Cheerilee knocked on the door to the cottage. The door opened, revealing a yellow pegasus mare.
"Oh. Hi Cheerilee." Fluttershy said, happy to see a friend. Fluttershy then turned to the unicorn behind her.
"Ummm..."
"Fluttershy, it's good to see you! Allow me to introduce to you Mister Sherlock Holmes." She moved to the side, allowing Holmes to extend his hoof to Fluttershy. Fluttershy timidly returned the hoofshake.
"Pleased to meet you miss." Holmes said, finishing his hoofshake.
"Oh, the pleasure is all mine." Fluttershy gave a small smile. "Would you like to come in?"
"Thank you Fluttershy." Cheerilee said, as she and Holmes entered the cottage.
~~~~~~~~~
Sherlock was staring at a white rabbit, who was staring back angrily. Both not breaking their gaze from each other.
"So anyways, that's why I have been assigned caretaker of Holmes here. He needs somepony to help him know how to live sober again."
Fluttershy took a sip of her tea.
"Oh dear. It must have been tough to live without something you've lived with for a very long time."
"Though I admit, sometimes I do miss it, one learns that life is livable without it." Sherlock said, not releasing his staring contest with the rabbit. Holmes eventually broke the stare, heading towards the bookshelf. The rabbit flicked his tongue out as Sherlock had his back turned.
"And that's why I'm his caretaker. To help him live normally again." Cheerilee turned to see Holmes at the dinner table, taking a sniff of an empty can of whipped cream. Cheerilee rolled her eyes. "Well, as normal as HE can live." Holmes then put the can down, moving towards the kitchen.
"Wha-what is he doing?" Fluttershy asked Cheerilee with nervousness.
"Holmes! What are you doing?" Cheerilee got up and headed towards him. Holmes said nothing as he examined the kitchen.
"Did you have any visitors today Miss Fluttershy?"
"What?"
"Did anypony visit you today?"
Fluttershy paused to think. "Well, Rainbow Dash did come over here. But not for long though."
"Of course not, otherwise the cookies would've been fresh."
"Umm, what?"
"It's quite obvious. SOMEpony had to have visited you. And considering the fact you served cookies made a short while ago, it would've suggested you had a visitor. But, usually visitors eat most of the cookies. Perhaps even all. However, you've had abundance of cookies left, thus telling me your guest was in a hurry. So I narrowed it down to two categories: Ponies who are impatient and pegasi. And one mare fit both categories. Rainbow Dash. She left in a rush because she wanted to attend the Wonderbolts Show that was supposed to occur today. And she was wearing perfume, so that tells me she wanted to make a good impression on a member."
Fluttershy stared in amazement. "You're right! Rainbow does not ever use perfume! But today she did!"
Sherlock gave a nod. "Also, you know those rumors that others spread about her.... eh." Sherlock shrugged his shoulders for effect.
"Yes."
"They're blithering idiots. She's obviously NOT a-"
"Okay! Sherlock! Let's just get out of the kitchen and go home." Cheerilee interrupted him before he could say the word.
"Just one more question Miss Cheerilee." She groaned softly, as Sherlock turned back to Fluttershy.
"Do you own any household chemicals Miss Fluttershy?"
"Oh heavens no! Those are very dangerous! Besides, I wouldn't know what to do if my poor little Angel accidentally got into it anyways." She exclaimed in her soft tone.
"All right. Thank you Miss Fluttershy. That will be all. Good day."
"Your welcome. Goodbye!" Fluttershy waved, as Sherlock and Cheerilee left the cottage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Elusive 42"
"What?" Cheerilee asked, confused.
"That was the perfume. Elusive 42. I know that perfume from Miss Rarity's Boutique. She has a vast assortment of perfumes in her shop. She uses them quite a lot."
Cheerilee was now growing curious. "Until today, is Fluttershy the only Element of Harmony you have not met before?"
"Yes."
"Sounds like you made good friends."
"One does not need friends Miss Cheerilee," Holmes spoke with his usual "smarter" tone. "I'm too busy to satisfy another's need for companionship."
"Fine. But what does the perfume have to do with anything?"
"Nothing. I'm just pointing it out." They walked in awkward silence on the way back. Nopony saying a word. Complete silen-
"Where are you going?" Cheerilee said, noticing his change in direction.
"To meet the last suspect."
"But Fluttershy was our last suspect, and she's innocent! What are you talking about?"
"We're going to see the only pony who has chemicals that can be used for cases like this." Sherlock continued walking, as Cheerilee followed. "We're off to meet Mr. Meld."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Author's Note: Thanks to LloydZelos for his permission to use his OC, Rubos Meld, in the story. He will be appearing next chapter.)