Several days later, after settling for some well-deserved rest, I felt the subtle pull of Luna, and my dreams drifted towards her garden. It was not just her. Three other ponies were arrayed around her. They had wings and horns like she did, but the similarities ended there. One had the tongues and bisected jaw of Sandra with bright neon-colored fur. The next was huge and built more like a brontosaurus than a pony. The last was slender and thin, and looked much more like a deer than a pony. They even had a rack of horns.
All four sets of eyes settled on me, though one broke into a heavy yawn. "I should be waking up soon," she complained, craning her long leg down at Luna. "Is that everyone?"
Luna nodded. "Yes, she was the last." She pointed at us. "It has been some time, but I hereby call this council to order."
The Council?! I had long ago forgotten its vague promises.
"It has been some time since last we convened, and there have been no few developments since then." She pointed at us. "William and Cindy--" In typical dream fashion, only having her name said inspired me to glance and see she was seated beside me, not attached for the dream. "--have been quite successful at the peaceful integration of ponies and humans in their territory."
The deer raised a hoof. "I have also met with success. The humans see us as protectors now. With their infrastructure destroyed, we are the only thing keeping them from destruction."
The brontosaurus gave a soft snort, "Are you their friends, or their masters?"
Cindy smiled brilliantly. "Friends. It was tough starting, but things are looking up, mostly. We're not there right now."
All eyes shifted towards her. The neon colored one frowned a bit. "And why are you not in your terr...er, kingdom?"
I decided to field that one, putting a hand over my chest. "We're going to visit the South American princess and see if we can't talk sense into her."
The neon one smiled wickedly and advanced. "Well, here she is. 'Talk some sense into me.'"
Shit. Still, that could have gone worse. "We've managed full integration of ponies and humans, military included. The ponies are not mistreated, and neither are the humans, and both are better for the other. There's no reason to aggressively hunt them down, and a thousand moral and practical reasons to let them be."
The neon one waved a hoof dismissively before gesturing at the city the garden was at the side of. "Look at what the ponies can accomplish with no humans at all. They have almost no crime. They have almost no war. They have built a utopian society, without humans."
Luna shook her head. "Genocide is rarely a good strategy. Surely not all humans are disagreeable?"
Neon frowned. "It only takes one. A hundred docile humans does not weigh out against one psychopath. You've seen it, Luna. The acts a human are capable of aren't even within the realm of imagination for ponies."
Luna took a slow breath. "My advice may have been hasty. At the time the humans were the aggressor entirely." She pointed a hoof at me. "Their solution is much more harmonious, is it not? Can we not at least consider it?"
"No!" She flashed her teeth before rushing at us, only to vanish on the way.
Luna shook her head. "I sent her home. I'm sorry." She looked to the other princesses. "Your thoughts?"
The deer pointed at herself. "I am wholly in support of symbiosis and cooperation."
The brontosaurus shook her head. "As far as I know, there is no fighting. My people avoid the humans, and they avoid us, and there is peace. It feels fragile, however."
I raised a hand, "We can show you how to make your ponies uninfectious, so they're safe to humans."
The deer smiled. "That would be lovely."
Cindy waved her hands. "He didn't even get to the best part of that. You can alter ponies while you do it, make them better."
The brontosaurus tilted her head. "That will have to be used carefully. We are not gods, just caretakers."
Luna nodded lightly. "It is a great relief to hear you say that. Can I trust you all to act in the best interest of your people?"
I nodded. "Of course. I didn't ask for any of this, but here we are. The least I can do is try to get things right again."
The deer smiled. "Well-enough stated. I stand with you... William was it? I am Hedwig, a name I will gladly outgrow."
The brontosaurus nodded in agreement. "Show us the trick, and perhaps we will know a deeper peace. I am Adaeze, princess, like our host." She gestured at Luna, then looked at me curiously. "Please, share, before we must awaken."
We went over how to feel for and manipulate the gift, and to burn it away and leave a pony clearer of mind and safe for humans to be in contact with. "Always double-check your work, no matter how easy it feels, and no matter what rush you're in. A single infection after they're declared safe would be horrible for trust. On the other hand, or hoof, if you come across someone just freshly infected, you can use this to hasten their change, direct it, and keep their mind intact. Use it responsibly, we can either help bring peace or be real monsters."
Hedwig nodded. "I will treat it with caution, but use it well. The European Union thanks you for your help." He vanished.
Adaeze looked at where he was, then nodded at us. "Thank you as well. My people will rejoice when I reveal what I have learned and share this gift with them. Thank you, on behalf of the people of Africa." She vanished as well.
Luna tilted her head. "I'm glad you arrived when you did. They were arguing quite bitterly before you arrived. Are you truly in her kingdom? You may be in grave danger, considering her anger."
Cindy frowned. "Too bad! We're coming for her, like it or not. Someone has to."
Luna gave a slow nod. "You are brave, but don't forget to be careful as well. Your people need you. Harmony guide you." And the dream ended.