Chapter 1: A beach fest

If there was one thing in the world that Shady hated more than anything else, it was sensory deprivation. It really didn't matter to what degree the deprivation was, she hated it regardless. Head colds were bad, but so was having a limb fall asleep and not moving in accordance to her will, or able to provide accurate sensory input. Not being able to see made it all so much worse when she couldn't hear, or smell, or taste, or even really feel anything. She relied heavily on her senses to keep track of her surroundings, so any interference could be problematic.

That matter aside, however, here she was. Sitting in the shade of a tree for shelter from the heat of a day, a set of earbuds plugged into her phone as she listened to a particular song for at least the third time in a row, in an effort to figure out just what they lyrics were.

Despite not being able to see what she'd been doing at the time, the NLAC party she'd attended had actually been a lot of fun; fun enough that she was willing to attend the next one, and she wanted to come prepared. She'd done some dancing to the beat Vinyl Scratch had been laying down, some body painting -and improvised anatomy studies at the same time- and she even tried her hand at karaoke, despite not really being able to carry a tune. Out of it all, the karaoke had pretty much been the biggest hit, thus giving her reason to want to have something new to offer up when the next party rolled around; those at the party deserved the best she could present, whatever her "best" was.

That, and the song choice and her singing it just struck her as ironic, although she couldn't explain why.

Unfortunately that meant paying more attention to the music, rather than her own surroundings, and thus leaving herself vulnerable. So when she felt someone grabbing her shoulder from behind, naturally she freaked. She screamed in surprise, practically ripping the earbuds from her ears as she jumped to her feet, and swung her cane around in an effort to strike whoever had been stupid enough to sneak up on her.

"Jeez, Snarkzilla, settle down! It's just me!" the guilty party responded.

"Strut?" Shady asked upon recognizing the voice. "Damnit, girl, what're you doing, sneaking up on me like that? You know I hate when people do that!" she stated, now being forced to deal with the aftermath of the sudden adrenaline explosion.

"Not my fault you weren't paying attention," Strut stated in her own defense. "I got a text from Dinks."

"What's up? Is Snap making her move or something?" Shady asked.

"I don't know. She just asked if I could find you, and something about a meeting with that club you're in," Strut replied.

It was no real secret that Strut, in addition to being one of the Rejects, was a member of Dinky's information network. She was one who worked the angle of getting the word out to students who were... less than popular, and statistically less likely to be addressed by others. It only made sense that Rinky Dink would seek her out if she was wanted.

"Alright then," she said as she made sure her phone and earbuds were still present, before stuffing them in her pocket and holding out her hand. "Lead the way."

Contrary to Shady's initial assumptions, nobody was nude when she and Strut showed up. There were lots of people present, but overall the chatter there was a detectable cacophony of sounds and other noises attributed to the shifting and rustling of all manner of clothing, as well as a wealth of smells from the various fabrics being worn.

How exactly this involved the NLAC, or even her for that matter, she didn't really know.

"Hi Shady!"

Although that was likely about to come to an end, now that Dinky had spotted them. Although that had to wait until after Strut basically said she was out after delivering the package to the destination.

"What's going on, Rinky Dink? Is the Empire going on the offensive?" she asked.

"Not as far as we can tell," Dinky replied.

Shady couldn't help but frown in confusion at hearing that. If Diamond Tiara wasn't mobilizing whatever forces she had left in an effort to bring down the club, and they didn't need her to "accidentally" break a couple of legs, then what exactly had she been brought into this for?

"I'm confused," she stated bluntly.

"We're discussing the upcoming party this Friday night, and it didn't seem right to exclude you since you're a fellow club member," Dinky explained.

'Club member in name only,' Shady mentally noted. But that was another discussion for another day. "So what's being discussed?" she asked, deciding to go the route of being appreciative for being included.

Rather than Rinky Dink speaking up and giving her the lowdown, it was Jungle this time around.

"Well the NLAC is doing themed parties soon, and everyone is supposed to bring something that relates to that theme. The first is beach-themed," he explained. "Some of us got together to discuss what could be brought so there's not an overlap of just a few different items."

"Which sounded easier in the beginning, but now not so much," Gears added.

She was starting to feel like they'd brought her in to serve the mediator role. But she highly doubted they would've actually done just that, as she had no real mediation skills beyond telling others to shut up and wait their turn.

"What's so hard about that?" she asked.

"Well we're having trouble separating luau stuff from beach stuff, so we've consolidated the two together since a luau can be at a beach. But a lot of the stuff that keeps getting suggested is clothing. Straw hats, loud shirts, leis, grass skirts, coconut bras, etc. stuff like that," Dinky stated.

"Stuff that runs counter to what the club is all about," Gears added.

She needed more information to go on that just that. "So what's on the list so far that isn't clothing?"

"Well Pinkie's sister, Maud, works at the concrete plant, so she can get us a deal on a hundred pounds of sand in case we wanna have a sandcastle building competition. Other stuff is tiki torches that the club members in shop class are converting to electric with flicker bulbs. We've also got folding chairs, beach balls, volley balls and a net, seashells, a couple of pineapples, suntan lotion, sunglasses, and big towels," Gears stated, sounding like she was reading from an assembled list.

"Which is all well and good, but everybody keeps bringing up clothes, because that's what they think of when headed for the beach," Crackle explained. "Can you think of anything that isn't on the list, that would be found at the beach?"

"Maybe, but at the moment I'm confused. Do you actually have to wear what you bring to the party?" she asked.

"No," Rinky Dink stated; likely with a pointless shaking of the head.

"Well then what's the problem with bringing beach-themed clothes to the party?" she asked.

There was a noticeable decrease in the sound of discussion that followed her question. Had she just said something wrong, and now everyone was looking at her in disbelief?

"Did... did we actually overlook that?" Crackle asked.

"I think we might have," Gears replied and sighed. "How'd you catch that anyway?"

"I don't get out much, so I spend a lot of my time reading," she replied, earning a snort of amusement in the process.

"Well stick around, maybe you can do some more reading if we hit another impasse," Rinky Dink replied and took hold of her shirt sleeve.

- Charlie_K

Octavia sat alone in the Student Union Center’s female locker room, silently picking at the ice white towel wrapped around her grey body. Her black hair was tied up in a neat bun for the moment if it should ever come in contact with water. She had her eyes closed, deep in meditation to calm her pounding heart. This was her first time being here period. Sure she had heard so many great things about this club through the grape vein and Vinyl’s never ending praise. But actually showing up was completely different than hearing stories.
Normally Octavia wasn’t the type of person to hang out at parties in general. Being in large crowds always did drive her crazy and left her with little enjoyment. Oh sure she could put on a strong face and walk through large social gatherings like a proper woman. But inside she would always be screaming, crying, or both. So coming to an event like this wasn’t exactly appealing to begin with. And yet here she was, by request of her sister, and Octavia was doing her best to keep her emotions under control. After taking some very deep breaths and make sure the towel was tightly wound around her body, Octavia got up and walked towards the party. She was uncomfortable that wasn’t in question, but when she saw how relaxed everyone was, she became more confused than nervous. The concept of weird was too mild for what Octavia was seeing. All her classmates, all her friends, were hanging out naked and completely comfortable with it. How was any of this possible?
As she made her way past the bodies of students, luau music filling her ears, she kept seeing the same sight: comfort. Everyone was comfortable, relaxed, and very calm. Well those who weren’t having a blast with the parties theme were calm. And those that were having a blast whizzed by Octavia in a blur. It all seemed so strangely surreal. The towel soon began to feel very noticeable on her body, but Octavia suppressed any urge to take it off as she reached the DJ platform. There she spotted her sister Vinyl Scratch in all her naked glory.
Octavia knew immediately that Vinyl had spotted her despite the DJ having her shades on. Awkwardly, Octavia stood just behind a subwoofer making sure her ears didn’t take a beating from the loud music. Despite her sister being more eccentric than Octavia would like, Vinyl wasn’t stupid and always knew how to keep the crowd entertained without damaging her body in the process. That often meant creating a cone of silence at or near the mix table. And it was there Octavia would always find solace whenever Vinyl dragged her to concerts.
And there Octavia stood, safe from the loud music, switching her gaze from the naked crowd to her naked sister while still wrapped in a towel. Everyone looked so natural and clean, yet she was still puzzled. It didn’t take long for Vinyl to finish up her set list and sign off, though she did promise to come back later for another round of great beats. Once she was done, she walked over to Octavia and gave her a big hug.
“I’m so glad you came along sis,” Vinyl cheered.
“I really don’t see the point of this,” Octavia told her sister.
Vinyl took off her glasses and rested them atop her head, “What’cha mean?”
While keeping one hand on her towel to keep it in place Octavia waved the other around at the party, “This, all this, I don’t get this!”
“It’s a beach themed party.” Vinyl explained.
Octavia gave a dead-panned stare, “I get that you nit. I mean the fact that…oh I don’t know…everyone’s naked!”
“Oh yeah,” Vinyl chuckled, remembering her own naked state, “Guess I forgot about that.”
“How can you forget you’re naked!?” Octavia asked, very confused.
“I don’t know,” Vinyl giggled.
Octavia grumbled, “Alrighty then. Well since you are now once again aware of your state, would you kindly tell me what’s the point of this?”
Vinyl just laughed, “It’s just a party Octy.”
“Yes but all of you are naked, why?” Octavia asked.
Vinyl snorted again, “Because that’s how this club rolls Octavia, we just want to enjoy the time we have here in a…naked and relaxed state. Do we need a reason other than that?”
“Yes,” Octavia blurted out.
Vinyl chuckled as she walked Octavia out of the party room and up the stairs into the school proper, “Octavia, sometimes a party is just a party. Why don’t you at least try to get into the spirit of things?”
“You’re just saying that so you’d get me to lower my towel.” Octavia huffed.
“Ew Sis you know I’m not like that.” Vinyl scoffed, “I’m just trying to get you, for once in your life, to relax.”
“And you think a nudist party will do that?” Octavia asked.
“A Nudist Beach Party thank you very much,” Vinyl said indignantly, “As the club’s resident musician I take offense. I put a lot of effort into designing the tropical techno I got. And yes I think it would, because at least here you don’t have to be Octavia: Future first chair of the Trans Equestrian Orchestra. You can just be Octavia.”
Octavia bit her lower lip, “Fine Scratches, I’ll give it a chance. But I’m not taking my towel off.”
“Fair trade,” Vinyl smiled.

- Blake Skies

“PULL!” Cloudchaser yelled to her sister as Flitter loaded a large, green water balloon into an improvised slingshot made from the volleyball net. Flitter nodded, she smirked while she pulled back the volleyball net until she felt her arms strain before she released the payload, sending a large red water balloon hurling from their perch on the sand covered bleachers, through gymnasium, over one of the many trenches dug into the sand, and onto an unsuspecting team of three trying to hold their own in a trench, causing them to scatter.

“Direct hit!” Flitter squealed in delight.

Cloudchaser inhaled deeply as she adjusted her set of bandoliers as each carrying a set of six water pistols, “I love the smell of wet sand in the morning!”, she sold as she loaded another yellow balloon into the net.

“Hey Jot, check our flank!

Jot A. Doodle peaked from their perch on the bleachers, from behind the wrestling mat, spotting three people trying to sneak around the side of the sand covered stairs. Jot recognized them instantly. Trixie slowly climbed her way up the hill, a super soaker tucked against her chest, followed by Starlight Glimmer and Golden Casket, each of who struggled to carry a heavy load of water balloons inside of a blue tote. Jot knew what they were up to. They planned on forcing JD and his team out of their position, and take the slingshot for themselves. With only 15 minutes to spare, Jot had to act fast so his team could keep their position and their flag. Jot hunkered down in his fox hole, his Hydromaster three thousand water cannon in hand, he turned the red dial to control the pressure of the spray, and gently he caressed the green plastic.

He counted the paces of naked feet against the sand, “Three, four, five,” and popped over the side of the dugout and blasted Starlight’s legs, causing the sand below him to shift. With a grunt, Golden Casket tumbled, dropping his load of balloons onto Snails, who after being pelted was a rainbow frenzy of water balloons, also dropped his basket. The combined avalanche of colorful balloons pelted Trixie, who made a mad dash back down hill, with her friends chasing after her.

“You buffoons!” She screamed at the sheepish duo, shielding her face from the flurry of rubber and water against her bare skin.

“Nice shot JD,” Cloudchaser praised as she peeked above the dugout, spraying two students back with her water pistols until they turned back, “At this rate, we’ll win capture the flag for sure, just five more minutes! Let’s break out Big Bartha and finish it!”

Flitter gave Cloudchaser thumbs up, “You got it, sis!” Flitter and JD moved a sheet from over a large, spherical object, revealing a green, monster-sized water balloon. Together JD and Flitter loaded the heavy water balloon into volleyball net, struggling to pull it back, while Cloudchaser marked their next victims with a telescope she had hidden away in her backpack. However, the combined weight of the beach ball sized balloon and the strain of the volleyball net against his fingers caused JD to lose his grip, and Flitter, unable to bare the weight herself, was forced to launch the ball directly above them.

“Bullocks. . . ”JD muttered, as his eyes followed the Green Behemoth as it fell toward him and his team.

“Incoming!” Cloudchaser yelled as she dove out of the impact zone quickly. Flitter yelped, and scrambled behind her twin. Quickly, JD grabbed the red flag, quickly trying to escape, however his bulky water cannon he held so dear managed to fall free of his grip in his haste. Refusing to abhis overpriced plastic toy, he tries to reach it, stunning his toe against an exposed stair, He jolted up, howled in pain and held his red hair with a loud SMACK.

“Wha!” he shrieked. JD hopped along, covering his head and still held his throbbing foot. JD tumbled down hill, grunting as he did it. Spinning faster, the surroundings blurred until he hit a dune. He was sent flying, all the way from the bleachers to the concessions table where his face planted, scorpion-style into a large cake.his world went dark, going out with a head ache, and the taste of frosting that meted on his tongue.

“Hey, you okay?” asked a familiar, concerned voice.

Jot slowly opened his heavy eyes, from his head to shoulders he felt the sting of the impact. After adjusting to the light, he realized he was no longer in the gymnasium, but now inside the Nurse's office, with flitter and Cloudchaser watching him with empathy.

“You aren't mad are you?, we’re so sosososososo sorry!” Filter apologized, her hands clasped.” We carried you down here, Nurse Redheart said to keep an eye on you.”

JD rubbed his head his head, “No no, don't be, not your fault Flitter.”

“How's your noggin, buddy?’ Cloudchaser snickered, “did the cake taste good!”

“Still attached to my head,” JD smacked his lips, some frosting still in his mouth, “Tastes like lemon meringue, so it's a win in my book.”

Cloudchaser laughed harder, earning herself a swift jab in the side with Filtter's elbow, “Don’t mind her, again, sorry about knocking you out with that slingshot,was my idea,” flitter apologized again, not appreciating JD and Cloudchaser’s sarcastic outlook on the situation.

With a wave of the hand JD dismissed the comment,”Think nothing of it. It was all in good fun, besides, it’s take more than that to out Jot A. Doodle down!

Did we win?” JD asked.

Flitter shook her head, “ No, Rainbow Dash’s team got ahold of the flag after your tumble.”

Jot sighed, “Well, guess it's game over.”

Flitter and Cloudchaser simply looked at each other with wide, devious smirks, “Actually, Cloudchaser started.

“We can keep playing if you want” Flitter finished.

Just clapped his hands together, “Splendid! where's my squirt gun?”

Flitter reached behind a chair, pulling free the Hydromaster three thousand, adjusting its large spout to spray a massive torrent of water on JD’s naked body, “Jesus! What are you doing?!” JD gasped, his red hair drenched and matted.

“What’s the matter, you still wanted to play right?” Cloudchaser teased, drawing her water pistol from her bandolier and spraying JD twice more.

“Now this is unfair!” Jot protested, but he wasn't going to stick around and debate with two armed femme fatales. He bolted for the door, ran down the hallway as fast as he could. All the while Flitter and Cloudchaser sprayed him with icy water relentlessly. “Well,” Jot said to himself between breaths, “At least I made some new friends!”

- L3thAlPwnE

Captain Dink swung her pool noodle sword in a vicious arc hitting the water with a resounding smack. All around the blonde her crew did the same creating a symphony of noise. To her left her first mate Rumble spiked a pool into the water trying to hit one of them while behind her the wheezing of a pump action water gun echoed as Berry Pinch kept the bow of their raft clear. Water lapped at the collection of foam floats, inflatable tubes and flutter boards the Dink had helped lash together back when her crew had numbered eight not four. The Dink looked up once more shocking on the progress of Featherweight who had taken one of the inflatable beds and was paddling madly for some dropped weapons.
“Come on Feather!” Rumble yelled. “You got this bro!” Dinky added her own encouragement.
“Times a wasting seaman! Get your bare ass back here!” Featherweight grinned his buck tooth grin as he grabbed another water gun and two noodles from the water.
“You got it captain! Coming back!” The skinny boy started to turn his makeshift kayak to more encouragement from his superior officers. A wet purple hand taped Dinky on the shoulder.
“Captain?” Pinch whispered. “They’ve broken off their attack.”
Dinky’s eyes widened. “Dear god.” She whispered crawling to the edge of their raft peering into the depths. Sure enough a blonde gray figure followed by a half dozen others were swimming away from them. Towards Feather. “Paddle damn you!” Dinky shouted towards the hapless boy. “They’re coming!”
Pinch and Rumble joined their captain in shouting, smacking the water doing anything to distract their adversaries. Featherweight for his part started paddling madly sending up great silver plumes of water. Dinky smacked the water in frustration as she watched the blonder blur grow closer to her man.
“There’s got to be something we can do!” Rumble hissed in her ear. “Maybe if I take a float I can-”
Dinky shook her head. “No.” Her eyes flicked over to the clock. Two minutes left. “We can’t afford to risk it. He knew what I was asking.” Featherweight was pointing the gun one handed at the water around him firing off random desperate shots while still attempting to paddle one handed. Abruptly the paddle was wrenched from is hand.
A moment of peace settled upon the water. Dinky watched his narrow chest draw in a deep breath eyes closed. Picking up the noodle he’d salvaged he chucked it towards them. It landed a foot away with a fateful flash.
“Witness.” Feather said with a smile nodding once at them. With an explosion of violence they struck upturning his bed and sending him plunging into the water.
“No!” Pinch cried at the choppy waters. Dinky rose to her knees.
“Get ready sailors.” A minute thirty was left on the clock. Rumble snagged the noodle Feather had sacrificed himself for. “Here they come.” A school of multicolored streaks came on led by the blonde one. Dinky’s eyes narrowed as she wrapped her noodle around her bare midriff like a tuba.
A purple and orange figure burst from the water heading for their raft. Blowing through one end of the noodle Dinky launched a shot of water right in its face. Disoriented it missed its mark disappearing below.
Rumble meanwhile was smacking claw like hands away from pieces of their already unstable raft away especially a pair of black one. Dinky joined in and together the two fended them off.
Pinch rained down hellfire with her water fun as figure after figure came up for air or tried to tip the raft. Something hit them from below causing Dinky to fall on her back getting a face full of the water that was beginning to swamp their craft. She rolled back to her hands and knees searching for her noodle bumping into Pinch’s back.
“Come on ya bastards!” Rumble yelled as he swung his own noodle at the water his wild strokes matched by his smaller noodle. A pair of hands grabbed the pool toy and tugged with a yelp Rumble over balanced twisting to his ass ended up in the water. Instinctively Dinky grabbed his hands holding him tight.
Seconds after Dinky did this Rumble was grabbed by his legs. With the harsh squeal of skin on foam he started too slid towards the edge. Dinky wheezed as inch threw herself on top of her captain. Their combined weight halted the grey teens slide.
“Generally I’d complain about being on the bottom,” Dinky groaned. “But good save Pinchy. Rumble can you get free?”
The skater grunted as his hips moved fruitlessly. “No dice. They got me tight.”
“Uh Cap?” Pinch’s breath warmed Dinky’s ear.
“Yes Gunnery Officer?”
“The H.M.S Dink is coming apart. We’re going to tip if this keeps up!”
Dinky stared into Rumble’s purple eyes with an apologetic look. Rumble gazed back with growing horror.
“Don’t you let go!”
“Sorry skater boy not the right play,” Dinky released her death grip with a shrug.
“You bitch-ahhhh!” Dinky’s first mate screamed as he was dragged under. The H.M.S Dink rocked to and fro for a moment before settling. Pinch peeled herself off Dinky with a wet squelch.
“That was cold captain.”
“Necessary First Mate Pinch, Congratulations on the promotion. Now to the defenses.”
“Aye, aye Cap’n.” Pinch through a wet salute as she checked her gun. “Running low on ammo.” Dinky’s eyes were fixed on the figures underwater that had clumped together. Their leader was waving her hands around clearly planning their end game. She picked up her and Rumble’s pool noodles.
“Once more unto the fray,” The petite girl muttered to herself before barking an order at her subordinate. “Refill your gun now Pinch! We only need to hold for one more minute.”
“Thank god!” The purple girl exclaimed. Dinky felt the H.M.S Dink rock as presumably Pinch bent to refill her gun. For her part Dinky kept her eyes focused on their adversaries. “Oh shit-!”
The H.M.S Dink rocked to and fro as the splash of water sprinkled Dinky’s back. Dinky sighed as she turned and found herself adrift alone.
“Damn it.” She cursed softly. The knot of figures had broken up and now were all converging on her ship. “Damn it!” Dinky yelled surging to her feet staggering drunkenly attempting to maintain her balance. One minute left she could do this.
Bending her knees and tensing her core Dinky attempted to call upon the lessons of centering oneself Tree hugger had given. She brandished her pool noodles and let forth a shrieking battle cry. She then proceeded to start beating the surrounding woman like a madwoman which naked and wild eyed as she was wasn’t too far off the mark.
The enemy mad rushes on the surface were swiftly repelled Dinky who by some miracle kept her balance despite nearly pitching head over heels into the water. They started to circle her like sharks before diving and swimming under. Dinky ceased smacking the water a sinking feeling over taking her.
A jolt came from below that traveled all the way from the soles of her feet to the top her head. She had no tricks left. The noodles fell from her limp hands as she spread her arms as the H.M.S Dink started to rise out of the water. She’d almost made it.
With an undignified yelp Dinky fell back wards as the good ship Dink capsized. It was peaceful as she hit the water sinking down into the depths. She snorted some air out of her nostrils and watched the silvery air bubbles flicker upwards. Muted cheers were dimly heard as the tippers celebrated their victory.
A well-endowed tall familiar figure glided into her line of sight. Her golden hair fanned around her face seemingly creating halo as she made peace sign at Dinky smiling widely. Dinky ever the gracious loser replied with a one fingered salute of her own.
Her back grazed the pools bottom. Exhaling all her air Dinky righted herself so her feet were touching the ground and then propelled herself upwards towards the surface.
Dinky broke the surface tension with a spluttered as all around her friend and foe alike chattered eagerly. Scootaloo clung to Rumble teasingly as he desperately tried to tread water while Featherweight had found himself on the big shoulder of Bulk Bicep. Others were hauling themselves onto the pools edge while others attempted to corral the wreck of the H.M.S Dink.
A golden head broke the water beside the ship less captain a cheery grin spread across the gray face.
“Hey Dinky?”
“Yes Ditzy?”
“I won!”
“That you did big sis that you did. Screw you.”
“Oh if only.”

-Travalore

Pool Skipper blew her whistle. “Hey! Slow down over there!” Two students on the opposite side of the pool went from a run to brisk walk. It caused Pool Skipper to smile a little on the inside. Things didn’t change no matter what people wore, or not.
It had been a bit of a shock to the school’s lifeguard squad when Vice-principal Luna, of all people, told them about their next assignment. They were free to back out if they wanted to, but wearing a suit wasn’t an option and at least half of them would have to work.
Skipper had been on duty for a while now and felt a wave of longing to join the students in the pool or dance to the music. She was swaying to it now. Being nude in school had been a fantasy of her’s ever since she had snuck a skinny dip just after she had joined the squad. Guarding tonight was close, but not what she dreamed of.
It had been that dream that pushed her to be one of the first to sign up. She felt smug keeping it a secret and watching her fellow guards struggle to find out who had signed up or goad others, even herself, into it.
Now she was here. Nude in school by order of the vice-principal. The possibilities that realization opened up made her feel giddy and she hugged the lifeguard buoy tightly against her white body with anticipation of what could be. It’s red color matched her hair.
She too had wondered which guards she’d see tonight. She wasn’t surprised at seeing Life Saver, the squad’s captain nor Pond Skimmer, the vice-captain. The real surprise was when everyone else on the squad had shown up too.
A loud “Yo!” broke her from her reverie. It was Life Saver. “Times up. Hand it over and go have fun. They’ve got an awesome beach party over there.”
Skipper pulled off her whistle and put it by the edge of the pool, handed the buoy over to the red bodied girl with short white hair, and made a mock salute before jumping in.
The water felt way better than it had on that first skinny dip. The terror of being caught was gone. Now all she felt was the water and the tickle of bubbles from the jump against her skin.
When she came up she was aware of everyone around her and seeing them nude too made her feel like she belonged.
A beach ball bopped her on the head. She found it after looking for a second and tossed it back to a water volleyball game that had started up. She saw Pond Skimmer playing and decided to join.
It was after being passed the ball that Skipper realized she wasn’t being treated like a guard. Usually, the guards kept their uniforms on after their shift because it was easier than changing. Unfortunately, it didn’t get them invited to games and everyone kept their distance like they were still on duty. And technically they were because if anything happened they’d have to respond.
After scoring a few more points she was feeling hungry and ready to get out. She motioned her intent to Pond Skimmer who waved back in acknowledgement.
Skipper made for the side. Getting out of the water made her remember she wasn’t wearing anything. A quick look around reminded her that one else was either. She chuckled at herself for how quickly she had forgotten.
Life Saver handed Skipper her whistle. “Thanks,” Skipper said and put it on. Life Saver returned the salute from earlier. Pool Skipper grinned. She turned around and was surprised to see Pond Skimmer climbing out. They always needed to stay in contact but she hadn’t meant for the lime green student with aquamarine hair to get out too.
“Where’s the food?” Pool Skipper asked a dripping Pond Skimmer.
She smiled and pointed to where the music was coming from. “Over there, champ. Follow me.” They started walking. “By the way, I knew you’d be here.”
Skipper smiled. “Duh. You read the list. I suspected you’d be here too. You and Life Saver are at every event.”
Pond Skimmer shook her head. “No, no. I knew about your skinny dip.”
Pool Skipper froze and felt herself blush. Her secret was out! She had been so sure no one saw her. She tried to quickly brush off the shock, but only managed to say “What?”
“Oh come on, we’ve all done it.” It was Pond Skimmer’s turn to blush a little but continued. “Life Saver told me when I became her second. Feels good doesn’t it?”
“Life Saver?!” Pool Skipper was able to keep her voice down but not the surprise. “Why wasn’t I kicked out?”
“She said it’s what made her keep you on.”
“Well.” Pool Skipper couldn’t find the right words. “That’s a relief?” Then it occurred to her. “Wait, you said ‘we’ve all done it.’ Does that mean everyone. Is that why everyone?”
Pond Skimmer nodded.
She spoke a thought that had been forming in her mind before she could stop herself. “Would it be possible to swim after we’ve closed up?”
Pond Skimmer smirked. “We’d have to ask Luna. But.” She looked around at all the students. “I think we can come to some agreement and we might not be alone.”
Pool Skipper felt herself jump inside. Then a different thought came to her. One where she was guarding the swim meets as she was now. She kept that one in check and only let a chuckle escape. It would never happen, could it? She had seen quite a few members of the swim team tonight.
“Hey. What would you like to eat?” Pond Skimmer asked from a few steps ahead. “I thought you said you were hungry?”
Pool Skipper hadn’t realized she had stopped walking. She nodded to Pond Skimmer and went to catch up.

• Clickety-clack

Author's Note

Hello everybody, if you wish to get involved in this story don't forget to ask. Next chapter, We'll take the theme of Fantasy!