The throne room was silent as Frieden paced. Donnerkopf still laid on her back, having no will to get up, her red puffy eyes occasionally blinking out tears as she stared blankly at the ceiling. Haftling and Edelstein both sat by Frieden’s throne, nervously watching him mutter and pace across the room. Wald-Eule had taken Sternbrand to the back of the room, where the two of them quietly whispered with Fernost.

Frieden could hear them whisper, but didn’t care. He was, for the first time since his ascendance, actually worried. Baron Zeitreisender had managed to nearly kill him. The amount of magic the old bastard had drummed up was impressive. The only reason that Frieden had survived was that the Baron had somehow missed, tearing apart time and space just behind Frieden instead of in Frieden.

After the inaccurate blow had been struck, the Baron had been as helpless as any other unicorn Frieden had faced. However, that thought did not make him feel as comfortable as it should.

Zeitreisender had managed to get inside while he had been distracted, and likely chose to attack at that moment due to Frieden’s focus on humiliating his slave. Frieden scanned the room, noting his slaves closer. They were an unnecessary liability. He’d kept them solely for his pleasure, but perhaps he should simply kill them.

That wasn’t entirely true. Madam Haftling had proved quite informative so far, and the rune on Fernost had given him other ideas. He could use them as batteries—living power sources to fuel his magic. Even Donnerkopf’s foolish attempt at escape had offered him further insight as to the nature of his magic.

Frieden stopped pacing, and walked slowly to Haftling. As he approached, her eyes locked to his in fear and her ears bent back submissively. Clearly she expected violence. Frieden paused just in front of her. She’d been a font of informational tidbits, perhaps her advice would be useful.

“I am displeased, Haftling. How did Zeitreisender get inside? I should have been able to sense him if he was teleporting.”

Haftling swallowed. “Master, Zeitreisender likely did not teleport in the traditional sense.” She blinked, and then added, “He was never very good at spatial measuring, so he was always afraid to try.”

Frieden wasn’t stupid, far from it. He knew that Zeitreisender was a time mage, so had traveled through time. But Frieden wasn’t sure how to ask what he wanted to know. He hoped that by getting Haftling to explain things he could get more information. “Then how did he get so close, Haftling?”

Haftling looked at him curiously. “Master, he probably came here sometime in the future or the past, and moved through time instead of space. I would guess the future, since he wouldn’t have known your threat in the past.”

Frieden ran his hoof over his chin. “But such spells are dangerous, and very limited, correct?”

She nodded. “Yes, Master.”

Frieden continued to muse. “He is still bound by the rules of time travel. Do you believe he will try again? Before you answer, Haftling, bare in mind that he will not succeed, and if I feel you have lied to me I will kill you.”

Haftling dipped her head and closed her eyes, apparently thinking for a good few seconds before she answered. “Master… You appeared to cripple him, I don’t think he’ll be able to cast a spell ever again from that point in time forward. However, this might not have been his first attempt.”

Frieden raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t considered that. “Oh?”

“If….” She scrunched up her face, deep in thought, “If he tried before, then he failed. But he may still have tried. He could show up again, Master, even if he does not try again.” Continuing, she looked hopefully up at Frieden. “I would wager that it wasn’t his first attempt. He seemed… desperate, Master.”

Frieden grumbled, remembering the short exchange he had with the time traveler. He had said that Frieden would kill him, but not yet. “Does Baron Zeitreisender have the power of prophecy, Haftling?”

“No, Master.” She shook her head. “That was Baron Voraussicht, and he was really only correct about half the time. He clearly had no idea that you’d show up, nor that Edelstein would betray him so quickly.” Haftling frowned, glancing at Edelstein.

Edelstein just rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue, unconcerned. Madam Haftling’s frown deepened.

Ignoring Edelstein, Frieden continued his chain of questions. “Could he teach that spell to another pony?”

Haftling sighed. “It’s not likely, Master.” She waited a moment. “Perhaps… Perhaps Baron Von Herrscher? He’s an accomplished mage beyond his enhancement magic.” Haftling visibly pondered some more. “Or maybe Madam Mondschein. When she’s sober she can cast very potent spells of any specialty.”

“So there is a risk he’ll strike again, either through another pony or earlier in his time line.”

“I’d wager that it’s likely, Master. As we approach him in time, it will take less magic for him to travel back.”

Frieden continued to frown as he thought. The danger wasn’t necessarily Zeitreisender himself, but the spell that threatened to tear Frieden apart. It had felt strange, burning what it touched without fire or heat. “And what of the spell he used to assault me once he’d traveled through time?”

Haftling shrugged. “Zeitreisender was never very good at combat magic, Master. The whole ‘accuracy’ thing always held him back. I’ve never seen a spell like that, so I’d guess it had something to do with time magic.” She looked curious. “What did it feel like? Do you think that he attempted to send bits and pieces of you randomly through time? If I was trying to kill… well…” Her eyes went wide and she swallowed slowly, locking eyes with Frieden, “I just meant… That sounds like it might work on anything except Discord.”

Frieden hummed thoughtfully. That made sense, actually. It would bypass any sort of armor or spell shielding, and would work on anything. The only defense was to be in a stasis, like Morgentau, but that was its own defeat.

Haftling watched him, uneasily. She was waiting for him to hurt her after her comment, but when no punishment came, she slowly continued. “I would wager that Zeitreisender was being aided by Baron Von Herrscher. He was performing much more competently than he usually does.”

Frieden nodded, acknowledging her comment. “Thank you, Haftling. You’ve been most helpful.”

Haftling gave a hopeful smile, and let out a breath..

“When I was pacing, I was debating if keeping all of you alive was worth it. Each of you is a distraction, something holding me back from conquest. But without you, I’d be lacking vital information.” He glared at her. “Continue to prove your worth, Haftling.”

Haftling shivered, going rigid. “Yes, Master.”

Frieden climbed into his throne to think. The low hanging fruit had been plucked. There may be a few council members left that were easy pickings, but apparently they get organized against him at some point. He needed to make sure that they had less powerful ponies available when that happened. He needed to strike, and fast.

Grabbing the council room had been an excellent move, but he’d spent too much time playing victor when there were still enemies afoot. Half of them were out there, still alive. As of now, they probably didn’t understand his threat. But in a day or two, the survivors would. It was late in the day, most had probably gone home for the night, or on to their night lives.

“Haftling, I need a list. I need to know all of the surviving council members and where they live. We will wait here until sunset, and then assault their houses while they sleep. In addition to that, are there any council members who ever work late at night?”

Haftling shook her head. “That might not work, Master. Many guards are loyal to specific members, and the trail of corpses you left likely has gotten to a few of the council members already.”

Frieden frowned. “Then which member is in charge of the military?”

“That would be Baron Eisenhuf, Master.”

“Then we shall go to him first.”

“Yes, Master.”

Frieden looked around the room. Edelstein would be good in a fight, along with Donnerkopf. Fernost wasn’t impressive, but could survive. Madam Wald-Eule was barely acceptable. Morgentau was unacceptable, she could remain frozen. Sternbrand, however, was untested.

He found himself staring at Madam Donnerkopf as he planned. She was still laying passively on the floor, her tail soaking in a puddle of her own arousal and her open pussy occasionally twitching as the rune he’d left slowly filled with magic. The rune would keep her aroused, and occasionally bring her over the edge. Frieden began to chuckle. She’d learn to survive like that in combat, or she’d die. He didn’t care anymore, he’d won her game.

“Madam Donnerkopf and Edelstein. Come here, now.”

Edelstein stood up, a smile on her face and a glint in her eye. She moved gracefully and sauntered over, clearly trying to get Frieden’s attention. Donnerkopf rolled over and climbed to her feet. She twitched uncomfortably as she walked, but made no motion to hide her flushing face or heavy breathing. Her eyes were still bloodshot, likely still stinging from his cum.

“Madam, I’m leaving you in charge while I’m gone. You understand the price of failure. Edelstein, you will assist her.”

Donnerkopf bobbed her head. “Yes, Master.” Edelstein frowned, but didn’t day anything as she looked dejectedly at Donnerkopf.

“Bow your head, Donnerkopf.”

The mare tiredly lowered her horn. Frieden was going to use his slaves for an experiment. He traced a rune around the base of her horn, a filter tuned to a very specific magical frequency. Then he put another timed detonation rune on her back, and copied another to Edelstein.

“The rest of you, come here.” He called to the other three, who quickly came over.

Fernost looked exhausted, but still moved fast. Wald-Eule’s breath ran short, the pudgy mare really wasn’t used to running, and Sternbrand was the fasted.

Frieden traced over them as well, carving a complex series of interconnected runes over their backs with his hooves. He spoke as he carved. “You gave me an idea, Fernost. Madam Donnerkopf and Edelstein were the only two of you to prove effective at combat. However, I have placed a very draining rune on Donnerkopf. In order to improve her efficacy, you three will provide her with your magical power.”

All of his slaves looked at him in confusion. He grinned. “You three will be batteries, fueling Donnerkopf’s spells. She and Edelstein have the same rune that killed Elfenbeinturm, and they will die if I do not remove them before dawn.”

Fernost sat down and closed his eyes in despair.

“If any of you three attempt to escape or betray me, Donnerkopf will kill you by draining you.” He glared at Donnerkopf, who nodded. “And you, Edelstein, will have to make do under your own power. I’m sure you’ll manage.”

She frowned, but answered quickly. “Yes, Master.”

He smiled at them. “If Donnerkopf should die, her rune will attempt to revive her by draining enough magic to revitalize her. You three do not have nearly enough magic, so you will all die with her.”

Sternbrand and Madam Wald-Eule shared a quick, nervous glance before looking back to Frieden.

“Haftling and I are going hunting. While we’re gone I want you five to organize this palace, get this room clean, and detain or kill any other council members you meet.”

Frieden looked them over. Two were terrified, two were dispassionate, and one was disappointed. He wondered if Edelstein would try to kill the others by taking out Donnerkopf. She was a jealous mare, and he’d intentionally left her out of their deathtrap and in her own private one.

He turned and walked purposefully to the door.

Haftling paused for a moment, confused at his sudden exit, and then turned to shout at Donnerkopf as she quickly followed. “If you kill my children I will destroy you, Donnerkopf.”

Donnerkopf stayed silent, watching them leave with a red face and a twitch in her tail.

Frieden and Haftling walked the halls, noting the dead guards that he’d left before. “Hopefully they clean this hall up as well.” Frieden stepped over a pink corpse, its eyes closed peacefully in death. The sight made him feel strange. Nostalgic perhaps?

“Haftling, take us to Baron Eisenhuf. Explain the nature of your magic as we walk, I’m curious about something.”

Frieden knew that Sombra had magic to manipulate minds, he could feel the spells in the horn. Unfortunately they seemed to be focused on creating nightmares and forcing the pony into feverish and tortured dreams. While that was useful, it wasn’t what he wanted for Eisenhuf.

He needed the general to appear to be in his right mind when he ordered the army to round up the remaining council members. Haftling probably knew a trick or two to help with that, and Frieden hoped he could quickly adapt her advice to either Sombra’s magic or his own runes.

So far the only spells he’d managed had been entirely Sombra’s or entirely Runic. Telekinesis wasn’t a spell, just a manifestation of a unicorn’s power. Stronger unicorns had stronger telekinesis, and so far Frieden hadn’t found his limit. He was hoping that he could use Haftling’s spells, it would make enslaving these ponies so much faster.

As they left the palace, he was focused on Haftling's lessons and listening intently to her descriptions of ponies inner minds when an explosion startled him. An enormous pulse of energy grabbed his attention. He turned, watching as the palace wall exploded in a shower of stone and glass while a cloud of dust blew across the courtyard, cascading over their hooves like sea foam on a beach.

A hole had been blown wide, leaving a clear path to the throne room. Frieden erected a defensive rune, preparing for the assault when an object was flung at him from the hole. A burnt and deformed body bounced off his protective rune, falling to the floor with a crunch. As the dust settled, he could see a figure standing in the wreckage.

Donnerkopf stood silent, arcing sparks running up and down her body and dancing across the nearby rubble. The air around her crackled as the stone began to melt. Her eyes met Frieden’s, and then she bowed in a show of submission. The electric aura dissipated, and she turned to go back inside, only shouting a name over her shoulder.

“Madam Lichthüter.”

Haftling stared at the corpse in horror, and then cursed and stamped her hooves in frustration. “Fuck. You fucking idiot!”

Frieden laughed, delighted at the emotional display. “A friend, Haftling?”

She closed her eyes, squeezing them hard before answering. “Not anymore, Master.”

Frieden continued to laugh. He doubted Edelstein would make a move now, she would have seen that display from the inside. Pity. Maybe he’d set another trap for her and tempt her to commit suicide later. He was beginning to enjoy his toys, they had so many interesting features that he hadn’t been aware of when he’d found them.

Haftling continued her lecture as they left the corpse of her friend, and Frieden wondered how many of his toys he’d already broken.

Author's Note

No smut in this. Just lots of planning. Boring! But I've been enjoying my weekend, so that was nice. This is over halfway through, lets see how it goes. Donnerkopf has responsibilities now! Do you think she can handle them? I feel kind of bad for Fernost. Maybe he should just die. He only lives to be used as a power source—for magic and for dicks. He should really start being more useful soon. His dick power is running out, Frieden's really abused him for a while. I really wanted to kill Edelstein this time, but it just didn't work out. She gets to live another day. Wald-Eule was also on edge of death. She better step up her game.