Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the Zorro series, other than the ones created by myself. This is intended to continue the story of Alejandro de la Vega, from the Antonio Banderas Zorro film series. It is also meant to be a conclusion. I hope you enjoy it.
1857
As the Vigilance Committee spreads across the nation, a terrorist group called "La Liga" uses every opportunity to disrupt peace, and spread mayhem and panic in the streets while also financially profiting from the uproar of terror...
THE RISE OF ZORRO
In the Territory of Utah, or what is now known as Nevada, in an area not far from the route to California, there stood a lovely hacienda, belonging to the wealthy Villanueva family. Luis, his wife, Miranda, and their two children, Benjamin, and Juanita, all sat at the dining table, enjoying their evening meal.
Luis had always been a family man. He loved his wife and children deeply, and had achieved most of his wealth in the Gold Rush in California. Miranda, who had always stuck by her husband, was beautiful, and also pregnant with another child. They were the quintessential example of the "perfect family".
The awkward silence that often came with their time at dinner was interrupted this particular night, when one of the two house guards came into the room.
"Sir, my man and I have just apprehended an intruder on the premises". The guard reported.
"Excuse me." Luis calmly told his family.
Without another word, he rose from his chair, and followed the guard out of the room.
Outside the hacienda, there stood another guard, next to a hooded, masked man, who sat on his knees with his hands bound behind his back.
"Good evening, Señor Villanueva". The masked man said.
Luis stood there with suspicion in his eyes as the first guard rejoined the second. Both of the guards stood on opposite sides of the intruder in case of an attempt to flee.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"You needn't know who I am." The masked man replied.
"Do I know you?"
"I would very much doubt it."
"Well, then. Maybe I shall take off your mask and see for myself who you are."
As Luis reached for the mask, the hooded man spoke.
"Unless you'd prefer to lose that hand, I wouldn't try it, my friend."
Luis then hesitated before drawing his hand back.
"Even if I don't find out who you are now, I will when the authorities arrive." Luis said. "What were you doing here?"
"Simple," the hooded man answered. "A home invasion."
Out of nowhere, two blades pierced straight through the two guards. They writhed in pain, before the swords were removed, and they're lifeless bodies fell to the ground. Standing there, holding the swords, was a very large man with a black mask of his own.
The man on his knees, then rose, with his hands, apparently free from the bonds.
Luis, realizing this was a set up, thought about his wife and children. He turned back towards the house, and ran to the dining room where he found his family bound by their hands and feet to their chairs against the wall. They were being guarded by another hooded masked man.
At that same instant, the other hooded masked man, who is obviously the leader, and the big guy walked into the dining room as well.
"I apologize for the abrupt intrusion, Mr. Villanueva, but we're on a rather tight schedule" the leader taunted.
"Tell me who you are!" Luis demanded.
"Perhaps this will give you an idea." the leader said, lifting up his sleeve.
On his wrist was the letter L burned into his flesh. It was obviously meant as some sort of symbol.
"La Liga?" Luis said with a new found fear.
None of the hooded men responded.
Noticing the frightened look on his family's faces, Luis knew what he had to do. He quickly grabbed a sword out of a sheath that was sitting in a case on the dining room mantle next to him.
"Get out of my house." he demanded.
The hooded leader laughed, and took out his own sword. The big guy, and the other hooded man as well as the wife and children all watched Luis pathetically lose in a sword fight. He tried to hold his own, but the hooded leader obviously had skills far beyond what Luis could ever hope to comprehend.
The hooded leader, slashed Luis' hand, causing him to drop his sword. It slid across the room, and towards the big guy, who picked it up.
Luis then had the wind knocked out of him, when he was hit in the stomach by the handle of the hooded leader's sword. He fell to his knees, and looked at his wife and children, who looked more than afraid by now.
The big guy walked over to Luis, and grabbed his head by his hair, and held the sword to his throat.
"Do what you want to me, just don't hurt my family." Luis begged.
"I'm sorry, Señor." the hooded leader said. "This plan didn't include survivors."
Knowing what was about to happen, Luis held his arm out to his wife, and said:
"Miranda!" before getting his throat slit by the big guy.
His wife, and children screamed at the horrible sight. Luis dropped to the floor, bleeding profusely.
The hooded leader then turned to his comrades.
"Grab the valuables." he said.
After a few minutes of raiding the house, and filling two huge sacks with valuable china, and jewelry, the three men emerged from the house, leaving the family in there, still bound.
As they were attaching the sacks to the saddles of their horses, the thieves turned to see 4 other men walking out of the nearby fruit cellar, where apparently Luis had hidden much of his golden wealth.
"Good work, men." the leader said. "Destroy all traces."
The men all mounted their horses, before one of them shot a bullet down at the ground, which ignited two trails of gunpowder.
"California!" The leader shouted.
The thieves then all turned their horses, and rode off into the night, on their way to California, as the trails of gunpowder behind them traveled their way up to the hacienda and fruit cellar before subsequently creating a huge explosion, which demolished both of them.