Meanwhile, Tempest was strolling through the back gardens of Canterlot Castle, minding her own business, brushing a branch out of the way as she went.

At that moment, someone approached Tempest. It was Twilight Sparkle.

"Hey sister, guess what?" Twilight said excitedly.

Tempest still wasn't used to being called that, but she had to put up with it anyway.

"I hate riddles..." she said Tempest, rolling her eyes without paying attention to Twilight.

"I'm going to become the Queen" Twilight said.

"Oh, what an illusion..." Tempest said, while she frowned sarcastically.

Twilight then walked over to an area of the garden, where she could see the entire city.

"Mom just showed me the kingdom…" Twilight said, as she smiled proudly, "And I'll reign in it".

"Yes... Forgive me if I don't jump for joy, but I have a bad back, you know..." Tempest said, before lying down on the grass.

"Sister…" Twilight said, as she approached Tempest and lay down on her sister's neck "When I'm queen, what are you going to be?"

"A monkey's sister" Tempest said sarcastically.

“How weird you are…” Twilight said with a smile, as she lowered herself from her sister's neck.

"You have no idea…" Tempest said with her most convincing smile, before getting up and continuing her stroll through the garden "So… Mom has shown you around the kingdom, hasn't she?"

"Everything..." Twilight confirmed, as she followed Tempest.

"And I guess she hasn't taught you what's on the Northern Frontier" Tempest said, as she sat up and looked out over the shadowy area of the realm Twilight saw this morning.

"Well, no…" Twilight said with a disappointed look, as she sat down too "She says I can't go there".

“In that she is absolutely right. It's very dangerous” Tempest said dramatically, looking towards the horizon “Only the brave dare to go”.

"I'm brave" Twilight said. "What's in there?"

"I'm sorry, Twilight" Tempest said, as she lay down on the ground with her head up "I can't tell you".

"Why not?" Twilight asked, jogging over to her sister.

"Twilight, Twilight…" Tempest said, as she lovingly rubbed Twilight's mane, pretending to be affectionate "I'm only concerned about the well-being of my favorite little sister".

"Yeah, right... I'm your only sister" Twilight snorted sarcastically.

"All the more reason for me to protect you..." Tempest said "And a Yaks's Graveyard is no place for a young princess. Oops!"

As soon as he said those words, Tempest feigned shock, as he placed his hoof over her mouth and gasped in false surprise.

"A graveyard of what?!" Twilight said in amazement "Wow!"

“Oh, how clumsy, it got away!” Tempest said, acting dramatically “I guess one day you would have found out. You are such a smart pony”.

Then, Tempest pulled Twilight close with her hoof and petted her.

"But could you do me a favor?" Tempest asked "Promise me you will never go to that horrible place".

"I promise" Twilight said, thinking about it.

“Well said” Tempest said with a smile, as she gently pulled the little sister away from her “Now go play. Have fun”.

But before Twilight left, Tempest told her one last thing.

“And remember: it will be our little secret…”

With that, Twilight ran off happily, while Tempest continued her own stroll in the opposite direction… an wicked smile on her face.

Her secret plan was now in motion.

Author's Note

"What are you planning, Tempest Shadow?"

We'll see...