The Lonely Leader

by Captain Whatever

Rating: everyone
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia, Sad, Princess Luna, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance, Pinkie Pie
Length: 2994

A story about an alicorn not of royal heritage.

An alicorn not of royal heritage was marked with the Curse of Immortality. While most ponies think this is a gift, he and anypony he tells all know better. However, he may not be alone...

Published 2015-10-16 05:50:02 UTC
Last updated 2015-10-16 05:50:02 UTC

Chapter 1

My name is Michael Griffon Hugheston. I was born in Scoltland to a green pegasus and a brown unicorn. I am an alicorn, one not of the royal heritage. Celestia and Luna were born into it. Cadence was adopted into it. Twilight Sparkle was chosen to be one. Me? I wasn't any of those. I'm just a normal pony, as far as popularity goes. I can cast magic, I can fly, I can perform hefty tasks...I learned to get used to it pretty early in life. I may not be a prince or anything, but I'm totally fine with it. My only problem is that I am, unfortunately, immortal. At around the age of sixteen, I was kidnapped by somepony whose identity is still foreign to me. He placed an immortality spell that he cleverly locked so that it couldn't be undone. Even Celestia's powers are useless against it. This took place about the time Nightmare Moon was banished to the moon.

I found myself at the Royal Castle speaking to Luna. This is the first time I have told anypony about my curse at all, and I'm very sure it won't be my last.

"All this is true?" I nodded, and she hung her head.

"I am sorry, Michael."

"Please just call me Mike. All my friends do it. Also, I have no friends." She giggled at my smartaleck statement. While I have lived in a constant nightmare, I still found time to be witty.

"Seriously, though, I prefer just 'Mike,' if you don't mind."

"Very well. So you say that you will live forever?"

I nodded. "Even Celestia can't kill me."

We sat in an awkward silence for a while.

"Luna?"

"Yes?"

"Did you forget your line?"

Thirty seconds later, she was gripping her sides, laughing like a...well...a crazy pony.

I guess I still have that touch, after a few centuries. I smirked, knowing my wit had lucked out again.

"Mike, you truly are a pleasure to have around. Why don't you visit more often?"

"I have no clue, to be honest. I can try to come here more often, if you want."

She smiled a little at that, and as I walked out the door, heading for my home in Ponyville, she said she hoped to see me next week. I walked out, bidding her adieu, and I headed towards my home. It was like this every week. I went to her bedchambers, and we spoke about something different each time. This time, she was curious about my past, so I spoke about it.

As I walked up to the Crystal Castle, I knocked. Spike answered, and he let me in. Princess Twilight was letting me stay with her until I found a permanent home. I walked up to my bedroom door (third door on the right), and opened the door, finding my room in shambles. Good thing Twilight didn't see it, or else I'd have nowhere to live.

I walked over to my bed, lifted my pillow, and grabbed my bit sack. I then headed to the candy store.

I saw Bonbon behind the counter, handing a small sack to Scootaloo. As I approached the counter, the young pegasus ran into my leg, and I learned right there what linoleum floors taste like. Fun fact: they don't taste good.

"Sorry, mister." She dashed out the door, not paying any attention to what she just did.

"Are you alright, sir?" Bonbon asked.

I lifted myself off the ground and saw two Bonbons. I shook my head, and my vision returned.

"I think I'll be fine."

"Good. What can I get you today?"

I looked around the counter, and saw many items. Gumdrops, hard candies, taffies, chocolate cherries, everything was available.

"I'll take a few of the suckers with gum in 'em. One in cherry, one in orange, and one in grape."

She grabbed them, handed them over, and rang them up. "Six bits please."

I levitated six bits from my sack and floated them over to her, which she took with a smile and dispensed into her cash register. I thanked her, bit into my sucker, and left. Yes, I bit into my sucker. With age and experience comes strong teeth. Ask Celestia.

As I walked home, I ran into Vinyl Scratch, and her earphones fell off. I awaited my impending doom.

"Sorry about that, dude." Wha...did I hear that right?

"Oh, no worries." I was puzzled beyond belief, knowing that that mare loved her music. However, I didn't question it, and went home. I went to my bedroom, and wrote in my personal journal.

September 13, 2015

Day #5,777,042

Today was a pretty great day. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. Unless it counts to buy something from the candy shop. I found out what linoleum flooring tastes like, and it is awful beyond belief. All thanks to Scootaloo, who should pay a little bit more attention to her surroundings. Anywho, my lonely life continues on, but I have come to believe that maybe it's not so bad. I know that I may never be mortal again, but I'm starting to enjoy it a little more. I know this seems like a preposterous notion, but maybe I'm not alone, and maybe I have a bigger purpose than endlessly wandering. Again, I know it sounds very unbelievable, but you never know.

Mike G. Hugheston

I usually wrote these journal entries as more of letters to Celestia. She had requested I do this so I can feel more alive. If you ask me, it was some therapeutic way to help me cope, and I must say, it has worked so far.

I lit a dragonbreath candle, and the flame glowed a vibrant green. Spike had given me one so I didn't have to ask him to send my letters frequently. I ripped my page from my booklet, dipped it in the tiny flame, and watched as it sailed through my window, through the air, until it was gone from my viewpoint. I decided to head to the local pizzeria and buy myself a small 6 inch extra cheese with a garlic stuffed crust. Contrary to popular belief, we ponies do actually have processed meat. We just never use it for anything because, well, we're herbivores.

I ate my pizza for a bit, before I got the feeling that I was being watched. As I glanced behind me, a pink blur whizzed out of sight. Maybe I'll ask her about it later.

I left, and headed to Sugarcube Corner. I asked for Pinkie Pie, and she-

"Hiya!" I nearly jumped a whole foot in the air.

"GAH! Pinkie, don't interrupt me while I'm narrating."

"Sorry. So how you doing?"

"Not bad. I was just wondering, we're you spying on me?"

She tilted her head. "What are you talking about?"

"Earlier, today, at the pizzeria? I saw something pink trying to watch me."

She shook her head. "Nope. Wasn't me. I work until 5:30 PM. Say, that reminds me, our clock broke, what time is it?"

"Time for you, my friend, to get a watch." I couldn't resist. We were both laughing our heads off for about a minute and a half.

"Seriously, Mike. What time is it?"

I looked at my hoof, which conveniently had a watch. "5:28. Two minutes until you're free."

"Okay. That's good. I'll just pack things up then."

"You do that. I'll head home. See ya tomorrow."

As I headed home, I glanced behind me, and the pink blur appeared again. This time, however I followed it. Long story short, I gave up after an hour of not finding it. I headed back to the castle, and my room was...clean. Everything was sorted properly, my bed was made, and my carpet was spotless.

I freaked out.

After about five minutes of having a breakdown, I collapsed on the carpet.

Chapter 2

I woke up to the sunlight trickling through my window. I knew it was gonna be another day added to my endless life, but hey, a day without happiness is no fun. I walked up to the kitchen, where Spike was gleefully making crêpes, my favorite. I noticed a plate with a stack of the wonderful breakfast, and grabbed a few.

As I sat down to eat my crêpes, I decided I'd try to find out what the pink blur was. I bit into my food, and I lost my feelings to the delectable flavor in my mouth. I was-

Hold on, getting off topic. Sorry. Anyway, the crêpes were great.

As I was eating, I glanced over at Twilight, who seemed to be concentrating on something. I walked over to her, devastated to leave my breakfast behind.

"What're you looking at, Twi?"

"Remember the pink blur you saw yesterday?"

I immediately backed up in shock. Did she know what it was?

"I need to have him here to be sure, but I think I know who he is, Mike."

"Wait. He?" She nodded.

"Maybe. I don't know for sure, which is why I need to see him face to face."

I didn't know what to think. On the one hoof, I might be able to get some answers. On the other hoof, I knew it wouldn't be easy to get him. He moved at a speed that could rival Rainbow Dash's. Or Pinkie Pie with sugar. Either way. I moved back to my plate at the table, and finished my crêpes, after which, I set out to find this "pink blur." I searched high and low, and front and back, forwards and backwards, up and down, near and far, blah blah blah, you get the message.

I talked to Rainbow Dash, and I sure was glad I did.

"He is at the local fast food joint. Why?"

I instantly dashed off (get it) towards Winghoof's, and sure enough, I saw a pink Pegasus stallion with bright yellow hair. I noticed he had no cutie Mark, and when I looked at my own hindquarters, I saw that I was a blank flank too. Well, I knew the whole time, but the fact that we had something in common was...interesting.

I walked right up to him, and-

"Hey there, Mikey."

I jumped a foot in the air.

"Pinkie Pie, what did I say about my narrating?"

"Sheesh, grumpy much?"

"*grumble* Twilight wanted me to find somepony. I almost had him, but you scared him away. Thanks."

"Well, if Twilight herself wants to see me, why didn't you just say so?"

I turned forward, and "pink blur" appeared right in front of me.

"Hiya, strange pony I don't know." Pinkie tried to start a conversation. This stallion replied immediately.

"Hey, good looking. You, me, 8 o'clock, Carlos' Burgers. Whaddya say?"

She thrust her hoof in his face, while I thrust mine in my own. What a player.

At that point, I magicked his mane, pulling it with me, as the two of us headed towards the Crystal Castle. When we got there, Spike apparently knew we were coming, and he opened the door ahead of time. We stepped inside, and I let go of his mane.

"That frickin' hurt, man," said my pink blur.

"I should expect so. Trying to hit on a girl right after just meeting her...that's pretty wack." I said.

"Yeah, you pervert. That was rude." Wait, Pinkie followed me home?

"Bring him here, Mike." Twilight could be heard from her main foyer. I walked up to her, dragging pink blur with me, and Pinkie Pie bounced be hind me. Once we got to her, she walked up to the unknown stallion and examined him. I don't mean like she surgically opened him up, or glanced at his...thing, but she stared at his face for a minute or two before speaking again.

"Well, it looks like my calculations are correct." That really threw us for a loop or two.

"Um, hate to be rude, Miss Princess Pony, but you literally just stared at my face. Did ya see something ya liked, or do you already think I'm hot?"

"Johnny, you are immortal as well, I presume?" Twilight had officially named pink blur, ignoring the tasteless comment.

"Yup, ever since the one-hundredth Hearths Warming Eve, during the Roman Empire."

I recoiled in shock. Another immortal pony? But how?

"Johnny, you are also an Alpha Guardian." That's the last thing I remember before passing out.

Chapter 3

When I came to, I was in the same place I was before, but now the room was empty. I got up, and I searched for Johnny and Twilight. Pinkie most likely went back to Sugarcube Corner, so I wasn't too concerned about her. Eventually, I found Twilight and Johnny sitting in my bedroom. I feared the worst.

"You may want to take a seat, Michael."

"No thanks, Twi. I prefer to stand and build leg muscles." True story, by the way.

"Suit yourself, loser." Johnny jumped right onto my bed. I instantly pummeled him.

"Get your hoof outta my name. Magicking it is bad enough, twerp."

"Who you calling a TWERP?! Get off of my bed, you FEATHERBRAIN!" Right there, we felt a magic pulse on us, and we floated away from each other.

"Knock it off you two blockheads. This is a serious discussion. Now please, sit down somewhere before I lose my mind." Twilight sounded pretty annoyed at that point. Johnny sat on the ground, and I, once again , stood.

"Thank you. Now, as I was saying, Johnny, you know what I said about being an Alpha Guardian, correct?"

He saluted, and nodded. "It's like an Element Bearer, such as you and Pinkie."

I was confused. Twilight had never told me about this Alpha Guardian stuff.

"That is correct. You are the Guardian of Courage. And Mike is the Guardian of Guidance."

"Huh?"

They turned their heads towards me.

"Mike, I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I just thought that if the others weren't around, it wouldn't change anything. But since Johnny is here, that mean the other three are also somewhere in Equestria." Johnny looked like Twilight had just tried to explain Starswirl the Bearded's friendship spell all over again, and I felt the exact same way.

"Wait, hold up, Nightlight Spartacus. You mean to say there are more of us?"

"It's Twilight Sparkle, Johnny, but yes, there are three other ponies, one unicorn and two earth ponies. I do not know how you can find them, but I do know that they are not in Ponyville. That is all I can say."

Awkward silence filled the room for a little while. Like, seriously, it was awkward, and it was silent.

"Well what are we sitting here for, dude? C'mon, Mitch, let's go find these other dudes."

My first thought was about how this guy could get a name wrong after not hearing it more than a minute prior.

Our first stop was Canterlot. We got off the train...and immediately regretted it. Ponies were swarming here and there, and everywhere. No joke, we got tripped by about ten different ponies before finally exiting the train station.

As we left, we headed for the Canterlot Castle. We figured the Princesses could help us. We flew over to the castle (well actually, Johnny flew and stopped, because I am unable to fly as fast as him), and we're met with the Royal Guard.

"Hey, guys. Mind if I get through?"

"Who is the pink one?" Johnny seemed a little ruffled up at that.

"I have a name, you know. And besides, I'm with Mickey here." Get it right, you imbecile.

I hung my head. "Unfortunately, Johnny here is right. Oh, and by the way, featherbrain, it's Mike. Not Mitch, not Mickey, Mike."

He whinnied, not surprisingly. "Sheesh, Peachy Sky was right, you are grumpy." Pinkie Pie, you numbskull. Pinkie Pie. The Royal Guard let us through, and Johnny marveled at the scenery surrounding him.

"So this is what it looks like up close. Not too shabby."

"We should hope so." I whirled to my side, and Luna was right there.

Johnny instantly lowered to the ground, and knelt. I just waved and said hello.

"Hi, Mike. Who is this?" She pointed a hoof to Johnny, who was still kneeling.

"Luna, meet Johnny, my fellow Alpha Guardian. Johnny, get up, you look like a moron."

He rose, and Luna stared at me, wide-eyed. She then rushed away, returning minutes later with Celestia.

"You're Alpha Guardians?" She said.

We nodded, and they both knelt. To us. Normally, for me, this would be awesome, but it was still confusing.

The two princesses apparently noticed, and explained themselves.

"We were told by an oracle that five ponies, one alicorn, one unicorn, one pegasus, and two earth ponies, known as the Alpha Guardians, would defeat an evil force that not even the princesses or the Bearers of Harmony could stand against. Their names were not normal ones, but rather ones of another realm unknown to ponykind. However, until now, not a single one of them knew any of the others existed. Also, they were to be considered a higher rank than Luna or even myself."

We stood there, jaws barely touching the ground. Johnny broke the silence.

"Sweet mother of pearl, this is frickin supercool." He did a few backflips in the air, and noticed I wasn't.

"C'mon, man, what's gotcha so pessimistic? We're practically kings if ya ask me."

I looked away, trying to ignore the question. Luckily, he didn't ponder any further, and just landed beside me.

"If ya don't wanna talk, I'm cool with that. I'd like to know later, though. Sound good?"

I nodded, and we asked where one of the Alpha Guardians might be. We were told to look in urban Canterlot, Apple-Loosa, and Vanhoover. We set out for urban Canterlot, and our quest began.