Broadhoof Files: Herbal Remedy

Patient File-Confidential Information

The mare stared down the file on her desk. Beige and closed, it sat alone on an otherwise immaculate surface, making it seem out of place.

This was the file of her first patient here at the Broadhoof Memorial Psychiatric Hospital. Her first chance to make a difference. Years of residency leading small therapy groups and sitting in on family sessions was about to pay off. Taking a deep breath, she reached across the desk and pulled the file to her. She opened it carefully and scanned the contents.

Name: Herbal Remedy
Gender: Mare
Age: 20
Race: Crystal Earth

Patient experiencing severe depressive episodes, visual and auditory hallucinations, and severe anxiety that interferes with her ability to function.

Self harm? Yes- surface cuts on front left fetlock, right thigh, belly
Homicidal? No
Suicidal? Yes- overdose

Current medications: 40mg of citalopram

Patient admitted by outside psychologist. Transferred to the care of Dr. Autumn Trails

Dr. Trails went over the contents again, looking at the photo of a glimmering mossy green mare with a rosewood mane. Happiness gleamed in her moonstone eyes, even if her face was curved into a scowl. Probably a surprise photo then. The small hoof written notes indicated that it was turned in by her mother, a mare by the name of Healing Images. Supposedly the relationship between her and her daughter was strained at best, but nothing quite like the relationship between Herbal Remedy and her father. That would probably be a hot topic for her, and one Autumn Trails would have to approach carefully.

Speaking of which, the young psychiatrist looked up at the clock on her wall. It- like most clocks in Equestria- was tied magically to Celestia’s sun and Luna’s moon for year-round accuracy.10:16. Her patient should have been here by now, over 15 minutes ago in fact. Patients were never late to anything in this hospital as long as Nurse Rachet was on duty. And she was, unfortunately, always on duty

Smoothing her gold-highlighted amber mane into a somewhat more manageable position, a tentative knock was heard at the door.

“It’s open”

The door opened to reveal a Pegasus orderly. It was typical for patients to move with at least one if not two orderlies with them. Autumn Trailed reflexively looked down at the mare’s collar to check her name badge, next to the embroidered shooting star emblem of Broadhoof on the uniform. It read “Cirrus”.

“I apologize for the delay Dr. Trails” Cirrus explained with a small frown “the patient was reluctant to come with us.”

The frown on Cirrus’s face was matched on Autumn’s. She had been told this case was relatively straightforward. Remedy had been admitted voluntarily and a history of mental health counseling proved compliance with treatment.

“That's alright, we all have bad days.” Hopefully, that's all this was. “Show her in.”

The nurse nodded and left the room. Seconds later she returned with another orderly- another Pegasus- and the pony she identified as Herbal Remedy.

Dr. Trails did her best not to wince at the sight of the mare. No class in Equestria or length of residency can ever prepare a doctor for the aftermath of a suicide attempt. The green mare looked exhausted. Her coat was dull and matted, and her mane lay unkept and tattered. Her eyes, which shimmered moonstone in her photo, closer resembled flat, weathered rock. The worn bandages on her foreleg and thigh, an attempt by some compassionate nurse to care for her self harm no doubt, made it obvious she hadn't bathed in several days.

“Good morning Herbal Remedy. Sit down, please.” Autumn Trails waved her hoof towards a plush chair in front of her desk.

Herbal Remedy stood still for a moment and stared at the chair as if weighing her options. The second pegasus orderly took a few steps towards her and gave her a warning look. The green mare glared at him but plodded over to the chair.

“Hi Herbal Remedy, I am Doctor Autumn Trails.”

The smaller mare gave her a chilly look, quickly glancing at the placard on the desk and then back at the doctor in front of her. “I noticed. You can call me Remedy, or just Rem.”

The doctor gave a sincere, warm smile and nodded. Petty remarks made in anger were not exactly an uncommon occurrence in her field after all. She made a note, a reminder to herself to address the patient appropriately in her file. “I appreciate you letting me do so. Most call me Dr. Trails, but you are welcome to call me whatever you feel most comfortable with.” She flipped a page of the file. “So what's going on Remedy?”

Flat gray eyes flared suddenly back at her with hot anger and a sarcastic snort. “Why, exactly, do I keep getting asked the same questions? Does no one in this fucking hospital talk to each other? Does the copier not work? Is the fax machine broken? Did you go to medical school to just ask a crazy pony in a mental hospital ‘Whats going on?’” Her nostrils flared and her crystalline hoof stamped against the edge of the chair.

Autumn gave a startled blink as the orderly took a step towards the other pony. This wasn't the same glimmering, happy filly displayed in her case file. The pony before her was angry, matted, tired, and hurting. Dr. Trails could see the stallion readying himself, wings rustling and ready to launch. She desperately hoped it would be unnecessary. The orderly would win eventually- the mare was half dead on her hooves- but an angry earth pony could land a kick with enough force to break bones.

Luckily, before the intervention was necessary, the mare sighed and slumped against the chair. Her outburst hadn't been much by hospital standards, but it had drained her recovering body and worried Autumn. She made a note on the file to increase Herbal Remedy’s caloric intake.

“Sorry, Dr. Trails. I'm just...tired.” it sounded so rehearsed it made the doctor's heart twinge painfully.

“I know Rem. I know. Why don't you tell me a little about you? Are you in school? Are you from the crystal empire?”

The mare shook her head. “I don’t live in the empire anymore. My family moved to Bridleton not long after I was born. “Too cold up north,” my father said. He isn't from the Empire.”

Trails recorded this, although this didn't surprise her. Crystal ponies were smaller, hardier ponies than many who lived under Celestia’s reign. Their coats were thicker and soft, evolved to survive the harsh colds of the north. Even with the protection of the crystal heart it frequently reached uncomfortably cold temperatures up there, and many ponies who aren’t native couldn’t tolerate the bitter winds.

“And school? Are you currently attending?”

Remedy nodded. “Yeah. A small college near Bridleton that specializes in Zebrecian magic studies”

Now that did surprise her. “Zebercian...magic studies?”

Another nod. “Many crystal ponies are gifted with unique talents and magics.” Remedy explained. “It is theorized to be a result of prenatal exposure to the active magic of the Crystal Heart. That's why the crystalling ceremony is historically significant, and that's why the Crystal Heart is charged by the energy of the Crystal Empire citizens.”

Dr. Trails recorded all of this information with extreme interest. There was such limited information on the Empire and its subjects, and research was still being done to really discover the arcane workings of such a unique place. Although this information did bring to light a possible concern. ”what kind of gifts do you have Remedy?”

For a brief moment pride flickered in the eyes of the pony before her. “I have active magic I can channel at will. It’s why I chose the college that I did. I am studying to be a botanist and to use my magic to make potions, salves, and tonics. I want to run an apothecary.”

Autumn Trails paused. This...complicated matters. Unicorns treated at Broadhoof had to have silencers placed on their horns. It was incredibly hard to treat serious mental health issues in magic-using ponies and they were prone to hurting themselves without silencers. But how would one silence the magic of a pony with no horn? And if the bond between a crystal pony and the crystal heart really was so...intimate, what would be the repercussions of severing that connection for any period of time?

“Let’s switch topics. Why were you admitted and when was it?” The burgundy earth pony skimmed the file looking for a time from the previous night.

“I was admitted Saturday morning for attempted suicide, severe depression, and hallucinations.”

Dr. Trails stopped. Saturday morning? That couldn't be right. Doctors had to give their patients permission to leave their unit for groups and classes, and because of that, it was customary to meet with their patients on the day of admittance. She had assumed Rem had been admitted the previous night. Today was Monday. She’d have to talk to the department head and see what was going on.

She shook her head and wrote some notes before looking back up to her patient. “Hallucinations? Can you tell me about them?”

“Can you, I don't know, get the information from the other four ponies I've told this to?”

Dr. Trails blinked. The mood swings were intense in this one it seemed. Nevertheless, she could tell the young mare was reaching her limit. Pushing her wouldn't result in good information and would probably make her less cooperative.

“Well Remedy, I think that’ll be all for today. I’ve cleared you to leave your unit, under the condition that your first shower.” Dr. Trails shut the file and moved to put it away as the orderlies readied themselves to return to the unit.

Herbal Remedy shook her head. “I can't do that.”

Dr. Trails looked at her closely. “Why not?”

“I can't shower because if I’m not constantly on guard the things that hide in the shadows will try to hurt me.”

Dr. Trails smiled patiently, although this news was some of the most troubling she’d heard during the whole conversation. “It’s okay Rem. I'll let your staff know and have someone stay there with you to keep you safe.”

Remedy was in no way convinced, plainly seen by the eyebrow raise and snort. She, however, got up and hopped down from the chair.

Autumn sighed as she watched the trio exit, closing her file and straightening her desk again. “Then I’ll see you next time Rem.”