The Last Mage

**The Last Mage

Chapter 3: A New Staff and a Revelation**

It had been a week since Istar awoke. That very day he would be leaving the hospital with Twilight to both meet the rest of the Mane 6 and to pick up a few items on a checklist that Istar had put together the day after his awakening. Only Twilight and Nurse Redheart knew anything extensive about him. At his request, Twilight had avoided giving any details about him to her friends. In other words, they didn't even know that he was an intelligent creature. When she had asked him why he had smiled and said:

“Because I love cliché introductions.” and left it at that. He was intelligent and one of the few people able to hold a conversation with her for any length of time, but he could also be insufferable, cryptic, and just downright annoying at times.

Istar was waiting in his hospital room for Twilight to arrive. They had decided that if he were to be seen by anyone that wasn't herself or Nurse Redheart there would most likely be panic. That was why he was waiting for her, who better to be accompanied by than the Element of Magic herself if you were attempting to avoid causing panic among easily excitable ponies?

The door opened and there stood the familiar purple unicorn.

“Hey, ready to go?” she asked.

“The better question is, are you?” he asked back with a grin.

“Shut it, smart flank.” she replied, with a smile of her own. They had ribbed each other in their own ways almost every time Twilight had visited. It was all in good fun obviously. They began to make their way to the front desk where Istar could sign out.

One slightly more eventful trip through a hospital later...

They stepped up to the front desk and waited for the mare behind it to finish filing some papers. She finally finished and turned to face the two waiting.

“Hello, how may I help yoOOOUUU!?” she squealed upon seeing Istar. She had heard that there was a strange creature being taken care of in room 36A but she hadn't thought much of it.

“Hello, I would like to sign out, if that would be alright?” said Istar. She just nodded dumbly and passed him the release forms, a quill, and ink. He noticed that a family name was required on the form.

“Hmm... I need a surname... How about... Yeah why not?” he muttered to himself before inking down his family name as 'Stormcrow'.

“Stormcrow?” asked Twilight.

“Yeah. I figured that since my first name is a reference, then why not use one from the same place as a surname?”

“Um, okay.” said Twilight.

As they stepped outside Istar's first vision of Ponyville was cut off by a temporary fit of blindness. As his vision cleared his eyes widened. Twilight giggled at his reaction.

“May I be the first to say, 'Welcome to Ponyville!'” Said Twilight. Istar just blinked. It's... Just as colorful as in the show... Wow.

“Wow.” was the part of that thought that made it's way to his vocal chords. Twilight just giggled again.

“Well we better get going if we're going to introduce you to the girls and pick up what you need.” she said.

“Yeah. First on the list is a staff. Hmm... There's something that I want to check. Can we stop by your library first? And it technically is your library since you live there and take care of it.” he said.

“Okay, the library is this way.” she replied, pointing her hoof forward and to the right. “We'll have to go through the market though. Oh! Applejack should be at the stall right now, so we can introduce you to her on the way!” she said. Istar just nodded. They began to walk through the market and obviously the presence of the strange creature that had appeared in a flash of light walking through town with the Element of Magic drew their attention.

“Hold on Twahlight! I'll save ya!” came the easily recognized voice of Applejack. Aaaanddd I'm about to be bucked, aren't I? Thought the human as he turned to see none other than said orange cow-pony about to kick him. His instincts took over and the skill he had developed all those years running from the religious nuts was put to use as he executed a far from perfect, but effective, front flip over Applejack. She continued her buck, not realizing that he was now on the other side of her, and promptly lost her balance and fell.

“Hello, you must be Applejack. Nice to meet you.” Said Istar, offering her a hand up. She blinked then accepted it.

“What the hay are ya'? Ah ain't never seen nothin' like you before.” said the farm pony.

“I'm a human, and a friend of Twilight's. We were actually coming to meet you before stopping at the library.” he answered her.

“Uh, okay? Twi, why didn't you tell us about this?” she asked.

“Because I asked her not to.” said Istar.

“Why?”

“Because I love cliché introductions.” he smiled.

One short talk and a promise for an explanation later in the day later...

“So what do you think of Applejack?” asked Twilight.

“She's nice. Definitely needs to learn to tell one situation from another, but nice. I'm surprised I haven't been tackled by Rainbow Dash yet.” he said.

“Yeah. Well here we are.” she said. “So what book do you want?” she asked him.

“None. I need to talk to your house.” he said it like it was an everyday occurance.

“What?” she said.

“Just watch.” he replied. He then proceeded to place his hand on the tree house, closed his eyes, and bent his head.

POV switch. Istar narrative.

I felt it. The immense power flowing from the depths of the earth, flowing into this ancient life-form, that now held a massive store of knowledge.

Hear me, O Ancient One! I thought at the tree.

I hear you, Last of the Istari. Came the reply. The voice was ancient. As if a mountain were speaking.

How do you mean? I am not of the Maiar, though my power is alike to theirs.

One needs not be a servant of the Valar to be of the Istari. It is by the hand of fate that you bear now this weight. But this was not your reason for coming to me. You require a staff. A true staff, worthy of a Wizard. I shall give you one of my branches, imbued with my might, and the strength of the Forest.

I thank you, Ancient. Thank you for these gifts. The knowledge that I am that which I presumed to use as a guide, and for a staff, borne of your own limbs. I shall bear it with wisdom worth of the Istari!

As you shall. Go now, Last of the Wizards. Go forth and shape this land, as it shall shape you.

I retracted my consciousness from the tree and looked at Twilight. She had an expression that made her opinion of my sanity obvious. We both turned to look as one of the branches overhead cracked and fell into my hands. As we watched, it straightened, becoming slender, the bark peeling away to reveal white wood underneath, and the top formed into a shape reminiscent of Gandalf the White's staff, except there were no gaps between the three sides, and the pattern on it was more of a diagonal cross-hatching than an actual design. I turned and saw a large crowd of ponies behind Twilight, all sharing the same look of disbelief. And there among them was the remainder of the Mane 6, all standing together directly behind Twilight.

“What? I told you I needed a staff.” I said with complete seriousness. Okay some of it was faked.