Disclaimer: This story is inspired by the NWZ TV series, and it is dedicated to all the fans out there. It is not intended to infringe on the copyrights held by Goodman/Rosen Production, New World Television, Zorro Productions, FAM, the estate of Johnston McCulley or on any others who might have a legal claim on the characters.
I do, however, own the OCs in this story and the ideas for the plot. I do not make any money from it, write and publish just for fun, but I do not authorize the partial or complete reproduction of the story without my express consent. The use of the OCs can be granted after slight negotiation.
AN: This story is a reviewed and improved version of the one by the same title I had published in April 2020. Its main action will also be included in 'Of Men and Legends' even if that story will diverge from this one at one point.
A big 'Thank you!' for correcting it to my wonderful Beta, La Cuidadora.
Enjoy!
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Over two months had passed since Don Alejandro had become Alcalde of Los Angeles.
Diego had hoped that such a change would mean that Zorro's days were over; that he could put away the mask forever, and finally fulfill the promises he had made to the woman he loved.
Soon enough, however, he learned that was not going to happen just yet.
This was, firstly, because the lancers and his father seemed to still need his aid. He helped as Diego as much as he could, but, from under the black mask, he also made sure to keep an eye on the enlisted men and their commander when they were out on patrol, his timely interventions having prevented tragedies several times already.
Secondly, it was because Zorro was still a wanted criminal, and there was still a price on his head. Bounty hunters still came on occasion, trying to catch him and claim the reward, some even trying to get the information about his true identity by less-than-honorable means. Furthermore, while De Soto was now just an haciendado, no longer set on bringing him to justice, the Governor had delayed his departure for as long as he could.
Although the man knew Spain had lost Mexico, and that most of the Spanish Alcaldes had already left the territory, having been informed about the change, he had no intention of leaving empty-handed. So, until getting ousted he did his best to both get as much money out of the people as he could get away with, and catch a certain elusive bandit, a deed he believed would end up bringing him more than a few more feathers in his hat.
Thus, despite the local changes, the Governor pressured the new Alcalde to make every effort to capture Zorro, even coming to Los Angeles to make sure his orders were obeyed. Don Alejandro had even come close to achieving what no one else before him had at one point, when Zorro had been very tired and had a bad day. Diego though it would have been rather ironic had his father ended up being the one to bring upon his downfall, as he might have. But Don Alejandro was by no means inclined to repay the pueblo's hero and the man who had multiple times saved his life with ingratitude, despite the Governor's threats.
Under these circumstances, it took the tall caballero little time to realize he could not publicly unmask yet, both because Zorro was still needed, and because unmasking would have been a death sentence. He, thus, resolved to wait a while longer and find out for himself if the next leader of the Californias might make for a better ruler than the current one, before taking any decision regarding Zorro.
Consequently, he had considered unmasking for those he loved, but, for one, he realized the position in which that secret would put his father, as well as the possible consequences, should he be unable to keep the secret, as experience had showed Diego.
Then, there was the matter of Victoria. He knew that she would insist on them marrying, having waited long enough. Even if she understood that some more waiting was needed, she'd still be unable to hide her feelings for him as soon as she found out the identity of her fiancé. Yet, after having spent almost a decade courting her from behind a mask, wedding her, or even only starting to court her would have been the equivalent of a public unmasking. Furthermore, even knowledge of his identity, might have also ended up endangering them both.
So, despite Governor Frasquez' eventual departure, Diego decided to keep being patient, and things went on as they had before, with the significant change that Zorro now only needed to ride with far less frequency to fight crime, and the lancers didn't try to shoot him anymore, nor did the Alcalde try to arrest him, but cooperated with him instead. It was a welcomed change, at least, which also gave Diego the time to properly tend to the affairs of the ranch, as he had promised his father when the latter took office.