The structure was massive.

The decorative architectural elements, stylish rounded supports and angled glass coating, couldn’t hide what the building really was, basically a gigantic slab of concrete. Probably even magically infused, since there were no actual structural supports holding up the high roof.

The bath house seemed properly sized, smack on the main street’s terminus. Back at the intersection, a constable shouted loudly, managing the cart and wagon traffic, allowing droves of pedestrians to cross safely, not a negligible portion of which were headed past Fluttershy and Scootaloo, straight into the bath house.

Fluttershy and Scootaloo went inside. As soon as the stroller crossed through the entrance, it was like they had passed into another world.

Moisture. The warm air hung thick with humidity, and water condensed on the outside windows. Fluttershy’s hooves clopped on the tiles of the large entrance hall, every surface coated in ceramic. One such surface was particularly pretty, a mural of a beach with fishes and clouds decorating the largest wall.

The pony at the front desk looked funny, he was dressed in swimwear, despite sitting on an office chair. He constantly rubbed his skin with some kind of lotion from the impressively large assortment of bottles on his desk.

“Welcome,” he droned, massaging a spot with extra care, “oh, yeah, that’s the spot ...” Hard to believe he noticed anything other than his nicely toned legs.

“Hello,” Fluttershy said, “we’d like to go swimming.”

The receptionist spared a fraction of a glance at Scootaloo. “All foals must wear swim diapers or a form of waterproof cover as protection,” he recited a poster hanging on the wall beside him, “going in the pools is only permitted with floaties on. Would you like to borrow some?”

“Yes, please,” Fluttershy said.

He got up, went to a storage closet and retrieved a bundle of plastic. The bright orange color left no question as to what it was: foals’ floaties.

“Here you go. Enjoy your stay and have fun. Next please,” he said.

Scootaloo unwrapped the bundle. Out came a pair of floaties, little more than orange polymer sleeves for her forelegs, each with a soft valve on the side for blowing up. The clerk must have decided to give them the biggest size, one floaty almost covered Scootaloo's entire upper foreleg.

“Do I have to wear these?” Scootaloo said, “I know how to swim.”

“The staff said we have to put these on,” Fluttershy said, “So we probably should. Besides, it’s not so much about swimming, but about having fun. Wouldn’t it be nice to just float on the water all nice and comfy?”

“If you say it that way,” Scootaloo said, “yeah! I think that would be nice.”

She put the floaties aside and held up the plastic wrapping instead. The completely translucent plastic was kind of weird, because it was really thick and sturdy, but also very soft. And it had some really strong elastics on the sides.

“And what’s this?” Scootaloo said, “Why does it have holes?”

Fluttershy snorted and burst into giggles. Just when Scootaloo wanted to ask what was going on, the realization dawned on her, and she immediately crumpled the tough plastic back together, before anypony could see.

“These are your plastic pants, Scoots,” Fluttershy said, “the holes are for your legs. The clerk said foals have to wear them too, remember?”

“R-right,” Scootaloo said.

They followed the throng of ponies into the locker rooms. The cheers of happy fillies and colts resonated against the lockers, along with the constant blubbering of rushing water. Ponies were coming and going simultaneously, showering, using the hairdryers, carrying clothes and towels to and from the dressing cabins, the air laden with the smell of lotions and shampoos.

The aisles between lockers were broader in the back, progressively accommodating larger groups and families with younger foals. The last row even had dedicated free spots for parking strollers. Fluttershy waited for a stallion to deposit his filly’s stroller (which was decidedly less cool than Scootaloo’s) in a free space, before Scootaloo herself was parked and unstrapped.

Her boots squeaked on the wet tiles as she followed Fluttershy. There were trays with fresh towels at every corner, and Scootaloo picked the fluffiest bath towel for herself. They found a free locker and Scootaloo sat down on the bench and waited while Fluttershy got undressed.

Most ponies seemed to prefer going without clothing, and most of the ponies that did wear clothes seemed of the sportive type, wearing stylish shorts or sleek swimsuits. Especially the youngest ponies flaunted their freedom to go without swimwear, proving to the world the fact that they were already old enough to go unclothed, without being naked, just like the adult ponies.

Fluttershy stored her jacket and boots in the locker. Now it was Scootaloo’s turn. Scootaloo helped as best as she could, holding out her hooves so Fluttershy could untie her laces, and stretching up her forelegs so her jacket and shirt could be taken off. She even lifted her rear from the bench so Fluttershy could pull down her pants.

But, ultimately, Scootaloo had to let herself be undressed by Fluttershy, since foals couldn’t undress by themselves. Unlike the filly from before, who was right next to them, taking off her vest and pantaloons all alone. She even had goggles and a snorkel in her baggage. Wow! She had to be a really good swimmer.

Rip! Rip, rip! Made the tapes around Scootaloo’s waist as Fluttershy pulled them open. Scootaloo squirmed, torn between squeezing her hind legs together so nopony could get a look, or spreading her hind legs apart so it would be over more quickly, as Fluttershy worked the soggy plastic inbetween. The filly heard the sound, and briefly glanced over, but found nothing noteworthy, only a foal getting her diapers taken off by her mommy, so she minded her own business instead.

Fluttershy wiggled the diaper out from under Scootaloo’s rear. Thankfully, she rolled it up quickly, before anypony could see the big yellow stain.

“We’re supposed to shower first, before going into the pools,” Fluttershy said.

“The showers must be over there,” Scootaloo said. The filly had just went through the side door.

“Looks like it,” Fluttershy said, “My, how organized everything here is! There are foal changing tables by the hairdryers, so we don’t have to go back and forth.” Scootaloo volunteered to carry the towels, and hide her face behind them, as Fluttershy picked up a diaper from the stroller.

The shower room was surprisingly ordinary. It was just one big shower floor with regular shower heads mounted to the walls. It was kept a bit darker, to give ponies some semblance of privacy, but there were many bodies inside.

Fluttershy sighed as she entered the warm spray of water. Only by the color of the liquid coming out her mane and tail became it obvious how much grime they had picked up on the way here. The city air was much drier and dustier than the cool countrysides or forests, and all the commerce and industry certainly took their toll on the climate. This must have been especially true for a sky city, floating above the humidifying presence of the clouds, like Skyview.

“You coming?” Fluttershy giggled.

Scootaloo had been staring at her again.

Oops.

Scootaloo made a step, and Fluttershy pulled her in with a wing, immersing her whole body in the prickling warm water. It made Scootaloo’s skin tingle all over, as it ran down her head and her neck, soaking heavily into the fur on her back, dripping down her legs. And no less exciting was the silken touch of Fluttershy’s wing.

Fluttershy washed Scootaloo’s face off with a hoof, and rinsed out her mane. Fluttershy enjoyed playing with Scootaloo’s mane, because it was so much shorter than her own, and she spent some time just giggling and ruffling Scootaloo’s head. Scootaloo’s back and legs were cleaned off too, and Scootaloo held as still as she could, at first because she was so stricken that Fluttershy gingerly cleaned off her little wings, and then because she didn’t dare look at the surrounding ponies as Fluttershy went to town on her backside.

By the time they were done, Scootaloo was dripping wet. She found a surprising amount of joy in prancing around like that, shaking her head and spraying water everywhere, all over the floor, and the other ponies, who luckily didn’t seem to mind.

“Now, isn’t that something,” Fluttershy said.

“It’s a seal,” Scootaloo identified the little cartoon animal on the diaper. Fluttershy fluffed the diaper out thoroughly, and it crinkled accordingly.

“Oddly appropriate, isn’t it?” Fluttershy said.

There were ponies everywhere, some naked, some clothed, all dripping wet and excited to get in on the splashy fun. The changing tables weren’t currently in use, though, so this was their chance. Fluttershy picked Scootaloo up, and carefully sat her down on top of the open diaper. Scootaloo spread her legs a little (she made sure nopony was looking), but Fluttershy quickly pulled up the diaper, and covered her up.

“Would you hold this for me please?” Fluttershy said.

Scootaloo held the crinkly fluff against herself patiently, while Fluttershy taped her up nice and snug. The sensation was pretty funky, Scootaloo’s fur was dripping wet all over, but where it came in contact with her diaper, her skin immediately became dry and warm. The inside of the diaper was dry, and the outside was wet. Funny, usually it was the other way around.

“Now, give me your little hoovsies,” Fluttershy said.

The plastic pants rustled in a completely different fashion than the diapers, more muted, but heavier and louder. Fluttershy shook the pair out. It was kind of big, but the elastics were obviously very stretchy. She held up one of the leg openings, and guided Scootaloo’s hoof in. Scootaloo’s other hoof followed through the other opening, and Fluttershy worked the shiny baby panties up Scootaloo’s hind legs, up to her knees.

Scootaloo was lifted onto the ground again, and Fluttershy pulled the plastic panties over Scootaloo’s butt, plastic squeaking against plastic. The leg gathers were very prominent, broad, wrinkled elastic bands sealing themselves tightly around Scootaloo’s flanks. Fluttershy did up the buttons that were tucked inside a pouch above Scootaloo’s tail, tightening the bond around her waist snugly, and completely sealing Scootaloo’s rear into the waterproof cover.

“And?” Fluttershy said, tucking in a bit of plastic peeking out from one of the leg gathers, “How does it feel?”

“It feels kind of weird,” Scootaloo said, “it’s like a second layer of waterproofness on top of the already waterproof, um. Diaper. Isn’t it?”

“Well, I guess so,” Fluttershy said, “but remember, your diaper is made to keep liquid on the inside from coming out, not the other way around. I suppose you have to wear these to keep your diaper from soaking up all the pool water. Wouldn’t that be silly?”

Scootaloo giggled. All the ponies suddenly sitting in the dry as soon as she entered the pool? Yes, her diaper soaking up all the water would be silly.

She lifted a hind leg and stretched it out. Not even air got past the leg gathers, the snug elastics isolated her flank fully from the outside world.

“Wow, you’re right,” Scootaloo said, “these things are impenetrable.”

“Great. It means we can go in like that, and don’t have to worry about getting you undressed and dressed for the water,” Fluttershy said.

“Yeah,” Scootaloo said, “that’s kinda cool.”

“Come, let’s go inside,” Fluttershy said.

She gathered the towels, and they went through the main entrance. Scootaloo was rustling loudly with every movement, the echoes from the walls only amplifying her already prominent presence. And how else could it be? Everypony seemed to think it was a good idea to just slap more and more plastic onto her butt. And now, she had to run around with this crinkly, crackling mass under her tail. Attempting to hide it was a fruitless effort, so it didn’t make much sense to even try.

It was sort of liberating, really. The rules said she had to wear this, so why should she make a big fuss about it? No need for pretense, there’s no walking normally like this, waddling like a foal was much less of a hassle and much more comfortable.

Two towel-wrapped mares came the opposite way. They pointed at Scootaloo, and gasped at the cutely dressed little filly. Scootaloo gave them a bold smile, and the mares broke into adoring giggles, looking over their shoulders, as Scootaloo coolly walked off.

Hey, this was really fun!

The main hall was gigantic. Not one, but several huge pools occupied the ground, filled to the brim with ponies young and old, jumping, swimming, splashing and frolicking about. The pools were littered with awesome-looking floating toys and inflatables, and ponies swam around and sat on top of the toys, as they worked together to conquer the waters.

“Wow …” was all that Scootaloo managed to say.

Several massive pillars ensured structural integrity, though not so much for the building, rather than the huge network of water slides snaking past and inbetween. The slides went across the room and back again, raining their contents all over the place whenever a jubilating pony cut through one of their curves.

Ponies were flying all about, occupying numerous clouds and cloud structures hanging overhead, which fed water into the pools below. Some of the clouds seemed to be like fancy pools, judging by the groups of ponies who splashed around in them (they seemed to be enjoying themselves a lot), and they even had a large rainbow on the far side of the hall, lapping at the water.

“Now that’s what I’m talking about!” Scootaloo said.

“It looks quite nice,” Fluttershy said, “I haven’t seen such a liberal use of clouds in a bath house before. Come, let’s find a place to put our things down.”

One of the walls was made of glass, permitting natural light to flood onto the countless deckchairs. Along with the fake palm trees and fake exotic decorations, they created a wonderfully fake vacation ambiance. Almost all chairs were laden with somepony’s stuff, but Fluttershy soon found a free one to stash their things.

Right next to the chairs was a little foal pool. It consisted only of a tiny little step leading into shallow water with some toys floating in it. A few parents or older siblings were sitting around in the water with their infants, casually making splashes and teaching them to swim.

“Come on, Scoots,” Fluttershy beckoned, “let’s go in this one first, to see if we’re ready for the bigger pools.”

“Oh, please,” Scootaloo said, looking after a bunch of fillies running towards a big pony slide. “I’m more than ready for any -- oof”

Scootaloo hadn’t quite anticipated the water’s resistance as she walked in. She bumped into her own hoof and caught herself, but lost balance with her hind legs and landed on her butt with a splash. Everypony turned their heads, and the little foals laughed, as they rode the waves from Scootaloo’s impact.

“Uh, oops,” Scootaloo said, “I didn’t think the water would be so … watery.”

“Eh,” a stallion shrugged, “happens to the best of us. Here, sweetie, why don’t you toss your ball over to that filly?”

“Ball!” his little filly said.

The filly emerged from the water’s surface to grab the miniature beach ball with her little hooves, and then she chucked it in Scootaloo’s direction. The foal was greatly amused by the ball going through the air, cheering with glee before it had even landed.

Catching the ball wasn’t difficult, since Scootaloo was sitting basically right in front of her new playmate. She held the ball up and tossed it back lightly, and the little filly squealed in delight, as she ravenously jumped the ball in the water. She picked it up and tossed it back at Scootaloo. The ball almost went wide, but Scootaloo bounded up and caught it out of the air.

“Ball!” the foal cheered.

“Heh, you thought that was cool?” Scootaloo said, “Here, watch this.”

She pushed the ball under the water and let go, making it bounce over to the little filly, who watched the spectacle with huge eyes. The ball landed, and the filly gasped, and immediately jumped on it, to try for herself. Keeping the slippery ball underwater for long enough wasn’t easy, but she eventually succeeded and launched the ball at Scootaloo. The shot was awesome, and it earned the filly clapping and cheering all around. She grinned like a catwalk star in the lamplight.

Scootaloo caught the ball easily. She was going strong on ball catches, though it was also easier than back at the fountain, because here she could just let herself fall into the water, allowing for much more dangerous tricks.

She returned the ball, and the foal shot back, but this time she missed, and chucked the ball to the edge of the pool, splashing a young colt who was hanging out there.

“Hey, what gives?” the colt said, but his eyes promptly landed on the ball. “Oh! Ball!”

“Sorry,” Scootaloo said, “Hey, do you wanna play too?”

“You bet,” the colt said.

He came over with the ball, and joined the game. His shooting was lean and accurate, and he wasn’t outpaced easily, but Scootaloo did her best to keep up, and even managed to one up him every now and then, with the special tricks she had up her sleeve.

Soon, the little ponies were playing together as three, splashing around in the little pool and bouncing the ball back and forth, laughing joyously.

“Seems like they’re getting along well,” Fluttershy said. She sat by the side, soaking in the soothing warm water.

“Yup,” the stallion said, “never underestimate how much a ball can bring ponies together.”

Fluttershy giggled. “We had planned to only warm up here, but it seems this could take a while, before we go to the big pool,” she said.

“Oh no, my sweetie’s not quite tall enough for the big pool yet,” the stallion said, “but you might be wanting to get suited up before the waves come.”

“The waves?” Fluttershy said.

“Yeah,” the stallion said, “they’re gonna be making waves in the middle pool. The young ones enjoy it, you’ll hear all the screaming when it starts. Can’t miss it, or at least your filly won’t, I suspect.”

“Goodness,” Fluttershy said, “that sounds awfully exciting. I’d better go get Scootaloo’s floaties. Thanks for telling me.”

It was time for Scootaloo to finish playing. She’d hoped she’d get a chance for revenge, but the colt had consistently outplayed her. His passes seemed innocent enough, but then he made the ball spin, or slip out of her grasp when she tried to catch it. Too bad, she thought she was beginning to pick up on his tricks, but she had to leave.

Scootaloo and the colt waved goodbye to the little filly, and stepped out of the pool.

“You’re really good,” Scootaloo said, “I hate to admit it, but you’re better than me.”

“Takes a big character to say it out loud,” the colt said smugly, “but you’re pretty good yourself. You could be doing this as a sport when you’re bigger. I’m Circuit, by the way.”

“I’m Scootaloo,” Scootaloo said, “I like playing around, but I’m not sure ... about being bigger ... I mean, if sports are the right thing for me. Do you do any sports?”

“I’m in my school’s swimming team,” Circuit said.

“Oh,” Scootaloo said, “could have told me that before you started shooting cannonballs at me.”

“And miss out on all the fun? Nah,” Circuit said with a wink. Scootaloo stuck out her tongue. “Anyway, I’m going to the big pool. Come find me when you’re around, okay?”

“Sure,” Scootaloo said, “won’t be difficult spotting that bright red tail of yours.”

He smirked. “Alright then,” Circuit said, “I’ll be keeping an ear out when you come crinkling my way. Toodles.”

He was gone before Scootaloo could muster a response. Fluttershy laughed.

“You really had that one coming, Scoots,” she said, “now come, I brought your floaties.”

Truth be told, Scootaloo had kind of forgotten about her diaper. Her plastic pants were dripping with water and clung heavily to her legs and her rear, but the inside had remained mostly dry, the diaper underneath fluffy fresh as ever, except for maybe the one or other droplet of water that had snuck its way inside. The feeling was truly alien, because the plastic clung to her as if it was sopping wet, but the water just dripped out of its many little folds when Scootaloo moved, and her fur on the inside was clearly dry.

The rustling sound, however, was undeniably loud. Scootaloo’s plastic wrapped butt squeaked and crinkled with every movement. The little filly from before had had a diaper on too, but she had been mostly sitting or crawling, not prancing around like Scootaloo, and drawing everypony’s attention. Maybe Scootaloo should take a page from the filly’s book.

Fluttershy picked up the floaties and slipped them up Scootaloo’s forelegs. Taking one of the little valves between her teeth, she blew it up. One or two blows, and the little plastic sleeve was taut.

“Tight enough like that?” Fluttershy said, “It should be comfortable, but not too loose, or it’ll fall off.”

Scootaloo shook her leg, but the inflated plastic stayed in place perfectly. “It’s snug,” she said.

“Good,” Fluttershy said, and blew up the other one in a similar fashion.

They carefully moved between the deckchairs. Ponies were sleeping on many of them. How was that even possible with all the excited foals running about and causing a ruckus? Scootaloo wanted to take off as well, but she could hardly move with the bulky inflatables around her forelegs, and the no less bulky plastic between her hind legs. But the bulk was there for her own protection, so she had to suck it up, and keep waddling along beside her mommy.

Most ponies gathered around the big pool. It was decorated like a beach, the tiled floor ramping smoothly into the water. Scootaloo waded in, joining the other foals in the most shallow parts. Fluttershy walked past, and then turned around, picked Scootaloo up, carried her into deeper water, and let go.

Floating in the water. No ground. No weight. There was a brief moment of unease due to the lack of standing ground, but then the floaties pulled Scootaloo up, and kept her comfortably far above the surface of the water. She could splash and kick about as much as she wanted, but she always stayed on top.

“This is amazing,” Scootaloo said. It was like floating in a dream.

Fluttershy kicked herself away, and glided on the water, turned around and dove under. Ponies were splashing about. A pool toy floated past, and some fillies tried to climb onto it, but there were some other fillies on top and pushed the intruders off. Soon, Fluttershy emerged on Scootaloo’s other side, shaking water off her muzzle.

A group of youngsters had obtained a bunch of floating foam noodles, and tried to knock each other over with them, resulting in a large fallout zone of splashing water. Scootaloo prudently avoided them as she paddled a round.

Fluttershy swam elegantly, coiling and rowing under the water, and curling around other ponies in an impressive display of agility. Meanwhile, Scootaloo did her best to kick the water away with her hooves, and let herself drift towards her destination. It was the best she could do, her particular attire left her little choice in terms of propulsion.

Fluttershy walked out of the water and sat on the pool’s edge. Scootaloo drifted in her direction, but then she spotted a familiar red tail sharking across the surface of the water. She changed her course to intercept it.

“Hi, Circuit,” Scootaloo said as soon as he surfaced.

“Oh hey, Scootaloo,” Circuit said, “You made it in time.”

“In time for what?” Scootaloo said.

“Look, they’re getting ready,” Circuit said.

Three pegasi from the staff (including the lotion guy) had been doing work overhead. They had been gathering a large, ripe, dripping cloud, and maneuvered it towards the far end of the big pool, which had been cleared out. The three ponies didn’t touch the cloud directly, but rather held it with long shiny rods, and pushed it towards the water’s surface.

“Fillies and gentlecolts,” one of the staff addressed the pool-goers, “how are we feeling today?”

The young crowd erupted into a jumble of joyful cheers.

“That’s what I like to hear,” the pegasus said, “Now, I believe the tide is turning, and there’s a strong current coming in.” The other pegasi made some wind for effect. “Who’s ready for the waves?”

The crowd cheered even louder, a cacophony of foal screams so loud, Scootaloo had to hold her ears. The staff got to work promptly.

They grabbed their cloud with the sticks and flew down, pushing it into the water. The cloud was already at capacity, so it roiled, and bounced back from the surface. The staff pushed again, and this time it went deeper, and the cloud further repelled the water before pulling it back up. The cloud was pushed and pulled in a steady rhythm, going deeper and rebounding higher, and the water began circling out in smooth, even waves.

The waves rippled through the crowd, and heads began bobbing up and down on the water. Ponies grinned at each other, pulled each other over the waves, began paddling and trying to surf the crests. Circuit grabbed Scootaloo by the hoof and took her further inward.

Many ponies had sought refuge on floating toys and air mattress. They erupted into cheers when the waves began breaking, and shook them up and threatened to capsize them, but the turbulences were no match for their vehicle and its skilled crew, as they rode along the foamy crowns in wide arcs around the pool. The foaming waters were prickly and refreshing, dousing Scootaloo from the cresting waves, as well as crashing off the pool walls.

The wavemakers bounded deeply into the pool, the lowest point almost at its floor and the apex rising above the surroundings, ponies happily tumbling and bouncing all over.

Circuit indicated Scootaloo to follow him and dove into an incoming wall of water. Scootaloo was transported up and fell back down, and then she coiled and kicked herself into the next wave. For a moment, everything was only water, but her floaties immediately pulled her up and made her break out through the water’s surface. The wave carried her along and propelled her into its curve. She was surfing! She didn’t even need to paddle to keep up, like Circuit, because her floaties took over all the hard work. This was awesome!

They ended up being washed ashore, but as soon as they were on stable ground, they scrambled among all the other ponies to get back into the fray. This time, Scootaloo swam up a wave as high as she could and shot over the apex, enjoying an amazing moment of airtime. There, on top of the world, she was weightless, silent for a moment, awed by the sight. She could see the entire hall and everypony from above. Fluttershy was there, keeping an eye on her. Scootaloo waved to Fluttershy, but then she was enveloped by water again.

Scootaloo couldn’t get enough of the splashy bubbly chaos. It was just too much fun. Somepony gave her a foam noodle, and Scootaloo held on to it for as long as possible, trying to ride on it before she slipped off and ultimately lost it to the high sea. There were many more toys in the pool, foam boards and balls and floating sticks and bands, but Scootaloo found she liked the water’s unbridled and intimate contact the most, the liquid opulence streaming over her skin and her face and through her mane, suffusing her fur and her ears and her tail, cleansing her entire being in elemental magnificence.

The waves ended eventually, weakening gradually until they were gone, and the sodden cloud was finally released from duty and brought away. But the pool party never stopped, heaps of young ponies splashing and swimming around each other, fully utilizing the pool toys in high spirits.

Scootaloo found Circuit again, and they swam together to where most of the activity was. A bunch of ponies had commandeered a massive inflatable donut, and sailed it across the tides. It was literally a donut, it even had chocolate frosting and sprinkles painted on. Colts and fillies were slipping from it left and right and clambered up again, knocking everypony else into the water in the process.

Circuit swam up to the donut, and sprung directly out of the water, leapt over everypony (despite his feathers being dripping wet), and landed on top of the plastic inflatable. Wow. How could somepony fly like that? Even Rainbow Dash had trouble flying when she came directly out of the water.

Scootaloo wanted to be on top too. She climbed up the donut’s side and buzzed her wings as hard as she could, but she slipped back down into the water.

“Can you help me up? I can’t fly,” she called out to Circuit.

Scootaloo choked.

Had she really just said that?

The words had come out, just like that. And those particular words don’t just, come out like that.

The only time Scootaloo had felt like this was when she was together with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. Only her closest friends had been able to take the edge off. With them, Scootaloo didn’t have to awkwardly weasel out of social situations before attention was brought to her physical deficiencies. She didn’t have to constantly turn away in an attempt to hide her malformed wings. The Crusaders were aware, of course, but, considerately, they never talked about it. And Scootaloo was grateful for that, but, in all the world, the Crusaders had been the only ponies where she wouldn’t have minded.

Would Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom get along well with Circuit?

The crimson-maned colt flew back down to Scootaloo, grabbed her around the chest and lifted her out of the water, carrying her onto the inflatable pool toy.

Scootaloo was dropped off on top, her hooves sinking into the soft plastic. She was Circuit’s second in command, and helped him shout orders at the rest of the donut crew. Somepony gave her a foam noodle. A group of pirates had capsized a nearby vessel, and began heading for theirs, greed in their eyes. Scootaloo rowed for her life.

Fluttershy had almost fallen asleep. The bubbles droned on, rising all around her body, making their way along the sensitive curves and tingling creases before popping on the surface, stimulating her by now benumbed being in ways that she hadn’t thought possible. According to the sign, this was supposed to be a mineral bath, infused with essential minerals that were especially good for the skin, but Fluttershy had remained for the irresistible bubbly goodness.

Scootaloo and Circuit approached, both dripping wet from nose to tail, and panting from exhaustion.

“You two sure look like you’ve enjoyed yourselves,” Fluttershy said.

Scootaloo sighed as she entered the hot tub. She let herself fall into the water and just relaxed, floating wherever the bubbles pushed her. “It was awesome.”

“Yeah, it was great,” Circuit said, “they don’t usually make the waves this high, but they went all out this time.”

The drift had carried Scootaloo straight to Fluttershy. Scootaloo suddenly felt like getting a hug, so she swam closer. No words were needed, Fluttershy immediately embraced Scootaloo, one hoof around her back and the other around her rear, and held her tightly. Scootaloo quieted down and rested her head in the fur on Fluttershy’s chest, the bubbling water in one ear and Fluttershy’s even breathing in the other.

“Are you here alone?” Fluttershy said softly.

“Oh … uhm,” Circuit said. He had tried not to look like he was sneaking glances at their display of affection, but he hadn’t been very good at it. “No, I’m actually here with my sister. She’s, uh, I think she’s up there. Somewhere.”

He indicated one of the bathtub-clouds overhead, and, indeed, somepony was laughing, and a wild tangle of hooves, wings and tails peeked over the edge. They didn’t even care that they were splashing water over the edge, so intensely were the cloud’s occupants engaged with each other. Scootaloo quickly looked away, before she could catch what they were doing up there in too much detail.

On the far side of the hall was the doubly-wound loop of one of the slides. A trail of water spraying out the top indicated the location of the current occupant.

“Whoa,” Scootaloo said, “These slides look amazing. Are they any good?”

“Why don’t you try for yourself?” Circuit said.

Scootaloo gasped. “Can we, mommy? Please?” she said.

“I suppose -- uh, okay, okay I’m coming,” Scootaloo already scrambled out of the tub, and Fluttershy was being dragged out by the hoof, leaving Circuit splaying across their spots.

The slide looked amazing. Amazingly high to be precise.

A flight of steps spiraled upwards to the entrance platform. A jet of water was hungrily consumed by the slide’s gaping entrance. The line of waiting ponies diminished rather quickly, evidencing the installation’s rapid throughput.

“Oh my,” Fluttershy said, “It looks a daunting.”

“It looks awesome,” Scootaloo said.

“Um, I wonder if they even let little fillies ride on there,” Fluttershy tried.

“It’s fine as long as she’s accompanied by an adult,” the attendant said, “It’s your turn, so go ahead.”

“Yeah!” Scootaloo said. She bounded ahead, dragging Fluttershy up the stairs.

The height was dizzying. Tiles and pools and water and deckchairs were laid out below like the map of some bizarre landscape. Staff and visitors were flying below their level, the collective warmth and moisture from the entire hall a distant echo of all that went on down there, as Scootaloo, for just a moment, timeless and aloof, stood on top of the world.

“Okay, Scootaloo,” Fluttershy said, “but be sure to hold on to me as well as you can, so you don’t-- aieee!” Fluttershy squealed as they went into the slide’s colourful maw.

Scootaloo couldn’t stop laughing. The stream carried her away, and the feeling of weightlessness was bringing her stomach aflutter as she shot smoothly down the spiralling tube. The slide twisted and wound around itself, launching her up the sides in smooth arcs and splashing water all over her, each curve like an airy dream, up and down, glide and tumble, the unadulterated joy of motion.

The resonating echo fell away as they went down an open stretch. The cooling wind brazenly enlivened Scootaloo’s face, and it was carelessly refreshing to know that everypony underneath the tubes was being given a good shower right now. Even Fluttershy had stopped yelping and started to enjoy the ride, although she didn’t loosen her grip on Scootaloo. Soon came the ride’s highlight, a spiral downwards winding several times, the centrifugal force pushing them onto the wall vertically, as the world spun dizzyingly.

The slide ended, and Scootaloo was deposited straight into the water. Fluttershy followed right after, dousing her with the splash, both of them yowling as they disentangled from the chaotic mayhem.

“That was so cool,” Scootaloo panted, and let herself drift on the water, laughing.

Fluttershy shook her head, unable to decide whether to get the water out of her nose or out of her ears first.

“Well, it certainly was exciting,” she said, and pulled Scootaloo out of the way, to avoid collision with the other arrivals from the slide. They went toward the ladder. “Although I think we should sit down for a moment,” Fluttershy finished.

“Really? I thought you guys made a spectacular entrance,” said a familiar voice. It was the mare from the theatre, standing on the edge of the pool, watching them with uncharacteristically normal bemusement.

“Hi, Hera,” Scootaloo said.

Hera gasped. “Ooh, look at you,” she cooed, “isn’t that just the most adorable little swimming outfit? Oh, I just need to get a closer look. How adorable! Come here, you.” And there went the illusion of normalcy.

Scootaloo was lifted out of the water and put on the ground, dripping wet. The world was still spinning a bit, and Hera’s incessant fawning didn’t exactly help her regain her orientation.

“I can’t believe it! Just look at those adorable little floaties,” Hera said, “You’re tucked in just so nice and safe, aren’t you? Oh, and those cute little swim panties! Isn’t that just the best way to go out for my little sugar filly? Isn’t it?”

“Would you please refrain from talking so loud,” a newspaper on a nearby deckchair said, “the volume is ally to the pain in my head.”

“Oh quit whining, you grouch,” Hera said, “you didn’t seem to have any problems with the loud music yesterday. Would you do the polite thing and get up to say hello?”

Klieg groaned as he discarded the newspaper and sat up. “I do not remember you abstaining yesterday either,” he said, “but I am relieved to see friendly faces who can appreciate a spell of calm and quiet.”

“Well, more or less calm,” Fluttershy said, her head askew as she still shook water from her ear.

“The slide was so cool!” Scootaloo said, “We went up and then we went down, and it was so fast, and there was water everywhere!”

“I know, right?” Hera said, “And the best part about this slide is when you go in circles really fast like a big whirlpool. ”

“Are the other slides so cool too?” Scootaloo said, “Can we ride them too?”

“Uhh,” Fluttershy said.

“I know! I’ll go on the slides with you, Scootaloo,” Hera said, “how’s that sound? Klieg can take Fluttershy to the saunas in the meantime. It’s unbearably quiet there, they’d surely love it.”

“A sauna?” Fluttershy said, “that sounds rather nice.”

“And they do not allow wailing foals inside, which is a big plus in my balance sheet,” Klieg commented.

“Will you be alright?” Fluttershy said.

“Don’t worry, we’ve got everything under control,” Hera said, “right, Scootaloo? Uh, Scootaloo?”

“Come on! Let’s go! Please!” Scootaloo called from halfway to the next slide.

“Boy, that filly really knows how to have fun,” Hera said, “See ya later.”