(Now we are back at the castle, for the Duke is about ready to report what has happened to the King. But he is a bit apprehensive, for his is very nervous about how the King will react. Let us join him and see what happens. Also, for those who have not guessed who the herald was from the ball, the answer was...Tracks. For those who have guessed right, good job.)

The Search for The Bearer of the Glass Slipper

Duke Trion was alone at the doors leading to King Magnus's chamber, pacing about the floor as he held the slipper he had retrieved from the chase. He had been trying for almost half an hour to find the right words to tall King Magnus of what had happened, but kept coming to a blank. He knew that he would have to tell the King, but was very uncertain about what the King would do if he were to hear of the maiden's escape.

Duke Trion did his best to ignore the consequences, and then cleared his throat and recited to himself. "Your majesty, I regret to inform you that the maiden has disappeared, leaving behind only this glass slipper." He then nodded, feeling confident that he would do well. "That's it. I'll do it. I'm going in there, and I am going to tell him." But, when his hand was mere inches from the handle, he shook and felt his spark beating fast. "No...Oh, I just can't."

That's when he heard the sound of laughter coming from the bedroom, and Duke Trion placed his audio receptor against the door to hear what was going on. From what he heard form the door, the King was snoring loudly but then began to break into sleepy giggles and chuckles. What the Duke did not know was that King Magnus was in the midst of a dream in which he was pretending to be a horse for his two dream grandchildren. It was when the loud knocks on the door that stirred the sleeping King from his dream and he sat up in his bed. "Come in."

The Duke entered inside and bowed, but as he began to speak the King rushed over and hugged him in a very tight embrace, almost breaking the Duke's back. "He has proposed already! Aha! I knew it! I knew this plan would work! Oh this is perfect, Duke Trion!" King Magnus cheered happily, not paying the least bit attention to the Duke when he tried to speak. "So, who is the femme? What is her name?"

"Well, I didn't get the chance. But, I..."

"Oh, no matter. We've got more important thing s to carry out. The preparations for the royal wedding, all the invitations, national holiday, all of that sort of thing." King Magnus gleamed as he suddenly began to dance about the bedroom while the Duke was trying his hardest to get the King to listen, but it was all worthless. The King had at this moment, become absolutely silly and excited over his belief that his son had finally found the girl of his dreams and that he had proposed, which was actually the exact opposite.

Just then, the King draw out a long sword and then looked at the Duke. "You deserve a reward for all the work you have done. A Knighthood!"

"But, Sire, listen to me! I have..." He could have finished but the King only made him kneel before him by using a friendly slap on the back, and the King then begun to recite.

"I hearby dub thee Sir... Oh! What title would you like to have?" King Magnus asked. The Duke took a deep breath and finally spoke.

"Sire, she got away."

"Sir 'She got away'?" King Magnus asked in a puzzled manner. He hadn't heard of such a name, but then saw that it was the Duke's choice and went on. "I must admit that it is a very strange name for a Knight. But, if that is what you want I shall..." All at once, the Kings facile plate changed from white to a steaming hot red, and his optics grew wide in angry. "SHE...WHAT!"

Duke Trion as now absolutely terrified and began to back away slowly from the King as he then shouted at him, calling him a traitor and saboteur, and the Duke suddenly screamed in terror as the King swung the sword at him and Duke Trion started to run all about the room, the mad King chasing after him, slicing up all that in his room; Sofa's, tables, pillows, rugs, foot stools, even statues.

Prince Optimus, who was walking down the hallway at that very moment, heard the ruckus going on in his fathers chamber and went int to see what was going on. He had to do a double take when he saw his father going absolutely crazy, and the King was in a mad fit as he continued to chase the Duke and finally got him cornered, but Prince Optimus was quick to run to the Duke's aid and got hold of his father and the sword. "Father, stop it! What has gotten into you?"

"He's a traitor! That femme you danced with, got away, and its all his fault! He must be punished! He must die!" King Magnus shouted, but then he felt his son calmly stroke his back and neck. The son knew very well about soothing those in great stress, and his father was often times his only patient.

"Easy, father. Calm down. Let the Duke speak, and maybe for once in your life you will listen to what he has to say." Prince Optimus told the King and sat him down.

"Thank you, your highness. Your majesty, I tried to stop the femme, but she and the Carriage she rode in disappeared into the night. All that I could find was this glass slipper." He presented the slipper and handed it to the King, and the King looked it over.

Seeing the slipper, the King looked his son in the optics. He saw them shimmer with the same sparkle as that glass slipper. "I suppose you like this young femme, my son?"

The prince choked a little. "Uh, well, I-"

The king nodded. "Then it's settled! Now, Duke Trion, I want you to take this slipper and fit the slipper on every maiden in my kingdom."

"What? Oh, but Sire, this slipper could fit any number of girls." Duke Trion interrupted and said that this new plan would be a failure. King Magnus looked at the Duke and pointed the tip of his sword at the Duke's nose plate, and told him that he is to do as he is ordered, and if he finds that femme who fits the slipper he was to bring her back to the castle, and if he didn't...I'd rather not go with the details. Seeing that his efforts were in vain, the Duke sighed and said he would do it.

"But, father. Duke Trion is right; that slipper would fit almost any of the femmes in this kingdom. There has to be another solution that going about and fitting the slipper on very random maiden." Prince Optimus tried to intervene, but the King hushed him and was escorted back to his chambers to rest. "Oh, father, why won't you listen to reason?" the Prince sighed as he shook his head. He then looked out his window, staring up at the moon as he said a prayer to his love, praying that he will find her, and have her free from her abusive family.

The very net morning, the townspeople were all abuzz about the mystery femme at the ball, and after hearing that her slipper was found and that the Duke going to use it to find her, all of the maidens from the kingdom become ecstatic and very cheerful. The news was carried out from all over the town, and finally to the Chateau. Little was to say that Lord Megatron was in a desperate attempt to have his daughters wed to the Prince, and that glass slipper was gong to be the very key for his plan to work. But first, he had to get his daughters ready.

Usually the family would awaken around mid morning, but since Lord Megatron was up at an early time he saw that his daughters were not awake and had to march into their rooms. As he went up the stairs, he did not notice Elitarella from the bottom of the stairs. She was wondering what her father was so worried about and she had to find out. So, being very quiet, she followed her father as he went into the first bedroom; Nightbirds. "Nightbird! Wake up! Wake up, right now!" he said as he shook her hard, making the grey femme snort and jump a little.

"What is it, father?" she askedin a groggy voice, but Lord Megatron was already leaving her as he went to the next room.

"Starscream! Get up! You and your sister have to get ready!"

Starscream yawned loudly as she stretched her arms out and got out of bed. "What for? It's too early to wake up."

Lord Megatron growled in frustration as he pulled open the curtains to let in the light. "All of the kingdom is talking about it; the whole kingdom! He will be here any minute!"

"Who is?" asked Nightbird as she came in, still groggy from being woken up. The white mech had to pinch the bridge of his nose plate and he turned around to face them. He was becoming very impatient.

"The Duke, you lazy cow. Now, you two are to get yourselves ready right now, because the Duke is in search of the mystery maiden from last night. From what I have heard, he is madly in love."

"The Duke is in love with the mystery femme?" asked Starscream.

Lord Megatron had just about had enough of all of his daughters stupid questions and he shouted. "THE PRINCE!"

"The Prince?" whispered a quiet voice, but Lord Megaron picked it up and saw that Elitarella was watching from the doorway.

"Elitarella, why are you here?" he asked her but then shook his head. "Oh, never mind. Just get in here; you will probably be needed anyhow." Elitarella nodded and went inside, listening as she stood silent. "Now, the Duke will be arriving very shortly. I want you two to be in your best gowns and to..."

"Now, hang on! Why should we get ready if the Prince is already in love with that femme he danced with? Starscream interrupted and went back into bed with her sister. "If he is in love with her, why should we even bother?"

Just as the two sisters pulled the cover over their bodies, Lord Megatron seized the cover and flung it away. "I HAVE HAD IT UP TO HERE, GIRLS! IF YOU DO NOT PAY ATTENTION THEN SO HELP ME, I'LL SEE TO IT THAT YOU ARE PUT OUT INTO THE STREETS AND HAVE ALL OF YOUR BELONGINGS BURNED!" The Lord then sighed and looked back at them, seeing that his bellowing threat had gotten to them and they were silent. "Now, will you let me finish?"

"Yes, father." the two femmes answered.

Lord Megatron then cleared his throat and continued. "Now, there is still a chance that one of you will be taken to the castle. No one, not even the Prince knows who that femme was at the ball, and that glass slipper is their only clue. The Duke has been ordered by the king to try the slipper on every single maiden in the kingdom. And, if he finds the femme to whom the slipper fits...then, by the Kings command...that femme shall become the Prince's bride."

"His bride?" whispered Elitarella, her spark beating hard and quick. Her true love was looking for her, and was seeking her hand in marriage.

"HIS BRIDE!?" shrieked Starscream and Nightbird, and as they did they leapt off the bed and began to scrabble over to the drawers and started pulling out every single dress and gown they had, shouting at Elitarella for her to either was or press their dresses, polish their shoes, mend their skirts and such. But, Elitarella paid no attention to all of the ruckus her step sisters were making; her optics were in a dreamy gaze and she was smiling.

"Hey, what's wrong with her?" Nightbird noticed Elitarella's still appearance and she and her sister went over to her.

"Wake up, stupid! We have to get ready!" shouted Starscream, but neither of the step sisters were prepared for what happened next.

"Get ready? Oh, yes. We must get ready." Elitarella said in a voice that seemed to be in a hypnotized state; half awake and half dazed. The pink femme then turned her back to the step sisters and step father and walked out of the room, and the step sisters looked out to see her dancing in the hallway and singing to herself.

"Father! What is wrong with her? You have to do something!" Starscream whined, but then become silent as Lord Megatron lifted a hand to her lip and held it closed.

"Be quiet." he hissed, and as the three made no sound, they could hear the pink femme humming to the tunes of the music that had been played at he ball. Lord Megatron's optics suddenly furrowed and glowed brightly, and his lips formed a sinister scowl. He had found who the mystery femme was...and he was not at all pleased. So, you think you can sneak off and become engaged to the Prince, do you? Well, you have sealed your fate, he thought to himself as he followed Elitarella, keeping his distance so as to not have her see him as he came to the stairs and ascended.

Up in the tower, Elitarella burst through her door, alerting the mice bots and bird bots when they saw her come in. "What's going on, Elitarella?" Jazzy asked.

"Oh, my friends! Today is the day! The Prince wants me to marry him!" she said happily as she scooped up the mice bots and held them close to her in a hug. "My slipper that I lost was found by the Duke, and as of now he is coming to the Chateau. He is trying to fit the slipper on all the femme's in the kingdom, and when he gets to me..." she paused and waited as the mice soon figured out why she was so happy and they cheered and squealed in excitement. Their best friend was gong to be married to the Prince and be free from her father's abuse.

Suddenly, Hidey turned his head to the door and gasped. Lord Megatron was at the door, holding a key in his hand. "Elitarella! Look! Look out!"

"Look out for what?" she asked, but then she saw why and gasped, her face in mortal terror and shock as the Lord spoke to her, and he was speaking in the very same tone he used when he had beaten her as a younlging from so many nights ago.

"So, you are the mystery maiden, eh? Well, your luck has run out." As he said those words, he grabbed hold of the door knob and slammed the door shut, and Elitarella rushed to the door.

"No! No! Don't lock me away! Please! I don't want to live like this anymore! You can't do this! No!" Elitarella cried as she tried to open the door, but she then heard the clicking sound of the lock on her door, and the dark chuckles of her step father as he began to descend the stairs. "No! No! You can't do this to me! Please! Let me out!" she cried once again before she sank to the floor and sobbed harshly. She was locked away and now there was no chance of her to see her true love. "Oh, what can I do now? I can't get out. Prince Optimus, I'll never see him again."

"He will see you again!" yelled Jazzy as he whistled two of the bids, Firestar and Chromia, and they came over to him. He then told Hidey to get on to Firestar as he mounted Chromia.

"Jazzy, what are you doing?" asked Swipey.

"I am not going to sit and watch Elitarella suffer any longer. I am going to get that key back, and Hidey is going with me." Jazzy said and the birds flew to the window, but Elitrella called back to them.

"I can't thank you enough, Jazzy. You and all of the mice bots and all of the other animals have done so much for me. I will do anything to return the favor."

"All that I want in return, Elitarella, is to see you free." Jazzy returned as he then felt Elitarella kiss him and he blushed a little, but was quick to return to his state and turned to Hidey. "Hidey, you and I are going to fetch the key and bring it back up here."

"Yes, sir!" Hidey said with a salute, and with that the mice bots flew down form the tower and into an open window in the back of the Chateau. Swipey and Streaky were left to comfort Elitarella as best they could, and Elitarella prayed with all her spark that Jazzy and Hidey would be alright. They were risking their own lives to help her, and she would be crushed if they were caught. But, she had to have faith; faith was what made the Fairy God Bot appear, faith was what got her to the ball, and faith was what got her to meet her true love.

"Please, please be safe."

*Authors Note*
(Looks like the mice bots are going to need all the faith they need. Will they retrieve the keys? Will Elitarella try on the slipper? Well, the answer will be up on Christmas. Sorry if I am making you wait, but it is the holidays. So, be on the lookout after you have unwrapped your gifts, because the final chapter will be there before you know it. Sparkling Lover out.)