Sasha was seated in their cell, having been returned in an unceremonious manner, waiting with a smile as the two mares approached. "I was wondering when you two would show up." She beckoned her supposed judge and executioners. "Show me your best, or worst." She licked over her pouting lips. "I'm up for either."

Luna and Sweetie exchanged glances, silently communicating. Sweetie's ear flicked in acknowledgement and she turned back to the demon. "You can read our thoughts, correct?"

"Indeed." She brought her hands together, wearing her 'default' form of a demonic biped of some sort. That so much of her flesh was exposed, furless and smooth, felt like an intentional decision. "And you're busy reciting something over and over. A mantra to stay focused? Classic."

Sweetie smirked. "If I was doing that, it would hardly work. Instead, I have been speaking directly to Luna, and this is a conversation you are not privy to, Sasha." She stepped closer. "Also, I'm not interested, just so we're clear."

Sasha cringed. "You're just saying that. Everything is interested, just a matter of figuring it out, what really gets them going." She reached for Sweetie. "Are you a top mare, or a bottom mare?"

Sweetie side-stepped the grabbing hand. "None of the above. I'm a pony, and you're a demon, and this is a conversation I don't want to have, because it doesn't affect me."

Luna closed from the other side. "Bright mentioned demons like you come from 'hell'. Is this accurate?"

Sasha hissed at the word. "Wrong hot place. Hell is for stuffed up jerks with sticks shoved so far up their ass they can barely walk."

Luna smiled at that. "I see. Let me be blunt. This world had no room for a creature like you. But, we'd much rather just put you where you do belong, rather than anything violent. Would you like that, going home?"

Sasha looked past Sweetie to the wall. "If it's all the same, no. It's not a fun place, and I'd much rather stay in this world, please." She made a kissing face at Luna with soft smacks. "We can have fun. You strike me as a big mare that hasn't had good company in way too long."

Luna chuckled at that. "I have had some companions, but I'll agree. It's not been what I'd like, not of late." She ran a hoof through her mane, smiling. "But I doubt it will be you. You have hurt too many ponies to remotely interest me. I struggle to even imagine how we can release you in peace, and not in a body bag."

Sasha snapped her fingers, vanishing with a small clap of thunder. "In the ether, as promised."

Luna let out a knowing smile. She shared a nod with Sweetie as they both pulled out a crystal and set it on the bench Sasha had been seated on. With a powerful jump of magic from Luna, the two crystals sparked into life, both sides flashing and the air turning to crackle and pop as a wave of energy was projected.

The air split with a shriek, the rip widening and revealing a dark landscape with red skies.

Sweetie drew out a strange electronic device, blinking and strobing with many colors. "Heighten the power, Luna. Time to send this little demon home."

Luna sent more power through the crystals. "Fulfill the bargain, Sasha. You've been let free. Go home and leave this place."

"That's the plan." Sasha gave a little bow to the pair. She was back, standing in the center of the room. "I didn't think you had that magic." Edges of her form blurred, drawn towards the hole they'd created in the air. "Damn it all." Her gaze flicked over the devices in the hooves of her captors. "What are you doing?"

"We have been looking for ways to keep you from escaping. This was a lucky guess, but we've had confirmation it works, at least." Sweetie pressed a small button with a hoof, twisting it with several clicks. "Now, it's time for you to go home. You've bothered everypony in here quite enough, hm?"

Luna grinned with a knowing look. "I know, Sweetie." She waggled her brow. "You'll never have the opportunity to bother us again." She tapped her chin with a hoof. "I wonder how you'll enjoy the alternative, not going home, and just remaining here, trapped in a tiny cell forever and ever, and ever, and ever..."

Sasha shuddered at the very notion. "Forever means a different thing to my kind than most of yours. Ugh, fine! If eternity in a small room is the alternative, I'd rather go 'home', such as it is." She sagged with defeat. "You sure you don't want a fun friend?"

"Quite." The pair said together, with the air of an old married couple.

The sullen demon sulked towards the gateway, her body shimmering as she was dragged to her realm. Sweetie yanked her crystal away, sealing the portal with a clap. "And let that, be that." She offered the crystal towards Luna. "It was a pleasure resolving this with you, ma'am. We should have just started here instead of letting the others get hurt."

Luna accepted the crystal with a smile. "Better to find the weaknesses before we deal with any bigger threats, I say." She nodded and set the crystal aside. "You've proven to me that my faith in you was not misplaced." With a glowing horn, she took the other crystal off the bench, floating it over to herself. "Besides, we didn't know that'd work. Let us be honest with ourselves, we each tried something, until it worked."

Sweetie blushed softly. "Ah, yes. We should go check on the others and tell them the good news."

"Let's." Luna walked from the empty prison cell, nodding to the guard there. "It's safe. She's gone."

Sweetie followed closely behind Luna, smiling in a relieved way. "Let's hope nothing else goes wrong anytime soon."

Luna lifted a brow. "Don't be silly, we'll just fix it." She rolled her eyes at the thought. "If things stopped going wrong, our little group would have no reason to exist. I doubt that is happening anytime soon."

Applejack sat up in bed with a yawn. "So, we captured the demon?" She rubbed her head with the flat of a hoof. "Ow."

"You might say that." Sweetie smiled and reached over to gently help in rubbing Applejack's sore head. "Sorry about that. The tranquilizer really has a kick to it, doesn't it? It was that or let you get yourself into trouble."

"I..." Applejack winced and groaned, even with the gentle massage. "Well, ah guess I would have. Ah mean, she's a temptress, that's what she does." She colored, thinking back on that. "Ah really dropped the ball, didn't ah?"

"You were far from the only one." Sweetie set a bowl of apples on the small table near Applejack's bed. "Rest and recover. You'll get chances to shine against other creatures of the night."

Luna poked her head in with a smile. "How's our patient, Sweetie?"

"Alive and kicking, so to speak, ma'am." Sweetie winked.

Applejack sat up, saluting towards Luna. "Sorry!"

Luna shook her head. "Focus on your recovery. You did nothing wrong."

Sweetie frowned. "If you don't count, you know, running headfirst into danger, you falling for the succubus, and other minor errors." She sat up proudly. "Otherwise, you did great."

Applejack swatted at Sweetie. "Thanks fer rubbin' it in. Everypony else alright?"

Sweetie snickered softly, turning away. "All accounted for and alright."

Author's Note

End assignment. The next will surely be cleaner, right? While the topic is up, would you, dear reader, do share the sorts of shenanigans you want our folks running into?

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