Five years of cheap thrills in the big city has left Sweetie Belle in bad debt with dangerous ponies. Forced to pay up, she returns to Ponyville to seek money from an estranged sister she loathes with a passion.
Every year the changelings go through their prisoners and find the ones with no families, the ones who don't generate as much love as the others, and give them to the dragons. Sweetie Belle has managed to remain hidden... until now.
Rarity discovers she can change into her Nightmare form at will, but she needs help to control her new power. Lucky for her, a certain dragon is there to help.
Hearth's Warming Eve has approached as a full grown Sweetie Belle struggles to deal with the recent loss of her beloved sister. That is until a strange package is presented to her that contains a gift of closure.