Evolution!
After seeing this, Peony understood the assignment and turned her gaze back at the humans and beastman. She looked upon them quietly before opening her mouth coldly, "It is interesting that the people decide to jump into all of this and ignore the royal family. Is it only the royal guards that pays us any attention?"
Almost immediately, the room became silent and still as Peony stared down upon the group of humans almost glowering as she opened her voice, "Now, I seem to recall very humans enjoy to spend their time to think up a lot of complicated matters and mind to themselves. I'm curious. What does a bunch of human children want to do with this stone that they would even risk ruining it and not let Spring come? Or, are they the type that have a death wish as they starve to death?"
Almost immediately, the area around the humans became as cold as she watched them all in silence. Seeing them shiver, Peony wave a hand as the cold vanished as quickly as it came, "To even do something as foolish as stealing from mother and something our people put their utmost efforts into creating, your reasoning better be good."
Hearing this, there was a palpable air of tension as all eyes turned onto the group of humans. The group nervously hesitated as Peony watched on quietly as the group struggled to hold someone back. The one being held back... It was Silver. Peony frowned as she opened her mouth, "Hm? That guy..."
Her mother whispered to her in magic curiously, "Who is that human they are trying to pull back, Peony?"
"It's one of the three retainers of the nocturnal fae's prince." She replied back with magic secretly, "Though he is capable to his position and duties, he is well-known for his only flaw being that he is honest and naive. I got an idea..."
"I see that none of you are willing to speak. Though I am patient, I cannot keep everyone waiting. I will count down to three. If you still do not speak up, I will-"
"Please, hold on!" Silver pushed the others back and shouted, "Could you please listen to what I have to say?"
"It's too late to start groveling now! You tricked us, you thieving scoundrel!" A noble fairy glowered at them angrily.
"Your Majesty, her highness, punish these human miscreants!" A royal guard pleaded earnestly.
"Yes, we're human. It was wrong of us to deceive you, and we apologize for switching out the staff." Silver intervened bravely, "The thing is, we need the magestone on that staff for our school to go back to normal. We thought making a secret switch was the only way to get it back without disturbing the gala. We knew it wasn't right, but we did it anyway. For that, I am truly sorry."
Hearing this, Peony turned to her mother who gave her the permission with a nod as a fairy shouted angrily at him, "Well, sorry isn't good enough. Having you non-fae here is an affront to the whole gala!"
"Enough..." Her mother's voice sent a shiver down their spines as all eyes turned back to the pair of mother and daughter.
The fairy who uttered those words nervously fell to the ground but was quickly supported to a leaf with Peony's wind powers, much to his surprise, as her majesty shook her head in disappointment, "My daughter, you are too lenient sometimes. Human, continue."
"Ever since I was a young boy, I've wished that fae and humans could live together.
Not just us, either. I've wished that all species could come together as one. There's someone near and dear to me who feels just the same...and I'm sure the whole school does as well." Silver continued, "I should've stepped in and stopped this plan, but...I felt the same way, you see, and..."
The fairy announcer cut in with an impatient frown, "Where are you going with this?"
"Well, you see... Argh, it's difficult to explain." Silver grimaced before speaking up bravely, "Anyway, the thing I wanted - all species laughing and having a good time together - happened during our show. You can call me a thief. I don't mind. But please try to remember one thing about Ortho and the others who put this show together... They tried their best to understand you and do right by you. Please, believe that, if nothing else."
Touched by his words and strength to defend them, Ortho couldn't help but mutter in awe, "Silver..."
"I provided them with the fairy bells and enabled them to sneak into the gala." Silver confessed, "I accept full responsibility and punishment for this. So please, let the others go."
All eyes turned to the queen who was left in deep thoughts before opening her mouth, "You mentioned that this jewel is valuable to your group. Is this true?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. This jewel is a highly valuable magestone that is used to run our school." Silver explained.
"Run the school?" The queen looked to him in confusion before glancing to Peony.
The princess nodded and got up from her seat before receiving the staff from her mother. With a glance, she nodded her head and frowned, "Queen Mother, it appears that this magic stone has the ability to manipulate temperature and weather. With its power, it's possible for it to control temperatures in multiple areas at once."
"Now, that I think about it..." Robin leapt down onto the stage from the ceiling with a mischevious gaze as his hooves tapped on the glass floor, "I seem to recall that this greenhouse belongs to a human education building. You know, the one being assisted by our kind."
"Ah, you mean Night Raven College." The queen nodded, "This is indeed one of the schools that we have accepted to help support. What is the matter?"
"I seem to recall that the schools on Mage's Isle has a large number of students from across the world attending here, which means..."
"It means that the temperature that each students can adapt to are different." Peony frowned, "Then, Sir Robin, how much change has occurred since the removal of the stone from the school?"
"It appears that the dorms in the magic mirrors are taking a polar opposite climate than what the intended weather is suppose to be. Such as Diasomnia dorm being very hot while it is snowing in the desert climate of Scarabia dorm. All the kids there who are wearing light clothing for the desert are now shivering and on the verge of freezing over. I didn't think that the cause of it all was due to the absence of this stone."
"I had no idea." The queen voiced concern upon hearing the situation, "And you invited me on stage in order to claim the magestone?"
"Well, ah..." Ortho was left speechless as he didn't think the other fairies would respond so positively to their cause.
"That's right, Your Majesty. Our plan was to steal the staff while you acted as bait to keep the fairies distracted." Silver explained.
"You called me...bait?" The queen voiced in surprise and began to share her mutual feelings of disappointment with Peony's words.
"Couldn't you have worded that a little better?!" Ace hushed at him in disblief.
"You're being too honest!" Ortho scolded him in shock upon hearing his prior words.
"...I've heard what you have to say." The queen raised a hand silencing all the fairies debating on whether they should spare the human children or punish them.
"And that's all, folks. We're screwed." Ace muttered in fear as he heard this.
"Sorry for messing this up. I'll take responsibility. You all run while I keep 'em busy!" Jack readied himself to pounce upon seeing the final decision being made.
"No, we're going back together. If it comes down to it..." Ortho supported him as he readied his gear, "We'll just have to defeat every fairy here and break out of the botanical garden-"
"What a marvelous display of evolution this was!" The queen announced with a bright smile.
"Huh?" Ortho stopped in shock upon hearing the sudden change of attitude from the queen.
"I apologize on behalf of the craftfairies who took your magestone without permission.
I'm sure they were so dazzled by its sparkling shimmer, they simply had to take it on my behalf." The queen explained as she apologized with the craft fairies appearing nearby with their head hung low, "Allow me to return it."
"Wait, what?" Ortho look dumbfounded
Peony handed her mother her staff as she removed the stone with the sound of crackling mana before walking forward and handing the stone back to the child. Worried for her mother, the princess followed closely behind her.
After a quick digital analysis, Ortho nodded, "Um... Yes... This is it. Magestone received.
"Lovely!" Queen smiled with relief.
"You're just giving it back?!" Ace looked to her in disbelief.
"Why, of course. And there shall be no punishments of any kind. If anything, I owe you all my gratitude." She replied enthusiastically.
"For what?" Ace looked to her in confusion.
"For putting on an incredible show and allowing me to have the most delightful time." the queen said with a bright smile, "Especially you."
"Me?" Ortho pointed to himself in a daze as applause sounded throughout the greenhouse.
"You put on a stirring performance that demonstrated a true understanding of our kind.
And you performed an illusion that left the whole audience awestruck - all without magic!
The faairies could never have accomplished such a feat. It gave me a new respect for human culture." The Queen replied, "And that feeling represents something very special indeed...
EVOLUTION!"
"What's she talking about?" Jack muttered in confusion.
"Beats me. But it sounds like we're back in her good graces." Ace sighed in relief upon hearing this.
"What a fun Fairy Gala!" A fairy commented as those who were silent jumped in as well.
"It was thrilling from start to finish!"
"I hope you'll wow us with another delightful show someday." The queen replied with a bright smile.
"...Yes, Your Majesty!" Ortho replied excitedly as he realized they were accepted with good graces once again and even accepted to the next celebration, "And when I do... I hope we'll all have even more fun together!"
The queen nodded, "For now, let's get you kids back home. I can imagine all the other children are waiting impatiently for the stone's return. My dear, please help us escort these kids out of the gala."
Peony nodded her head respectfully, "Understood, Queen mother."