Several years had passed and Fluttershy had grown into a strong mare, her Cutie Mark had drawn a lot attention. It was a large blood red claw holding a small, pink butterfly. She was standing beside Princess Celestia when she saw an armoured messenger that looked like a cross between an Eagle and a Pony, a Hippogriff. His body was covered in wounds, he red out his message “Princess Celestia, I have traveled for days in order to reach you. We are in desperate need of your aid. I beg you to help save my people from the Storm King.”

Celestia shook her head “I can’t, I won’t endanger my ponies. I’m sorry but…”

Fluttershy stomped her hoof “Princess, we have a bleeding messenger who has come far to seek our assistance! The Hippogriffs are our allies, why are we refusing to help them! They would surely aid us if we requested the same!”

Celestia frowned “I won’t put my ponies at risk only for them to arrive when the battle is long over.”

Fluttershy growled “Then I’ll go myself! They need our help! Maybe I’ll see you after the battle is over!” Fluttershy galloped to the balcony, she called on the power of Ratel and flew into the distance at easily the speed of sound. It was not long before she crashed into the center of Hippogrffia, she groaned as emerged from the crater “That hurt.”

Several Hippogriffs pointed their spears and swords at her, Fluttershy rubbed her head “I just got here from Equestria, you sent a messenger for aid. Celestia wasn’t keen on sending help but since I’m here we might end up getting help coming soon.”

Before another word could be said, they heard shouting “It’s Commander Tempest, she is pushing up against our defenses!”

Fluttershy took a sword from one of the guards and took off, she flew over the battlefield spotting a unicorn with a broken horn commanding the attackers cutting any Hippogriff who got too close in half. Fluttershy few downwards slamming the sword into the Unicorn's with immense force “This is between you and me.”

The unicorn gritted her teeth as she pushed Fluttershy away “Who are you to challenge me!”

Fluttershy flew backwards and landed “I’m Fluttershy, from Equestria.” She then rushed forward delivering rapid swings against the unicorn “Now tell me your name.”

The unicorn mare growled as he parried Fluttershy's swings “I’m Commander Tempest Shadow and I’m not going to lose to some random Pegasus!” Fluttershy nodded with a slight smirk as their blades clashed. She ripped out a heart of one of the Storm King’s soldiers that got to close, his sword flying into the other hoof of Tempest.

Tempest stabbed another Hippogriff, Fluttershy flew over grabbing his sword in her claws. The two fought off any interlopers with one sword while engaging the other with their second.

Fluttershy smirked “You are very strong but I’m just getting warmed up.” Fluttershy increased the speed of her sword swings, Tempest had to bring her second sword just to keep up with the rapid swings of her opponent.

Tempest growledas her horn began to spark “I’m not going to lose to some random Pegasus! I will...” Fluttershy knocked one of the Tempest's sword out of her hooves with her second sword, she then slammed the pommel of her first sword into Tempest's broken horn. The impact knocked the Commander unconscious, the attacking forces began to flee.

Fluttershy brought the unconscious unicorn into the city, a light grey Hippogriff with a mane of brilliant fuchsia and strong mulberry landed as the other Hippogriffs bowed. Fluttershy bowed as well, the Hippogriff smiled “There is no need to bow to me.” She then held out a talon “I’m Queen Novo, I’m truly grateful for you aid in defending our nation.”

Fluttershy smiled as she shook the talons of Novo “It was nothing, our nations are allies. Despite the distance we should aid one another.” She then sighed “I just wish my mentor Princess Celestia agreed, she doesn’t want her ponies to get involved in a war.”

Novo frowned “I was afraid of this, I always suspected that Celestia would not uphold her end of the bargain. It does make me wish her sister was still here, the great Luna warrior of the Night and destroyer of all that goes bump in the night.”

Fluttershy frowned “I met her once actually, she wants me to stop her when she returns.” Fluttershy then waved her claws “As you can see I’m far from being a normal pony. I’m one of those special ponies with an extra spirit attached to them.”

Novo nodded with a smile “Ah one of the Primal Spirits, a rare honor for anyone. You have made very good use of it, Ratel doesn’t increase ones physical abilities as much as some of the others do so you have put in quite a bit of hard work.”

Fluttershy frowned “Speaking of which we should restrain Commander Tempest before she wakes up.” Novo nodded as she turned to a couple of her guards and gave the order. The two guards put a magical restraining ring on the Commander's horn and bound her with solid rope.

Novo then smiled “It’s good to see there are still some brave souls left in Equestria, I just wish one of those was it’s leader. I fear Equestria seems to have been at peace for far too long.”

Fluttershy grimaced “I’m not sure for how much longer, groups of ‘Griffon Bandits’ have been raiding our borders for the last few months. Celesta is really keen on not letting that get out hoping that diplomatic meeting in a fortnight will resolve that matter. I have been secretly working with the Guard Captain Shining Armour to have the guards ready for a potential conflict.”

Novo laughed “Well it’s good to know that somepony is taking over Princess Luna during her absence. It’s no wonder that she spoke to you.”

Fluttershy smiled “Thanks, I might spend some more time here. In truth I need some time away from my mentor and she may come here looking for me eventually.”

Novo’s eyes narrowed “I hope she does, the two of us need to talk.” The two calmly chatted about their lives now that the invasion had been repelled.

Author's Note

I hope you don't mind the major timeskip.