The New Directions head to Chicago for Nationals. Mercedes contracts food poisoning so Quinn and Tina must take her place with the Trouble Tones. Will worries that he hasn't done enough to prepare the kids for this moment and discovers all of them fighting with one another during rehearsal. He takes their desires for perfection as a good sign and instead of a break, they decide to continue rehearsing.

Mercedes recovers in time to perform and Carmen Tibideaux arrives during Rachel's solo. Afterward, Mercedes and Kurt visit their new friend Wade "Unique" Adams who is having a crisis about whether or not to dress in drag for the Vocal Adrenaline performance. Ultimately, he decides to go on stage as Unique.

New Directions win Nationals while Unique is named MVP of the competition.

The group returns to a school wide celebration instead of slushee facials and Will Schuester is named Teacher of the Year.