Luster Dawn has gotten a new job as Headmare's aide at the Ponyville School of friendship. Hoping to learn what her mentor learned from the not-so-small-anymore town, and curb a few of her own worrying attitudes on the subject of other Ponies, she is going to make an active effort to make friends with other creatures.

But things are never that easy. The Council comes into contact with the Warden of Tartarus, and he has a game he wants to play. This time, it's far more complicated, and dangerous than a game of Chess.