“Places 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!