Time: Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian, 66 MYA

Location: Montana

Mission Log: Day 3

Days Until Meteor Impact: 2

The moon is bright once the sun has disappeared for the night. After failing to bring a T. rex back to Prehistoric Park these last couple of days, Fluttershy and her team are on edge. They only have two more days until the meteor hits the planet, and once it does, the mission is over, T. rex or none.

However, Fluttershy and her team had devised a new strategy. When Fluttershy returned to the camp yesterday, the herds of Triceratops and Edmontosaurus had already moved on. Luckily for Fluttershy, their tracks showed that both herds were traveling toward the lake she had seen the previous day. Both herbivores are prey for Tyrannosaurus rex, and water sources are excellent hunting grounds for predators. If they could find the herds and wait and see if the three young or the adult T. rexes showed up, she could lure at least one in through the time portal. After they agreed on the plan, Fluttershy and her team packed supplies and equipment for the morning before tucking in for the night.

The sun is up and bright as its light reflects across the lake below it. The herds of Triceratops and Edmontosaurus have been there all night and are enjoying the plentiful vegetation and water. However, this peaceful moment was not going to last much longer.

The next day, the trio of T. rex turn up, looking for trouble.

Just within the dense brush at the edge of the clearing, the three young tyrannosaur siblings are stalking the herds, who are unaware of their presence. Fluttershy and her team, who had arrived a few hours earlier, had noticed them. They watched the trio carefully and kept a good distance from them to avoid gaining their attention. After a long night of unsuccessful hunting and traveling far to avoid the adult, these herds are a blessing to the young tyrannosaurs. However, the three know they're risking a lot by hunting during the day in an open area and inside an adult's territory, but their hunger outweighs the risks. The three theropods are examining the herds to select their target. The Triceratops have a lot of meat on them, but even for a pack of three sub-adult T. rexes, one can cause serious injury or death to the hunters. The edmontosaurs are a safer option but are dangerously close to the Triceratops. This hunt will be incredibly risky, and while they could wait until nightfall for a better chance, they're too hungry to wait any longer.

It seems both the Triceratops and Edmontosaurus are on the menu.

Fluttershy and her team watch the T. rexes with their binoculars. They see that the three are now beginning their hunt. Having selected their target, the predators split up, with two going right and one going left.

"It looks like their strategy is to have those two burst out of the trees to distract and scare the herds into heading toward the third T. rex, who's waiting to ambush which animal they target," Fluttershy explains before returning her attention to the hunt. "Now that they're on the move, we need to get ready to move in when we can." Fluttershy puts her binoculars down and gives orders to get her team ready to move before she heads for the herds.

Meanwhile, back with the predators, the two are now in position to enact their plan. They see their sibling off in the distance, waiting in his position. After brief moments of peaceful silence, the two burst out of the brush and charged toward the herds.

"Charging toward the herbivores, right amid the herds there!"

The edmontosaurs and even the Triceratops panic from this sudden attack and run in various directions. Both T. rex hiss at their prey to lead them toward their sibling.

"And what the T. rex are doing, they'll find the weakest."

The predators have selected their target, but before they can reach it, they're confronted by a pair of Triceratops. The well-armed herbivores push back against the predators, defending their young.

A fully grown Triceratops is far from defenseless. While mainly used for display and communication, its frill is made of solid bone. Unfortunately, its frill doesn't offer as much protection as one might think. It's its horns, however, that is the biggest threat. The horns of a Triceratops are also made of solid bone and covered in several layers of keratin, making them stronger. One strike from those horns can be devastating.

Blocked and outmatched, the two Tyrannosaurs are unsure of what to do. Their brother watches from the brush, just as confused as them. One thing is clear, though: their desperation messed up the hunt. But, when they think it couldn't get any worse, the two notice something else behind the Triceratops. Much to their distress, it was another Tyrannosaurus rex. This one, however, was at least twice their size; its crests were not as prominent, and while having the same patterning, it was lighter in color. Drawn by the sound of intruders and panicking prey, the adult T. rex came to investigate. To its displeasure, it finds a small pack of younger individuals attempting and failing at hunting in its territory. However, instead of bursting out and chasing them off, the adult takes advantage of the situation. It, too, is hungry, and the panic the young ones have caused has opened an opportunity to ambush. The adult T. rex bursts out and charges toward the young Triceratops. In a panic, the young ceratopsians retreat to escape the bigger predator.

The younger Triceratops know better than to stand their ground.

The younger Triceratops had retreated toward Fluttershy, some nearly hitting her. Fluttershy, distracted by the sudden appearance of the adult T. rex, manages to move out of the way in time, but in the process, she falls to the ground, her binoculars accidentally hitting her in the head. What scared Fluttershy, though, was the force of the Triceratops running past her.

"Almost felt like I was about to be hit by a train."

Back with the hunt, the adult T. rex confronts the young T. rex brothers and the pair of Triceratops. For the brothers, they are completely afraid and confused. For the Triceratops, they're stuck between a rock and a hard place. In front of them are two young T. rex, but behind them is an adult. However, their predicament is about to end, but not in a good way. Behind them, to their right, an adolescent Triceratops is running, but in its panic, toward the worst direction.

A young Triceratops has run the wrong way.

The adult T. rex sees the young Triceratops and bites down on it as soon as it's in front of it. The young Triceratops struggles in the adult T. rex's grasp.

The more it struggles, the more trouble it's in as the T. rex's 12-inch long, thick, and conical, serrated teeth sink deeper and deeper.

The young Triceratops cries out in pain and fear as the adult T. rex continues to bite down on its helpless victim. All Fluttershy can do is watch, witnessing the sad and tragic end of such a young animal at the jaws of such a powerful predator. However, one of the adult Triceratops hears the cries and spots the young Triceratops in the jaws of the adult T. rex. It rushes toward the predator.

Luckily, help is at hand.

"A Triceratops is fighting back the adult T. rex!"

The adult rex sees the adult Triceratops charging and drops its prey to confront it. The adult Triceratops lunges forward, pushing the T. rex back. The adult rex lunges forward, but the Triceratops throws its head up to deflect the attack. Then, the Triceratops rushes forward and manages to hit the Tyrannosaur with its horns. The rex lets out a cry of pain before re-engaging with its opponent.

"The horn's gone right into the upper thigh!"

The Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops continue to fight. The Triceratops lunges forward again, and its horns leave more wounds on the rex's side. The T. rex attempts to go for the neck, but the Triceratops knocks the theropod back. The Triceratops attacks again and lands a few more hits, causing the T. rex to cry out in pain. The younger T. rexes, witnessing it all, finally decided to retreat. They join up with their brother and head far away from the scene.

"And the young ones, they just left!"

So much for the hunt.

The adult Triceratops retreats, leaving the injured adult T. rex. Blood drips down the predator's leg. T. rexes are tough, but even they can succumb to injury.

Now the injured T. rex has to attempt a new kill. And it looks like it spotted its next victims: more youngsters.

Hiding poorly behind some bushes was a young Triceratops and a young Edmontosaurus. Both were about half the size of the adults, and the Triceratops' horns were curved upward. They're too scared to move, even as the adult T. rex, intent on hunting one of them, moves toward them.

For Fluttershy, this is the chance she's been waiting for. She sets up the time portal.

Fluttershy and her team set up the time portal as quickly as possible. Once it's set, they head toward the two young herbivores.

"Maybe I can get three species for the price of one," Fluttershy says as she takes off her backpack, takes out a bandana, and waves it in front of the two cowering animals. The two look back and see that the T. rex is getting closer but are still too afraid to leave their hiding spot. "If I can lure these two through the time portal, come on, then maybe the T. rex will follow."

Fluttershy waves her vest at the Triceratops and Edmontosaurus, almost desperately trying to entice them to run toward the portal. The two refuse to budge, afraid and now confused by everything happening. The Triceratops looks back and sees the Tyrannosaurus is getting closer, and now he has to decide: stay or run. Ultimately, the fear of being killed by the predator gets the best of him, and he and the Edmontosaurus book it toward the portal.

"Come on!" Fluttershy yells as the two herbivores move, not a second too soon as the T. rex finally reaches the bush. The T. rex stops at the bush and gives a loud hiss as its two targets run through the portal, with Fluttershy and her team following behind.

"Come on, T. rex!"

The tyrannosaur gives out one last hiss before going quiet. The animal is perplexed by what it just witnessed. Seconds ago, it saw a young Triceratops and Edmontosaurus running away from it, along with some strange-looking creatures, only to disappear into thin air.

Time: Present Day

Location: Prehistoric Park

Mission Log: Day 3

Days Until Meteor Impact: 2

Back at Prehistoric Park, Applejack was at the holding facility. She had spent most of her time there these last few days waiting for Fluttershy and her team. She was up on the walkway above the holding pens when she saw the portal open. She hurried over anxiously, thinking she was about to see Fluttershy and a T. rex. But what came through first was different from what she expected. She watched as a young Triceratops and Edmontosaurus rushed through, followed by Fluttershy and her team, much to her relief.

"Well, those are certainly not T. rexes!" Applejack calls out to Fluttershy, who looks up and laughs.

The two dinosaurs enter one of the pens together before the gate behind them closes. They are confused by everything. Moments ago, they were being chased by a T. rex in their forested habitat, and now they're in a weird and unknown environment surrounded by strange creatures. However, despite it all, they've calmed down a little now that the T. rex is gone.

With the Triceratops weighing in at five tons and the Edmontosaurus at four, both make a great start.

Everyone at the holding facility stops what they're doing and comes to see the two herbivores. Up top, Applejack grabs her radio and calls the whole Park.

It's not long before news spreads that Prehistoric Park's first dinosaurs have arrived.

A car arrives at the holding facility and pulls up to the pen. Inside the car are two friends of Fluttershy’s and the Park's head veterinarian and apprentice.

The Park's vet, Sunset Shimmer, and her apprentice Pinkie Pie, head over to take a look for themselves.

Sunset and Pinkie walk up to the pen, look through the gaps, and see the two dinosaurs within.

"It's a Triceratops and Edmontosaurus; she's done it!"

"Our first dinosaurs, look at them. They're magnificent."

Later that evening, two large trucks pull up to the holding facility. These are transport trucks, and their first passengers are the Triceratops and Edmontosaurus.

"All the way, get back," Rarity, the second-in-command headkeeper, orders as the first truck backs up to the pen.

Second-in-Command Park Keeper, Rarity, is keen to move the newcomers into a secure enclosure as soon as possible.

"Hold it! That's far enough."

The staff prepare the truck to be boarded.

Back in her office, Fluttershy is filling out some paperwork. She wants to finish quickly because Rarity is moving the two newcomers to their new home.

Although they were unexpected arrivals, Fluttershy thinks they’ve got the perfect place to put them.

Fluttershy finishes filling out the paperwork before walking to the wall-mounted map of the Park.

"Come on, I need to have a look at that. Up you go," Fluttershy gently says to a little boa constrictor hanging from the top of the wall, blocking the map before lifting it out of the way. "Triceratops and Edmontosaurus, our first dinosaurs; we need a good place to keep them. I'm going to call them Theo and Edmonton; those are great names for them. But we need some vegetation for them to browse on. Rarity and I have looked over here-" She gestures to a large open grassland. "... too much grass. So Twilight found the perfect spot. Down here by the river, and that's where their enclosure is going to be. Applejack’s already had an enclosure built there long ago, just in case. We're going to keep the two together. We haven't seen any aggression from the two toward one another, nor any stress of them being together. They'll cohabitate just fine in their new home, and I think they're just about to unload them."

With that, Fluttershy pins a small piece of paper labeled 'Triceratops and Edmontosaurus Creek' on the map, indicating the location of the new enclosure before she heads off to witness the release of Theo and Edmonton.

Fluttershy arrives at the enclosure just in time. Rarity and a few of the staff had just parked the trucks inside and were getting ready to let the two inside out.

"Hey, Rarity!" Fluttershy says to her friend as she exits her vehicle.

"Ah, darling!" Rarity says as she walks over and pats Fluttershy on the back.

"I'm thrilled to be here, and I can see you are; our first dinosaurs."

"A bit short notice, but I'll forgive you though. Our new visitors are magnificent."

"And how's the enclosure?"

"It's a bit makeshift, but it'll do for the time being."

The two walk over to the perfect spot to watch the release.

"Let's take a look."

"Let's see."

"I've given them names as well."

"Uh-huh?"

"Theo the Triceratops and Edmonton the Edmontosaurus."

"Theo and Edmonton, good names. Alright, let them out!" Rarity orders as the crew opens the doors to both trucks. "Here they come, here they come—whoa whoa, ha ha!"

Theo and Edmonton barrel their way out of the trucks, with Theo almost getting a little too close to Fluttershy and Rarity. Once on the ground, Theo and Edmonton gaze at their new surroundings. It looked different from their old home, but it seemed rather peaceful. There was a forest to their left, a creek to their right, and plenty of bushes, trees, and shrubs to feed on. And best of all, no predators.

"Look at that!" Fluttershy exclaims, witnessing the two dinosaurs take in their new surroundings. "Plenty for them to eat; Tell Twilight that I told her ‘well done.’ It's great."

"Alright, come on, lads. Get the boards and the trucks out of here." Rarity orders the crew to begin the cleanup.

"I'm pleased with this habitat for the Triceratops and Edmontosaurus," Fluttershy says. "Grass is no good for dinosaurs; it was still rare when they were around. And Triceratops isn’t like a black rhino; it doesn't browse. What it does is graze and browse like a mix between a moose and bison. It needs low shrubs and trees, and there are plenty of those for Theo here. And he's got such a beak; he can snap off branches as thick as my arm. The edmontosaurs did graze on several types of plants, but again, not grass. There are plenty of plants for him to eat here, but we'll have to plant things like cycads in here later for both of them to feed on. Other than that, this is gonna be great for them to thrive."

Fluttershy hops in her car as Theo and Edmonton watch them leave. Once Fluttershy, Rarity, and the rest of the staff had left, the two herbivores began to feed.

For Theo and Edmonton to reach their full size, they'll have to spend most of their lives eating.

Fluttershy is now back at her lodge. She walks toward her office, passing a pair of macaws perched on the railing.

With the Park's first dinosaurs settled, Fluttershy turns her attention once again to T. rex.

And the pressure’s back on Applejack to finish up the enclosure.

Construction is still underway at the site of the T. rex enclosure. It's almost done, but Applejack is anxious to finish it quickly, as there is only a short amount of time left.

"I haven't had a darn clue how to build an enclosure for a Tyrannosaurus rex; I've only seen a picture of one in the novel, Jurassic Park," Applejack explains as she walks around, inspecting the progress of the construction. "But Twilight seems to think that this’ll do. There are lots of areas for it to move around, there's lots of shade to get out of the sun, and I've built it at the bottom of the hill so that, if it wants to, it can stand up there and survey its domain."

The enclosure that will house the T. rex is perfect. Its size, habitat, and setup will make a great home for the last of the Tyrant Lizard Kings.

Fluttershy, not wasting any more time, hops into her Range Rover and drives to the holding facility. She has just over a day left to save a T. rex.

The enclosure will have to be finished soon because Fluttershy is on her way back to where she left off: 66 million years ago. And this time, she's promised to return with a T. rex.

The portal is opened, and Fluttershy drives through it, determined to bring back the king of the dinosaurs.

Author's Note

Prehistoric Park's got its first dinosaurs. Most of you know Theo as the first animal brought back in the show. But here, he's not alone. Introducing: Edmonton the Edmontosaurus! While it makes more sense only to have Theo, I wanted to give him a buddy. Well, sort of. Not sure how the relationship between these two is going to be. We'll have to wait and see.