Act I: Path of Fomalhaut.

“How are you doing this fine morning?” the doctor asked with a polite smile. Sunlight flashed off his glasses as he regarded the bundle at the far end of the room, which remained still.

Tick-Tock. He blinked, feeling a light thudding against his barrel. The stallion lifted a forehoof  to his simple grey vest and quietly inspected his golden pocket watch, which idly ticked as the seconds passed. The Earth Pony frowned as he flicked the watch off, carefully returning it to his pocket. Could've sworn I already turned it off... A quick glance, however, told him the other individual in the room hadn’t heard the ticks. He allowed himself a sigh of relief before settling down to business.

“Ahem. While you do wake slower than average, I know for a fact that it doesn’t take you this long.” A faint smile tugged at his mouth. “Stop pretending to be asleep.”

Sunlight peeked into the small room through the barred, lone window, throwing long shadows across the cold, gray floor. The stallion’s metal chair creaked as he shifted, the largest ray of light disrupted by his silhouette. The seat’s occupant focused on the huddled mass at the end of the cell. A muffled sigh drifted across the room as the mass shifted, worn blankets peeling away like a shed skin as a bleary-eyed Unicorn moved into a sitting position. The Unicorn pressed its back against the wall, moving away from the light that snaked through the dimly-lit prison cell.

“Ah, ah, ah... Now don’t think I wouldn’t notice!” the stallion remarked cheerily, glancing at a tray of untouched soup and bread sitting next to the bed. “You still aren’t eating... You really should take care of your body. Is there something wrong with the food?”

The stallion’s inquiry was met by the shallow breathing of the Unicorn. He licked his lips and leaned back as the prison door opened. Two Pegasi, clad in the uniform of the Royal Guard marched into the room, expressions neutral as the stallion was presented with a small wooden table and clipboard. “Ah, thank you...” he chirped, smiling at the stoic guards as they retreated from the room without so much as a second glance, closing the door behind them.

“So!” He rubbed his forehooves together, glasses glinting in the sunlight. “I suppose it’s time to start session...” The doctor paused and picked up the clipboard before flipping through the papers attached to it as he idly twirled a quill with his free hoof, “Seven.”

The Unicorn blinked as the sun slowly shifted, the faint shadows it shielded itself with dissipated like the morning fog. She winced at the light, shading her eyes with a bony forearm.

The stallion held his polite demeanor as he watched her over his glasses. “Now that you’ve had some time to think things over, maybe you’ll reconsider your position?” he inquired, leading forward and tapping a hoof against his clipboard.

The Unicorn stared blankly for several moments. She then lowered her forearm, gave a small shrug, and closed her eyes against the light.

“I see. As I've stated before--if you can't remember just say so--we just want to help you. But in order to do that, you need to tell us what's wrong.” The doctor licked his lips. “We just want to know how you ended up...” His voice trailed off as he took in her skeletal, dirt-caked form, eyes searching futilely for the answers that the mare refused to give.

One eye opened, dark velvet iris dilating as it took in the doctor. “I remember,” she mumbled, her words barely escaping from her parched throat. “It just doesn’t matter. Nothing does.”

The doctor inhaled lightly as his eyes narrowed. “Well, even if it doesn't---which I doubt--I’m still interested in hearing what happened.” He tapped his quill against the clipboard. “Now, just like last time, I’m going to go over things from the beginning. First what we have on record, then I will ask you to clarify the information. Are you ready to start?”

“It’s a waste of my time”, she croaked as her eye slid closed once more.

The doctor clicked his tongue. “If that’s true, then answer my questions and you’ll never have to deal with me again.” He paused, waiting for a response. When the only thing he heard was her soft breathing, he let out a sigh of exasperation and stared glumly at his clipboard. “Alright, how about this then,” he stated as he rolled his quill around a hoof, staring at the mare intently. “I’ll tell you what we have written, and you can answer yes or no to each bit of information. And once we’ve gone through, I’ll be out of your mane for good. Is that satisfactory?”

“... Yes,” the mare quietly replied, not bothering to open her eyes.

The doctor’s shoulders slumped in relief as he tapped the top of the paper. “Right then, you were born in... the village Hollow Shades?”

“Yes,” she replied flatly, her tail twitching limply beside her.

“Your name is... Trixie, correct?” The stallion looked up from his clipboard, quill tapping inquisitively at the second half of the ‘name’ section.

There was a short pause before the Unicorn responded. “Yes.”

“Just Trixie?” he countered, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes,” she replied curtly.

He began to raise an accusatory hoof in protest which, when met with Trixie's indifferent stare, he slowly retracted.

“Your mother wa--is,” he corrected himself hurriedly, “a miss Amor Fati, correct?”

Trixie’s head cocked to the side, frowning, her gaze growing distant.

“Trixie?” His chair creaked as he adjusted his weight on it, awaiting a response. When none came he sighed and moved on, quill tapping the next line. “And your father was a... Silver Dream?”

Trixie’s gaze drifted back towards the Doctor, frown holding. “No,” she growled, grinding her hooves into the mattress.

He raised an eyebrow at that, scribbling a note onto the clipboard. “Do you know the name of your father?”

Trixie rolled her eyes and made a dismissive gesture towards the clipboard.

“Right, of course... You had social issues growing up? No friends?”

At this Trixie’s gaze turned to the window, her eyes unblinking as she stared at a blank portion of the sky through the bars of her cell.

“... No.”

“Ahem.” The doctor’s eyes darted from one guard to the next, both of which stood in front of him with impassive expressions chiseled into their muzzles.

He adjusted his glasses with one hoof, a slight frown tugging at his mouth. “I’m Doctor Soothing Word? I was assigned to the Trixie case? I have an appointment with the Princess, so if you two will just...” As he finished he attempted to take a step forward and was immediately blocked by the the guards’ raised wings. He stumbled back, then sighed and rubbed his forehead.

“Ah, doctor, do come in," a regal voice chimed through the doorway.

The heavy oak doors seemed to slide open of their own accord as the two guards stepped to the side, allowing the doctor passage to the Princess’ private chambers. As the doors slid shut behind him he took in her room: dim candles and a crackling fireplace threw shadows and orange light around the room, as if trapped in eternal twilight; the sparse-yet-extravagant furnishings gave the room a lived-in, homey feel. So transfixed on the decor and atmosphere was he that he forgot to bow until his gaze locked onto Princess Celestia’s. “Ah, sorry, Princess Celestia!” He broke his gaze and lowered his head to the floor as the monarch stared at him from behind her wooden desk.

“Please rise, doctor. I was just finishing up some paperwork. You have my apologies for planning around this meeting so poorly.”

“Oh, oh no! Really, if I came at a poor time I can always return later!” The stallion looked up. His black tail flapped in agitation as he turned to leave, apologizing profusely with such gusto that it took the Princess several attempts to get a word in. By that time the doctor already had one hoof on the door.

“Doctor!” Celestia interrupted as she set her quill down, her own tiny reading glasses sliding down her face.

His ears flattened as he cautiously turned around, lifting his hoof hesitantly from door handle, greatly resembling a young colt caught with a hoof in the cookie jar.

  “Y-Yes?” he replied, gulping audibly.

Celestia took advantage of the momentary silence to take her reading glasses off and place them next to her quill. She looked into the doctor’s eyes, offering a kind smile. “It’s fine. Now please, the report?”

“Yes, yes, of course! The report, it’s right here...” With a nervous chuckle he reached into his vest, pulled out several pieces of paper, and offered them to the Princess. To his surprise she shook her head, gently guiding his hoof away from her desk.

“I’ll take the report orally please. I’ve had quite enough reading for one day,” Celestia stated softly, her voice just barely audible over the cheerful crackling of the fire.

“Ah... Well, unfortunately I wasn’t actually able to get anything new...” he grumbled, flattening his ears and rubbing his withers.

Celestia merely offered a reassuring smile in return. “Your opinion as her therapist then?”

Soothing Word adjusted his glasses as he sat down. “Well, in my professional opinion... That there is, in fact, nothing wrong with Miss Trixie.”

Celestia blinked. Her horn gave off a light glow as the doctor’s papers levitated to her desk. She nodded for him to continue.

“She was obviously traumatized. From what, I still can’t say, as she refuses to cooperate. Though I am led to believe it is a family matter. She is surprisingly docile despite her criminal history. However she does possess an incredibly nihilistic viewpoint, which has so far rendered any attempt at negotiation or therapy completely ineffective.” With the topic on familiar territory, the doctor stood up. His movements became more animated as he started to pace to and fro before Celestia’s desk.

Celestia’s gaze followed the stallion as a somewhat wry grin painted itself onto her muzzle. “I was not aware that traumatized nihilists were counted as healthy these days by the medical community.”

The doctor waved his forearm dismissively. “They aren’t generally considered healthy. Nihilism is a philosophy which just can’t fit in our society. But there is a very important distinction between a negative viewpoint and legitimate insanity.” The doctor’s black tail swished from side to side as he continued pacing. “She isn’t bipolar, depressed or suffering from psychosis. Medication quite simply isn’t needed here. There’s nothing technically wrong with her.”

“Most healthy ponies don’t obsessively attempt to overthrow Equestria,” Celestia pointed out. “Natural philosophy is a young study. It’s entirely possible this is something new.”

“Science,” The doctor muttered distractedly. “And I don’t think it was obsessive.”

Celestia became quiet for a moment, as if listening for something. “Pardon?”

Soothing Word blinked. His pacing came to a halt as he turned his gaze to the silent Princess. “It wasn’t obsessive, it was hysterical. Her beha--”

“I was referring to the former, not the latter,” Celestia interrupted, her tone missing its usual motherly tone.

The doctor blinked as confusion etched itself onto his muzzle and tone, “Natural philosophy was outdated almost a thousand years ago in favor of what was eventually dubbed ‘science’. It marked a change in the development, from being reliant on literature and philosophy associated with magical research to a more mundane, yet analytic tactic. Is there... something wrong, Princess?”

“No, nothing. It just must have slipped my mind is all.” Celestia’s motherly smile and tone returned as the fire crackled and popped cheerily in the background, blanketing half of her face in soft shadows.

The room gradually fell silent save for the muted crackle of the fire. As the two stared at each other, tension took root in the air between them. “W-Well, in any case then...” Soothing started, shifting from side to side.

Celestia softly interrupted, “Sorry doctor, but I feel the need to rest. Another time perhaps.”

“A-Ah, yes. Of course, princess.” His ears lowered as he stood and turned halfway to the door. He paused. “Princess Celestia, before I go... May I make a suggestion?” Celestia’s head cocked slightly to the side in response. A bead of sweat rolled down Soothing Word’s forehead. He licked his lips, eyes locked on the ground between his hooves. “I don’t think it will be possible for any professional in the field to get anything out of her.” As he spoke his gaze slowly turned from the floor to Celestia’s chest. “It is my recommendation that your sister, Princess Luna, be put in charge of her case. She would be able to empathize with and assist her far better than anyone else available.”

The air felt heavy and thick with heat as Celestia took in his words. “My sister is sick and recovering from severe emotional trauma. She needs to be cared for and monitored, not laden with responsibilities she isn’t ready for.” As she spoke she leaned forward, her tone growing intense. “On the other hoof, my student, Twilight Sparkle has come far in her study of the magic of friendship. She will be able to offer the assistance that Trixie needs. If what you say is true, then care of Trixie shall be transferred to her instead.”

Soothing Word drew quiet as his ears flattened, silent dissent flashing through his eyes. His gaze fell to the ground in part of a submissive bow. “Of course. My apologies for contradicting your wisdom, Princess Celestia. I will take my leave and allow you your rest.” Turning slowly, the doctor made his way to the door. His hoof was nearly on the knob when Celestia’s sigh wavered through the room.

“My apologies. I overreacted... I will speak to Princess Luna about some limited assistance for Trixie. They could both use another friend.” Her tone was as soft and motherly as her gaze, now devoid of all traces of hostility.

A faint smile flitted across Soothing Word’s lips as he nodded, his hoof pushing the door open. “It is good to hear that, Princess. Enjoy your rest,” he replied as he slipped out of the room. The door clicked shut behind him and the guards resumed their stance as he trotted down the hall at a leisurely pace.

The clip-clop of his hooves against the marble floors rang through the corridor, just managing to drown out the sound of his increasingly strained panting. Every step he took towards the second set of double doors at the end of the corridor filled him with a mounting desire to sprint for his freedom. His eyes shifted from side to side, muscles tense as he licked his lips. His ears swiveled, searching for sounds of alarm: a shouting guard, the righteous fury of the Princess...

Save for the sound of his own breathing and the striking of his hooves against the floor there was nothing. He dropped his guard only after he had made his way across the corridor. He let out a sigh of relief as he began pushing the door open. His tense muscles relaxed as he paused on the other side of the doorway, breathing deeply. He stayed there for several moments, his body seemingly locked in place as he stared at the ground. Forgive me, Celestia, he thought to himself as his hind leg pushed the door closed behind him.

His gaze lowered to his chest as he pressed a hoof against the side of his vest. The hidden papers rustled quietly under his light touch, and with a sigh he begun to trot off to Princess Luna’s quarters.

Trixie’s eyes glimmered as they took in the bright stars. Her hooves wrapped around the bars of her cell window as she pressed her muzzle against the cool metal. The silvery light of the full moon shone through her dark cell, forming a blanket of soft, silvery light around the mare’s thin dirt-caked frame against the darkness of her cell. The tip of her muzzle poked out through the bars, wriggling in the cold midnight winds.

The rattling of keys rang through her cell as Trixie’s right ear twitched back, listening to the sound of the jail warden on the other side of the dungeon. Moments later the sounds of the warden were forgotten as she returned her focus to the night sky. Her eyes danced over the familiar shapes of the constellations, looking for something that didn’t belong. Something new.

Trixie’s tail swished against the ground behind her. As always, she saw nothing new hidden in the stars. As always, she continued to search regardless with an expression of grim determination on her muzzle. So focused was she on her task that she didn’t notice the jingle of keys as her cell door opened. The soft, golden torchlight made a valiant yet futile attempt to pierce through Trixie’s cell as an intruder quietly made her way inside.

“Leave us, please.”

“As you wish, Princess Luna.”

Trixie’s hooves tightened around the bars of her window at the sound of the familiar voice. Her horn glowed fiercely as she shot a glare over her shoulder. As the cell door slid shut and the warden trotted away, Trixie’s tray of cold food levitated into the air, held by a pale magenta glow. Luna made no move to stop the tray as it was propelled directly into her face. A loud clang rang through the cell as it fell to the ground. Cold soup dribbled down the side of Luna’s face as she met Trixie’s furious gaze.

“Traitor!” Trixie growled. “It’s all your fault!”

“We know... and would like to apologize,” Luna replied weakly, her ears and gaze lowering towards the floor where the remains of Trixie’s spoiled dinner lay.

Trixie snorted and looked back out the window.  “I don’t care. It’s too late for apologies.” Trixie blinked, staring at the moon before mumbling, “That line was crossed when you cursed and abandoned me.”

“Trixie, we didn’t inte--”

“Shut up and leave me alone. That shouldn’t be too hard for you. It’s what you’ve been doing for the last decade, after all!” Trixie interrupted with a snarl, refusing to look at the sullen mare.

Luna winced at the comment, but made no movement to leave. Instead she sat down, finding herself unable to break the heavy wall of silence between them.

If Trixie had any further objections, she didn’t bother to voice them. Instead she sat on the opposite end of the cell from Luna, staring at the night sky while blanketed by the rays of moonlight that barely managed to land on Trixie’s form. Her eyes continued to cycle through each constellation as the uneasy silence continued to grow, filling and stretching the rift between them.