Disaster has befallen Equus: Mysterious storms that have begun to drain the land of magic have appeared, and there is no end or solution in sight. Much of Equestria's population — those that could, at least — has retreated to the lands surrounding Canterlot, where a great magical barrier keeps them safe, if only barely. Ponies, griffons, and even changelings do what they can to eke out an existence when even the Princesses seem incapable of saving them.

Using the last of his rapidly diminishing magic, Discord creates dozens of small starships, and a small troop of changelings volunteers rise to the reaches of space in the hope that there may yet be help out there, even if there is none at home.

One of them, Flick, lands on a distant planet and pleads the case of Equus to the inhabitants.