Chapter 5 being found out

Gallus walked through a section of the park paved with concrete. The trunks he bought from the shop fit him comfortably. Every so once in a while he'd ask a random pony about Wildfire and usually get awkward stares or no answers. This simply entrenched his convictions that Wildfire was at the memorial pools. Fortunately, the pools weren't that far of a walk. Two pools sat side by side with separate entrances to each. There was a plaque commemorating the founder of the water park Sea diver between the pools. However, one sight in particular caused Gallus to frown; perched directly above the entrances each of the pools were two signs one blue and the other pink.

Gender segregated pools, arguably one of the worst things that could conceivably happen to Gallus. Silverstream was long since gone, so he couldn't talk her into going into the female pool. Gallus knew it could be close to an hour for Silverstream to pursue the sighting of Wildfire at the spa, and Gallus dare not go get her. Smolder was there and the last creature he ever wanted to find out about this whole mess was her, she'd never let it go. Gallus twitched his wing as he struggled to concoct an answer for his dilemma. Gallus smacked his head at his own stupidity. Why does he constantly forget that he's presently a female gryphon, and he doesn't have to worry about being caught in a place intended for women if he was one. He slipped behind a bench where nopony could see and slid his new trunks off. He tucked said trunks under his wings for safekeeping. After emerging from behind the bench, he walked towards the entrance to the pool only to be obstructed by a guard pony's right hoof.

“Sorry miss you can't come in without a swimsuit.”

“What? Why?” Gallus tilted his head.

“Don't you know, this is the Sea diver memorial pool. She had a thing for everypony wearing swimwear to 'show their authentic selves' the park bosses feel it's best to honor her memory by having this rule. If you need a swimsuit, there's a shop up front at the park entrance.”

Gallus had to get in there. This was the best lead he had for finding Wildfire. Cautiously he pulled out the bikini he purchased with his new trunks.

“How about this?”

The guard pony nodded, “yeah that'll do just fine. Enjoy your swim miss.”

It didn't take long for Gallus to put on the bikini. He almost immediately he regretted it, though. No matter how much he told himself it was fine couldn't help but feel like he was violating everypony's personal space. Alas, he had no choice the park rules were the park rules and as soon as he found Wildfire he could get out and get back to normal. The inside of the pool was positively packed with ponies as if they were sardines. Gallus had his work cut out for him, he wandered around the pool looking for the elusive Wildfire in this sea of fur and femininity,
“Nice bikini it really matches your color.”

Gallus turned to see two mares one blue and one white standing behind him. “Pretty rare to see a gryphon gal taking an interest in fashion. They're usually so bitchy.”

“Ugggh.” Gallus rolled his eyes, “tell me about it.” Gallus wasn't lying. Every time he met a gryphoness his age from gryphonstone she had a metaphorical stick up her ass. Then again just about everyone from gryphonstone was pretty testy.

“Hey have you two seen a unicorn mare named Wildfire? She has a deformed horn.” Gallus asked.

“Oh yeah, I remember her. You remember her Butters” the white mare nodded.

“How could I forget, sweet Celestia if there's a girl that totally needs to lighten. Is she a friend of yours or something?” The blue mare said.

“Not really but I need to find her... it's a bit of long story.” Gallus scratched the back of his head.

“She should still be around the pool I think. Maybe you should ask the life guard if she's seen her. She's got a good view of everypony here.”

Gallus smiled, “thanks for the tip.”

Gallus looked around until his eyes fell on a tall white chair. Once there he looked up at the lifeguard, she was a relatively standard unicorn mare all dressed up in a red wetsuit and a hat.

“Excuse me miss.” Gallus flew up to be eye level with the mare.

She turned to look at Gallus, “Yeah can I help you with something... hey!” She swiftly turned and sounded her whistle. Gallus flinched at the noise until he noticed two fillies stopped dead in their tracks, “no running.” She soon turned back to Gallus. “Anyways do you need something?”

“I'm looking for a unicorn mare with a deformed horn her name is Wildfire.”

“Hmm,” she scratched her chin. “Haven't seen a unicorn with any horn deformaties but I did see a kirin earlier today. It is possible you're looking for her” Gallus internally facepalmed, how could he not realize he was looking for a kirin. Especially after how the salespony at the swimsuit shop described her.

“Is she still here?”

The lifeguard swayed her head, “Sorry she left a few hours ago.”

“Thanks for your help.” Gallus nodded and left the pool. Once again he had no leads and was back to wandering the park. Eventually, his wandering brought him to some watersides towards the far western edge of the park. This was as good a place to start as anywhere else. Gallus's blood turned to ice, however, as he heard the sound of Smolder laughing directly behind him. He turned and it wasn't a hallucination, Smolder was there holding her belly as she pointed and laughed at the sight of Gallus.

“What's so funny?” Gallus growled.

It took Smolder several seconds to get herself under control, “isn't it obvious Gallina.” Smolder resumed laughing. How could she know? was the change in his body so obvious that not even swim trunks could conceal it?

“Look!” Gallus sneered, “you think I wanted this to happen to me!”

Smolder chuckled and wiped away a tear from her eye. “Yeah sure, you totally didn't put that girly swimsuit on by accident.”

Swimsuit? Gallus thought, what was she talking about? Gallus twitched his legs and realized that Smolder was laughing at the bikini he forgot he had on. “Smolder, you don't understand,” Gallus looked down at the ground.

Smolder's eyes widened and her laughter stopped immediately, “oh I... I never realized you felt that way. Listen, Gallus it's ok if you like dressing up in women's clothes. I'm sorry I laughed at you.”

“What! No, that's not what's going on at all. After I had got to the waterpark, I changed into a girl, see.” Gallus slid the bikini off and showed Smolder his altered behind. 

“What the buck happened back there?” Smolder crossed her arms.

Gallus sighed. “As far as I know I accidentally took someponyelse's drink earlier and that drink changed me into a girl.”

“Got any idea who's drink it was? Whoever it is I'll bet every gem in my horde that she spiked her drink with some kind of potion.”

Gallus nodded. “the juice bartender said her name was Wildfire. Initially I thought she was a unicorn with a deformed horn but now I think she's a kirin.”

“I'm guessing you're looking for this Wildfire chick, so you can get your body back to normal.” Gallus nodded again. “If that's the case” Smolder placed her hands on her hips and smiled. “I wanna help you find her.”

Gallus smiled, “Really? Thanks Smolder you're the best.”

“eh,” Smolder turned, “what are friends for? One question, though... why do you have women's swimwear?”

Gallus sighed and pulled out his swim trunks. “I bought these to try and hide my changed backside from my friends.” Gallus caressed the back of his head. “The Salespony offered me a discount if I purchased a bikini.”

Smolder rolled her eyes, “figures.”

“Can I make one request, though?” Gallus added.

“Sure spit it out.”

“Can we keep this between ourselves? Silverstream already knows but nopony else does.”

Smolder nodded, “you can count on me to keep your secret between us Gallus on one condition.”

Gallus sighed, “What is it?”

Smolder shuffled her foot, “ummm can I have the bikini?”

Gallus cocked his eyebrow, “why?”

Smolder looked away, “I umm want to use it to practice my fire breath on.”

Gallus could tell this was an boldfaced lie. Smolder must like the bikini he bought and thinks it'll look good on her with a bit of re tailoring from Rarity. So Gallus undid the bikini and handed it to Smolder.

Smolder snatched it out of his claw in the blink of an eye, “Awesome thanks Gallus. We should fan out so we can search the park more effectively. I bumped into Silverstream a while ago at the hot tubs so I'd say she's got the that area covered. I'll go on ahead to the water slides, and you go back the way I came. Yona and Sandbar are likely going to all the watersides better they run into me than risk them finding out. There's nothing but pools back where I came from.” As if to punctuate Smolder's point, Gallus spotted what looked like Yona flying off the side of a water slide. Gallus felt a moderate shock wave a few seconds later.

Gallus nodded, “Right, thanks Smolder. Umm can you also check to see if Yona's ok?”

Smolder nodded and ran off toward the flying yak. The first thing Gallus did once Smolder left was to put his blue swim trunks back on. He started walking away from where he met Smolder. Gallus wiped some sweat from his brow; the park was getting super hot again for some reason. As he was walking, he heard his stomach audibly growl.

Maybe I should get some lunch.