CHAPTER 43
Taichi opens his eyes and looks around. 'I am in hospital' thinks Taichi as he looks at his wounded injuries. "How am I going to fight and defeat an enemy that has a skin of a tank?' thinks Taichi as he moves his right hand to feel it can't be moved. He looks at his right side and sees Applejack sleeps while holding his hand. He looks at his right side and sees Fluttershy sleeps while holding his hand. 'That shadow guy is right. I must use that different way of training so I can survive while protecting them' thinks Taichi as he slips his hands slowly, pulls out the tubes from his arms.
Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie sit at the table inside meeting room. "That robot, not only just Taichi was helpless against it, even Rainbow and Applejack wasn't able to finish it off," said Rarity. Twilight Sparkle stands up. "Sunset Shimmer and I will analyse that robot and figures how to countermeasure it," said Twilight as Sunset Shimmer nods. "If you find the way to fight and defeat it, inform us. We can use his hologram room to train," said Rainbow as Rarity nods.
Taichi sits in front of his computer, typing on his keyboard as the screen analyse the Imperialzer. Starswirl appears beside Taichi. "You should have rest," said Starswirl. "With that kind of enemy, I can't afford to rest," said Taichi, still typing on his computer. "You shouldn't have force yourself. Your body need a rest," said Starwirl. "I will find time to rest between classes and after I have done my training," said Taichi.
Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer walk towards Taichi's room when they heard a quarrel. Both of them stop to listen. "Listen Starswirl, I already have my hands enough with Sombra and Tirek. With new enemy arrive, I have no choice but to push myself to the limits." Twilight Sparkle opens the door slowly and sees Taichi at his computer with Starswirl stands beside him. "What do you mean by new enemy?" asked Starswirl. "Whoever sends that Imperialzer is stronger than both Sombra and Tirek. Now that enemy knows I barely win against the Imperialzer, he or she will send more just to wipe me out along with the Earth and as Earth Defenders, I won't allowed that to happen," said Taichi. "Even it means loosing your life in the process?" asked Starswirl. "Even I have to sacrifice myself so the Earth and people inside it are safe. So that my love ones are safe. I will do it," argue Taichi. Twilight Sparkle walks towards Taichi and slaps him on the face. "What makes you think we will allow you to do that?" asked Twilight, angry. Taichi looks at Twilight Sparkle that glares towards him as Sunset Shimmer walks in. "What makes you think that we will be just sit here doing nothing while you risk your life protecting us?" asked Twilight, angry. Sunset Shimmer looks at Twilight Sparkle. "If you think we're gonna let that happen, you're sadly mistaken," said Twilight. She looks at Starswirl. "Whatever you're planning on training him using that upgrade method, count us in. The 7 of us will endure any training you throw at us," said Twilight. Sunset Shimmer looks at Twilight Sparkle. "All 7 of us? You, me, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Applejack?" asked Sunset. "No. I will handle that training alone," said Taichi. "Like Tartarus you will," argued Twilight. Taichi looks at Twilight Sparkle, sternly. "No. I let you handle training to face armies of King Sombra and Lord Tirek but this kind of training I must handle it alone," said Taichi, calm but stern. Twilight Sparkle opens her mouth to argue but Sunset Shimmer puts her hands on her best friend's shoulder. The bacon haired girl looks at Taichi. "Why you want to handle it on your own? Why you don't want us to help?" asked Sunset. "Giri." Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer looks at Applejack hologram. "Giri?" asked Sunset. "It's a Japanese words meaning burden hardest to bear," said hologram Applejack. Sunset Shimmer sighs. "Is being Earth Defenders that hard?" asked Sunset. "One cannot think of victory without also considering the opposite." Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer and Taichi look at Starswirl. "And thinking of defeat distract the mind from what must be done in order to win," said Starswirl. He looks at Taichi. "For he who desserts his obligation is already defeat," said Starswirl. "If you thinking that I dessert my obligation as Earth Defenders…" "You never dessert that obligation. In fact, you take that way too serious," said Starswirl, cutting Taichi's words. "People lives are at stake. You should understand that," said Taichi. Sunset Shimmer looks at Taichi that walks towards the door, angrily.
In the darkness lair, King Sombra stands up. "Time to unleash the darkness towards the sun," said King Sombra.
Taichi walks angrily towards the forest and sits under the tree. "Seriously, here I am facing enemies to protect the Earth and yet Starswirl dares to say that I'm negelecting my duty as Earth Defenders," muttered Taichi.
Principal Celestia sees Taichi under the tree as she walks towards him.
Taichi leans himself against the tree. 'No one understand the burden being Earth Defenders like I do and they never will' thinks Taichi. "It is really fun looking at the sky, playing at the beach or river." Taichi looks at Principal Celestia that sits beside him. He looks back at the sky. "Yeah, it is a peace in the mind when you look at the nature," said Taichi. Principal Celestia smiles. "Sometimes, it is best not to overthink about it," said Principal Celestia. Taichi looks at the principal of CHS. "When you're overthink of something, it makes you forget why you took the burden in the first place," said Principal Celestia. Taichi sighs.
Applejack and Fluttershy walk out from the door as they look around. Fluttershy sees Taichi and Principal Celestia sit near the river as she walks towards them, followed by Applejack.
Principal Celestia smiles. "But when you make the burden you're carrying as responsible, when you feel the task that only you can handle it, you won't feel the pain anymore," said Principal Celestia. Taichi looks up in the sky. "Maybe because my pain is the reason I carry that burden," said Taichi. Principal Celestia looks at Taichi that stands up. She smiles. "Sometimes, pain can be lessen when you're not the only one carrying the burden," said Principal Celestia. Taichi stops, not looking at the principal. "In my case, I rather carried it alone," said Taichi as he walks away.
Applejack and Fluttershy look at Taichi that walks towards the hostel. 'What in tarnation is his burden that he wants to carry it on his own' thinks Applejack.
Spitfire and Fleetfoot look at Taichi that walks in. "Ah, the person I want to see," said Spitfire as Taichi looks up. "Hey Spitfire, Fleetfoot," said Taichi. Spitfire handles him a paper. "Next week is final between CHS and Griffon High. I want you to be in the team," said Spitfire. Taichi looks at the paper that shows the list of the Wonderbolt players. "I manage to study the tactics both Griffon High and CHS. To defeat Griffon Wall, you need speed," said Taichi. Spitfire sighs. "Beside Rainbow Dash, I'm not sure our players can match the speed you need," said Spitfire. Taichi smiles. "Don't worry, after school, I will show you my analysis and maybe you can plan your tactics according to the info," said Taichi. Spitfire nods.
After school, the Wonderbolts look at the screen that shows the Griffon High's match. Taichi stands at the wall near the door. The shows end as Spitfire walks to the front. "As all of you can see, we only have less than 5 seconds before the Griffon Wall are formed so we need players that has enough speed to beat the wall," said Spitfire. Taichi walks slowly towards the door. "This is the top 11. We'll be playing formation 5-2-3. Surprise will be the goal keeper. The defenders will be Fleetfoot, Vapor Trail, Sky Stinger, Soarin and Angel Wings. The Midfielder will be me and Cloudchaser. The Striker will be Rainbow Dash, Flitter and Taichi Kamiya," said Spitfire as Taichi stops on his track.