Marble Vein stared up at my household with deep violet eyes in Equestria dreamscape. For a couple of seconds nopony spoke, then with a soft almost smoky voice she addressed us.
 
“Oh Hello. I hope our conversation hasn’t been too loud.”
 
I shook my head. “No, and sorry for eavesdropping but we were curious about what everypony was talk about over here.” I stared at the tiny sculpture perched on unicorn’s hoof. “Um, did you just make that?”
 
Marble Vein glanced down at the marble butterfly resting on her hoof and smiled. Her horn flared and she gently levitated over to a nearby table. Carefully she set it down on the table. She admired how the golden light of setting sun made it almost glow. After a moment she spoke.
 
“Hmm. I wouldn’t say I made it. I created the conditions that we now observe it in, but it’s original form was not of my making.” She tilted her head slightly as she admired it. “I just altered it.”
 
“So you turned the butterfly into stone?” Carousel asked. “Ah poor thing! Why did ya kill it?”
 
Marble shook her head causing her short, burnt umber/black mane to sway. “While technically it no longer exhibits any life signs, and is no longer made of organic material I wouldn’t call it truly dead. It’s life essence, matrix, what we might call it’s identity still there. It’s just now bound to the spell I used to perform the transformation.”
 
“Yeah, but now it’s stuck being a rock forever.” Petina grumbled as she stared at Marble.
 
Marble shook her head again. “No. You’re wrong on that point. Watch.” Our group stared at the tiny marble sculpture. After a moment there was a sudden flash of color and the butterfly’s brilliant markings returned. It tentatively moved its wings a couple of times. The butterfly fluttered into the air and came to rest on the unicorn’s horn The mare slowly tilted her head back and looked up at the resting butterfly. After a second she spoke to it.
 
“Thank you for time. You’re free to go about your way.”
 
The butterfly then launched itself into the early evening sky and flew away. Marble smiled and looked back at Petina.
 
“Does that answer your question?” She once again looked at the 3 of us. “I don’t believe we’ve met before. My name is Marble Vein, and who am I talking to?”
 
I’d been watching the butterfly fly away. My head snapped back to look at her. “Oh! I’m Sky Brush.” I tilted my head toward my 2 housemates. “ And this here is Carousel and Petina.” I cocked an eyebrow. Are you part of Scratch’s tour crew?”
 
The unicorn laughed softly. It was a warm, soft, sultry thing that sent a tiny shiver up my spine. “No. I’m just a guest of Scratch’s.” She tilted her toward the bright yellow earth sitting next to her. “Myself and my friend Brilliant Flower are just visiting.”
 
Carousel smiled at the pegasus mare and the other unicorn. “Hi! Who might you be?”
 
The blue pegasus mare spoke first. “Well now! I’d be Feather Hooves! Please ta meetcha!”
 
The violet unicorn peered at us from beneath the bangs of her mane. “Mmm, and I’m Midnight Whispers.” She stared intently at the 3 of us. “Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
 
Petina returned Midnight Whispers stare. “So, are you two guests of Scratch’s as well?”
 
“Nah!” Said Feather Hooves. “I’m part of Scratch’s set up crew! I handle things like setting up the lights, hanging them fabric backdrops.” She gave her wings a couple of flaps. “Anything where being able ta fly is needed!”
 
Midnight Whisper grinned. “And I’m part of the grooming team that keeps Scratch and the rest of the stage crew looking absolutely fabulous onstage.”
 
Petina steered the conversation back to the original topic. “So Marble. Is randomly turning butterflies into stone a hobby of yours?”
 
The mare didn’t seem to be taken back by Petina’s bluntness. The soft smile on her face never wavered as she gestured with a front hoof for us to join her. If the other 3 mares were bothered by our sudden joining they didn’t make their displeasure known.
 
Once we were settled in Marble resumed speaking. “While I do have a intense passion for statues, marble and other forms minerals; my interests into petrification and material transformation is primarily for medical reasons.”
 
“Medical?” Carousel asked with a confused look on her face.
 
“True it might seem like an odd thing to say at first, but I’m pursuing it as a possible way to stabilize critically ill or ponies that have sustained life-threatening injuries. Are any of the you familiar with the Trotting Hills Incident?” Marble said.
 
Petina tilted her head. “You mean the train accident?”
 
“Yes. That’s what I’m referring to. It was a terrible thing. 64 ponies lost their lives and over 100 were injured to varying degrees. The whole situation was made more tragic because local medical professionals were unable to triage and treat the most seriously injured fast enough to save many. The local hospital only had 3 full-time doctors and half dozen or so nurses. Even with nearby communities and the Crown rushing all available medical professionals to the area it was too late for many.”
 
The pale dove grey mare opened a small purse with her horn. From it she levitated a small, billfold like object made of stiff, ornately tooled leather. She opened it and floated it over for us to see it. Inside it was a small tintype photograph of a unicorn stallion and mare. They stared back at us with smiling faces. Marble resumed speaking.
 
“My parents were passengers on that train. My father died helping to rescue other ponies who were trapped in one of the burning cars. My mother was injured but her condition initially didn’t appear to be that severe. However what the doctors and nurses at the time failed to realize was she bleeding internally. By the time they realized…”
 
She closed and stowed the photo back in her purse. For just a moment there was trace of sadness in her eyes. Then she blinked and it was gone. “That’s why I’ve spent the last decade and much my inheritance researching the possible use of controlled petrification as an emergency medical procedure.”
 
To be continued.