*his body explodes as a small crack appears in Requiem's Chest* Come child, The world awaits your glorious Song!

We are currently menaced by the nameless one. But he hides in shadows. Fighting is discouraged amongst the gods. Besides, I would not want to risk, upsetting Hectate. I would rather bury myself in a thousand of these lockets than endure one of her temper-tantrums. Perhaps there is some great disaster I could prevent, the world would be altered for the better, and they'd all have me to thank! But which event?

Well, it just so happens that a mysterious being turned up out of nowhere recently. nopony knows who it is or where it came from. it only calls itself "The Guardian." Hell if I know what that means, but apparently it's been looking for a warrior worthy enough to fight it, and that if it's defeated, it will leave.

Very well, I shall seek this guardian and crush him with the a true titan's wrath. Hmmm what to do with the locket in the mean time? I can't just leave it lying around for some unfortunate mortal to find and zap themselves.

Oh, I'd be more than happy to take it off your hoofs. anything to help the greatest Lord of time this world has seen. i will not use it, even if i could figure out how to. I give you my word as a Royal Prince.

I suppose. Any order dedicated to me has long since passed. A royal would be the next best thing. Takes off Locket. Careful not to touch it. I'll collect it as soon as I return! Thank you Lapris. I will redeem myself.

*magically floats the locket alongside him* I hope you do. good luck. farewell! *turns and leaves*

You look rather pleased with yourself.

I suppose so. here's your jewelry. *floats the locket in front of the unnamed one, careful not to let it touch him* this is what you wanted, correct?

Yes, and let me show you something marvelous! Follow me! All these thousands of years of planning have come down to this! Are you ready?

as i'll ever be. show me what you've got!

Meet Requiem! Even, in his sleep, the land around him is slowly dying. All the nearby villages have been abandoned. Plants refuse to grow. All the animals have fled. *holds locket* and this is just the get up and go he needs to wake up.

I see. and his job is to... end all things?

No, just ponykind.

What? I thought you wanted to purge evil! you never said anything about killing everypony!

Everypony is evil Lapris. Deep down you're all the spawn of Cain! *an opening appears in requiem's chest and the locket moves inside before it closes* Awaken my child! And wipe the plague of ponies form this sphere!

No! I refuse to let you do this! *fires a bolt of magic at requiem*

*requiem looks at him and begins to sing in a deep chanting voice. Lapris feels his very soul unraveling with every syllable chanted* Hear how beautiful his song is! Truly it will be the requiem of the ponies!

No! stop, p-please! *tries to fire another bolt of magic* You can't do this! you can't...

*requiem continues chanting as Lapris feels every aspect of his Being is Atomized*
It's no use child, your kind is done. And you Helped to sign the death certificate. damned little traitor, serves you right.

NO! *with the last of his strength, he charges at Requiem and drives his horn into his chest*

Can I help you?

I had heard stories, but they did not do you enough justice. i've got to say, you, sir, look marvelous! the perfect figure you sport so graciously, your eloquent mane, all topped off by that marvelous amulet you're wearing. oh, but forgive me, i forgot to introduce myself, i was so caught up in this glory. I am Prince Lapris.

Bah, I no longer posses the appearance I used to. I have lost much in my travels. Lapris? That sounds familiar.

I am well known in the world of the mortals. or at least i was. i have been somewhat shunned by my family due to my recent... failure among them. it's enough to break a colt's heart. oh, but forgive me, you're probably not interested in hearing some strange alicorn's sad story.

Relax, I too have failed. I sought to smite a foe, but ended up hurting a friend instead. I can understand your pain.

Indeed. i hate that anypony should have to feel the pains of failure and disgrace. and such a horrible pain it is... I wish there was some way to prevent such failures in the first place.

Time and space are dangerous things to tinker with mortal. Even I am never quite sure what the slightest influence in the past will do.

how strange, thats just how i... ah, never mind. so tell me, Cronos, have you yet found retribution for your failure, if you dont mind me asking?

No, my foe was defeated by another. But. I have found the means to ensure that it never happens again.

Oh really? and what's that?

I've gone back in time, and spent last 32,000 years looking for this. *Holds up locket* Truly infinite power. Can you believe it?

Hmm, i don't know. usually things of that nature carry a large drawback. are you certain it's safe?

As long as I keep it frozen in time, It can't hurt a fly. Take it out, and even I'll start to fry.

This 'little thing" contains more power than every god and Pegasus ever to grace this world. This way, I know it is safe, and that I can use it if need be. No more failures. My pride can be restored. No more of these Celestials making me look bad. Bucking rookies.

What exactly happened that makes you think this way?

My replacement clockwork didn't let me have the dignity of fixing my own mistake. While I was apologizing, he fixed my error, and while I was away, he helped to defeat the one that tricked me. He thinks that he's so superior, just because he hasn't made a mistake yet.

Well, if you ask me, that gives you every right to prove him wrong! show him the might of a titan, show him you don't need powerful trinkets to over-come challenges, and that you, the mighty Cronos, can do it flawlessly, and under your own power! Prove to that fool Clockwork that you are not a failure!

Yes! But how? What can I do to show them we titans are still the best!