Author's Notes: This story started out as an attempt to write a more traditional Zorro story than I've ever written. I didn't initially intend to write for the Death in the Pueblo challenge, but as the story grew, I realized it would take very little to make it fit, so that is why perhaps a couple of elements seem a bit shoved in.

So for the Death in the Pueblo challenge the following elements needed to appear: "Someone must die or be 'presumed dead'. You must include a lace hanky. Zorro must use his whip. You must mention Albondigas Soup. The Alcalde must be in a jail cell."

I'm sorry this one is so late going up, as it has actually been finished for some time. However, I could really use something to cheer me up as real life has thrown my family another curveball at the moment. Also for those who like me were wary of the whole death/presumed death part of this challenge, this is not an angsty tale, more an adventurous one, even with Diego facing some of the repercussions of what happened at Devil's Fortress.

Also, Ghetto Outlaw helped more than usual on this one. Most of the action sequences are his. I merely sketched them in while he filled them out and made them better.

Diamond in the Rough

Part 1

"Don Diego," Mendoza exclaimed as the tall man entered the crowded tavern in the first time in just over two weeks. "It's good to see you back. Will you join me for lunch?"

Diego, knowing full well that that was a hint to buy the good sergeant his lunch, acquiesced with a smile as he sat. "I will, but isn't this a bit on the late side for you, Sergeant?"

Mendoza frowned. "It's the new alca— I mean comandante. He's been having us practice maneuvers all morning. I'm lucky to get lunch at all. He threatened to make us eat in the cuartel."

"Now, sergeant," Victoria said, coming up with a pitcher of lemonade and a glass for Diego, "that was just in the beginning, and he's just staggering the times when you can eat." She looked around. "And I'm grateful, as with the extra men, you're already pushing me to the limits. I'm afraid, Diego, it's either albondigas soup or tamales at the moment."

"Albondigas soup would be fine," Diego said. "Yours is the best. I missed it while I was gone."

"And we missed you, Don Diego, especially with everything that's been happening," Victoria said with a warm and friendly smile, which was just a bit too short of the passion she reserved for Zorro to make him entirely happy.

It was moments like this that made him hate his dual identity, but Diego returned her smile and said, "I'll admit I was surprised to see all the activity today. All I'd heard before I left was a rumor about a new man and troops. I don't even know as much as the man's name yet."

Victoria spoke first. "Well, his name is Ricardo Diamante..."

"Diamante?" Diego asked. "Any relation to Pedro Diamante, the Mexican sword master?"

"His nephew," Mendoza answered. "And he's supposed to be his uncle's best pupil. At least that's what his men say. He doesn't talk much about that or really anything that doesn't have to do with his assignment here."

"And what would that be?" Diego prompted.

"They've captured Santos Romero," Mendoza said. "He's one of the men who escaped from Devil's Fortress..." His voice trailed off as he looked uncomfortable, probably remembering his own part in what happened at the infamous prison. "Anyway, he'd made it to San Luis Rey before they caught him, and they're transporting him to Monterey."

"Why? And why by land and not sea?" Diego asked curiously.

Mendoza shrugged. "They don't tell us these things, except I think they're trying to make an example of him. He was the most dangerous escapee."

Diego forced himself not to wince, knowing full well that he'd been the one to come up with the plan to release the prisoners in order to facilitate their escape from Devil's Fortress. It was his responsibility even if he hadn't been the one to actually unlock the doors. He was amazed that Mendoza could act so casually, but then perhaps he found it easier to forget poor decisions after serving men like Luis Ramone.

Victoria took that moment to head back to the kitchen to get their lunches. Diego took the opportunity to look around at the crowd in the tavern. Beyond the new soldiers, who seemed far more disciplined and professional than the local lancers, there seemed to be a few travelers: a couple of caballeros quietly talking, a woman in what looked like well worn mourning clothes chatting with Sepulveda of all people, and a few scattered vaqueros throwing back drinks. Just as Victoria returned with their lunches, the door to the tavern opened and in walked what could only be Captain Diamante.

While trying to appear casual, Diego gave him an appraising glance: tall (not quite Diego's height but within a few inches), dark hair (well-kept but not ostentatiously so), grey eyes (busily doing their own appraisal of the room), lean build and fluid motion (Diego suspected he was probably as good with a sword as his heritage indicated), uniform (well-worn but clean, rank clearly visible but no displays of medals), and the sword at his side (not ostentatious, no ornamentation on the hilt, a working weapon— though Diego would have to see the blade, he suspected Toledo steel, a gift from his uncle perhaps).

After a quick look around, Captain Diamante fixed his gaze on Diego and approached the table. "Don Diego de la Vega?" he asked.

"Si," Diego replied, rising from the table.

"Good. Your father described you to me. I'm Ricardo Diamante, temporary comandante of the cuartel here."

"A pleasure to meet you, sir," Diego said. "I was surprised when my father said he was taking on the role of alcalde while you were here. The comandante usually fills both roles."

Captain Diamante raised an eyebrow. "So I've heard, but the fact is the alcalde is meant to be a civilian rather than military position, and my job is to prepare the lancers here for one special assignment before I return to the presidio of San Diego. And it is in relation to that that I've come looking for you."

"Well, here I am," Diego said. "What is it you wish?"

"It's about the newspaper," Diamante said. "The governor's wanting a story about the capture of Santos Romero to appear in all the papers along the way, and since you're the man in charge, I felt it best to wait for your return. I prefer not to try to co-opt the press unless well... pressed." He gave a small lopsided grin.

"Then it seems I've returned in time," Diego said, brightly. "Is this a rush job, or do I have a day or two to get a proper special edition out?"

Diamante looked thoughtful. "There's no need to rush it. Within the week is fast enough. If you like I can leave the information in the newspaper office for you."

"Yes, thank you," Diego said, then glancing back at the table. "Would you care to join us for lunch?"

Diamante's gaze flickered to an uncomfortable looking Mendoza before returning to Diego. "I've already eaten, but thank you. I only came here to speak with you, and now I'll let you return to your meal, while I return to work. Good day, Don Diego." With that, he turned and left the tavern.

Diego returned to the table. "So that is the man. He seems very focused."

"Oh, si, Don Diego," Mendoza said. "He's keeping us very busy."

"He does keep very much to himself," Victoria added. "Even when he eats here, he prefers to sit alone near the back. However, he does seem to be a good sort of man, even if he's brusque. A definite improvement over Luis Ramone. A pity he's not here for long."

"He seems to have impressed you," Diego said, still annoyed with that twinge of... not jealousy but something akin to it. It made no sense; it was not as if Victoria were swooning over the man or vice versa.

"Considering what we had, it wouldn't take much," Victoria said. "Besides, it's unusual to see a man who isn't interested in bragging about what he can do and just gets on with the job." She glanced at Mendoza without any malice.

Diego was struck with the thought that if their next alcalde was honest as Diamante appeared to be then Zorro would be able to retire, and then he could... what? Tell Victoria the truth? Hope for the best? What would that be? At this moment he knew a public revelation of Zorro's identity would be disastrous. He could put away the mask but the authorities would not be inclined to just forgive and forget some of his deeds no matter how well-meaning. Maybe that was what was eating at him, that Zorro's day might be over for good, yet he had no idea how to untangle his personal difficulties.

"My father seemed impressed as well," Diego managed to say, as he started on his soup. "It does seem a pity he's only temporary. Do you know how long he will be here, Sergeant?"

Mendoza looked up from his plate of tamales. "No, Don Diego. But maybe another week or two. He says he's determined to see some improvement before he goes."

"But it's about the prisoner being transported," Diego said. "I gather they're trying to keep the schedule unpredictable." While at the same time letting everyone know that they've got him and are showing him off pueblo to pueblo. Will we ever get a government that makes sense?

"Oh, si," Mendoza said, then lowering his voice. "And confidentially since Romero comes from near Buenaventura, they're most worried about something happening on this leg of the journey. After all, we don't really know how many people were with him before he was captured, and you know our garrison is small in comparison to others. Even with the men the Captain has brought."

That was true. Ironically, Luis Ramone's tendency to embezzlement had also kept the staffing low. And even more men decided that the army wasn't right for them after having to deal with Zorro more than once.

"That is reason for concern," Diego said, thoughtfully. And a reason for Zorro to ride out and check the spots where an ambush is most likely because unless Romero had a large group of followers, they'd need cunning to overpower the troops escorting him as well as evading the patrols Diamante had no doubt set up.

~Z~Z~Z~

Having finished his lunch, Diego walked over to the newspaper office. Jorge and Domingo Garcia were usually pretty good about gathering together the new items people brought in whenever he was gone. He looked over the papers on the desk. Aside from the arrival of Captain Diamante and his men, there didn't seem to be anything particularly of note going on in the pueblo. There had been a slight increase in travelers, but they hadn't brought any news of note either nor did they seem to have been notable either.

As he contemplated the dearth of news items, Diego was not surprised to see Captain Diamante enter the office carrying some papers which he placed on the desk.

"As I saw you leaving the tavern," Diamante explained, "I decided not to wait. The governor is rather eager about this."

"If you'd like to wait a minute so we can discuss this, please take a seat," Diego said, as he looked over the papers.

Diamante sat without a word, waiting patiently until Diego finished his perusal.

Diego cleared his throat. "This may seem an odd question, Captain Diamante," he said, "but I feel it's my responsibility to ask. How true is this information?"

Tilting his head to one side, Diamante looked at him for a minute in silent appraisal. "No," he finally said. "I don't think it's an odd question to come from a man who has a reputation for publishing an honest paper. And I am not unaware that the government sometimes likes to... exaggerate information for its own purposes. However, as far as I am aware, this is all true. Santos Romero was not merely a revolutionary but a fanatic. He and his men were responsible for attacking and razing a number of haciendas, killing everyone within— without exception— for the crime of supporting or being the oppressors of the poor. Not that he would spare the poor himself if they were unfortunate enough to be in his path. His being held at Fortaleza del Diablo was more of a political statement and a showing of what was obviously overconfidence at its ability to hold prisoners indefinitely. He was part of the mass escape, and when recaptured, he made no bones about the fact that he was the man responsible for killing Manolo de la Fuente, the comandante of the prison. I know the report left out the details of that little exploit. Do you really want to know what he did?"

Diego swallowed. No, he didn't want to know. He felt responsible enough as it was. He shook his head slightly. Had he still be in the vicinity when the man he'd defeated had been killed?

"And he threatened to kill the governor and all his family as a statement about the crimes of the government, which is why he was heading north," Diamante said. "Off the record, I believe the man should have been killed instead of taken," he stated matter-of-factly, "and if they were so determined to take him to Monterey, they should have gone by sea. We never did find out how many of his people survived his capture in the first place."

"And that's why you're here. To provide further protection along the way," Diego said.

"Yes, one of many," Diamante said. "Los Angeles is considered a prime danger spot because of your current lack of leadership and, of course, your masked vigilante Zorro."

"Zorro?" Diego exclaimed.

"Naturally," Diamante said. "He is the one most responsible for Romero's escape." He looked Diego in the eyes. "I know that he's considered a hero of the people, a defender of the poor, but then so was Romero in certain quarters, so perhaps you can understand if I distrust the man and consider him a potential threat."

Diego kept his face neutral. "Under the circumstances, it makes sense." He slid the papers to one side. "So what can you tell me about yourself? I know the people of our pueblo are curious about you, even if you're only here for a short time. You've made quite an impression."

"Really?" Diamante asked curiously. "I don't believe I've done anything out of the ordinary. I'm here on an assignment, and when it's done, my men and I are bound back to San Diego. I hardly think there's anything interesting in a man doing his duty."

"Well, it has been something of a rarity in Los Angeles until now."

"A pity," Diamante said. "I hope your next commander does his job better than the last." He stood up. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll leave you to your business."

Diego stood up as well and crossed around the desk. "It has been a pleasure," he said, holding out his hand.

Diamante shook it and turned to go. Before Diamante reached the door, Diego saw something white on the floor and reached to pick it up. It was a lace handkerchief, beautifully embroidered on the edges, a very unexpected item for such a plain-spoken military man. "Sir, I believe you dropped this."

Turning back, Diamante looked slightly chagrined and took it from Diego with an embarrassed smile. "Thank you. I don't think my wife would forgive me if I lost that. She says it's a token of good luck and a reminder that she's thinking of me." He placed it securely in one of his pockets. "And of course, it's to remind me to think of her..." His voice softened. "As if I need a reminder."

Diego smiled in return; it was the first true glimpse that he'd gotten of the man behind the uniform, and he found it enlightening. "Ah, now I understand your eagerness to complete your assignment and return home."

He watched as Diamante deliberately returned to the reserved manner of earlier. "Yes. Well... I must get back to my work. Good day." He turned and left without another word.

~Z~Z~Z~

Diego and Felipe entered the cave. Diego had asked the young man about how he'd spent his time while he'd been gone. After admitting that he'd been spent more time exercising Toronado than studying, Felipe had signed that he'd spent time in town trying to get the news about the new comandante and what he was there for and not really hearing anything more than Diego had.

"Yes," Diego said, "he's definitely different from Luis Ramone. Very closed-mouthed. I get the impression that he will only speak to a purpose, and only let his men know what they must, when they must. Mendoza wasn't all that helpful." Diego pulled out a map. "I'm a bit concerned about what I've heard about Santos Romero."

Felipe made some signs.

Diego sighed. "Of course, I feel responsible. I still don't know if there was a better way to get out of Devil's Fortress, but it was the one with the greatest likelihood of success. And I didn't think about the fact that it wasn't just men like Victoria's father who'd been imprisoned there. I defeated de la Fuente and then left him to be murdered by escaped prisoners. He was a foul man, but he deserved to be disgraced not killed." Going over to the desk, Diego pulled out a map of the Los Angeles area. "Diamante's presence leads me to believe that they have more than just a suspicion that an attempt will be made to free Romero."

Felipe asked what he suspected.

"I'm not sure. I don't think there could be that large a number. They'd draw too much attention, and the captain doesn't appear to be a fool. This would be more likely to be an ambush." He looked at the map. "From what little I gathered from Mendoza, it appears they expect an attempt to happen north of Los Angeles. Not unreasonable as there are several places where an ambush would take very few men. However, I suspect that the extra men here are meant to accompany the prisoner north once he reaches here, so that it would be more prudent to attack the caravan south of Los Angeles. I know of a spot that while it doesn't appear that treacherous would be an ideal location for an ambush. Far enough away from the pueblo not to draw attention and not likely to be thought of by the lancers or a man unfamiliar with the territory."

Felipe looked at the map and then made a Z in the air.

"Yes, I think Zorro is going to take a look and see if there's any kind of activity in the vicinity, as I suspect that Romero is going to be passing through sooner rather than later."

~Z~Z~Z~

Ricardo Diamante and a small patrol left the pueblo shortly after dawn. With the prisoner convoy scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles in two days time, he'd been spending his time going over local maps, and he'd been questioning the Los Angeles lancers about possible ambush sites. He had been appalled by the lack of knowledge they had shown over the local terrain as well as their lack of discipline and general ineptitude, though he had a suspicion that much of it had to do with the lack of respect they had felt for their previous commander, who by reputation was a greedy social climber who misappropriated funds for his own use yet somehow managed to keep his position. His death at Devil's Fortress seemed generally unmourned in the pueblo, and Diamante couldn't help but wonder if Zorro had taken advantage of the chaos at Devil's Fortress to make sure of his enemy's end.

He had mixed feelings about the legendary bandit. So many contradictory tales. He was a hero; he was a villain. He served the people; he exploited them. Until the debacle at Devil's Fortress, Diamante had been more inclined to think he was a misguided vigilante, but what happened at Devil's Fortress couldn't be dismissed so simply. Zorro had become more than a localized problem; he'd struck directly against the Spanish government, and that's not something that could be pardoned; at least as long as California remained under Spanish rule which might not be that longer, Diamante reflected ruefully. Nevertheless, right now, Diamante knew his duty, and if Zorro crossed his path, he would do his best to take him into custody.

Once he and his men were a distance south of Los Angeles, he had them spread out in a general patrol. Though he knew it was unwise, he rode ahead alone, determined to scout the area, as there was one section that had struck him on his way up to Los Angeles, but which he had neglected to examine, as he'd been too focused on his orders to see that the route north of Los Angeles was safe. He disliked sloppiness especially in himself. What was there about this place that tended to make soldiers lazy?

He would be glad to finish this assignment and return home to San Diego. His wife was expecting again, and he hated being away from her. However, that didn't mean he intended to neglect his duty. As he rode, he spotted what looked like a rider ahead. Coming to a stop and pulling out a pocket spyglass, Diamante extended it and focused on the rider. It took him a moment to properly make out the figure and even then he could not be sure, though from the unrelieved black of the figure, he suspected that he may have spotted the elusive Zorro.

Exercising greater caution, he headed in the direction of the rider. He might not be as familiar with the terrain, but he did know how to track and move quietly. However, if this was Zorro, he'd have to use all his skills, as the man was notoriously difficult to catch. Still, for the man to be out here this early in the day. He had to have some purpose for this journey.

Following the trail, Diamante finally got to a point where he dismounted his horse and began creeping towards the spot where he believed the masked man was. What he discovered disturbed him greatly. He saw the masked man crouching on the ground near the road. He was brushing the sand over what appeared to be a keg of gunpowder. It seems that Diamante's fears of ambush were well founded. Quietly he pulled his pistol from his belt and started towards the masked man. At the last minute, Zorro seemed to hear him and rising turned to face him.

"Zorro," Diamante said, holding his pistol steady. "I cannot say how disappointed I am to meet you under these circumstances."

"I do hate to disappoint, Captain..." Zorro trailed off.

"Diamante," he replied, watching the man warily. "Currently in command of the cuartel of Los Angeles."

"I have heard a little of you," Zorro replied.

"I'm afraid I have heard too much of you," the captain said. "Though I had hoped some was not true."

"Whatever you think I'm doing here, you are mistaken, sir," Zorro said. "I uncovered rather than planted this."

"I wish I could believe you. But it's too risky."

"I never intended to release Santos Romero."

"Now or at Devil's Fortress, Zorro?" Diamante asked.

"Both," Zorro responded.

"I see," Diamante said. "Nevertheless, whatever your intentions, you have committed crimes against the Spanish crown, and it is my duty to arrest you. Now if you would surrender peacefully." The pistol remained steady on him.

"I'm afraid that I must decline," Zorro said calmly just before he threw sand in Diamante's face.

Diamante cursed his carelessness in not making sure that the man's hands were empty. He was only distracted a moment, but it was long enough for Zorro to grab Diamante's gun hand and press it down before it went off. Both men startled when they realized that the bullet hit the earth only inches from the gunpowder barrel.

Shoving the now empty pistol into his belt, Diamante reached for his sword and Zorro followed suit.

"Captain, I do not want to fight you," Zorro said, sword at the ready.

"Nor do I want to fight you, Señor Zorro," Diamante said. "But I will do my duty."

Zorro shrugged and raised his saber in a salute which Diamante returned, followed immediately by an attack. He preferred aggressive openings, especially when he was facing an opponent of highly reputed skill, and Zorro was an impressive swordsman, lithe and confident, with tight controlled movements, and clearly testing his opponent's skill level. Diamante had to use all his skill to keep from being turned towards the sun, and he had the distinct impression that his opponent was not putting out his best efforts. And if that was true, he'd have to find a way to turn his own weakness into an advantage.

"I'm impressed, Captain," Zorro said as he maneuvered up the hill. "Your uncle trained you well."

"He had two methods of training," Diamante said. "The gentleman's way and the survivor's way. You can imagine which one I chose to learn." He lunged as Zorro twisted around switching sword hands as he moved. "You seem to have trained in a similar school."

"You might say that," Zorro said, as he took to the higher ground. "And while I find this fight of ours invigorating, I must point out again that I'm not the one who planted that explosive which means there is another villain out there."

"So you keep saying," Diamante said. "Am I really to trust the masked man who wreaked havoc at Devil's Fortress? You left a number of dead men behind, including your own alcalde."

"His death was an accident," Zorro said seriously.

"An accident you apparently witnessed; was it an accident like your release of Romero? Are you really so accident prone?"

"If I could change what happened, I would," Zorro said. "And I'm afraid if you can't trust me now, there will be more consequences."

"What?" Diamante took a couple of steps back but kept his blade at the ready.

"To be honest I'm not sure, but I think it will involve the men moving our way now," Zorro said, indicating the direction behind him.

Diamante didn't immediately turn around, nor did he ignore Zorro's statement as he worked his way around into a position where he could look while still keeping an eye on Zorro, who appeared to be keeping his distance.

"Not your men, I take it," Zorro said without taking his eyes from Diamante.

By the groupings, he could tell that they weren't his men. "Yours?"

"I don't have men," Zorro said. "I work alone."

"Not quite alone," Diamante said. "There are rumors."

"Unsubstantiated," Zorro said. "But these are not mine, and if it's what I suspect, it would be wiser if we worked with rather than against each other." He glanced around. "I don't think you've much time to make a choice."

Diamante's eyes focused on the figures in the distance then switched back to Zorro. After a long moment, he sheathed his sword and said, "Very well, I'll take a chance. Considering the numbers, I'd say you are not the most pressing risk at the moment."

"So, you are choosing to trust me?"

Diamante's eyes narrowed slightly. "Under the circumstances, yes. I can only hope my faith is not misplaced."

"As I said, Captain," Zorro smiled, "I do hate to disappoint."

"Indeed," Diamante arched a single brow, "I only hope as much as I hate to fail."

~To Be Concluded~

End Notes: Second part goes up tomorrow. And as always all feedback is welcome and encouraged and probably needed. And I would like to know how Captain Diamante comes across to readers.