Chapter 4

Back in Diablo's canyon, Victoria, who was still unconscious, lay down with hands and feet tied up with ropes on the opposite side as where Don Alejandro was tied up.

When he saw Victoria laying there, her face and body covered with bruises and blood scares, he held his breath.

Jorge who was already irritated by the old don spoke with a commanding voice " you aren't going to do anything! And if you don't shut up right now you will be sorry!"

Don Alejandro, who was known for his temper, felt the need to try to protect Victoria from further harm.

" I promise you senor, if you do further harm to her, you will be a dead men and so is your gang!"

But before he could say anything else he felt something hit his jaw.

" I told you to shut up, don't be to brave because this is just a warning! The next time I hit the girl, so don't be the hero and do what I tell you to do!"

He didn't need more arguments and began to pray for Zorro to find them.

There was something nobody knew, they were being watched by 2 spirits, this was Don Fernando's way to show what would happen if he went trough with his plans.

" Dear lord, why are we doing all this trouble ? He just finds it amusing! And I know for sure he will not believe the end, the only thing I will not let him remember is Diego's secret! I can't break my promise to him, specially not for Desoto's favor!" Don Fernando's thought with a little irritation.

" My plan is working, I don't understand your warning, everything is going perfect!" he laughed and stroke his beard like he always did when his evil thoughts were present.

" Please Zorro, find us quick, because I don't know how to take all of it any longer!"

Don Alejandro was desperate, a feeling he didn't feel for a long time until now. He was known for bravery and the famous De La Vega temper, not a person who got easily frightened, but this gang had succeeded.

" hahahaha, Zorro is a dead man and so is that cowardly son of yours De La Vega!"
Jorge was pretty sure that he would live in wealth by tomorrow evening. What he didn't saw was a black shadow moving near the entrance of the gang his hiding place.
The first two guards were no problem, He knocked them out, tied them up and they were guarded by a big, black stallion with a temper equal of the temper his master possessed.
A big horse who could be fearful when he was needed to be.

This was one part of the legend these two man didn't know or didn't believe.

" What can he do Jose it is just a horse."
" Manuel, you dive to the left, I go to the right so one of us can save the other"
what they didn't know was that Toronado understood everything and from the moment they wanted to dive, he reared, his ears back in his neckline, his eyes, big and threatening, a neighing as dark going through flesh and bone. That way he knocked them out from left to right.

" That is what you get for calling me an ordinary horse!" thought Toronado a little amused.

Back at the hiding place the black shadow was still moving towards the place where don Alejandro and Victoria were held captive.

"Jorge, I thought I heard something at the entrance. Manuel? Jose?"

Jorge listened for a while but didn't hear anything. " If you are sure you hear something go and have a look, I stay with the prisoners."

Manuel got on his feed and like a tiger who sneaks up at his prey, he sneaked towards the entrance where he heard the noise.

Zorro jumped out of the dark and knocked him out with one strike before he could alarm his leader Jose. He tied the bandit up with rope and carried him to his companions on the outside of the canyon.

Zorro looked with some amusement at his Black amigo.

" The tried to escape he boy, didn't they?"

Toronado nodded. The third member, who gain back consciousness look from the black man to the stallion and back and couldn't believe what he saw, when he saw his mates lying there.

" He did that?" he asked, the black man, pointing at Toronado.

"Si, I invite you to try it if you don't believe me" he chuckled towards the bandit.
" But whatever you do don't call him ordinary!"

"Three out one to go" Zorro thought while he sneaked back to the hiding place.

" Renaldo? Jose? Manuel? Where are you?" Sunday a voice answered " I think I can answer that"

"ZORRO !" Jose unsheathed his sword and launched to the black man who was standing there.
Zorro dodged the attack with grace and blocked the next attacks like the master swordsman he was.

He disarmed the man and knocked him out with the hilt of his legendary sword. He tied the man up and walked toward don Alejandro. " Are you alright senor De La Vega?"

" Yes Zorro thank you!" Alejandro stood up and rubbed his wrist were the rope had been.

" Help Victoria, I will be fine. She didn't gain consciousness since she is here."
Zorro looked in her direction and he got scared when he saw her at last. All bruised up and unconscious.

" VICTORIA? VICTORIA!" he took her in his strong muscular arms, not watching Jose.

Zorro was walking outside with Victoria in his arms, when don Alejandro saw that Jose was pointing a gun towards them.

" ZORRO WATCH OUT!"

Don Alejandro jumped between them and the gun when Jose pulled the trigger.

" This is for you Ignacio." these were Jose's last words before he sighed his last breathe and died.

Zorro turned around and saw his father collapsing to the ground.

Carefully he lied Victoria on the ground and whistled for Felipe and got to his fathers side.