Earth, North America, 76 MYA (Million Years Ago), Mid-Afternoon...
A male Teratophoneus and his family were stalking a herd of corythosaurus. the plan communicated by their unique tongue was simple: scare, trap, scatter, and cull the herd. One of the four young stayed with his father, helping chase the corythosaurs. There would have been more children if it weren't for those pesky mammals... of the eleven eggs lain six years ago, only these four made it.
They were similar to the tyrannosaurus in many ways: two claws, typical of the tyrannosaur, and a build a lot like the T. Rex, but they were smaller, and had less teeth then the T. Rex, but they still had an impressive bite, and the young had a bacteria-filled mouth similar to the Tyrannosaurus, which they used as venom.
As the mate and her young went to ambush their prey, the father and his oldest son stayed hidden in the trees, almost invisible. They moved slowly, staying low to the ground, in a fashion that those living now would compare to the lion. When they got close enough, they pounced and began their chase.
When they saw the Teratophoneus, the Corythosaurs panicked and ran into the narrow valley, springing the trap: the other four jumped out, scattering the herd. All six noticed an old male, injured and infected; easy prey when alone.
The young ran straight into the herd, ensuring they drove the herd farther away from their prey. They then isolated the corythosaur, trapping it between four eager, hungry mouths. The doomed dinosaur saw its fate, and gave up trying to return to the herd, which had already run from the approaching parents. In the end, dinner was served for one family that night.
Dusk, that same day...
When the family returned to their nest, it was time to retire for the night. they lived in a cave within the valley walls; hidden, yet easily accessible due to the outcropping in front of the cave. They often chased away pterosaurs who wanted to use it as a roost, though occasionally they enjoyed a drumstick dinner. Though they often huddled to rest, it was more for the company of their family than warmth. It never got really cold where they lived, especially during the warm, wet season mid-year. they all went to sleep soon after.
But during the night, something new happened: they had dreams.
Present day ,Winter, Equus, near Midnight, somewhere by the Everfree Forest...
The Cutie Mark Crusaders were wandering about near the edge of the forest, and as always, were searching to find something that might get them their cutie marks.
"Why are we even out here?", a nervous Apple Bloom said, "This is almost as scary as when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour."
A disgusted Nyx replied, "Oh, please. that was 6 years ago! You have to be over that by now."
"I am over it! Those Japs got what they deserved when we nuked them!" a confident Scootaloo said.
"Please don't say that..." Sweetie Belle asked, preferring not to think about violence.
"Well, none of that matters now. That was six years ago, this is now." Nyx said, "and we're out here because this is the last place we would look for our cutie marks, so this is where we would most likely find it."
“...but Nyx, we always end up in the Everfree Forest eventually.”, countered Apple Bloom
“And usually covered in tree sap...”, Sweetie belle Muttered
“None of that matters!”, yelled Nyx, “We're near the forest, not in-”
The rest of her sentence was cut off by a loud crash nearby. Ever adventurous, they shrugged it off and went to investigate. When they found the source, they noticed a cave, odd noises coming from inside. Not-a-chicken scootaloo looked in first, and saw six odd creatures sleeping within, similar to dragons, but looking more like spike than garble. They also noticed four bizarre cylinders around the creatures, looking almost like a cage with no walls. Worry overtaking their curiosity, they discussed what to do, with sweetie belle suggesting they leave and the rest agreeing.
“But what do we tell the others?”, asked Sweetie.
“I vote we tell 'em about these… things.”, said Apple Bloom.
Nyx decided to act in charge over the confusion. "Tell nopony about this when we get back, got it?"
“Yes Nyx.”, agreed Sweetie and Apple Bloom
“When did she become our mom…?”, complained Scootaloo.
Had they stayed longer, however, they would have noticed the canisters opening; a thick green gas seeping out of the openings. As the dinosaurs slept, they breathed, and as they breathed, the gas changed their bodies and their minds. Their brains grew, and with this growth came thoughts and ideas; not to be known until they woke up and began their new lives.
These containers also had something else: writing. Though the ponies may not be able to read it, others could, and to them it would read...
"ALZ-11D"