The Tutelage of Star Swirl

by Moose Mage


The Jackals of Tartarus

Princess Celestia closed her eyes. A storm raged in her mind. She focused, and within a moment it began to subside. This was an important moment. It required the utmost delicacy, grace, and honesty. Her eyes flashed open.
Her horn glowed, and the double doors before her opened.
The royal study had been converted into a meeting hall. The regular furniture had been replaced by a large, dark, circular wooden table. Celestia entered the study, flanked by the Royal Guard. She held her head high and approached the last empty chair. Upon her arrival, the four representatives sitting at the table stood.
On Celestia’s left was Ambassador Dromedary, a wisened old camel from Saddle Arabia. He watched her with glassy eyes through wire-rimmed spectacles. He was as respectful and reverential as ever, but there were a thousand questions etched into the wrinkles of his face.
Next to Dromedary was Tendaji, a zebra representative from overseas. Her long black hair hung down in intricate braids, and her light, ornately woven brown cloak hung over her like a cobweb. Her face was difficult to read – calm and collected on the surface, but there was no knowing what dwelt below.
And then came a plump orange unicorn in an ill-fitting suit and tie; Governor Bardolph, an Equestrian official from the south, who held jurisdiction over many a town and settlement. He looked at Celestia with tense, beady eyes – perhaps even with a flicker of impatience – and fiddled with the neck of his tie.
And finally, on Celestia’s right was Princess Luna. To Celestia, she was even more difficult to read than Tendaji.
Princess Celestia sat. The others followed suit.
“My friends and allies,” she said, “I would like to begin by thanking you all for coming on such short notice. Rest assured, I would not have sent for any of you if the need for your presence had not been great. This is a matter that concerns all of us. It is not merely an Equestrian problem.”
Celestia looked about the room at her audience. They were all transfixed, except for Luna. Celestia continued. “Before I go any further, it is important that all of you are caught up to speed on the state of the issue. So I ask you now: What do any of you know about the Jackals of Tartarus?”
No one stirred. After a moment, Governor Bardolph cleared his throat.
“Princess Celestia,” he said, “surely you are not referring to that old story of shape-shifting monsters?”
“No, Governor, I am not,” answered Celestia. “What you are speaking of is a confused and distorted legend. But that legend is rooted in reality. And the Jackals have returned.”
Princess Luna lifted her head slightly, and that was all it took to gain absolute attention. “I do not wish to sound condescending,” she said, her eyes sweeping around the room, “but all of you are too young to grasp the meaning of the return of the Jackals. You simply do not know. But Princess Celestia and I know. We were there last time.”
Celestia nodded. “It was many hundreds of years ago, just after the Fall of Discord. This, I am sure, is a story you are all familiar with. His reign was long and terrible. But my sister and I were finally able to subdue him, and restore harmony to the land. In many a history book, that is where the trouble ends. But the trouble did not end with the Fall of Discord – our work had only just begun. There was a colossal mess left to be cleaned up. There were spells to be lifted, jungles and swamps to be restored back into villages and cities. And there were… other problems.
“Most of Discord’s mischief vanished when he fell, but The Great Restoration lasted for decades. That time was not solely spent remedying Discord's remaining spells. No, there were other matters that needed attending to. You see, during the Reign, the greatest threat to pony-kind was not always Discord’s terror and oppression. During this period, the gates leading from Tartarus to Equestria were more active than they had ever been, or have been since. Some ponies ventured through the gates hoping to escape a life of tyranny. And many dark Tartarian creatures saw an opportunity for new life in the ruins of Equestria. And so they came. And once Discord was gone, they were not all easy to expunge. Some may still be found today – hydras, manticores, cockatrices. But the greatest Tartarian threats of all were the Jackals.
“Jackals were unique among the horrors of Tartarus. They were fiercer and hungrier than even the most vicious Hydra, and there were thousands of them. Worse still, Jackal appetites were very… particular. They thrived in pony-populated areas. And it wasn’t long before they spread over Equestrain boundaries like a plague, to neighboring countries, overseas – it was a dark time. But Princess Luna and I were able to stop the crisis by removing the King from his throne. Without a leader, the mindless Jackals were fairly easy to herd back into the gates of Tartarus, or be otherwise disposed of.
“But that was not the end. Perhaps we were careless, or perhaps the Jackals were more clever than we thought. But the fact is, some did slip through our net. And they have been quietly submerged, waiting for an opportunity to spread across the world again. Well, my friends, their opportunity has come. They have found a new King.”
Celestia motioned to a nearby guard. The guard placed the square yellow envelope on the table, its black seal broken.
“And they have surfaced,” said Celestia. “And already, they have killed. Two days ago, two ponies were found savagely murdered on Equestrain soil. On the same day, I received this letter.”
She magically removed a folded page from the depths of the envelope, and it unfolded in the air before her. No one dared breathe.
Celestia read aloud.

To Her Highness, Princess Celestia,
I trust that this letter finds Your Highness in good health. I have the greatest hopes that we two can become fast friends and allies, once we have subdued the reckless bickering of our subjects. I had not wished for the reintroduction of pony-kind to Jackals to be stained with innocent blood. But the Fates have seldom seen fit to grant we Jackals anything easily.
I shall come to the point. The deaths of the two earth ponies at the mill were terrible tragedies. Their deaths gained nothing, and will cost my kind much in the way of social respect. As I’m sure you remember, Princess Celestia, most Jackals are not, by nature, cunning creatures. They are fundamentally beings of want and need, and of instinct and aggression. My own intelligence has given me the strength of will to do what is best for my kind, and I have gained respect for that strength. But the unfortunate truth is, there are few to no Jackals with my level of intellect.
The deaths of the two miller-ponies were in no way a reflection of my ill-will towards Equestrians. This horror was the work of a single, isolated Jackal, with no political motivations, who could not control himself. Jackals are hunters, and so they hunt. They have not all learned the self-restraint of civility. I pray that you will have the patience and wisdom to look upon these deaths as the repugnant crimes of a thoughtless, barbaric individual, and nothing more.
My greatest concerns, however, are not the ramifications of these crimes. I look to the future, and I realize that the paths of pony-kind and Jackals are about to twist and intertwine in unprecedented ways.
With my own emergence as the new Jackal King, the remaining Jackals have likewise been emerging from hiding over the past months. They stand firmly behind me, and they trust me. But even so, obedience is difficult. Therein lies my problem; they lack the discipline to mingle with pony-kind peacefully. I have commanded that all Jackals leave Equestrian citizens untouched and unharmed. So far, save for the recent accident at the mill, they have done so. But they are hungry. And we have been living off of scraps in the dark for far too long.
Now I come to my proposition. Jackals are in need of education and rehabilitation. With your help, Princess Celestia, I can give that to them. What we need is a place of our own. A place where Jackals can live and learn, without threatening Equestrians. With a Jackal Territory, I can take the time to reform my kind, without fear of inflicting suffering on ponies. I shall gather all Jackals to me, and teach them civility and depth of character in a safe place.
I require a portion of Equestria to be emptied of ponies. An area of appropriate size and location would be South of the Cavalry River, north of Macintosh Hills and the Badlands, and east of Palomino River. This portion of Equestria is modest, given the growing Jackal population, and is an invaluable investment for both of us.
I will write to you further on this matter, at which point I will expect an answer. I have complete confidence that you will see the reason and logic in my words, and I have the highest hopes that any disputes our races have had in the past will be resolved without further bloodshed, for the sake of living things everywhere.

His Majesty,
King Klav-Mar

Celestia set the letter down on the table. She looked up at the frozen faces around her.
“And I assure you,” she said, “that this letter is authentic. The seal proves it. I had suspected that Luna and I were the last living creatures in all the world who remembered this seal. I was wrong.”
Ambassador Dromedary rubbed his temple with a dry, cracked hoof. Tendaji’s eyes had glazed over, and she stared vacantly at the paper sitting before the Princess.
Celestia spoke slowly. “My response to this letter means more than altering Equestria forever. When the Jackals were last at large, they could be found all over the world. There is every possibility that they may spread again. That is why I have asked you here. You all have a right to know what is happening, and to have a say in the course of events.
“So, my friends. Tell me. What do you make of this?”
There was silence.
After a moment, Governor Bardolph, a thin sheen of sweat now glistening on his fur, cleared his throat. “How odd it is,” he said, “that this new King, this Klav-Mar, makes his first impression with a letter. He says that he is concerned with relations between Jackals and ponies, but he does not even have the courtesy to come meet you himself. Something smells foul here, Princess Celestia. What do we know at all about this Klav-Mar? Have you ever heard this name before?”
“My historians have been examining any and all existing documents related to the Jackals,” said Celestia. “We have found names of prominent figures in their race, but never a mention of a Klav-Mar.”
Bardolph scoffed. “And suddenly, this nothing of a creature is some sort of king? Really, Princess, Klav-Mar might not exist it all! It may be a pseudonym, a name for something else to hide behind.”
Ambassador Dromedary sat up in his chair. “If I may, Your Majesty,” he said, “I believe that the wisest course of action would be to proceed under the assumption that King Klav-Mar is everything he claims to be. We have no evidence to the contrary – ”
Bardolph barked with laughter. “We have no evidence to the affirmative, either! We are completely in the dark!”
“If you please, Governor Bardolph,” said Dromedary, raising a hoof to quiet him, “I’ll be but a moment. We have no evidence to the contrary, and even if King Klav-Mar is not what he claims to be, which is likely the case, we can at least pacify him.” Dromedary faced Princess Celestia. “If he – or whatever entity wrote this letter – believes that you, Your Majesty, have unquestioningly accepted his existence and position, then Klav-Mar will assume that he has triumphed, at least for the moment. That would give you time to further evaluate the situation without his suspicion.”
“Hmm.” Princess Celestia nodded. “And what, Ambassador Dromedary, do you think is the most advisable course of action?”
Dromedary hesitated for a moment, thinking. Then his mind seemed to lock in place. He adjusted his spectacles. “I would advise, Princess Celestia, that for the time being, you appease this Klav-Mar. Play his game. Give him the lands he requested, and wait to – ”
“Just a moment, Ambassador!” Governor Bardolph’s eyes widened. “Obviously, you are not well educated in the field of Equestrian geography. Klav-Mar is asking for a third of Equestria. Do you know how many ponies we would have to uproot and relocate? Millions! And even if Celestia gives the Jackals this land, what then? Will they ravage it, destroy it? We need the south-east for farming. No, absolutely not, we mustn’t give in so easily to terrorist demands, certainly not under the lofty justification of ‘appeasement.’”
“Then what is your recommended course of action, Governor?” Celestia asked.
“Smoke them out,” Bardolph snarled. “Find them. Scour Equestria with the Royal Guard, with your court unicorns. Form militias. Let these Jackals know that we ponies will not be ordered around so easily.”
Ambassador Dromedary’s eyes narrowed. He removed his spectacles. “If we act with caution and patience,” he said, staring down Bardolph, “this matter can be settled without any further bloodshed. It is possible. Anything is possible if you know the right words to use. Let us be diplomats, let us be neighbors to the Jackals. Not war-mongering, fear-governed fools.”
“Did you even hear Klav-Mar’s request, Dromedary?” said Bardolph, his voice rising. “Can you think of any reason why these Jackals, these creatures which have acquired a taste for ponies over years of terror and slaughter, would want to build their new home in Equestria?”
Dromedary could not answer.
“Exactly. You say we should act with caution. What is really the cautious thing to do? To let a poisonous snake loose in your home, or to stomp its head flat before it bites?”
Dromedary found his voice. “You continue to assume that Jackals have no other goal in mind but the ruin of ponies. If you continue to assume the worst, make no mistake, there will be war. But the Jackals might not be the ones starting it.”
Princess Celestia interceded. “Thank you, my friends,” she said. “Now, Tendaji. We have not heard from you. Is there anything you would like to add?”
Tendaji’s glazed eyes sharpened. She emerged from a mist of thought. She glanced around the room and spoke.
“We cannot hope to tame this foe until we build on what we know. We’re in the dark, without a star, without an inkling where we are. Before we quarrel, soothe, or spurn, we have a chance to watch and learn.”
Tendaji looked to Celestia and Luna. “These Jackal beasts, you tell us three, are reappearing frequently?”
“Sightings have been sporadic,” said Luna, “but by now they number in the dozens.”
“Then that is how we lay our trap. We’ll put these sightings on a map. And if the Fates are on our side, we’ll find out where these Jackals hide.”
Bardolph grunted in consent. “That, I think, is the best way to proceed,” he said. “According to the letter, Princess, there’s no need for you to take any action until a second letter comes. Until then, we should do everything we can to stack the odds in our favor. They have us at a disadvantage. They watch our every move, while we’re stuck playing a guessing game. Yes, let’s watch and wait, and stay alert.”
Dromedary placed his spectacles back on his long nose. “There is some wisdom in this plan. However, it does feel a bit too much like a military reconnaissance…”
Tendaji placed a gentle hoof on Dromedary’s shoulder and smiled at the old camel. “No battlefields are being stormed. We simply need to be informed.”
Dromedary sat in silence for a moment. Finally, he looked back at Tendaji and nodded.
Princess Celestia smiled a small, tired smile. “Thank you, Tendaji,” she said. “I tend to agree with you.”


That evening, after the meeting was adjourned and the three guests had left Canterlot Palace with heavy hearts and troubled minds, Princess Luna stood on her balcony, up in the high tower of her bed chamber. The sinking sun set the sky ablaze with pinks, yellows, and purples. Luna prepared to unveil the moon. It would glow softly at first, then with a building blaze as the sun faded to nothing. Luna focused, and the moon’s outline appeared in the sky, the ghost of a sand dollar. She waited for the sun’s departure.
In the chamber behind her, the door opened, followed by hoofsteps. Luna did not turn. The door clunked shut.
“Ambassador Dromedary has finally left,” said Celestia. “So, it has been done. Are you satisfied, sister?”
Luna still did not turn. “They all needed to know, Celestia,” she said. “It was right for you to tell them. Some secrets are better off told.”
“If you really feel that way, sister, then please, tomorrow morning, let it be known. Tell the citizens of Canterlot what is lurking outside the city walls. Then you can tell me what should and should not be secret.”
Luna said nothing.
“The meeting did raise some good ideas. That will be useful. But I ask you, sister, please – from now on, trust me.” Celestia’s voice was at once steel and ice. “I let you have your meeting. Now you must let me perform my duties. I am capable, Luna. How it hurts me, how it breaks my heart, to know that at every turn, my sister will not trust me…”
And still, Luna did not turn. She never saw the twist of sadness growing in Celestia’s face.
“I will retire now, sister,” said Celestia, her voice softening. “Goodnight.” The door opened again, and Celestia’s hoofsteps retreated. But before the door closed, the hoofsteps stopped. Luna waited.
“Please, sister,” said Celestia. “Do not think less of me…”
The door closed.
The sun faded. The moon shone brighter and brighter. Luna thought.
No, Celestia. I will not think less of you… But you are not the only pony with duties. Every night, I fight back the tide of the Jackals, the infernal Shadows, with my moonlight. But the moon cannot be full forever.
It has already begun to wane.