280 Million Years Ago

Early Permian Period

Twilight and and her friends exit the time warp, and near a large group of large reptiles.

Whoa, those guys are big. Rainbow Dash said.

The world's first giant reptiles have arrived. But they're not related to Dinosaurs. Their descendants, will be of a very different kind.

Place: Bromacker, Germany

Global Temp: 20% Colder Than Today

Hazards: Extreme Seasons

Reptiles have now spread all across the globe. The gang watch as the reptile called Edaphosaurus, bask in the early morning sun. They're 10 feet long, as big as Hippos, and like them their vegetarians.

Life in their new Permian home is a contest battle with the elements. The climate swings between seasonal extremes. From burning summers, to freezing winters. A new species of plant has evolved able to withstand this cold, dry atmosphere. Primitive conifers.

In this harsh unpredictable world, creatures must be tough and adaptable to survive. The insects have shrunk since their Carboniferous glory days. But the giant reptiles have succeed. By finding a way to regulate their body temperature.

Wow, I never seen reptiles like those before. Fluttershy said.

I'm not completely sure. Twilight said. But I think they might be the first big reptiles.

Maybe you right Twilight. Spike said.

It sure feels a little chilly. Starlight said.

Guess those fellas know what you mean. Applejack said gesturing to the Edaphosaurus basking.

Edaphosaurus are sluggish in the early autumn chill, but they'll soon warm up. Thanks to the huge sail on their backs. Their backbone has tall spines connected by a thin membrane of blood filled skin. This large surface area can lose heat fast, if the Edaphosaurus need to cool down.

Twilight made a magical screen appear showing thermal vision, and sees that the sails are quickly heating up their bodies.

Amazing. She said.

Then Pinkie appeared showing her body temperature as well and said. Hey, I'm a different color.

While to heat up they simply turn their sails towards the sun, like a solar panel.

Amazingly, these this strange sailbacks are related to us and them. They're part of a very special group of creatures called Mammal like Reptiles. It's down to them that we have control over our body temperature today. Same goes for Twilight and her friends.

But Edaphosaurus aren't the only sailbacks, and now their biggest enemy is one of their own kind.

Some distance away on a hilltop, was a light greenish sail much bigger than the sail of Edaphosaurus. Pinkie saw it, but thought her mind was playing tricks on her.

But this no trick. And appearing from behind a tree was a head of a reptile eyeing on the herd.

This is Dimetrodon, a vicious carnivore. The biggest reptile on Earth. Of this time.

The Dimetrodon watches the herd carefully as she tries to choose a easy target.

She'd normally attack adult Edaphosaurus, but today she wants to avoid injury. She's pregnant and almost ready to lay her eggs. Then she spots a young Edaphosaurus which really got her interested.

She finds a smaller, softer target.

Having picked her catch today, the Dimetrodon charges towards the herd. The Edaphosaurus begin to panic.

What's gotten in to them?! Pinkie asked.

I think it has something to do with that! Rarity seeing the Dimetrodon running towards them.

Then the reptile halts to a stop. Which was a surprise for Rainbow Dash.

This was only a mock charge, a tactic to disperse the group and expose the vulnerable young. The panicking Edaphosaurus flush their sails with blood, flashing an eye spot to distract the predator's attention from their vulnerable head.

But Dimetrodon can see through their disguise.

And the female Dimetrodon charges again, and the group of 8 begin to run for their lives. And the Edaphosaurus begin to run in different directions.

Then she stops once again, looking for a target. Then she looks to her left and spots it.

She locks on to her victim.

The young Edaphosaurus sees the predator and begins to run to his live. With the Dimetrodon chasing after him. And within a matter of seconds she close the distance and kills him.

As well as her sheer size and power, Dimetrodon has a killer edge. As a mammal like reptile, she's evolved specialized teeth. Incisors shear off chucks of flesh. We humans have inherited these same meat eating teeth. We have a smaller version in our mouths today. As for Twilight and her friends, it's really more a much smaller plant eating version.

The young Edaphosaurus didn't stand a chance.

A while later Twilight and the others have managed to regroup from parting away from the chase. And now they were watch the Dimetrodon feeding on her kill, and they couldn't help but feel sorry for the young reptile.

This is a crucial kill for the Dimetrodon. Before she lays, she needs to eat enough to last her for the next 7 months. To boost her babies chances of survival, she's evolved a basic form of parental care. Guarding her eggs.

But the smell of blood has attracted more Dimetrodon.

Highly aggressive males.

Soon 3 male Dimetrodons appeared. And the female took one more bite before leaving.

The female knows better than to defend her kill.

So much for a nice dinner. Spike said.

By the time the group is finished, there'll be nothing left but bones.

The group of 8 continues to watch as the Dimetrodon trio feed. Similar to Komodo Dragons of today.

While Lions today consume 70% of a carcass, Dimetrodon eat 90. But they'll only eat intestines after shaking out the waste inside. Dung is one thing a Dimetrodon can't stomach.

Sometime the groups finds the female Dimetrodon approaching a mound of dirt.

The female has build a nesting mound of earth and wood.

What's it doing? Rainbow Dash Asked.

Let's watch and see. Fluttershy said.

Inside, she digs a deep burrow. And starts to lay her eggs.

You guys, she's laying eggs! Fluttershy said.

She's gonna be a mom! Pinkie shouted.

Once she was done laying. She covers her brood carefully, ready to begin her guard duty.

Egg thieves lurk in the shadows. Like this carnivorous Amphibian Seymouria that is behind the mane 7. But he's too small to make a full frontal attack. He'll have to bide his time until the female turns her back.

The mother must also constantly monitor the nest's temperature. Temperature control is vital for reptiles even before they hatch. The mother piles on more earth if the babies are too cold. And will remove a layer if they're too warm, otherwise the babies will die.

Once the nest is covered, the mother lays down from a watchful distance.

It's going to be a long 7 months.

The months pass and autumn becomes a bitterly cold winter. The landscape has transformed. An eerie silence descends as all creatures seek shelter.

The mother Dimetrodon is still out guarding her nest, and the gang is in a tent 100 yards away.

Still the female keeps her vigil, getting weaker all the time from lack of food. This is the most critically time for her young. The nest temperature can drop to dangerous levels, many of the young may never hatch out.

Meanwhile in their tent, Twilight and the others are keeping warm as best they can.

It sure is cold out there. Spike said.

Sure wish we can help our friend. Applejack said wanting to help the Dimetrodon.

I know AJ, but we just can't get close enough without her seeing us as a threat to her nest. Twilight said.

I seen this before in crocodiles. Fluttershy said. The mothers will stay by their nest till the eggs hatch and watch them.

How long has it been since they were laid? Rainbow asked.

We're at month 5. Fluttershy said.

Sure hope spring will arrive soon. Starlight said.

Then finally winter melts into spring.

And on one morning the gang went for a morning walk and saw some Edaphosaurus feeding.

In the morning's warmth, the Edaphosaurus feed on the thriving conifers. This trees contain a early form of anti freeze, which has help them to withstand the cold winter. They also have an extremely tough hard leaves, making them difficult to digest. To grind down these tough mouthfuls the Edaphosaurus have develop a specialist jaw and teeth. Their some of the first creatures with this adaption. digesting plants is a more challenging task than meat, and the Edaphosaurus vast stomach acts as a non stoping processing factory.

When the hot midday sun raises, the herd lazes beneath the conifers to digest. They carefully shade their sails from the heat.

And the gang begins to head back to check on the nest.

But there's much activity at the nesting mound. And it's not the mother who's digging.

When Twilight and the other got back they notice a Dimetrodon digging. But Twilight notice it's not the mother, this female has a scar on the left side of her face.

Another female is desperate to lay her eggs. If she takes over the mound, she'll dig out and kill the incubating young already inside.

Then the mother appears and she was not happy to find this trespasser at her nest. The the turns and face her.

The resident mother may be weak, but she won't give up her nest without a fight.

Then the mother charges and the 2 females begin to fight for the rights of the nest. All Twilight and her friends can do is stay out of the way.

Hour later the fight continues.

It's a battle neither can afford to lose.

Hours more has past, and finally one of the females takes a bite to the head. And the other growls in triumph.

Next morning, just one female remains at the nesting mound.

It's the resident mother. She's managed to wrestle off her rival. But not without a sacrifice.

The group of were glad the mother has won, but then she turns and reveals something that would sadden any heart.

During the fight, the mother has lost her right eye.

She won't be able to defend her eggs or herself for much longer.

And the thieving amphibian is poised to seize his chance.

Sometime later.

As summer arrives, the Edaphosaurus are thriving in the heat. The young have grown and test out their newfound strength.

But the mother Dimetrodon has reached the end of hers.

Over the last few days, Twilight and the others leave some water for her to gain some strength so she make a little longer. But she is still weak from hunger.

So weak, she's helpless as another intruder attacks her nest.

The mother sees a male Dimetrodon dangerously too close to her nest. And is feeding on something.

Luckily this large male has got his teeth into something more substantial than her young. The amphibian.

The male then picks up the dead Seymouria that was trying to break in the nest, and begins to leave.

Meanwhile inside the nest, the precious eggs are safe and ready to hatch.

Twilight and the other went to check on the mother, and then heard the squeaking young breaking through their shells. And the mother got up.

The mother can hear them squeaking. She's achieved her goal.

Their hatching! Fluttershy said excited.

Then the mother begins to walk away from her hatching offspring, much of their surprise.

But at this moment her maternal bond is severed. Unlike her mammal descendants, or even crocodiles she won't nurture her young. Her instinct now is to save herself, by finding food.

As Twilight and her friends waiting for the young, inside the babies begin to break out of their eggshells.

Without their mother's protection, the babies will have to be ready to go it alone.

Soon one of them steps out of the nest. And the 8 friends were adored by them.

They take their first steps into a perilous world, and must make a mad dash for the safety of the trees.

Then the babies started to run towards the nearest tree they can get to.

A danger in a familiar form awaits them. Adult Dimetrodon are cannibals.

Then 3 full grown Dimetrodon appeared, and sadly one of the babies ran too close to one of them and ends up as a snack.

Not all babies are helpless. Some already instinctively know how to defend themselves.

One of babies is being chased by a adult, and ran into a pile of dung which made the adult stop dead in it's tracks.

They roll in dung. Something the adults can't stand. Repelling their pursuers long enough to get a head start.

Then the baby ran to the closest tree, and makes it just in time.

One adult is driven on by hunger and desperation. The mother.

Twilight and the others can tell that she is very hungry. And couldn't help but feel sorry for her condition, but she will recover.

She'll weed out weaker babies straight away, which helps the strong ones and her species as a whole survive.

I sure feel sorry for her. Pinkie said.

I'm sure she will recover soon. Twilight assured her.

And the now the reptiles evolve to tighten their grip on land.

Then the gang were suck in the time warp again taken to the next destination.

Their legs straighten and lengthen, holding them more upright and giving them speed. Their backbones and muscles get stronger and they even start to look like mammals. To house a larger brain their skull bones expand into an enormous head. And out of their jaws thrust huge, sharp teeth.

A new age of specialist reptiles has dawned.

Next Time, they'll travel 30 million years to the Late Permian and into the world of the first terrifying saber tooth. But find that it isn't size that count's.

But unaware that their nearing the greatest Mass Extinction of all time... The Great Dying.