Just a little warning I'm probably going to bump up the rating on this for some animal cruelty. It might get you mad. It starts a bit in this chapter so just be ready.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Disclaimer: Don't own em. But I want to.

Paint In the Wind Chapter 4: Newcomer

From the looks of it the large Stallion appeared to be asleep. He was kneeled on the mossy ground with his neck stretched nearly to its limit. The thin wire like rope cutting into his neck causing blood to ooze from the painful wound. There were numerous cuts and deep bruises along his muddied form. He was covered in so much dirt, grime, and dried blood that you could barely see the coloring of his fur. His mane and tail were matted beyond recognition and on his side was a wound so deep it exposed his thick ribs.

It was obvious the poor creature was undernourished. The sight made Shanks want to cry. Who would do this to such a beautiful creature? He gazed upon the thin form of the injured Stallion in front of him and began wondering just how long he had been tied to that tree. Everyone stood stock still as the animal snorted in his sleep. Luffy inched forward, ears down, and tail between his legs. He approached carefully and sniffed the large horse.

"Luffy! Come back here." Shanks whispered with urgency.

This sudden sound made Usopp cry out in fright as he did not expect the noise from beside him. The loud caw awoke the sleeping Stallion who looked upon them with wild emerald eyes. He leapt to his hooves and began screaming and throwing himself around in a vain attempt to break free.

"Whoa there! Whoa there! Easy boy!! Easy!" Shanks shouted over his frightened whinnies.

As Shanks approached, trying to calm the frightened beast, the closeness only succeeded in making him thrash more. He suddenly reared up, waving his front hooves in the air and neighing a warning. This frightened Shanks causing him to fall backwards and land on his backside in range of the Stallion's waving hooves. Robin leapt forward and pulled Shanks away as the Stallion brought down his large hooves where Shanks used to be. He waved his head from side to side, causing blood to splatter from his wound. He stamped his hoof on the ground to try and drive them off.

Suddenly he fell to his knees, wheezing uncontrollably. Opening his mouth in a desperate gasp, chest heaving to bring oxygen into his starved lungs.

"That rope too tight boy?" Shanks said quietly as he stood.

The Stallion's wheezing grew steadily worse as Shanks neared him. He began to scrape his hooves weakly on the ground in agitation.

"Shhhhh." Shanks soothed the poor beast. "I'm just gonna loosen this okay?"

Shanks was experienced in dealing with frightened animals though never this big. He knew the risk he was taking but he wasn't about to leave him tied to the tree. His head couldn't even reach the ground for him to eat, hence the starvation.

"It's gonna be okay." He whispered as he reached forward.

The Stallion became so weak from his wheezing that he couldn't even hold his own head up anymore. The wire like rope cut deeper into his neck as his head hung there. It was getting dangerous to take too much time as the rope was now suffocating him.

Shanks reached forward and stroked the large beast gently as he reached up to loosen the slipknot on the rope. Whoever had tied this poor creature here was cruel to do this to the beautiful horse. He began slowly loosening the knot that was so tight he had to reach into the Stallion's neck wound to loosen it. Which obviously caused him great pain. As soon as he was able to breathe he gasped for air weakly. He put his hooves underneath him and struggled to lift himself from the muddy ground. He failed, falling back down to the ground.

Shanks was sure not to make any sudden moves around the horse. He slowly reached inside his pocket and removed a pocketknife. He used this to cut the rope holding the horse to the tree. Who fell onto this side once he realized he was free. His head hit the ground with a soft wet slap and he closed his eyes.

"Chopper go back to the house and get your holster and your rope." Shanks told the reindeer

Chopper immediately ran off. Shanks knew they understood him. He gazed sadly upon the horse who was breathing heavily. A lone tear dripped down his hardened face as he imagined how much pain he must be in.

"Are you okay?" Luffy asked the huge horse in front of him.

He simply snorted in response to Luffy's question.

"I know you can talk."

"Go away and let me sleep." He hissed at them snorting and shaking his head a bit.

Chopper soon returned and Shanks took the items from the baby reindeer and moved towards the Stallion's head. The horse blinked weakly and snorted as he approached.

"Shhhhh. It's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you."

He attempted to put the holster on the Stallion's mud-crusted head but the horse would not have it. He rolled onto his knees and shook his head from side to side while neighing.

"It's okay I promise."

This did nothing to calm him. Though he had never heard a two-legged speak so gently. They were not to be trusted. All two-leggeds were the same. Cruel. He had witnessed their cruelty first had and had sworn to never trust a two-legged. He was only three years old. He had yet to be a fully grown Stallion.

"Alright then we'll try something different."

Shanks took the small rope, that was supposed to latch onto the halter, and tied it loosely around the Stallion's neck. He did not like this. He leapt to his hooves, with great effort, and began tugging fiercely on the rope. By now Shanks' hands were soaked in the Stallion's blood. He grabbed a hold of the rope with an iron grip and struggled to keep the Stallion in check.

After tiring the poor thing out He realized he had no choice but to follow this two-legged. In the condition he was in he would not make it far in the herd. He would surely be picked off by one of the lions that lurked outside their herd. It hurt to walk. These two-leggeds would pay for hurting him. Once he was better he would escape and make his way back to his herd.

Shanks led the exhausted Stallion back to his house, where a few of his friends sat waiting for him.

"Whoa. Found another one eh Shanks?" The long haired one asked.

"Yeah. Help me out with him. I have to get him into the pen. I have a feeling he won't be too cooperative."

His two friends jumped off of the fence they were sitting on and grabbed a hold of the rope holding the horse while Shanks opened the gate leading to small secluded pen. The Stallion heard the slight squeak of the wooden door. He looked up to see the open door of the rounded pen. He instinctively reared and began tugging with all of his strength against the rope.

"He doesn't want to go in!!" Nami cried a little frightened from the Stallion's terrified cries.

They stared with wide eyes as the group managed to get the horse into the pen, get the rope off, and close the door. Once inside he began to buck and run around the borders of the pen neighing and snorting in anger and fear.

"Thanks boys." Shanks gasped out of breath from the effort.

"We'll leave you two alone. You need a vet?"

"Yeah. Thanks."

The two left and as they did everyone else approached the fence and looked at Shanks.

"He's a Mustang that's for sure." Shanks said with a smile as he looked upon the wild bucking horse in the pen. "Now that's an unbreakable spirit. Look at him. He's amazing. What should we name him?"

Everyone tilted their heads to the side as they thought.

"Violent and reckless comes to mind." Sanji mumbled.

"SANJI!!!"

"What?"

"He's just scared. Remember how you were your first day?" Luffy scolded. "Plus he's Wild. He's never been near humans."

They looked at him with a sadness in their eyes as they realized how long he might have been tied to that tree. He must have been in a lot of pain during that time. How he had the strength to run and buck around the pen was a mystery.

"Never judge a thing until you know what's inside it Sanji." Luffy said in a serious voice.

"How's Zoro sound?" Shanks asked.

Luffy barked his approval at the new name.

"It fits him. Zoro." Shanks gazed fondly at the Mustang in the pen before him. "Sounds like a wild name for something wild and unbreakable. A wild name for an unbreakable Spirit."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

There you go. Hope you guys enjoyed it. I hope to update soon but my fingers are cramping so I'm gonna have to take a break. See you next chapter! Chow!!