Monochrome Mystery and the Lost King

"So, it was true!" Monochrome said, a slight look of horror crossing his face. "And to say I followed her lead for all my life." A thought suddenly crossed his mind. "What if I was brainwashed?" He shuddered at using the word 'brainwashed', as he disliked such concepts, although he had no choice but to accept it. "It's true, isn't it?" he asked himself.

He started to test his suspicions. He tried to think of Celestia as a lying, cheating fool, but try as he might, he couldn't. Something was stopping him, something embedded deep in his mind. "Oh no... It's true."

Slowly, he began to feel himself breaking down. His heart sank, and his legs became weak, until he fell to the ground. He had been lied to all his life, and he didn't know what to believe. He couldn't trust his memories, or his thoughts - he was unable to use anything that had got him through life. A grim tear rolled down his cheek, and he decided to just curl up into a ball in the corner of the room. Gradually, the day began to catch up with him, and he began to sleep.

A moderately sized colt stands in front of a mirror, his face covered in tears. Slung over his shoulder is a small bag, presumably what small belongings he had. In front of him was a picture of his family, a large, burly stallion, a slender, blue mare, and him. They were all smiling together, although he knew that would never happen; He could remember the horrible night that his mother died, at the hands of his father. He was no longer welcome in the house, and he felt that he couldn't stay any longer. A draft blew through the window - this was his time. Looking back one more time at his small bedroom, he put one hoof on the windowsill, pushed on it, and jumped out.

Monochrome woke up to the sound of voices nearby. It took him a second to realise that he should be alone, as he was still half asleep. He jumped up as soon as he could, and got ready for whatever would be upon him in just a moment. There was an almighty crash from outside the room he was in, and two figures stepped through the doorway...

"In the name of Princess Celestia, halt whatever you are doing, and come out with your hooves in sight!" somepony shouted. It was the royal guard, and Monochrome had an awful feeling in his stomach. How had they followed him? However, right now, it didn't matter. All that did was that they were there, and they had him trapped.

"Listen to me! Celestia has you brainwashed! She's a liar!" he cried, bargaining for his freedom, but to no avail. The guards were unchanged, but as soon as another figure stepped through the door, they kneeled down at her side. She stomped one of her hooves sarcastically.

"Well, you're the second to find that out, and I'm sure you know what happened to the first." Her voice was changed from what he knew, almost constantly sarcastic, and evil to the core.

"Celestia. I won't go down without a fight. I know what you've done, and you won't get away with it."

"Ah, but a minor mistake of my mind control. Guards"- she signalled to one of the guards behind her -"Remind me to schedule an... update to the brainwashing, causing everyone to forget anything about me being evil." The guard nodded, and Celestia chuckled. "And as for you, Monochrome Mystery, you have no choice but to surrender."

"And, if I was to fight you?" he questioned, seeing how far he could go.

"You can't. See, I've already won." She grinned.

"How?" he said, slightly anxious.

"Well, I'm sure you figured you've also been brainwashed, when you were born. And every time I did that to someone, I implanted a trigger phrase."

"No. You can't have."

"But I have." As she spoke, Celestia began to walk slowly towards Monochrome, until they were almost face-to-face. Celestia carefully brought her hoof up to his snout, and gently pressed down. "Sleep."

The world began to spiral around Monochrome. He could feel himself descending into the darkness, and tried to fight it, but found himself weakened and unable to resist. After a short struggle, he gave up. He couldn't win. Soon, he felt him lose is body, and his mind began to drift.