Beach Festival Fun

***Beach Festival Fun!*** Was an event that took place from September 14th 2023 to September 28th 2023. The corresponding weapons that were available in the event were the Beach Parasol, and Thousand Waves added during part 2 of the event. The featured character was Zack Flair and his Tropical Beach costume, which was available in the exchange shop for the event in the first part.

## Story

Problems arise for Shinra during a mission, with Zack being sent home with no update on the situation since then. He decides to make use of that time by going to costal del sol. Unknowingly, the Turks also happen to be there too, with Zack wondering how they’re always following him around. Cissnei was assigned to the location after supposedly being on vacation, saying she was informed there was strange energy around.

The watermelon vendor there informs the two about a beach festival, and the watermelon bash, with Zack quickly planning to be there. Cissnei declines Zack’s offer for her to go with him, with her reminding him that she still has work. Zack offers to help her so they can both go to the watermelon bash after, which she accepts. Afterwards, a “mutant watermelon” appears on the beach, in which Zack takes care of. With him being disappointed that he’s unable to eat it, Cissnei informs him that they’ll be able to learn more about what it exactly is, once they send it back to Shinra HQ, with Zack getting upset that they’ll be unable to go to the watermelon bash. As the conversation continues, the monster gets away, with the two running to catch it.

As they try to catch up to it, the creature enters a portal used with Materia stolen in Hojo’s lab. The two try to run around and find it again.

Aerith, Tifa and Cloud are seen together, with Cloud informing the other two that he plans to do some bodyguard. Tifa throws a ball at Cloud at full force, with the same monster from earlier spots. After fighting it, a voice calling “wa..ter.. melon… ba…” can be heard. The Tonberry opens another portal using the Materia again, taking a crate of watermelons nearby with it, running away again. Tifa suggests to find a way to prevent it from using magic again after they catch it again.

As nightfalls and Cloud has done his duty for the festival for the day, he tells Tifa to not let her guard down because of the Tonberry still being out there, not caught yet. Aerith, Tifa and Cloud then eat watermelon slices given to them by the event organizer for a job well done. As they conversate, more voices could be heard again saying “water… melon… ba”. Aerith runs to see it was the Tonberry again. She’s the only one able to hear it, due to being closer to the life stream. After fighting it again, Aerith stops Cloud, informing the Tonberry wants to tell them all something. After Aerith talks to it, she learns that the Tonberry simply wants to play with all them, even bringing a gift, which turns out to be a huge watermelon, which he wants them to use for the watermelon bash, with Aerith stating he went beach to beach to find someone to play with him, being unable to communicate.

hey then run to the event organizer to suggest to them using the watermelon. The Tonberry informs Aerith that he’d like to play with others as well. She comes up with an idea to write a letter so everyone could understand what he’s trying to say. He then runs off to spread more fun in other beaches.

Zack and Cissnei are seen again, frustrated by unable to find the Tonberry again. As they watch the ocean, Zack wishes Aerith was with him to see the view. Cissnei suggests to just ask her, before being able to saying else, she gets a phone call, being informed that another energy signal had been detected. A portal appears and out comes the Tonberry, in which they fight him again, unbeknownst to his intentions. Afterwards, they see the letter Aerith wrote for him, learning about him. Zack then realizes the letter was wrote by someone “he could trust”. The Tonberry then leaves another giant watermelon. Zack tells Cissnei to make something up about being unable to capture the Tonberry.

Cloud, Tifa and Aerith are seen at the watermelon bash. The other people there observe the same Tonberry earlier, showering it with praise and compliments. With the event organizer informing that from now on, The Tonberry and his giant watermelons he brings with him will now be a permanent part of the festival.

## Banners

On the same day the event started, the first banner started which featured Tifa’s *Lifeguard Wraps* and Red XIII’s Seaside Collar. The gear exclusive to the banner, via collecting stamps were Tifa’s *Lifeguard Style* and Red XIII’s *Seaside Aloha*.

More information on the banner can be found *here*.

The second banner which released on September 14th, along with the second part of the event came with Cloud’s *Maritime Sword*, and Aerith’s *Sun Umbrella.* The gear exclusive to this banner via collecting stamps were Cloud’s *Maritime Sailor* and Aerith’s *Sunny Robe.*

More information on the banner can be found *here*.

## Notes

* This was the first event to take place in-game after launch.