A young ruler's guardian hides a secret about the future of her people.
The Enterprise carries Salia, a young woman who is the Dauphin of the war-torn planet Daled IV and must be delivered to her people to end a long conflict. Her guardian, Anya, is fiercely protective. Wesley Crusher falls for Salia, and the two have a sweet but awkward romance.
There is a twist, however, as both women are shape-shifters who are not quite what they seem. The episode is a light story about first love and the tension between duty and personal freedom, and it is a warm, small-scale character piece.