the gates that marked the gypsy camp. So fast, that her hood flew off of her head. She gasped – the camp was up in flames! She turned to her right and saw some officials throwing wood into the large fire. One of them spotted her and yelled, "Hey! Come back here!"

Laraine gasped, turned on her foot, and ran.

She heard the guards yell to each other, "One of them got away!" "What do you mean one of them got away? Didn't you make sure you killed everyone inside?!"

Laraine's heart skipped a beat, 'So… everyone… is dead?' She bit her lip.

"Then maybe she wasn't inside."

Laraine swore as saw them come out and follow her.

'They're on horseback? I don't stand a chance! Unless…' She made a sharp left into an alleyway.

It was a dead end.

The three men smirked. The one closest to her spat, "Looks like we have ya now, gypsy." He licked his lips evilly, "Ever had a gypsy girl, boys?"

Laraine was disturbed, "Don't you even dare touch me!"

He laughed, "Or what? Are you going to do a little dance and make everything go away like it's a bad dream?"

Laraine looked up at the wall and smirked, "Oh, I know what I'll do." She got out a little black ball from her sleeve and threw it on the ground. Purple smoke filled the air, blinding the men.

When the smoke cleared… Laraine was gone.

"Damn," one of the men swore. "An' she was a pretty one, too."

Laraine ran until she was out of the city and into the countryside. She collapsed on the grass near the side of the road – she had ran all night long. She groaned, she could not feel her feet and her lungs felt like they were on fire. She put her arm over her eyes and tried to get some sleep.

Not after long, she heard someone calling her name.

"Laraine? Laraine? LARAINE?"

Laraine looked up to see a familiar curly blonde-haired girl staring down at her. She giggled, "For once, I'm taller than you, Laraine!"

Laraine giggled, sitting up and poking the girl playfully on the nose, "And so you are, but not for long!" She reached over and tickled her sides, gaining a shriek from Lyra, begging her to stop, "NO! I'M…. TICKLISH! LARAINE!"

Laraine stopped, laughing and pulling her hood down, "It's good to see you again, Lyra."

Lyra smiled but then gave her a curious gaze, "Why are you here anyway? This isn't where gypsies live."

Laraine folded her hands in her lap and sighed and heavy sigh, "My home… was burned down."

Lyra gasped, "That's terrible! Who would do such a thing?!"

Laraine sighed, closing her eyes and shaking her head, "I don't know…"

Lyra's bright blue eyes suddenly lit up, "I can ask my parents to see if you can stay with us!"

Laraine shook her head, "It's alright. And even if they did say yes, if anyone found out that you were taking care of me…" She left the sentence hanging.

Lyra nodded, "I know." Her eyes lit up again, "But let me at least get you something to eat! PLEEEEEEAAASE!"

Laraine laughed, "Oh, fine." She pulled her hood back on and let Lyra drag her by the arm to her house.

"Maman! Papa!" Lyra called out. "I have someone to show you!"

Lyra's mother gracefully stepped into view. She had beautiful golden blonde hair and light blue eyes. She looked at Lyra and then at the hooded figure, "And who is this, Lyra?"

"This is Laraine, maman! The one I told you about with the pretty flute!"

Lyra's mother walked over to Laraine and took her hood off. She gasped, and ushered Laraine quickly into the kitchen. She stuck her head out the window and looked frantically around, paranoid, "Did anyone see Laraine come in?"

"Non, maman."

Lyra's mother relaxed, "That's good." She looked in the cupboard to find something suitable for Laraine. "Your father left early today and he won't be back until evening…"

Lyra nodded, "I see."

Laraine looked up, "I really don't think I'll be staying that long, you don't need to worry."

Lyra bit her lip, "I know, but still! You can stay with us! Can't she?" She looked at her mother with a pleading look.

Laraine shook her head, looking directly into Lyra's eyes, "I am a gypsy, Lyra. I can't stay here. If people found out, they would do the same to what they did to my home. I told you before, remember?"

Lyra winced, "I know, but still..."

Laraine sighed, putting a hand on Lyra's shoulder, "I know this is hard for you, but I can't stay. Maybe I'll see you again, but…"

Lyra nodded, closing her eyes, tears streaming down her delicate cheeks, "I know… but still… THIS ISN'T FAIR!" She went over to Laraine and put her head in her arms on top of Laraine's lap and cried, "THIS ISN'T FAIR!"

Laraine massaged Lyra's back, saying, "I know, Lyra. I know."

Laraine walked out the door, pulling her hood back over her face, "Merci, Lyra and Lyra's maman. Thank you for everything."

Lyra ran over to Laraine and hugged her knees, "Please don't leave me!"

Laraine crouched down and hugged little Lyra, kissing her on the cheek, "I'm sorry, ma chéri, but I most go."

Lyra rubbed her eyes, "I know. I'm just going to miss you, Laraine."

Laraine turned her back to them, "I'm going to miss you, too. Stay safe, Lyra. We'll meet again."

Lyra called out to her, "Au revoir!"

Laraine sadly smiled, 'Good bye, mon ami.'

DON'T WORRY! Laraine will FINALLY meet Clopin next chapter. I PROMISE!