The Charming Gift (5 page)

C
ogsworth cleared his throat, took a deep breath, and stepped up to the door of Belle's room. Then he knocked with three loud raps.

“Please pardon the interruption,” he called. “Do you have a moment to spare?”

The door opened just enough for Belle to poke her head into the hallway. She looked surprised to see the Beast, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, Chip, and Lumiere standing there. “Oh, hello, everyone,” Belle said. She opened the door wider. “Please come in. I was just about to start getting dressed for the ball—”

“Ah, ah, ah!” cried Wardrobe as she whisked Belle's dress away and slammed her doors shut. “No peeking!”

There was a flurry of activity as the vanity table and shoe tree followed Wardrobe's example, rushing about to hide Belle's pretty shoes and accessories.

“Ahem!” Cogsworth suddenly said in a very proper voice. “Shall we get right to the presentation?”

“What presentation?” Belle asked.

“Go ahead, my dear,” Mrs. Potts whispered to Chip as she gave him a little nudge.

The only sound in the room was the
plink, plink, plink
of Chip hopping across the marble floor to Belle. He tilted his head down so that she could see inside the teacup.

“Why, what do we have here?” Belle asked curiously. Chip spilled the bracelet with all its charms into her open palm.

It took Belle a moment to realize what Chip had given her. Then she gasped in delight. “Is it—is it—?” Belle began. “Is it a charm bracelet…for me?”

“After we heard about the bracelet your father gave you, we all agreed you should have one to wear tonight,” Mrs. Potts said. “So each of us made a different charm for it.”

Belle clapped her hands. “Let me guess!” she said excitedly.

First, Belle attached the star to the bracelet. “The star gleams like golden candlelight. Lumiere? Did you make this charm for me?”

“It was my pleasure, mademoiselle,” Lumiere said, bowing grandly.

“And this beautiful teacup, hmm, let me think. Mrs. Potts?”

“Right you are, my dear!” Mrs. Potts exclaimed.

Next, Belle picked up the holly charm. “Holly is so festive,” she commented. “And I remember Cogsworth mentioning holly earlier.…”

Cogsworth smiled proudly.

“Just two charms left,” Belle commented. “Oh, my goodness, look at this lovely rose all covered with sparkling frost! Did you make this rose for me?” she asked, looking toward the Beast.

“Yes, I did,” he replied. He looked down modestly, but there was no mistaking the happiness in his voice.

“Thank you,” Belle said quietly as she placed her hand on his arm. “It's beautiful.”

Their eyes met for a moment before Belle, blushing, turned back to the bracelet. “And last but not least,” she continued, “a snowflake charm! Oh, it's amazing! Look how it sparkles—just like a real snowflake. Chip, how did you ever make such a stunning charm?”

“I added a little extra diamond dust,” Chip said. “Do you like it, Belle?” he asked hopefully.

Belle smiled. As she attached the charm to the center of the bracelet, her voice grew serious. “Chip, it's beautiful—the whole bracelet is,” Belle said. “It's not the same as my old one, but that doesn't make it any less special to me. Thank you. Thank you all.”

Belle paused for a moment before she spoke again. “My father always said that the snowflake charm was a symbol for change,” she said. “And my life has changed a lot since I came to the castle. I'm very grateful to have made such special new friends. I'm so very glad we'll be able to celebrate together at the ball.”

Cogsworth suddenly ran over to the window. “The sun has almost set! Oh, the winter solstice is just about upon us—”

“Shoo, shoo!” Wardrobe cried. “Everybody out! Belle still has to get ready for the ball!”

Belle smiled as the Beast and the enchanted objects rushed out of her room. “Thank you again!” she called. “I love my bracelet so much…and I can't wait to wear it tonight!”

“P
laces everyone! Hurry now, there's not a moment to lose!” Cogsworth ordered. “Lumiere, light the candles!”

“Absolutely, sir,” Lumiere replied with a salute.

“Mrs. Potts, make sure that all the food has been placed on the banquet tables,” Cogsworth said.

“I'm on my way!” she replied.

“Master—hurry, hurry! You need to get ready, too!” Cogsworth cried. The Beast nodded and headed out of the room. “And Chip—you must go through all the halls and corridors of the castle. Tell everyone it's time to gather outside the ballroom. The Winter Solstice Ball is about to begin!” Chip jumped back on the tea cart and zoomed through the castle again. “It's time for the ball!” he yelled as loudly as he could. “It's time for the ball!”

As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, leaving behind ruby-colored clouds in the sky, everyone in the castle gathered outside the doors to the ballroom. Cogsworth paced back and forth in front of them, holding a large pair of scissors.

Wearing an enormous smile, Cogsworth cut the gold velvet ribbon holding the doors closed. Everyone in the castle gasped as the doors swung open to reveal the ballroom. It had been completely transformed! Crystal snowflakes and silver icicles hung from the ceiling. Statues that had been carved from real ice were scattered throughout the ballroom. Even the floor was so highly polished that it shone like a frozen lake.

“How lovely!” cried Babette the feather duster.

“Do you like it,
cherie
?” asked Lumiere as he swept her off her feet. “The decorations were all my idea.”

“They were not!” Cogsworth argued. “Give credit where credit is due…to
me
!”

“Hush!” whispered Mrs. Potts as she stared at the doorway. Cogsworth and Lumiere turned to see what she was looking at and their eyes widened. Belle had arrived!

Everyone gasped as she entered the ballroom. Amidst all the silver and ice, Belle shone as beautifully as a sparkling golden sun.

Across the ballroom, the Beast opened the doors to the great balcony and stepped outside, motioning for everyone to join him. Hundreds of stars glittered in the night sky.

“Welcome, everyone, to the Winter Solstice Ball!” the Beast called out in his booming voice. He was wearing a fancy suit and looked very handsome. “Tonight we celebrate the warmth of our friendships and the light that they bring to our lives. So I bid you all: laugh, dance, and enjoy every moment of the ball!”

As several of the enchanted objects picked up instruments and started to play, the Beast strode over to Belle and gave her a low bow. “You look lovely. May I have this dance?” he asked.

Belle smiled warmly at him. “Of course,” she replied.

They began to waltz through the ballroom as the others moved back to watch. Belle's charm bracelet caught the light whenever she moved, casting reflections of light throughout the room.

“Oh, don't they look
stunning
!” Wardrobe gushed.

“Wheeeee!” Chip cried as he zoomed by on the tea cart—straight to the dessert table!

“I'm so glad that the master agreed to host the ball again,” Mrs. Potts said happily to Cogsworth. “It was just what we needed!”

“Indeed,” Cogsworth agreed. “Care to dance, Mrs. Potts?”

“I don't see why not,” Mrs. Potts replied with a smile.

The teapot and the mantel clock joined the feather duster and the candelabrum and all the other household objects, who were having one of the most enchanted evening of their lives.

And, of course, the Beast and Belle were there, too. Belle had arrived at the castle as a stranger, but she had quickly become a friend to everyone who lived there.

What a charming way to welcome winter…and to celebrate friendships old and new!

O
ne morning at the palace, Jasmine discovers there is no fruit at all to be found in Agrabah! She heads to the market to figure out what has happened. When a trail of beautiful amethysts leads her to the royal orchards, she learns that all the fruit and water have been turned into sparkling, shimmering jewels! It's a beautiful sight, but with no fruit to eat or water to drink, the people of Agrabah won't be able to survive. Will Jasmine, with the help of Aladdin and Abu, be able to reverse the spell that has been cast upon the orchards?