I'm altering timeline for this AU, placing the events of New World Zorro about twenty years later, around 1850. Otherwise canonical, this story occurs seven years after the events of Devil's Fortress and after the deaths of most of the major characters. It's inspired by Kill Bill, The Quick and the Dead and every other western. Rated M for violence and mild sexuality. Some very heavy themes, murder, drinking, references to torture and sexual assault. The deaths of beloved characters will be seen in the form of flashbacks and will be violent. As you are guessing from the title and the Kill Bill/Quick and the Dead references, this is a Victoria centric story, with a few surprise characters in later chapters. The NWZ episodes An Explosive Situation and The Unhappy Medium will be referenced.

At last, the long day was over and on the far horizon, the sun began to set.

Then, like an apparition racing the falling darkness, the lone rider appeared, a dark silhouette against the russet backdrop of dying day.

On the edge of the vast desert, the pueblo of Quintana was preparing for the night to come. The tavern was bustling with visitors from all over the territory, in town for the annual quick draw contest. Even the celebrated duelist, Sir Miles Thackery, had made the long journey from his native England for an opportunity at the impressive prize.

In his company, a tableau of the most famous and infamous men in the world postured and boasted, the long preamble of psychological warfare was always the precursor to the more genuine conflicts to come.

The lone rider drew no notice from this collected assembly as he entered the tavern. In his long duster and broad brimmed hat, he was the semblance of any other drifter. The dust and grime of a desert passage obscured what little could be seen of his face, and his dark spectacles concealed any expression his eyes might have held.

Without word or gesture in acknowledgement of his fellows, the rider crossed the small room and took a seat at the bar, answering the bar keep's greeting with a stack of coins and a barely audible request for a bottle.

Mr. Abel Morgan, a lifetime resident of Quintana and proprietor of the establishment knew from his many years as a bartender that such appearances of aloofness were often deceiving and he dutifully plied his customer's ears with pleasant nonsense until burgeoning signs of attentiveness were reflected in the rider's posture.

"Yes, sir, this is the third year now and by the look of it, it'll be the biggest one yet." At this, he gestured expansively at the bustling house. "Of course, not so many will be leaving as showed up." Chuckling at his own joke, he quickly fell silent at the soft intake of breath from the rider. Nimbly shifting his topic he continued after another broad gesture at the far window.

"That whole house is Senhor Quintana's, owns it lock, stock and barrel, just like about everything else in this town." Lifting a coin from the bar and tossing it down, he added. "Fifty cents of every dollar made in this town goes right into his pockets."

"And what does the town get?"

Morgan froze at these first words the rider had spoken. After all these years, he still had a few things to learn. The lady, for that is what the rider was, was now fully attentive, and clearly awaiting an answer.

"They get to stay alive."

The Englishman, finding pause in his braggadocio, had at last turned his attention to the new arrival, hovering over the bar and the conversation like an awaiting vulture.

The lady, her posture now tensed, shifted slightly to acknowledge the intruder, her duster falling open reveal the holster at her hip.

"I have known his like."

Thackery's jaw set, his back stiffening at the sight of the gunbelt, then at the sound of the rider's voice, his manner subtly relaxed.

"I have killed his like and shall do so again very soon." At this, he glanced meaningfully at Morgan, then with a parting flip of his coattails, he collected his drink and turned his attention to a new figure just entering the tavern.

"Speak of the devil." Morgan's voice was barely audible, but the new arrival eyes seemed to narrow and quickly the man spoke again, this time, with enthusiasm.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, your host and fellow competitor, Senhor Ricardo Quintana."