Purple Horn was, once again, by the campfire, trying to calm down after his outburst in the cave. He wanted to ensure a better future for Equestria and right the wrongs he made in the past. But Moondust Bloom was more powerful than ever, far more than when Purple Horn faced him. The Princesses were the only ones who could properly defeat him, but two of them were dead, and no one even knew where Luna was. The last he heard, she was retired somewhere in Manehatten, living the good life. So all the pressure was now on him, the Main Six, and these other ponies, and it overwhelmed him.

While he was feeling sorry for himself, Starlight Glimmer walked up to the fire and sat beside him.

"Twilight said you might be here," Starlight said.

"I'm sorry for what I did back there," Purple Horn said. "I'm just stressed, you know?"

"You're also a hero," Starlight said.

"Trust me, kiddo. I'm no hero," Purple Horn said. "After what I did that day, hardly anyone thinks of me as a hero. In fact, the only reason Ponyville thinks I'm a hero is because Celestia felt sorry for me."

"I think you're a hero," Starlight said. "I was one of the foals you saved that day. I got to grow up because of you. I got to have a life because of you. A lot of foals did."

"Yeah, but I don't think you know what happened after I saved you," Purple Horn said. "You don't know why that day made me not want to make friends ever again."

"Of course I do," Starlight said. "You.."

"Can you shut up? Please?" Purple Horn asked, his voice cracking up as he prepared to tell his origin story. "I need to say it."

Author's Note

Congratulations! You have officially made it to the end of a gruesome Book Three.
Book Four will be where we finally learn about Purple Horn's origin story and where in Celestia's name Luna is!
Coming this spring.