AN: Hello everyone! This is my first posting on fanfiction but hopefully not my last. This story was not written by me (I would post the name of the author if I had it but unfortunately I do not) I found it in a story book at my grandparents house and I thought I'd share. It is one of two original Walt Disney Zorro stories and takes place just after season 1 episode 6. I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Zorro or any of the characters.
The rancho of Alejandro de la Vega was usually quiet and peaceful but this evening there was much more activity. The commandante of the Pueblo of Los Angeles had tracked the night rider Zorro to a point near the de la Vega property. The soldiers horses were hobbled in the de la Vega corral and the lancers stood watch around the de la Vega home. In the living room or sala the commandante strode back and forth. Standing by a sideboard helping himself to the fresh fruit and washing it down with vintage wine was fat unshaven Sergeant Garcia
Don Alejandro stood by the huge tiled fireplace. He was angry that his home should be taken over by soldiers who were unjustly persecuting and imprisoning his neighbors.
His son Don Diego seemed unconcerned. He sat straight and handsome in a ruffled shirt and delicately embroidered silk dressing gown. He played on the heavy oak piano which had been brought around Cape Horn to Los Angeles all the way from Spain. Don Diego appeared to concentration an old Castilian song he was playing but actually he was listening carefully to every word the commandante spoke.
For Don Diego was more than a young dandy returned from the University of Spain. He was also the masked man Zorro, who rode by night to right the wrongs done to the citizens of Los Angeles by the greedy commandante and magistrate.
"I'm sure Zorro is in this house," stormed the commandante.
"That would seem hard to believe," said Diego smiling.
"He is not in this house," stated Sergeant Garcia who waddled like an overfed duck to the commandante.
"Silence," thundered the commandante "I followed Zorro to this rancho. He must be in this house."
"But I have ordered the entire building searched," protested Sergeant Garcia. "And I personally inspected the lower portions."
"You searched the wine cellar you mean." corrected the captain.
"I can swear he is not hiding in any of the wine casks," bolstered Garcia proudly. "And my loyal troops report he is nowhere else in the building."
"Then he is hiding on the grounds. He must know them well for I believe Zorro is none other than Don Alejandro's head vaquero Benito."
"But captain," pleaded Garcia, spitting grape seeds past Don Alejandro into the fireplace. "You have already captured Benito twice and let him go you said the lovesick Indian vaquero could not possibly be Zorro."
"Well now I say he is when he is brought to me we shall have a trial then a public execution we will be rid of this bandit Zorro."
Diego coughed slightly and patted his mouth with a handkerchief. "All this talk of executions is giving me indigestion," he said standing up at the piano. "With your permission I will retire to my room."
"Diego, stay where you are," commanded his father. "You will soon be master of this rancho and you must stand up for your men especially those as valuable as Benito."
"Father I try I really do," said Don Diego "But I cannot stomach all this talk of violence. I think I shall go upstairs and read poetry." So saying he walked from the room coughing again into his handkerchief.
Don Alejandro watched his son with sadness. He did not know his son was Zorro. Nor did anybody know except Don Diego's faithful servant Bernardo. But Bernardo was a mute and could not speak so the secret was safe.
"There is work for Zorro tonight." said Diego to Bernardo as he closed his bedroom door. "The captain is determined to seek out Benito and hang him. Get me the mask and cloak and we must find Benito before the lancers bring him in. Quickly there is no time to lose." He pressed a hidden button and a secret panel slid open. Both Diego and Bernardo stepped behind it.
A secret passageway led downstairs from Diego's bedroom, past the library, and underground for nearly a quarter of a mile to the cavern where Diego kept his sleek black horse Tornado. Only Diego and Bernardo knew of the passageway. Even Diego's father Don Alejandro did not know of it existence.
Don Diego pulled off the ruffles and silk and donned the black clothing mask and cloak that made him Zorro the champion of the people. Stationing Bernardo in the bedroom, he stealthily made his way down the secret stairway and out the hidden passage until he reached the cavern where Tornado was held.
Working with sureness and speed, Zorro saddled his black horse and lead him through the thick brush concealing the narrow opening of the cave. Once outside, Zorro mounted tornado and spurred him on.
"We must hurry and find Benito," he whispered to the horse. "I think I know where he is hiding."
Gracefully Tornado galloped through the canyon. The horse knew the trail well and he expertly dodged between boulders and rocks that would slow any other horse. When they neared a thick wood, Zorro reigned his horse and slowed him to a walk.
At the edge of the trees Zorro called softly, "Benito?"
There was no answer but Zorro could hear rustling in the grove. "Benito it is Zorro. Where are you?"
From the darkness a voice replied "Oh, Zorro I thought it might have been the commandante."
Zorro dismounted and walked forward to speak with Benito.
"How did you find this place?" asked Benito. "Only Don Diego and a few of my close friends knew of this grove."
"I know many things Benito. I know you are running away but that you have no plan for escape. And without a plan you will surely be caught by the lancers.
"But if I stay," said Benito earnestly "I will be hanged because they think I am you."
"Here's what you must do," instructed Zorro. "Take a horse and ride to Monterey. See the governor, who is now aware of the injustice and suffering caused by the commandante. Tell him your story and I am sure he will offer you protection. Soon we will be rid of this evil commandante and you will return to your job as a vaquero."
"I will do that senor," replied Benito "And I am thankful."
"Where is your horse?" asked the masked man.
"Under the cover of night my close friends are bringing it to me. I am hoping the lancers will not see them taking the horse from the stables."
"What!" exclaimed Zorro. "Bringing the horse here? The commandante will certainly follow them. There is no time to lose. We must set a trap."
Running to a nearby tree, Zorro tied one end of his lariat to the trunk. He stretched the rope across the trail and hid himself in the bushes. Then he settled down to wait.
Soon two vaqueros leading Benito's horse by the halter trotted down the path. They went directly to Benito's hiding place and in the dim light Zorro could see Benito tying his pack to the saddle. But before he was through the commandante and his lancers came riding through the bush.
"Aha, Zorro, we have you now." called the commandate to Benito.
The captain was in the lead and Zorro let him ride beyond the lariat before he pulled it tight across the trail. He has sprung his trap.
Sergeant Garcia and his horse plowed into the rope. The horse stumbled but Sergeant Garica continued sailing straight ahead and bashed his head against a walnut tree. He hit the ground and when he tried to get up to help his captain he slipped on loose walnuts and fell into the tree trunk. Using sound judgement gained from his many years as a soldier of the king he decided to lie back and nurse the lump on his head rather than help to fight Zorro.
Other lancers were falling over each other as their horses tripped on the taunt rope. In the confusion the horses milled aimlessly about. The troops could not locate their mounts in the darkness and confusion mounted .
In the meantime, Zorro ran forward to help the vaquero Benito.
The commandante had pulled his sword and faced the terrified Benito who had no weapon. The captain snarled. "And you bandit had best begin saying your prayers."
Zorro, his sword already drawn called, "If it is Zorro you seek captain here I am."
The commandante wheeled and faced Zorro. The two touched blades and the duel began. The commandante was good but Zorro was better. With parries and thrusts Zorro forced the captain away from Benito. The captain gave way little by little retreating over ground covered with roots and vines. The masked man slashed and cut swinging his blade faster than the eye could see.
The commandante tried to call his men but the lancers staggered blindly amid the loose horses.
Zorro yelled at Benito, "Mount your horse and ride. Go now, quickly." Benito rode out of the woods to safety and Zorro pressed forward the clashing blades singing of danger.
The commandante, backing up slipped on a stone and fell to his knees. As Zorro prepared to disarm his foe he saw Sergeant Garcia, who was charging like a nearsighted buffalo. The lancers following the sergeant, approached with pistols drawn.
Zorro darted into the thick brush and ran to Tornado who was standing quietly in the woods. He leaped on his mount and galloped from the trees as pistol shots sounded from the clearing.
"To horse. To horse." shouted Garcia who could not find his own mount. The commandante, recovered from his fall, located his horse and lead his lancers in chasing the black cloaked Zorro.
The wind felt cool on Zorro's face as he and Tornado galloped swiftly across the land Zorro knew from his childhood. Using familiar trials he kept barely ahead of the pursuing commandante and the lancers. His black clothing blended in with the dark wood making it impossible for the lancers to see their target.
Zorro pulled Tornado to the left and down a gravel path into an arroyo. When he had reached the bed of the shallow canyon he rode his horse into a large rock. Rider and horse poised silently behind the boulder where they could not be seen and watched the pursuers.
The lancers with the commandante in the lead thundered down the gravel pathway and continued galloping down the arroyo. Zorro watched them until they were out of sight. Then he urged Tornado up the path and along the arroyo edge.
In the still night Zorro heard the captain call the men and command them to return the the de la Vega house for regrouping. Zorro knew he had to act with haste. Using a little known path through the rocks he returned to the secret canyon and the hidden cavern.
Tying Tornado in the corral, Zorro quickly made his way up the passage to his room. With Bernardo's help he slipped on a dressing gown and walked down the staircase as the commandante stormed in the front door.
"I heard noises and they disturbed me so much I could not read my poetry." Don Diego complained.
"You think about poetry when Zorro has escaped with the prisoner?" roared the commandante.
"But you said the prisoner was Zorro. Are there two of them?" asked Diego in all innocence.
Garcia followed the captain into the sala and went directly to the fruit bowl.
Don Diego ran his fingers idly over the piano keys. "You know father," he said "I do believe this piano needs tuning."
His father looked at him in exasperation. The commandante glared. Garcia dropped his peach pit on the floor and taking a big gulp of wine paid no attention to Diego's complaint. Nobody seemed to hear him...nobody except Bernardo, who winked and held up his hand forming a circle with his thumb and finger to indicate a job well done.