Princess Twilight Sparkle is gone. Equestria was in danger of an invasion from another world, and she heroically entered the portal, closing it from the other side. Spike searched for her for years without success, but eventually he had to accept, dead or alive, she wasn't coming back. All the while Equestria was in danger with the Elements of Harmony missing. So Spike found himself a new purpose.

His intent? To locate someone suitable to be the next Element of Magic and the rest of the Elements of Harmony. To accomplish this, he attends the greatest gathering of magic wielders Equestria has ever known, which was Twilight's first and only major project as a princess: Twilight Sparkle's Institute for Magical Research.

Of course, moving to a new place alone is not easy, and being a scary dragon (even a pony sized one) makes it even harder. Spike has to handle hostile guards, frustrating coworkers, and a pompous prince he had never expected to deal with again.