(Now we come to the castle, and we shall see what will happen when the Prince finally makes his appearance. Enjoy! Also, I do not own So This Is Love form Disney's Cinderella. Also, all of the maidens and their parents that are mentioned in the presentation are all my OCs just made for the chapter.)

A Moment Of True Love

In the castles ballroom, all of the guests from all over the kingdom had arrived. Every single maiden was present, all of them dressed in fine gowns and jewelry and make up, every one of them a portrait of a goddess.

The least could be said about Lord Megatron's daughters. Despite wearing the finest gowns their father had for them, the very outward appearances of their face plates wasn't beautiful. Starscream, Nightbird and Lord Megatron were by the tables serving food and drinks, and the sisters were becoming impatient.

"Where is the Prince? He should have been here by now. The waiting is making me sweat my make up off!" Stascream complained.

"You sweat all the time; just like a pig bot." Nightbird insulted her sister, and they almost broke into a cat fight when their father silenced them when he whacked his cane to the floor.

"That is enough girls. The Prince will be here before you know it." he said with a warning look in his optics that told them to stop or else. The femme's instantly became quiet as the Lord turned away to sip at his drink. Now, why would he want his daughters to be seen and hopefully chosen by the Prince? Well, Lord Megatorn had formulated a plan from the very moment Elitarella brought in the letter that very day. He planned that as soon as any of his daughters was wedded to the Prince, he would poison the Prince and the King, and have his own foolish daughters sent into the dungeon, leaving him the only one to wear the crown.

Oh yes, he thought. As soon as the Prince and King are taken care of, and those pathetic excuses for concubines are put away, I will have the crown, and I shall have all of the power I deserve.

Just then, a great blare of trumpets blasted at the foot of a staircase, and all turned their attention to a herald of white, blue armor with a red face, stood at the bottom of the staircase and presented a scroll to himself as he read it, his voice somewhat pompous and somewhat narcissistic. "All loyal subjects! Please rise and bestow the welcome of the arrival of the royal guest. Presenting, his Royal Highness, Prince Optimus."

As the announcement was made, the trumpets blasted once again and everyone cleared a path the would lead the anticipated arrival to the two thrones at the far end of the room. Already standing up with his robe and crown in check for the occasion stood King Magnus, with Duke Trion by his side.

From the top of the step, the most handsome, gorgeous, noble, stoic, and godly mech of blue, red, and silver armor appeared, and as he defended the stairs all of the guests clapped their hands and the musician began to play a heroic ballad to commemorate the arrival. This mech was none other than Prince Optimus himself. With his face mask hiding away his face, save for his dashing optics and nose plate, Prince Optimus made his way down the long, red carpet until he came to the King and bowed before him.

"A welcome home, my son." exclaimed the King as he gave the gesture for his son to rise, and Prince Optimus in returned hugged his father.

"It is good to be home father. I am quite surprised that you would throw me a ball upon my return". the Prince spoke. For the fourteenth time, he said in his thoughts, but knew it best not to say it aloud.

"Aha! You know how much I want to celebrate your return, my boy. Be it a return from battle or a foreign affair with our many allied kingdoms, I always want to show how much I had missed you." King Magnus cooed to his son and then winked at the herald. The Herald in return announced once more in his pompous voice.

"All maiden guests, young or old, shall now line up and be presented to the royal Highness, Prince Optimus."

"What?" Prince Optimus choked as he looked and saw nearly over a thousand maidens from the kingdom line up on the rug, ready to be presented to him. "Father, are you trying to get me to married again? You know how much I detest this. I want to marry someone that I love."

"And you shall. One of them I can assure is bound to make you fall in love with them." the King smiled as he brought the Prince to the end of the rug and nodded his head to the herald to begin the long, agonizing process of presenting the many suitors.

"The first maiden to be presented, Lady Selene; daughter of General Ares and Lady Gem Blossom." At the mention of her name, the first of the suitors made her way to the Prince and bowed before him. Now how this would work was that if the Prince were to find a suitable wife, he would extend his hand to her and she would take his hand. But, he did not find her suitable, he would bow to her and she would then be escorted back to her parents, and the next suitor would be presented. The Prince took a look at the femme and bowed his head. As the Lady was lead back to her parents, the herald continued to announce the many suitors. Yet, as they were presented one by one, they were all rejected. "Next, Lady Diamond Glare; daughter of Lady Emerald Shine. Next, Lady Galaxia; daughter of Lord Vortex and Lady Star Swirl. Next, Lady Violet Haze; daughter of Lord Crimson Tide. Next, Lady Cancer; daughter of Lord Leo and Lady Libra. Next, Lady Kentara; daughter of Lord Storm Charger and Lady Silver Light." To say all of the many maidens that were presented would have required almost a hundred mouths to say them all.

As the maidens were presented, the King was slowly starting to get agitated at his sons low interest in the pretty femmes. "I cannot understand it. At least one of them as to be suitable for him."

"Yes, sir. But we still have to be patient." said the Duke as he watched the precession continue for almost an entire hour.

While all of this was going on, Elitarella's magnificent carriage had just arrived at the entrance to the castle. The femme could hardly believe that all of this was happening, she often times had to pinch herself so as to see if this was only a dream. But, this was not a dream. This was real. She was at the real castle, and she was about to attend a real ball.

She then watched as Hound, the dog-turned-footman, open the door of the carriage and she stepped out, making her way to the entrance. She then turned back to her friends and waved at them, and they waved back to her, wishing her good luck. Oh my, this is it. I am about to set foot inside the castle, she thought to herself, her excitement and nervousness fighting for control over her,but she managed to keep them under control. But, that would all be put to the test when she was to find her way to the ballroom.

After what seemed like an eternity, the final suitors names were announced by the herald. "The Ladies, Starscream and Nightbird; daughters of Lord Megatron."

At the mention of their names, the two sisters walked their way to the Prince, pushing each other occasionally, and bowed before him. Starscream made a sexually growly sound and Nightbird botched her brows in order to get the Prince to like either one of them. However, this inappropriate gesture from both of them made Prince Optimus shake his head and bowed his head.

As the two femme were being escorted back to their father, the Prince sat himself next to his father and the King placed the palm of his hand on his face, utterly frustrated as his sons lack of cooperation. Shaking his head, he turned to the Duke and whispered to him this. "I am at my wits end with this. What am I going to do?"

"I did try to warn you that this would not go according to your plan, sir. I did warn you, but I am afraid that you've brought this defeat upon yourself." the Duke answered in a low voice. As the two kept on whispering to themselves, Prince Optimus sighed and shook his head, listening to their quiet conversation.

Oh father, if only you would understand how much I do want to marry. Yet, I want my wife to be one that will love me for who I am on the inside. All of the ladies I have met only want our fortune and status. I know that special someone is out there; someone who is perfect on both inside and out. Someone who I can relate to. Someone I can give my own life for, thought the Prince, his cheek plate resting on his hand and his elbow supported it.. His thoughts suddenly became silent.

He lifted his head form his hand and his optics grew wide in awe, for there...high up the top of the staircase...was the most amazingly, beautiful femme he had ever seen. Who is that girl?, he thought to himself as he slowly stood up and walked through the crowd to the staircase, unaware that everyone was wondering why he had gotten up all of a sudden. They soon saw what it was, and everything; music, dancing, talking was put to a stop, and the entire ballroom was silent as they watch the Prince approach this mysterious woman. Now Lord Megatron and his daughters were also watching, but the Fairy God Bot was very clever. As the Fairy God Bot changed Eltarella's ragged dress into the lovely gown he had also placed a spell on it so that neither Lord Megatron or the step sisters could see Elitarella. All that they saw was a mass of light.

Prince Optimus soon came to the top of the stairs and slowly approached her, seeing that she was looking in the opposite direction. "My lady, are you lost?" he asked in a calm, gentle voice.

The voice of the Prince startled Elitarella and she spun around to see who it was. Now, she was never allowed to leave the Chateau. So she had no idea that she was actually standing by the Prince himself. "I...I was...looking for the...ballroom."

"My dear, it is down these stairs. Please, forgive me if I had frightened you."

"Oh no, it wasn't you. It's just that this is my first night in the castle, and I don't know my way around."

Prince Optimus suddenly lowered his face mask, revealing the rest of his face. It was almost as bold and handsome as his entire form, and there was a kind, gentle smile upon his lip plates as he extended his hand to Elitarella. "Would you like me to lead you down?"

Elitarella was hesitant; she did see him as a stranger, but she also saw something in his optics that told her that he was of no threat to her. So she offered her hand and he gently took it into his own blue hand, and he led her down the stairs. Everyone, except for Lord Megatron, Starscream and Nightbird, were in great awe over this femme. They had never seen the likes of her before. Even the King and Duke were in as much perplexity as the rest of the guests, when they ended their conversation.

"Have you seen her before?" asked King Magnus.

"Why, no. I haven't seen her before." answered Duke Trion.

"This is it. Look at him. The way he stares at her, the way he is holding her hand. He likes her." King Magnus pointed out to the Duke, and then looked over at the musician towards the orchestra pit and made the signal to start a waltz. The strings, and wind instruments soon began playing a slow, romantic ballad and all of the guests made a circle around the Prince and maiden, giving them some space to dance and watched.

"Oh dear. My father must have spotted me. Is it alright if you...if you would.."

"Dance? I can." Elitarella finished the Prince's words and they held hands and started to dance. However, Elitarella only danced when ever she was alone or lonely, and since she was in a new environment and being watched by hundreds of optics she was starting to become nervous. She then began to miss place her foot while she moved, luckily she didn't step on the Prince's foot, but she did trip a little a couple of times.

King Magnus wasn't there to watch the dance, for he had become tired and needed rest. Yet, he did place Duke Trion in the role of keeping an optic on his son and the femme and that if anything were to happen; be it good or bad, the Duke was ordered to report it to the King as soon as possible. The Duke reluctantly accepted and watched.

"Are you feeling alright, my lady?" asked Prince Optimus as he noticed the Elitarella was tripping and misplacing her steps. Elitarella was embarrassed to admit that she had never danced in front of a crowd and was terribly nervous at the moment. Luckily for her, Prince Optimus understood her situation and decided to leave the circle and take her out of the ballroom, and approached the entrance to an outdoor area. Duke Trion saw this and was quick to order the guards to keep watch and keep out any intruder that would try to ease drop on the couple.

Elitarella sighed as they came into a splendid garden, and sat herself down upon a stool by a patch of flowers. She then watched as the Prince sat himself next to her and he looked at her lovingly. "I thank you for getting me out of there. I felt a little overwhelmed."

"It is perfectly fine, my lady. I would not let one so lovely as you become nervous in front of all of those optics watching you." Prince Optimus nodded his head, but then he saw that she had her head down and was rubbing at her arms. "Something is troubling you. Is there something wrong?"

"I...I don't know if I should tell you." Elitarella answered, but then cleared her throat and continued by saying that she did not know him and did not feel comfortable telling him her troubles. The Prince understood and introduced himself. He was, however, uncertain about how she would react if he told her about his identity. After all, most of the femmes he had met and introduced himself to would squeal and beg him to marry them the very instant they heard his name. But, he was going to take that chance and spoke.

"I am Optimus; son of King Magnus." Elitarella perked up her head, and Prince Optimus saw that her cheek plates flushed bright red and she backed up. "Oh, please, do not be afraid of me." Elitarella was monetarily at loss for words, and the Prince went over to her and held her cheek plate, his thumb softly and soothingly stroking it. "Easy, my lady. There is no need to feel scared; I will not harm you." He spoke to her almost like a father would talk to a scared child, and it seemed to help Elitarella calm down a little. She then found the words to speak.

"I had no idea you were the Prince. I'm sorry if I backed away, I was just a little afraid at the moment, Prince Optimus." she answered meekly, but the Prince smiled and chuckled.

"Please, call me Optimus."

"Of course, Optimus."

After they giggled, Optimus then took her hand and asked her, "Now that you know me, would you tell me why you are troubled?"

Elitarella sighed and answered him. "Well, the reason why I am feeling troubled is because I had never thought that I could have come here. I am never allowed to leave my home. Never."

"Why is that?" Prince Optimus asked, scooting over to her as she continued.

"I am a servant of my own home. It all happened after my mother died from being poisoned. My step father soon took control of the house, as well as his two daughters, and..." She had fallen silent once again and quivered, making the Prince worried.

"What is wrong?"

"They are cruel, Optimus. My step father and step sisters are cruel. They do not love me; they only see me as a minor and have made me a slave to them, and the worst part of all of this is that if I were to even try to run away from my home my step father would grab his cane and strike me with it. Just this very night, I had another dress besides this one, and since neither of them wanted me to go they did the most awful and merciless action I had ever experienced. The step sisters tore my dress...tore it apart...and then they...Oh..they stomped...kicked at me...and my step father only grinned and allowed his daughters to attack me." The pain she had felt from the beating from her step sisters came back to her, and she was starting to cry. "But, I had suffered much worse form that family of mine. I did try to run away when I was a youngling, but my step father caught me and struck me with his cane...hard...hard and merciless..."

Prince Optimus could hardly believe his audio receptors; how could such a lovely, shy, and kind femme become a target of her family's abuse. He was furious on the inside, but had kept his composure on the outside as he noticed that Elitarella had started to cry hard. Elitarella could not predict what had happen next. She felt the arms of Prince Optimus wrap around her and she was pulled to his chest, feeling his beating spark. He was hugging her protectively, but also gently. She and never felt such an embrace for such a long time; she had only remembered the embrace her mother would give to her whenever she felt scared or depressed, and she was starting to feel that the Prince was doing just that for her. He cared about her, and she knew it as she looked at his optics once again, seeing the calm, soft glow in them.

A small smile return to her as she and the Prince sung together, their words meaning that the two Cybertronains were experiencing one of lives most powerful forces ever...Love.

"So this is Love,

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

So this is Love

So this is what makes life devine

I'm all aglow,

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

And now I know

The key to all heaven is mine"

As they sung together, their words seemed to put them into a trance; a trance that commanded them in silent words to dance together, their bodies moving together as one. One might have thought that the mech and femme were dancing in the clouds, their feet moving almost as if they were floating in mid air. Elitarella felt all of her pain she had suffered for most of her life with her step family fade away with every step, and every twirl she and her Prince, her true love made.

"My spark has wings,

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

And I can fly

I'll touch every star in the sky

So this is the miracle that I've been dreaming of

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

So this is Love."

Once their duet had come to an end, they stood in the moonlight, neither one parting away, and both were lost in each others gaze. "Who are you? I mud know your name, my lady." Prince Optimus finally spoke. "I want to help you. I wan thou to have a life of freedom...with me. I love you."

Elitarella was lost for words but had the courage to answer him. She did want to leave her life of slavery and to be with her true love, and she was going to tell him just that.

"My name...It is..."

*BONG*

A gasp was all that she uttered as she heard the great, loud ringing of the clock tower. She realized that she had forgotten about the Fairy God Bots warning about the spell, and she had to go. "I'm sorry, but I must go!" she said hastily as she suddenly ran away from the Prince.

"Wait!" Prince Optimus called as he followed her as she began to move back to the entrance to the ballroom. "I need to know your name, where I can find you. Please don't go!" His pleading calls were left unanswered as he tried to stop her, she was already back inside the ballroom and was running back up the staircase. Prince Optimus was almost close to catching up with her when several of the maidens he had been introduced to, surrounded him and asked for him to marry them.

*BONG*

"Oh my goodness! Guards!" called Duke Trion as he saw the Prince being swarmed by the many femmes, and the guards shoed them way as the Duke went to the Prince's side. "Sire, are you alright?"

"That femme! Stop her! Please, bring her back!" the Prince ordered, and the Duke said he would and ran after the femme.

*BONG*

From outside of the castle, Elitarella's friends were becoming quite restless and panicking when they saw Elitarella coming out, waving to her to hurry on over and get away form the palace. Elitarella saw them and mad eyer way down the stairs, but then felt one of her glass slippers fall off. She saw it on one of the steps and was about to retrieve it when the Duke arrived. She abandoned her slipper and ran back to the coach and got inside.

*BONG*

"Madam! Wait! Your slipper! Wait!" Duke Trion called after her, but the carriage had already begun to sped off to the gates. "Oh no! Close the gates!" he called out and the gates began to close. But, to Duke Trion's dismay and shock the Carriage managed to speed away just before the gates closed behind them. Panicking, the Duke then called out three guards on horseback and ordered them to chase after the Carriage and have it brought back to the castle. The guards all charged out as soon as the gates re opened, and they and their stallions ran off into the night.

*BONG*

Elitarella and her friends were desperate to return tot he Chateau, for she knew right away the spell will be broken and she will return to her drab appearance again. All she could do was run as she heard the march of the tolling bells, but the bells would soon be joined by the sounds of galloping hooves coming from behind, and she looked out form the window she saw three of the palace guards, all of them in black, gold, gray and red armor, heading straight towards them.

*BONG*

"Oh no! Ratchet, faster! We have to move faster!" Elitaerlla called to Ratchet, and the horse-turn-mech lashed out his whip to make the four horses run quicker, which they did and soon ran much faster then before. But the guards were still following close behind them, kicking at their black, gray Cybertronain horses to catch up to the Carriage.

*BONG*

The chase continued one and on, through the empty streets of the village, and across the bridge, neither one relenting to exhaustion.

*BONG*

Oh, please hurry. Just a little further and we will be alright. If I return to the castle Lord Megatron and my step sisters will see me and...Oh...I can't bare to even think about the outcome, Elitarella thought in fear. She didn't want to feel the wrath of her step fathers cane, nor did she want to be beaten by her step sisters again...Or worse...

*BONG*

Suddenly, Elitarella saw the sparkles and glitter from the Fairy God Bot's spell emerge from the inside of the coach, and the bodies of the coachmen, the footman, and the four horses. The spell was starting to fade, and the guards were still behind them.

*BONG*

"No! No! Please, don't end right now!" Elitarella said to herself fearfully as she then saw the sparkles and glitter surround her gown.

*BONG*

Just then, the Carrige was beginning to slowly change back to its proper form, as well as the footmen, coachmen, and horses. However, Ratchet made one last flick of the whip and the horses ran even faster, and to Elitarella's relief the guards were starting to slow down and tire from the chase. This was a moment that both Elitarella and her friends hoped for; the distance from the guards form them would give them just enough time to return to their original form.

*BONG*

A great flash of bright light shown round about the coach, and after several long seconds... Elitarella was lying on the ground with a shattered energon pumpkin underneath her. She looked up and saw that all of her animal companions were changed back; Ratchet was back to being a horse, Powerglide in his owl form, Hound back into being a dog, and Jazzy, Hidey, Swipey and Streaky were returned to their mouse bot forms. But that brief moment was soon interrupted by the feeling of the guards horses hoof beats coming to them, and the group ran into the thicket and hid themselves, watching from cover as the guards came to a halt.

"Me, Grimlock, no see Carriage anymore!"

"Me, Sludge, think that Carriage must have dissapered."

"No. Me, Slag, think that Carriage went in another direction."

"Shut up! We lost the Carriage, and the only thing we find is this stupid pumpkin!"

Elitarella had to stifle a giggle as she listened to the guards silly banter, but then sighed in relief as they turned back and went back in the other direction. She sat herself on the ground, feeling very tired from her time at the ball, but she was very happy. She then felt Hound like her cheek and she petted him. "I'm very sorry if I was late. I lost track...even with the time...Oh, but it was wonderful. And him...What a gentlebot his was. He was handsome, and gentle and kind..." Elitarella had to sigh once more from pure ecstasy as she tried to come up with the right words to describe how much she felt for the Prince. "Oh, if only I had told him my name...But now its too late. I probably will never see him again." she said in defeat

"Hey! Look! Your slipper, Elitarella!" Jazzy shouted as he pointed to Elitarella's feet. She looked and gasped. She was still wearing the other slipper, and then remembered that the other slipper was still at the castle. Maybe there would be a chance for the Prince to find her. Just maybe.

Ratchet then nickered at the femme, reminding her that they had to get back to the Chateau and Elitarella, while holding the mice bots and the slipper in arms, mounted onto her horse and they along with Hound and Powerglide following along made the journey home. Looking up at the moon with a smile and a warmth in her spark, Elitarella cooed, remembering the one being that had made her night of happiness happen. "Thank you, Fairy God Bot, wherever you are. Thank you so much, for everything."

*Authors Note*
(Oh boy. That was some trip to the ball. Elitarella sure had a good time...and she has finally found the mech of her dreams! But, the real question is...will they find each other again? Well, we will figure that out in the next chapter. Oh, and before I sign off, I want to play a little guessing game. Now, I did describe the herald at the ball; the one who was making all the announcements. Which Transformer character do you think that herald is? If you think you got the answer say it the comments. Sparkling Lover out.)