Lightning Dust is a pony full of potential, meant for great things. However, the family that raised her see only a simple life for her, one that will carry on their old tradition as a family of weather ponies. After an act of defiance and spite, young Lightning Dust runs away from her home, Cloudsdale, to find her own path, but she soon seeks out her older sister Thunder Burst, who's none the wiser, for help. Unable to reconnect with Lightning after so long, Thunder pins her last hopes to a relaxing trip the mysterious Crystal Empire, but Lightning only sees another opportunity to leave her behind for good.