Adam watched in horror as a white mist surrounded him and he was once again the ghastly beast that he was three years before!

"Adam no!" Belle shrieked, now about to run to him, but Malchior grabbed her wrist! "Let go of me!"

"Now now, don't be so distraught. I can't have my flower looking like that," He smirked, now waving his hand and her dress soon changed into a beautiful royal blue dress covered in gold flowers. And soon a gold crown of roses appeared on her head as well!

"W-What?!" She said, now seeing herself in the mirror.

"No need to thank me! The fun has just begun." He laughed, now teleporting all of them away to the room where the gala was being held. Malchior seated himself on his throne and the other guests watched as Adam, now a beast, was shackled to a nearby golden pole in the middle of the room!

"What a magnificent creature." One of them gasped.

"I must say my sister did a fine job when she transformed him," Malchior laughed. The enchantress, Malchior's sister, could only look at him in sadness. She meant for Adam's beastly form to teach him a lesson, not for entertainment such as this.

Belle was in a daze, but when her vision focused she realized she and Chip were being stared at as well. She was chained to Malchior's throne and so was Chip.

"So these are your new human pets?" One enchanter asked.

"My what fine animals."

"Animal?! How dare you! We're not animals; we're human beings!" Belle thundered, now pulling hard at the chain that held her wrist.

"What interesting creatures. Where did you buy them?" Another enchanter asked, now eyeing Chip hungrily. "I must say I would be willing to buy this one from you!"

"Get away from me!" Chip snapped.

"NO! He's not for sale!" Belle yelled, now pulling Chip closer to her. But Malchior and the other enchanters only laughed; they seemed to enjoy getting under Belle's skin.

"Unfortunately, they are not for sale. They are my pets for now," Malchior smirked, now seeing Belle give him an angry glare. "Now then, everyone feast your eyes on my beast. What a creatures he is; he can handle any challenge you throw at him and is stronger than any other animal you all may have."

"He's not stronger than my wolf," Another enchanter scoffed, now making an ugly and deformed looking wolf appear. The creature drooled and growled, now howling horribly at the moon. Adam only rolled his eyes and let out an earth-shaking roar that made the wolf whimper and run away from the room. The enchanters laughed in excitement!

"It appears your "wolf" was no match for my beast!" Malchior laughed.

"H-He just wasn't ready," the other enchanter huffed.

"He's no match for my leopards!" A female enchantress smiled, now making three mutated looking leopards appear. They had horns on their heads and teeth like a saber-toothed cat! "Play with him, my pets!" She ordered.

But when they ran for the beast, one swipe of his paw sent them all flying into a pillar. Everyone cheered in happiness and glee, but Adam was feeling tired. He wanted to escape; not be on display in a mystical realml!

"Belle, I think I can get my arm free," Chip whispered, now pulling his arm from a chain.

"Perfect, now help me," She whispered. Chip nodded and they were able to gently slip their arms from the shackles that held them. "Thanks, now we have to get Adam free."

"But Belle, he's a beast! We gotta change him back to a human first!" Chip whispered.

"I know; we'll find a way." Belle responded, but before she could say more, her eyes widened in horror. Another enchanter, who clearly had too much wine, pulled out a magic whip and began teasing Adam with it. Adam growled and swiped at him, but the enchanter was barely out of his reach.

"Adam!" Belle yelled, now running to protect him but Malchior grabbed her wrist.

"Belle! How did you get free and where do you think you're going?!" He demanded.

"You said he would be entertainment; you never said anything about hurting him!" Belle yelled.

"Will you relax my queen? He's fine."

"I AM NOT YOUR QUEEN! AND YOU'RE HURTTING HIM!" She said angrily, tears running down her face now seeing the drunk enchanter whip Adam once more.

"I think you need to remain calm; sit still and enjoy the gala," Malchior whispered, now getting frustrated. But the minute he forced her back down, he noticed Chip was gone.

"Chip?" He said, now scanning the area. He then turned and saw Chip was running towards Adam and the drunk enchanter.

"Chip! Get back!" Adam bellowed, now seeing the enchanter raising the whip again to strike him.

"CHIP!" Malchior yelled, now quickly running towards them.

Meanwhile, Chip ran in front of Adam to protect him and took the blow for him! The whip hit him hard across the stomach and face. Adam roared in anger, but his chain held him back so that he couldn't reach Chip to protect him!

"Oh whaz this, anodder challen?" The drunk enchanter hissed, now raising this whip. But before it could come down, Malchior snatched it from his hands and shoved him hard to the floor.

"Enough!" Malchior thundered. Every enchanter stood up and bowed their head in respect. When Malchior said enough, everyone knew the show was over.

"I-I'm sorry Malchior. It appears I've had too much to drink," the enchanter said regretfully, now turning and walking back to his seat to recuperate. Belle was crying harshly as she pulled on the new chain that Malchior formed for her again; she wanted nothing more than to run to Chip and Adam and hold them in her arms.

Meanwhile, Malchior bent down and picked Chip up.

"You monster...if Chip dies, you'll pay…" Adam snarled, now making the other enchanters back away even more.

"Would a monster do…this?" Malchior soothed, now running his clawed hand over Chip's face and stomach. The wounds began to slowly but surely disappear and Chip slowly began to open his eyes.

"M-Malchior…,"Chip began, but Malchior put a clawed finger to his lips.

"Shhhh…enough little one. Your bravery has earned you your freedom." Malchior said, now helping him to stand. Malchior then motioned for the guests to leave the room and soon they were all alone.

"You all are free to leave now." Malchior responded.

"What?" Adam asked, still unsure. "Why?"

"It is because of Chip's bravery Adam. His love for you and Belle almost cost him his life just now but he was willing to do it. I see now." Malchior said softly.

"You see what Malchior?" Belle asked, now seeing her chains disappear and she was free to come and stand by them.

"That you all do care for each other more than I suspected; a love that was almost stronger than my love for you Belle. I will release you all for now, but Belle…be warned. I do not give up easily…" He said, now gently touching her face and running a hand through her hair.

"Then you will be waiting all eternity," Adam growled, now walking up to them, but feeling his beastly form wearing off.

"Relax Adam. I will not take your queen…for now." Malchior smirked. "But be aware, you may see more of me in the future." He then looked down at Chip. "You are quite a young man Chip. Perhaps you humans do know what it means to truly love someone after all."

And with those words, the last thing they saw was Malchior wink and give them a smirk and soon they were whisked back to the castle. They reappeared in Adam's room, but for the first few seconds, they all said nothing. Chip was the first to speak.

"Adam? B-Belle? Are we really back home?" He asked timidly.

"Yes! We're home! I'm just glad you all are ok," Belle said, hugging them both tightly with tears in her eyes.

"I feel the same!" Adam said, now kissing her and kissing Chip on his head. For a few moments, no one spoke. Then after some time, Belle was the first to say something.

"Do you really think we'll ever see him again?" Belle asked.

"I'm not sure, but even if we do…we will be ready. We have earned his respect so I don't think he's a true threat anymore."

"And we owe our freedom to you too Chip," Belle smiled.

"Yes we do!" Adam laughed, now tickling the boy's sides and making him laugh.

"I'm just happy we made it back! I thought we'd be goners!" Chip said, now laying back on the bed. Adam laid back with him and pulled Belle down gently with them.

"Me too Chip. But we made it and we made it together," Adam said, now hugging them both to his chest.

From the other realm, Malchior watched and smirked as he bit into an apple.

"Do not worry. You will be seeing more of me again. Until next time my beautiful Belle," Malchior laughed, his strong laugh now echoing over the trees and over the valleys.

Would this truly be the end of Malchior? Only time will tell!

guestsurprise: Hope you all enjoyed the finale! This story was great to write!