A/N- Based off the prompt:

Prince Adam needed Belle to break the spell that enchantress had put on him and he'd do absolutely anything to become human again. Gaston is the go to man for various small tasks, who unintentionally comes off as overconfident. When Maurice approaches him to rescue his daughter, Gaston soon realizes that he'll need more than brute strength to return the girl to her family. Especially when that girl needs to be convinced that escaping with him - the one she constantly looks down on - is the only way she can leave the castle alive.

Obviously this is an Alternate Universe. Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or any quotes found in this story. No infringement intended. No profit made from this work.

Due to the nature of this piece, this is not the story you think you know...

It had started, as many of these stories do, once upon a time. Once upon a time, there was a very handsome young prince named Adam, who had everything his heart could desire, but no love in that heart. And though he was surrounded by faithful and kind servants, he was cold and very selfish. One very bitter, stormy evening, a haggard beggar woman came to his door, begging shelter for the night in exchange for a single rose, asking him to look inside himself for kindness and sympathy. Pushing aside his servants, he looked out and saw only her hideous features. Arrogant in his own appearance and possessions, he turned her away without compassion or mercy.

Still, she warned him not to be blinded by wealth or splendour, for true riches and beauty come from love and respect. When he turned her out again, her wretched appearance faded away, and she transformed into a beautiful young sorceress. He tried to plead with her, but it was too late, for she had seen the monster within. As penalty for his crime, she cast upon him a spell, replacing his beauty on the outside with the hideousness of his heart. To show how his choices affected others, she placed a powerful curse on the entire castle and all who lived within, giving him the enchanted rose. If he could learn unconditional love, and accept it in return from another before the last petal fell, the rose would reveal the true beauty of the beholder. If not, he would surely remain a beast forever.

Horrified by his monstrous form, he shut himself up in his castle, despairing and giving up all hope of finding this great love, for who could ever truly love a beast?