Luna was having a peaceful glide through the night sky on a nice clear night, with her Magnificent Moon shining across the land. As she looked below, she could see many of her and her sister's charges taking in the joys of the night, from observing her magnificent constellations through their telescopes, which she had no doubt Twilight Sparkle was doing at this time, to spending some time with good friends at one of the local pubs accross Canterlot. She even spotted some young couples having some late night romantic walks together.
It warmed her heart that the ponies below her felt a sense of security. And she was especially pleased as of late, as ponies came to offer their thanks for keeping the terrors of the night at bay. Some had come to notice that while she was away in the moon, Celestia herself had a hard time keeping back the night terrors, which had caused certain snotty nobles to gain high positions of authority under her nose many times, but with the Princess of the Night back, she was soon able to mend her mistakes, and Luna, well, she made handling the night terrors look like it was nothing more then walking your pet.
Luna of course would always send out a spell every so often to scan for any pony's dreams in need of her assistance. Something that made Celestia a tad jealous, even if she did get some spotty premonitions from time to time. As far as dreams went for the moment, everything was right as rain. Yet, for some reason, she couldn't shake the feeling that somepony needed her. She didn't know who, she didn't know how, but something in her mind told her she needed to help somepony.
All of the sudden, she began to hear a commotion from below, near the outskirts of Canterlot, both curiosity and worry took over her judgement, and urged her to investigate the commotion. As she came upon the scene, she gasped at the sight before her. Down below, young teenage unicorns were bullying a younger colt; who had a coat of fur and a mane that both matched the colors of the mist sometimes seen at night. And upon closer inspection, Luna wore a look of shock. This wasn't your average unicorn, pegasi or earth pony being dealt an unfair treatment. This little colt was a Bat Pony, and he was far too young to be taking on these teenagers. She heard one of them say, "I don't know how you got into Canterlot, but we are going to teach you what happens to freaks like you, who are unwelcome."
The young colt merely lay there, either too exhausted, or too frightened to move. "Yeah, show him who rules this town Ace," one of the other teenage unicorns said.
Luna couldn't bare to watch another moment of this young Bat Pony being unfairly hurt. As the teenager, who seemed to be the leader of the group, began to flair up his horn, Luna's own horn flared up, and she charged to the ground below. Right as the teenage unicorn they called Ace was about to release a spell, more than likely meant to hurt the injured Bat Pony, Luna landed right over the young Bat Pony, and in turn, caused a magical wave, just as she had intended, which sent the unicorns flying a few feet. The little Bat Pony had had his eyes shut waiting for another magical blow, but it never came.
When he opened his eyes, he was in a state of confusion and shock. He now saw a mare, 4, maybe five times his size, standing over him in, what he could only fathom was, a motherly protective stance. As the unicorns came to their senses, they saw Princess Luna standing before them. "Princess Luna," Ace said in surprise, before bowing to the Princess of Night.
His group of bullies bowed in respect as well. "Explain yourselves!" Luna demanded.
The boys stood silent for a moment, they weren't sure why the Princess had an aggressive look right now, but Ace finally cleared his throat so not to invite in Luna's famous "Royal Canterlot Voice", and said, "You're majesty. We were merely taking care of an abomination, and felt you need not have to bother with it. Somehow he slipped past the Royal Guards posted at the Entrance to the city of Canterlot, though, being what he is, I am not surprised."
Luna's mood not only was angered, but disgusted. Had this snob unicorn just assaulted and insulted somepony because of their race? Bat Ponies were a rare sight to see in Equestira. They were cousins to the race of Pegasi, and had many features adapted for the night. But that was no reason to address them as abominations, outcast, and whatever other insulting names known to ponykind. If Luna didn't know better, this Ace fellow would have been mistaken for Luna's nephew's brother, and Blueblood was his own piece of work, though she wouldn't be surprised if Blueblood was a promising influence on Ace.
Luna looked down at the young colt beneath her. His face of terror, the scrapes and bruses, and the tears streaming down his cheeks told her this little one needed her. She then spat at Ace, "What abomination? All I see is a helpless foal, who requires some well overdue care, and a bunch of bullying unicorns who should know better then to attack a defenseless child. I don't know what fed your minds to think of this little one as if he is lower then you. And the Royal Guards that guard the Entrance to the City of Canterlot have no reason to keep him from entering the city."
"Princess Luna, I have the utmost respect for you, and Princess Celestia, but that thing.... that thing is the workings of Nightmare Moon. It is something she left behind to complete her plan. We're trying to eliminate the threat," Ace reasoned.
Luna wasn't buying it. Was this pony that shallow, or was he just a complete imbecile? Bat Ponies had been around far before the rise of Luna's darker form. Obviously, this pony didn't know his history too well, for he would have known the mare in front of him was once the dark mare he spoke of. And Bat Ponies merely had a little more respect for Luna then they did Celestia was all, and Luna had been too blind by the rest of Equestria to have seen that 1000 years ago. "Please, just let us take care of him, before he becomes an unstoppable force," Ace pleaded as he slowly began to trot forward.
At this point Luna snorted, her breath nearly as hot as dragon fire, and she crouched low, with her horn flaring at full power, protecting the tiny charge beneath her. "Come any closer towards this little one, and the punishment decided by the high pony council, including my sister and I, will feel like a mere sting," Luna warned as her pupils narrowed and glowed to match the eyes of her once darker form. They were not eyes of evil, but eyes of maternal rage.
Ace was in shock. Luna was not known for making threats, nor was she known for hurting other ponies. But of course, no pony in Equestria had decided to challenge her either, for they knew better then to toy with Alicorn magic. Hopefully, Ace was smart enough not to test her. Thankfully, he was, as he merely was frozen in place. Luna began to power down her horn and ordered, "Guards, arrest these ponies."
Before the group of bullies had a chance to make a run for it, they found their faces planted into the ground, before the cold feeling of chains surrounded their necks and hooves before being lifed back up by Royal Guards of the Night. Ones who specialize in surprise attacks, and performed exemplary tonight. "Your highness, this is unnecessary, we've done nothing wrong," Ace argued.
Luna gave him a chilling glare as she said, "On the contrary. You committed one of the worst acts any pony can ever commit. You hurt a young child, far too young to defend themselves. And the fact that his race is Bat Pony is no excuse for what you did. I'll have you know, one of the highest ranking officials in Canterlot themself as well as one of my own personal Guards are Bat Pony. They won't be too pleased to hear about what you have done. But I am disgusted. Those who respect me and my sister would never commit such acts when our backs are turned, and so help me, should I find any more with your radical ideas, I'll be sure to have them join you in your punishment."
"Please Princess Luna, you can't do this," Ace said.
He chraged his horn to try and break the chains off him and his friends. But nothing happened. "There's no use trying to get free. Those chains are enchanted and can only be taken off with a magical key. A little invention my sister and I, as well as our niece came up with. Guards, take them to the dungeons," Luna ordered.
The guards soon dragged the struggling bullies away. Luna's pupils soon became soft and rounded again, and she then turned her attention to the colt below her. This young colt had it very rough, bruises, scrapes, tears, all results of a painful, and unfair treatment. The young colt couldn't be any older then a toddler at most. Not much more older then the cake's twins, or young little Flurry Heart for that matter. Which meant he was in desperate need of parental care. But, there were no known Bat pony families in the area. And she was sure that no Bat Pony children had been introduced to any of the Pegasi families living in the area at this time. But seeing how young this colt was, he couldn't have wondered in from any of the neighboring cities or towns.
Then a thought stuck her. The Canterlot Orphanage had been due to receive new orphaned fillies and colts today. He must have been part of the group, and the best logic she could deduce was that these unicorn bullies had grabbed him while the caretakers had had their backs turned in while transporting the young orphaned foals to their new home.
With this particular thought she carefully brought the colt to be sitting in front of her. The foal merely whimpered as he lay in front of her, head crouched low in fear. "Don't be frightened little one. I am not going to hurt you. Shhh," Luna said as she nuzzled him.
The colt began to lift his head, still whimpering, but less nervous after having felt the princess's gentle touch. "There we go. Now, tell me little one, where are your parents?" Luna asked politely.
The colt whimpered a bit more, but answered, "Me... Me no have Mama and Daddy. They went to see ponies in stars wong agos."
Luna knew what that meant. She found the little colts foalish speech cute. But she still felt sad for this little colt. How could someone so small, and so cute, be dealt such a hard blow? "I'm sorry little one. I didn't know," Luna said as she nuzzled him.
Luna had a strange feeling developing inside her. She didn't know what it was but it felt.... good. It felt.... right. It felt.... like she needed to care for this young colt. Of course, many things would have to change. But Luna just couldn't help it. This little one had just stole her motherly heart. And she already showed signs of motherly affection for him earlier. Perhaps that feeling she had earlier when she sensed this little one was in danger was due to what mares call "Maternal Instinct". That had to be why she was so quick to answer the inner voice that called to her. This little colt had somehow been that voice.
That settled it. Tonight he would come with her to the castle. And tomorrow, she would ensure her sister agreed with what she did, before officially adopting the young colt. Course, he was in serious need of some padding, should he sleep with her tonight, but that could be fixed in a moment. No need for the maids having to wash her bed sheets because she was careless. How he didn't have one on, was more then likely due to that bully Ace.
She was pulled from her thoughts as the young colt playfully hugged her nose with all four hooves, being how small he was. Luna chuckled. Already he was showing he wanted to stay with her. Trying to win her heart more with his cuteness, the little rascal. She set him on the ground. "Now hold still a moment dear," Luna said as she flared up her horn.
The Colt closed his eyes, expecting a lashing or something, but was surprised when it felt as if the cold hard ground had suddenly become warmer and softer, like nice comfy cloud. He looked down, and saw that he was now wearing a diaper, with some designs of the Royal Guard of both Day and Night on them. He looked back up at Luna, and she smiled. "Well, I can't have galloping around without proper protection at your age now can I?" Luna asked rhetorically.
The colt blushed a bit. "Oh, before we go. Might I ask... what's your name little one?" Luna inquired.
"N-Night Mist, um, youw highness," Night Mist said, trying to bow, but finding it hard from being sore.
"Oh, no need for bowing dear, I don't want you to hurt yourself more then those nasty unicorns did. And Night Mist is such an adorable name for an adorable colt," Luna quickly urged.
"Awe dey aww wike dat?" Night Mist asked.
"No. Many are very kind. Those Ponies are just stuck up, and their parents can badger me all they want about what I did. But it won't change their punishment," Luna said.
"What gonna happen," Night Mist pondered.
"Something your cute little ears don't need to hear about," Luna said as she nibbled his ear playfully, making him giggle.
Luna then rose to her hooves, and stood tall and giant to Night Mist once more. Night Mist saw her as very powerful. And while most his size would have felt a lot more intimidated in such a presence, Night Mist felt, for the first time in his very young life, safe from the terrors of Canterlot. Luna then lit up her horn again. Night Mist yelped as he felt his body become weightless, as Luna levitated him onto her back. Had it not been for his size, and the state of his injuries, Luna would have spread her majestic wings and flown back to the palace. Instead, She formed a protective, well, in a sense, crib for the little charge on her back. "Whewe we going Pwincess?" Night Mist asked.
Luna turned her head back towards him, "Why, to the palace dear. You're coming with me. I can already hear that rumbling belly, and I know someone is tired, so your gonna sleep with me tonight, and, if you like, for many more nights too."
"Huh? How many nights is dat Pwincess Woona?" Night Mist inquired.
Luna's heart was sent a flutter. No one had called her Woona since she was a little filly herself, barely stable trained. To hear this tiny bat pony say it the way he did would have cause a mare of lesser strength to have passed out from adorableness. She finally answered, "As many nights as you want dear. I can be your new Mommy. Would you like that?"
Night Mist was in disbelief. The famous Princess of the Night herself was offering to become his mother. Him? Her son? A Prince? A Prince of the Night? "W-Weally?" Night Mist requested verification.
"Really dear," Luna giggled, before nuzzling his tiny cheek.
Night Mist, had it not been for the state of his condition, would have been bouncing all over the place in joy. Instead, he hugged her muzzle with his forhooves and replied, "Yes, yes, I want yous to be my Mama."
Luna giggled, "I thought so sweetie. Well, we best start moving and we'll have to make one quick stop before we head to the Lunar Chambers."
Luna turned her head back forward and was about to trot back towards Canterlot palace, when she saw two of her guards standing there, with a carriage ready for her and Night Mist. Luna gave a blank stare, then blinked in shock a few times before inquiring, "H-How Long have you been there and..... how much did you hear?" Luna asked.
One of the guards chuckled, "We've been here a while ma'am, and we heard everything. Rest assured, no pony else will hear it from us til you're ready to announce it your highness."
"That's much appreciated Chrome Wing," Luna thanked.
Soon Luna trotted aboard the carriage, and her guards began to the journey back to the palace castle. Seeing as it was getting a little nippy out. Luna grabbed one of the blankets in the carriage, and after carefully swaddling Night Mist into the blanket, she placed him between her hooves and cuddled him. He closed his eyes as he nuzzled his tiny face into her chest, now feeling more safe then ever before.