The yellow mare was helping out around the Sanctuary as per usual, Angel occasionally bouncing over to here from where he was playing with a few of the other animals.

Fluttershy hummed in content, focusing on her work as she made sure everything was perfect. Hours ticked by, early morning turning into mid afternoon, and yet the sun still glared down with all its intensity. Fluttershy wiped her brow free of sweat, realising her work was complete.

She couldn't remember the last time she had spent so much time at the Sanctuary, but finally all the animals were safe and well, and she turned to leave. At the last moment she realised Angel wasn't with her - he must be playing with the other animals again.

'Angel!' she called, 'time to leave!'

She was met with no bunny bouncing over, no excited hopping. She turned and went to find him, searching everywhere, but nothing.

She was just about to double check everywhere she had looked, when 'FLUTTERSHY!'

Pinkie's loud voice caught her attention, and she jumped in surprise before turning to see the mare running over with a box in her mouth.

Curious, the pegasus ran over, meeting the party pony halfway, and asked worriedly 'Have you seen Angel? I can't seem to find him!'

Pinkie's already unusually sombre face seemed to become even more dark and upset as she handed Fluttershy the box with the wavering instructions to open it.

When she did, Fluttershy's reaction was quite possibly worse than the sight of mangled Angel - she collapsed in a fit of tears, quiet yells and sobs racking her body. All Pinkie could do was wait for her to calm down, as her words of comfort seemed to do nothing to help the broken pegasus.

'You can't tell anypony about me, do you understand? If you do, you'll be putting not only your life as well as mine, but your friend's lives in danger.'

Pinkie gulped and nodded, and for the first time in a long time, fear, raw, pulsing fear rushed through her. Without her friends, she felt oddly vulnerable.

When finally Fluttershy's shaky breaths overcame her sobbing, Pinkie reached down ans hauled her up.
'What happened?' the pegasus asked tearfully, and Pinkie shook her head.

'I'm sorry Fluttershy. He just... appeared on my doorstep in this box. I don't know what to say.'

'The ponies who are after me after strong, smart, and fast. They can take the form of anypony, replicate their exact behaviour, and if they want of need to, can and will dispose of anypony standing in their way. You must trust nopony, as anypony could be fake'

Fluttershy was still shaky with uneven breaths, but she seemed to gain control of her body again as she met Pinkie's eyes.

'Who would do this? Are my animals in danger? Are WE in danger?'
'I-I'm not sure...' Pinkie muttered quietly, staring at the ground. 'I really don't know.'

'They're after me, you, and your friends. Right now, any one of your friends could be one of them in disguise. I need you to try and act normal, don't draw suspicion.'
'Why do you trust me? What if I'm one of them?'

Constant shifted and sighed.
'I know you're not. I don't know the full extent of their plan, all I know is that I arrived here before them, which means you couldn't be a fake. Right now, I can only trust you.'

When finally Pinkie turned to go home, she felt no better, and despite her advice to stay at home, Fluttershy had been stubborn when choosing to stay at the Sanctuary with her animals.

Fluttershy had asked her to tell Twilight and the others, but she knew she would have to confer with Constant first: only she knew anything about what these sick ponies were doing, and she could be putting her friends in unnecessary risk.

Hollow and upset, Pinkie trotted home, ready to face Constant with another set of questions she hadn't asked earlier.

Constant spoke in a hushed whisper, wary of listening ears.
'One of us says "fire", the other "blazes". This way we'll know each other is really who they say they are.'

Pinkie nodded and repeated the words in her head. Fire blazes.

When Pinkie arrived home, she saw Constant muttering to herself.
'Rainbow Dash? Maybe even Twilight? Would they go for her first?'

Pinkie wondered at what she meant, as Constant turned and patted the bed, inviting her to sit.
'How did it go?'

'She was upset...' Pinkie looked at Constant, seeing something akin to sympathy flicker in her eyes.

'Tell me about these ponies. What do they want? How do you know them? Who are your friends?'

Pinkie flooded Constant with a sea of questions, and Constant opened her mouth to answer them all, suddenly remembering something.
'Fire?'
'Blazes.'

Author's Note

So, what is the truth? Just who are Constant's friends? And can Constant be trusted?