Maya could feel herself changing as the rubber squirrel that replaced Hazel drags her around the museum. Her arm shifted in Hazel's grasp, plumping up and lengthening, taking a shiny green color. Her wrist disappears and her hand changes into a blunt end to her tube-like arm, a hoof design printed on the end in light pink.
Her body becomes lighter, torso shrinking in length slightly and becoming that same green, with darker spots scattered about. The rubber slides up her neck, stretching her face into a snout adorned with a resting silly toothy smile. Her eyes become printed and cartoony, changing to a soft pink, and her blonde hair grows and gains volume into a balloon mane somewhat similar to her old hairstyle. Some black streaks appear on the mane as her ears pop up to the top of her head.
A horse tail forms just above her butt, the same blonde and black color as her new mane. Its attached to her by a seam, bouncing back and forth as she's pulled along, having lost her balance and now just being dragged by her arm as her legs lengthen a bit and shift to match her arms in color and design. Handles pop into existence on her shoulders and thighs, and a nozzle on her stomach to finish the transformation.
Hazel stops in front of the snake exhibit, letting go of Maya's arm and pressing her own face against the glass. "Look! They're so cool!!!" Maya stands shakily, slightly taller than she used to be and entirely too light. She looks at the display, more at her own reflection than the colorful snakes beyond. She hardly believes that this is really her, a goofy grin and sparkly eyes that barely betray the fear beneath.
Hazel continues through the museum, Maya spending more of her attention on the people around them. At some point she stops seeing people turning into pool toys and just sees living pool toys of various animals walking around the museum as though nothing is wrong.
After a while, Mrs. Ayers calls the class to regroup in front of the elephant statue at the entrance to the exhibit. She has transformed into a tigress, loudly clapping her paws together to gather everyone. "Hazel, Maya, have you seen Lucas and Hannah? They haven't come back yet."
"I remember where they were! C'mon Maya, let's go get them!" Hazel once again runs off with Maya forced to keep up.
They reached the area where Hazel last saw them, and the pair begins searching for where Hannah and Lucas are hiding. Even if she's a pony now, Maya figures she has to find her friends before she can freak out more.