On Facebook, Cris Martin started a challenge for new years eve. Mendoza getting his kiss got my first idea for this story. Poor sergeant, I do feel sorry for him.
The requests the story needs to hold are:
1. Word count should not exceed 4000 words;
(Yes, after deleting half of the story, now it has less than 4000 words.)
2. Someone must find out Zorro's identity in an unexpected way
(think the least likely person is finding out in an unexpected way.)
3. Zorro must free someone from prison
he free's two persons, so yes, that's done.)
4. The Alcalde must get drunk
(mind if he is loaded instead of just drunk? Does that count?)
5. Mendoza must get a kiss
(or perhaps even more?)
6. The action of the story must take place on the New Year's Eve (obviously)
(done that)
7. Finally, because this year was as it was, and I feel we all need some optimism, the stories must have a HEA and BE FINISHED AT THE MOMENT THEY ARE POSTED!
(I love HEA, and the story even is finished!)
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Cause of the limited word count (according to google docs, the story now has 3.997 words. Not like I was counting.) The story starts with a small introduction to what has been going on in the previous days. Naturally, I included the introduction to the word count.
I do not own any of the series or characters.
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Introduction,
Don Alejandro's youngest brother a sea captain for the Royal Spanish navy. Ferdinand de la Vega and his lovely wife Isabella has arrived in California. They have stayed for some weeks at the hacienda to celebrate the holidays with his elder brother and son.
In just a few days, they will be on their way back to Spain, sailing on his new ship, the Felíz Estella.
It is late afternoon, and Zorro just had brought two bandits to the prison. And now he needs to hurry his way back to the cave. For don Diego is expected in the tavern for the feast held tonight.
It is New Year's Eve. after all.
I am Zorro!
The masked man saw the small deer coming out of the bushes just mere feet before him too late. Pulling the reins, he managed to avoid the poor animal. What he could not avoid was the low-hanging branch hitting him straight in the head, knocking him off his black horse.
When he woke up, he did not know where he was. He must have hit his head on the branch hanging on the tree above him. His head was hurting like hell.
He got the black hat that had fallen off from the ground. For some reason he was wearing a black bandana around his head, covering half of his face. Also, he was dressed entirely in black clothes. The man took the bandana off. It wasn't comfortable, and he put the hat back on.
A few feet away was standing a beautiful black steed. "Amigo," the horse responded and allowed the man to mount him. Not having a clue where to go, he let the horse find the way on his own. Until in the distance, a small pueblo came in sight. That was where he needed to be, being sure of that.
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"More whiskey!" Alcalde de Soto had been sitting in the tavern for hours, having one whiskey after another. He was not drunk. He was loaded.
"You have had enough, señor alcalde." Victoria Escalante had it a long time ago.
The alcalde had walked in just after Zorro had delivered two bandits to the cartel and started ordering whiskey. By now, he had drunk almost an entire bottle. She was going to throw him out of her establishment.
"More whiskey, señorita or you be in my jail!"
"Alcalde, go home! Now!" Victoria placed her hands on her waist and gave him her angry look not even the bravest of men dared to disobey.
Getting up did not come easy. De Soto started to welter out of the tavern, stopping at the door turning to the señorita. "You be in my jail tomorrow, tavern wench! Now, I need to get some more drinks from my tavern."
Laughing at his joke, de Soto made his way criss-cross over the plaza, falling almost in the plaza fountain twice. Finally, he made it to his office. And from the bottom drawer of his desk, he found a bottle of Madeira.
He had been saving this for years. It was his Z-day bottle. The one he was going to drink when the black nemesis got caught. Forgetting all about that, for he needed a drink.
Today he had received news about the only woman he had ever loved. His most beloved Abuelita. (grandmother)
He and his mother never had got along. His father died when he was seven years old. But his beloved Abuelita…, He loved her so much. And now she was gone, died of sudden disease-causing high fevers. De Soto wanted to cry.
Men weren't supposed to cry, not even when they were heartbroken. They were supposed to drink, to forget about the pain. And so de Soto opened the bottle of Madeira. Put it to his mouth and started gulping.
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A man, dressed entirely in black, seated on a black horse, entered Los Angeles. The plaza deserted. Noises of laughter coming out of the tavern. So he got from his horse and opened the door, shouting loudly "Buenos días!"
The entire room fell silent. Everyone stares at the man who had just so loudly walked in. It was the owner who regained her voice first. "Don Diego, what are you doing? And why are you wearing Zorro's clothes?"
What a beautiful woman! She was the woman he had loved all along. He wanted to marry her. If her wish was him to be named don Diego, from this day on, that was his name.
Zorro! The moment he heard this name, he knew he had forgotten about his name till now. His name was Zorro.
There was only one other thing he could remember at the moment. This woman being his true love, and he needed to conquer her heart.
"Because of my everlasting love for you, querida. Si, I am Zorro, but if you want to call me don Diego, that is the only name I shall obey. Marry me, Victoria!"
How was it he knew her name? Victoria, what a beautiful name for a breathtaking woman. "Querida, only your sweet smile can quench my burning desire! My love for you has no rhythm and no reason!"
All this time, Victoria stood nailed to the floor. What was happening? What on earth was Diego doing? And why did he look so much like Zorro, only without the mask?
If she didn't know any better, she even believed he was Zorro. And now, he had even recited the poem Zorro had referred to once. A poem recited coincidently hours previous by Diego. The one hadn't known of the other, and here was Diego using Zorro's words? It was all just very confusing.
"Son, what are you doing!?" Don Alejandro had walked up to his son. "Are you drunk?" He needed to get him out of here. If de Soto was to find out about this, his son was a dead man. Whether Diego was Zorro or not. The alcalde had tried to hang men looking like Zorro for less. And Alejandro had a hunch if Diego got arrested. Zorro wasn't going to show up and save the day this time.
"I am drunk with love. Who are you, señor? Can you not see I am courting the only woman I will ever love?!" Zorro changed his attention from the older man to his love. "Querida, let's get married tonight!"
"Diego, stop it, you are not Zorro, and you need to …"
"For you, I shall be Zorro or Diego whatever pleases you the most. No wait, I shall prove to you, I am Zorro. Follow me!"
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Felipe had been sitting in the far corner of the tavern. From the second, this Zorro/ Diego had walked in. He had been hoping for a sign for him to understand why Diego was doing such a dangerous thing. It was like he lost his mind!
Diego believed himself to be Zorro, but not Diego? What on earth was he supposed to do about it? Knock Diego unconscious in the hope to stop him from doing worse? Felipe saw Zorro/Diego run outside. Everyone in the tavern trying to make his way out, to see what was going to happen.
Without even realizing what he was doing, Felipe opened his mouth and started screaming.
"Away..., out of my way. I need to get out, safe, Zorro!"
Because of all the noise, the people were making. No one noticed a deaf-mute boy suddenly had regained his voice.
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Zorro made his way to cross the plaza, knocking on the cartel's door. "Alcalde, come out. You need to fight me! I need to free your prisoners!"
It was sergeant Mendoza who opened the door, his sword drawn. Expecting to see Zorro. "Don… Diego what…?" More the sergeant could not say for before he knew he was in the middle of a short swords fight.
This Diego was no match for the sergeant. Who was still surprised by the view unfolding before his eyes? He was not fighting Zorro, but don Diego wearing Zorro's outfit, using Zorro's sword and was just as skilled as the masked outlaw.
When Mendoza got disarmed seconds later, Diego grabs the sergeant by his shoulders. "Gracias for fighting me, mi amigo." To show his gratitude, Zorro kissed Mendoza flat on his mouth.
"Don Diego, what are you doing?" Rubbing his wrist over his mouth to get the feeling of being kissed by a man from his lips. "You are not Zorro, are you?"
"Si, I am Zorro! But you are wrong, amigo, I am not don Diego, and that is why señorita Victoria will not marry me. I love her so very dearly, sergeant!" Sadness was showing on the young don's face, Mendoza understanding even less than seconds before.
"But don Diego, the señorita loves Zorro. So doesn't that mean she loves you eeh…, too?"
Zorro had not even listened and was now walking into the part of the cartel the prison cells were. Got the keys from the nail they were hanging on and freed the two criminals he had brought in himself earlier that day. "Go, my good men! Enjoy your freedom. That is what Zorro does! He helps those in need!"
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No matter how drunk he was, he still heard an irritating noise coming from the other side of the door, separating his office from the prison cells. And so the alcalde opened it. Only allowed the two bandits an even easier exit out of the cartel.
With the office front door now opened, don Alejandro and Victoria came into the office. Both, looking terrified, de Soto got Diego dressed like Zorro in view.
Just behind them came Felipe running in.
De Soto only had an eye for the black spot that started to talk, standing in his prison.
"Ignacio. Please tell the lovely señorita that I am indeed Zorro, but I can be like don Diego. I swear if she is willing to marry me. I shall become don Diego. Please, Ignacio, help me?"
De Soto was having a hard time standing on his feet. Holding himself up to the bars of the jail cell he was standing next to, half a bottle of Madeira in his other hand. What did that black spot want of him, and why were there suddenly four of them? "Mi abuelita.. she died." Tears running over Ignacio's face.
"I am sorry, Ignacio. My condolences"
"I loved her. I was her pequeño soldado. (little soldier) And now she is dead!" Pushing his face against the bars, de Soto started to cry louder.
"Well, ehm, sí, as said, I am sorry for your loss. Can you give me the keys to your jail cell, please? I need to free some people. The alcalde can walk in any moment."
"Sure, you can. You have the keys in your hands already!"
Zorro walked over to the jail door, holding it wide open. Waving his hand to de Soto, "Please, señor, you are free to go!"
De Soto turned to sergeant Mendoza standing on the other side of the jail door, his mouth wide open. Still, he tried to get a clue for what was happening.
It was then de Soto spotted the person standing next to him.
"Abuelita, you are here!? Mother wrote you died."
Before Mendoza could respond, de Soto started kissing him. "Abuelita, gracias you have come. I will prove to you I am your brave pequeño Soldado...,
Abuelita? Since when have you grown a moustache?"
Letting go of Mendoza, de Soto walked into the jail cell and closed the door behind him. Zorro, turning the lock and in an elegant swing, throwing the keys back over the nail in the wall.
If Mendoza had no clue over what was happening, even less was understood by Victoria, Alejandro and Felipe.
Alejandro and Victoria, just staring at each other. The first time Zorro had appeared to them, Zorro had done exactly the same thing.
"Son, what on earth are you doing!?" Alejandro asked again, worried.
"I have already told you, senôr. I am not don Diego. I am just a simple outlaw, madly in love with a most beautiful woman. Hoping she will have me, even when I am not don Diego." Turning himself to Victoria again. "Will you marry me, my fair lady."
In the meantime, Felipe was looking for a hammer or something. What was he to do? The good news, for now, was the alcalde being in jail. But that was the only good news there was.
And then..., there was this thing, about he still was shaken up. He had heard himself speak again!
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In the meantime, a crowd gathered on the plaza. Rumours spread fast in the little pueblo, and lots of people had witnessed don Diego dressed as Zorro coming to the tavern to proclaim his everlasting love to señorita Escalante. Besides the people living in and near the pueblo. Also, the lancers were now coming to see about what was all the fuss.
The ones who come running onto the plaza needed to face a don Diego dressed as Zorro fighting like the real Zorro one after the other.
Diego, fighting every single one of them with a grace only the real Zorro could. For everyone to witness this, there was no mistake to make.
Don Diego is Zorro!
After the last lancer had fallen to the floor. Zorro walked over to Victoria and the elder don standing next to her. He lifted her hand to kiss it.
"Please, señorita. One word from your sweet lips, and Zorro will never ride again." He kneeled in front of her. "I can be more like don Diego, I swear. I'll do anything for you, anything you ask."
The sergeant had come to himself a little. Now walked into the plaza to see what was going on over there. He saw all his lancers on the ground. And the man looking like don Diego dressed like Zorro in front of señorita Escalante, on his knees. The señorita was crying.
"Si, si, I marry you, Diego or Zorro. I love you both!"
Just before Mendoza could ask or anyone could explain to him what on earth was going on. For he didn't understand the slightest bit, he got pulled into a man's arms again.
This time it was don Alejandro kissing him all over very happily saying.
"Isn't great sergeant? Diego and Victoria are getting married! I shall become a grandfather! And dear me, it seems Diego is also Zorro. My son turns out to be not a coward but the greatest hero in all of California!" Again placing two kisses on the cheeks of the poor sergeant struggling to get loose.
When the sergeant finally managed to do that. He tried to preserve as much of the dignity he felt left. What was it with men tonight? Was he the only one acting normal? "Madre de Dios! I do not care! If I am kissed by a man one more time…"
Seeing the view of don Diego dressed as Zorro kissing Victoria, and she not minding the slightest bit.
Oh! Amor. Melting away by seeing so much love between two people. Forgetting for now what had happened to him in the last hour. And only pleased to see two men, or was it just one man he admired had found love.
"So, I guess a wedding is on his way?" It was Isabella asking, Alejandro's sister-in-law.
Don Alejandro, just glowing. "I guess so, my dear sister."
Isabella smiled, having heard things never got boring in Los Angeles. This happening was beyond her wildest dreams. "It is too bad our ship needs to sail in two nights. Or we could stay for the wedding of your only son, Alejandro."
"They can marry tonight." Ferdinand was suggesting. He also had joined the large crowd outside and had seen how two people madly in love had found each other.
"That will not work. The bans need to get read for three Sundays. Or you need a special licence. And how do you want to do that? For it is New Year's Eve." this was padre Benitez talking. "And don Diego is not himself at the moment."
Zorro and Victoria had heard the last words. Victoria, getting a ring out of her pocket.
"We are engaged for over a year now. Look, Zorro, I mean don Diego has asked me and given me this ring."
For the second time in an evening, don Alejandro's mouth fell open. "That is Felicidad's ring. How did you get it?"
"Zorro gave it to me when he proposed."
"I did...?"
A little unsure, Victoria looked at Diego. Finding out he was Zorro was unbelievable. And knowing, she only felt relief. It did worry her Diego seemed to have forgotten who he was. "Don't you remember?"
"Of course I do. We were in my cave, hiding from bandits. You had sprained your ankle, we shared a meal, and in the end, I asked you to marry me, and you said yes." Zorro had no clue where from this information came. All he did know was, he knew now that was what happened. "I gave you this ring that once belonged to my mother." The mist, hanging in his head vanishing.
"Victoria! You are right! We are engaged. You have promised to marry me! And my name is Diego Sebastian de la Vega, and we are engaged for one year, five months and twenty-one days!"
Victoria, looking at the surrounding people. "That all is true."
"It is settled then." Ferdinand, clapping his hands. "Let's start, for we have a wedding to perform."
"Ah, señor Ferdinand, again, you forgetting about the bans." padre Benitez brought up for the second time.
"You can not perform a wedding tonight. I can, for as sea-captain I am also authorized to perform weddings. And I do not need a licence to make it legal."
Isabella, now interrupting.
"You all forgetting about one more thing. Zorro is an outlaw. And I doubt whether anyone here will want Zorro to get arrested. There still is the alcalde, who wants that to happen very much."
"Bella, I think we can help here. For now, let's keep de Soto in jail and sleep out his..., eh..., liquid use. Alejandro, what do you think, you and all the caballero's write a letter of 'Recommendation' for your alcalde.
I will escort him back to Madrid myself. I shall pay our cousin, King Ferdinand, a visit. I am sure Ferdy knows what to do with him. He never liked men dishonouring the crown."
"That is an excellent idea, Ferdinand. I will make sure all letters be ready before you leave for San Diego."
"So, now all we have to do is get the two love birds married. Victoria, Diego, if you both are sure about this, I will be honoured?" Ferdinand was making a small bow.
It was something on which the padre could not agree. "You might be a captain at sea, señor, allowed to perform marriage ceremonies. But we are not at the ocean!
So if any marriage is to take place, it will be performed by me!"
Padre Benitez, smiling. "And they are lucky. On the last day of the year, people can get married, without the bans read or licences. They only both need an extra witness, and we need to hurry. For the wedding needs to be blessed before midnight."
"Querida, what do you say?"
"Diego, I am so glad it is you. I marry Diego or Zorro anytime. Whoever you like most, I prefer Diego."
"Then, by all means, Padre, please marry us."
All people in the plaza started cheering. And only one minute before midnight, the marriage got blessed.
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The newlyweds slept in the tavern that night.
When de Soto woke up, he found himself in his jail cell. He had a terrible hangover. The next day he was forced to board a ship taking him back to Spain. He got sentenced to 16 years in prison for murder, treason, and crimes against the crown.
Don Alejandro got his greatest wish. On Christmas morning that year, he became a grandfather to a girl named Felicidad.
Victoria was very relieved Zorro had turned out to be her oldest and closest friend. And she did not mind a bit Diego and Zorro being one and the same.
Felipe joined Ferdinand and Isabella on the journey to Spain. In Madrid, he could study the law. But not before he had told Diego, Victoria and Alejandro he could now hear and speak.
Sergeant Mendoza took a long bath before he felt clean again. Later he started managing the tavern by request of dona Victoria.
And for Diego…?
When he woke up in the late morning of New Year's Day, he found himself with no clothes on. In a strange room, in a strange bed, wearing a golden ring around his finger. He just was trying to recall what had happened when Victoria walked in, carrying a tray of food.
"Finally awake, querido?"
Quickly covering his naked body with the thin blanket. "Señorita Escalante, what happend. I mean, what are you doing here?"
"You are in the tavern, Diego. Or do you still want me to call you Zorro?"
"Zorro? what.., eh, makes you say that?" Very nervous laughing, as some memories from last night, started to reappear in his mind. Memories like Zorro coming into the tavern unmasked. Victoria finding out Zorro was Diego. Him getting married?
"I was hoping we could start consummating our marriage." Victoria was taking her dressing gown off. Diego saw she was naked underneath!
Our marriage?
"We are married?" Not daring to look at the naked woman crawling onto the bed to sit on his hips. Slowly more memories of yesterday came back as it happened in a dream.
"We are married!"
"Yes, we are, my love."
It is difficult to think clearly when the woman you love is sitting naked on top of you. Her body separated by yours only by one sheet and a thin blanket. "And you know I am…?"
"I know you are the man I love. You only still haven't told me, or you want me to call you Zorro or Diego." Victoria was very busy trying to get the blanket and sheet away from being between their body's
"And you do not mind or are mad?"
She kissed him, giving him a wicked little smile. "Not half as mad as I am, for you fallen asleep last night while I was getting my clothes off."
"I… I…, did that?"
"Si,"
"And you are not mad at me for lying to you?"
"The only one lying was me. To myself. For not wanting to see Zorro and Diego are one. And I should have known. My heart tried to tell me countless times. I love you, Diego."
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The marriage got consummated multiple times before more questions got answered.
"And de Soto?"
"I suppose when he wakes, he will be mad. He will be on his way to Spain in less than a day. Your uncle will talk to King Ferdinand about him."
Diego needed to know one more thing. That was popping up from his memory. "Did I really kiss Mendoza?" Hoping that part was a dream.
"I could not tell, you were acting very weird, so you just might have."
"And who will become the next alcalde?"
"For now, sergeant Mendoza is. But he has promised to write out elections and take the bounty of your head. You're free!"
Diego, pleased to hear this, could not agree. "I will never be free again, Victoria de la Vega. For you have captured my heart." Starting to kiss her again and consummate their marriage..., again.
The end.
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I do not mind getting reviews, and I love to hear what you think.
I think Diego, finding out he is Zorro was very unexpected, as it was for the rest of the pueblo. And poor sergeant Mendoza, he was just at the wrong place, at the wrong time, every time I presume.
I had a lot of fun coming up with ideas for writing this story (a little less fun, deleting parts) and hope I managed to get the story on paper as I had it in my head. Stories with word counts are not for me, I discovered.
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