//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8 
// Story: I Accidentally Joined a Harem and Now a Princess is Hitting On Me 
// by stillinbeta 
//------------------------------//

“You kissed her?!”
Sapphire leapt from her seat, jostling the table they were sitting at, almost knocking over Coco’s orange juice.
Coco blushed. “Should I not have?”
“No no, you absolutely should’ve. I just didn’t realise you had it in you!”
“I did, I guess? It felt like the right thing to do.”
“Did you ask her first?”
“Actually, um,” Coco looked at her hooves. “She kinda told me I should.”
“Awwwwww,” Sapphire cooed. “You are just the cutest thing.”
“T-thank you. But it still feels too good to be true.”
“Well, it’s very good. But it’s true, too. You’re really here, and Caddy really does think you’re hot stuff.”
“I just keep thinking this must be a dream, and any second now I’m going to wake up.”
Sapphire reached over and without warning, nipped at Coco’s ear. She couldn’t help but squeak, brightening as the ponies around her giggled.
“Nope, you’re not dreaming.”
Sapphire’s eyes were lidded, and she smiled warmly at Coco.
“For real though, everypony gets thoughts like this. We’ve got a pretty great gig  here, and it seems like it’s too good to be true.”
“Yeah.”
“You should talk to Careful Thought about this, though. They’re way better at it than I am.”
“Who’s Careful Thought?”
“They’re the harem’s therapist. A lot of ponies here have had some ups and downs, and it really helps to have somepony ton staff to talk about that with.”
“That… does sound nice.”
“They’re the aquamarine earth pony over on the couch.” Sapphire pointed a hoof. “Just ask them to put you on the schedule.”
“Thanks. I think I might just do that.”
They spent a few minutes quietly munching on their cereal. It turned out there weren’t actually pancakes every day, which was probably for the best. She didn’t want to find out if there was a harem dentist here as well.
“So... Do you wanna make out?”
Coco choked on her corn flakes. 
“Um… here? Like... Right now?”
“Well, yeah. This is a harem, you know. Ponies aren’t too shy here. But you can finish your breakfast first. It’s the most important meal of the day after all.”
“I… wow. This feels sudden.”
“Eh. You said Cadance had to basically tell you to smooch her. It’s usually polite to ask first anyways.”
“Rule number one, right?” Coco smiled weakly. 
“See, you’re getting it!”
Coco hoped Sapphire hadn’t noticed her lack of answer. She ate her cereal slowly, hoping to put the decision off as long as possible. But as she slurped up the last of her milk, she realised it wasn’t really that hard of a question. Kissing Cadance and snuggling had felt really nice, and so had cuddling Sapphire. It stood to reason that this would be pretty fun too.
She was still a little hung up over the public thing, but if she was going to stay here she supposed she was going to have to get used it. 
It was only a little surprising to realise that she was probably going to be staying here. She felt happy, secure, and safe for the first time in a while. She missed her work a little, but there would be opportunities for that here.
She followed Sapphire over to a large pile of pillows, and cuddled up next to her. Sapphire’s breath smelled faintly of cinnamon - probably from her own breakfast. Coco gave a cursory nuzzle, then pulled back and closed her eyes.
Sapphire’s lips met hers, and she was in heaven again. Sapphire was a more aggressive kisser than Cadance, but Coco didn’t mind. She sank into the bliss of it, only vaguely aware of commotion behind her.
“…And this is my new fillyfriend, Coco.” Cadance announced.
Coco turned around just in time to see Rarity standing there, wide-eyed.
“Miss Pommel?”
“Hi, Miss Rarity.”
The world came to a stop as Coco carefully considered all of her options. The jig was up, that was certain. Something was going to go down here and it wasn’t going to be fun or pleasant. 
But in spite of that, Coco felt strangely calm. She’d made all of her decisions already. The die was cast. For all the difference it would make, she may as well just go back to kissing Sapphire.
She didn’t, though. That would be very rude, both to her boss and her apparently new fillyfriend. And while Coco was many things, rude was certainly not one of them.
Cadance broke what Coco realised had been an awkward silence. 
“So. You two know each other.”
“I should certainly hope so!” Rarity looked over at Coco, who tried her best to smile. “She’s one of my employees.” 
“Was?” Cadance asked hopefully.
“If she resigned, I certainly haven’t heard about it. I sent her out here myself, to take on your design contract.”
“Oh,” Cadance frowned. “I had wondered why you never arrived. I just figured you were delayed en route.”
“You mean she never reported for duty? Then what is she doing here?”
Cadance’s eyes narrowed. “You know, I would like to know the answer to that myself. How did my commissioned fashion designer find her way into the Crystal Harem.”
Coco swallowed. But before she could even say a word, Sapphire put herself between her and her interrogators. She stood up on her hindlegs, forelegs spread out defensively. 
“It’s all my fault, Cad—Princess! I found her wandering the halls and just assumed she was here for us. I never gave her a chance to explain herself and she ended up here. Please don’t punish her.”
“Sapphire…” Coco began.
She knew Sapphire was her friend, but seeing her put herself out there like this, just to help somepony she’d met only a few days ago, was something else. She’d offered Coco a way out, and she was almost tempted to take it. 
But that would be a betrayal, just as sure as she’d betrayed Sapphire and Cadance. No, it was time to face the music.
She walked up behind Sapphire and nuzzled her before ushering her aside. 
“Sapphire, thank you, but you know this isn’t your fault,” Coco said sadly.
“But…”
“You did lead me here, but I had every opportunity to come clean. I didn’t belong here, and I knew it. But I just felt so… safe. I’m sorry I mislead everyone, I really am, but I don’t want to leave. I’ve made a bunch of new friends… maybe even found something more.” She sighed. “This place is important to me.”
Coco turned to Rarity. “I’ll write you a letter this evening. but I’m tendering my resignation. I can’t both be here and work for you, and I’ve made my decision. I’m sorry.”
Cadance cleared her throat and Coco turned to her, ears pinned.
“I’m glad that you’ve found a home here, Coco, and I very much enjoy your company. But you came into a place that’s built, above all else, on trust. I’m... sad that you felt you had to hide this from us. Ponies come here for all kinds of reasons. We would’ve understood.”
Coco could see she was doing her best to maintain her composure, but it was slipping.  
“Cadi… Cadance. I’m so sorry. I just... I didn’t know how to say anything. I was so overwhelmed and scared.”
Cadance drooped. “You were scared of me?”
“No! Not of you. Just... of everything. One thing led to another.”
“I understand, Coco. This... isn’t exactly an auspicious start to a relationship, though.”
Coco felt her eyes stinging, but she managed to speak. “If you want me gone, I understand. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not saying that, Coco. I just need some time to process all this.”
Cadance turned and walked out of the harem. Rarity spared Coco a pitiful glance, then followed after the Princess.
Coco could only watch the two of them leave before slinking back to her room. 
She heard Sapphire call after her, but she ignored her and locked her door behind her. Only when she was completely alone did she allow herself to cry. She didn’t deserve to foist that on anyone else. They’d all done enough for her already.