There was a forest now shown and there were flickers of white light and soon, the three of them were now in the 18th century. It didn't look as creepy and spooky as it was when Cherry went with Belle and her horse to get Maurice back during the enchanting spell. She looked all around with Forte and Katie, but of course, it was a little cold as it was now winter there as well.
Katie scowled. "Ugh, snow." she mutters.
"I'm sorry, Katie, but it is winter..." Forte reminded her.
"At least we're warm for now..." Cherry shrugged.
Katie nodded. The only reason she hated snow is that she always had an accident in it, always falling. Forte kept a firm hold on Katie so they could walk easily. Cherry walked, looking around as they did, she heard some distant singing. Forte shuddered at the merry singing, what was more unfortunate, he was the one who came up with that song.
"Well... It may not be one you like, Maestro, but it lasts for decades." Katie tells him.
"I know... I wrote it..." Forte rubbed his head.
"I helped!" Cherry lightly giggled.
Forte glanced at her. "How come you're never this lively any other time of the year?"
"I just love winter sometimes, even though everything's dead..." Cherry giggled, showing the 'perky' in 'perky goth'.
Katie shrugged. She looked at the castle and hummed a single note.
"There it is..." Cherry memorized, it looked just as she remembered it. "Like in my dreams..."
"You've had dreams about this place?" Forte asked.
"Oh, yes..." Cherry nodded with a smile. "After I got home, I've had several dreams... I even thought my adventures was a dream..."
"Well, let's get going... Before fate taunts me by making me fall." Katie says.
The three of them walked along then. Forte helped them get to the bridge and thankfully, there was no snow around it or any ice for them to cross. Forte did keep Katie close to him though so she wouldn't fall, the same with Cherry. This felt like an overwhelming moment and a bit overwhelming at the same time. They got closer and closer to the front door. Katie's curiosity and wanderlust started to kick in as she saw how big it really was. Her eyes glittered mysterious and mischievously behind her glasses.
"Kat... No..." Cherry sensed some of Katie's mischievousness. What was that girl going to do?
Katie glanced at Cherry, pouting. Cherry sighed a little, but smiled. They got to the front door.
"Do you wanna knock or should I?" Cherry asked Katie.
Katie grabbed the door knocker and knocked on the door. Cherry smiled as they anxiously waited for someone to get to the door to let them in. Forte was being very quiet, almost shy even. Katie patted his hand friendly and looked at the door.
Belle looked over at the door. "Who's going to get it?" She asks, prepared to herself if needs be.
"I'll do it, Belle," Cogsworth volunteered with a friendly chuckle, he went to the door and opened it. "Yes...?"
Cherry blinked, feeling a little shocked to see Cogsworth after so long.
"Cerise...?" Cogsworth whispered, could that had really been her?
Cherry remembered her French name and gave a nod, she was too surprised and excited to say anything.
"Bonjour." Katie said softly, trying to get the attention they all needed.
Belle looked over still, curious.
"Who is this with you?" Cogsworth asked after a long pause.
"This is my dearest friend, Katie..." Cherry introduced. "Also my Christmas present." she added as a joke.
"Oh, well, it's nice to meet you, mademoiselle..." Cogsworth showed his proper manners and grace that would often annoy his best friend. "Won't you come in?" he invited them in.
Cherry looked back and saw Forte had vanished somewhere and grunted in annoyance. "Maestro..." she growled under her breath at his cowardice.
Katie glanced to see Forte had indeed gone. "Merci." she smiled. She let Cherry go in first.
The moment Belle saw Cherry, she smiled and practically ran over and hugged the girl. Cherry smiled and hugged Belle back, but felt a little something different, but she shrugged it off and finished the hug with Belle and smiled to her once their faces met. Cogsworth allowed the girls in and shut the door behind them. Katie looked at the lavish entrance hall and grinned. It was so big... Perfect for exploring.
Belle pulled away with a smile. "It's been so long since we last saw you." she says.
"I'll say," Cherry chuckled, playing with her hair which was worn down now. "You look great..." The castle felt odd that everyone was now human again and that the furniture wasn't moving or talking, but it was nice to see everybody was happy and carefree again.
A brown and white dog was yipping and rushed over, running around Cherry, very happy to see her as well. Katie stayed where she was for now though.
Belle smiled. She then glanced at Katie, blinking. "Oh, you never told me you had a friend who could get here too." she says.
"Oh, sorry," Cherry chuckled. "That's Katie. I met her a long time after I met you and everyone else here."
Katie smiled at Belle and waved.
Belle smiled. "Bonjour, let's go to the study, I'm sure Adam would love to see you." she smiles.
"Okay." Cherry agreed, she didn't know Adam's real name back in the day, but she was told from various stories during her 'educational lessons'. She went to walk with Katie and Belle to the study, this brought back memories, she wondered where Forte went though, he wouldn't just leave them alone like this, would he?
Katie started to follow, but then the wanderlust kicked in again. She went along and had to go wander. Belle didn't notice, leading ahead. Cherry looked all around, things looked familiar and nostalgic, yet still different in some ways. Probably an affect from the spell breaking.
Cherry memorized the closed music room doors, she looked curious of them, but she blinked and went along, still following Belle and Katie to the castle study. Adam had just finished writing another letter and put it into an envelope to send off to the village. Before reaching the study, and as behind them both, Katie wandered off.
Belle knocked on the study door, then entered. "Adam." she says, smiling.
Adam put the envelope down and stood up with a smile. "Belle..." he was very happy to see her. "How are you feeling?"
Cherry looked slightly concerned, was Belle sick?
"I'm okay, everything is fine." Belle smiles.
Adam smiled to her, he then looked to see the familiar girl from after so long, he couldn't believe how much she had grown. "Cherry...?"
"Yes..." Cherry nodded with a smile, she still liked him better as a beast, but at least he was happy now.
Belle smiled happily.
Adam gave a small hug to Cherry and smiled down to her. "You've changed..." he said, not sure what to say to her.
Cherry had a giggle. "So did you."
Belle giggled and rested a hand over her stomach for now.
Cherry looked to Belle very curiously.
Adam smiled. "Have you eaten yet, Cherry?" He asked the younger girl. "Dinner's not too far away now."
Cherry smiled at the invitation and his better manners. "That sounds great!" She squealed in delight, remembering the great tastes that Mrs. Potts prepared during her stay as a guest around here.
Belle smiled. Mrs. Potts had been helping the cook.
"We're getting ready for the holiday," Adam said to her with a smile. "This Christmas will be a lot better than last year."
Cherry blinked, had he meant the Christmas spent here when she and Belle were prisoners? Belle didn't look much older, so it must've been.
"Well... That sounds nice..." Cherry smiled.
"Especially without... You know..." Adam said, a little roughly.
Cherry seemed to twinge. "It's funny you should mention him..."
Belle looked at Cherry.
"What is it?" Adam asked. "Did you have bad dreams about him again?" he asked, knowing that after that happened, she started to have horrible nightmares about Forte and what he had done to all of them.
"Erm... Well..." Cherry was a little shaky about the subject. "He-" she was about to explain right there, but someone had come in to interrupt her.
"I heard Cerise was back with a guest!" Babette walked in, bright-eyed and bushy tailed, like the metaphorical squirrel she nearly represented.
Belle glanced around. "Oh, your friend seems to have wandered off." she blinks.
Cherry looked around. "Katie!" she cried out.
"We better look for her, it can be easy to get lost around here if you don't know the way." Adam advised.
Belle nodded and smiled soothingly at Cherry. "We'll find her." she promises.
"Better take some light, it'll be dark soon." Adam took a candle with them to look for Katie.
"I hope she isn't lost..." Cherry sighed.
Babette giggled, hugging Cherry again. "I've missed you, sweetie... Even if we did not talk that much..."
"I think you were too busy with Lumiere." Cherry teased slightly.
Babette blushed, but giggled. Belle giggled quietly. Adam decided to go first with them behind him, it was his home after all. Belle put her arm through his. Adam smiled down to Belle as they walked together.
'Forte, where are you?' Cherry thought more about him than Katie as they walked along.
Belle smiled up at him.