I came up with the idea for this story during the summer. Yes, I was in the holiday spirit. This story is my December present to you for this year.

Story is inspired by: Zorro, new world, What woman want, and a touch of Harry Potter.

The reason I am posting the first chapter at December 5 is in the Netherlands tonight we celebrate sinterklaasavond also called pakjesavond. (The evening of Saint Nicolas, or gift giving evening).
It is only, for the last forty years or so, families in the Netherlands have started celebrating Christmas by giving presents under the tree.
Before, it was celebrated more in the Christian way.

In most households, especially the ones with young children, we celebrate Sint Nicolaas or Sinterklaas. He is a figure that has a lot of similarities with Santa. Or since Sinterklaas really has existed and is around for centuries, Santa Claus is inspired by Sinterklaas. There is a reason their names are so similar.
Does anyone know why you hang your stocking by the fireplace? It all has to do with the tale of Sinterklaas.
And as a genuine Dutch girl, I still love him better than Santa Claus.

Tonight, children in the Netherlands will wait patiently (not;)) until someone bangs on the door or windows, and out of thin air (or so it seems), presents arrive at the doorstep.
Adults who celebrate Sinterklaas will have written poems, some kind and some teasing. And give wrapped presents in a way we call a surprise (I think wrapping a present to look like a piñata is what comes most close to it) to friends and family.

Over the coming weeks, I will post the four remaining chapters on fanfiction. The last will be online just before Christmas Eve. Since the story it finished already.

I still love to receive reviews and appreciate when you take effort to write one.

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None of the characters from the series are mine.

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It was the day before Christmas.

Chapter 1

The tavern was colourfully decorated, with beautiful Christmas decorations thanks to the de la Vega men. Her pantry was crammed full of dishes filled with food, all for tomorrow.
Don Alejandro had been generous enough to donate a barrel of his special wine to spice up the celebration. And tomorrow morning, many women would bring their speciality to contribute to the feast and place the bowls and plates on the few empty tables left.
There was not one family in or near the pueblo that hadn't baked bread, pie, cookies or something else to participate in the celebration.|
And with a bit of luck, alcalde de Soto kept his ease, and it could be a perfect Christmas this year.

Although. Victoria thought Christmas would only be truly perfect when Zorro made an appearance to visit her. And even more when they could enjoy each other company for a few minutes undisturbed.
For a moment, the tavern owner allowed herself to dream of how Zorro would make his entrance into the tavern while she happened to be alone and just below the mistletoe.
Zorro would not hesitate to pull her into his strong arms and press his lips to hers for a kiss so passionate she felt she could float away on clouds.|
Victoria felt how her cheeks were burning and giggled. Well, who knows? Tomorrow is the big day, and it promised to become a long and tiring day for her. Not that she minded, she loved hosting the annual party and seeing how happy people were.

On Christmas Day, most families spend in their own houses or the houses of close friends.
The day before Christmas, people would gather in the pueblo and attend the mass. Afterwards, they went to the tavern to enjoy plenty of food, followed by the traditional Los Angeles Christmas ball.

Victoria loved the hustle and bustle it all brought. It brought so much joy and togetherness. Friendships were revived or strengthened.

For Christmas Day, as every year, the tavern was closed. And she was invited to spend the day at the de la Vega's hacienda, like every other year. Victoria cared a great deal for the eldest de la Vega man, who always watched over her. And his son was her best and oldest friend.

Victoria turned and walked into the kitchen, for one last round of inspections, after closing everything and before going to her bedroom.

She opened the curtain separating the kitchen from the main room and was surprised to find that she was no longer alone. In the kitchen, a woman who looked vaguely familiar was leaning over a large bowl of biscuits.
"Señora, can I help you?" Victoria asked warily, extending her arm to the broom in the corner, just to be sure.

The woman looked up, and Victoria recognized her instantly.
"Señora Jones. Nice to see you again." Señora Jones and her husband had visited the pueblo in the previous year, and Victoria remembered not having even met a lovelier couple. She let go of the broom, glared around the kitchen to see whether señor Jones was also in her kitchen. When she didn't see the man, fear gave way to worry. "Please tell me, there are no problems for you and your husband, are there?"

Señora Jones walked over to Victoria, kissed her on her cheeks and said, "Señorita Escalante. No, luckily not. Everything is going according to schedule. Although, it does get busier every year. My husband is considering taking on some extra help."

"What can I do for you, señora...eh Jones." Jones wasn't her real name, but it was the name the woman and her husband had introduced themselves with last year when they visited Los Angeles.

Señora Jones tapped Victoria on her cheeks and smiled friendly to the tavern owner. Her own cheeks were as red and round as apples.
"Victoria, dear, please, call me Alma. And I see you baked those delicious cookies of yours again. Do I dare ask you to share your recipe?"

"Uh. Yes, of course. It was my grandmother's recipe. If you have a minute, I'll write it down for you right now."

Mrs Jones placed a hand on Victoria's wrist. "I'd appreciate that, dear.
But it is not the actual reason why I'm here. Though, I'm sure my husband will be very pleased when he hears that I managed to get my hands on your cookie recipe. He still talks about them and how they are the best cookies he ever tasted."

Victoria stuttered, in her head a question was raised why the woman had come to visit her. "Oh, well, thank you, Alma. But if it is not for my cookie recipe, to what do I owe this honour?"

For a moment, it seemed as if the woman did not know where she was or why she was there. Alma was looked at Victoria in amazement.

"O dear, have I come to you?" Alma asked. Seconds later, smiling apologetically. "Of course I have. Now I know. You see, sometimes forget something. Busy, busy, busy, you know. There is always so much to do and so little time." Alma glared around her to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "I have come to give you a special Christmas present. But be warned, sometimes you get more than what you wished for. Knowledge and understanding can come with great risks."

"Wishes, risks?" Stammered Victoria, not understanding what the woman was talking about at the same time, curious to find out.

"Yeah, well, where did I put it again." Alma opened her purse and started searching in it. A surprising amount came out, considering how small the handbag was.

A silver mirror and hairbrush. Numerous stacks of letters and drawings. Lace handkerchiefs, necklaces, wooden swords, a slingshot, various dolls and doll clothes, wooden figures of soldiers, buildings, horses in all sizes. In no time, Victoria had both arms full of the craziest trinkets and toys and looked desperately around for a place to put it temporarily, as Señora Claus continued to search for something in her purse, which she apparently couldn't find.

And in amazement, Victoria wondered how all that stuff ever had fit in that handbag, and how señora Claus had ever got it in at all. After a pile of books, a globe, a complete chess game including the game board, a dozen woollen blankets, velvet ribbons in all colours of the rainbow for the hair, two violins, a drum and a flute, it seemed that the purse was finally empty. Every spot in the kitchen that had been free now stood something that came from señora Claus's purse.

"I don't get it. I'm sure I took it with me. I checked it ten times before I left."
Señora Claus held her chin between her thumb and index finger and thought drowsy. She reached into her purse once more and, suddenly, she was holding a rocking horse.
"O, darn. I always have this." Alma gave Victoria an apologetic look. "You think you have packed everything you need, only to find out you forgot the most important thing."

"Well, by the way, I see it, I think it's impressive you were able to take everything with you at all." Victoria was still without words by the sight of all the things in her kitchen and all coming out of the small, red handbag.

Only now did Señora Claus seem aware that the whole kitchen was stuffed with things coming from her bag. "Oh, yes, you know how it goes. You can always fit more in one of these than you think." She simply waved it off.

Well, no, thought Victoria. With her, it was usually the other way around. If she thought something more fitted, it didn't.

Señora Claus had meanwhile started packing again, and one thing after another disappeared, including the rocking horse and a doll house.
"I wouldn't have come had I known I forgot your present. It had taken me weeks to persuade my husband to give it to you. I am so sorry, dear. I can not begin to tell you how annoying and unfortunate I think it all is."

Victoria couldn't help but laugh. Señora Jones was just the sweetest woman she ever met.
"Oh, it is alright, Alma. I don't need anything. I already have everything I could wish for. I am happy, healthy and I have dear friends. I lack nothing. Many are less fortunate than me."

"And this kindness and generosity are exactly why you deserve something special." Señora Claus had packed her purse again, and Victoria turned and grabbed her notepad and a pencil.

"Let me write down the cookie recipe for you, señora. And please give my gift to someone who needs it more than me. Do you want something to eat or drink? You must have a long journey ahead of you. Of course, you are also free to stay. I have a room available if you require resting a bit."
Meanwhile, Victoria was writing the recipe down. She had baked the cookies so many times she could prepare them blindfolded.

"Oh no, thank you, dear. Thank you very much for the offer, but I have to hurry back. My husband won't know what is taking me so long. And we have a lot of work to do before tomorrow."
Señora Claus took the recipe Victoria offered.

"Don't lose it," Remarked Victoria, remembering the contents of the purse and the confused impression that señora Claus made.

"Oh no. I'll keep this one in a safe place and guard it with my life if I must." Carefully, señora Claus folded the piece of paper and put it in her skirt pocket. At that moment, she felt something with her hand.
"Oh no, oh, I feel so stupid."
Señora Claus took her hand out of her pocket and held a small vial the size of a walnut in her hand. "I didn't want to lose it, so I put your present in my pocket." Alma was shaking her head at her stupidity. Señora Claus looked at Victoria while holding the bottle in front of her.

The object was made of crystal and had a whiskey-coloured content. Although, you could immediately see that the liquid was a bit more viscous in substance. She pressed the bottle in the hand of the astonished Victoria.|
"Here you go, Victoria. Your Christmas present from my husband and me."

Out of politeness, Victoria took it. "Thank you, señora. May I ask what it is?" Victoria glared at the strange-looking little vial. She had no idea what the contents could be.

Señora Claus took a deep breath and began to explain.
"This is a special potion. Whoever drinks this can hear the thoughts from whomever he, or she, wishes. All you have to do is look that person briefly in the eye, and their innermost thoughts will be revealed to you as if the person was telling them to you. But as with everything, this drink has its limitations. And there are three."
Señora Claus put her thumb in the air and began to explain.
"First, it's the thoughts you hear. What you hear does not necessarily have to be the truth. Because, as you well know, you can lie to yourself in your mind."
Next, Señora Claus raised her index finger.
"Secondly, you have to look that person in the eye. Being in the same room with the person or standing close to that person is not enough. A second of eye contact is long enough, but there must have been eye contact before you can hear anything. And it lasts only short."
After this, the woman also raised her middle finger.
"And third. It only works once a year. And that is on the day before Christmas. At the moment, it is right after midnight. So if you take it now, it will work until midnight tomorrow. By the twelfth stroke of the church bell, the effect of the potion is gone."

It reminded Victoria of Doctor Wayne's potions. With a blush on her cheeks, she remembered how she had found the bottles. How she bribed sergeant Mendoza to try one, and the sergeant had suddenly seemed super strong.
After that, everything had turned into a great disaster. The idea had been to make Zorro drink from the bottle labelled everlasting love. And make him fall hopelessly for her, and discover his identity.
By accident, it had not been Zorro, but the alcalde who had drunk the wine that had contained the liquid.
What had followed after, Victoria had desperately tried to erase from her memory forever? Thank God, the potion was a mere illusion, and she had come to her senses in time before she had the chance to marry de Soto. Something she was Zorro eternally grateful for.

Señora Claus looked at her questioningly.
"I can understand your hesitation. But Doctor Wayne, yes, I know him too, and I know of his misbehaviour and the noddy things he does. He uses illusion and superstition to make his potions work.
This drink was developed and made by my husband, and it will work. The effect will stop after midnight. I swear to you. I hope it can help you in your quest to find your true love. One last warning, you may make discoveries you wish you had not."

Señora Claus took the vial from Victoria's hands, broke the seal, and took a tiny sip of the contents.
"Trust me, it can change your life and the way you think of some people. And even help you find what you want more than anything."

More thoughts raced through Victoria's mind.
If she was able to hear what people thought, she could find out who Zorro was. Chances were he would come by today to wish her a Merry Christmas, as he had done every time for years. She could expose him if she managed to grab his attention for a moment and make eye contact to try to hear his thoughts.

Señora Claus had explained that eye contact was important. So if she decided not to, she wouldn't hear anything. The potion only worked for a day. What did she have to lose?

Señor and Señora Claus had convinced her years ago that there was such a thing as magic.
Would she celebrate Christmas next year, married to Zorro? Maybe even holding a baby in her arms? Wasn't her love for Zorro worth the risk?

Victoria took the vial that Señora Claus held out to her with an outstretched arm. She raised it to her lips, closed her eyes, threw her head back, and the liquid ran down her throat in one go.

The liquid tasted of nothing. Victoria could not detect a specific taste.

When she opened her eyes again, señora Claus was gone, and she was alone again in the kitchen, which looked exactly as when she had walked in. The only difference was that she was now alone in her kitchen.

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