Author's Note

Whew! Barely made it, but here's the one chapter I promised. I'll be back home early tomorrow.

Out and About

Twilight's family exchanged glances of surprise. "'Something unusual'," Velvet asked with a raised eyebrow.

Twilight nodded excitedly, smiling widely. "Yes," she said. "Any ideas?"

Silence filled the living room until Shining Armor spoke up. "Are you sure you're okay, Twily?"

"Yes," Twilight said as she rolled her eyes. "I'm fine. Really, I am." She then told her family everything that just happened, providing context for her excitement.

"Oh," Shining said. "That makes sense...I guess." He scratched his head, still feeling confused.

"Well," Velvet said. "Where would you like to go? The library? A museum?"

Twilight sighed heavily. "No," She said flatly. "C'mon, guys," she said, throwing her hands up in frustration. "I said 'something unusual'! Like the mall, or a forest preserve! I can't stay cooped up indoors all the time!"

"Well all right then," Night Light said as he got up off of his chair. "Would you like to go to the mall?"

Twilight thought for a moment, then nodded. "Sure!"

"Let's get going, then!" Night Light headed for the garage as Shining and Velvet glanced at each other, then shrugged and followed with Twilight just behind them.

Twilight beamed as she got out of the car, hardly able to contain her excitement. She looked both ways just to be safe, then made a beeline to the entrance.

Upon entering, Twilight was nearly overwhelmed with all the noise and crowds of people. She stepped back and crossed her arms in front of her face, as though she was trying to walk through a storm. She grit her teeth and narrowed her eyes, determined to push herself. She stamped a foot on the ground, and felt an exhilarating rush of confidence and adrenaline. She smiled widely, then began to walk forward.

Shining, Velvet and Night Light watched Twilight continue forward, proud of her sudden change. The three walked in together.

Twilight suppressed an urge to twirl in the middle of the store. She was ecstatic, but she didn't want to embarrass herself in front of countless people.

Twilight's parents and brother caught up with her. "So," Shining said as he put a hand on her shoulder. "Where to?"

Twilight blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You wanted to come here," Night Light said as he pointed at Twilight. "So you're in charge. Where would you like to go?"

Twilight cupped her chin in thought for a moment, trying not to stress. "Hmm..." She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. She glanced at the time. "Not quite time for lunch..." She sighed, then furrowed her brow momentarily. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Why don't we all just go out on our own, then meet in the food court at lunch?" Twilight's family murmured in agreement.

"All right then," Twilight said, clapping her hands together. "See you all later!" She waved goodbye and headed straight to the mall proper.

Twilight grinned widely as she reached the main part of the mall. Tons of people walking around! She was almost overwhelmed again, then grit her teeth and pressed on.

Twilight looked around at all the people passing her by. She waved at several people with an awkward smile, and hid her gaze from others. Especially a few boys that were so attractive she couldn't help but blush and commit their appearances to memory. For...research! Wait, why was she lying to herself? She smiled and rolled her eyes. She was definitely going to masturbate later. She sported a wide grin in anticipation, then fought to keep her sexual urges in check.

There was a time and place for everything, and this wasn't the time and most certainly not the place! Not that that's ever stopped Twilight Sparkle. She smiled, then took a deep breath. She exhaled and closed her eyes. Upon opening her eyes, she was relieved to find that she succeeded in her efforts.

Twilight checked her phone and was surprised to see how much time had passed. Had she really been so engrossed in an atypical environment that she lost track? Wouldn't be the first time that's happened. She shrugged, then made her way to the food court, texting her family on the way.

Twilight and her family met up in the food court, then grabbed their lunches and met again at a table. "So," Shining Armor said. "See any good looking boys," he asked with a smile. Twilight blushed furiously as Night Light and Velvet gave him funny looks. "What," he asked sheepishly. "Isn't that one of the reasons girls go to the mall?"

Night Light and Velvet rolled their eyes, then began eating as Twilight remained silent, staring at her food. "Twilly," Shining said, "I'm sorry. You don't have to answer the question."

Twilight smiled warmly as she grabbed a fork and began to eat. "It's okay, B.B.B.F.F.. I know you meant well." She paused for a moment to take a bite, then grinned. "Any luck with Dean Cadence?"

Shining Armor nearly choked on his lunch, then took a deep breath. He gave Twilight a dirty look. "What," His sister asked in mock innocence. "I meant well."

Twilight Velvet stifled a giggle as she took another bite as Night Light smiled.

After lunch, everyone got back into the car. "All right," Velvet said as she finished buckling. "Where to now?"

"It's a nice day out," Twilight said. "Why don't we go to the park?"

"Sure, why not," Shining said.

"Works for me," Night Light said.

Twilight smiled as they made their way.

Once she arrived and disembarked, Twilight took a deep breath and exhaled, smiling widely. No research today, just plain and simple fresh air...and maybe some people watching as well.

Twilight closed her eyes, listening to the birds, the leaves of the trees rustling in the wind. She opened her eyes to see a multitude of people, some of whom she noticed were holding hands as a couple. She smiled warmly. She couldn't see herself in a relationship. At least, not now. She didn't think she was ready for that just yet.

Despite that thought, however, Twilight often found herself having romantic fantasies. She smiled again, then began to feel arousal rear its head slowly. She grit her teeth and concentrated, forcing herself to calm down. She really should be more careful with that. She hadn't yet been caught masturbating in a public place, and she didn't want to take that chance unless the need was far too great.

Setting those thoughts to the side, Twilight walked around, admiring the pond and all the geese that swam in it. She turned around to see several teenagers hanging out in the playground. They were talking and laughing, and she smiled warmly. Maybe someday she'd have a group of amazing friends to hang out with. At least she had Lemon Zest and, to a certain degree, Indigo Zap, but why did that not seem like enough to her?

Twilight grunted in frustration. She thought she was done freaking out over that issue! She folded her arms and closed her eyes in concentration, putting that issue to the side next to her arousing thoughts.

Twilight clenched her teeth and managed to keep herself calm. Between her freakout from this morning and all the attractive boys she saw, she might just need to..."de-stress" when she returned home. She shook her head rapidly. At this rate, she began to wonder how much longer she'd last!

Twilight reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone to check the time. Her jaw dropped. How many times was she going to let her thought process cause time to seemingly pass at an accelerated rate?! She sighed, then texted her family.

Okay, I think I'm ready to head home. - Twilight Sparkle

Sounds good to me. - Shining Armor

We'll meet you in the car. - Mom

Don't take too long getting back. - Dad

Don't worry, I won't! - Twilight Sparkle

Twilight began her journey back to the car, then passed by several teenagers. One in particular smiled and winked at her. They passed her by as some of them laughed in surprise, but she heard nothing as her brain practically exploded. The thoughts and desires she had fought so hard against came back to the forefront with a vengeance. She began to panic, and started to run as fast as she could.

Twilight resisted the urge to tell her dad to start the car as she feared doing so would arouse suspicion. Oh, that was a poor choice of words... She shook her head and tried her hardest to focus on getting home without losing her mind!

Twilight found the car and ran in. "Let's go," she said in as calm a tone as she could manage. She took a deep breath, then exhaled.

"You okay, Twily," Shining asked.

Twilight nodded. "Yes. I was just reaching my capacity for interaction with other people, that's all," she said with a smile. If Shining Armor was suspicious, he gave no outward indication. Twilight took another deep breath, then exhaled once more as her war of attrition against her desires and arousal waged from within.

Each minute that passed in the car felt like an eternity to poor Twilight as she began sweating. She could feel her inner thighs dampen slightly as her home was within sight.

Once they got in the garage, Twilight rocketed to her room and got a noise cancelling device and a special tool from a hidden compartment in her desk. She ran up to the laundry room and placed her noise cancelling device on the floor, then activated it.

Twilight closed the door, but not before placing a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door's knob. Now that she was alone, she sighed. She had told her parents that listening to the washing machine and dryer had a soothing effect on her, and that much was true. But the whole truth was that the only reason she ever went into the laundry room was to, as she put it to herself, "de-stress".

Twilight grabbed her special tool and smiled. "Give me everything you've got... I feel like I need it," she said to it as she turned it and stared at its name, which was emblazoned on it.

The De-Stressor