AN: I know I said there would be only two more chapters. Turns out I was wrong. Make that three. This chapter is already much longer than my usual chapters are and so I decided to split it in two. Honestly, I didn't mean to do that, but I suppose nothing ever goes exactly as planned. Please accept my apologies. I'll try to post the remaining part of this chapter as soon as possible. I think it's about time this story was finished.

katie1999: Alejandro asked Diego why he was dressed all in black. I probably should have described the situation more clearly. In my mind Diego was only wearing his Zorro shirt, pants, and boots on his trip back home. I figured that Alejandro probably wouldn't think of Diego as Zorro without the saber, hat, and of course the mask.

jkl88: Feel better soon. I hope that first diagnosis of only a sprained foot instead of a broken one hasn't caused any more damage.

Chapter Twenty one

Diego was sitting behind his large desk in his cave lost deeply in his thoughts. Not even Toronado's occasional whinnies could tear him out of his absent-mindedness in which he relived all the events of the past few weeks. Christmas had been a joyous and peaceful time. His family had decided to leave him be at least for the holidays but afterwards they had bombarded him with innumerable questions born out of a curiosity that only he could satisfy. With patience he had answered everything and when at first he could still see the anger in their eyes for his prolonged deceit, he soon saw that same anger turn into understanding and even admiration for his tireless devotion to the people of the pueblo and themselves. They had granted him their forgiveness a lot more easily than Diego had expected and thus he had begun to ask himself whether he had not been making a fool of himself whenever he had tried to find excuses to not tell them entire truth about him and the legend he had created. Of course his need to keep his father, Felipe, and Victoria out of harm's way never served as a simple excuse but had always been a dire necessity. Thinking back, however, he had to admit that he had always been scared what their reaction would be – whether they'd reject him for everything he had done and still continued to do or probably even disagree with his methods to such a degree that they'd betray him and give his identity away to the Alcalde. These stupid thoughts had been born in the depths of his own despair and bore evidence of his greatest fear – to lose them and their love without a chance to get either back.

However, there was one thing or rather someone that surprised him more than anything else. Victoria had adapted to all these newly found truths a lot more easily than he had ever thought possible. When he had feared her rejection, she had welcomed him with her arms wide open and it astonished him greatly that the revelation of her lover's true identity had come to her as a great relief rather than one of the biggest disappointments of her entire life. She had forgiven him for all the years of deception and seemed to be content that the love of her life was no longer a mystery, a shadowy figure that would and could never be hers. Diego on the other hand was a man of flesh and blood, vulnerable and yet strong, romantic and yet realistic, strong willed and yet mild mannered. To her he was the man of her dreams and she hardly let a moment pass without reassuring him of just that.

"Diego! Oh good, here you are," Alejandro smiled as he hurried into his son's cave. "I just got news from the pueblo. Our beloved Alcalde is up to something."

"Father," Diego gasped in surprise as he had not heard anyone coming in as deeply lost in his thoughts as he had been. "What news?"

"Well, it would appear that De Soto has come up with another of his infamous taxes to deprive the poor of what little they have," Alejandro fumed and sat down on a stool Felipe normally occupied whenever he was listening to one of Diego's lessons. "Believe it or not, he's levied a tax on the mission's poor box, claiming that it was actually good tax money that this charitable nonsense cost him - of course without discussing the matter with Padre Benitez. Apparently he thinks he can do as he pleases with Zorro no longer breathing down his neck."

"It is still early in the morning. When did you learn of all of this?" Diego wanted to know.

"It is not that early, my son. It's way past ten actually," Alejandro said irritably. "The other Dons and I met at Victoria's tavern for an early breakfast to discuss some business. Sergeant Mendoza came in shortly after us and nailed the parchment with the proclamation to the wall. He didn't look happy, especially when Victoria's wrath hit him." Alejandro couldn't help but had to smile at the memory of Victoria yelling at the poor sergeant at the top of her voice.

"He's the one least responsible for any of this, father," Diego said somewhat absent mindedly. "But I think I know who is," he added with a strange look on his face.

"Well, the Alcalde is responsible, of course," Alejandro said at length, not knowing where this conversation was going.

"Indeed," Diego agreed, but shook his head at the same time, which only added to his father's confusion.

"What's on your mind, son?" he eventually asked, when Diego's thoughts seemed to drift somewhere he couldn't follow.

"It's a trap," Diego stated after a while, without looking at Alejandro. "It's a trap for Zorro. Obviously he needs to know whether I'm still alive and he's come up with this new tax to lure me into the pueblo. He must know that I'll never stand for such an outrageous act of tyranny against the church and the poorest in our community." Suddenly his eyes focused and he looked at his father with a determination, Alejandro had only seen in Zorro's eyes before. "It is time for Zorro to ride again," Diego declared with a definiteness in his voice that scared his father.

"Diego, you cannot possibly consider to go against the Alcalde all by yourself. You're not fully healed yet. It would be madness to let Zorro reappear right now," Alejandro contradicted and jumped to his feet. "I didn't come here to tell you all of this because I wanted you to ride as Zorro. I wanted your opinion on this and maybe help me to come up with some kind of solution for the problem."

"Well in my opinion this is a trap for Zorro and he's the only one who can solve this problem. Besides, De Soto has never been much of an opponent for me. If I can manage to surprise him while he is alone, I won't need all of my strength to best him," Diego tried to argue but the look on his father's face told him he had not been very convincing. "I know I once said that you cannot always rely on Zorro to solve your problems. But in this case, it is different. It is I who's brought this upon all of you and so I am the one who will have teach De Soto a lesson."

"No, Diego. You won't. It is too risky. It's as simple as that. If it's really a trap then he will expect you and even though we might sometimes doubt his sanity, De Soto is too clever a man to not take all the necessary precautions," Alejandro tried to reason with his son but suddenly found himself face to face with him, when Diego rose from his chair. Even though he had tried his best to hide it, the dull pain in his lower back reminded him, that he had indeed not yet fully recovered. Diego cursed inwardly, when he saw that his father had indeed noticed his hardly visible pained grimace. "You cannot ride as Zorro. Not like this!" Alejandro insisted and turned on his heels to indicate that this conversation was over.

"I should have known better," Diego mutter under his breath, but his muttering made his father stop.

"Than what, Diego," Alejandro asked in a low voice.

"Than to tell you about me being Zorro. You cannot understand all of the consequences that leading this double life brings."

"Maybe you're right. But you have and I am glad that you have told me. However, I cannot let you run into such an obvious trap, Diego! I may have led you to believe otherwise, but I do care about you and I always have."

"I know father. But this is beyond you and me. When I first put on the mask I accepted the risks and consequences. I cannot fail those who need me the most and I beg you to understand that."

"Then at least include me in whatever you are planning to do. I may be old, but I can still fight."

"No, father. You don't have the luxury of a mask disguising your true identity. It would be too easy for De Soto to figure out who I really am if you're helping me," Diego declined his father's offer. "I will think of something that won't endanger me too much. I promise."

"Well, I guess I'll just have to trust you then," Alejandro finally gave in when he realized that there was just no way of talking Diego out of his plans, now that he had made up his mind.

"All will be well, father," Diego smiled at the older man and slowly walked around his desk and placed a comforting hand on Alejandro's shoulder. "It is not the first time that De Soto tries to lure me into a trap. I'll handle it."

zZzZz

Later that night Diego was alone in the cave and was getting ready for Zorro's first ride after many weeks. He had spent most of the day trying to come up with a plan, but in the end he had settled for his usual method that had worked many times in the past. Using the darkness of the night as a disguise and companion he would sneak into the pueblo unseen by anyone when everybody else was sleeping and forcefully seek entrance to De Soto's quarters. Unfortunately going through the roof as he normally would, was quite out of the question as the persisting lack of strength in his lower extremities deprived him of the use of some of his usual methods.

Despite all the difficulties he had to face due to his condition he was looking forward to Zorro's next ride. The thrill of the adventure and the knowledge that justice would be served spurred his instincts of a warrior into action and he felt the excitement return that always washed over him shortly before Zorro would ride into the night and fight its demons.

The only thing that abated his zeal was the fact that he had actually once again lied to Victoria, his father, and this time even to Felipe. When had tried to convince them of his plan to let Zorro ride again, they had forbidden him to do so and had threatened that they'd lock him up in his room with one of them constantly keeping an eye on him, should he not abandon his plans. Upon their insistence he had promised them that he would do nothing that would bring him in harm's way, knowing very well right then and there, that Zorro's ride that night was already written in stone. His words had calmed them some and he had been wise enough to not stir the topic of De Soto's new tax again.

With a feeling of shame of his renewed deceit he put the black silk on his face and fastened the knot securely on the back of his head. Glancing into the mirror he saw a different man looking back at him, a man that knew neither fear nor pain and didn't heed the consequences his actions one day would probably bring upon him. His doubts as much as his face were hidden behind the mask and to him it felt as though Don Diego's conscience vanished into meaninglessness. Flashing his infamous Zorro smile at the mirror to encourage himself, he turned on his heels and went to mount the already ready and waiting Toronado. His faithful companion whinnied eagerly and when he felt his master's weight on his back he immediately set off to the cave's secret exit and into the cold February night.

Even though each and every single one of Toronado's movements sent fresh waves of pain through his body, he enjoyed the feeling of being back in the saddle thoroughly. An almost forgotten sense of freedom and seemingly limitless power took hold of him and gave him the courage he needed to face the threats he was about to oppose. He rode hard and fast and it didn't take him long to reach the small pueblo. Slowing Toronado into a trot Diego used the darkness of the night as his disguise when he approached the cuartel from the back. It wasn't much of a surprise when he couldn't spot any guards as De Soto had never deemed the extra caution during the late hours of the night necessary. The rooms behind the few windows were all dark and Diego dismounted Toronado close to one of its walls.

"Stay here," Diego whispered and without having to look at his faithful stallion, he knew that he'd been understood. Avoiding the soft light the moon spread over the nightly pueblo he snuck along the cuartel's walls until he came to the green wooden door that led into the Alcalde's quarters. Using his dagger he picked the lock with ease and quietly closed the door behind him after he had stolen into the darkness of the Alcalde's office. Without making a sound he crept further into the room and passing De Soto's desk he went towards the heavy curtains that parted the Alcalde's private quarters from his office. Diego drew his dagger and used it to lift the heavy cloth slightly so that he could peek into the room. He could hear someone snore and with a mischievous grin he slid past the curtains and melted into the shadows behind them.

The private quarters of the Alcalde were much darker than his office which was dimly lit by the pale moonlight. Keeping close to the wall Diego waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness of the spacious room and after a short while silhouettes of the furniture began to appear before his eyes. However, the ostentatious bed was empty and a dangerous silence had spread through the room. The snoring sounds had disappeared and Diego suddenly felt the change in the atmosphere. Something was not quite right here and he knew that he was about to get caught in the trap that had been set for Zorro. His right hand slowly moved to the hilt of his saber clasping it tightly. Diego just stood in the shadows waiting somewhat nervously for whatever he would have to face. He suddenly felt way too aware of his own weakness and the dull pain in his back reminded him all too clearly that he was not yet back to his usual agility and strength.

"Senor Zorro," a familiar voice snarled somewhere in the darkness and Diego turned quickly toward the direction where it was coming from. "This has worked out better than I could have imagined."

"I wish I could say that it was a surprise to find you lurking in the dark, De Soto," Zorro said with much more confidence in his voice than he actually felt. "So why don't you come out and get it over with."

"Not this time, Zorro," De Soto said and before he had finished, lamps were lit in several parts of the room. Soldiers had been hiding in the room and the Alcalde was sitting in an armchair his lips parted in a wicked grin. "This time I am not quite as unprepared." De Soto got up and grabbed his saber that had been leaning against the armrest. Walking towards his archenemy with the tip of his saber pointed at Zorro's throat his grin grew even wider. "You won't come out of here alive. Not tonight."

"We'll see about that," Zorro retorted and quickly drew his own saber and lunged towards the Alcalde. The sound of metal against metal filled the room and Diego felt the usual excitement of swordplay rush through his entire body. The clashing of the sabers made him forget his pain and soon he was not only fighting the Alcalde, but also a couple of lancers who were now intervening in the fight to support their commanding officer. The fight went on much longer than the Alcalde had apparently expected because his moves were suddenly flawed by anger and impatience. Shouting orders at his lancers he fought desperately against his opponent's courage, swiftness, and skill. Until one brief moment changed everything.

One of the lancers managed to disappear from Zorro's range of view and concentrating all of his strength in his leg, he kicked the masked outlaw in the back, making the man scream out in agony. De Soto was quick enough to appreciate the advantage of the moment and quickly brought his blade up against Zorro's exposed neck.

"Lancers, put him in irons and throw the keys away. We won't be needing them anymore," De Soto roared with excitement when his nemesis was finally kneeling in front of him. The lancers moved quickly and through a painful haze Diego heard the shackles around his wrists snap shut behind his back. He lay on the floor, breathing heavily, trying to fight off the nauseating waves of pain that kept rushing through him. With his eyes shut tightly he lay on the floor completely at the mercy of his enemy. "Finally," he heard De Soto whisper so close to his ear, that he could feel the warmth of his breath against his skin. "Now I'll be able to finish what my mercenaries have begun two months ago. "They were convinced that you were dead but I knew better than that. I had my lancers search for your body and when they couldn't find it I knew that you somehow had survived. It was just a matter of time until I could lure you out of your burrow and into my trap. And now, Senor Zorro, you are mine. And you will hang tomorrow at noon. My lancers are setting up the gallows as we speak." De Soto moved away from him and got up from the floor. "Lancer," he addressed one of the waiting uniformed men who immediately stood at attention. "Bring Sergeant Mendoza here," he snarled and shot the frightened and breathless man an evil look. "It will be his pleasure to carry out my orders. GO!" The lancer hurried off and returned mere moments later with a sleepy Mendoza high on his heels, who had been woken by the noise of the previous fighting.

"Mi Alcalde?" Mendoza stammered as he slowly began to realize what was going on.

"Ahh, Mendoza. There you are. As you can see I have finally accomplished what no one before me ever could. Zorro is in our hands and he will hang tomorrow at noon. It will be your honor to pull the lever." He gave the poor man a mischievous grin and with a stifled however sardonic laughter he added "Don't think I never noticed your admiration for this hero." De Soto had spat out the last word like a curse and kicked Zorro, who was still cringing in pain on the floor, in the side. "Lancers, grab him and throw him in the darkest cell we have. I want two men to stand guard at all times. Everyone is to keep quiet about what happened here tonight. I want the end of the masked legend to be a surprise event at tomorrow's market." He waited for the soldiers to drag Zorro away into the adjacent prison cells before he turned to Mendoza, whose face was ashen and struck by the horror of what he had just witnessed. "There's one thing I forgot to mention," he told the sergeant when the lancers were gone. "Tomorrow we will destroy his legend forever. Everyone is to see that the legendary Zorro is merely a man of flesh and blood. Therefore I've decided to have him flogged. That little exhibition of my power should be enough to keep the people under control. Oh, what's that, Mendoza? Is that remorse that I see in your eyes? Tststs. There's no need for that. While I'll leave the honor of ending Zorro's life to you, I shall grant myself the pleasure of flogging him myself. And as soon as I'm going to be finished with him…," Ignacio De Soto grinned evilly. "His mask will be mine. I want them to look in the face of their hero in the moment of his demise."

AN: Okay. So I am very, extremely nervous about this first part of the chapter and I'd appreciate some feedback. I find it more difficult to write theses chapters without Ana, as (and I've probably mentioned this before) the concept of this FF concentrated almost purely on the story of Diego and Ana. I'm not very confident writing all these other characters and I'm afraid my portrayal of De Soto is just a little more evil than it was on the show. However, when I wrote this I always had those first scenes of "The new broom" in mind and was very mean and actually rather evil in that one.