AN/ The flashbacks will be marked by *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+* and end with the same marks.

Toronado and other horses' thoughts will be marked by +++ …. +++

Diablo is Toronado's birth name.

Chapter 4:

Toronado fell into a restless sleep. Something, he didn't know what made him return to the moment where he took his father's place on the throne.

A three-year-old Diablo was walking next to an older pitch-black stallion marked with a white star on his forehead. It was his father the horse king, Ares.

"Someday soon, my son, you will be taking over my throne and everything that comes with it. This title has huge responsibilities toward every horse you encounter. You need to be humble towards them and show them respect if you want to get respect back from them." Ares said before he was stopped by a couple of younger stallions. Normal herd didn't allow that but a king needed trustworthy warriors. The job as a warrior came with privileges as well. They were allowed to all breed with one mare who wasn't chosen that year by the king. The job was coveted. Only the best of the best made it through the tough selection.

"Lord Ares… Lord Ares…" A young chestnut stallion named Hermes yelled.

"What's wrong, Hermes?" King Ares asked worried, "Is something wrong with the herd?"

"Humans, my lord, they are threatening the herd. They want to catch the mares." Hermes said breathing heavily, "They already captured Zeus and Hades. I could escape."

"Are the humans from this land?" Ares asked curiously.

The young stallion shook his head, "No, my Lord. They usually leave us alone. I don't know them."

"Show me!" Ares commanded.

"I am coming too," Diablo said to his father.

Ares shook his head, "No, son, if something happens to me…"

"I am coming whether you like it or not," Diablo said stubbornly.

Ares groaned, "You are as stubborn as your mother. Okay, but keep out of reach from the humans. Don't try to be a hero. If something happens to me I need you to take the crown."

Diablo nodded, "I promise father."

Ares sighed deeply before galloping after Hermes towards the other side of the land. These men weren't from the De La Vega ranch, these men were much too brutal for this.

Diablo did as he was promised and kept his distance while he saw how the mare was caught and the stallions who were too hard to catch being shot. Hermes was killed protecting King Ares but it was no use. Ares stormed towards the group of men but was shot in the neck.

"NOOOO!" Diablo yelled the moment he saw his father fall to the ground, breathing heavily.

He didn't hear the humans say, "Let's move before the owner of this land finds out."

Diablo galloped towards his father. He didn't know if he was alive or not, "Hold on, dad, I am going to get some help."

Diablo was about to run when his father stopped him, "No." He said in a whisper first but when he saw that Diablo was about to run he forced all of his powers in one place and yelled, "No, Diablo."

Diablo stopped and looked at his father, "but… but Dad?"

"It's already too late my son, nobody can help me now. You must go and take over the throne for me. Stay on these lands because one day, you will find your real purpose in this life until then be a good and humble king and show the horses that you come across some respect that way, and only that way you will gain respect." Ares said while breathing heavier every minute.

Diablo couldn't believe what he was hearing, what he was seeing, his father, the fiercest stallion of the lands was dying.

"Son, you are king now. Every horse will listen to you. Know that I love you, my son. I will see you back one day in the big pasture of the past kings." Ares said with his last breath before closing his eyes for good.

Diablo snuggled his nose against his father before starting to cry. The tears falling on his father's dead body, how was he going to do this without his advice? He wasn't nearly ready to take over the throne, at the age of 3 years he was only just into adulthood.

The news about the dead king went fast among the horses and with that, the news that his son had taken over the crown of the horse king. All horses who were able to escape were mourning the loss. Diablo's mother died one year later, she never got over the loss of the love of her life. She knew the world of the horses was in the good hands of her only son.

Toronado opened his eyes in shock. The words he always said still echoing in his mind, "Treat the horses with respect and there is nothing they won't do for you…"

It had been years but he never forgot the lessons his father had taught him. One of those lessons was always to stay on De La Vega land. He never said why though. Nobody ever knew that Ares had been born on the De La Vega rancho. The one stallion that was stolen and was never found again. Stolen before they could mark him. He had learned how to survive in the wild due to him being the king. He was the firstborn and also the last born of his father. Right after his mother so Toronado's grandmother was pregnant, Ares' father was shot because of a broken leg.

He now knew how he needed to find his queen, his Dulcinea. He looked over his wooden fence towards the entrance where his master usually appeared. He noticed that everything was like it should be so if he wanted to reach Romero, he had to do it now. He had to make one stop first.

Toronado placed his hoof on the wooden board hidden in the sand. It was the leverage for him to open up the secret entrance.

His first stop wasn't far though with his speed it took only a few minutes. He looked around for any vaqueros but nobody was in sight so he entered the private stable of the De La Vega's. The stables held the horses that were ridden by the De La Vega's themselves.

Toronado entered the stables with caution. Some of the mares gasped, something about his aura made other horses recognize him as their king.

+++ My lord…+++ Esperanza was the first one to speak.

+++ My dear mares and stallions, I need your help to find Dulcinea. I want you to spread the word that the future queen has been kidnapped. Describe Dulcinea for them and tell it to every horse you encounter. +++

+++ We will do that, my Lord. If we can help you find Dulcinea this way. +++ Esperanza said.

+++ I will let you visit you every day around dawn that's the time I usually have for myself while my master is asleep. +++ Toronado said and before anyone could ask he continued, +++ and no I won't tell who is behind the black mask. +++

+++ We wouldn't dare ask you that my Lord. +++ Another stallion called Emilio.

+++ I can't tell you my stable so I will come to you. Now I need to try to find me and no need to worry if you haven't had any information. +++ Toronado said to the horses in the stable.

As quick as he had arrived, as fast did he disappear. He galloped to the lands where he had hoped to find Romero, at least if he had listened to him.

It was only a few minutes from the De La Vega hacienda. They did make sure not to ruin anything on the lands though. That was the only reason they didn't get caught. They helped to keep the wild landscape in balance.

+++ Romero? +++ Toronado yelled, he hoped he wasn't defeated by another stallion going rogue, someone who didn't know about the royal herd.

+++ Lord Diablo. +++ Romero asked confused. It had been some time that he had seen his king. Once a year he paid a visit to see the herd and to hear the reports. Romero was the only one who knew where to find him in case of an emergency. Romero would take the secret down with him, the moment he died.

+++ I need your help. +++ Toronado said.

+++ Anything my Lord. +++ Romero bowed his head.

+++ The future queen has been kidnapped, it's a beautiful white mare listening to the name Dulcinea. I can recognize her at the mark on her backhand. She is also heavily pregnant. I want you to ask every horse you meet if they have seen her. The mark is a V. Say that it is on King's orders that they tell you everything. +++ Toronado said in such a tone of voice that told the horses that he meant business.

+++ Yes, my Lord. I won't disappoint you. +++ Romero said still his head bowed down. He knew what the king was capable of.

+++ I don't want you coming to the cave. I will be making my rounds around dawn every day until I found her. Stay near this place. +++ Toronado ordered.

+++ Yes, my king. +++ Romero said. He was always going to be loyal to his king. He didn't want to put his job at stake. Defending and breeding with the royal herd.

Toronado nodded and disappeared again, he galloped back to the cave. He did everything he could. Now he hoped that this wasn't one of those rare mornings that his master needed him. He hadn't heard a whistle so probably not.

He sighed deeply when he arrived at the cave. He did everything he could do for now. The only hope he had now was that one of the horses he ordered encountered the right bandit horse, who could lead them to where Dulcinea was captured.

TBC