248 Million Years Ago

Triassic Period

Place: Antarctica

Global Temp: 40% Hotter Than Today

Hazards: Ambush Predators

The group of 8 have been drop off to their new destination, but what they didn't know is that they're at what will become the coldest continent on the planet. Antarctica.

Whoa, this place is cool. Rainbow said looking around.

Sure is. Applejack agreeing with her.

Let's have a look around. Twilight suggested.

Soon they went to see what lives in this Early Triassic World.

The dawn of the Triassic Era.

And the Earth has only just begun to show signs of recovery. The deserts have stop growing, and huge forests of primitive conifer start to recolonize the land.

As the 8 continue to look around, they saw a huge herd of large reptiles similar to the Diictodon 2 million years earlier.

Whoa, look at those guys. Spike said.

They look at small reptiles we saw at the desert. Said Fluttershy.

Maybe there distant relatives. Said Starlight.

In these new forests, plant eaters recover first. One in particular, like most of the large reptiles, they may resemble dinosaurs. But Lystrosaurus are more closely linked to mammals. And to us and them.

Amazingly their vast herds make up more than haft of all life on Earth. Never again, will a single species do so well.

Some distance away.

Deep within the forests though. A rival is evolving, a new type of animal destined to change the face of life on Earth.

Running on 2 legs, a flash of green appears.

It's a little reptile about 2 feet long.

Meet Euparkeria. A tiny insect eater.

He may not look much of a treat to the dominate reptiles. But the key to his success, is in his hip. The way his thigh bone is attach, allows him to run on 2 legs, freeing his hands.

The Euparkeria begins chasing after dragonflies, running after them like a Basilisk Lizard on water.

This kind of agility, has never been seen before in reptiles. And gives Euparkeria a edge.

The little reptile continues chasing the dragonflies trying to catch one.

Euparkeria will lay the foundations for a new group of reptiles.

The Dinosaurs.

The Euparkeria raises up, and catches a passing dragonfly. And begins to eat.

Giants such as Tyrannosaurus and Diplodocus, can all trace their Family Tree back to this little insect hunter, in the Triassic forests.

And the 1st dinosaur is only 18 million years away.

Meanwhile with Twilight and the others, they begin to follow the large herd of Lystrosaurus.

The monster herds of Lystrosaurus, eat up so much vegetation, that they constantly migrate to find fresh food. They follow the seasonal rains, and each year in Antarctica this brings them to the edge of a huge voyage.

The only way down for these animals, is through a deep ravine.

And soon, the Mane 7 and Spike are part of the Great Lystrosaurus Migration.

The herd moves mostly at night. And come sunset, they begin the dangerous decent. It will take several hours for all of them to pass through the ravine. And in some parts, there's only space to move in single file.

Which leaves them very vulnerable.

It was now night, and Twilight and her friends for still moving with the herd. And recently Spike has fallen asleep as Twilight carries him on her back.

Spike seems to be lucky. Rarity said feeling a little tired.

Relax, it's a peaceful night out. Rainbow said.

You don't think their might something hiding among the rocks do you? Pinkie wondered.

I'm sure everything is fine. Applejack reassured. I think.

Lystrosaurus has sharp eyesight, and a very good sense of smell. But in these cramp conditions, it's hard to spot trouble ahead.

And on a small ledge, a dog like reptile is watching the herd.

Their being watch, by a vicious nocturnal hunter. A Therocephalia. Euchambersia.

Lystrosaurus are strong opponents. But this hunter doesn't rely on power to make a kill.

The Euchambersia slowy climbs down the ledge, waiting for a passing Lystrosaurus. Once one was close enough, the Therocephalia leaps from the ledge, lands the the back of the Lystrosaurus and bites it and quickly flees.

The attack is swift, and seems to have been unsuccessful. But this predator's secret weapon, is a poisonous bite. it's venom is more more lethal than a Black Mamba's. And it quickly floods the Lystrosaurus's bloodstream.

All the Therocephalias have to do, is wait for it to take effect.

Within minutes, the Lystrosaurus soon pulls to the side and is weaken by the deadly bite.

The victim collapses, but the herd moves on without concern. They have no social bonds.

Soon the Lystrosaurus drops to it's knees, and the Therocephalias begin to move in.

The Therocephalias close in for the kill.

Soon 4 Echambersia approach the body and start to feed. Twilight and the others were already far ahead when the attack happened. But were unaware of what happen.

The next morning.

Dawn at the foot of the voyage. And here the Lystosaurus will face they're biggest challenge yet. They need to cross a river, but it's banks are line with open jaws.

And at the river's bank are Crocodile like reptiles.

Chasmatosaurs are the earliest ancestors of Crocodiles and Alligators. They're strange overbite means once they get their teeth into a victim. There is no chance of escape. They don't normally gather in such numbers, but they're here for a special event. The annual migration of the Lystrosaurus.

Nearby a Euparkeria is out searching for insect. And sees a dragonfly on a tooth of a basking Chasmatosaur.

If you're a Euparkeria, the river's not a great place for hunting insects. But he has speed on his side.

As the Euparkeria eyes the dragonfly, it soon flies off. Then the Chasmatosaur explodes and snaps it's jaws it the little reptile only missing it, the Euparkeria takes off running with the large reptile chasing it.

Meanwhile one by one the Chasmatosaurs begin to enter the water.

As the sun rises, the Chasmatosaurs are drawn towards the water. Some of them haven't eaten since the Lystrosaurus last past this way a year ago. Now they sense it's time to feed again.

The Chasmatosaurs enter the water one by one.

Meanwhile.

The front of the vast Lystrosaurus herd finally reaches the river. They're strong swimmers, but drowning is not the danger here.

Guys look, a river! Pinkie called.

Finally, some rest. Rarity said.

They headed down to the river's edge.

They hang at the river's edge, beginning to go in. For reptiles they have relatively large brains. And they may remember what happen last year.

Soon Twilight and the others got the edge of the river.

Why are they just standing there? Spike asked.

Maybe, they're concern about something. Said Fluttershy.

But with more Lystrosaurus arriving all the time. the back log will soon force them in.

On the other side, lush grazing beck awaits. And eventually the one takes the plunge.

Soon a Lystrosaurus jumps into the river, and begins to swim across. Soon Twilight and the others enter the water.

Cannonball! Pinkie yelled jumping in.

A strong swimmer. he quickly makes it to the other side, same with the others. But with the steep banks they've still got to find a place where they can get a shore. And every moment in the water, increases the risk.

Back at the herd other Lystrosaurus begin to swim across.

More and more Lystrosaurus begin to strike out for the other side.

But now the predators are homing in.

Meanwhile with the first Lystrosaurus and Twilight and the others are nearing a flat shoreline. Nearby a Chasmatosaur watches them. But luckily they got to shore in time.

The first swimmer has made it. And climbs to shore. As well as the Mane 7.

But many of the herd now entering the water, will not be so lucky.

As more Lystrosaurus enter the water and swim across, the Chasmatosaurs begin to close in.

Soon the first Chasmatosaur strikes and drags it's victim underwater. Soon one by one the predators drag their victims underwater, like Crocodiles snatching passing Wildebeest and Zebras.

Twilight and her friends only saw a glimpse of the attack, and were glad it wasn't themselves.

Despite the carnage, the herd is soon reforming on the other side.

The predators are quickly sated and exhausted. Although many Lystrosaurus are dead, it's still only a small proportion of the herd.

But the brief glory days of these strange mammal like reptiles will soon be gone.

And then Twilight and her friends were pulled into the portal being taking to they're next destination.

As life continues to recover after the Permian Extinction, the battle for survival intensives.

Euparkeria may only have a walk on part so far. But he's about to bring in the new age of lethal predators.

He's descendants will be known as the most greatest Monsters of them all.

Dinosaurs.

The unique ability to stand upright and the agility this allowed. Gives the early dinosaurs a competitive edge over our and their 4 legged mammal like ancestors. Repress by these swift killers, their ancestors are reduce to small creatures hiding in the shadows. Their time will come.

But for the next 165 million years, the world belongs to the Dinosaurs.

Next Time.

They'll travel 18 million years and swim in the 6th deadliest of all time.

And meet some of the first marine reptiles.