Unsalvageable

I took the scenic route to Cheerilee's, even in the dead of night ponies are still wandering. Some of them go out for a midnight stroll because of sleeplessness, others just spend the night awake anyway. I don't give much thought to what other ponies do to pass the time, or to entertain themselves. If they aren't a target, they only matter if they are going to interfere.

Cheerilee's house is located about a mile from the schoolhouse, easy enough walk for anypony walking straight there, but I had to walk around the neighborhood, making my trek about three miles longer. I don't mind, the exercise is good, the cool breeze is refreshing, and there's a lake on the way, perfect for cleaning the now dry blood off my coat.

I step slowly into the water, it feels so good. I love the spray of blood that covers my coat at the first strike, but dried blood is less enjoyable to have covering you. I spend a good ten minutes cleaning my coat and mane, I have to go into town and make  a few appearances in the morning and can't very well have blood all over me.

After my wash I continue my way to Cheerilee's. The bath makes the walk all the more easy, cooling me off and making me feel more refreshed. I have to admit; having Cheerilee waiting in the schoolhouse is very nerve racking. I don't want her to be discovered before morning, when the foals come in, but I can't go back and take her down either. As long as Berry Punch doesn't stop by to check for her, nopony will see her early. I watched that building for months, nopony has gone there late at night before, ponies are creatures of habit, they don't like doing things out of the norm.

The only pony I see on my walk is a lantern lighter, he must have been checking to see if any street lamps had burnt out. Although why he needed to have them all light when he was the only pony out is beyond me. The walk is pretty boring, but I like boring. When times are boring it usually means nothing is happening, which means I can think. I love to think. To run situations through my mind, to reminisce, just to think. I like few things more than quiet mornings when I can just.. think.

Clearing your mind is an important thing to do, especially with the stress of a murder weighing you down. I like to think that my work is perfect, mainly because it is, but that doesn't make this whole situation any less worrying. If just one thing goes wrong, one pony is out of place, or one guard follows through on a hunch, I'll be set for execution and the last twenty-two years will be for naught.

That's right, twenty-two years. Two years of planning for the first cycle, eight months to complete it, and twenty years of spreading rumors and legends. By now I doubt there's a single pony withing Equestria's borders that hasn't heard of me. Though, most don't believe that I exist. There is one pony, a young mare, who believes. She has spread my story almost as much as I have. I'll have to remember to find her before this is all over, I think she still lives somewhere near the Everfree Forest.

I round the last corner and and stand right before Cheerilee's modest home. She kept it in nice condition, most ponies do, but she was rarely around. Berry must have been the one cleaning, there's no way Cheerilee had time to fix this place up so nice. I walk up to the front door and put an ear to it, I don't know if Berry was going to meet Cheerilee here, or if they were going to Berry's.

After a minute of nothing but my own heart beating, I try the door; locked. I walk around to the side and try to open a few of the windows, the three on the west side were locked as well. I try the east side windows, same thing. Finally, I walk around to the back door, to my relief it's unlocked. Finally I have some luck. I open the door slowly and creep in. The furnishings are nice, a few chairs and a couch, some potted plants and a few pictures. It looks like she put up some of her students papers and drawing as well.

I continue through to the kitchen; pretty basic. A small table with three chairs, normal oven and ice box. I walk over to the stairwell, I assume that's where I'll find most of her personal things, her address book, specifically. The upstairs isn't any different than below, basic furnishings and a few paintings from her students. There are only two rooms upstairs, a very large bedroom, taking up most of the space, and a small bathroom. I walk through the room, up to the bedside table. I open a drawer and find what I've been looking for, a small, leather bound book.

I flip through until I find "P", there's only two names; Pinkie Pie and Berry Punch. "Let's see, where are you Berry? Ooh, only a block away? Good."

I take a quill and mark an 'X' beside Berry's name, close the book, and take it downstairs. I place it on a small table that sits right beside the oak front door. I place a small piece of parchment on top of the book and write a message.

Investigators of The Royal Guard,

Did you enjoy the gift I left for you? I hope so, it was a lot of work setting that up. The next surprise won't be as messy, I assure you. It will be just as disturbing though. I have left this note to inform you of the secrets that are being kept from your investigation. There is a pony who knows not only *who** I am, but why I am doing this. And why I did it twenty years ago. I also have a wager for you, if you can catch me before Number Eleven falls, I will give you the name of who I am working for.*

Good Luck,

The Ponyville Killer

I place the finished note on the book and leave. My work for the night finished, I walk across town towards the Everfree Forest, I have a certain blue unicorn to meet.