Half an hour later, the three of them were back on the road. Naturally, Belle and Adam weren't on speaking terms again. Whenever Adam turned to look at her, he noticed that she didn't even want to make eye contact with him anymore.

If Agathon noticed that something had changed between his two protégés since their stopover for lunch, he didn't mention it. Adam almost felt sorry for the Enchanter, being the in-between of so much drama. At least the servants had had each other to commiserate with whenever he and Belle argued. Agathon had to deal with this nonsense all on his own. He must have had an extreme measure of self-control to not try talking sense into them. Or—an odd thought came to Adam—maybe he'd lived long enough to know that it was better to stay out of these uncomfortable situations.

They rode deeper and deeper into the woods until the path narrowed and branched off into a steep hill. Thick undergrowth and bumpy rocks nearly concealed the way up to the top.

Agathon told them that they couldn't take their horses beyond this point. So, with great reluctance, they all dismounted their saddles, the Enchanter whispering a spell into each mount's ear to guide them safely back the way they came.

It took a good twenty minutes for the three of them to reach the top of the hill. Adam had an easier time at it than Belle, who slipped many times on the path's uneven surface. At one point she stumbled backwards and slammed straight into Adam, who had to awkwardly grab onto her shoulders to help her regain her balance. Belle nodded at him curtly, but that was as far as she went in expressing her gratitude. Judging by her downcast expression, the sting of their last conversation was still fresh on her mind.

Finally, they arrived at the top of the hill, and Adam marvelled at the sight before him. They stood at the edge of a great valley, deeper than any he'd ever seen before. The way across the ravine was connected by a crudely made footbridge that had likely seen better days. Many of its boards were broken, and several of its ropes had snapped in two. A thick white mist obscured the other half of the structure, making it impossible to see what was on the other side.

"Here we are," Agathon said proudly. "The cliff overlooking the famous Val Sans Retour. Our destination is on the other side of the bridge."

As if on cue, a chilly gust of wind blew in from the trees behind them. But rather than pass over the valley, it stopped straight in front of them. Adam watched, perplexed as a spiral of dead leaves rose up from the ground, followed by an unnatural wisp of red smoke. Gradually, it expanded and formed into the shape of a man, who was clad in a pointy suit of armour that may have dated back to the middle ages, or earlier. An enormous broadsword was strapped to his side.

Unnerved by the sight of the unknown spectre, Adam took a step towards Belle, who remained frozen in place. Agathon was the only one to pay no heed to the strange man's appearance.

"Ah," he said to the apparition, with the air of someone who was greeting an old friend. "I should have known that we'd run into you at some point. You must be Sir Esclados the Red."

The knight—Sir Esclados—cocked his head and put his hands on his hips. "Bold of you, Enchanter, to bring two mortals into these parts," he said in a loud, booming voice. His accent, while not exactly foreign, was strange to Adam. He must have spoken in an old French dialect that no longer existed in their time. "Didn't your lot put up that enchanted barrier for a reason?"

"I can assure you that these mortals are not a threat to your forest," Agathon replied calmly. "They, or should I say he"—he gestured to Adam—"has come here to use the Nexus Tree to fix a mistake he made. A mistake that involved messing with the past and letting some idiot take over his throne and wreak havoc on his kingdom."

Sir Esclados turned his gaze over to Adam. Although his expression was unreadable behind his visor, Adam had the uneasy feeling that he was sizing him up, like a general examining a soldier who'd been brought to him for discipline. "Hmm," he mused. "You bear a striking resemblance to a knight I knew, many centuries ago. Gifted by the fae folk was he, and a great and formidable warrior in battle. But alas, he allowed his lust for his King's wife to get the better of him, and soon after wrought death and destruction upon his kingdom."

Adam blinked at the ghost in confusion. "Are you speaking of… Sir Lancelot from King Arthur's court?"

"Aye." Sir Esclados nodded. "'Tis a pity his name is still recognized in your time. A disgraceful felon like that should have been erased from the history books long ago."

Adam shuddered. The only thing he found more unsettling than knowing that one of his favourite book characters was real, was the revelation that he was related to him, if only in appearance. "Well, I'm not here to commit adultery or destroy my kingdom," he explained. "I'm here to save it."

"Hmph. Well, maybe you are and maybe you aren't," Sir Esclados said indifferently. "'Tis not my place to decide. Long ago, I made a pledge to become the guardian of this forest; a pledge I have abided to, even after my untimely death by the hands of my enemies. And so, it falls unto me to warn you that the other side of this valley is protected by an enchantment. The bridge before you will only allow one person to pass, and one alone. If any more were to cross, then the rope would snap, and all of you would meet a horrific death in the Val Sans Retour. If you truly wish to continue to the Nexus Tree, then you must leave your companions behind you. There is no other way to reach the other side."

Adam turned to Belle and Agathon, who returned his gaze with apprehensive looks on their faces. The thought of parting ways with them filled him with dread, but he knew it was for the best. Here at the edge of the Val Sans Retour was where they would finally say their last goodbyes.

He started with the Enchanter first, knowing it would be easier. "Thank you for everything, Agathon. I'm sorry again… for accidentally killing your sister."

"As long as it doesn't happen again, consider yourself forgiven," Agathon replied with a kind smile. "I just hope you've learned something from all these time travelling escapades of yours." He stepped closer to him and added, "I hope you'll find everything you're looking for, too."

"Thank you." Adam nodded. He doubted he ever would, but he appreciated Agathon's encouraging sentiments all the same. He would always remember the steadfast wisdom and confidence the Enchanter had in him, even if he still failed to see it in himself.

They briefly exchanged hugs, and then Adam turned his attention to Belle. She was staring at him silently, eyes brimming with tears again. Feeling his own composure wavering, Adam looked to his feet, wishing he'd prepared a goodbye speech for her when he'd still had the chance. He couldn't believe that this was really the end, for both of them. Once he became a beast again, Belle would return to Villeneuve with no memory of the adventures they'd had together. Just as she'd had no memories of their past encounters in all the other timelines he'd found her in. It was a necessary move in the grander scheme of things, but still no less painful to think about.

The leather satchel containing the mirror and magic amulet was still on his shoulder. Slipping it off him, he passed it to her and said in a mechanical tone, "You should hold on to this. Just in case."

Belle nodded and allowed him to place the bag over her shoulder, his fingers lightly brushing against her as he secured it in place. They continued to stare at each other, Adam trying to memorize every detail of her perfect face, from her rosy, freckled cheeks, to her dark intelligent eyes. As he did, he noticed that she kept looking to his lips, and took a cautious step back. He'd crossed that line with her once and would not be doing it again.

"I'll never forget you, Belle," he said quickly.

He turned on his heel, desperate to put some distance between them before he did something he regretted. But he'd only walked a few steps towards the bridge when he heard her voice, gentle and tender as a spring breeze. "Adam!"

He spun around again as she threw him into a hug that nearly crushed him flat, before kissing him fiercely. All common sense left his body. He couldn't pull away from her, even if he wanted to. He carefully wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close as her hands came up to rest on his shoulders.

At first, he was happy to luxuriate in the feeling of her lips against his. But her movements were so bold and vigorous; he soon found himself kissing her back to match her fervour. It was a kiss that was full of passion, longing, and unspoken desire. For one lingering moment, a vision appeared behind his eyelids of a reality where they'd stayed together, defeated Gaston and Médée and returned to his old castle to live together forevermore. It was a dream that was almost lost to him now, withering away into dust, just like the rose that had held him prisoner for so many years. But he couldn't back away from his decision. Not when he was so close to finishing the task at hand. So, for just a little longer, he let himself enjoy the way she openly and unapologetically melted into his arms, hoping to put every second of their togetherness to memory. The meaningful moments in his life were few and far between. He was glad that this was one more he could hold on to in the lonely years to come.

When they finally pulled away, thick tears were rolling down Belle's face. "I'll come back to you," she promised. "I know I will."

A painful lump formed in Adam's throat. For a moment, he let himself believe her. That somehow, when he put his hand on the tree, and everything went back to the way it was, she'd remember the Beast who loved her and come back to rescue him. But that's impossible, he reminded himself. She'd chosen to go home to her father and was never coming back. She had no reason to miss the despicable creature who'd taken her family and freedom away. Swallowing hard, he gathered what was left of his resolve and muttered, "Goodbye Belle."

And then he was off again, Sir Esclados's ghost giving him a solemn nod as he took his first step on to the rickety bridge. When he finally allowed himself to look back, Belle, Agathon and the undead knight had all disappeared into the mist.

The air was growing heavier and windier. Adam was so deep in the fog now, that he could barely see anything in front of him. He had to reach out with his foot to find the next step on the bridge, all while keeping a steady grip on the rope in case he lost his balance. He continued to do this for what felt like ages, until his feet hit solid ground again. Taking a few more unsteady steps forward, he began to see the outline of trees emerge through the mist. Thank goodness, he thought. He'd made it safely over to the other side of the valley.

But where was the Nexus Tree? He searched the landscape, finding nothing out of the ordinary at first. But then, he heard trickling water on his right-hand side, and turned towards the sound. His jaw dropped.

Between two murmuring streams that converged at a fork, was one of the biggest trees he had ever laid eyes on. It didn't stand upright from the ground like a normal tree, but twisted its way up to the heavens, its trunk covered with layers upon layers of warped bark. Its roots, at least from what he could see of them, were almost the size of a small child. This had to be the legendary Nexus Tree Agathon had told him about.

The tree wasn't the only thing that caught Adam's attention. The entire surrounding area was thriving with plants of indescribable beauty, all bedazzled in various shades of gold, indigo and silver. Some of them bore fruit on their branches, but it was like no fruit he'd seen before. He also noticed, to his extreme wonderment, that the grass was littered with pearls that gleamed with a divine, unnatural radiance. He vaguely wondered how long this place had existed, and if the vegetation in front of him was as magical as the tree they surrounded.

The only thing Adam found more astonishing than the Nexus Tree's strange anatomy was its leaves, which shone like silver mirrors in the pale light. As he crossed over the glistening stream to get a closer look, they began to burst with colour. No, not just colour, he realized. Those were images, moving images.

He watched, fascinated, as a scene from a nearby leaf unfolded before him. He saw himself being escorted through a crowded city square by a group of guards, his hands bound together with rope. Several civilians were jeering at him from the sides, but he kept his head down and ignored them.

On a raised platform at the center of the square was a tall, vertical frame with a large blade hanging between two wooden posts. It was dripping with blood.

Adam gulped nervously and looked away from the image. He had no idea what the purpose of that strange contraption was and didn't care to find out.

Focusing on another leaf, he saw himself sitting in the castle throne room, dressed in his finest clothes, his father's old crown atop his head. Médée sat next to him, a cold smile on her face as she placed her hand on top of his. Adam's skin began to crawl at the image. He didn't know why Médée was touching him in such an intimate way, but he didn't like it one bit.

In the next leaf, he saw Belle in nothing but her petticoats, sobbing over the Beast, who was lying motionless on the West Wing floor. Whether he was dead or unconscious, Adam couldn't discern. He could only focus on Belle's reaction in any case. The grief on her face was so unbearable, he wanted nothing more than to slip into that picture and do whatever possible to make her happy again. What happened to me? he wondered. Had someone broken into the castle and attacked him? Or—a sinking feeling hit the pit of his stomach—had he tried to kill himself?

Every single leaf of the Nexus Tree contained a different image. In all of them, Adam was the central character. In some of them, he was a beast. In others, he was a man. Sometimes he was with Médée, sometimes with Amandine, sometimes Belle, sometimes Plumette. Sometimes, he was alone.

What does it all mean? he questioned. Were these other realities? The future? Futures?

He could have spent forever looking through each leaf, analyzing the stories behind them all. But he had a job to do.

Agathon told him that the Nexus Tree wasn't bound to the same rules as the magic book. He only had to think of the moment he'd fired his arrow at Agathe to travel back to that specific point in time. Remembering this, he placed his hand on the trunk of the tree, closed his eyes and willed himself to recall everything he could from that fateful autumn day. Moments later, he felt a sharp pulling sensation as the sound of the burbling creek faded into silence.

He was back in the forest, but a different one this time. This forest was chilly and resplendent with the fiery hues of autumn. He'd gone back to the past, back to the woods that surrounded the castle where he'd grown up.

He was so distracted by his new surroundings, that it took him a few seconds to notice that he was gripping his stolen bow and arrow tightly in his hands. Agathe in her doe form stood a few feet away from him. He let out a startled gasp and dropped his weapon to the ground, as though it had caught on fire.

Moments later, a gunshot sounded in the distance. Further back in the woods, Gaston had taken down another goose for the day. In a few minutes, he and LeFou would revel in the excitement of their latest kill, and their plans to join the army in a year's time. And join the army they would. Gaston would never find Agathe's dead body, never meet Adam's father. A soldier from a backwater town was all he'd ever grow up to be.

Adam closed his eyes and sighed in relief. He'd done it. He'd undone the past and ended King Gaston's oppressive regime in one fell swoop. Now it was only a matter of doing the same thing over and over again until he went back home…

Suddenly, he heard the grass rustling and looked up. Agathe was slowly approaching him, transformed back into her human self. Instinctively, Adam backed away from her, afraid of what she would do to him. The fact that she stood imposingly above him while he knelt in the underbrush was not exactly comforting. Yet her expression was unassuming, and there was no trace of animosity in her unnatural-looking eyes.

"I was wondering when we would see each other again, Your Highness," she said in a cool and calculating voice.

Her comment surprised him and briefly made him forget his fear of her. "You were expecting me?"

"I was." She nodded. "But worry not. If I wanted to punish you, I would have done so long ago. For I've been with you for every step of this journey."

Adam furrowed his brow in confusion. "You knew I used your book to time travel?"

"Of course I did!" she replied, almost impatiently. "Do you think I would give you a book with the ability to move through time and space, and not track its uses? I've been watching you from the very beginning. For every timeline you lived through, every pitfall you faced, every tear you cried, I was there."

Adam swallowed nervously. He felt incredibly violated, knowing that Agathe had been watching him in such an intimate way. But he supposed he shouldn't have doubted her ability to do so. She was an enchantress after all, and the full extent of her power was still a mystery to him. "Then you know why I've come back here," he said. "I'd risk more in killing you than in keeping you alive. I have to make things right."

"Time travelling wasn't everything you thought it would be?" She smirked.

"Why didn't you stop me? You saw what I did. I killed an innocent old man and his daughter. I let my kingdom fall into the hands of a man ten times more selfish than myself. But you left me alone to face the consequences. Why?"

"Because you needed to learn a lesson," she answered. "You weren't happy that the girl had left you, so I gave you the chance to see what might have been if your life had played out slightly differently. I trust you weren't pleased with what you saw?"

"No." He shook his head in agreement. "Not at all. I thought that getting rid of my curse would solve all my problems. But for everything it cost me, I'd gladly go back to where I was before. In every timeline, I only hurt innocent lives; including the lives of those closest to me. I lived a senseless existence, playing the role of a man I never wanted to be."

"And pray tell, what sort of man do you want to be?" asked Agathe.

Adam bit his lip, thinking. "I don't know," he admitted. "All I know is that I don't want to go back to being the person I was before. I don't even know who that man is now. His whole life was dictated by what his father told him to be, and he obeyed without question. But Belle was the first person to help me realize that I could rise above all that. I didn't have to follow in my father's footsteps; I could learn to be my own person. I'd rather live in a world where I'd spent some time knowing her wisdom and kindness, than a world where I'd never known it at all."

A glimmer of pride appeared in Agathe's grey eyes. "You have truly changed, Your Highness," she said with a warm smile. "The Prince of five years ago would not have answered me in such a way. He would have only blamed others for his misfortune while portraying himself as an innocent victim in no need of correction. After all the efforts and sacrifices you've made to return here, it's only right that I reward you for your candour."

He stared at her in amazement. "What are you saying?"

"In another timeline, one where you'd agreed to shelter me in my beggar form, I granted your wish to bring your mother back from the dead. I suspect you would like to change that wish now?"

Adam's heart pounded with uncontrollable anticipation. Only a few moments ago, he'd been imagining what a future with Belle would be like if he could only stay with her. Now, he could make that life a reality with just one little word. It was more than a simple reward for him. It was the key to everything he ever wanted, and more.

But then, he remembered his promise, and his smile turned into a frown. You've been a burden to her far too many times already. Even with the help of Agathe's magic, how could he know that his relationship with Belle would end just as badly as it had before? She didn't want love. She wanted the freedom that had been stolen away from her in every single timeline. Who was he to deny what would make her happiest?

"I wish to return to my original timeline," he declared. "But release my servants from the curse. And Belle…" He hesitated. "Let her return to her father safely and let her live a good life. One where she'll be happy and free to live out all her dreams."

Agathe pursed her lips together, an inquisitive look on her face. "And for yourself?"

"Nothing." He bowed his head. "Let the rose's last petal fall, and my spell become permanent. If I were to go back to being human, I fear I'd only regress into the selfish man I was before. As a beast, I'll always remember the mistakes I made, and what they cost me. It's better to die penitently and let the rest of the world forget who I am, than live arrogantly and bring more suffering to everyone around me."

Agathe surveyed Adam with an incredulous, and dare he say it, sympathetic expression. "You surprise me, Your Highness. I must confess that that is not what I expected you to wish for."

"What?" he retorted. "You thought that I'd wish to live happily ever after with Belle as a human? I could never ask for such a thing! Every time I'd look at her, I'd always remember that she came to me by force, not choice. It would be no different from when Gaston tried to talk her into being his wife. The guilt of my selfishness would haunt me forever."

"You don't believe she could love you of her own accord? She was very passionate in expressing her feelings for you, and that girl's not one to give her heart away lightly. I've known her for years; enough to know that she wouldn't have confessed her love unless she was confident what she felt for you was real."

"Wait. You knew Belle before all this?"

"Certainly!" The Enchantress nodded. "Did you think my brother was the only one to keep a close eye on her when she lived in Villeneuve? I met her in your original reality. She was the only person to show me charity in my beggar form. It left quite an impression on me, and so I thought… if you two were to somehow meet—"

"Then you did set us up," he said accusingly.

"I did," she admitted. "But it was for a good cause. Your time was running out. And while I was willing to let the curse run its course on you, I felt it was my due diligence to give you one more chance to redeem yourself, first. Can you say that you regret meeting her?"

"Never," he concurred. "But I do regret that you had to drag her and her father into a problem I should have known how to fix myself."

"A fresh start, then?" she proposed. "Remember, I am an enchantress. On your word, I could make it so that Belle would meet you as you are now, on equal grounds, without sacrificing her freedom. There'd be no risks for either of you. She could back out at any time."

Adam considered this, then shook his head again. "No," he said firmly. "I'm done interfering with Belle's life. There are so many men out there who can satisfy her in more ways than I can. Men who enjoy romantic literature, men who travel for a living, men who are inventors, men with more refined dispositions than my own. I have no right to deny her those possibilities. If she should fall in love, let it be on her own terms, in her own time. That's all I could want for her, after everything I've put her through."

Agathe scratched her chin thoughtfully. "That is truly what you wish for?"

"Yes."

She looked away from him, and he thought he could see a hint of disappointment in her expression, followed by a flash of clarity. But whatever she was thinking, she chose not to divulge it. "Very well then, Your Highness," she said, clearing her throat and turning back to him. "I will grant you your request. But before I begin, I must first bid you farewell. For it is unlikely that we will see each other again in this lifetime."

"Farewell," Adam echoed reluctantly. He couldn't say that he'd miss the witch who'd been the source of his torment for so many years. But it wasn't without cause, he reminded himself. For without Agathe, he would have never met Belle, or remembered what it was to love and be truly happy.

Agathe extended her right hand, which emanated with golden starlight. It got carried off on a breeze, making its way towards the Prince.

Soon, Adam was completely immersed in the warm, shimmering light. In his last moments as a human, he felt tremendous pain. Not from the Enchantress's magic, but from his heart. For despite all his reasons for giving Belle up, he couldn't deny himself this one truth: In letting her go, he was surrendering the best thing that had ever happened to him.