My new story about Zorro, taking place around season, on an alternative version of the story. I´m not going to say much, as i don´t want to spoil the story, so the only thing i´m going to say is that, despite of her appearing in just two or three episodes, i will make Rosarita a regular on my stories, as i thought her and Diego cute together.
FINDING ZORRO
That Sunny day at Los Angeles, Don Diego Maurizio De La Vega decided to invite his sweetheart, Miss Rosarita Cortez for a walk around town. Sadly however, to both of their dismay, half of the walking, Rosarita showed a displeasure frown.
It happened however that as they passed by the quartel, the spotted the Comandante treating a beggar and as expected, Diego did nothing to defend, causing Rosarita to be disappointed with him.
''Rosarina, what else I could do? I couldn´t go there and yell at the comandante, he would arrest me as well!'' Diego exclaimed.
''He wouldn´t Diego, stop act like a coward!'' she said angry and he frowned, he usually accept those accusations from his father in silence, but he couldn´t bear to hear his sweetheart accused him of the same.
''I´m not a coward Rosarita, how could you say that?''
''Oh Diego, its clear that everyone in Los Angeles is braver than you, not just Zorro, but Padre Felipe, Sgt. Garcia… even I can be braver than you!'' she provoked him.
''Oh you? So prove me your bravery.'' He mocked her.
''I will prove,'' she smiled at him. ''I will… I will discover who is behind Zorro´s mask.'' She said and Diego´s jaws dropped.
''You will what? Right, so suppose you find out who´s the man behind the mask, what you will do?''
''I will tell you.'' She said simply.
''You… aren't going to warn the Sargent? Remember, there´s a good prize for Zorro´s head.'' Diego pointed.
''Diego, how could you be so mean? I don´t want Zorro to be killed. I will just tell you, it will be our secret, you, me and Zorro´s.'' she said and he agreed.
After a few more minutes of talking, Rosarita left and Bernardo, once hearing all the conversation between her and Diego, rush to sign to his friend if he was worried.
''Nah Bernardo, she´s just trying to mock me,'' he patted the older man shoulder. ''Now let's go home.'' Diego agreed and they made their way home.
_/_
The next few days, Diwgo and Rosarita didn´t meet each other, as both lovers had their own busyness to take care off. One day however, As Rosarita and her uncle were returning from a small trip, when passing by the De La Vegas propriety, Rosarita spotted Diego playing with a beautiful black horse and as impossible as it seems, she thought of seeing him mounting such horse, by jumping on its back, without even a saddle on.
''Uncle, isn't that Diego?'' she asked confused, but Mr. Cortez reprehended her.
''Don´t spy Rosarita, its isn´t polite.'' Said Mr. Cortez and she blushed, looking for the other side.
Two days later, Rosarita was still intrigued. Sure, she met Diego the other day, but when she tried to push the subject, he changed it, by inviting her to his father´s birthday party the Saturday next.
''Oh… well, thank Diego, I will go with my uncle…. And I´s sure I will find out who Zorro is by then.''
''We Shaw see.'' Diego smiled, kissing her hand as they left for the tavern.
_/_
By Wednesday, Rosarita knew that she was running out of time, since she hadn´t got any close to find who was Zorro. Of course, the outlaw had acted near her house the night before, but she didn´t even got the chance to approach him.
This way, earlier next morning, just after breakfast, she asked permission to her uncle, if she could go for a ride with a servant. Sure, she told him she was going to the town, but once they start the riding, she demanded to be taken to the DE La Vega´s propriety, where as she found the black horse once again having lunch by himself, with no a care in the world.
''Miss Cortez, what are we doing here?'' asked the servant, a girl name Mercedes.
''We´re going to solve a mystery, Mercedes, like those in the books!'' she exclaimed happily as they approach Tornado, the horse in question. ''Oh look Mercedes, he´s beautiful, isn´t it?''
''Yes, he is, Ma´am.'' Mercedes agreed.
''You brought the carrots?'' Rosarita asked and with a nod, Mercedes give her the carrots. ''Here Horse, you are so beautiful, aren´t you, you want some carrots?'' she smiled.
Carefully, Tornado sniffed the vegetables, of course, Diego always give him something nice to eat and since he recognized Rosarita, he gladly accepted the treat, before walk away, disappearing behind some bushes.
''Now what we do?'' asked Mercedes a bit frightened.
''Lets follow him…'' Rosarita smiled and slowly, the two women passed by the mushes Tornado had disappeared, just to found themselves inside a small cave. ''Now what we do?''
''I don´t know ma´am… wait, are you hearing voices?''
''I think I am… lets follow it… oh God, I think we found Zorro´s hidden place, but why here at the De La Vega´s?''
''Zorro´s?'' the servant exclaimed, but the lady asked her to be quiet.
Slowly they followed the voice, making it becoming louder and even more similar to Diego´s. as they approached close enough, they noticed he wasn´t wearing shirt, just his bandana, trousers and boots. On his back, they noticed a few bruises and scars, in addition, when he raised his arm to take out the bandana, Rosarita noticed a small cut on his arm, just where a soldier had hurt Zorro last night.
''Diego?'' she whispered, but he didn´t seems to hear.
''…And Bernardo, we need to be very careful tonight, when returning to the tavern because…'' suddenly he stopped, when Bernardo pointed to his back, making him turn abruptly.
''Diego…'' Mercedes of course, yelled at the sight of a shirtless man and close her eyes, while Rosarita simply fainted, upon coming face with face with her love.
Taken aback from all the abruptly situation, Diego took a second to understand what has just happened, then, he asked Bernardo to get Mercedes out of the cave and wait for them at the patio at the house, but not before asked the female servant, what she have seen. In response, Bernardo signed to Diego to place his mask, before do anything.
''No Bernardo, I owned her the truth,'' he said putting his shirt. ''She deserves that, now go.'' He ordered and Bernardo left with Mercedes.
It took Diego almost five minutes to wake up Rosarita, who got very confused, after all, she had just found Zorro and woke up in a cave, with her love staring at her.
''Diego… but… but how, how you and Zorro?'' she gasped, as he helped her sit down.
''it's a long story, came, I will tell you everything, while we return to the farm, we just need to take the longer way.'' He smiled and taking his arm, she followed him.
During all the path back to the De La Vega´s farm, Diego told his sweetheart the reason why he become Zorro, his goal and why he couldn´t tell anyone about it, to protect them from danger.
''Not even Don Aleandro knows?'' Rosarita asked.
''No, not even my father knows, just Bernardo… now you, but can I trust you?''
''Of course, Diego and I promise I will make sure Mercedes don´t tell anyone,'' the girl assured him. ''Oh my, i´m in love with Zorro himself…aww!'' she laughed in joy and Diego, for the first time, give her a small pack on the lips.
_/_
After that day, no word was said about Zorro and in the meantime, Rosarita and Diego lead their lives, as nothing had happened. When Saturday arrived, guests come to wish Don Aleandro happy birthday, on a big fancy party, however, something started to bother Diego, after all, some bandits were in town, seeking for gold and injuring innocent people and Zorro needed to act quickly, before the bandits do something reckless. This way, trying to make an excuse for left the party, Diego pretended to get drunk, letting his father scold him for acting that way.
''Don´t worry Don Aleandro, I will take him outside for a fresh air,'' Rosarita suggested and under the father´s angry look, the girl lead her drunk boyfriend outside. ''That was close.'' She whispered once they were outside.
''I promise I won't take long, would you cover for me?'' she asked ''Bernardo will help.
''Of course.'' Rosarita promised and with a smile, Diego left for his heroic duties as Zorro, knowing his secret was well kited, at least for now.
END.