//------------------------------//
// Confrontation in the Centre of the Hex 
// Story: Caligula's Legacy 
// by CCC 
//------------------------------//

At the centre of the hex, Twilight galloped through yet another door. That Turnamancy artifact had to be somewhere...



...and there it was. Even encased in six protective Dirtamancy spheres, Twilight could feel the magical power in the artifact. The spheres would be a problem - they were easily removed with sufficiently strong Shockamancy - it didn't even have to hit them directly, it just had to hit close enough - but Twilight wasn't sure she had enough Juice to pop all six spheres and still use the artifact they protected...



Then the roof shattered, tiles dropping to the ground and shattering. Nightmare Moon dropped through the hole, landing amidst the stone spheres that protected the Elements of Harmony.



"Another caster?" she snarled. "Hmmmm. Foolamancer, I see?" She allowed herself a slow, vicious grin. "Well, congratulations on sneaking past me and getting here. It's really quite impressive. Of course, now I have to croak you."



Twilight glanced around the room. She did not smile, but it did take some effort to suppress it. Instead, she lowered her head, pawed at the ground, and snorted, preparing a charge.



Nightmare Moon raised her eyebrows. "You're kidding," she said. "You're kidding, right?"



Twilight snorted again.



"You're a caster. Level... one, I believe. I'm a warlord. I've got something like ten levels on you, and a powerful Shockamancy magic item to boot. You have no stack, no magic items, no artifacts. And you want to engage me in combat? Are you insane?"



Twilight pawed at the ground again, saying nothing.



"Well, then. If that's how you want to commit suicide..."



Both ponies charged simultaneously. Heads down, horns to the front, charging directly towards each other... Nightmare Moon didn't even slow down as she tore into Twilight.



And passed through like a ghost.



"Foolamancy!" she yelled, turning around. And there, sure enough, amidst the Dirtamancy spheres which protected the Elements, suddenly unveiled, stood Twilight Sparkle. Shockamancy crackled around her horn, as she prepared to unleash her magic against the spheres and free the Elements...



"NO!" yelled Nightmare Moon, firing a giant burst of her own Shockamancy directly at the suddenly-revealed Foolamancer. It struck dead centre, more than enough power to instantly croak a level one, flinging her body backwards off the dais and out of sight...



And it was at this point that the other five ponies and the Rider arrived at the doorway.



"Ha!" crowed Nightmare Moon. "You're too late! Now, I'll admit that distracting me to let a Foolamancer sneak past to the Turnamancy artifact was a very good idea... but it's failed." She strolled calmly towards the dais, confident in her power. "Your Foolamancer is lost, your cause is ended. It wasn't a bad try. But it's over now. You have no hex boundary to hide behind this time. I've won. Any last words?"



"Yes," said Megan. "You're wrong."



"Really?" asked Nightmare Moon. "And what makes you think that?"



"I can understand what you say," said Megan, smiling.



"What does that have to do with -" Nightmare turned suddenly, looking behind the dais. There was no body. "No... more Foolamancy..."



She turned back, her eyes alight with rage. "NO MORE FOOLAMAN-"



Twilight's veil ended at the same time as the six ponies - four casters and two warlords - each activated one of the Elements of Harmony. Five necklaces, one tiara, the necklaces placed on her allies under veil, the tiara she wore herself, a small vanity... and a slight ribbon of magic extended from each Element, combining into a shining rainbow beam of Turnamancy power, rising briefly into the sky and then dropping onto Nightmare Moon like a hammer on a nail.



"NOOOOOOOOOOO........."



There was a brilliantly bright light. And then all was darkness.