I do not own any of the characters.
This one-shot got inspired by the episode, 'it is a wonderful Zorro'.
It is my take on why Victoria was acting so different in this episode.
No one knows...,
He was a man out of thousands. Kind, polite, handsome, charming, compassionate, intelligent and so much more. Diego de la Vega had almost everything a woman could wish for in a man.
However, Victoria also knew that she never loved him half the amount as she loved Zorro.
It was strange, Victoria mused. As a child, she had always hoped to attract don Diego's attention one day.
As soon as don Alejandro had told her that his son would return from Spain in six months, she had looked forward to his return.
Therefore, the disappointment was huge. Cause, in the days that followed his return, Diego turned out to have not the slightest bit of interest in her.
At that time, Victoria had no time to mourn her loss. She had had too many more urgent and disturbing matters on her mind.
In fact, since that one memorable day over six years ago, she felt relieved she hadn't made any promises she could no longer keep. That day, she discovered what the stories entailed, mentioning finding your soulmate.
Victoria had never given much value to that kind of nonsense.
That you knew who your true love was with a glance, touch or a second of eye contact at the precise right moment. Victoria had always thought those legends were just laughable.
How could she ever suspected what a strange fate life had in store for her?
There was not a living soul who knew the truth. The only one who might have had his suspicions died years ago.
The actual reason why Victoria had fallen seemingly head over heels in love with the man dressed in black.
Many thought it was because of his handsome appearance and heroism. Others thought it was because of the danger he exuded and the excitement it brought.
Some even claimed she was in love with just a dream. And Zorro was a myth that didn't really exist. Everyone was wrong.
No one knew the truth.
Not even her closest friend.
Even Zorro knew nothing of the sort. No one in the whole world except herself knew why she claimed to love Zorro from the beginning.
From the first time Zorro had appeared, Victoria had been impressed by his appearance. But no more or less than the other inhabitants of Los Angeles.
Her reaction was no different from the others. Everyone had been full of amazement and admiration. Zorro's athletic body and charming appearance made many women's hearts, young and old, beat faster. There was not a man to be found who had not secretly wished that people would think he was the one hiding behind the mask and had such fighting skills and so much heroism.
At first, Victoria had wondered to herself in despair whether Los Angeles had met a new kind of danger. Or, perhaps, hope had arisen where all seemed lost? Soon, it turned out that Zorro had come just at the right time. And he had come to defend the people from a tyrant.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Zorro had saved her in a way Victoria hoped forget.
He had saved her from a fate worse than death. Before his arrival, she had been desperate.
Victoria Escalante remembered it well. The day, Luis Ramón had come riding into Los Angeles with the official documents that he was their new alcalde.
Everyone had been delighted by his arrival. Luis Ramón could be charming when he choose to be. He was a young, handsome man and gave the impression of being a strong leader. And that was something the pueblo craved. And for the first few days, he had been the epitome of the perfect alcalde.
Ramón had approached her and asked whether she would permit him to court her. Thinking back to that particular time, Victoria hated herself. After all, she had felt flattered that alcalde Ramón had chosen her.
In hindsight, Victoria was relieved she had been wise enough to hold the man off.
Once, Ramòn realized that most of the inhabitants were poor and hardly had enough to eat, everyone needed to work hard to survive. Ramón had shown his true face.
It had started with the decision to close her tavern by eleven o'clock. After, the alcalde announced the first new tax.
The cattle tax.
Soon followed by the travellers' tax, sales tax, land tax, crop tax, and water tax, and all were to make a contribution to maintenance for the garrison stationed in Los Angeles.
The more time Ramón spent devising, collecting and raising his revenue, the more he neglected the necessary patrols and training of the lancers.
Thugs got free rein. The people of Los Angeles became scared. Merciless bandits robbed, stole and killed everyone and everything in their sight. No one felt safe in the pueblo or their homes.
Meanwhile, Victoria had made up her mind. She would never allow herself to get courted by a man like Ramón. To make things worse, he had asked her to marry him. Well, asked ...,
Ramón had informed Victoria she could choose. Either marry him, or he would ruin her.
Her tavern was all she had. After her mother's death, her father and brothers joined the rebels. Eight months later, news reached Victoria that her father was dead and Francisco, her eldest brother, was lost in battle. She had been inconsolable and desperate. Again, Ramón had come to her. He made her an offer to buy her tavern. His prize was so outrageously low, even considering, was too humiliating.
Bluntly, Victoria told Ramón that it would freeze to hell before she would sell her family's life's work to him.
At that remark, Ramón had raised the owner's tax tenfold.
With an evil grin, Ramón had suggested ways for her to make enough money to pay this tax.
And, he had lisped, she was permitted to pay her taxes without the need for money.
Victoria had spat in his face, uttering that if she was to become such a woman, then at least she would determine her own customers.
Ramón had been furious. Angry, he had pressed her against the wall until she felt she no longer could breathe. He hit her in her face and pressed his mouth roughly on hers.
Victoria had resisted. She had struggled, punched, slapped, screamed, kicked and bitten him.
Finally, Ramón had let go of her.
Ten days was the time Ramón had given Victoria. After that, depending on her choice, he would announce their wedding date. And otherwise, willingly or not, become her first customer.
Victoria felt so embarrassed that she had not dared to confide in anyone by telling in what a horrible position she was in.
She knew some dons in the area would help her should she ask. The very idea of needing to share with anyone what was going on horrified her. Besides, everyone was too preoccupied with how to survive to pay attention to someone else's problems.
That was when, fortunately, Zorro had appeared just in the knick of time.
Had he made his appearance one single night later. Then, it would have been too late for her to be saved.
The first time Zorro made an appearance in Los Angeles was to free don Alejandro and her from prison. It had also been the night before Ramón's ultimatum expired.
Frantically, Victoria had chosen to trust the mysterious man.
Feeling it was the only thing left to try, she had extolled his achievement to unprecedented levels. Ramón had been terrified that night.
For the first time, someone challenged him directly. And he had lost.
And Victoria had eagerly taken advantage of that fortunate coincidence by telling Ramón that if he continued to harass her, Zorro would defend her.
From then on, Victoria had faced the tremendous task try to capture the man's attention every time Zorro appeared in the pueblo. And to her surprise, it had worked! By the third time she saw the masked man, Zorro had singled her out, tapped the brim of his hat and greeted her kindly.
After that, Victoria redoubled her efforts and, back then, false admiration for the man.
At the time, had she been in love with Zorro?
No, it was a mere role she played as she did everything she could to keep the alcalde off her back.
The appearance of Zorro guaranteed that Ramón did not dare to carry out his evil plan to force Victoria into a life she did not want.
Over time, her feigned admiration slowly gave way to something different. While the local hero increasingly began to reciprocate her overbearing behaviour with charming remarks, friendly smiles and small gifts.
Victoria knew the exact moment her feelings had changed. And she had fallen in love with Zorro for real. From that minute on, she had known he was the only man she could ever love.
Today that day was six years, four months and thirteen days ago.
Alcalde Ramón had accused a man of stealing cattle from one of the ranchos and sentenced him to twenty lashes.
The man swore he was innocent. Ramòn had wanted to hear nothing of it.
Don Alejandro had tried to defend the man, and tempers had run high.
Ramón had just ordered his lancers to tie don Alejandro to a pole to take the man's place when Zorro had come galloping into the pueblo.
He had freed the man and don Alejandro by cutting their ropes.
Zorro told the alcalde that the disappeared sheep had not got stolen. But, the sheep simply strayed from the flock. He had found them in a narrow cliff where they were trapped. And though thirsty and hungry, all the animals were in good health.
Single-handedly, Zorro defeated all the lancers. He overpowered Ramón in a sword fight and forced the alcalde to withdraw his command.
After having done all that, Zorro walked towards her.
He had made a bow, made her a compliment, taken her hand, bringing it to his mouth to place a kiss on it.
As soon as she felt his lips touch her skin, Victoria knew, without a shadow of a doubt, she loved this man. Breathless, speechless, trembling, and as her heart was pounding wildly, Victoria believed she was drowning in an unprecedented whirlwind of emotions.
From that moment on, she was convinced.
True love did exist. A soul mate, once you met him, you just knew. And you know with all your heart, there is no one else in the entire world you have more feelings for.
She was meant for him and only him.
The man hiding behind the black silk mask was her destiny. She just had to be patient and wait until the time arrived for them to be together forever.
And Diego de la Vega ...,
Slightly dissapointed and upset, Victoria had resigned herself to the inevitable.
No matter what she may have felt for him in the past, she and Diego would never become more than close friends.
.
.
The end.
Let me know what you think by leaving a review.
I do think this story could have fitted in the story 'This is not a fairytale'.
That one was finished when this bit came to mind.
