I do not own Transformers. They belong to Hasbro. Mercury, Darklight and my ocs belong to me.

It was now the day after the ball. Everything was business as usual at the manor, as if nothing had ever happened. At least it seemed that way with Mercury. She went on about her usual chores so as not to raise suspicion from her step family. They boasted about the ball and muttered about the strange femme that had caught the Prince's attentions. Mercury smiled when they weren't looking. She knew what they meant. When no one was looking, she took out the other slipper, which she had managed to keep, and smiled. "That was such a wonderful night. I'll remember the way we talked and danced forever." She was thankful to have had one more happy memory with her. She'd miss the Prince though. "He was very sweet. But he's a prince and I'm just a maid. It wouldn't work out anyway. We're from two different worlds." She sighed sadly but decided not to dwell on it. She put that slipper away and went back to work. She soon forgot about things and focused on her work.

However at the Palace the Prince was having a harder time not focusing on her. He sat on his balcony which overlooked the town, holding the crystal slipper. It glimmered and shone in the daylight. But he was still sad. He was sure he'd finally met his true love and now he had no idea where she was. He had nothing to go on if he tried to find her. Mirage sighed miserably. He didn't even hear his mother worriedly trying to get him to recharge or refuel. "Mirage. Honey you've been up all night. Please try to rest or eat something."

"No thank you Mother." was the reply. The Queen was very concerned.

She called for Hound, knowing he could probably help her son. "Please talk some sense into him Hound. He's going to make himself ill."

"I'll try Your Highness." The mech said gently. He walked over to the lovesick prince. "Raj? You ok?"

Mirage looked gloomily at his friend. "Hello Hound." he looked at the slipper sadly. "Where could she be? I didn't even get a chance to as her name or where she lives."

Hound thought for a minute then thought of an idea. "I have a plan Raj. We'll find your mystery femme."

Mirage perked up. "How? What's your plan?"

Hound smiled. "Take that slipper and put it on a cushion in a box. I'll get the carriage ready. We'll try this slipper on every femme in the kingdom that could have possibly been at the ball. The slipper is bound to fit her."

Mirage thought for a moment. It still was not much to go on but it was the only plan they had. "Alright." he replied and when to get the slipper ready. Hound readied the carriage and they set off shortly. They went from home to home but had not luck at all. Some femmes' pedes where too long or too wide. Other's were to short or too slender. The slipper did not even come close to fitting anyone. Mirage was beginning to become discouraged.

"Don't worry Raj." Hound soothed. "There are still other places we can search."

"Alright." said the discouraged prince and they kept right one searching.

~3~

Darklight ran to tell her daughters the news. Mercury had been going about her daily chores. Then her stepsisters started fighting. "I sat my necklace right here! You stole it!" yelled Silverscape.

Tigerlily was indignant. "I did not! Why not ask Mercury?" The appeased Silverscape for a second then she turned her fury on Mercury as she walked by.

"Where is my blue necklace Mercury?!" she yelled.

"It should be in your jewelry box." Mercury said softly. Before either of her stepsisters could answer Darklight burst in to tell them the news.

"Girls listen! The whole kingdom is talking on it!"

"About what mother?" asked the stepsisters.

"The Prince is traveling all around the kingdom. He is looking for that girl who lost her slipper at the ball last night. I heard he is madly in love with her."

Tigerlily muttered annoyed. "What does that have to do with us?"

Darklight continued. "Not even the Prince knows who she is. He is going to try the slipper on every femme in the kingdom. If one can be found whom the slipper fits, then by the King's command, that femme will be the Prince's bride!"

That caught the stepsister's attention. "His bride?!" They started ordering Mercury around right away. However Darklight noticed something. Her own daughter's pedes might not fit. Mercury's pedes were more the average size. Even if she was not the femme from the ball there was good chance the slipper would fit her.

"I must keep her from trying it on somehow." the wicked femme thought.

~3~

Mirage and Hound were nearing the manor. The stepsisters were hurrying to get ready. Darklight was ordering both them and Mercury about. "Hurry girls! This is your last chance! Don't fail me!" she ordered. Mercury stayed quiet and helped her stepsisters get ready. When they were ready Darklight turned to her. "Mercury, why don't you get ready now?"

Mercury stopped short. "But Stepmother? Shouldn't I be in the kitchen?" She was a little suspicious.

Darklight just smiled. "They said they wanted all the femmes in the house and you are a femme as well. Now get ready, we can't have them seeing you looking like that!"

Mercury left the room but was still too suspicious to go to her room. She went into the kitchen instead. She heard the door slam behind her. "Hey! Let me out!" she yelled pounding on the door. Her stepsisters cackled from the other side of the door. They'd locked her in! "Please let me out!" The wicked femmes cackled and left her in the kitchen.

Her stepfamily waited in the foyer. "Get ready girls. Don't forget to curtsy." Darklight said and opened the door for Mirage and Hound. "You honor our humble home Milord." She said curtsying.

Mirage nodded politely. "Thank you madam." He did not like the look in the femme's optics. It seemed dishonest.

Darklight just smiled, and waved a hand near her daughters. "May I present my daughters." These femmes curtsied and grinned flirtatiously at him.
Hound took over for his friend who was suddenly feeling very uncomfortable.

"This glass slipper was lost by a femme at the ball last night. We are trying to return it to it's owner." Hound said holding the slipper.

"That's my slipper!" both the stepsisters exclaimed and rushed for the slipper. Hound expecting this dodged out of the way.

Darklight was horrified. "Girls!"

Meanwhile Mercury was trying to get out of the kitchen. The back door was locked and her stepfamily had the keys. "I need to find a way out." She looked around. There was a window but it was too high to reach by just standing. Mercury was very worried. She wasn't sure what to do. "How am I going to get out?" She wondered if she could climb out if she stood on a chair. She was able to reach the window but it would be dangerous to climb out. "What should I do?" she thought aloud.

Suddenly Jazz appeared. "Oh for Primus' sake! What are ya dong up there little lady?" He said after helping her down.

Mercury was grateful to Jazz but still worried. "Thank you Jazz. My stepsister's locked me in here and I don't have the keys to get out." She said worriedly.

Jazz was not happy. "I never liked those femmes! I'm going to get you out of here. Besides your mech is looking for you."

Mercury drooped. "I can't see him."

Jazz stopped short. "Why not? Ya love him don't ya?"

"I do but I don't deserve him. He's a prince and I'm just a dish maid." Mercury murmured sadly. "We're from two different worlds."

Jazz made her sit down. "Listen Mercury. I've seen a lot in the world and I know love is a very special thing. I did tell you I knew your mother right?"

"Yes..." the white femme replied.

Jazz smiled. "I was with her when she met your father. She was from a peasant family like me. Your father was the heir to this manor. They fell in love despite their different stations in life. They didn't care and you shouldn't either. Love is more important." He unlocked the door with a spell and began to push her out. "Now get out there and try on that slipper!"

"Hey!" Mercury yelped.

Meanwhile the stepsisters were trying on the slipper. Tigerlily went first. "It feels very comfortable." she claimed. But the tip of her pedes barely fit in. Hound rolled his optics.

"Next." he said.

Silverscape pushed Tigerlily out of the way. "Oh Tigerlily. Anyone could see it wasn't going to fit." She slid in her foot but the slipper was too tight and they couldn't get it off! "Ow! Get it off! Get it off!" she yelled.

When Mercury made it out she was alarmed to see the sight and rushed to help. Darklight was shocked to see she had gotten out. However before she could say anything Mercury helped get the slipper off her stepsisters foot. "Are you alright?" she asked her stepsister.

Silverscape just groaned and rubbed her foot. Mercury lifted her face slowly and when Mirage saw her face he knew it was her. He recognized those gentle, kind optics he had gazed into that night. He walked over to her and gently picked up the slipper. "Would you like to try the slipper Miss?" he asked kindly. Blushing, Mercury gently nodded. She slipped her pede into the slipper and it fit perfectly! Mirage smiled wider. "You wouldn't happen to have the other one?" Mercury smiled and took the slipper out of the pocket on her apron. It also fit her foot perfectly.

Her stepfamily was shocked. "There must be some mistake!" Darklight said, but no one was listening. Mirage gently took Mercury's hand and led her out. Hound followed smiling. Mercury felt so happy, she could've been floating on air.

Mirage was overjoyed to have found her again. "I love you Mercury." he whispered to her. "Promise me that no matter what happens you'll never run away from me again."

Mercury smiled and whispered back, "I promise to stay by your side always."

~3~

That spring they were bonded. It was a grand affair and everyone in the kingdom was invited. Of course the King was very happy. He was already trying to figure out how many grandsparklings he wanted. Fortunately the Queen shushed him and he behaved for the rest of the celebration. But he did get his wish. The King and Queen would have many grandsparklings and the sounds of laughter always filled the palace. Mercury was very happy to be with someone who truly loved and cared about her again. She and Mirage also took steps to ensure what happen to Mercury would never happen again to anyone else. As for Darklight and her stepsisters? Well, Darklight made her daughters do all the chores Mercury had done, saying that if they worked maybe they'd catch a prince too. Well a little hard work wouldn't hurt them. On the other hand the Prince and his Princess stayed happily in love surrounded by all those they cared for. And they lived happily ever after.

The End

AN: So sorry it took so long to get this out. I had bad writer's block and school has eaten up a lot of my time. Sorry if this is not very good but ideas were a bit dry for this one. I promise the next story will be better. Updates will come slower because of school but I'll write as much as I can. I'll update my other ongoing fics first though. Also I need you guys to answer the poll on my profile to help with the next story. So please answer. and thank you for being so loyal and patient. :)