Chapter 5:

Several weeks passed since Toronado had spread the word. Every day at dawn he sneaked into the private stables of the De La Vega's and every time he looked Romero up but every time he received the same answer.

The black stallion was munching on some hay when the door to the cave suddenly opened. Toronado placed his ears in his neck, ready to strike from the moment the intruder would enter. He was about to let him feel the back hoof when he saw who it was.

+++ Romero, are you loco? I could have hurt you. What did I tell you about entering this cave? I can't have you caught by humans, even a good one like my master. +++ Toronado growled.

+++ My apologies, Lord Diablo but this is an emergency, we found our future queen. +++ Romero said while he bowed his head.

This got Toronado's attention, +++ Where? +++

Romero swallowed, +++ Ironically enough Diablo canyon. +++

+++ Show me the way, but first I need to look for something. Follow me but stay in far enough when I say so. +++ Toronado said before opening the door from the inside. There was only one way to make sure he had time to go and see for himself. His master knew that when he was away, he had his reasons.

The black stallion followed by his trusted right hand galloped towards the front of the hacienda of the De La Vega family. Toronado looked around and saw that the coast was clear so he entered the stables to see if Esperanza was in her stable.

+++ Lord Diablo, Esperanza is gone with her master. +++ Emilio said.

Toronado nodded, +++ Tell her that I probably have a trail for Dulcinea. I am going to check it out myself. +++

+++ I will tell her, my Lord. +++ Emilio said which was rewarded by another nod from Toronado before he left the stables to the place where he had left Romero.

+++ Now, show me where they are hiding her. +++ Toronado said he was trying to hide his nervousness.

It took them a trip of about twenty minutes. They saw four men entering a hidden doorway in the cave.

+++ I need to see it from up close. +++ Toronado wanted to take a step towards the cave when he was stopped by Romero.

+++ What if they capture you, my Lord? I can't let you go inside. Let me go instead. +++

Toronado knew that the other stallion was right but not for the reason that he mentioned. He couldn't afford to get captured, not as Zorro's horse. His master depended on him way too much

+++ Fine but be careful. Tell her that Toronado is waiting for her. +++

Romero nodded not even confused at the other name that he mentioned. He got his orders, and he trusted his King with his life. So he believed that Dulcinea would know who he was.

It took only a few minutes after Romero had sneaked to the cave to return with the confirmation that indeed Dulcinea was held inside the cave together with six other horses, mostly mares.

+++ My Lord, she is in the cave but she asked you to hurry because she was having contractions, and didn't know how long she could stay on her legs. +++ Romero said with a worried voice.

+++ Thank you, Romero. Why don't you go back to the herd? I know who I need to contact for this but sadly enough I can't reveal the name to you. +++ Toronado ordered.

The black stallion didn't wait for a response from Romero and took off full speed until he arrived at the back of the pueblo. He knew his master would be at the tavern of his mate or at the building not far from where he worked.

Toronado stood at the tavern, he listened closely to the voices in the kitchen. He didn't recognize Victoria's voice so he thought it was too risky. He sneaked towards the office of the Los Angeles guardian.

Again he listened closely to the voices inside. He heard his master's voice but he also heard Victoria's voice. He didn't care though. Dulcinea was going into labor, and he needed his master now.

Diego and Victoria were discussing her column for the next edition of the Los Angeles Guardian when Diego heard scraping at his back door.

"Diego, what was that?" Victoria asked worriedly.

"I don't know," Diego said. He wanted to take a step towards the door when he was stopped by a woman's hand around his arm.

"Be careful, Diego."

Diego nodded when he took a step towards the door and opened it to reveal his coal-black stallion.

"What is Toronado doing here, Diego?" Victoria asked confused. She recognized the stallion everywhere.

Diego didn't react immediately. He knew if his stallion came for him that it must be an emergency, "What is it, old boy?"

Toronado started to rear and look towards the desert behind the town. He turned around so that Diego could jump on his back even though the stallion wasn't wearing the gear.

"I am sorry, you had to find out this way, querida," Diego said in his normally deep voice. He heard a gasp and a silent, "Madre de Dios." the moment he took off on the black stallion's back.

He was going to have to explain this one to her from the moment he knew what the hell was going on. He could only think of one emergency that Toronado would lead to come and get him. Luckily there hadn't been a soldier in sight.

Diego jumped on Toronado's back. He had absolutely no problem riding the half-wild stallion without his gear.

"We have to go to the cave first, old boy. Then you can bring me to whatever emergency it is." Diego said to his stallion.

Toronado knew it was much too dangerous for Diego to be seen with him. This was really risking his life for what he was doing. Luckily they arrived at the cave without somebody seeing him. He quickly changed into Zorro and took Diego's clothes with him. You never know when he would need them.

He put Toronado's gear on before mounting him again, "Lead the way, old boy. I presume you did some investigation of your own and found our Dulcinea."

The black stallion nodded.

"Well, show me the way, my friend." Zorro smiled.

This was one of the few times that Zorro gave Toronado free rein. He had to because he didn't know where the stallion was taking him until they stopped at the hidden cave in Diablo Canyon.

"Is she here in this cave?" Zorro asked his four-legged friend.

Toronado nodded before pushing his master towards the cave. The stallion was right on his heels.

The bandits were no match for Zorro's skills and were tied up easily.

"Who told you about the De La Vega's horse?" Zorro asked in a deep voice but filled with anger, "Speak or I leave you at the hooves of my stallion, and he isn't happy."

One of the two bandits broke easily, " I didn't receive enough money to be hit in the head by a pair of hooves of a large, angry horse."

"You knew this was a possibility when we took the job so shut up." The other bandit said while the other two bandits were still knocked out from the fight.

"I don't care how much the Alcalde paid us." Paulo said which if he could, he would have been rewarded from a hit from Juan, "You idiot."

"Thank you. Now it's time to go night-night." Zorro grinned while he knocked Paulo and Juan out just like the rest, "We will see what we can do about the alcalde once we gave the horseback, old boy."

It was that moment that Zorro saw that Dulcinea was laying down, "I need help Toronado, I can't do this on my own. If it's true what they said I expect the Alcalde to arrive any time now. Go to the hacienda and get my father and Felipe."

Toronado hesitated for a moment, he was confused, he didn't really want to leave Dulcinea's side.

"Now, Toronado. Dulcinea will be fine for now but I need Felipe and my father." Zorro ordered sternly.

Toronado looked at his beloved one last time before turning around and went full speed towards the De La Vega hacienda. He could only hope that they were home.

The moment he arrived at the hacienda, the first thing he did was look into the stables. He couldn't know which horse Don Alejandro would take now but he did know which horse was Felipe's.

The pinto was still in the stable so it meant that at least Felipe should be home. He knew that during the day he would have more luck finding the boy here than in the cave.

The stallion looked around but there was no one in sight. The only thing the horse could think of was starting to neigh.

Toronado was in luck the moment he saw Don Alejandro and Felipe run outside. They both knew exactly who was making that noise and that couldn't be good. His shock was big when he saw who joined his master's father and Felipe outside. It was Victoria. She clearly had come to the hacienda for explanations.

"Madre de Dios, Diego," Victoria whispered silently.

Toronado started rearing trying to make clear that they had to follow him.

Felipe pulled the stallion down and caressed his neck to calm him before he turned to his patron, "We need to follow him. Toronado on his own is never a good sign." He signed a bit too rapidly.

"Calm down, Felipe. Tell me again but slower, I am not Diego you know." Don Alejandro said.

The young man took a deep breath and repeated what he just had said.

"Saddle, your pinto, and Emilio, Felipe." Before the man turned towards Victoria, "I am sorry, my dear, but we have to go."

The beautiful tavern owner nodded, "Yes, and I am coming with you."

"Victoria, Diego will never forgive me or himself if something happens to you." The old man protested.

"I am going with you maybe I can help. I will follow whether you like it or not." Victoria said stubbornly walking to her horse.

+++ Oh boy, my master won't be happy with this turn of events. +++ Toronado thought.

It didn't take long for Felipe to come outside with his pony and the other stallion.

"Alright, let's see what's going on." Don Alejandro said the moment he had mounted Emilio, "Show me the way to Diego, boy."

TBC