Chapter Forty: Winter Turns To Spring...
As dawn broke over the horizon, the castle began to transform.
The cold gray stone became awash with gold.
The snow faded from the ground, giving way to bright green grass.
Colorful flowers burst forth, and in the colonnade, the white roses turned red.
Up on the parapets of the castle, the gargoyle statues, their faces so long stuck in frightening sneers, returned to their original forms of noble beasts and men.
Even the sky seemed touched by the magical transformation.
Clouds disappeared, revealing a sky almost as brilliantly blue as Christine's eyes.
Inside the castle, the transformation continued.
As the light from the dawn filtered through the large windows, it illuminated the objects that had, only moments before, been rendered immobile.
Fifi turned from a harpsichord bench back into a tiny bichon frise.
Immediately, she leapt up and chased her tail before going to relieve herself on the immobile coatrack, who, as luck would have it, turned back into a man just as Fifi finished her business.
Shooing her away, the valet turned and almost tripped over the trolley cart holding Madame Giry and her daughters.
He shouted as it started to roll away, barely missing La Esmeralda, who was waddling in and out of the sunlight.
As she did, she turned from wardrobe to human to wardrobe again until, finally, she landed with a thud right next to Maestro Reyer.
Moments later, they both transformed once and for all back into the diva and the maestro.
And so it continued.
Throughout the castle, excited cries could be heard coming from all over as the curse was lifted.
Maids giggled as their feathers turned back into legs and candles shouted happily as their wicks turned back into fingers.
In the kitchen, the stove became the chef again and immediately began giving orders to prepare a feast.
Firmin's ticks became a series of coughs as he, too, transformed back into his human shape.
Brushing off his coat, he looked around for André and smiled when he saw that the candelabra was once again the head footman - but still up to his old tricks.
He was chasing Fleurette around the dining room table.
Catching her, he dipped her back and kissed her passionately.
Firmin was saved from witnessing how long the kiss went on by the rattling sound of china.
He looked up to see the trolley carrying Madame Giry and her daughters barreling toward the top of the staircase.
For a moment, it looked like they might tumble to their deaths.
But as Firmin watched, the trolley jerked to a stop, sending all four of its occupants flying forward.
Midair, as their fragile bodies hit the sun, they transformed, and slid down the rest of the stairs on their very human posteriors.
"Marie?" Madame Giry gasped, patting her eldest daughter's face in disbelief.
"Can it be?"
Turning around, she let out a cry of happiness as she squeezed Elisabeth tightly before grabbing hold of Meg and refusing to let go.
"Oh, my darlings! We're back!"
Released from her mother's arms, Marie raced toward the front door.
As she flung it open, the sun poured in - and so did some of the villagers.
For, truth be told, they had been under the enchantment too.
Now, with every moment that passed, they were beginning to remember all that they had forgotten - the castle with the cruel king and the haughty prince, the lavish parties that had once been thrown, their loved ones who had worked there...
Approaching the door, Armand the cobbler took in the castle, which now glowed with happiness and warmth.
And then his eyes fell on Marie in the doorway, and beyond, Madame Giry with Meg and Elisabeth.
"Darling?" he shouted happily.
Madame Giry smiled back.
"Bonjour, Monsieur Giry!" she laughed, running toward him.
"Oh, Adelaide..." he sighed contentedly.
"Papa!" Marie, Elisabeth and Meg called out happily and he laughed in delight, hugging them all tightly.
"Oh, mes enfants précieux!"
As the reunions continued and joyful staff members ran about the castle, calling out to each other and hugging one another, it took a few hours before anyone realized that something was not right.
But when they did, everyone was immediately concerned.
Where was the Prince, and why hadn't he come downstairs with Mademoiselle Christine yet?
A/N: Please review to unlock Chapter Forty-One...