In the early morning, the people of Los Angeles were awoken by the bells of the church. As they got out, into the plaza, they found Zorro standing on top of the imposing white building and five men dangling, heads down, on both sides of the main entrance, each suspended by two ropes.

"Would you, Señores, be so kind as to bring out his Excellency?" He asked, as some of the soldiers came out of the tavern. "And, Sergeant, how about you also bring here the prisoners captured last night?"

"Si, Don Zorro! Right away!" Mendoza mumbled, not sure how to address his masked friend.

A few minutes later, the Governor, his daughter, Dos Santos - barely standing and posing a real challenge for Diego as he was fighting the impulse to shout for his friend to be returned to a bed - the rest of the soldiers, as well as the prisoners, the lancers and several dozen of Los Angelinos, including the Escalantes, the De la Vegas and Padre Benitez, were in the plaza.

"Now, Señores, as we have an audience, how about you tell these good people everything you were kind enough to tell me last night!" Zorro commanded, looking down at his prisoners. "In exchange, I promise those of you who offer relevant information will not fall to their death."

"The Deputy Governor! He is behind all this." One of the men stated.

"He sabotaged the presidios. Retained payment and convinced the soldiers that the Governor was a corrupt tyrant." Another shouted.

"He has a deal with the British to sell them Las Californias for 15 million pesos." The third added.

"The lancers in the presidios supporting our cause will wear a white ribbon, and so will the other men on our side." The fourth stated. "But they only know that we want to get rid of the Governor, they do not know what we intend to do with the territory." He added, clearly concerned for the fate of his men.

"And you, Señor, don't you have something to add in exchange for your life?" Zorro asked the only one who had, so far, refused to talk. "You were quite forthcoming with me last night!"

"I know who you are!" The leader tried to menace him.

"It doesn't matter much since everybody is about to find out!" Zorro replied to the surprise of most people gathered in the plaza.

"It will all go down in ten days, at midday precisely." The man finally gave up. "The lancers who have not been turned to our side by then, and anyone else standing in our way shall be killed. With an army of thousands we were going to keep the Mexican troops in check until the British gave us the money and brought in their own men."

"Is there any more information you need, Governor?" Zorro inquired.

"No, I do believe we have all we need, Señor Zorro!" He replied, still furious at the thought that he almost married his daughter with his greatest enemy, but also confident he had already won the war. After all, through some twist of fate, he had Zorro by his side and he had no intention of letting such an advantage go.

"In that case..." The masked man added, cutting one by one the ropes which were suspending the men by their feet and causing them to believe for a few moments they were falling to their death when, in fact, they were being turned around and caught in the second rope, stopping, feet first, just a few centimeters above the ground, where the Governor's men rushed to cut them down and take them to prison, "I believe my work here is done!"

In the public's acclamations, Zorro then climbed on the wall, whistled for Tornado, descended using one of the ropes he had used to support the rebel commanders and, landing on his horse, headed towards the tavern.

"Well, Zorro," Victoria teased as he got there, the ring he had given her on her finger, "we have a good Alcalde, a generous Governor, the people are free from Spanish tyranny and you have been pardoned! Perhaps it is finally time to fulfill your promise?"

"Perhaps it is!" He agreed as the people in the plaza were holding their breath at the thought they might finally find out who their hero truly was.

He dismounted and was heading towards Victoria, intended on letting her take off his mask, when a still-sleepy Marisol ran past her, stopping at his feet, and looked up at him, surprised.

"Papi, why are you wearing a mask?" The little girl asked.

"Certainly not to deceive you, my little princess!" He replied with a big smile, picking her up, as Victoria and those who already knew his true identity chuckled at the scene, wondering how come it took them so long to realize Diego was Zorro when even a toddler knew it just by looking at him once. "Would you like to take it off?" He offered, as the people in the plaza were already gasping as they were beginning to guess who he was, since everyone in Los Angeles knew there was only one man the little girl would call "papi".

Marisol just smiled and removed the mask with her little fingers.

As the mask fell off, Victoria came to them, a blissful look on her face and, after caressing her adopted daughter's cheek, she stood on her toes and kissed the man she loved, leading the little girl to cover her eyes in a gesture betraying a very spoiled and beloved child.

"How about next Saturday?" He asked as their lips finally parted.

"Next Saturday?" Victoria repeated, confused.

"For our wedding. That is, of course, if you still want to marry me." He replied.

"No!" She answered leading him to dive into uncertainty for a few moments. "I have waited ten years, Señor! I have no intention to wait another whole week! In fact, I don't intend to wait even one more day!" She continued.

"Today it is, then!" He agreed.

"This afternoon at three?" She asked.

"Three o'clock." He answered. "Padre Benitez!" He then called at the wise man who was, at that very moment, the mere image of happiness. "Would you be so kind as to marry us this afternoon?"

"It will be my honor, Don Diego!" Came the answer.

"Then it is settled!" Victoria said, reluctantly giving up his embrace and heading for the tavern with Marisol. "See you later, Diego!" She added, turning to smile at him from the terrace, just before going in.

"You know, Jessie," Diego uttered as his betrothed was entering the tavern, "I believe you are rubbing off on my future wife!"

"Good! You certainly need a new challenge!" She said smiling. "Am I to understand Ignacio is safe?"

"Hmhm!" He confirmed by nodding his head as people were gathering around them. "The wounded men?"

"Alive and recovering." She informed him. "Well, I look disgusting and I am barely able to stand. Perhaps I should go get some sleep, and change out of these clothes." She added, before entering the tavern, decided to ask Victoria to borrow one of her dresses, then have a rest in the room behind her office.

As she left, and Don Alejandro, Ramon, Doña Maria and Felipe came to embrace and congratulate him, Diego spotted Do Santos and headed his way, reaching to embrace his friend as the injured man smiled at him. "How are you feeling, Emmanuel?"

"Lucky." He replied as he let his friend help him back inside the tavern. "I guess I got here just in time for your wedding."

"I guess you did."

"Is she the one? The woman you were in love with?"

Diego nodded. "She waited… And not only the four years I was in Spain… Now, you be a good patient and rest, so you can actually attend the ceremony and get well soon." He ordered as he helped his friend back to his room.

ZZZ

"Ready to go, Diego?" Don Alejandro asked, his wife and Felipe already mounted, as his son was making his way through the crowd, headed for the horses. "You had a long night, Son! Now I know why you sleep in so late during the day!"

Diego smiled, mounted back on Tornado and, making his famous Zorro salute, to everyone's acclaims, left with his family towards their hacienda.

ZZZ

"There is one more thing you should know, Father!" Diego uttered as they all entered the house, leaving the poor servants and vaqueros speechless at realizing their master's son was Zorro.

"What else don't I know about you, Diego?" He asked holding his breath as Doña Maria and Felipe excused themselves and headed for their quarters, in order to give them some privacy.

"This is not exactly about me..." Diego answered. "In fact, it is about your hacienda." As he said that, he headed towards the fireplace and opened the sliding panel. "After you, Father!" He invited the surprised old man.

ZZZ

Around two o'clock on that very afternoon, the pueblo de Los Angeles was in a terrible state of agitation over the approaching nuptials. Everyone wanted to be involved and to participate and, since no official invitations had been sent, all the people in town considered themselves invited.

Ignacio de Soto, after spending the entire morning glued to a chair, trying to remember every interaction he had ever had with both Zorro and Diego de la Vega, and only vaguely aware of what had happened in town (from the conversation between Zorro and the rebel commanders), entered the tavern to find his wife, dressed in a beautiful gown he did not recognize, having lunch.

"Good morning husband mine!" She said as he sat down in front of her, happy to see he was in one piece but unwilling to give him the satisfaction of knowing she had been worried sick about his safety.

"Morning? What are you talking about, my darling? It is two in the afternoon!" He corrected her.

"So? How are you... adjusting?" She asked, ignoring the fact that he had dared contradict her since she was feeling a little guilty for not returning to the hacienda, having decided to stay in town instead. She did, however, think he might need some time by himself, and she was usually right about her husband.

"Adjusting? To what?" He asked.

"To finding out who Zorro is?" She replied.

"I... I don't know what you are talking about, my dear! I have no idea who Zorro is, and, for all I know, nobody else does. It is one of those mysteries no one will ever find out, I am sure!" He answered, shocking his wife.

"Jessie! Ignacio!" Diego greeted at climbing down the stairs after having checked on Emanuel. He was wearing an elegant black suit, which made De Soto feel a cold shiver down his spine, as the man was still undecided as to how to feel about the caballero who had turned, literally overnight, from archenemy into his stepbrother. "Have you seen Sergeant Mendoza by any chance?"

"Diego! How are you?" Ignacio asked, in an effort to mask his anxiety.

"Very well, thank you!" He replied rather casually, looking around for the Sergeant.

"I saw Mendoza entering your father's office earlier, Diego." Jessie informed him. "So what happened last night? You didn't tell him?" She asked, looking at her husband, as Diego made a sign with his head, confirming Ignacio surely knew he was Zorro.

"Tell me what?" De Soto inquired.

"That he is Zorro!" She stated.

"Diego?" Ignacio wondered, trying to dissimulate. "Don't be absurd!"

"Did they bump his head?" Jessie asked Diego, concerned.

"No, I don't believe so..." Diego replied, suddenly doubting his words.

"For God's sake, De la Vega! You have a price on your head! If someone hears this conversation you will hang!" Whispered the former Alcalde, careful not to be overheard.

Jessie and Diego looked at each other confused.

"You... you are fearing for Diego's life?" Jessie asked, not sure if to kiss him or to burst out laughing.

"Well, since my mother decided to marry his father, I am rather stuck with him, aren't I?" He replied, again careful not to be overheard. "My mother would never forgive me if I let anything happen to her 'dear Diego'!" He replied with a touch of jealousy.

"Everybody already knows, Ignacio!" Diego informed him and De Soto looked around the room to see the people looking and smiling at the caballero. "But I do appreciate the sentiment! If you'll excuse me, I need to find the Sergeant."

"Has he gone mad? The Governor will have him executed!" De Soto uttered as Diego left the tavern.

"He has been pardoned, my darling! After all, yesterday he almost singlehandedly saved the Governor's life, Los Angeles and, quite probably, Las Californias! In fact, the Governor has spent the last hour trying to convince him to accept becoming the new Deputy Governor." She assured her husband.

"Really?" He asked. "So… there is no more Zorro…" He added with some regret.

"I'm afraid not. By the way, Diego and Victoria are to be married at three."

"In half an hour, you mean?"

"Yes." She confirmed.

"Good thing I decided to came to town, or I might have missed it!" Ignacio replied with some indignation in his voice.

"Oh... and Felipe is able to speak and hear. And he is almost as good a fighter as Diego!" She continued to fill him in.

"Of course, he is." Ignacio concluded with a frown.

ZZZ

"May I come in, Father?" Diego asked at entering the Alcalde's office.

"Of course, Son! Come in!" Don Alejandro approved, indicating for him to enter. "I am only glad to see you use the door as the good Sergeant informs me you usually prefer the roof entrance." He continued, with a clear intention to tease him.

"Maybe I will use it next time, Father." Diego replied seriously. "Sergeant, I wanted to talk to you."

"To me, Don Diego?" He asked.

"Yes. I know it's short notice but, as you well know, I am marrying Victoria in about half an hour, and I was wondering if you would like to be my Best Man."

"Me? Zorro's best man?" Mendoza asked incredulously as Don Alejandro was smiling.

Diego smiled back and nodded. "Well you are my best friend, are you not, Sergeant? After all you did save my life quite a few times..."

"No, Don Diego! You were the one to always save me!" The Sergeant said with the sincerity of a child looking up to his older brother. "I would be very proud to be your Best Man!" He said, as tears filled his eyes.

"Perfect!" Diego smiled. "See you in half an hour, Sergeant! Father! I still have some preparations to make." Diego added, and exited the office.

"My son is Zorro!" Don Alejandro uttered proudly, as soon as Diego left. "I always knew that boy was special, but it is just now that I even begin to understand just how special he truly is, Sergeant! Wherever his mother might be right now, I can only pray she also knows!"

ZZZ

The wedding was attended by the entire pueblo, everyone grateful for all Zorro had done for Los Angeles.

With Felipe's help, Diego and Victoria's wedding was the first to be immortalized in a heliography (a primitive form of photography), one that, unlike the previous ones Diego had taken, did not fade away since he managed to improve the process and the celebration lasted until dawn, even if the newlyweds had retired shortly after midnight.

"Are you happy?" Diego asked his wife the next morning when they woke up.

"Happier than I have ever been in my entire life." She replied gazing lovingly at him.

"I have so much to tell you, Victoria!" He said as he leaned down to kiss her.

"Nothing is stopping you now." She replied as they parted. "Did I tell you already how happy I am it was you under that mask, Diego?"

"Not this year." He replied with a grin. "But you did tell me that quite a few times last year. It's one of the stories I want to tell you," he clarified at seeing her puzzled face. "The one about the day on which we'd married a thousand times. But it's not the one I want to start with."