After spending the last six months in the Crystal Empire, Spike returns home to Ponyville as an adult dragon. His friends all support his transformation, but soon they begin to wonder if Spike is the same dragon that they all knew and loved before, or if more than just his body has changed.

Meanwhile, Rarity has made some significant changes to her life while Spike was away. How does his return affect how she feels about him? Did he leave because of her? Does Spike even feel the same way about her as he did before he left?