Title: Of Truth and Deception
Author: Mysterious Raven
Disclaimer: I do not own Diego/Zorro, Felipe, Alejandro, Victoria, Alcalde De Soto; or anyone else that is involved with the series.
Summary: Diego finally confesses to his father and Victoria. But only one will accept him, and the other will have a change of heart. Will Diego give up or will he open his heart to another?
Author's Note: Special thanks to Pat Gregson, for proofreading my story and giving me suggestions on how to make it better. If I missed anything, it is entirely my fault.
Author's Note: I used the scene from Walt Disney's Zorro "The Sign of Zorro" to start my story off. This is a work in progress, so be patient for the chapters.
Prologue
Off the coast of California
Early April 1816
The early morning fog was slowly beginning to relinquish its reluctant hold on the smooth ocean surface as the "Queen Isabella" made its way through the treacherous, expansive waters of the Pacific Ocean. The "Queen Isabella" was sailing towards the distant coast of California. The sturdy ship and its crew had endured much on its six-month voyage from Spain, and yet, there she was standing high and determined as ever as she sailed towards her destination of Monterey, California.
Despite the chill of the early morning, the bare-chested tanned sailors climbed agilely through the riggings while obeying the commands that were coming from the first mate that was standing on the foredeck. Every once in awhile the sailors and the first mate would stop working to watch in awe and wonder of the extraordinary sword match that was taking place on the waist of the ship.
Two young men, whose faces were glowing with excitement, were fighting with sabers while the ship's captain and another young man sat and watched the contest in admiration. The sabers flashed and darted in the cool morning air like the tongue of a rattlesnake. To those who were unaware of the relationship between the two men fighting, they would have thought it to be a deadly fight as one then the other gave way before the strong and reliable blade of his opponent.
The shorter of the men was the 29-year-old, Cirilo Ramirez, the first lieutenant of the "Queen Isabella". Cirilo Ramirez was considered one of the best swordsmen in the military service of King Ferdinand of Spain. The long sleeves of Ramirez' white cotton shirt looked as if they were dancing in tune with the movement of his wrists as he slowly began to force his opponent back towards the cargo area.
"Now!" Ramirez yelled out as he began doubling his efforts, lunging, parrying, then driving forward forcing his opponent back further again. The tip of his sword seemed to embrace the steel of his opponent's weapon.
His opponent, a 27-year-old tall and slender dark haired man, seemed to be tiring from the constant attacks of Ramirez's sword. Throughout the last six months, Don Diego de la Vega had presented an appearance of being weak-willed and caring nothing but for the arts, books, and music. Many on the ship thought he lacked a certain fire and eagerness, which was often present in caballeros of his age and station. Don Diego appeared to be defending himself well for the time being, but it was apparent that he was in danger of being forced over the rail of the ship and into the icy ocean below.
Forceful and unwavering, Ramirez continued to press harder, forcing Diego back another step. "Now!" he cried out again, excitement evident in his voice and face.
Duties temporarily forgotten about, the sailors looked down to watch the conclusion of the match. Not wanting to miss what was sure to be a powerful ending to what was already an astounding contest of skill, the first mate let the sailors take a break. He was positive that the lazy and boring Señor de la Vega, who spent most of his time on the ship with his nose in a book or composing some frivolous piece of poetry or music, would soon be forced to yield to the first lieutenant.
Diego surprised the onlookers by not giving in and yielding immediately. Nor did he go back any further than the grating on the cargo hatch directly behind him. Ramirez lunged straight at him while thrusting his saber hard. Diego rolled his arm off to the side as Ramirez's blade met his, steel impacting on steel, at the same time giving Ramirez a cocky boyish grin.
"Very good!" replied Ramirez, recovering quickly for a man that was as short and stocky as he was. He quickly parried aside Diego's sword as it came towards his chest and followed it with a thrust of his own sword.
Once again, with what appeared to be a reckless movement of his wrist yet as quick as lightning, Diego thrust aside Ramirez's blade. The hilts of Diego and Ramirez's swords clashed together, each invading the others' space for several seconds and their arms straining hard from the effort. Each awarded the other with a devious grin before leaping back to a safe distance.
Yawning, as if growing tired of the match already, Diego replied in an indignantly mocking tone, "Cirilo, amigo, it is growing close to the time for breakfast. I feel myself growing faint from hunger. Are we almost done with this foolishness?" Diego yawned again before giving Ramirez another cocky grin. His sword began moving with lightning speed and he turned the tables on his friend. Now, Diego was the one forcing Ramirez to back up.
"You're in it now, Cirilo. Diego has got you right where he wants you," laughed the young man sitting off to the side with the ship's captain, Rogelio Aznar.
"I agree with Señor Montoya here. I do believe you are starting to lose your edge, Lt. Ramirez. Too much time at sea, I think," laughed Captain Aznar good-naturedly as he slapped the young man next to him on the back, almost knocking him over from the force of the slap.
"Do shut up, Luis. You may be up here next, amigo," mocked Ramirez as he was forced back several steps from the whistling point of Diego's blade. Just as he was about to make a stand to fight with all of his skill, Diego's blade slipped just mere inches across his shoulder. *Madre de Dios. I am glad this is just a competition between friends and not that of enemies,* thought Ramirez as he gave Diego a hopeless, but good-natured grin as he realized that Diego could have wounded him if he had wished it so.
"Fine, Cirilo. I will keep my mouth shut if it will help you to concentrate . . . that is concentrate more on losing to Diego," replied 30- year-old Luis Francisco Montoya as he grinned unapologetically towards Ramirez who was busy defending himself from Diego's forceful thrusts with his blade. It was going to be nice to watch Ramirez lose to Diego, who was unbeatable at the university and had defeated their champion saber master, Sir Edmund Kendall. "And besides, I have no wish to be humiliated because of my limited fencing experience compare to you two. I do believe we are having a much better time just watching you two go at each other."
Ramirez refrained from making a comment to Luis. He was not ready to yield to Diego and decided to try a special move, which he had been practicing, to perfection secretly in his cabin on the ship over the last couple of months. Only to be used in circumstances where the odds were against him, like now for instance. The two men glared with intent in their eyes across the tips of their crossed blades before stepping back a respectable distance.
Ramirez muttered the moves to himself as he knocked aside Diego's blade and prepared himself for the next move: disengage. He continued to mutter to himself when he dropped his blade from contact with Diego, and thrust forward.
The tip of Ramirez's blade went beneath Diego's sword and straight towards Diego's chest. Ramirez thought the move was done to perfection, or so he thought. He was not prepared for what happened next. Diego twisted and rolled his wrist as his sword engaged Ramirez's blade.
Seconds later, Ramirez was standing unarmed and with a shocked expression on his face as his sword slid across the deck of the ship. Diego pointed his sword at Ramirez's throat as Ramirez threw up his hands surrendering and grinned, "I yield, Diego, I yield."
"You managed yet again to impress me with your swordsmanship, Señor de la Vega. I did not think anyone would be able to beat my first lieutenant. He is considered to be one of the best swordsmen in His Majesty's service, you know," declared Captain Aznar, as the two men walked the short distance to where Captain Aznar and Luis Montoya were sitting.
The two men accepted the towels that Luis handed to them and began wiping their faces of the sweat from their strenuous workout. All four men started to laugh when they heard the first mate yell at the sailors to get back to work. Diego and Ramirez grinned at one another as they realized their audience of two had in fact been much larger.
Putting on his coat, Ramirez looked at Diego and joked, "Now, I am ready for breakfast. I feel I have worked up an appetite after that match, Diego. Why is it that I have the most peculiar feeling, amigo, that you have been holding out on me for the past several months? You could have beaten me from the beginning. You are truly amazing with a sword, Diego. A true master."
Diego grinned and nodded his head in appreciation of the compliment, "To watch and learn as much from my opponent, Cirilo. Then I strike."
Luis joked, not realizing just how prophetic he was with his statement, "Diego, you are cunning as a fox." The men laughed and headed off the deck and down to the galley for breakfast. Captain Aznar returned to his cabin to work on his records and any last minute detail before dropping anchor in Monterey.
The serving boys moved about quickly to serve the men, knowing full well that this was to be the last meal for Señor Montoya and Señor de la Vega. Both men were good tippers, so the serving boys were sure to receive several gold coins after this meal.
Ramirez glanced out of the portholes in deep thought, not truly seeing the land, which was getting closer by the minute due to the good winds at their back. Finally, he said sadly, "Diego, I shall miss our daily sword play and games of wit over chess. I hate to see you go." As if an after thought, he turned towards Luis grinning unapologetically, "Even you, Luis. It seems like it is only on rare occasions that we are able to get together. I think it was last year when we brought Caitlin and your father to Spain when we saw each other prior to this voyage."
Caitlin, his half-sister from his father's second marriage to an Irish noblewoman, was the pride and joy of the rich and noble Montoya family. Luis was very close to his little sister, even more so, when her mother was murdered the year before he left for the university, and was anxious to see her again. "I am going home at a perfect time. Caitlin will be turning 16 next month and I know my father plans to make her birthday one of the biggest celebrations that Monterey has ever seen. I am to be an early birthday present for her."
Diego looked at Ramirez with a puzzled frown on his face, "Why so melancholic, Cirilo? You act as if you do not want us to leave the ship. Should we be concerned about something?"
Both Diego and Luis had enjoyed the voyage and the daily sword and chess matches. It had given them something to do in the time spent at sea. As if slowly washing away the bad memories, which had plagued them in Spain. For Diego, it allowed him to forget about Zafira, who had promised to marry him six and half months before, left him standing alone with the padre at the church on the university grounds. Luis was leaving behind everything that reminded him of his dearly departed wife, Raquel. She had died in childbirth along with their daughter.
Ramirez appeared to be deep in thought for a moment before asking, "How long has it been since you were last in California, Diego? Luis?"
Frowning, Diego looked at Luis, both wondering where the conversation was going to, "A little over four years, Cirilo."
With a sad smile, Luis replied, "Over 7 years now. Are you worried about us going back to California, amigo? Is that what is bothering you?"
Ramirez glanced at Luis and Diego before turning his attention back to his plate, "You've been gone for some time. I'm afraid you will find some drastic changes in California, mainly in Los Angeles." He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Your skill . . . your skill with the blade, Diego, it . . . it will serve you well in Los Angeles." Looking at Luis, he continued, "Monterey, my friend, is much more fortunate. It has not changed all that much, except for the recent increase in banditos who seem to have plagued the area."
Upset, Diego asked, "You are just now telling us about this, Cirilo? What was wrong with telling us at the beginning of the voyage? You."
Luis put his hand on Diego's shoulder, stopping Diego from continuing with his tirade, "Diego, por favor, amigo. Cirilo probably just wanted this voyage to go pleasantly for us. Do not be upset with him." Luis was upset as well, but he did not think getting angry would help solve anything. Unbeknownst to him, was just how much the current situation in Monterey greatly affected him and his family.
Ramirez glanced at Luis, silently thanking him for calming Diego. He was about to continue with the conversation when the first mate entered the galley informing them that they were pulling into the harbor, putting an end to the discussion.
Half an hour later, the three men stood on deck waiting for the plank to be lowered. Luis scanned the area hoping to see his father and sister who were supposed to meet him on the docks. There is Alfonso and Arturo, but I don't see father or Caitlin. They were supposed to meet me here, Luis thought. Alfonso and Arturo were the 28-year-old Montoya twins.
Ramirez put his hand on Diego's shoulder. "Maybe I am mistaken, Diego. Maybe there is nothing wrong and it is just a rumor. I just wanted this voyage to be pleasant for you and Luis, amigo. No worries."
Diego looked at Ramirez with understanding evident in his dark blue eyes, "I am sorry about my outburst earlier, Cirilo. I do not think it is a rumor. I think that is why my father called me home sooner. He wrote me a letter, which briefly mentioned the troubles in Los Angeles. And my saber master, Sir Edmund, was able to confirm that there were problems in Los Angeles." He hesitated, "I am really sorry about earlier. I guess I was hoping that it was nothing. And when you brought it up."
"I confirmed what you were wishing wasn't true." Ramirez finished for Diego. Hoping to sound convincing, he added, "Who knows, Diego, maybe the situation has gotten better."
"We shall see, Cirilo, we shall see." Diego replied unconvincingly.
Diego and Luis said their goodbyes and walked down the plank. Both men agreed to stay in touch and Diego apologized for not being able to make it to Caitlin's party, but promised to come to Monterey to visit in a couple of months. Luis walked over towards where his brothers were waiting while Diego headed to the tavern where a carriage awaited to take him home to Los Angeles.
Diego's carriage took off causing him to miss Luis' heart wrenching cry of pain. Had he stayed longer to talk to Luis and the twins, he would have discovered that the celebration for Caitlin was canceled. Alfonso and Arturo sadly informed Luis that their baby sister had been kidnapped and killed the previous week.
As Monterey suffered a loss, Los Angeles gained a hero. Zorro.
Author: Mysterious Raven
Disclaimer: I do not own Diego/Zorro, Felipe, Alejandro, Victoria, Alcalde De Soto; or anyone else that is involved with the series.
Summary: Diego finally confesses to his father and Victoria. But only one will accept him, and the other will have a change of heart. Will Diego give up or will he open his heart to another?
Author's Note: Special thanks to Pat Gregson, for proofreading my story and giving me suggestions on how to make it better. If I missed anything, it is entirely my fault.
Author's Note: I used the scene from Walt Disney's Zorro "The Sign of Zorro" to start my story off. This is a work in progress, so be patient for the chapters.
Prologue
Off the coast of California
Early April 1816
The early morning fog was slowly beginning to relinquish its reluctant hold on the smooth ocean surface as the "Queen Isabella" made its way through the treacherous, expansive waters of the Pacific Ocean. The "Queen Isabella" was sailing towards the distant coast of California. The sturdy ship and its crew had endured much on its six-month voyage from Spain, and yet, there she was standing high and determined as ever as she sailed towards her destination of Monterey, California.
Despite the chill of the early morning, the bare-chested tanned sailors climbed agilely through the riggings while obeying the commands that were coming from the first mate that was standing on the foredeck. Every once in awhile the sailors and the first mate would stop working to watch in awe and wonder of the extraordinary sword match that was taking place on the waist of the ship.
Two young men, whose faces were glowing with excitement, were fighting with sabers while the ship's captain and another young man sat and watched the contest in admiration. The sabers flashed and darted in the cool morning air like the tongue of a rattlesnake. To those who were unaware of the relationship between the two men fighting, they would have thought it to be a deadly fight as one then the other gave way before the strong and reliable blade of his opponent.
The shorter of the men was the 29-year-old, Cirilo Ramirez, the first lieutenant of the "Queen Isabella". Cirilo Ramirez was considered one of the best swordsmen in the military service of King Ferdinand of Spain. The long sleeves of Ramirez' white cotton shirt looked as if they were dancing in tune with the movement of his wrists as he slowly began to force his opponent back towards the cargo area.
"Now!" Ramirez yelled out as he began doubling his efforts, lunging, parrying, then driving forward forcing his opponent back further again. The tip of his sword seemed to embrace the steel of his opponent's weapon.
His opponent, a 27-year-old tall and slender dark haired man, seemed to be tiring from the constant attacks of Ramirez's sword. Throughout the last six months, Don Diego de la Vega had presented an appearance of being weak-willed and caring nothing but for the arts, books, and music. Many on the ship thought he lacked a certain fire and eagerness, which was often present in caballeros of his age and station. Don Diego appeared to be defending himself well for the time being, but it was apparent that he was in danger of being forced over the rail of the ship and into the icy ocean below.
Forceful and unwavering, Ramirez continued to press harder, forcing Diego back another step. "Now!" he cried out again, excitement evident in his voice and face.
Duties temporarily forgotten about, the sailors looked down to watch the conclusion of the match. Not wanting to miss what was sure to be a powerful ending to what was already an astounding contest of skill, the first mate let the sailors take a break. He was positive that the lazy and boring Señor de la Vega, who spent most of his time on the ship with his nose in a book or composing some frivolous piece of poetry or music, would soon be forced to yield to the first lieutenant.
Diego surprised the onlookers by not giving in and yielding immediately. Nor did he go back any further than the grating on the cargo hatch directly behind him. Ramirez lunged straight at him while thrusting his saber hard. Diego rolled his arm off to the side as Ramirez's blade met his, steel impacting on steel, at the same time giving Ramirez a cocky boyish grin.
"Very good!" replied Ramirez, recovering quickly for a man that was as short and stocky as he was. He quickly parried aside Diego's sword as it came towards his chest and followed it with a thrust of his own sword.
Once again, with what appeared to be a reckless movement of his wrist yet as quick as lightning, Diego thrust aside Ramirez's blade. The hilts of Diego and Ramirez's swords clashed together, each invading the others' space for several seconds and their arms straining hard from the effort. Each awarded the other with a devious grin before leaping back to a safe distance.
Yawning, as if growing tired of the match already, Diego replied in an indignantly mocking tone, "Cirilo, amigo, it is growing close to the time for breakfast. I feel myself growing faint from hunger. Are we almost done with this foolishness?" Diego yawned again before giving Ramirez another cocky grin. His sword began moving with lightning speed and he turned the tables on his friend. Now, Diego was the one forcing Ramirez to back up.
"You're in it now, Cirilo. Diego has got you right where he wants you," laughed the young man sitting off to the side with the ship's captain, Rogelio Aznar.
"I agree with Señor Montoya here. I do believe you are starting to lose your edge, Lt. Ramirez. Too much time at sea, I think," laughed Captain Aznar good-naturedly as he slapped the young man next to him on the back, almost knocking him over from the force of the slap.
"Do shut up, Luis. You may be up here next, amigo," mocked Ramirez as he was forced back several steps from the whistling point of Diego's blade. Just as he was about to make a stand to fight with all of his skill, Diego's blade slipped just mere inches across his shoulder. *Madre de Dios. I am glad this is just a competition between friends and not that of enemies,* thought Ramirez as he gave Diego a hopeless, but good-natured grin as he realized that Diego could have wounded him if he had wished it so.
"Fine, Cirilo. I will keep my mouth shut if it will help you to concentrate . . . that is concentrate more on losing to Diego," replied 30- year-old Luis Francisco Montoya as he grinned unapologetically towards Ramirez who was busy defending himself from Diego's forceful thrusts with his blade. It was going to be nice to watch Ramirez lose to Diego, who was unbeatable at the university and had defeated their champion saber master, Sir Edmund Kendall. "And besides, I have no wish to be humiliated because of my limited fencing experience compare to you two. I do believe we are having a much better time just watching you two go at each other."
Ramirez refrained from making a comment to Luis. He was not ready to yield to Diego and decided to try a special move, which he had been practicing, to perfection secretly in his cabin on the ship over the last couple of months. Only to be used in circumstances where the odds were against him, like now for instance. The two men glared with intent in their eyes across the tips of their crossed blades before stepping back a respectable distance.
Ramirez muttered the moves to himself as he knocked aside Diego's blade and prepared himself for the next move: disengage. He continued to mutter to himself when he dropped his blade from contact with Diego, and thrust forward.
The tip of Ramirez's blade went beneath Diego's sword and straight towards Diego's chest. Ramirez thought the move was done to perfection, or so he thought. He was not prepared for what happened next. Diego twisted and rolled his wrist as his sword engaged Ramirez's blade.
Seconds later, Ramirez was standing unarmed and with a shocked expression on his face as his sword slid across the deck of the ship. Diego pointed his sword at Ramirez's throat as Ramirez threw up his hands surrendering and grinned, "I yield, Diego, I yield."
"You managed yet again to impress me with your swordsmanship, Señor de la Vega. I did not think anyone would be able to beat my first lieutenant. He is considered to be one of the best swordsmen in His Majesty's service, you know," declared Captain Aznar, as the two men walked the short distance to where Captain Aznar and Luis Montoya were sitting.
The two men accepted the towels that Luis handed to them and began wiping their faces of the sweat from their strenuous workout. All four men started to laugh when they heard the first mate yell at the sailors to get back to work. Diego and Ramirez grinned at one another as they realized their audience of two had in fact been much larger.
Putting on his coat, Ramirez looked at Diego and joked, "Now, I am ready for breakfast. I feel I have worked up an appetite after that match, Diego. Why is it that I have the most peculiar feeling, amigo, that you have been holding out on me for the past several months? You could have beaten me from the beginning. You are truly amazing with a sword, Diego. A true master."
Diego grinned and nodded his head in appreciation of the compliment, "To watch and learn as much from my opponent, Cirilo. Then I strike."
Luis joked, not realizing just how prophetic he was with his statement, "Diego, you are cunning as a fox." The men laughed and headed off the deck and down to the galley for breakfast. Captain Aznar returned to his cabin to work on his records and any last minute detail before dropping anchor in Monterey.
The serving boys moved about quickly to serve the men, knowing full well that this was to be the last meal for Señor Montoya and Señor de la Vega. Both men were good tippers, so the serving boys were sure to receive several gold coins after this meal.
Ramirez glanced out of the portholes in deep thought, not truly seeing the land, which was getting closer by the minute due to the good winds at their back. Finally, he said sadly, "Diego, I shall miss our daily sword play and games of wit over chess. I hate to see you go." As if an after thought, he turned towards Luis grinning unapologetically, "Even you, Luis. It seems like it is only on rare occasions that we are able to get together. I think it was last year when we brought Caitlin and your father to Spain when we saw each other prior to this voyage."
Caitlin, his half-sister from his father's second marriage to an Irish noblewoman, was the pride and joy of the rich and noble Montoya family. Luis was very close to his little sister, even more so, when her mother was murdered the year before he left for the university, and was anxious to see her again. "I am going home at a perfect time. Caitlin will be turning 16 next month and I know my father plans to make her birthday one of the biggest celebrations that Monterey has ever seen. I am to be an early birthday present for her."
Diego looked at Ramirez with a puzzled frown on his face, "Why so melancholic, Cirilo? You act as if you do not want us to leave the ship. Should we be concerned about something?"
Both Diego and Luis had enjoyed the voyage and the daily sword and chess matches. It had given them something to do in the time spent at sea. As if slowly washing away the bad memories, which had plagued them in Spain. For Diego, it allowed him to forget about Zafira, who had promised to marry him six and half months before, left him standing alone with the padre at the church on the university grounds. Luis was leaving behind everything that reminded him of his dearly departed wife, Raquel. She had died in childbirth along with their daughter.
Ramirez appeared to be deep in thought for a moment before asking, "How long has it been since you were last in California, Diego? Luis?"
Frowning, Diego looked at Luis, both wondering where the conversation was going to, "A little over four years, Cirilo."
With a sad smile, Luis replied, "Over 7 years now. Are you worried about us going back to California, amigo? Is that what is bothering you?"
Ramirez glanced at Luis and Diego before turning his attention back to his plate, "You've been gone for some time. I'm afraid you will find some drastic changes in California, mainly in Los Angeles." He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Your skill . . . your skill with the blade, Diego, it . . . it will serve you well in Los Angeles." Looking at Luis, he continued, "Monterey, my friend, is much more fortunate. It has not changed all that much, except for the recent increase in banditos who seem to have plagued the area."
Upset, Diego asked, "You are just now telling us about this, Cirilo? What was wrong with telling us at the beginning of the voyage? You."
Luis put his hand on Diego's shoulder, stopping Diego from continuing with his tirade, "Diego, por favor, amigo. Cirilo probably just wanted this voyage to go pleasantly for us. Do not be upset with him." Luis was upset as well, but he did not think getting angry would help solve anything. Unbeknownst to him, was just how much the current situation in Monterey greatly affected him and his family.
Ramirez glanced at Luis, silently thanking him for calming Diego. He was about to continue with the conversation when the first mate entered the galley informing them that they were pulling into the harbor, putting an end to the discussion.
Half an hour later, the three men stood on deck waiting for the plank to be lowered. Luis scanned the area hoping to see his father and sister who were supposed to meet him on the docks. There is Alfonso and Arturo, but I don't see father or Caitlin. They were supposed to meet me here, Luis thought. Alfonso and Arturo were the 28-year-old Montoya twins.
Ramirez put his hand on Diego's shoulder. "Maybe I am mistaken, Diego. Maybe there is nothing wrong and it is just a rumor. I just wanted this voyage to be pleasant for you and Luis, amigo. No worries."
Diego looked at Ramirez with understanding evident in his dark blue eyes, "I am sorry about my outburst earlier, Cirilo. I do not think it is a rumor. I think that is why my father called me home sooner. He wrote me a letter, which briefly mentioned the troubles in Los Angeles. And my saber master, Sir Edmund, was able to confirm that there were problems in Los Angeles." He hesitated, "I am really sorry about earlier. I guess I was hoping that it was nothing. And when you brought it up."
"I confirmed what you were wishing wasn't true." Ramirez finished for Diego. Hoping to sound convincing, he added, "Who knows, Diego, maybe the situation has gotten better."
"We shall see, Cirilo, we shall see." Diego replied unconvincingly.
Diego and Luis said their goodbyes and walked down the plank. Both men agreed to stay in touch and Diego apologized for not being able to make it to Caitlin's party, but promised to come to Monterey to visit in a couple of months. Luis walked over towards where his brothers were waiting while Diego headed to the tavern where a carriage awaited to take him home to Los Angeles.
Diego's carriage took off causing him to miss Luis' heart wrenching cry of pain. Had he stayed longer to talk to Luis and the twins, he would have discovered that the celebration for Caitlin was canceled. Alfonso and Arturo sadly informed Luis that their baby sister had been kidnapped and killed the previous week.
As Monterey suffered a loss, Los Angeles gained a hero. Zorro.