//------------------------------// // New Timeline: The Unfrozen North // Story: Dawn of the Dinosaur // by Jongoji245 //------------------------------// Far up in Equestria's Northern Hemisphere, well above the tundra of the Crystal Empire, an empire of flightless griffons, or Pengryphs, were busy sealing the Arctic Ocean with pack ice. Underneath the ice, farmers were harvesting schools of fish for the upcoming winter. Overseeing this is Prince Edgar, son of Pengryph King Charlatan as he sent one soldier after another on patrol. Reports of his subjects being missing one by one, and he couldn't take any chances. With a stroke of his dorsal flippers, Edgar swam forward, looking left and right, before looking forward to a red ink substance coagulating in a small section of water. Swimming closer, he found that there are filaments of black feathers. Noticing the water around him, Edgar looked up, seeing the sight of a monstrous sea beast coming over to him. Back in Continental Equestria, once again Ponyville to be exact, the world was enjoying the summer. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie have just completed their quest in the Griffon capital of Griffonstone, but it would be a while before they will return. Over at a familiar house near the edge of the Everfree, Cosgrove sat in front of Night Dancer's gravestone again, but mourning her isn't his purpose here. Nestled between his dewclaw and main hoof was a white slip. Flipping his wrist, the image displayed a photo of several bipedal mammals, many of whom shared the exact color scheme as he, Chelsey, Zipper, and Diver. One particular addition was a small boy around half their size with yellow-white hair. "Wherever our world's Dapplewood is," - he stuck the photo behind his ear - "I will find him." His peace was interrupted when a violet glow enveloped him, quickly teleporting him over to the interior of the Castle of Harmony. "You didn't have to do that!" Shouted Sunset, pointing her hoof over to the Princess of Friendship. "Sorry, but matters like this must be addressed as quickly as possible." "What matter?" Asked Cosgrove. "Just today," - Twilight levitated an opened scroll - "I have received word from the Pengryph Empire, Prince Edgar has been reported missing." The two ponies she summoned eyed each other before the Hipparion asked, "Then why don't you go?" "I am busy organizing the Grand Equestria Pony Summit, and Princess Celestia and Luna are unavailable to help. I have talked with Princess Cadence. She'll give you clearance to the Arctic." As Twilight left the room the two looked at each other with raised eyebrows when Spike entered the room and patted Cosgrove on the shoulder. "Lucky you're going away to a wintery paradise, they said it's going to be in the nineties." Through the Pony Express, it took them three days to reach the Crystal Empire. Another day's journey with Cadence through the mountainous regions near the closed off country of Yak Yakistan. And another day has passed for them, waiting on the edge of a frozen ice bed inside a red and yellow tent. Their slumber was interrupted when a rumble was felt on their hooves and stomachs. Outside of their tent was a massive ice crawler as big as a mountain as high. From atop the high cockpit, a rope ladder was lowered down to their level. Though the summer has given the Arctic Region eternal sunlight, another two days have passed nonetheless on the ride over to the capital of the Pengryph Empire. As spectacular a sight it is, the driver of the crawler handed them two pairs of sunglasses. "Wear these, it'll be very bright when you get out." True to his word, the albedo effect from the ice made the city very blinding. Given a set of heavy studded horseshoes, the two visitors trudged their way towards the palace, barely avoiding the inhabitants as they slid on their bellies down the streets. They soon arrived at the interior of the palace. Not as well decorated as those of Twilight’s new home, but nonetheless, a spectacle Rarity would enjoy. Sitting on the throne was King Charlatan, looking down at his visitors with a scowl unintentional by his heavy brow. “Welcome to my empire.” - He stepped down from his throne - “Though I was expecting your Princess Twilight to arrive instead of you two.” “She is currently occupied.” The orange Unicorn replied “Then you know the situation.” - The Pengryph lead them to his balcony - “Our oceans are usually safe every harvest season,” - he points a claw to the horizon - “but recently, there have been a series of attacks that have claimed my subjects. I have suspicions that my son has been injured, if not dead.” “What makes you say he isn’t dead?” Asked Cosgrove, getting Charlatan to move his beak down. “Unless evidence points to such, we have a three day period. Right now, search parties are scouring the water, but as we are clumsy compared to our southern kin, we require land surveillance.” - The king walked back inside, sitting on his throne - “I wish to see him returned to me alive.” “We will do our best,” - The Unicorn and the Hipparion lowered their heads before the king - “we promise you.” Back in the crawler again, Sunset and Cosgrove were taken to the last known location. “Remember, three days.” Said the Pengryph before driving away. Alone in the icy wilderness, the two ponies looked around, trying to find any clues as to where the Prince was attacked and where to find him. “What are the natural predators of Pengryphs anyway?” Cosgrove asked. “Usually polar bears, leopard seals, orcas,” - Sunset looks back, seeing just a shade of the Pengryph city - “But with a city that big, no whale would get a tooth at the King.” Looking forward, Cosgrove saw what appeared to be a bluff far into the horizon, rising on his hind legs to get a better view. “Could he have swum that far?” “Maybe, it’ll take us the rest of the day to get there, even with my magic.” She answered before walking forward before speeding up into a trot, soon to be joined by her protege. Their search led them straight to a very tall ice wall. The two leaned around; this was a wall going around a very long distance. “Over there.” Sunset pointed over to a large cargo ship embedded in ice. Wrapped around her sea green aura, Cosgrove was launched over to the deck of the ship. “Do you see the crew?” “Every last bit of them” - He said. Literally. Scattered around the boat were limp, frozen bodies of Pengryphs and Equestrian traders being feasted upon by flocks of toothed seabirds. Sunset and Cosgrove then walked down in the hull of the ship, the equipment seemed to be relatively intact, though there are some anomalies. The viewing pool to the Arctic Ocean was steaming, with a thermostat reading at seventy-four degrees. Levitating a periscope, Sunset looks inside the steaming water, finding an underwater ecosystem unfitting for the Arctic. There were several types of marine reptiles; aside from sea turtles, there were those that appeared to be shark-like, some best described as a snake threaded through the body of a turtle. One turn of the scope and she was met face to face with a crocodile-like head that burst its snout through the hole. The two ran up to the deck when the animal burst through the ice. Rising a few feet above the rails, it leaned its head forward, slamming the enormous body on the ship causing Sunset and Cosgrove to be sent flying into the water. With ice above them, their only means of escape lied within a tunnel, and they had to swim fast. The creature that capsized the boat returned to the ocean, it’s physique allowed a swift paddle. As Sunset and Cosgrove approached the tunnel a suction drew them into the hole faster, easily sucked inside as the beast's mouth snapped shut. With a few knocks to the head by the wall, the two ponies were knocked out cold. The next day, Sunset awoke, rubbing her horned head before turning to the unconscious Cosgrove before rubbing him. “Sweet Mary and-” - His eyes were shot wide awake before feeling a pain in his head - “oh… Where are we?” Inside the ice wall is a fertile paradise. As they walked along the riverbank, there were waterfalls, large forests, and grassy plains. In the far distance was smoke from a volcano. “That explains the warm water and marine reptiles.” - Sunset looked around - “Many of which I haven’t even seen before.” “You’re in for a treat again, boss.” Said Cosgrove as he pointed at the bushes. Grazing upon the foliage were large reptiles, not dragons, but something else. Four-legged with spiked tails, they moved their narrow heads into the bushes, plucking out the tender leaves. Further up the canopy were long-necked, large bodied beasts craning their necks up and down to collect a morsel. Higher still, the skies echoed with the calls of large flying reptiles as they soared above the clouds. “Look!” - Sunset pointed to the wet soil, which had a series of clawed feet. The Prince was definitely close. As they walked along the shore, their hoof steps were joined by a series of much larger stomping noises, becoming louder and heavy enough to shake the earth. Turning around, they found that a large violet, bipedal reptile. Unlike a dragon, it held its body horizontally, balancing the heavy head with a large stiff tail. Having diverted its attention away from the spiny reptiles to the smaller Ponies, it charged forward, roaring at them. On first instinct, Sunset lit up her horn and aimed it at the beast’s leg. Crippled, the animal fell forward, skidding a good distance across the shore before coming to a halt. Taking a long time to get up, the beast looked back to find its prey gone before roaring at the sky. They raced into a dark part the forest, where the rays of light illuminated their outlines and left very little guidance to the tracks on the floor. After running what seemed to be miles, they stopped. “Haven’t seen animals like those too?” Asked Cosgrove as he looked around. “Only fossils” - Sunset watched her friend raise a brow - “Much older ones from the Brobdingnag.” “How older?” They heard a screeching sound to their left, rushing to a clearing. There was Prince Edgar, covered in scratches, one of his dorsal flippers limp, and surrounded by three birdlike reptiles around Sunset’s size, with a large set of eyes facing forward, and bodies covered in white feathers. Edgar swiped his claws forward, missing the troodont by a mile. Another one of them jumped on his back, clawing and sinking its teeth into the black feathers. But with a blast of magic, the forest clearing echoed with a shriek as the animal "flew" across and slammed at a tree. The other two stalked forward when Cosgrove, deprived of his tarot cards, drew an alchemy circle into the ground, summoning an illusion of a dragon. Intimidated by this foreign creature, the carnivores ran away. “Over sixty-five million years to be exact.” - Sunset rubbed her chin - “But how are they here is a question for another visit.” “Indeed.” - Said Edgar - “My father will expect my return soon.” “Can you walk?” - Asked Cosgrove, looking around at each bush around and flipping his ears to the ambiance - “There are bigger things here.” The Pengryph applied all his weight on his feet. “Yes. My legs are okay, it’s the flippers that hurt.” He said, pressing his “wings” against his body. Retracing their steps lead them back to the river. The large carnivore that chased Sunset and Cosgrove when they got inside was absent, much to their relief. But in its place was a much smaller dinosaur. Beige in color with yellow-white protofeathers running along its back, this particular individual had a striking familiarity. “Dapplewood?” The animal perks itself up, turning its head over to the foreign strangers. Curious as a deer, it walked over to the small Hipparion, inching its nose over to him. Just as Cosgrove was about to touch it, the dinosaur lifted its body once again, looking at the woods to its left. Moving its head a little, the animal then darted back into the forest in high speed. “Wait!” Cosgrove ran after the dinosaur. “Cosgrove, wait!” Sunset and Edgar went after them. Though having four legs, the young stallion had a hard time catching up as the dinosaur jumped over fallen trees and dove under brambles. Pushing through one such bush and making a left turn before colliding with another much larger object. Recovering from the recoil, Cosgrove’s eyes widened. “Cosgrove, why have you-” Sunset’s eyes shrank as she stared ahead. There were ponies in this large jungle, but the individual standing before them had magenta stripes lacing around her blue body, and most of all, having two additional toes alongside her weight bearing hoof. “Hello…” He asked of her. The Hipparion mare looked at him, not shifting her gaze as she raised a hoof. What was expected to be a warm welcome was a hard punch to his face. After seeing pure black for quite a long time, the world opened up to him, first as a blur, then as a technicolor world as numerous Hipparion both young and old, along with a few bipedal dinosaurs, gathered around. Cosgrove tried to step forward, but every pull and tug had him drawn back. With a contraction of his nostrils, he looked down to find himself up to his chest in tar. He looked to his right, Sunset and Edgar were in the same scenario. But behind the surrounding crowd, the surrounding area appeared to be an ancient city. Vines now wrap up to the peak of the highest temple, trees encroach the street, though they have not been a problem. The crowd parted in two, revealing a white and black Hipparion in a more elaborate, well if Rarity could call wearing a set of animal skins and an animal skull over his head, garb. The leader looked at Cosgrove the most, shifting his eyes at the other two before grabbing the back of the colt’s neck with his teeth, pulling him out of the tar and brought before what appeared to be a witch doctor. The witch doctor just looked at him again before motioning a drawing action to the ground and pointing to him. Cosgrove shifted his head a little, noticing a few warriors shifting their spears. With a furrow on his brow, he drew a series of alchemy symbols. He first stepped on the wind symbol, channeling the Arctic wind around them, exciting a few youngers foals as it tickled their ears. The leader wasn’t impressed, so Cosgrove moved over to the fire alchemy symbol, changing his hue into a slight red as he unleashed a small stream of fire into the air. Such witchcraft curled a grin from the populace. Feeling satisfied, Cosgrove tried the copper symbol, shrouding himself in electric sparks. The witch doctor’s eyes widened as the untranscribable calligraphy faded up the colt’s arms, raising his staff and letting out a holler. As the other Hipparion joined in the holler, the leader signaled four of the warriors to bring out Sunset and Edgar. At the end of his holler, the witch doctor rubbed the tar off of Cosgrove’s flank, revealing his cutie mark. With a stamp of his staff, he summoned the exact dinosaur they met at the riverside. With a tap of the skull adorned end of the stick, the witch doctor thrusts his head up before leaving the rest of the crowd. Dapplewood tapped Cosgrove’s shoulder to follow him. Cosgrove, Sunset, and Edgar followed Dapplewood to a deep cave. Illuminated by various spot fires, this was a memorial hall. Cave paintings were lined up around the cave; every hunt, birth of a foal, and rite of passage is recorded on an alcove dedicated to a certain family. After consistently looking at his kind painting new experiences, Cosgrove stopped at a particularly unpainted alcove. Dapplewood pointed at the more weathered ones. The colt stared at the old paintings. The first painting showed the union of a stallion and mare, followed by a blessing between their families, then what appears to be news of a child, a foal being born, gaining a partner, both being blessed. Then there was a tragedy; the mare, stallion, colt and hatchling were coming back from a food gathering. They stopped to drink by a river when a pack of Troodon attacked them. The stallion and mare fought to the tooth, but the battle was too great; through mock lunges, the Borogoves were always able to grab the basket the foal was in before being bucked. The hatchling watched from under a sheltered rock as one such occurrence caused the basket to fall in the river. The parents tried to get to the riverbank before being pounced. They became overwhelmed... All of that… recorded by Dapplewood. All recent events to now show the Hipsi growing up, alone, a mere shell of his purpose. “You… are my brother.” - Cosgrove turned to the Dryosaurus - “Aren’t you?” Taking in the information, the dinosaur nodded up and down. Wide-eyed, Cosgrove placed his hoof on the painting of the two adult ponies. He lowered his head before Applejack wrapped her arm around his body. Dapplewood approached the colt before the Hipsi is embraced like a plush toy… albeit a scaly one with fuzz. Given the rather unpainted stone and the availability of the paints, he turned to Sunset and Edgar... “Take all the time you need.” Said Edgar as he and away towards the entrance of the cave. Cosgrove dipped his hoof into the paint, aimed it at an unpainted part of the wall and began spitting on it. After wiping the sweat from his brow, the Hipparion turned around to a very large crowd of his own people. They looked in awe. To their credit, Cosgrove’s cave drawings show more detail, but what is more amazing that they show events from beyond the wall. The death of Night Dancer, the feud regarding Schnookums, outwitting Screwball, the siege at Canterlot, the encounter with Monster Zero, the overthrow of Grogar, and returning to the world he was born in. Cosgrove took a good look at his kin before making his way out of the cave with Dapplewood. One of the foals looked at one particular detail; it showed the foal in the river being held in another mare’s arms. The two met with Sunset and Edgar. “I am ready to come home…” - He looked to a sad Dapplewood, drooping his head before an arm wrapped around him - “We are all ready to come home.” It was nighttime when Cosgrove, Sunset, and the dinosaur returned to Ponyville. The populace watched in awe at this foreign newcomer. Seeing that they have had dragons, griffons, and even a minotaur visit their town, they don’t mind it that much. They soon arrived back at the Tamer residence, sitting him down at the cemetery. “Mom, meet my brother” - Cosgrove wrapped a hoof around him - “Dapplewood” Seeing his reflection on the stone, Dapplewood tried to curl his cheeks, giving a somewhat weak smile at most. The ponies laughed as Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop stretched out their limbs. “Welcome back to the family.”