When the Reapers came

Parker felt himself floating, in his vast dreamscape. It had been almost two months since he was sent to this land, but this was the first time he could actually realize he was dreaming. It was dark, and shadows dashed around the corners of his vision, never being able to catch them. One caught his eye, it was faint but he could define it. It was a bipedal creature, with claws, instead of hands. A pair a faint blue lights shone from it's face, along with luminescent wires running down it's body.

A husk.

Parker spun around in a panic, the utter blackness of the area made it seem that it was everywhere. He suddenly felt the ground shake, a violent rumble, causing him to stumble. It happened again, and then another, and another. He stood up, thankful for four legs for a first time. The area around him suddenly shone a vivid red, as a giant red spotlight shined down on him. But then the light gave out a loud horn, like a foghorn but several times louder. Parker instantly recognized it. It was a Reaper, one of the most feared beings in the galaxy. Intent on nothing but destruction and death. They gave no mercy, no remorse, and showed no emotion whatsoever. He looked on in horror as the thing launched it's massive laser at him, his vision fading to black.

~~--~~

Parker inhaled sharply, gasping for air. He was terrified, to scared to move, to even try and look around. He was thankful he was still in his bed, but he was drenched in sweat, his yellow mane completely disheveled, and his hooves shaking. He brought a hoof up to his eyes as the sudden notice of the bright yellow sun boring into his face. He looked over to see his M3 Predator pistol resting on the night stand. He reached for it, pulling back the slide and checking the ammo in it. Parker sat, moving the blankets off if him. He put his face in his hooves, glad that it was just a dream, but shaken to his very core.

Parker stood up, walking towards the kitchen. He lived in a small house, but it was only intended to house himself. There was his bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen, an eating area, and a living space which he had turned into a makeshift laboratory. He trudged his way over to the kitchen, looking out the window out onto the street. There were ponies going this way and that. Parker turned back and took out his Normandy outfit, which was practically his only apparel, but he had taken notice that most of the population did not in fact wear clothes.

He walked to his bathroom, turning on the water in his shower. It felt nice, but rather cold, as if someone had already used up all the hot water in Ponyville for a bath. Parker finished his shower, slipping into his Normandy uniform. It consisted of the black vest, along with a white long sleeved undershirt, and black pants. He didn't need to wear any clothing according to the law here, but it made him feel exposed if he didn't. Parker placed the Predator into it's holster on his right foreleg. He checked his Omni-Tool, as he did every morning. Parker knew checking it would be pointless, but it never hurt to do so.

Parker stepped out the door, enjoying his day off of work at the construction sites. He didn't blend in very well with the crowd, but he did his vest. It was fairly often that some filly or colt would run up and ask about his apparel, and he would just tell them it was a business suit. He walked down the street, enjoying the morning.

He couldn't explain what it was, but lately, he had grown more relaxed, and enjoyed this new world more. Parker would never forget the Normandy, and finding a way back usually consumed his thoughts 24/7. He made his way up the hill to the park, where he sat at a bench there. It was peaceful, and rather nice. The beautiful blue sky, the sound if the fountain, the slight rustle of the trees. He let his thoughts wander, most of them about his old life on the Normandy, and the struggle about the Reapers. Parker didn't like to think about it, but it was always a possibility that the war was over, and that they had either won, or the Reapers had taken every last man, woman, and child.

Parker snapped out of his thoughts when a purple unicorn, with a dark purple mane that held pink highlights in it.

"Can I sit here?" The unicorn asked politely. Parker nodded.

"Of course." He said scooting over on the bench. Parker looked at the unicorn, who was reading a book, holding it in front of her with an aura of magic. He could never quite understand how magic worked. Where Parker came from, any form of levitation was either artificially or with telekinesis. He himself had this power, thanks to his biotics.

The mare looked over at him, noticing his outfit.

"What's that you're wearing?" She asked, puzzled about the attire.

"This? Oh, it's just a business suit."

"Are you sure? It doesn't quite look like any I've seen?"

Parker was backed into a corner, this mare seemingly knowing exactly what he was going to say. He looked around trying to find an excuse to not engage in conversation. Parker looked up, a streak of rainbow heading right...towards...them. He leapt off the bench, as the object hit. Parker looked back to see it was just a cyan pegasus, with an intense rainbow for her mane and tail. He slinked away from the bench, the pegasus keeping the unicorn occupied.

Parker hadn't gotten far, only just leaving the park. It then occurred to him he hadn't eaten anything for breakfast. He glanced around, one place catching his attention. A building that seemed to be made entirely out of cake and icing. From the door emerged a pink earth pony, with a cotton-candy like mane.

Parker ducked behind a trash bin, knowing full on who the mare was. It was a pony named Pinkie Pie. She knew everyone, or everypony as they said there. Everything about everypony, what their name was, where they lived, what they had for breakfast. Parker knew if he were caught it'd be game over. The last thing he wanted was attention. All he wanted was to find a way back.

He crept out from behind the trash bin, but he was caught red hoofed, Pinkie letting out a huge gasp as she sprinted at him. Parker knowing his entire cover was blown.