> The weight of responsibility
>  by mokaevans
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The weight of responsiblity
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rarity knew something about romance. Sure she had over reacted in the past, but she still liked to think she knew something. She certainly knew something about attraction. So was it really that surprising she’d noticed the underlying tension between Applejack and Twilight? 
It wasn’t just her either. Pinkie had noticed before she had, Fluttershy noticed shortly after followed by Spike. Even Rainbow Dash had noticed it, and if it was obvious enough for Rainbow you knew it was there.
What surprised Rarity was that nothing had been done about it. It wasn’t that Twilight and Applejack didn’t know the other was attracted to them. From the knowing looks to the way they quickly tried to hide it it was clear they both knew. So why in Equestria had they not done anything!
It wasn't like either of them to be shy. Twilight maybe but Applejack? Rarity couldn't recall her ever being shy. Nervous yes but not shy. The one time she had tried to hide something this big she came off as angry not shy. Honestly Applejack was terrible at hiding things anyway so she didn't do it often regardless. 
Rarity had made up her mind to find out what was going on. If they were somehow too shy to say anything she wanted to help. If it was something else entirely she wanted to help even more. It wasn't just that she couldn't take this tension much longer, she could tell it was taking a toll on them as well. 
Just after class Rarity stepped into Applejack's classroom. The mare had just finished her lesson and was cleaning up the place. Rarity let out a 'ahem' causing the farmpony to startle. She crashed into the large apple tree in the middle of the classroom. A large pile of apples landed on top of her. 
Rarity rushed forward to help her up. "I'm so sorry darling, I didn't mean to startle you." She apologized. 
"That's okay." Applejack sighed. "It'll take a bit longer ta clean up, but it's not the end of the world."  Rarity used her magic to move the apples allowing her to stand up.  "What can I do ya for?" 
"Well it's about you and Twilight." The moment she said the alicorn's name she knew something was up. Applejack's face went from congenial to resigned and defensive. A bit like that time she'd hidden her failure at the Appaloosa rodeo. 
"What about it?" She remarked picking up apples by the stems with her teeth as though to avoid the question.
"Well darling it's pretty obvious the two of you like each other." Rarity prodded gently. These situations required a delicate touch. 
"Of course we like each other. The six of us are best friends." Applejack responded, .tossing the apples into a nearby bucket. 
"Applejack we know very well that wasn't what I meant." Rarity tried. She must be careful. Should she push the mare too far she wouldn't be another word in the matter.
"Then what do you mean?" The farmmare challenged. Rarity sighed. She knew the blunt approach wouldn't work on her. Yet Applejack was forcing her to spell it out. it was though she was forcing Rarity to use a hammer when she knew this required tweezers. Still she could already tell she wasn't about to get anywhere without saying it.
"What I'm saying is that you like each other romantically." Rarity whispered cautiously.
Applejack's face shut down further still. "Are you sure yer not jumpin' to conclusions?"
"Applejack, it's not just me. Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow dash have noticed it too." she replied.
"Well I don' know what ya'll think yer seein' but it's not important." Applejack attempted to brush off.
"Not important?! Applejack I-" She began.
"Rarity I have a mess to clean up. So if that's all you have to talk about then leave." The farmmare told her firmly. 
It took all Rarity had to hold back her frustration. "Very well my dear perhaps another time." With that she exited the classroom. 
So maybe starting with Applejack hadn't been the best Idea. The farmpony was known to be quite stubborn. Twilight may be more open to talking with her. So Rarity walked to the headmare's office. Normally one had to have an appointment to go in, but as she was Twilight's best friend she figured she wouldn't mind. 
She gently rapped on the door. "It's open!" The alicorn called. Rarity opened the doors and entered. Twilight was looking towards the door expectantly. "Oh Rarity I wasn't expecting to see you today. What do you need? Did they send the wrong kind of thread again?"
"Oh no! Class has been going splendidly. I actually wanted to talk to you." She began. she had to be careful here.
"About what?" Twilight asked, giving Rarity her undivided attention.
"Well, you and Applejack." Rarity prompted.  She could have sworn Twilight froze at the other pony's name, but it was gone so quickly that she wasn't sure if she'd imagined it. "
"I can't think of anything wrong between us, what's this about?" the alicorn asked.
"Your relationship has evolved lately." That was subtle enough. 
"If by that you mean we're closer than ever you're right!" Twilight exclaimed, but Rarity wasn't fooled. She could hear the underlying tension in her voice. Had not been so close to the mare it would have been easy to overlook. 
"Well, yes and no. You are closer to each other but there's a problem?" Rarity paused. This was about as far as she'd gotten with Applejack. 
"What problem? There's no problem! Everything is fine." The alicorn replied. Rarity winced. Twilight was using the chipper voice she often used to hide overwhelming anxiety. 
She really didn't want to push the issue but he had to. "Are you sure? There's been a lot of tension between the two of you." 
"Trust me Rarity Applejack and I have everything well in hoof." She quickly replied. Pulling out some paperwork and looking it over. "But maybe we should talk about it later. I have a lot of paperwork to do."
Rarity was more concerned than ever but she knew now wasn't the time. "Very well I shan't keep you any longer."
The moment she left the office she frowned, Whatever was going on was clearly bigger than she had thought. She decided to discuss this with Starlight. She walked to the counselor's office. Starlight had an open door policy so there was no need to knock. 
Starlight dropped the blocks she was playing with the moment Rarity entered. "Oh Rarity I wasn't expecting you."
"Hello darling I was wondering if Twilight or Applejack had talked with you?" Rarity asked.
Starlight sighed. "No even though they clearly need it, neither of them has been to see me. Instead all the students have been coming in, worried about what's going on between Professor Applejack and Twilight." The unicorn paused. "I have to stop there. Confidentiality clause you know?"
Rarity nodded. "i completely understand. Well then if the students have noticed then clearly something needs to be done about it! I just wish I knew what to say to them. Neither of them will talk about it."
Starlight nodded. "Well Twilight depends on Spike a lot. Maybe he'd know something. As for Applejack Big Mac is someone she confides in."
"Alright then. I am off to discover the root of the problem!" With that a determined Rarity exited the office. 
"Good luck!" Starlight called.
Rarity looked throughout the school. She knew Spike often stayed back to clean, or prepare things for the next day, Eventually she found him in a closet taking inventory. "Spike?" She called.
"R-rarity? You're looking for me?" He asked nervously.
"Yes. Spike do you know what's going on between Applejack and Twilight?" she said.
the dragon's face fell. "Well I don't know for sure. Twilight really wants to be in a relationship but something keeps holding her back. If I were to guess. I'd say if probably has something to do with her responsibilities."
"Like she’s Applejack's boss and doesn't want their relationship to get in the way?" Rarity asked.
"Yes but something bigger than that. Sorry I can't be more help." he told her.
"That's okay Spikey Wikey. You did your best." She kissed him on the cheek and then headed to Sweet Apple Acres. 
During the walk she thought about what Spike had said. Something like the responsibility of being headmare but bigger. Her role as a princess perhaps. Rarity frowned that felt closer but she didn't think that was it. She was so lost in her thoughts that she was at the orchard before she knew it. Big Mac was working the field when she arrived. "Big Mac do you think you could take a break?"
"Yep." The stallion replied. removing himself from the plow and walking to her.
"I know you're a pony of few words so I'll skip the pleasantries, Has Applejack spoken to you about Twilight?" 
Big Mac sighed. "Yep,"
"Do you know what's going on?' She asked.
"Kinda. I've been told a little. Applejack really wants to admit her feelings to Twilight. Holdin' it back is tearin' her up inside. She lost sleep an' I've heard her cry a bit. Somethin' is holdin' her tongue. " It was telling that Big Mac had so much to say about it. 
"What do you think it is?" She replied.
"I don't rightly know, but Applejack takes her responsibilities too far sometimes. She always thinkin’ about everypony else before herself." He told her.
"I see." Rarity thought for a moment. "Thank you." 
"No problem." 
That night Rarity had a hard time sleeping; she turned the thoughts over in her head. What could it be? What responsibility was so important that they would deny themselves something they both so desperately wanted? Eventually a thought entered her mind. What if it was because of the elements of harmony?
Not that the elements were magically stopping them or anything, that would be ridiculous. Rather what if the fact they were bearers was the reason. It was a big responsibility, perhaps they were worried a relationship would take up too much time? The more she thought about it, the more sure she became. Tomorrow she was going to confront them.
The next day before class Rarity approached Applejack's classroom. She entered to find the mare preparing for the day. Her face fell the moment she saw her. "Rarity what up?
"I'm here to talk to you about Twilight." She said confidently 
"Not this again." Applejack groaned.
"Look Applejack I think I know why you don't want to talk about it. Is it because you're bearer of the element of honesty?" 
"If you know why then you know I can't be with Twilight." the farmmare said. 
"No, you could, you just won't. Applejack your happiness is-"
"Not as important as protecting Equestria." She replied firmly.
"Why can't you do both darling?" Rarity pushed.
"Rarity the elements have to been in balance ta work! What if Twilight an' I get into a fight? Then the elements won't work an' we won't be able to use'em. If we got together an' then broke up then what? Do ya think we could go back to bein' besties? A lot of ponies can' do that ya know? Remember what happened when we fought Discord? It's just too big a risk." Applejack spilled out, tears in the corners of her eyes. 
"but Applejack-" 
"Get out of my classroom!" The mare yelled. Rarity sighed and headed for the door. 
Before she left she looked back at the farmare. "I only have your best interest in mind."
Perhaps Twilight would be more open to it. She walked the halls until she reached the office of the headmare. She knocked and came in as she was bade. "Twilight I need to talk to you about Applejack."
The mare's face fell. "There's nothing to discuss." 
"Yes there is. Twilight you know you have to be open about these things." Rarity pleaded.
"You're right." The alicorn sighed. "Rarity I'm just as upset as you are, but my duties as the bearer of magic are far too important to ignore."
"No one is asking you to ignore them Twilight. You can be both." she insisted.
"Can I though? Remember when Discord got us to fight and the elements didn't work? If I fight with Applejack it could cause that again."
"Darling you rarely fight." She pointed out.
"True but statistically speaking couples are more likely to fight then friends, because it's a more personal connection. I just can't ignore the possibility." Twilight told her.
"It doesn't have to be this way." She tried to tell her.
Twilight sighed. "I wish I could believe you."  Rarity could tell the conversation was over and began to exit. 
"I just want you to know, no one would blame you."  With that she left. She ran into Spike.
"No luck huh?" He said.
She sighed "No. I think we need to talk about this. Gather the others and we'll meet in the counselor's office." Spike nodded.
Later they were all in Starlight's office. Rarity had just finished explaining the situation. "So there it is. Twilight and Applejack refuse to get together for the good of Equestria."
"That's crazy!" Rainbow scoffed. "They know they're not superpony right?"
"I mean, the elements are important but not at their expense." Starlight nodded.
"If they keep doing this the distance between them will grow. That would be just as dangerous to the element's balance." Fluttershy worried.
"And I wanna throw a 'my two best friends as dating and I couldn't be happier' party!" Pinkie exclaimed
Starlight got a determined look on her face. "There's no way around it. We need to stage an intervention."
"How about after school in the gym?" Fluttershy suggested. 
"Yeah, I can challenge Applejack and she'll come to the gym in no time!" Rainbow agreed.
"I can tell Twilight some of the equipment is broken." Starlight added.
"Alright everypony. It's time to take action!" Rarity announced.
After Rarity had finished her classes she rushed to the Gym as quickly as possible. She waited nervously. Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Spike were already there.  All they needed were the ponies in question and their escorts. 
Starlight and Twilight arrived first. The unicorn distracted Twilight with a deflated ball. Several minutes later Applejack came in. "Alright Rainbow I'm ready to take you on-" She noticed the ponies in the room, including Twilight and turned to run away. Rainbow had already shut the door. 
"What's this about?" Twilight asked.
"You know what it's about Twilight." Starlight told her.
"You girls can't keep doing this." Rainbow told them. 
"I can't stand to see you so sad." Fluttershy cried.
"This isn't good for either of you." Spike added.
"I wanna celebrate your happiness!" Pinkie exclaimed. 
They stood in silence as Applejack and Twilight gave each other longing glances. "You know we can't do this." Twilight insisted.
"You need to darling. After all, how are you going to wield the elements of harmony if you're not a harmony yourself." Rarity asked.
It seemed to take forever to get a response of any kind. Everpony stood in the gym silently, hoping their two friends would listen. Finally after several minutes, Twilight slowly approached Applejack. The farmmare looked like she wanted to run away. She stood her ground however. Eventually Twilight reached her. "Applejack I care about you more than any other pony I've met. You were the first to try and befriend me. You've taken me through trials and tribulations plenty. You supported me when I had anxiety. When I became a princess you reminded me that our friendship still stood stronger than ever. Would you be my Marefriend?"
The room waited with baited breath. Rarity knew Applejack was harder to convince than anypony she'd met. So it filled her with delight when she removed her hat. "I'd be honored. " It was about time they let themselves be happy.