I woke up in the morning feeling a surge of energy. The spirits were happy with me.

‘Good morning Zhau,’ said Ishwa with a sleepy tone to her voice. She was wearing a sleeping mask at the top of her head and a pajama, adorned with stars and planets, making her literally the center of the universe. To be honest, if she were wearing any other thing, I would be worried.

‘A good morning indeed!’ I replied, jumping out of bed. ‘I feel like nothing can go wrong today!’ Ishwa raised an eyebrow, it was almost an offense saying such a thing in her presence.

‘And why do you think such a blasphemous thing?’

‘I feel the grace of the spirits upon me. I should take this opportunity to work on some of my fetishes!’

I trotted to my saddlebags and searched my things. ‘The mask of the Spirit of Lies should be fine, I don’t need anything brewed today, and probably shouldn’t brew underground either.’ My hooves stumbled upon my changeling fetish and an idea sprung to mind. ‘Maybe I could upgrade this thing to provide additional effects like detection or anti-magic defenses!’ Satisfied, I threw my saddlebags on my bed.

I put my fetish on, turning into the red and orange mare again. Only this time I had messy mane and tail. I haven’t done my dreads yet so it was better than my actual mane was. Concentrating on the fetish, I tried to find any possible augments that were cheap and easy to do when the knocking of hooves at the door washed away my concentration.

The door opened to a pink furred unicorn mare with green mane and tail, “Excuse me, mister... Zhau, I’m here to…” She stopped, slowly raising a hoof to her mouth in shock.

She looked at my bed. When I threw my saddlebag there, it flopped and the covers landed over it, making it appear like a sleeping pony. Then she looked at me, a mare she certainly knew, with messy hair, in a stranger’s room pretty early in the morning. Oh dear…

Her expression turned into one of embarrassment and anger, but why it felt like it wasn’t the first time it happened?! “Candy Apple, what are you doing?!” She whispered, trying not to wake “me” up.

How do I explain this situation?! If I turn back to normal they’ll think I’m a sick pervert weirdo, but if I stay this way things can get way out of hoof! “I… I…” was the only thing I managed to say.

I felt my left ear being pulled by the mare’s magic. “The stable is in a state of emergency and you’re sleeping with a stallion, again! By Celestia, it feels like I have to drag you away from some stallion's room every single morning!” She kept complaining, dragging me to corridors outside my room. “I have other things to do, go to the reactor room now!” She commanded so vigorously that I followed her instructions in fear of the possible punishment.

‘Hehe, even I couldn't do a better job myself.‘ Ishwa smirked, following behind me and enjoying my suffering.

*** *** ***

I finally managed to find the generator room after twenty minutes of searching, it was huge! Huge machines and what looked to be giant sparkle batteries filled the two-story room.

Following a little corridor to my right led me to the equipment storage room, where an open locker was holding Candy Apple’s barding and tools. I grabbed “my” stuff and entered the machinery room, three mares were already working on the damaged reactor when they saw me coming in and began to smoke mischievously.

“Oh, hello there Candy Apple, how was your sleep? I mean, if you had any.” A green mare asked, giggling intensively.

“Yeah, tell us about it! I’ve heard you managed to take that zebra to bed yesterday!” Smirked a gray mare.

“No way, really? Damn, he has a nice flank, you’re so lucky!” Reinforced a pink mare, all three of them waiting for my response.

“I… I had a good night…” I tried to say, to be honest, it sounded better in my head…

“Haha, of course you had.” They laughed. “Either way, we have to finish here quickly if we want to get to the reunion with the Overmare in time, so everypony back to your jobs!” ordered the first mare. Now that I looked at it, she was wearing a more detailed version of “my” barding, so she was probably the head of the repair ponies around here.

*** *** ***

The first ten minutes of repairs weren’t easy, but at least I managed to fix the broken parts and change the computer board that connected the access terminal to the reactor with a bit of help.

“Now, Candy Apple, work your magic.” The gray mare instructed, positioning me in front of the access terminal.

“Um… W-what magic?” I asked in fear.

“What magic? Well, your magic of course! Since we reset the terminal, it must be set up to the factor! Careful tho, the controls are all messed up, but who's better at computers here than you, right? She explained, winking at her compliment to boost my confidence.

Oh, ancestors…

Pushing some random buttons, I was able to reconnect the terminal to the reactor, but I wasn't able to set it up!

‘Hun, what do we have here?’ Ishwa asked in a sing-song voice, laying on the keyboard with a malevolent grin.

Oh no… ‘Ishwa… please…’

‘What? Don't worry, I won't mess anything up, it's not like somezebra teased me into embarrassment yesterday right? Lucky for you, I'm a Spirit of Forgiveness,’ she said dramatically as she put a single paw on top of a key.

‘I’m sorry! Please spare me this time, I'll do whatever you want, I promise!’ I begged.

‘Oh, you'll do whatever I want alright…’ She pressed the button.

The whole system turned off as red warning light kept the Stable from being covered in darkness. Everything was silent save for the diabolical laughter coming from Ishwa as she appreciated her masterpiece.

*** *** ***

Everything was fixed as the life in the Stable returned to its routine. Once again I was scolded and dragged to the Overmare’s office, where other stable dwellers waited for me, including the green mare by the name of Wonder Glue.

“Ok, now that everyone is here, I’d like a report of the situation, please,” the Overmare said.

A white and red mare wearing an apron and chef hat took a step forward and said, “Ma’am, our food storage is at half capacity. If we rationalize it well, it should last for about two months.”

“What about the medical clinic doctor Feel?” Asked the Overmare a dark brown unicorn wearing a doctor jacket, I think I saw him when Angel was treated.

“Almost half the lab is powered down because of that damaged reactor, but as far as our medicine storage goes, we’re well stocked. However, I’d like to make more since we’re planning on going outside…”

“Alright…” The Overmare looked at me and asked, “Candy, were you able to restore…” She leaned closer to me, inspecting me. I think she saw through my disguise!

“W-what’s wrong, ma’am?” I tried to diverge her attention, not really working.

“There’s something different about you…” She commented as I hid my cutie mark with my tail.
I was about to lose it when a red mare with messy orange mane and tail came in hurriedly, grabbing everypony’s attention.

“Sorry, I’m late Overmare! I overslept and when I tried to get here that crazy pegasus mare kept saying that it was time to leave and tried to drag me out of the Stable and…” She stopped when she saw me… She was the real Candy Apple!

Everypony’s eyes averted back to me as I slowly melted on my chair, with the most embarrassed smile I ever had in my life!

*** *** ***

“So, you woke up and began working on your fetish?” Cloud asked. We were sitting at the security station of the Stable, but she was sitting on a comfy chair in the waiting room while I was sitting on the floor of a detention cell, waiting for the Overmare to finish her reunion.

“Yes,” I replied, blankly looking at the nearby wall.

“And then a random stable dweller mistakenly thought you were the real Candy Apple that slept with you in your room?”

“Yes…”

“Then your spirit animal…”

“Guardian Spirit” I corrected.

“Sorry, your “Guardian Spirit” messed up the reactor that cut the power of the whole Stable for a couple of minutes?”

“Yes”

“And finally the real pony you were disguised as showed up at a “private reunion” and now you’re being detained for spying?”

“... Yes.” That pretty much summed up the situation…

‘My greatest creation yet!’ Ishwa proclaimed, kissing the tip of her claws in a “perfecto” gesture.

Noticing Angel’s absence I asked, “Where is Angel?”

“She’s eating breakfast at the atrium, she woke up very hungry and very well rested!” Cloud answered happily, looks like the treatment worked well.

We continued our aimless chatter until the Overmare arrived accompanied by a security pony and doctor Stitches.

“Zebras sure love their espionage, hum?” She asked. It seems a bit of the war stuck with her too.

“That was a misunderstanding, ma’am…” I replied meekly.

“I know, I know, you’re free to go. But as the responsible for the Stable, I must take the proper action when the peace and security of the Stable are endangered, so as your “punishment”, I’d like to ask you a favor,” she said as if following protocol as the security mare opened my cell.

“What do you need?”

“As you know and overheard, the Stable is facing a great crisis, we need to find a new place to settle outside. Doctor Stitches volunteered to go outside and look for such place. I want you to serve as his bodyguard and keep him safe until he returns here.”

“What? No offense doctor, you saved my daughter, but I don’t think you’re up for it,” Cloud said, looking cynically to doctor Stitches.

“I think I can handle myself, and I can prove to be a valuable asset to the team with my medical skills.” He reassured with confidence.

“But why me?” I asked the Overmare, to be honest, I didn’t want to be responsible for another one's life.

“Because you’re the only outsider we know, and you seem to be good at surviving out there.”
‘That he’s not I assure you.’ Ishwa replied, not really being heard, of course.

“Well, I did say you could request my aid, and protecting the life of the one that saved one of my friends is a good trade. Deal,” I gave her my hoof to shook, the deal was made.

‘Well, follow us then?” I asked doctor Stitches, who raised his hoof in response.

“I’ll gather my supplies, wait for me at the entrance please.” He walked away.

The Overmare bid her farewell and returned to her work, leaving me and Cloud outside the security department.

“What are you doing now?”

“I thought about going back to Frontline City, gather some supplies,” she answered as we began to walk to the atrium to retrieve Angel.

“Would you mind if we take a longer path through the wilds? I’ve seen some herbs growing there that can be worth a while.”

Thinking about it a little, she answered, “Yeah, ok.”

After we got Angel in the atrium, she gave our last goodbye to everypony as we went to the door to meet with doctor Stitches. Reaching the entrance chamber, Candy Apple was waiting for us. She gave us spare mechanical parts that could be useful, leaned closer to my ear and said, “If you’re into that kind of roleplay, look for me next time you’re here, okay?” with a wink at the end.

Ancestors, please smite me dead right now!

“O-ok…” I said, hurrying my steps.

As we waited for the slow door to open Ishwa suddenly warned with fur standing on end, ‘Something’s waiting outside!’

As the door opened more and more I too could feel the waves of power, but they didn’t feel dangerous for some reason “There is something out, careful.”

The doors were fully open but there was nothing outside. We walked outside warily, back to back so nobody could get us from behind. Suddenly, a bright, hot ball of light came down on me like the sun itself tried to smite me! (I’m sorry I asked for it!)

When the angry sun was almost on top of me it swiped around us, landing in front of me. It was the phoenix! Everypony stood stunned behind me, especially doctor Stitches who turned into a statue, trying not to anger the giant phoenix with a single movement.

Ishwa flew in front of it to talk to it, unfortunately, I still wasn’t able to hear greater spirits.

‘It wants to follow us!’ Ishwa announced cheerily.

‘What?’ I couldn't believe such a powerful spirit wanted to follow me. ‘Why?’

After listening to the phoenix, Ishwa translated, ‘It said that you proved your value to it when you risked so much to save the child. Now it wants to make a pact with you so you have the means to keep her safe!’

I quickly fetched a wooden plank from my saddlebag, lit it on fire using my flint and stone and placed it in front of the phoenix while bowing low on the ground. The phoenix released a deafening screech and dove into the plank, carving it into a new mask.

“Wow!” Ishwa screamed in alarm as a huge surge of energy flowed through her body, her eyes shining white with power. When her body absorbed all that energy and she came back to herself, she was surprised by what she saw.

She was much bigger! She grew almost half the size she originally had, her fangs, claws, and horns were pointier, her scales were shinier and her fur and feathers were smoother. She flexed her paws, testing her powers, with a deep grunt she opened her arms wide, sending a wave of energy around us.

At first, I thought nothing had happened, but then I saw that the few leaves that were falling off the trees were falling way slower!

‘Ishwa, you can slow down time!’ I shouted jumping in place, happy for her.

‘I… I can… I CAN! Haha!’ She slowly released. Flying around and around like a bird that just learned how to fly. She crashed into me hugging me tightly. ‘Look at you! I’m almost your size!’

As she began to breath more heavily and sweat, time seemed to slowly return to its normal pace, she released her magic and said triumphantly, ‘Phew, that sure is tiring. but now, nothing can stop us! Haha!’

“Is that a normal thing to happen around here?” Doctor Stitches interrupted us.

Cloud rolled her eyes and answered, “Only when Zhau is around.”

Angel ran to the mask and began inspecting it. “Was that the phoenix that you talked about?”

“Yes, that was, cool hum?” I asked with a smirk.

“Super cool! Do that again!” She beamed.

Smiling, I stored my new mask alongside its kin and asked if we should continue.

*** *** ***

The walk in the wild was mostly uneventful, doctor Stitches asked a lot of questions about the wasteland and its dangers, as we asked some questions about the Stable.

As went deeper and deeper into the wild I began to notice something, all the places I remembered that had useful herbs had been harvested. It's not unusual for wild creatures to eat one or three herbs if they are feeling sick, but all of them?

“Um, I think there’s something up ahead,” doctor Stitches said, looking at his pipbuck.

“How can you tell?” I asked out of curiosity.

“My pipbuck has an Eyes Forward Sparkle spell, it’s showing some red bars around us.”

Of course, it's red.

Suddenly, the roaring of gunfire filled our ears as we tried to figure out from where the shots were coming from. The shots weren’t meant to hit us. They only meant to pin us down.

“Drop your weapons, raiders!” Came a deep voice from somewhere behind the dead trees.

“Raiders?” Doctor Stitches asked quietly. We’ve told him about that crazy ponies, so he knew that title didn’t belong to us.

“We’re not raiders!” replied Cloud, crouching low above Angel, the lever of her battle saddle at the ready.

A zebra came out of the trees! He was carrying what looked to be an enchanted zebra rifle and wore some kind of tribal armor made of wood, hide and scrap metal. Despite all the scars he had on his back, I think his armor was more protective than mine.

“Brother, we’re not here to cause any trouble, we just want safe passage!” I said in Zebrican, somewhat happy at finally being able to speak my own language.

He looked confused. Lowering his gun he asked, “What?”

Oh, come on! “You do not speak Zebrican?” I deadpanned.

“Oh, no we don’t… but grandma Amaka does. She would like to speak with you, please follow me,” he said, turning around and disappearing behind the trees again.

“We should run now that we have the chance!” Cloud whispered to us. Bad idea.

“Zebras never hunt alone, if we try to run and angry them, these trees will be our tombstone,” I explained. By the looks of doctor Stitches, it seemed that he wasn’t accustomed to my rhyming yet…

“Fuck… Ok, stay below me, sweetie.” Cloud instructed her daughter, who nodded her response.

As we navigated our way through the denser woods, more and more zebras followed behind us, but I noticed that their equipment was way inferior compared to the one with the enchanted rifle. Their weapons were bone and scrap metal spears and if they had armor, it was a mere hide without any enchantments.

We reached a clearing and I couldn’t believe what awaited us there… A Zebra village! It was almost like a piece of Zebrica was lost in Equestria and now we found it!

Trees and foliage formed their buildings, a small well provided clean water to everyzebra. Zebra fillies and foals ran around playing with all sorts of trinkets. There was only one thing missing, they all had a heavy accent but none of them talked in Zebrican.

We were the center of attention as we were lead to a big shack on the far side of the village, the smell of aromatic herbs being burned permeated the place. Our escort that we learned was named Akachi announced our arrival to grandma Amaka, the village’s elder.

“Come in, come in!” Her cheerful, elderly voice beckoned us. Her tone so calming and strong at the same time.

Inside her room, a big cauldron was boiling a neon green liquid, some potion probably. The walls were filled with many flasks, herbs, animal parts, dust and all kinds of mysterious poultices.

“Ah, hello there outsiders! Hope anyzebra hasn’t hurt you.” She greeted us. She wore intricate clothing and extremely complex body painting. She surprisingly swiftly navigated around her cauldron and gave doctor Stitches a tight hug followed by another hug of Cloud who pushed Angel out of the way, fearing the elder might try something funny. It didn’t help much as she gave a boop on the nose of Angel, making her giggle and smile.

She then processed to hug me, which I returned kindly when she noticed Ishwa.

“Ah, you have a Spirit of Chaos following you around, that’s different. Hello there, what’s your name?” She asked Ishwa.

Both me and Ishwa were awestruck, grandma Amaka not only knew how to speak Zebrican, she could also see Ishwa as well!

‘You can see me?!’ Ishwa more exclaimed than asked.

“Of course I can dear, I haven’t become high shaman just to lay around until death finally claims me, you know.” She answered aloud, smiling.

“High shaman?!” I asked in surprise, bowing as low as I possibly could. A zebra high shaman in Equestria! What the hell?!

“Bah, no need for all that formality stuff dear, we have a lot of stuff to discuss!”

Footnote: Level Up! (7)

Skills Raised:
Repair: 18
Science: 18
Speech: 54 (+5 perk)
Barter: 44 (+5 perk)

New Perk:
Infiltrator: You've learned how to diverge ponies attention away from the flaws of your disguise! You gain +5 Speech and +5 Barter.

Quest Perk:
Spirit of Time: Ishwa has absorbed a fraction of the power from the Spirit of Time! She can now slow down time to everything except her and Zhausikuitri.

Author's Note

Chapter 6!

Don't worry young padawan Zhau, your master has arrived!
Also, a bit of a spoiler: Next chapter is gonna be a really cool one! Full of action! Drama! love! (not really) oh, and death of corse XD

I hope you liked it!

Please let me know of anything you think I should improve in, so I can make better stories for your enjoyment!

bye!

-T.M.W.D.

Chapter edited by: EverfreePony