This story follows Twilight, her Daughter Harvest, and Spike's two children as they visit Spike in the Dragon Lands a little less than two years after he becomes Dragon Lord. After they become worried about his emotional state.
For a bit of context to the story here's a bit of backstory. In my next gen verse there was a dragon civil war lead by Garble against Ember. In which Ember was killed near that back half at which point Spike took over as Dragon Lord and ended the war, killing Garble with his own hands. This story follows Twilight, her Daughter Harvest Moon, and Spike's two children Tanzanite Flare and Orchid Flame(who both have different mothers) as they visit Spike in the Dragon Lands a little than two years after he becomes Dragon Lord. After Orchid becomes worried about her fathers emotional state.
Harvest Moon excitingly soared through the skies as she felt the cool breeze flow through her mane. As she flapped her wings she could barely hold her excitement. “Don’t go too far ahead Harvest. I don’t want you going to far out of my site,” her mother Twilight Sparkle said as she rose higher in the sky to get a better few of her daughter. “I know you're excited about your first trip to the Dragon Lands but please settle down,” Twilight said catching up with Harvest. “When we get to Obsidian castle I want you to stay close by my side. I don’t want you getting lost.”
Harvest took a deep breath and sighed. “Yes ma’am,” Harvest said deflating a little slightly slowing down. “I’m just so excited that you’re finally letting me explore other kingdoms. Plus it’ll be great to finally be able see uncle Spike again,” Harvest said smiling. ‘I haven’t seen him in months, not since he became Dragon lord,’ she thought.
“Don’t worry aunty Twilight,” a voice said from behind them. “While you discuss trading deals with our father we’ll show Harvest around the Dragon Lands,” the voice continued as Twilight's old hot air balloon came rising up towards them through some clouds carrying Orchid Flame the daughter of Spike and Starlight Glimmer leaning on the edge of the basket. Pulling the string of the hot air balloon making it rise beside Twilight and Harvest was Tanzanite Flare, the son of Spike and Rarity(Spike’s now ex-wife) and the older half brother of Orchid.
“You have my word as the future head of your royal guard that I will keep an eye on both my sister and Harvest aunty Twilight,” Tanzanite says letting go of the string he was pulling and raising his claw.
“Thank you both,” Twilight says looking over at him and Orchid.
“I should be thanking you aunty Twilight. With you here to discuss things with my dad yourself I can take a break and relax with Harvest. I’m sure seeing you guys will really left his spirits. Ever since the end of the Dragon War and… well princess Ember’s passing he hasn’t been in the best of spirits,” Orchid finishes looking down towards the ground below them. “He put on a good front when my mom came by to check up on him a couple months ago but I could tell something was off. And she’s been too busy helping her old town finish their expansion to come back out recently.”
“Yes, even my mother could tell something was off from both how rarely he responds to her letters along with how brief and vague they are when he does. That’s partly the reason I requested to accompany you aunty Twilight. When you told her that you were going to the Dragon Lands at your last lunch my mother asked me if I would go along to check on my father for her. She seemed pretty concerned,” Tanzanite said steadily pulling the hot air balloon’s string to keep pace with the Twilight and Harvest.
“Mom do you think uncle Spike is doing alright?” Harvest asked her mom starting to look worried for her uncle. Twilight was quiet for a moment, thinking about what she had just heard about ex number one assistant. Not to worry Harvest she quickly responded.
“Don’t worry sweetie I’m sure your uncle’s just still adjusting to becoming Dragon lord. After all you have to remember, like me he didn’t exactly plan on becoming a leader let alone the Dragon Lord and Ember’s passing was hard on all of us. Besides I’m sure seeing all of your smiling faces will left his spirits in no time,” Twilight said flying slightly ahead and looking at all three of them.
“You’re right mom. The first thing I’m going to do when I see uncle Spike is fly up to him and give him a big hug,” Harvest said doing an aerial loop hugging a cloud. “Whoooooaaaaaa, is that Obsidian Castle? The Castle Dragon Lord Ember had made right before the war? The same one the she had her father, the previous Dragon Lord Torch help construct with his lava fire breath,” Harvest asked her mother back to back eyes wide in awww and excitement.
“Yup, welcome to the capital of the Dragon Lands “Viverna,”” Tanzanite said as they came into full few of the dragon capital. The massive pitch black castle shining brightly as the sun began to set.
Tanzanite could see two medium sized dragons waving two torch lights signaling them they had the okay to land. He then carefully navigated the hot air balloon over to the designated landing area. Twilight and Harvest land at the same time Orchid and Tanzanite do. As he and Orchid step out of the hot balloon they both hear familiar footsteps coming their way. Just then a two sided door burst open as their father came out rushing towards them grabbing both of them in a massive hug. “Tanzanite Orchid it’s so great to see you again,” Spike said hugging them a little tighter.
Both Tanzanite and Orchid put one arm around each side of their father hugging him back. “It’s good to see you to father,” Orchid said hugging her father a little tighter.
“Yeah it’s good to see you dad,” Tanzanite said leaning back from his father’s hug.
“How’s my soon to be number one royal guard and number foreign diplomat doing? Also, not that I’m not thrilled to see you son but I get why your sister is here but I know you’re not the biggest fan of coming to the Dragon Lands soooo…”
“Ahem,” Twilight said interrupting Spike.
“TWILIGHT!” Spike yelled as he sat his children down and ran over to Twilight giving her an equally giant hug.
“Whoa it’s good to see you to Spike,” Twilight said as she slightly struggled to breath as Spike hugged her tightly. “How have things been going with you mister big important Dragon Lord,” Twilight asked as Spike continued to hug her? Spike was silent for a second as he hugged Twilight before responding.
“Oh, things have been going great here,” Spike said as he let go of Twilight sitting her back on the ground. “ How about you Twi? How are things in Ponyville and what are you doing here,” Spike asked changing the subject?
“ Well to answer your first question things are going really great actually and Ponyville is is doing better than ever, I wish you could come and visit. And pertaining to your last question I came here for two reasons,” Twilight said standing up. “ The first is to finalize with the trading agreements with the Dragon Lands,” Twilight said taking a small pause, smiling and moving a few steps away from Spike. “And the second one was to bring a very excited pegasus to see her favorite uncle.” Just then Spike was knocked to the ground as Harvest came flying right into him. As Spike looked down he saw Harvest latched onto his waist hugging him.
“ Hi uncle Spike did you miss me,” the young mare asked as she looked up at the large dragon? After getting over the shock of seeing his little niece for the first time in over a year Spike simply smiling as the two laid on the ground.
“ Of course I did Harvest, how could I forget my favorite niece,” Spike said as he got up a lifted Harvest high up into the air with him. Tanzanite and Orchid both walked over to Twilight. Twilight smiled as she watched Spike toss Harvest into the air as the two played together. Harvest took high to the skies as she flew after a toss by Spike. Spike quickly followed after her as they continued to mess around now playing in the skies. This brought back memories for Twilight of when Spike was still her baby dragon assistant and how’d they’d fly through the air together, him on her back.
“It’s nice to see him so happy again,” Tanzanite said as she stood next to Twilight.
“Agreed. I know he loves it when we come to visit him but I can tell he gets lonely out here by himself,” Orchid said staring at her father as he flew through the sky. “Whenever he sends letters to my mother he says he doing okay but she can tell it gets to him when she has to be away for so long,”
“I wish he could come and visit Ponyville more often himself or that I could make more trips out here,” Twilight said taking a deep sigh. “But I’m sure after these trade talks and the final bit of paperwork is done things will get better,” Twilight said with a smile on her face and determination in her eyes. “So we should probably get things started.” Twilight’s horn began to glow and in a flash both Spike and Harvest were back on the ground, both with surprised looks on their faces. “Spike I think it’s time we got the trade talks started,” Twilight said looking towards Spike.
“Hehehe I guess you’re right Twilight,” Spike said rubbing the back of his head. “But you guys must be hungry from your trip here. We can start the talks after a nice dinner. Come on I’ll have a cook whip us up something really nice. And while we wait Tanzanite you can take your cousin Harvest on a tour of the castle.” Harvest began to glow with excitement as she ran over to Tanzanite and Twilight.
“Oh can you? Pleeaasssseeee Tanzanite,” Harvest asked? Tanzanite didn’t know what to say but after looking at the face Harvest was making(a face to cute to describe) he relented.
“Okay. If it’s okay with aunt Twilight I show you around,” Tanzanite said sighing.
“It’s fine by me as long as you stick close to Tanzanite,” Twilight said looking sternly at Harvest. Harvest squealed in excitement.
“You coming Orchid,” Tanzanite asked his sister?
“No, I think I’ll stick with dad and aunt Twilight but you have fun.” Tanzanite could feel himself being pulled on by Harvest’s wings.
“Okay, okay let’s go Harvest,” Tanzanite said as he and Harvest walked through the doors his father had walked out of.