Chapter 6:
Toronado had to rein in his speed for them to be able to follow. Even Don Alejandro on Emilio, the fastest racehorse in Los Angeles, besides Toronado that is couldn't follow him on top speed.
"That horse is a fantastic animal." Don Alejandro said to Felipe, "I am amazed how Zorro can even ride him."
Felipe smirked, he couldn't answer but he would soon tell that Zorro wasn't the only one who could ride the coal-black stallion. After a while Toronado slowed down and stopped in front of the cave at Diablo Canyon.
"Where are is Zorro, Toronado?" Don Alejandro asked, knowing that the horse understood more than another horse, "This is going to get used, calling him Zorro now that I know who he is." The old man sighed.
"You need to be aware of that at all times." Felipe warned with a stern look on his face, "His life depends on it."
"Don't you think I know that?" Don Alejandro said back trying to control his temper, "Don't you think I know that…" Before he continued in a whisper he looked around to see if nobody could hear him, "That my son has a bounty of 6000 pesos on his head. If someone knew it could be a poor farmer, rich and I would lose my flesh and blood."
"Don Alejandro, I think this is what Felipe means. Never to speak about it in public." Victoria added, helping the boy.
"Thank you, senorita Escalante." Felipe signed in relief that at least one of them got the whole picture.
"Okay but once home, I want to know everything." Don Alejandro said sternly in return.
A little further Toronado was waiting impatiently for them to follow. He started to scratch his hoof in the desert sand, +++ What if my master was in real danger, he could have been dead by now. +++
"Show me where Zorro is, Toronado." Victoria said becoming evenly impatient; "I can't see him."
+++ Finally someone with brains. +++ Toronado huffed, luckily they couldn't understand him.
He walked towards the cave looking behind him to see if they were actually following him. He noticed they did follow him.
Victoria was confused though, why was the stallion so calm? She knew that he would do anything for his master, "Is he in that cave, Toronado?" She asked curiously.
The stallion nodded, +++ I knew there was something more than beauty and compassion. She is smart too. She will be a great mate for my master. +++
Victoria, Felipe, and Don Alejandro responded immediately by running past the black stallion.
"Zorro?" Victoria asked through the cave with worry in her voice.
Zorro looked towards the entrance, "Senorita? What are you doing here?"
"I was with the De La Vegas when your horse came for them. I thought something had happened to you so I came along. They didn't want me too but I would have followed whether they liked it or not." Victoria said with her hands on her hips.
"Well, don't worry senorita. I am fine but I need their help with their horse. She has gone into labor." Zorro said and I think she can use a familiar face and voice with her. She has been under a lot of stress the last few weeks."
"Thank you, Zorro, for finding her." Don Alejandro said. He tried to hide his proud smile. Proud of the man his son had become. Now that you knew it was obvious who was behind the mask.
"Thank my stallion, senor. I think he loves your mare to death. He never stopped looking for her." Zorro smiled at his father.
Alejandro nodded, "Give him an extra apple in my name, Zorro."
Zorro chuckled, "He will appreciate that."
They didn't talk about the fact that Toronado would keep visiting his favorite mare in the future. The old Don made his way towards his mare, who was surrounded in protection by other horses. He couldn't reach her.
+++ Let them pass, they are good humans. They are here to help her. +++ Toronado ordered the other horses.
"I think your stallion has their respect." Victoria smiled, she stayed with Zorro, "He neighed, and they cleared a path for Don Alejandro and Felipe."
"I think that is the way he found her in the first place. I don't really know how it works though." Zorro smiled softly, "Senorita, you can't come running to me if you think that I am in danger."
"Why not? You saved me so many times already." Victoria said in her soft but high-pitched voice.
"I couldn't bare to lose you Victoria." Zorro sighed softly, "I don't want to relive that week when you took that bullet for me."
Victoria was good at reading between the lines now that she knew everything about him or almost everything that is. She still didn't know who the real Diego was. She didn't care though, she was going to spend the rest of her life with him.
"I can imagine what you must have gone through, Zorro. I know how hard it was for Don Diego sitting by my bedside, not leaving my side." Victoria sighed deeply.
"I still think that Don Diego is a good man for you to marry. I don't know if I will ever be free to marry you." Zorro sighed.
"No!" boomed another voice, "because you won't come out of this cave alive."
In the entrance of the cave stood Alcalde Desoto. Two guns aimed at Zorro and Victoria. Don Alejandro and Felipe were hidden by the horses around Dulcinea.
"You are not getting away not this time." The alcalde grinned.
Toronado looked at him with cold and angry eyes, if he had been the real devil hellfire would appear in his eyes. He had never been this angry. He kicked the guns out of the Alcalde's hands even before they could go off, Desoto stumbled backward.
"Keep your hell horse in line, Zorro," Desoto yelled.
"I am sorry, Alcalde, but even I have my limits in working with my horse. You really made him angry this time and that's when the wild side appears. Let me tell you. That side is dangerous, maybe even deadly." Zorro said, not knowing how right he was about that last one.
Toronado stepped slowly towards Desoto. In the stallion's eyes, he had made his last mistake, too much was at risk, not only his master's identity and happiness which was the usual thing for them but also the future of his offspring.
The coal-black horse's eyes were cold. You could see how the fire was raging inside him by every move he made but on the other side, you could see how calm and dangerous he was by every step he took.
Desoto knew he was in trouble, "Zorro, please, you never killed a soul, you surely aren't going to begin now, are you? Let's make a deal. Call your horse back and I will let you go this time."
"Technically, it's not me who is going to make you suffer, Alcade. I said it before at this moment I have nothing to say to my horse, he isn't going to listen to me. You see horses have a mind of their own, especially Toronado. He works with me because he wants to not because I forced him. Nobody can force him." Zorro explained. No matter how much he was against killing, he wasn't going to jump between him and a stallion protecting everything he loved. He wasn't suicidal and that was what it would be suicide. The horse wouldn't do anything to him on purpose but Toronado saw only one thing at the moment, like a lion he saw his prey or a bull who saw a red in front of his eyes. No force would ever stop him.
Zorro knew his horse very well. His words had just been spoken or Toronado turned around and kicked Desoto before he could react. The Alcalde flew out of the cave. He shook his head and tried to get up. Toronado was quicker though he hit Desoto with his head with such a force that he flew a few feet in front of the horse right on the edge of the cliff.
"Good horse, nice horse." Desoto tried with obvious fear in his voice but Toronado had made up his mind. This was going to end here and now. His master's enemy had crossed the line now. Toronado turned around as fast as the wind he was called after and kicked the man over the edge. He shook his head to try and calm himself down before he looked over the edge.
The man was laying at the bottom bruised, broken, and most importantly dead. He turned around as nothing happened and made his way back to the cave where his mare was busy giving birth to his heir. Unlike human royal ranks, it was the second offspring who would continue the throne. Toronado always thought it was because his older brother had died. His father had explained that the first one would leave the area and start a family of his own, the second-born foal would stay and take the title as king or queen of horses.
It was one of the few things Toronado had changed during his ruling. Not only a little stallion could take the title but even a daughter could become the first queen in history.
Dulcinea was in labor for many hours when the first little legs appeared.
"It's okay, you are doing good, girl." Don Alejandro said in a soothing voice. Zorro took the legs and pulled gently to help the foal get out more easily. The foal was out in no time. It was a little mare.
Zorro laid his ear on her belly, "I don't think we are done yet. There is another foal coming." After a while, a little stallion was born. A twin was rare in the world of horses but a healthy twin was something of a miracle.
Zorro had taken the bandits to the Pueblo. He informed the sergeant that the alcalde had fallen to his death. He also said he didn't see what had happened. Zorro gave the information where he could find the missing horses, hoping his father was smart enough to hide if the foals weren't ready for the trip.
Hours later Dulcinea was back in her pasture with her two foals and the love of her life by her side. This was a good time to stop his life as Zorro but he couldn't give up Toronado so he kept him, renaming him Diablo not knowing that it was his original name in the first place.
The first crown princess of horses was born. Her name was Angeles and her brother Prince, Paulo. Finally, Toronado could start the life he was always hoping he could with his Dulcinea by his side. Just like Diego could start his own family after he married Victoria months later.
What about the Alcalde? Well, the next Alcalde was a fair and just Alcalde, someone who arrived from outside the pueblo. Alcalde Fransesco Escalante.
The End.