Chapter 59: Moon Festival
In the night time of Zephyr Heights, the ponies are celebrating some sort of night festivity with lanterns decorations hanging and some stands with supplies or food around. It was quiet until a giant decorative moon fell above them and started rolling across the festival as ponies screamed in panic.
Zoom and Thunder started flying after it in anxiety.
“Run for your lives!” Zoom called out to the crowd as they moved out of the way as she and Thunder chased after the decorative moon to try and stop it.
Queen Haven and the Mane 7 looked in shock and surprise by what they just saw.
“Well, that was unexpected.” Sunset commented as the others nodded in agreement.
“And so…” Queen Haven started with a sheepish smile, wanting to forget what just happened while getting back to what the festival’s purpose was as she gave a tour to the Mane 7. “Every ten years, when the moon reaches its closest point in Equestria,” She said as she gestured to the moon, which is blocked from the clouds a bit as a pegasus flew by at unusual high speed as the mare screamed to get control of her flight. “We throw a great big party to celebrate.” She finished.
And then the big decorative moon came rolling by again as Zoom and Thunder screamed as they chased after it as it got the group's attention again.
Queen Haven felt embarrassed a bit before she recomposed herself while looking at Zipp and Pipp with a smile while placing a hoof on her chest. “Oh, my daughters have always loved the Moon Festival.” She added.
Pipp and Zipp looked at each other while Pipp raised an eyebrow at her sister while Zipp remembered the time when their last moon festival was.
Flashback.
Many years again when Zipp and Pipp were fillies, Pipp was dangled with Zipp holding her sister as she was tied to a moon floating lantern as Pipp was crying while waving her hooves as she cried in fear with tears flowing out while Zipp gave a exciting laughter as it looks like they were flying, but Pipp wasn’t feeling the excitement like her sister.
The two filly sisters are flying high in the sky outside the Zephyr Heights palace while the moon shines bright while Pipp kept crying in fear.
End of Flashback.
After having the flashback, Pipp looked at her sister with a dull expression at the memory that she would like to forget.
“Correction, Zipp always loves the Moon Festival.” Pipp corrected with a sarcastic expression with a wave of her hoof as Zipp looked at her sister. “Me, haha, not so much.” She said boredly while Zipp gave an amusing smile at her sister, knowing that is true.
“Whatever happened, I guess it has to be one of Zipp’s attempts to fly before the magic returned?” Sunset guessed as the two sisters went wide eyed at what Sunset just said.
“How did you know?!” They both asked in surprise.
“Come on. With Zipp, it’s pretty obvious. She flies 24/7.” Sunset said with a chuckle as Zipp gave a sheepish blush from that, knowing that is true before Sunset continued. “But, I gotta say, this is the first time I ever heard of a moon festivities. I know Princess Luna would love this if she was still around.” She added with a smile, knowing a certain former Princess of the Moon would very much love this kind of festival for the night and the moon.
“I’m sure she would, Sunset.” Sunny said in agreement with a smile.
“And now, as it's the first Moon Festival since magic returned, we're putting on an extra special aerobatics finale featuring Zephyr Heights' finest flyers!” Queen Haven with a wave of her hooves while the Mane 7 have sparkling eyes in excitement.
And then an Aerobat Pony flew right past them while screaming, which started the group as they saw the pony screaming while for some reason, its wings gave off an electrical charge as she flew around uncontrollably and then crashed into one of the big decorative moon’s holes.
Queen Haven gave a sheepish look as the Mane 7 looked in concern from that. “Some of them are still getting to grips with the routine.” She admitted. “Takes a long time to master your magic.” She added while she walked off while the others followed with Zipp and Sunset looking at each other.
“But that’s strange. It’s been almost a year since magic returned, and we can see that ponies can fly very well.” Sunset pointed out in concern.
“Yeah, I agree, Sunset.” Zipp said in agreement while feeling suspicious as well as they looked around.
And then they saw Berries landed in front of a stand, but his wings gave off an electric charge as a huge gust of wind blew the stand away while the mare held on as she gave a shock expression at what just happened.
“Whoa!” Zipp said in surprise.
“That was a strong wind for one Pegasus.” Sunset added.
They then turned and saw three unicorns levitating three moon decoratives while suddenly two of them started floating in their magic as well as they smiled in surprise while their third friend looked in shock at this.
And as Dahlia walked by, she didn’t notice that her hooves were glowing green as she stomped her hooves to the ground as the pegasus mare behind her was caught in a giant flower stem while the giant plants started growing.
“While the Unicorns are no surprise, but strangely, their magic is stronger than usual compared to what Izzy did when she was trapped in that Unicorn box one time.” Sunset noted with wide eyes. “But Dahlia’s magic came on its own, with just a simple tap.” She added in concern.
“Yeah, Something seems strange…” Zipp said as she and Sunset gave a suspicious look at what was happening.
“This is concerning. Let’s get to the others so we can make sure we really know what is going on.” Sunset said as she then flapped her wings, but for some reason, they gave off an electric charge as she fell to the ground. “Whoa!” She yelped as she hit the floor.
“Sunset, what’s wrong?” Zipp asked in concern after seeing Sunset fall to the floor.
Before Sunset could answer, her wings gave off an electric charge again as she suddenly took off at high speed as she gave a startled scream.
“Whoa! Sunset!” Zipp called out as she trotted after her.
Sunset was flying around Zephyr Heights at uncontrollable speed as she then moved to an ally near the festival as she slid across the wall while trying to stop her flight.
“Ahaha! Whoa! What’s up with my wings!?” Sunset questioned before she hit the wall face first, which made her slide to the ground as she got up with a painful groan. “That was way too fast, even for my standards.” She commented before she noticed her hooves glowing green. “And why are my hooves glowing?” She asked before a big bushed appeared around her before she got out of it. “My Earth Pony magic went on by itself? That’s strange.” She commented in confusion.
“Sunset!” Zipp called out as she trotted towards Sunset. “Are you okay?” She asked in concern.
“I’m fine, Zipp.” Sunset assured before looking at her hooves and wings. “But for some reason, my wings went off at high speed while my Earth Pony magic activated on its own.” She said while looking at herself.
“This is really concerning. And very strange.” Zipp said in suspicion.
“We need to get to the others and hope this is just a hiccup. But for some reason, this feels familiar to me, but I can’t remember what.” Sunset said while having a slight deja vu of what’s happening.
After catching up with their friends, Queen Haven led the Mane 7 to a room where Rufus is guarding before moving the red waiting line out of the way.
“Welcome to the royal box!” Queen Haven announced as the doors opened as it revealed a room with a balcony with the great view of the night sky with tables sets and a food buffet for the Mane 7 with moon decorations all around.
“Wow!” Izzy cheered in awed as she and the others had sparkles in their eyes.
“So cool!” Hitch commented with a wide smile as they entered the room.
Sunny gasps at the set up with sparkly eyes. “Wow! Oh, my hoofness! Incredible!” She said as the Mane 7 all looked awed with sparkles in their eyes at the set up while Sparky grabbed a treat from a basket and took a bite out of it.
“Uh, quick question.” Izzy spoke as the others turned to her as she had the red waiting line on her while giving a fashionable expression. “Does this clash with my mane? Ooh!” She said as she held the red waiting line, but then she looked at Rufus, who was giving her a look as he snatched the line back from her as she stood there for a moment.
Sunset and Zipp walked up to Sunny, who was distracted by the table. “Sunny, we think something's glitching out with magic again.” Zipp spoke in concern.
Oh, yeah, it's great having magic again.” Sunny said with a smile, not hearing what Zipp just said as she was distracted by the setup before she saw something that made her gasp and gave an excited look with sparkles in her eyes. “Ooh, they have confetti cannons!” She said excitedly as the two ponies looked at what Sunny was looking at.
And then the confetis came out of the cannons as the crowd started cheering while they all looked awed, while Sunset and Zipp weren’t feeling the same.
“Whoa!” Sunny said in awed.
“Seriously, Sunny?” Sunset asked boredly, seeing that Sunny was too distracted to listen again.
“Uh…” Zipp tried to ask, but was cut off when Skye spoke out through his microphone.
“Distinguished ponies!” Sky spoke out with a smile. “Please stomp your hooves for the Zephyr Heights Aerobats!” He announced as he gave a laugh as three pegasi came flying from behind the stage as they did some stunts.
One of them did a twirl as they flew around the crowd while then spreading out as the crowd made awestruck noises.
The Mane 7 watched the performances, including Sunset and Zipp while the latter gave a small smile. “So amazed and so jealous at the same time.” Zipp said to herself.
“Is it my imagination or is Haven trying to create a modernized version of the Wonderbolts?" Sunset asked with a slight smirk, already seeing what Haven is trying to do while also feeling nostalgia of having something similar to the Wonderbolts from her time.
“I think somewhat similar, but still impressive.” Zipp said with a small smile.
The Aerobats then swirled together in sync as they flew up and did a pose, but as the moon was separated from the clouds, their wings then gave electrical charge again as they went wide-eyed at feeling as they then flew around at really uncontrollable speed as they screamed.
Queen Haven saw this with a small smile. “Oh. I don't remember these moves in rehearsals.” She honestly said while Sunny gave an awed expression with sparkles in her eyes.
But Sunset and Zipp were somewhat off by this. “Those aren't moves.” Zipp spoke as they kept seeing the Aerobats flying around like crazy while screaming. “It's like... like magic is being supercharged or something!” She theorizes.
“Like how mines did earlier!” Sunset added with wide eyes.
The two then heard Izzy’s munching sounds as they turned and looked up as they saw her and Rufus levitating in Izzy’s magic while eating some snacks, not that the two ponies mind.
“Okay, for Izzy, it makes sense, but this is way weird. It reminds me of the time when me and the Rainbooms magic were going crazy because they were being overcharged and overused.” Sunset commented, remembering when the Rainbooms’ geos were on the fritz because of Rainbow’s irresponsible act of using superspeed too often, before her horns started glowing again as she was suddenly teleported away.
“Sunset?” Zipp asked in surprise before Sunset appeared again while looking wet. “Whoa! What happened to you?” She asked again.
“I don’t know!” Sunset called out in slight worry. “My horn suddenly glowed on its own, and the next thing I knew, I was in the middle of the ocean with no land for miles!” She called out as she shook the water off her. “Nopony could teleport that far if they don’t know the location! There is something strange going on with magic that is causing these overcharges!”
Zipp then gave a determined look. “You’re right. We've got to get to the bottom of this before somepony gets really hurt!” She declared.
“Or have something else.” Sunset added as she got a seaweed of her mane before tossing it away in annoyance.
A little bit later, Zipp and Sunset trot around to see if there are any signs of strange activities that are causing the magical overcharges, while not flying or using their magic so that they don’t have to worry about overcharging it too much.
“Ah!” Zipp called out as she turned to Berries, who was walking. “You!” She called out as Berries stopped in surprise while Sunset raised an eyebrow “What do you eat today? Breakfast, lunch, and dinner!” She listed out with an integrating expression.
Sunset walked up to Zipp as she placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Easy, Zipp. We talked about this when questioning others.” She reminded her as Zipp gave a sheepish chuckle as Sunset turned to Berries. “But seriously, what did you have?” She asked politely.
Berries felt uncomfortable for a moment before he spoke. “Um... pancakes, pancakes…” He listed out before he gasped with a smile. “And pancakes!” He finished with a smile as he giggled and walked off.
Sunset and Zipp just gave Berries wide eyes from his answer he gave them.
“Pancakes all day.” Zipp said in surprise. “Didn't even know you could do that. Huh.” She added in surprise while placing a hoof on her chin.
“That’s a little unusual compared to how Pinkie eats her treats.” Sunset commented. “But other than that, that’s a little impressive.” She added.
“Yeah, shocking.” Zipp said in agreement before getting back on track. “Anyway, pancakes wouldn't have caused magic to supercharge.” She pointed out.
“No, it shouldn’t.” Sunset nodded in thought.
And then they saw Onyx walking by as Zipp had an idea. “You! Levitate this hat!” She quickly said as she snatched a hat Posey was wearing, who gave an irritated look to Zipp, before tossing the hat to Onyx.
Onyx simply grabs Posey’s hat in her magic, but then it fritzes out with an electric charge as well, which surprised Onyx from that as Posey’s hat was tossed into the distance.
Onyx stood in silence for a sec before she spoke. “I'm, like, way better with crystals.” She simply said as she walked off.
Zipp then went wide eyes at what Onyx just said. “Of course! The Unity Crystals!” She called out as she spread her wings as they gave an electrical charge.
Sunset saw this as she went wide eyes. “Uh, Zipp?” She tried to warn her, but it was too late as Zipp took off at a very high speed that not even she could do as the ground shook a bit. “Oh Ponyfeathers.” She muttered before she looked at Posey, who was giving her a glare and a growl. Sunset sighs as she brings Posey’s hat back in her magic and puts it on her head. “Sorry for your hat, Posey. Zipp and I are investigating something that is happening to our magic again. Anyway, I gotta catch up to said pegasi, see ya!” She called out as she spread her wings, which gave off an electrical charge as well as she flew off as Posey’s hat flew off again.
“Seriously?!” Posey yelled in annoyance as she rushed off to her hat.
In the air, Zipp is flying so fast that even she can’t slow down as the wind was pushing back hard on her while her wings gave an electrical charge. “Aah!” She yelled out as she went to the tallest tower of the castle while grabbing onto the pole as she twirled around on it before she stopped and held on to it. “Ugh.” She groaned from the rush she had, way too fast even for her.
And then a yellow and red streak flew past her as it flew around before stopping in the air as Sunset landed quickly on the tower’s roof as she groaned a bit from the rush as her wings stopped showing the electrical charge.
“Okay, that was way too fast, even for us.” Sunset commented as she took her breath.
“Agreed.” Zipp said as she stood on the rooftop as well with Sunset. “Something must be going wrong with the Crystals.” She said as she put on her Z-Goggles and enhanced as she aimed it at the direction where the Crystal Brighthouse is.
“If they are glitching again, we have ponies fighting again.” Sunset said tiredly. “Not surprising in the last three attempts it happened.” She added.
Zipp looked into her Z-Goggles as it zoomed into the top of the Brighthouse and saw the Unity Crystals still in stable condition before McSnips-a-lot showed up with a menacing look in her way.
“Ah!” Zipp gave a startled scream as she took off her Z-Goggles.
“What? Are the Crystals glitching again.” Sunset asked in worriedness.
“No, they are fine. Though I got startled by McSnip-a-lot.” Zipp answered before giving a confused look as she put her Z-Goggles away. “I don't get it. If it's not the Unity Crystals that's causing this, then what is?” She questioned while trying to figure out the problem.
Sunset looks at her necklace. “Twilight, do you have any idea why this is happening?” She asked.
The necklace opened up as Twilight appeared with a shrug. “Sorry, Sunset. But this is new, even for me. We never had this kind of problem during the old Equestria, so I’m at a loss as well.” She said apologetically, not sure why this is happening as well.
“Well, that’s a bust.” Sunset commented before looking down with Zipp. “Then what is causing this to happen?” She asked.
Zipp and Sunset watched down as a group of ponies walked by a bridge with the moon reflection on the lake below them as the pegasus mare walked in front of them as the pegasus mare wings gave off an electrical charge as she suddenly took off at high speed, leaving the two ponies behind as they trotted after her.
But Zipp and Sunset then look at the moon’s reflection as they both have the same idea.
“It couldn't be…” Zipp said in thought as she placed a hoof over her chin.
“I think it is, Zipp.” Sunset said in a serious tone, now knowing how this is happening.
Back at the performances, the Aerobats are still flying like crazy as they are screaming since their wings are still overcharged while the crowd are cheering, still thinking it’s part of the performance while the Mane 7 are now growing concerned once they realized that this wasn’t part of the act.
And then Sunset and Zipp appeared next to Sunny.
“Sunny! Team huddle! Now!” Zipp said seriously.
“We have a major problem that you all need to know!” Sunset added as Sunny is surprise by how serious they are.
A little bit later, the Mane 7 went somewhere in the festival as Sunset and Zipp filled them in on what was going on.
“We figured it out.” Zipp spoke first. “It's the giant moon that's supercharging magic. Look.” She pointed to the moon.
They then saw a pegasus stallion flying normally, but once he flew by one of the pillars, his wings suddenly gave off the electric charge as he was pushed forward a bit to another pillar, which caused him to stop as he looked back in shock before he move past the pillar again as he was pushed forward and then again to the next whenever the moonlight shines on him.
“Whoa.” Sunny said in surprise while the others looked in shock at what they saw. “You two may be onto something there, girls.” She admitted to both Sunset and Zipp, now seeing that something is wrong. “Has this happened before, Sunset?” She asked.
“No. We never had this kind of magical issue back in old Equestria.” Sunset pointed out. “This hasn’t happened to you ponies before because magic hasn’t returned yet at the time. So when it comes back, the decayed full moon must be overcharging the magic whenever the moonlight touches us and when the moon comes close to Equestria. I had that experience before with my Rainboom friends in the other world, but we solved this, but this might be one of the newly evolved magic for Equestria and I don’t know how to handle this. Not even Twilight knows about it.” She explained since old Equestria never had this kind of issue before, theorizing it might be a new magic since Twilight’s message did tell them that magic is alive and always evolving, which is how they got their Earth Pony magic.
“Well, this is the first time it is happening so that would make sense.” Misty said while having a thoughtful look, wondering how much magic evolved after it was last seen before its return.
“Misty, is this by any chance that this has something to do with Opaline?” Sunset asked in concern, hoping that is not the case.
“I don’t think this is Opaline’s doing.” Misty said with a shake of her head. “All her time was trying to steal everypony’s magic, but not overcharge them to a level that would potentially make it impossible for her to steal." She explained.
“That is a good point. That’s not her style.” Sunset said in agreement, knowing Opaline has nothing to go with this.
“But even still, we've gotta do something!” Zipp called out determinedly as the others gave determined expressions as well.
“What can we do?” Hitch asked in concern. “It's not like we can just shrink the moon.” He pointed out.
“And we can’t lower it since that magic ability was lost when the sun and moon moved on their own now.” Sunset added, since they can’t move the moon like Luna once did. “And even if we did, the ponies might not like it if we ruin the Moon Festival for them.” She said, since the ponies worked hard for the festival, it will ruin their hard work and tradition.
“Hmm.” Zipp said while trying to think of a plan before she looked around and saw one of the ponies holding a moon lantern as it blocked the others as an idea struck Zipp. “No... but we can block it!” She called out with a smile as she turned to her friends. “Ponies, grab as many lanterns as you can and follow me!” She ordered as the others gave determined smiles and nodded in understanding.
“And remember, no using magic or flying while in the moonlight! That would cause them to go into overdrive and out of control! If you are in a shade or a building blocking the moon, use them, but if the moonlight is hitting you, don’t use them!” Sunset added, knowing that they can’t use their magic when in range of the moon as they all nodded in understanding as they went out to go with Zipp’s plan.
A little bit later at the performance stage, Queen Haven was still in the royal box as she saw the Aerobats still flying uncontrollably as one of them flew by her as she saw them go as the Aerobats kept screaming.
Zipp came rushing to the stage with a pant as she tapped on the microphone to see it was on before she spoke through it. “Uh, and now for the finale of the finale.” She announced as she turned to her friends, who were holding a huge tarp. “Everypony, release your lanterns!” She called out with a smile.
Sunny then removed the tarp as many moon lanterns then started flying away as the crowd started cheering, as well as the rest of the Mane 7 as well as they cheered at what they did.
Zipp gave a smile at the flying lanterns. “Wow!” She said in amazement, surprised as well at how great it looked with sparkles in her eyes, but then she gasped as she saw the lanterns were separating while moving around from the moon. “Oh, no! The lanterns are going all different directions! They'll never block the moonlight this way!” She called out in panic while the others panicked as well.
“Sunset, can’t you fly up there and use your magic to keep them together!?” Izzy asked anxiously.
“If I do, the moonlight will get my magic out of control before I could even get to them!” Sunset reminded them since the moonlight was still shining down at them so their magic was still being affected by it before turning to Sunny. “Sunny, you haven’t been using your Alicorn magic all day, you think you can do it?” She asked.
Sunny realizes that Sunset is right as she has a determined expression as she brings out her Alicorn magic as she flies straight into the air in front of the moon while facing the lanterns. “I got this, ponies!” She declared with a determined smile.
Sunny then flew around the lanterns with no trouble or overcharge by the moon as she put the lanterns together as she then used her horn to form a magical bubble around them to keep them together.
The rest of the Mane 7 cheered to Sunny’s success while Queen Haven and the crowd looked awed at what Sunny was doing.
“Wait, how is Sunny not affected by the moon?” Zipp asked in surprise.
“Sunny’s wings and horns are not solid form! Of course!” Sunset called out with a wide smile as she might know why. “If a physical being get’s touched by the moon, their magic overcharged, but if they are just magical forms that appear or disappear like Sunny’s horn and wings, they aren’t affected by the moon’s light!” She said, now seeing how Sunny’s magic wasn’t overcharged at close range of the moon.
Sunny then magically move the bubbled lanterns in front of the moon with determination, once they are in place, the moonlight shine through the lanterns as they gave a multi-color shine with sparkles around them as the crowd and the rest of the Mane 7 looked in awed with sparkles in their eyes at this.
“Beautiful. Luna would be proud.” Sunset said to herself with a smile, knowing that Luna would definitely love this moment.
The Aerobat mare screamed, but then her wings stopped giving electrical charge as she is now flying normally again, as did her two partners as well as they looked around in surprise at what just happened.
Zipp saw this with a smile, realizing the moon is now blocked and their magic is back to normal as she spoke through the microphone. “Over to you, Aerobats!” She announced with a wave of her hoof.
The Aerobats then gave determined looks as they then flew up in circle formation as they then spread their wings in a pose as the crowd started cheering to them.
Queen Haven watched on with sparkles in her eyes. “Now that's what I call a finale!” She called out.
The Mane 7 were cheering on the stage as Sunny landed between her friends as the crowd cheered to them as they waved and cheered back to them.
Zoom and Thunder watched behind them next to the big decorative moon as Zoom gave tears of joy as she spoke. “It's just so inspiring and—” She was cut off when she leaned on the moon and then it started rolling away again, which shocked her and Thunder from that as Zoom gave a groan. “Ugh. Not again.” She said as she placed a hoof over her face while Thunder looked worried.
With Posey on a stand, she was checking out one of the festival’s souvenirs while the pony stallion saw the big moon rolling towards them as he screamed and trotted off, leaving Posey at the stand before she turned and looked with wide eyes as the moon was rolling towards her.
But Posey wasn’t afraid one bit, having a feeling that this was gonna happen since she had many experiences before, so she just accepted her fate as the moon came closer to her.
But before the moon was gonna roll at her, it was then caught in a magical aura, which surprised Posey as she looked back and saw Sunset holding the moon as her horn glowed.
“This is a little overboard, even for your standards, Posey. So consider this for what happened to your hat earlier.” Sunset said as she then moved the moon back to the stage as Posey gave a sigh in relief.
“Thanks.” Posey said to Sunset, glad that she didn’t get run over by a big decorative moon as the ponies enjoy the rest of the Moon Festival now that magic is no longer overcharged.
End of Chapter 59.