Devonian Period

360 Million years Ago

Place: Pennsylvania, USA

Oxygen Content: 20% Below Today

Hazards: Giant Killer Fish

A few days have pass since the mane 7's encounter with Dunkleosteus, and now their exploring several miles inland. After walking for a long period of time, they found a lake.

I thought we never stop walking. Rarity said.

We only been walking for an hour. Applejack said.

Well, sorry if I'm not much of a hiker Applejack. She said.

Okay, let's take a break. Twilight

Within minutes, a camp was set up and this time there is some wood to build a campfire. Which pleased Applejack a lot, and as the camp is almost ready Pinkie and Starlight heard a splashing sound from behind. They looked behind and saw a giant salamander like creature crawling out of the water.

This is the giant Amphibian, Hynerpeton. The prototype land dweller for the next 300 million years.

Whoa, that is one big salamander. Pinkie Pie said.

I know Pinkie, he's maybe longer than us. Starlight said.

Within seconds the others came to see what was going on. And they went to have a closer look. And they were amazed how big they are compared to them.

Hynerpeton are 5 feet long in length, much larger than most amphibians today. They've craved out a home along the water's edge. Arthropod enemies still exist, but they've shrunk since their Brontoscorpio glory days. But of course some have now became land specialists, but the air here isn't as Oxygen rich as water. The arthropods primitive lungs can only absorb enough Oxygen to fuel smaller bodies. To adapt they have to reduce their size, and now their role has been reverse. They help feed the growth of their amphibian ancestors.

Still, life for this pioneer is far from easy. It's a whole new world. In the last 50 million years, plants have developed into trees. And with nothing around to eat them, they've grown into vast forests pumping Oxygen into the air.

Hynerpeton has evolved complex lungs to exploit this new Oxygen. His lungs are sacs, just like theirs and ours, and he breaths like we and they do. Forcing air in and out so his blood can asbsorb more Oxygen.

Twilight and the others may not know it. But they still rely on the design developed in this strange amphibian, as well as we do. Hynerpeton can breath on land, but he's still water bound. His skin is much thinner than ours and theirs and it dries out in minutes, so have have to keep it wet. And water is a danger zone.

One Hynerpeton enters the water and dives under, and Rainbow couldn't resist but follow him.

Rainbow continues to follow the Hynerpeton through as she swims. She's even using her wings for a little extra speed, but what she didn't know is that it was leading her in serious trouble.

The fish are now their ancestor's enemies. Primitive sharks are constantly on the hunt.

And behind the 2 swimmers was a Stethacanthus, the 2 quickly swam for their lives. But then coming from behind the shark was a much larger fish and it swallowed the shark whole. But even sharks are small fry in comparison to some flesh eating fish. This species of colossal fish is called Hyneria.

Hyneria weighs 2 tons. And is 15 feet long. She's an insatiable carnivore.

Both Rainbow and the Hynerton continue to swim for their lives keeping one step ahead of the fish. But just when the fish was about to close in, both of them quickly scramble to shore. The amphibian's limbs are his saving grace. For now. As well as the same for Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow quickly went back to her friends.

What happen? Twilight asked notice her shaking.

There was a really big fish in there. She said.

Okay, maybe we should stay out of the water then. Starlight said.

Your telling me. Spike said.

Sunset is now approaching. And as the burning sun dips, Hynerpeton can spend more time on land. And for the the male that Rainbow has followed, this stretch of shoreline is his territory. And his trump card with the opposite gender. And nearby are some females.

Hynerpeton females are choosy, and will only go for male who can defend their turf. They also only mate during a short season. The male's future depends on passing on his genes, and tonight could be his last chance.

As night arrives, so does the competition.

A few hours into the night the gang have decided to watch them for a little while longer. Then they saw another Hynerpeton male appeared.

Another male with his eye on his prime patch. The resident male approaches the new rival, the 2 males stand each other out. To avoid injury, the males demonstrate their strength in a strange push up contest. The 2 male continue their challenge till eventually the newcomer gives up and leaves.

This rival is not up to the challenge, but now their male may be too late for love.

Dawn.

Early the next morning, all the females in the area have mated and move on. The group of 8 are still sleeping in their tent. However Hynerpeton seems to have missed his chance. The male has been calling out for a while. The only attention he's attracting comes from the dark waters of the lake.

Then suddenly climbing out of the water. A female finally answers his call, and the male seizes the opportunity. And the male climbs on to her as she begins to lay eggs. Amphibian eggs are soft, and their young have gills, not lungs, so they must be laid in water. Where amphibians are most vulnerable.

Suddenly their moment was cut short when a Hyneria approaches from behind. The 2 Hynerpetons have left the shore just in time, the splash has woke up Twilight and the others as they left their tent to see what was going on, and saw the Hyneria on the shoreline only 10 feet away from the Hynerpetonn.

Hyneria can attack like a Killer Whale after a Seal. Only just missing her prey. But she has remarkably powerful fins. Then the Hyneria did something that got the 8 by surprise as they watch her using her front fins and shifting her body forwards out on to land. And takes the male by surprise.

The 2 ton fish clamps her jaws on the Hynerpeton's tail, and once she has a firm grip. She sharply turns her body and enters back into the water after a small struggle.

The end for this Hynerpeton.

Meanwhile Twilight and the others were still shocked of what happen. About a large fish dragging herself on land.

Can you believe what just happen? Rainbow asked.

That big fish just pulled itself on land.

I actually seen that kind of hunting skill with Orcas. Fluttershy said.

Fluttershy is right Killer Whales do have a hunting skill of catching sea lions on land. But no Killer Whale can't drag themselves on to land.

Let's just be glad it wasn't us. Twilight said.

Sure wish we can say the same for that amphibian. Starlight said.

Then suddenly they got sucked into the time warp, and being taken to their next destination in history.

But the amphibians are about to find a way to leave the dangers of the water behind for good. The key to their future success lies in changing their eggs. They evolve a hard waterproofing casing, which protects the young inside from the drying sun. So they can be laid on land.

The babies will hatch out, fully developed, air breathing and independent. They're the 1st ever true vertebrate landlubbers. The very 1st reptiles.

But they will face other giants. Monsters who consider this their turf. The War for the world is moving on to Dry Land. The Arthropods are coming back.

Next Time, they'll move forward 60 million years and enter the world of killer bugs. From huge flesh eating spiders, to 10 foot millipede relatives. And meet the first reptiles, the origins of Spike.