‘I’m sorry, is there some problem?’

I opened my eyes, there stretched an arid landscape all around me, as far as the eye could see. Not exactly paradise, but it was what I was used to.

'Um, sorry. No, there doesn't seem to be a problem.' I pondered upon the lack of a problematic situation.

'Were you expecting something different?'

'Well, yeah. I was expecting more green, you know, for the ponies to eat and all.'

'Maybe this is near Dodge Junction, or Appleoosa?'

'But this place, it looks just like home outside of the city. Where are we?'

‘I'm afraid that those closer locations weren't an option, but be grateful I did not set you in the Great Southern Desert. Instead, welcome to the one of the many Zebraconian Isles, the islands virtually on Equestria's doorstep, apart from those too far east or west. This is the only one on which I have any influence, since its isolation long ago, but still the closest place to where I will need you first.’

I thought upon what she said; I knew she heard all my thoughts, which was still annoying. But as she had said, there was nothing I could do about it.

'That show lead me through years of political unrest & turmoil.' I reminisced.

'This is a dream come true, not quite as close as I wanted, but still close.

If this was really, actually and truly real, this meant a good life; all I had to do was get there.’

'Are you done with the daydreaming? Time is still of the essence.'

'Hm? Oh, yeah I guess so. This is going to be great.' I was getting excited, very much excited, even jump for joy excited. I should have paid more attention.

‘It seems you have forgotten your life is no longer your own property, but that is something to deal with at a later point. The first somewhere I need you is visible if you just turn around.’   Isis whispered in my mind.

I attempted to do so but felt my feet anchored to the ground. In fact, I couldn’t even twist my body, or my neck. All I could do was stand, seeing in one direction.

'Nnnnnnng.'  I struggled to move again, to no avail.

‘And how do I do that, madam Isis?’ I stated bluntly, which was definitely not the best idea.

‘Why draw in your roots of course, and don’t call me madam. That will be your last warning on the matter.’ She stated disapprovingly.

'Ok, note to self. Do not get on her bad side, what was that first thing she said? Damn, I need to listen more carefully.'

'Sorry, what was that first part? I really would like to know.'

' I said draw in you roots, it is not hard to remember.'

'Yep she is definitely getting annoyed. Wait...'

‘Roots? ROOTS!’ At this point I finally noticed them, as well as my branches, and every leaf, even some much more numb lumps hanging from the twigs. All connected to my very much rigid body. “Oh great voice in my head, WHY AM I A TREE?’

‘Good, you didn’t miss that little tidbit. You may yet prove useful. But I am afraid you are not a tree, not exactly at least.’

‘Please enlighten me.’ If you thought I said that brashly you would be wrong, I can learn from my mistakes every now and again. Instead it was very much a pleading tone, as much as a thought can have a tone.

‘You are an Ent, I trust you at least know what they are?’

'Yay, that makes PERFECT sense.'

‘Yes, Lord of the Rings is one of my favorite series, but still, Ents have arms and legs right? Where are mine?

'They do, Ents most certainly have limbs. Have you ever wondered why they are never found at all? The creatures known as Ents have a much better camouflage than just looking like trees. With your roots in the ground you appear as one of the trees they guard. Which, in your case, is the Sycamore tree.'

'Thanks for the info, but would you mind giving me a little help with this 'task' you set me?’

‘Sigh, just as I have told you. Feel your roots in the earth and pull them from it. If you can't figure out how to do that then I may as well just leave you here. You have just one day in which to attempt.’

'I don't really work well with deadlines.'

'That is not yet my problem, if you put in the effort but do not complete the task I will be lenient and give you further instruction. Now, try your very hardest.'

The tangle of roots feeding into the earth was giving me strength; it felt almost a shame to stop that supply. But I definitely wanted to move much more than eat, so I tried my 'heart'? Well, I tried my sanity out if nothing else. They just were NOT DAMN DRAWING IN.

    'Nnnng, GRAAH. Concentrate, you can do this Mat. Maybe I just need to relax, then...nope. I am losing my mind here! sob sob. GRAAH.'

The day drew on and no progress in the 'removing roots from the dirt' department.

By dusk I had learnt several things about my new form, how to draw up my roots was still not one of them. Fun fact, Ents don’t need sleep, at least not regularly. 
Also, I had bats in my branches, very noisy bats. They were almost invisibly small to my fixed vision, taking off after the slightest hint of what I assumed were bugs.

‘Now, back to your assignment, you must pay more attention to this task. I do wish you would try the obvious things though, they really do work sometimes.’

‘Huh? Oh, the roots.' Nature has always had a distracting effect on me

'Well, what on this world is so obvious that I couldn’t work it out in a whole day!’

‘Do not be impudent; you are still mortal after all. If I were to abandon you, you would be stuck here for Ra knows how long. But, once again, it appears I must assist my slightly larger but still little follower. Now, don’t hit yourself when I tell you this, I don't want any property damage, but try lifting up your leg.’

‘I DON’T HAVE ANY LEGS!’

‘Now don't you yell at me! *sigh*, just try it.’

‘Fine, but this isn’t going to…I hate you so much.’

‘That is no reaction to give the one who gives you assistance, I expect you to behave more appropriately if you are to continue being my representative.  For now, have a look at yourself, it may come in useful.'

I shrank as far into my mind as I could before becoming curious. This new form was something I needed to see.

My body had morphed again, this time painlessly. Now I could look up and see I was standing there in the darkness, under a familiar seeming moon, but unfamiliar stars.

I felt almost the same in most ways I could think of, just a little top heavy.
 My hair was branches, my shoulders had branches, and even my upper arms had branches.

Now that I could have a look at myself I noticed the differences. I mean, the major thing was I was made of wood; since I was pretty much a tree after all, but something I wasn’t expecting was the barky armor covering most of my body.

Sure I was expecting bark, even armour-like bark, but this was actual, fashioned, armour, made of my bark. Chest plate, bracers for my forelegs and upper arms, I got to come here fully decked out.

As for my forearms, boy was that a sight. It was as if there were shields strapped to my arms, but they were oddly shaped seeming to end in a similar fashion to tonfa. To top it all off I even got centurion-style pteruges, if you really don’t know what those are look it up, hanging from what could probably be considered a belt with an ankh on the buckle.

I also do not know how pteruges of bark work but hey, Isis did what she wanted.

“I wonder what my face looks like?” Came a deep and solid voice, reminiscent of a coffin door slamming shut.

“Wait, is that my voice? Cool.”

‘Have fun with your new voice. But turn around; this is something I must have you see.’ I tried to turn as asked to before and I could, basic motor-control is something you really miss.

I turned just as the sun started to rise, those bats that had left at dusk returned from their long night of hunting.

Just behind me was a lake, rimmed with trees in an almost orchard-like setup, I assumed they were of a similar variety to myself, all at equal intervals of several meters along the edge.

"Woah, I really am tall."

I could see over them all, over every single tree. 
I could see to the city of white bricks in the distance with a pyramid that would dwarf even myself rising from what was most likely its center.

With the sun rising, the lake shimmered with the patters of light in shades of orange, pink, yellow, as well as the bluey colours of the water itself. 
Awestruck I stared as that orb of light rose from the horizon, bathing me in the light I craved and the glistening patterns slowly receded. Left behind was the clear water, pure, serene, and perfect. The burning ball continued. I stayed captivated, rooted to my position for a different reason then before; and of my free will.

My trance ended as the sun reached the pyramid’s peak, lining up to form a line of symmetry through the sun and along that same structure, the side of which had previously been in shadows was cast into the light of a new day, it too was of white stone; but unlike that of the surrounding rectangular structures it was not clay, not an earthy white.

Instead it was the pure and glistening white of marble, a mountainous structure that looked new, but with an impossible to determine age.

‘That is where you must go, Matsimela.’

"I go, mistress." I answered in a near trance.

'Man that sounds weird out-loud'

With the energy of a new day flowing through my leaves and branches, I trudged towards the city. Each tree I passed seemed to be sleeping. As a human I had never noticed just how these creatures so necessary to life were themselves inexperienced with it. They seemed to dreamily nap in this light that so invigorated myself.

'Oh, that's what they are.' On each tree hung hundreds, even thousands, of figs. So many were there that many lay on the ground, wasted. Many hung upon myself, I continued on my way, experimentally picking one from my branches and putting it in my mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

'Damn, not needing to eat is gonna be weird. I guess I can still imitate it though' I felt a short rush of energy, then a new fig popped up where the other had been. Exactly the same size as the one before it.

"Aah!" Feeling something grow rapidly out of you is not unpleasant, but definitely new.

'Well I wasn't expecting that, pretty useful too. I remember Monika always loved these things... wait.'

Then I face… palmed? Branched? I couldn’t really tell which it truly was, but I still did it, as well as stopping in my tracks. I had forgotten something important!

‘Wait, Isis. What happened to Monika? She was still in the building when I was killed!’ Urgency and panic tangled my thoughts.

‘Calm yourself; she is both safe for now and no longer of your concern. Focus on these next few tasks I give you and it may lead you to where you may reunite.’

‘Why? She has her sister to think about, she shouldn't leave someone who need her for me.'

‘Listen, your death affected her greatly. She honestly cared for you. My knowledge outside of my realms is limited, but I know your mortal emotions well, even after all these years. She did escape that building alive and unscathed, even while dragging your soulless shell. 
Now she mourns one who has gone somewhere better, much like most of your race; for they do not understand the realms outside of their own to any extent unless it is revealed to them.’ Isis still seemed to be keeping something from me, but I knew better than to pry for knowledge from her now.

‘So, she cared about me? More than just coworkers? That is good to know, even if it is a little late. Sigh. I suppose there isn’t much else to do about it. Onward to the white city.’

‘It does have a name you know.’

‘And that would be?’ I pried; maybe I didn’t know any better.

‘I can’t do everything for you, find out yourself.’ It was not said bitterly; no malicious tone was heard, well not actually heard, in my mind. That voice of the one who sent me here was just trying to egg me on. It did of course work.

‘Of course you say that.’ Was the only response I gave, or needed to give before I once again started my walk along the bank of the giant lake, trees circling it all the way to the most outward buildings of that white city, a city without walls.

As the sun, only now was I coming to accept that this world’s sun would be that raised each day by Celestia herself, passed the point of midday I approached those outer buildings. I stopped for the third time that day, the second time to think and the second time to observe, but the first time to do both.

'I don't have a line for first contact, damn it. I should have thought of something.'

The good thing was I didn't need to make first contact. But hearing a little girl scream is never a happy thing, not for me at least.

“Father, the trees are moving! Come quickly!” A small zebra foal spotted me from one of the smaller trees; she had a basket filled with figs, until she dropped it.

If you’re wondering how I know the gender, trees have good hearing, apparently.

I just waited for the foal to come back with presumably their father. Have you ever seen a tree stand awkwardly? Well, I haven’t either but that was what was happening.

‘Are we going to do anything about this?’

‘Just wait, you will see in due course.’

‘Oookaay then, wait I shall.’

-More awkward tree standing later-

There was a clatter as if a table had been overturned in the hurry of someone getting up. A slam as a door was swung open with equal urgency, and a very loud gasp as a much larger and most obviously male zebra stared at me after coming around the corner.

“You, you must come with me at once. I must bring you the elders!” It was very strange, there seemed to be a delay to my hearing; as if there was a bad lip-sync going on.

“Sorry, what was your name?” He seemed obviously shaken by my loud, booming voice.

“Forgive my rudeness, I am Azoth. But please, come quickly. I must bring you to the elders and the priestesses." He was also obviously frantic; there was just one thing I needed to know before I followed him.

“Just a moment there, I need to know the name of this place. What is your city called?”

“Why, this is the great city of Gizebra. But please, it is very important that you follow me now.”

‘Still with the bad lip-sync, I would have to ask Isis about that. But really, Gizebra? The pun was just so horrible, not that they could tell. But that meant this was the equivalent of my home city, Giza. I wonder how similar it really is?’