The Didact awoke to his H.U.D giving him updates on his Combat Skin’s condition, as well his own. His Combat Skin was in perfect condition; the only way you could tell that it was even damaged was the huge burn mark from the Pulse Grenade on the armor’s chestpiece. Unfortunately, however, he was not in such good condition as his armor. According to the diagnostic updates, he suffered four broken ribs and two punctured lungs.
His Combat Skin was still working on healing him; if it weren’t for the Combat skin’s self-healing mechanisms he likely wouldn’t be breathing. Nevertheless, a question came up in his mind.
Where was he?
Right as he asked himself that, a voice came from his left. “You awake?”
The Didact jolted straight up when he heard the voice, ignoring the pain in his chest and looking to his left. What greeted him was not at all what he expected.
“Whoa, slow do-”
“Where am I? Answer me!” The Didact demanded sharply.
“Calm down, you're in a Hospital” the one that looked like a crystal said.
“What species are you?”
“Slow down, we can at least introduce ourselves before we-”
“You will get nothing out of me until I know you are not a menace,” the Didact practically growled. “Now, what species are you!”
“Ok, sheesh, I’m an Alicorn and she is a Crystal Pony” the ‘Alicorn’ said, pointing her hoof at the Crystal Pony.
The Forerunner looked around the room he was in and saw archaic, outdated medical equipment, before he then looked back at the ponies. “Now, who are you” the Didact asked them.
“Well, I’m Doctor Sapphire.”
“And I’m Princess Cadence. We mean you no harm.”
The Didact looked down at himself and just started to notice his new form. “What have you done to me!” the Didact, now angry, reached out his hoof and gripped the Doctor in his Constraint Field, lifting her effortlessly into the air.
Cadence was now totally shocked on how this pony was lifting Sapphire with his hoof and there was not even a Magic aura surrounding Sapphire.
“What have you done to me? If you do not answer me, I will kill your friend.”
And now he was threatening Sapphire’s life. Cadence of course, wanted to take things peacefully, so she chose her next words carefully. “Ok! Please, calm down. Whatever you were on the other side, you must have got turned into a pony after you came through the portal.”
“The Portal, what portal?”
“The Mirror Portal inside the Crystal Tower.”
The Didact was thinking back to what happened on the Composer. After he had fallen into the pit, he’d appeared here and the security began threatening him. He started wrapping all this together and came up with one conclusion.
“A slipspace portal.”
“What?”
“That is how I must have gotten here.”
The Didact then dropped Doctor Sapphire from his grasp. The Doctor landed on the floor with a thud. She gradually regained her bearings and asked a question, her voice wild with bewilderment. “HOW DID YOU DO THAT!”
The Forerunner-turned Earth Pony surveyed the room and its primitive medical equipment once again for reference. “Such abilities as mine are beyond your civilization’s understanding.” he said calmly. The Didact then turned back to the one named ‘Princess Cadence.’ “But a single entry through a Portal can not explain my new appearance,” he pointed out
“Well, to be honest, I’m not so sure myself how that portal functions,” Cadence answered.
“Then, why would you have such a device you have know working knowledge of stored in this inhabited ‘Crystal Tower’? You may never know when something is going to come out of the portal.” The Didact pointed out. “If indeed it is linked to slipspace, I could be the least of your potential troubles.”
“It wasn’t really my choice to put it there. But anyways, who are you?” Cadence inquired in as friendly a tone as she could muster. Something told her that provoking this pony was beyond just a bad idea.
The Didact thought for a moment. He had just threatened one of the Princess’ own subjects, and she had seemingly forgiven him rather quickly. “This species may be too trustworthy,” the Didact thought.
“I’m the Ur-Didact, Protector of The Ecumene, and Supreme Commander of the Forerunner Military, but you may refer to me as Didact.”
“The what now?” Doctor Sapphire said with confusion.
“I do not have time to tell you the meaning of all the titles. Explaining the ecumene to you would take days.”
Cadence was surprised at all his titles he had. She wished she could ask him what they mean, but it was quite clear this pony was not content to remain in place for long.
“Ok, but what species are you?” Cadence asked with curiosity.”You have the body of an Earth Pony it seems...but your demeanor suggests you're clearly something else.”
Didact nodded at Cadance’s observation. “I am Forerunner.”
“Hey, Didact?”
The Didact turned around to the Doctor. “Speak.”
“How do you take off your armor? It’s like it was built around you. Can you explain that?”
“Yes I can, actually. It was indeed built around me.”
“WHAT, but don’t you ever want to take it off?”
“I can, take off my armor.”
“Oh really, how?”
“Like this. Observe.”
The Didact morphed off his helmet with a single thought, and his face was visible. The Doctor’s mouth was agape with shock.
“H...wh...how do you?”
“Forerunner Technology is beyond your understanding.” The Didact said flatly, echoing his earlier statement.
Didact turned his intense gaze back to Cadence. Cadence got a good look at his facial features.
His fur was pale, his mane was dark brown, he had two fangs coming from his mouth, and on the sides of his head were what looked like the small breathing sacs commonly found on some frogs. His eye color was red-orange, the color glowing very slightly and his cornea entirely black.
“Whoa, I guess that’s what Forerunners look like. Well, like a pony” Cadence said, surprised.
“Yes, I did not look entirely like one of you, although not much has changed, beyond the confounding loss of my digits...” Didact studied his armored hooves dubiously.
“We should continue this at the Crystal Tower,” Cadence continued.
“As long as I can get out of here, I’ll follow you.”
“Whats the rush?” Cadence asked.
“I have unfinished duties,” The Didact said, trying not to give away that he had been trying to enslave Humanity - an entire sapient race.
“Alright, I suppose I shouldn't ask.”
“No, you shouldn’t.” The Didact responded flatly.
“Ok, lets leave Doctor Sapphire to her work.”
“Wait. How do you suppose we leave this hospital without being spotted by the local citizens? I cannot imagine my presence would be subtle in any way to them; I’d rather not spark any complications. ”
“Don’t worry, I’ll just teleport us out of here.”
The Didact gave her a confused look. “You have access to Teleportation Technology?”
“No, we don’t beyond rare things like the Mirror Portal. Is that how you teleport? Through technology, I mean?.” Cadence asked, confused.
“Yes it is, in fact, my armor was created with our technology.”
“Wow, and all this time I thought you used some sort of exotic magic.”
“Magic, is that what you use to teleport?”
“Yes it is. Now, shall we go?”
“Go ahead, proceed.”
With that, Cadence activated her horn and they disappeared with a pop, leaving Sapphire all alone.
“That guy gives me the creeps” Sapphire said to herself.
.