Chapter 4 swim trunk shopping What could possibly go wrong?

Gallus sighed a breath of relief once he arrived at the front gate. Gallus turned his head. Tucked away to the side of the main ticket area was a somewhat large wood building with several ponies, mostly mares. Going in and out of it. Gallus wiped his brow and with a deep breath, Gallus approached the door of the swimsuit shop and went inside. 

It was a fairly comfy looking building. Decorations meant to invoke a tropical setting were strewn about the place. There were metal racks everywhere, mostly containing female bathing suits. Gallus made his way though the store looking for some swimtrunks for men. Gallus's eyes frantically darted around, no matter what he did he couldn't shake the perception that literally everypony was scrutinizing him. There weren't any gender restrictions in the shop but Gallus still felt like an intruder. Towards the back of the store, Gallus found a rack of men's trunks. A wooden surfboard swung freely above these garments. 

Gallus scrolled through the various swim trunks until he found a pair of yellow trunks that looked about his size. He snatched them off the rack and went to an isolated corner of the store. Within said corner was a wooden changing stall with a scarlet curtain to maintain privacy for the user. The curtain wasn't drawn, Gallus entered the booth. Gallus exercised great care to shut the curtain behind him. Unfortunately, it didn't take him long to discover that the yellow pair of swim trunks didn't fit whatsoever. With a groan, Gallus took it back off and returned to the rack.

Gallus promptly returned to the rack and traded the yellow pair in for a larger navy blue pair. After Gallus tried on the new pair he knew he found a pair that fit. As he was heading for the cash register to cash out his new purchase, he was intercepted by a white furred mare.

“Good morning madam, finding everything ok?”

Gallus's brain froze, once again he had been talked to as a woman and it still set his beak on edge. Gallus fumbled his words but eventually squeaked out. “umm yeah.”

“Buying that for somepony you know?”

Gallus nervously nodded.

“You're in luck dear. We're having a 20% off sale if you purchase yourself a swimsuit to go with it.”
Gallus considered her words carefully. If he bought himself something female than he could get these swimtrunks cheaper. Gallus internally grinned. One of the best things about Equestria in Gallus's mind was the prevalence of sales, and he just couldn't help himself. Besides you never know, a bikini might come in handy.

“Sure, I'll bite.” Gallus smiled before scratching the back of his head. “But I really don't know what to buy for myself. I'm not normally the swimsuit type.”

the salespony clapped her fore hooves together. “Excellent, if you'll follow me madam I'll provide you a swimsuit that'll make you shine.”

Gallus put on a forced smile, he definitely did not want to 'shine' but he decided to roll with it anyways. It wasn't like he was gonna wear the thing. Gallus tentatively followed the salespony to a circular rack who used her unicorn magic to levitate a white bikini bottom off the rack. 

“Try this one out. It's got an attention flap for whenever you wanna show off those teats.” Gallus continued with his bogus smile and took the white bikini bottom. Before long he found himself inside the changing booth again. He tentatively put on the bikini bottom. Gallus looked at himself in the mirror and no matter what he did, he simply couldn't see it. The white bikini bottom felt wrong, he even tried extending out the flap to cover up his new engorged teats but still something felt off. With a sigh, he exited the changing stall and immediately the mare was grinning in his face.

“So how was it?”

Gallus twirled his left claw. “Ehh just I'm not feeling it. Maybe it's the.” Gallus fumbled for an excuse. “Color.”

The unicorn mare clapped again. “Ah I understand maybe let's change the color up to match that blue fur of yours.” Gallus flinched as her horn lit up with magic. She blasted the white bikini bottom. In the blink of an eye, Gallus watched the bikini bottom change from white to red. “Try that sweetie.”

Gallus returned to the changing room to get a proper look at himself. Something just clicked when he saw himself in that red bikini bottom. He absolutely loved the way he was looking, soon his eyes narrowed and he put on his most pleasing fake feminine voice. “Hey there sexy... you like what you see.”

What the buck was happening? The gryphoness in the mirror was himself, why was he enjoying this so much? Gallus had never questioned his gender before. He never had time for such things between living in Gryphonstone and frindship lessons. What if he was more comfortable thinking of herself as a woman instead of a man? However, a tingle in his crotch quickly put the kibosh on any questions relating to the gender he wanted to be. He was a man and was attracted to the gryphoness in the mirror in a physical way. Gallus exited the changing room and greeted the salespony. “I'll take this; I feel absolutely hot wearing it.”

the salespony grinned, “great let's just ring you up.” the trek to the cash register was short, and the price he was quoted made him even happier, he practically got the bikini for free. Maybe one day he could give it as a gift to a special somepony.

“Thanks for your help miss.” Gallus smiled. “Oh! Have you seen a unicorn mare named Wildfire?”

the salsepony nodded, “I did see somepony named Wildfire... but honestly. “She brought a hoof up to her chin. “I've never seen a pony that looked quite like her. I swear her horn looked like a tree branch.”

That sounded like Wildfire alright. “I really need to talk to her about something. Did she tell you where she was going?”

“Yes she did, she was purchasing a wet suit for herself to go swimming in the Sea diver memorial pools. She said lots of cold water exposure bothered her.”

Gallus smiled.“Thanks for the help.” Gallus left the unicorn mare a tip for all the help she was and left the shop. Once outside, Gallus slipped behind a park bench and put on the swim trunks.

“Gallus!” a familiar voice shouted before Silverstream landed directly next to him. “Find anything?”

Gallus shook his head, “nothing yet Silver, but the mare inside the shop said she spotted somepony named Wildfire near the Sea diver memorial pools.

“Nothing much to report with me.” Silverstream brought a claw to her beak. “However I've been getting lots of stares from... maybe I shouldn't ask everypony I see if they've seen Wildfire. I asked a statue … either way somepony said they saw a weird looking unicorn heading towards the hot tubs.”

the hot tubs, the one place in the whole park Gallus couldn't go. He knew Smolder was there and he couldn't live it down if she found out about this.

“Hey Gallus? What's with the bikini?” Silverstream broke Gallus's chain of thought.

Gallus blushed as he realized that the red bikini he had bought. “The shop was offering a two for one special on trunks and bikinis so I... bought one.”

“Ooooo.” Silverstream giggled. “it's a lovely piece... I know I'm asking a lot but umm. I wanna see how you look in it”

Gallus hesitated, he wasn't sure how comfortable he was modeling this for Silverstream but reluctantly he put it on.

Silverstream smiled. “You look great. I'd definitely tap that.”

Gallus hastily slid the bikini off. “Umm thanks I think” the more Gallus thought about Silverstream's remark the more strange it became... was Silverstream into girls? “Right, you check the hot tubs I'll go to the memorial pool.” Gallus continued. Silverstream saluted; however, before she could leave, Gallus stopped her “Don't tell anypony about the bikini.”

Silverstream chuckled. “Don't worry Gallus.” without much more fanfare Silverstream flew off

Well off to the memorial pools then Gallus thought.