*Deep exhale* Hoo boy.

Gahhhhh.

No, really.

It's like I said with the last chapter: it's adorable, and if they're getting closer and bonding and this is helping Wallflower move past her trauma - neat, and cute! But it's just as possible that that's not the case, and right now we're very close to Sunset's perspective so it's difficult to really see what's going on here for both of them. And from Sunset's perspective, this really does make sense; there's clearly feelings there, and she's doing her best to be responsible and gauge where Wallflower's at. But all we have of Wallflower's perspective is what she's telling Sunset. Then again, what she's telling and showing Sunset is that she's clearly interested and that she feels like she's in the right place to make these sorts of decisions.

Once again: gahhhhh.

Oh heck. Oh heck. Pretty sweet on the surface, but I think we all know to look deeper by now, and from what little I can see, oh heck.

The exclusion of Wally's perspective in these scenes really amplifies the tension.

Well done, as always.

Well, that was sweet and very cute. I just hope Wallflower really is ready for this. But, if she is, I hope that it works out for them.

Wallflower’s beaming expression was the most beautiful thing in the world. A smile at last broke free on Sunset’s face, and when Wallflower stood on her toes to match her height, Sunset gladly leaned forward to meet her. Their lips connected, and Sunset’s heart erupted with pure joy.

YAAAAASSSSS!!!

As others have said, on the surface i want this, but there are concerns. Namely that wallflower might believe that she owes sunset and that she can only properly ‘repay’ her by giving her herself, and the language used certainly supports this hypothesis. Granted i do believe wallflower genuinely wants and respects sunset... i just hope those desires are rooted in the right reasons. Could be wrong, and honestly hope i am, but i guess we’ll see

A wayward glance at her phone revealed a blinking blue LED, no doubt indicating several unread texts from her friends. She frowned and turned the phone over. She had more important things to deal with right now. Besides, whatever social gathering they were planning would no doubt be just as enjoyable without her.

This is not good. It sounds like she's not even really communicating with her friends anymore. It's one thing to not hang out with them as much while she's helping Wallflower. It's entirely another to not even talk to them

As for the rest? [ intensifies]

“Of course not. How could I ever be scared with you, Sunset?” She smiled sweetly. “I love you.”

Woop, there it is. <3

Also, Sunset. You better not be avoiding your friends. Ya hear?

Well...

Shit.

Gaaaaah, i don't know how to feel about this!!!

amazign chapter hope you update soon

also sunset does need to talk with her friends im sure they are getting worried about her

9819478
Glad you're enjoying it. I should say, though, that this story is far more graphic than either Hollow or The Time We Have Left. Just be careful if that's something you're really uncomfortable with.

9819484
Thanks for the heads up but dont worry about it. The Time We Have Left are still the most alarming to me, and I still cringe when I think about it. Great job and all in all, good exploration and instillment overall in your Wallflower series.

A wayward glance at her phone revealed a blinking blue LED, no doubt indicating several unread texts from her friends. She frowned and turned the phone over. She had more important things to deal with right now. Besides, whatever social gathering they were planning would no doubt be just as enjoyable without her.

I have a feeling that these texts aren't just party invites. The Humane Five have to be concerned about Sunny by now.

“I’d never kissed anyone before last night.”

I'm not surprised at this new twist of the knife, but still.

“I love you.”

My literal reaction to this is: Oh, fuck. Reading what comes after... it's still oh, fuck.

These last chapters being entirely from Sunset's perspective have really driven home how much she's taking on in all of this... and how much agency she's denying Wallflower. It's not intentional; Sunset is doing her absolute best here. But by taking this all on—only including Fluttershy as a source of support once out of necessity, and, cutting both of them off from her friends, most importantly, not involving any professionals—she's setting herself up for something huge. Adding all of this just piles on the complexity, tension, and undertaking.

Now, this isn't to say that Wallflower is a burden. She's not. That said, anything carried or held far too long can cause pain. Holding a glass of water for a few minutes is no big deal. Holding it for a few hours straight, with no breaks? Now you're gonna start feeling some pain. Eventually, it's gonna slip out of your grasp. And Sunset continuing to do what she thinks is best for Wallflower, without even involving Wallflower in that conversation, not only adds to the storm that I'm 99% sure is coming, but does Wallflower a huge disservice.

What happened to Wallflower, on top of the sheer violence and terror of the act, is, ultimately, a loss of agency. A forced helplessness. The idea that rape victims can no longer enjoy sex, or should not be having sex at all, is a common one, but this idea is almost re-traumatizing. Sunset's thoughts on the Wallflower's advances, while understandable, almost had me a little angry because of this. If Sunset doesn't want it, that's fine, but don't try and tell someone who is trying to reclaim her own power over her body and sexuality that she doesn't.

I feel like this chapter is when you start seeing a bunch of flashing red and blue lights up the road.

“I, uh...” Sunset tried and failed to think of something to say. All she could do was watch, frozen by anticipation and excitement as Wallflower drew closer and closer, her eyes closing, their lips about to—

“Wait, n-no, we shouldn’t...” Sunset pulled away. She threw off the comforter and sat on the edge of the bed, burying her face in her hands. “We shouldn’t be doing this,” she said, more to herself than to Wallflower.

Aaa I feel this so much.

“It’ll be okay, I promise. I really do want this. I want to show you how much I care about you.”

Not a good sign, wording it like this!

Sunset stood motionless, unable—or unwilling—to leave Wallflower’s embrace. Electricity shot through her as she felt Wallflower's feather-soft touch just above the waistband of her pajamas, and for a fleeting moment, a primal thing in the back of her head wished for Wallflower's hand to drift further down. Suddenly, Sunset's mind was buzzing with daydreams of all the intimate activities the two of them might share together if she gave in to her urges—only for it to snap back to confusion and worry.

Oof oof oof. Oof.

Wallflower was completely uncovered from the waist up. Her exposed chest was only inches away from touching Sunset, and Sunset could have sworn Wallflower was swaying back and forth. In her periphery, she saw Wallflower’s smile growing as Sunset stared at her breasts, unable to look away.

A very different type of dread from the sickening and horrific kind you put in my head earlier in the story, yet a type of dread nonetheless. Fascinating.

“Oh, Sunset...” Wallflower sighed, resting her head against Sunset’s chest as if the two of them were performing a slow dance. “You could never hurt me.”

agh my heart

“N-no, I’m okay,” Sunset said, interrupting her. She wiped the tears from her eyes, and with them went the last of her doubts. “Sorry, it's just... No one’s ever told me that before.”

Wallflower’s beaming expression was the most beautiful thing in the world. A smile at last broke free on Sunset’s face, and when Wallflower stood on her toes to match her height, Sunset gladly leaned forward to meet her. They shared a long, loving kiss, and Sunset’s heart erupted with pure joy.

Ughhhhhhhh it’s so complicated. Sunset is right, she cannot call Wallflower a liar. Sure, maybe they both really want this, honestly and truly. But is it enough? Wallflower’s declaration of love. Is it premature? Is Sunset’s strong reaction to it clouding her judgment in jettisoning her doubts? If I knew the answer to these things, I’d be a being of perfect wisdom.

It is so unfair that in a world where the reason for them being so close to each other were different, their chemistry would mean I would be seeing nothing but the sprout of a mutually healing and beautiful love. I can certainly see the possibility of that being what comes next from here. But I dread that it will not turn out that way, and that is yet another cruelty.