Down the path from the Visitor Center stood the Containment Pen. This is where the dinosaurs who final pen wasn’t ready would go, and at the moment horrible animalistic screeches were coming from within the plant foliage. Twilight looked at the pen, noticing how many armed ponies there were. She was intent on seeing the raptors that were within; but she didn’t know about this is where the incident that caused her to be here happened.
“Ms. Sparkles!” Scorch called, Twilight’s friends following close behind. “We have lunch all set for you before you set out into the park and-“
“What are they doing?” Twilight asked. Scorch looked up at workers, who were strapping in a cow to a net.
“Oh.” The cow was then slowly raised up by a crane. “Feeding them.” Scorch said casually. The ponies watched as the cow was lifted over the pen. “As I was saying our gourmet chefs have a delightful meal planned out for us.” His words fell on deaf ears as the ponies trotted onto the viewing platform.
“That…..that cow isn’t…..” Fluttershy asked.
“Afraid so.” Scorch said seriously. “Raptors have to eat to.” The shy pony looked horrified at the idea. The top of pen opened as the cow was slowly lowered into the pen, disappearing in the foliage. For a few moments the only thing heard was the sound of the cow mooing. The bushes began to rustle, then began to shake violently as something moved towards the cow. The air then began to fill with horrible screeches and roars. The ponies couldn’t see what was happening behind all the plants, but one with an ounce of imagination could probably figure out what was happening. Fluttershy was beginning to turn a shade of green. Rarity had to turn away from the pen.
“What horrible table manners.”
“I don’t think manners were a thing a few million years ago.” Pinkie said. The others could only stare in horror. Scorch wasn’t pleased with the looks on their faces.
“They should all be destroyed.” A voice called out. The group turned to see a red unicorn stallion with a black desperado hat firmly on his head trot up.
“Ah Crimson my boy!” Scorch said happily. “This is Crimson our game warden and head of security for the park. If Anypony knows anything about the dinosaurs its him.” This was an opportunity for Twilight.
“Can I ask a few questions about….them?” She pointed to the pen.
“Ask away.”
“We just saw a baby raptor in the hatchery, so what’s their growth rate?”
“They’re lethal at eight months, and I do mean lethal.” Crimson said seriously. “I studied many animals that can hunt ponies but these…..these things are on a whole different level.”
“How fast are they for bi-ped?”
“Cheetah speed if they ever got out into the open.”
“This is why we are taking extreme cautionary measures for them.” Scorch interrupted, before turning back to the rest of the group to explain more about the fence.
“How’s their intelligence? Because there’s been speculation about-“
“They’re extremely intelligence.” This was the first time Crimson cut Twilight off. This alone got the others attention. “They show extreme intelligence, even problem solving; especially the big one. We bred eight originally, but when she came in, she took over the pride and killed all but two of the others.” The ponies looked scared at the thought. ”That one....when she looks at you, you can see she's working things out.”
“Oh my. I don’t think my stare would work on them.” Fluttershy said.
“She's the reason we have to feed 'em like this. She had them all attacking the fences when the feeders came.”
“Aren’t the fences electric?” Applebloom asked. Crimson nodded.
“They are, but they never attack the same place twice. They were testing the fence for weaknesses………they remember.” The top of the pen opened once more, the crane pulling out what remained of the rigging that lowered the cow in.
“Well then, who’s hungry?” Scorch asked casually.
The group bid Crimson a farewell as Scorch lead them back into the visitor center, and into the dining room, where food was currently being served.
“Awesome, I’m starving.” Rainbow said as her stomach growled. The ponies sat around the circular table as waiters began serving food. “What’s all of that?” The pegasus pointed to the monitors surrounding the room.
“Oh those are upcoming attractions for the park. You’ll all be taking the safari; the rest of the attractions will all go online within six to twelve months. Spectacular designs spared no expense.” Scorch said happily. The only ponies who didn’t touch their food were Fluttershy and Twilight.
“After seeing the raptors, I’m not so hungry anymore.” The pegasus admitted.
“Same here.” Scorch and Flash had begun to discuss business.
“We can charge anything we want. Ten thousand bits, twenty thousand and ponies will pay it.” The lawyer said.
“Flash this park wasn’t built for the extremely rich. Everypony on the planet have the right to enjoy this place.”
“So we’ll have a coupon day.” Scorch rolled his eyes.
“So, what’s every ponies opinion so far?”
“This place is awesome!”
“Can’t wait to see more dinosaurs!”
“This food is simply heavenly!” Scorch noticed Twilight and Fluttershy haven’t said anything.
“Is something wrong Ms. Sparkle?” The stallion asked. Twilight looked at him and her friends.
“I…..I agree with what Fluttershy said earlier. The lack of respect towards nature in this place is really profound.”
“Twilight, I believe you’re being a little unfair here.” Flash said.
“No no, let her continue.” Scorch said. “I value every ponies opinion. Go on your highness.” The alicorn had to gather her thoughts.
"What Fluttershy said earlier in the hatchery lab totally sums up my feelings about this place, and why Princess Celstia and Luna were worried about it too. The power of nature is the most awesome power in the universe, so much so that even Princess Celestia is humble before it. Tampering with nature opens up a range of unthinkable or even dreadful possibilities."
“I don’t see how I’ve tampered with nature here.”
"You brought an extinct species back to life using super science, animals that we ponies know nothing about, and we haven't the slightest idea what to expect. If that's not tampering, I don't know what is."
“Now hold on we know lots about these animals.” Scorch didn’t like what he was hearing.
"We only know biology from their bones, but nothing about behavior, temperament, or what these things are really capable of. And on top of resurrecting these animals back, what makes you think you can control them?"
"Well we have plenty of safety infrastructure in place..."
"That's another problem. Any effort to maintain control requires an incredibly complex system. This system is stretched so thin that slightest unpredictable force, even a tiny one, could make the whole thing go kaphlooey."
“I don’t believe this.” Scorch said, actually chuckling. “I bring you here to defend me and the one on my side is the blood sucking lawyer!” Flash didn’t know if he should’ve been offended by the statement or not. Twilight wasn’t amused.
"Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. I'm sorry I'm not as enthralled you'd like. I love dinosaurs as much as the next pony, and seeing live ones is certainly cool and all, but I wish there was a little more disciplined restraint. What you call great and amazing I have my own word for...science gone haywire."
“That’s three words.” Applejack said. Scorch frowned until he looked at the clock.
“It’s time.”