Title Mask and Face

Summery Get, ready, because when mask and face combine the turn of events could destroy both. An evil comandante and a visitor with a vengeance together to form a trap truly fit for a fox.

Rating T, mainly for chapters two and six.

Comments This is a repost of the original. I had to fix numerous spelling-gramer errors. From now on I'll have my spanish-speaking boyfriend beta these for me before I post them.

Prologue

Narrow Escape

Running as fast as he could, his heart beating wildly, his body growing weaker with each step, he feared he would surely be captured this time. There was a price on his head. Two thousand pesos for the capture of el Zorro the fox was a prize sought after by every soldier who perused him tonight.

"Lancers, after him don't let him get away!" ordered Capitan Moreno. Zorro was just as determined to escape as the comandante was for him not to, both were adamant in their efforts.

'Where is Tornado?" Zorro wondered. His faithful horse had never let him down before. Would he abandon his master tonight to the mercy (or lack there of) of the wicked Capitan Moreno?

Zorro had been forced to improvise tonight. Capitan Moreno might have been evil, but as far as comandante's go, he was very smart. This was not the first time he had made Zorro scramble, and Zorro was afraid, the capitan hoping, that it would be the last.

The soldiers were gaining on him. He could wait no longer. If he was to escape he had to do it now. He stopped for a moment and whistled sharply twice, his signal for Tornado to come. The horse came sprinting down the rode, but not soon enough. No sooner had Tornado reached him than a soldier grabbed Zorro around the waist, wrestled him to the ground and reached for his mask. He had a hold of it! But just as the soldier was about to unmask him, Tornado trampled the soldier and barely missed Zorro.

As the horse kicked, bucked and reared holding the soldiers back, Zorro used Tornado as a diversion and made his way to the jail to rescue Don Pablo. One of the De La Vega's horses had been found in Don Pablo's stable. Despite his claims that he did not steal it and the De La Vegas insisting that it was all a mistake, Capitan Moreno had ordered his arrest.

When Zorro reached the jail he retrieved the keys had stolen earlier from Sergeant Garcia and unlocked the cell door.

"Gracias, señor Zorro," Don Pablo thanked.

Zorro replied, "The De La Vegas know you're innocent and so do I. You were framed and I will find the man who is guilty."

Zorro once more whistled for Tornado and the horse came running followed by the soldiers and the comandante. Once Zorro and Don Pablo were in the saddle, Zorro drew his sword and slashed his signature "Z" into Capitan Moreno's jacket.

"Arrest an innocent man again and my 'Z' will go deeper!" Zorro warned. This said and done, Zorro and Don Pablo road off and vanished around the corner.

"Idioto, Baboso, Bafoon! You let him go again!" Capitan Moreno insulted and blamed Sergeant Garcia, as he always did, for something that was his own fault.

"Sí, mi capitan," he muttered. Zorro had saved the Sergeants life several times and, despite his vows to capture Zorro, he owed the legendary so-called bandit somewhat of a life debt.

"Next time I'll have your fat hide!" the comandante threatened as he kicked him in the rear.

"Sí, mi capitan," he muttered again. As the comandante walked away, still insulting and threatening him, Sergeant Garcia let the rough voice drift away as he gazed at the moon.

On his face and in his heart was a slight grin.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Back in the secret room, Bernardo paced back and forth in worry and wait for Diego to return. Zorro's mute accomplice defiantly had a nerve-racking job. It was always a relief to see what he saw now: the light from Diego's lantern coming up the stairs from the cave.

"What are you doing? I told you not to wait up wait up for me."

Bernardo shrugged and helped Diego out of his cape.

"When I tell you to wait for me, you go to sleep. When I tell you not to wait up for me, you pace around in here. Sometimes I don't understand you."

Bernardo squinted his eyes and Diego laughed. Bernardo smiled and hung up the cape, mask and hat.

"Well Bernardo, Zorro's ride was a success. Despite my having to improvise a little, Don Pablo is safely back in his home."

Bernardo saluted and made a scrunched-up, angry face.

"Sí, Bernardo. Capitan Moreno is furious. That is always my favorite part; watching the comandante's face turn bright red."

"The servant smiled widely and grinned.

"Now my friend," Diego said, "I think we aught to both get some sleep before it is time to wake up. What about you?"

Bernardo yawned and nodded