MLP FiM: Written in Stone

PROLOGUE

The land of Equestria shimmered with it's beauty. The sunlight rested on the hills and forests, making the valley gleam. But Smart Cookie kept glancing nervously up at the ominus clouds creeping over the mountains.
She uncertainly continued to follow her friend, Clover the Clever, over the grassy hills.
If it rained, they wouldn't have any coverage close by. They'd have to run for the trees, which were quite a ways behind them, and Clover was known for her cleverness, not her speed.
"Erm, Clover the Clever?" She asked. "Maybe we should go back... it's getting late."
"No." Clover replied stubbornly. "This is the one good lead I've had in months!" Clover was levitating with her magical horn a bizzare device that spun around and made a particulary annoying buzzing sound. Smart Cookie was unsure about it. She'd never seen anything like it before in her life, but Clover seemed to think it was safe...
"Where are we, though?" Cookie asked. "I haven't been to this part of the land before."
"Commander Hurricane and Private Pansy have." Clover said matter-of-factly. She was very focused on her strange device. Smart Cookie frowned at her friend. She had been obsessed with trying to find him ever since he disappeared. It was concerning.
"I'm sure Starswirl the bearded is fine." Cookie said.
Clover shook her head. "If he was fine then why hasn't he contacted me?"
"Because he's perfectly fine."
"But he left without a word!"
"I... guess that changes matters."
Then she felt a drop of water land on her nose. Cookie looked up. Another drop landed on her ear.
"Clover..."
"Gah!" Clover covered the device with her cloak. "No no no, it's not supposed to get wet! Ugh! Stupid Pegasus ponies!"
Cookie inhaled quickly. It wasn't like Clover at all to insult other ponies. Then she felt pity. Clover must be very upset by Starswirl's disappearence.
"Is it okay?" She asked Clover.
Clover ducked under the cloak to look at it, and she gasped. "It's spinning faster now! This must be the right way!"
Smart Cookie and Clover the Clever ran over the hills, getting wetter and wetter, though Cookie didn't complain.
"So what is it?" Cookie asked her between gasps for air.
"What's what?"
"Your spinning thing!"
"Oh, well, I found it in Starswirl's house. It says in his notes that he was going to use it to find magical activity!" She paused to gasp for breath. "But then he made another that was waterproof! And his last notes say about following it to find new magical discoveries. So I figured if we just followed this one, I'd lead us to him."
Smart Cookie tried to wrap her head around what Clover was saying. Mostly she was focusing on how hard the rain was coming down.
"Clover the Clever!" She cried. "We need to find shelter! The rain is really bad!"
"And shelter we shall have!" Clover looked back at Cookie. "Look, friend! Up ahead!"
Smart Cookie squinted ahead, where she could make out the entrance to a cave. She sped up, but was careful not to pass Clover.
They ran into the cave, where Cookie fell down with exhaustion. Clover's legs were screaming to rest, but she wouldn't let them. They were close! The cave turned into more of a tunnel, and she couldn't see the end. Then she saw golden light coming towards them. She gasped and shook Smart Cookie.
"Ugh, what is it Clover?" She asked her. Clover pointed to the light. Cookie looked at it and stiffened.
Clover took a few steps forwards. "Starswirl? Is that you?..." She could she the outline of a unicorn horn in the light.
"Clover, be careful..." Cookie warned her friend.
She had her own horn glow, and at first felt shock, then disappointment, then once again shock.
If wasn't Starswirl, but someone else. A kind of pony Clover had only read of in her mentor's books. One she thought she'd never have a chance of seeing in her lifetime.
Standing before the two ponies...
Was an Alicorn...