The Grand Galloping Gala is approaching and everypony is looking forward to it! At least, they should be. But for some the stress is mounting with every day that passes. Can they accept help from those who love them? And what if they happen to meet somepony new?

Twilight is acting strange. Her friends have barely seen her around. Fluttershy, caring too much about her old friend to go on any longer without her, goes to Twilight’s house to see what happened to her. But what she finds is too much to handle, and she can’t seem to accept this new information. Fluttershy saw something she wasn’t supposed to see, and Twilight has an offer for her.

After the events of “To Where and Back Again,” Fluttershy starts feeling bad for Queen Chrysalis, who is all alone with no other changelings and no love to satiate her hunger. So the pegasus finds Chrysalis in the Everfree Forest and offers to take care of her in the Sanctuary. Chrysalis reluctantly agrees, and finds that even though she doesn’t feel any love from Fluttershy, she feels fulfilled in other ways. The changeling queen goes through some inexplicable changes as she gets used to her new life, and wonders if it’s possible for her to love somepony else.

Starlight is trapped in a nightmare where she must play the role of Alice as she travels through Wonderland. Her adventure becomes a mystery as she tries to figure out who is behind it all, and how to stop it. Sunburst tries to help her through the story, but it seems that he does not belong there and whoever is in control is trying to push him away from Starlight. Unable to use their magic, and with all of their friends acting strange, the two must face the world of Wonderland... and keep from losing their heads.