AN: This chapter is a bit longer than the first, since part of it is dedicated to the setting of the scene – for those readers who are unfamiliar with the 1990 Zorro TV Show – and the introduction of the main characters of said show.

PS: Trying to stay true to the spirit of both shows and, in this part of the story, mainly to the 1990 Zorro (or New World Zorro as it's widely known), several expressions and words used will be in Spanish, but their English translation will be mentioned at the end of each chapter, in the order they appear.

No Duncan MacLeod yet, but be patient! He'll get there!

Enjoy and review if you like it!

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February 1822, Los Angeles

The forty-year-old pueblo* was still ruled by the Spanish at the time, despite Mexico having won its independence the previous year. Things moved slow back then and, despite the fact that news of Mexico's treaty with Spain had reached even that secluded northern territory, there was no news about any change in California's own status. The Spanish Governor was still in place, and so were the Spanish Alcaldes* ruling the pueblos.

Ignacio de Soto, a very ambitious officer of the Royal Army had been in charge of Los Angeles for over three years at that point, ever since his predecessor accidentally died at Devil's Fortress (a death not everyone considered to have been an accident). He was only 38, yet already white-haired and white-bearded. His one dream was to return in glory to his beloved Madrid.

While not as cruel as his predecessor, but rather misguided, he believed the one way to achieve his dream was by catching and hanging the one man who was always there to defy him: the masked outlaw called Zorro. Unbeknownst to him, the same outlaw was, in fact, his former university colleague, Diego de la Vega, a man three years younger than him, and which Ignacio, just like many others in the pueblo, believed to be "useless". In fact, thanks to the role of a studious caballero he had been playing since his return from Spain, where he had attended university, and despite the obvious physical traits he shared with Zorro, Diego was never even considered as a potential candidate to be the outlaw.

In fact, the true identity of the Alcalde's nemesis, was only known to a young man called Felipe; an orphan Diego had found on a battlefield when he was about six, and had brought home to take care of, despite the child being a deaf-mute. His condition, though, just like Diego had initially suspected, was determined by the trauma he had suffered, and the boy regained his hearing when he was twelve. He grew up to be a rather charming young man, good-looking, brave, and quite popular with the opposite sex, despite still pretending to be deaf in order to help his mentor and recently-adoptive father in his fight for justice.

After having done his best to capture and hang the outlaw for the better part of his time as Alcalde of Los Angeles, De Soto had, truth be told, decreased his efforts to lay out traps for the masked man. That particular change had come about a few months earlier, after his nemesis had saved him from execution at the hands of King's Emissary Gilberto Risendo. The same man, later proved to be, in fact, Gilberto de la Vega, Diego's long-lost twin brother, abducted at birth by the woman who had raised him and turned him against his own family. At that time, De Soto had been the one to save Diego's life, when Gilberto had tried to kill him, ending the Emissary's life instead, and, ironically, saving the man he had, for so long, sought to kill.

The Alcalde had reconsidered some of his life-choices after that episode, but not in such a dramatic way as to make a 180 degree turn of his life. He did, however, started being fairer in his dealing with the pueblo's citizens, stopped arresting the owner of the only tavern/inn in town - the lovely senorita* Victoria Escalante, who was Diego's best friend and Zorro's not-at-all-secret love interest - and started listening, from time to time, to Diego when the caballero* was trying to reason with him in an effort to prevent him from committing some error in judgement that might require Zorro's intervention.

That was how, by February of 1822, while he was still a wanted outlaw with a 6000 pesos reward on his head, Zorro was making fewer and fewer appearances, and Diego was more and more determined to let the masked legend fade away. Whether by further change in De Soto's attitude or by a change of leadership brought about by the Mexican independence, he was certain change was coming and he needed to seize his opportunity or ride as Zorro for the remainder of his life.

Having already decided that his was too dangerous a secret for anyone to know, he had started putting his plan into motion by releasing the beautiful taverness from her promise to marry Zorro. That had happened about three weeks earlier, in January.

After the rather public split, Zorro had visited her to take back the engagement ring he had once given her, in a moment of serious misjudgment on his part, and which, should anyone see, would have led straight to him, since it had been his mother's. That evening when he last visited her, he also made sure to tell Victoria that he would never stop loving her, but considering he had made many enemies and all he loved would be in danger even if he received a pardon, she needed to give up on him and find herself a good husband.

He did not explain more of his plan because he intended to soon start courting and marry her as himself, without ever having to tell, her or anyone else, that he had spent almost a decade leading a double life, one as an un-involved and studious caballero, and one as a legendary outlaw, always there to protect the innocent and bring the guilty ones to justice.

At least, that was the plan.

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It was mid-February when Diego's carefully-considered plan started to unravel, pushing him into acts of damage-control, with completely unexpected consequences.

The day it all started was when the stagecoach from Monterey had brought to the pueblo a beautiful, dark-haired, green-eyed woman. She looked to be in her early twenties, was tall and slim, and wore her long curly hair loose on her back. The elegant green dress she had on was in direct contrast with the rather humble clothing of the people of Los Angeles, and it made sure she stood out from the crowd.

At about the same time, a monk arrived to the pueblo, mounted on a horse, and asked the only priest there, Padre Benitez, for accommodation. The kind man offered it, open-heartedly.

The Alcalde was not the first one to notice the beautiful woman, but her appearance silenced him in the middle of the disciplinary speech he was giving his right-hand-man, Sergeant Mendoza, and two of his Royal lancers.

"Sergeant!" He ordered, after a few moments of silence he used in order to stare at the woman, pointing towards the newly arrived. "Find out who that is, and let me know. At once!"

Mendoza nodded and headed for the lady, whose luggage had already been taken down from the stage and left in front of the tavern. She looked at the two big trunks and sighed, innocently wondering out loud "How am I going to carry these two to my room?" Five lancers having their lunch at a nearby table instantly offered to help her, and she accepted with the kind of smile that made them feel as if they were doing nothing more than their duty.

"Buenos dias!"* She greeted with a slight accent which Victoria couldn't recognize. "Do you have any rooms available, Senorita?"

"Buenos dias!" The taverness greeted in return. "I can offer you my best room, that one in the middle," she answered, pointing towards the second floor of her establishment. "But I'm afraid it is probably not what you're accustomed to."

"I have some experience in dealing with more… primitive sleeping conditions." The new arrival replied with a smile, unaware or simply not caring about insulting Victoria. "I'll take it, Senorita…?"

"Escalante. I am Victoria Escalante, and this is my tavern, Senora. The price for the room is 5 pesos per night, and it includes breakfast. Do you know how long will you be staying?"

"I'm not sure, yet. As long as it takes." The woman answered. "I am Senora Mya del Rioblanco*. Please to meet you, Senorita Escalante!"

"Es un placer!* May I ask if Senor Del Rioblanco will also be joining you during your stay here?" Victoria wondered.

"There is no Senor Del Rioblanco." She answered, and Victoria looked puzzled. "I'm a widow." She clarified.

"Senora!" Mendoza interrupted them. "I am Sergeant Jaime Mendoza. Permit me to welcome you to out pueblo… and to collect the traveler's tax."

"A traveler's tax? What nonsense is that?" Mya replied with a chuckle.

"Well… It's a standard tax. Everybody who comes here must pay it." The good man informed her, finding the woman quite intimidating.

"And if I refuse to pay it?" She asked, just as Diego de la Vega, his father, Don* Alejandro, and adopted son, Felipe were entering the tavern.

"If you refuse to pay, the Alcalde will be upset, and he might ask you to spend the night in jail." Mendoza replied.

"He'll have to fight me first. And I doubt he wants that!" She answered, still finding the situation amusing, then turned to take the key Victoria had offered her and, signaling for the lancers to follow her, headed for the room she had just rented.

"But… But, Senora!" Was all Mendoza managed to utter as she was climbing up the stairs, and was completely ignored.

The De la Vegas smiled at the scene, and took seats at one of the tables, ordering lunch and a pitcher of orange juice. While all three men found the woman interesting, only Felipe found her utterly fascinating. He had never before seen a woman acting like that, not even Victoria.

"Anything wrong, my dear?" Don Alejandro asked the taverness, when she came to sit at their table, just as the lunch crowd started gossiping about the new arrival.

"I don't know, Don Alejandro," she answered pensively, as her leg accidentally touched Diego's under the table. "It's just that… she looks so sophisticated… But, while we were talking, I had noticed a big scar on the edge of her neck. It was mostly covered by her hair, but it looked deep… how would such a woman get that scar?"

"Many ways, I'm sure!" Diego answered. "She might have been in an accident when she was younger, or someone might have tried to harm her…"

"And that decision to challenge the Alcalde? She looked so certain of herself! What's your explanation for that?" She asked.

"She's probably unused to men saying 'no' to her." Diego explained. "A beautiful woman like that must have a lot of men wrapped around her small finger."

"Diego!" Victoria exclaimed, rather upset with his reasoning, despite her knowing it was, most probably, quite true. The woman was beautiful, and her entire being emanated self-confidence. In fact, the only other person she had ever seen to be so certain of himself was Zorro. "Don't tell me you're taken by her!" She proceeded in warning the man she thought to be her best friend but which, annoyingly enough, seemed to stir up her jealousy every time she believed him even remotely interested in another woman.

Truth be told, against her own will, Victoria already despised the new arrival, if for no other reason, just because Diego de la Vega seemed smitten by her. Having been in a bad mood since Zorro abandoned their dream of one day building a life together, and finding Diego to be her only consolation in her trying times, Victoria was not in the mood for new challenges to the status quo.

The De la Vega meals had barely arrived when Victoria returned to serving the tables, minutes before the strange woman came to the taproom for her lunch. She took a seat at an empty table and placed her order, then started to read a book she had with her.

While she was waiting, Diego saw the opportunity to both introduce himself, and warn her against De Soto. He stood up from his table and slowly strolled to the young Senora's.

"Strabo's Geography. An impressive read!" He uttered with a smile, genuinely interested in the book she was reading, which he found to be an intriguing choice for a lady such as her. "I am Diego de la Vega! " He then introduced himself.

Her eyes studied him from head to toe, then, with a hand gesture, she invited him to take a seat. "Senora Mya del Rioblanco. Please to meet you!" She offered his hand to kiss.

"Likewise!" He answered casually, shaking her hand. "So… How do you find the book?"

"Quite amusing, actually!" She answered, certain that the handsome, tall caballero was interested in her. "Full of historical and geographical inaccuracies… as most books of the time are. Which just makes them an entertaining read. Although… This one I must have already read a few times… although, not recently."

"I see. Amusing." He noted even more intrigued with the stranger before him. "I've never heard that said about Strabo's work."

De Soto and two of his lancers, including Mendoza, chose that moment to head for her, frowning at seeing Diego seated at her table, falsely believing that the caballero was, most probably, enchanted with the woman. The Alcalde certainly was, and he believed himself a much better man than Diego. Determined to indebt her by wavering the travelers' tax, thus assuring her favor, he ignored his former schoolmate and introduced himself.

"Senora, permit me to introduce myself. I am Ignacio de Soto, Alcalde of Los Angeles. First, let me personally welcome you to our charming pueblo. It is a rare honor to be blessed with such beautiful presence in this remote part of the word!"

"Thank you, Alcalde. I am Mya del Rioblanco." She replied, looking curiously at the official. "Is that the only reason you've interrupted my conversation with Senor De la Vega? To welcome me here?"

De Soto hesitated for a moment, then continued.

"Well… My Sergeant informed me that you are not in a position to pay the travelers' tax. I have to inform you, Senora, that it's a standard fee everyone staying in Los Angeles must pay. Now, of course I might be convinced to waive it, if you are not able to do so at this moment but…"

"So you took one good look at me, and concluded I'm unable to pay your miserable tax?" Mya answered defiantly, silencing the white-haired man before her, as well as the rest of the tavern. She never like men to treat her as if she was a decorative object, nor did she take kindly to insults, intended or not. "Are you trying to offend me or just unable to help yourself from doing so?"

"Senora, I assure you…"

"No, Senor! I assure you that you are sorely mistaken about me. If you were smart, which I assume you aren't, since that masked bandit of yours managed to escape capture for so long, you would stay as far away from me as you can."

Except Zorro, De Soto had never encountered any other person, so determined to defy him as Mya was, and he couldn't stand it, not even from such a beautiful woman. "I believe it is you who has no idea who you're dealing with, Senora!" He warned her in the same tone of voice he normally employed in his dealings with Zorro, when he believed to have the upper hand, right before the masked man found a new way to humiliate him. "Perhaps I should help you find out!" The Alcalde continued, signaling to his men to arrest her.

The Sergeant and his lancer reluctantly obeyed and headed for the Senora, determined to escort her to the jail, just as Diego tried to come to her defense. "Now, Ignacio, I doubt you need to do this. Look," he continued, reaching into his trousers to get the five pesos travelers' tax to hand him, yet never got to offer the payment.

With unexpected agility, Mya stood up, twisting the lancer's hand, the pain bringing him to his knees, before her. At the same time, a leg flew from under her dress to impact with Mendoza's chest. The Sergeant lost his balance and fell on the Alcalde, both tumbling on the taproom's floor. De Soto pushed Mendoza away from him, and rapidly recovered, taking out his gun and pointing it towards Mya.

She chuckled, let go of the lancer's hand, and crossed her arms defiantly looking at him. "A gun. Is that the measure of your bravery?" She asked, as Diego was considering stepping in front of her to deter Ignacio from pressing the trigger, and try to calm him down. "That gun won't help you!" Mya continued before he made up his mind "But I am willing to give you a chance. How about a duel with swords instead? You win, I pay the tax and obey you in everything for… two weeks. I'll be your personal servant, if you should so will it. If I win, on the other hand, you pay the tax out of your own pocket, pay for my accommodation and all my meals, and stay at least thirty feet away from me, for as long as I am here. What do you say? You do know how to use a sword, don't you?" She questioned with a smug look on her face.

For a few moments, the Alcalde considered if it was wise to accept her challenge. She had defied him, an action which could not be tolerated. She also tempted him with her offer. A beautiful woman, his to command… now, that was the dream! As a member of the weaker sex, even if she had had training with a sword, he highly doubted that she stood a chance against him. "If you want to be injured and humiliated, Senora!" He retorted and indicated towards the plaza, putting away his gun.

"Ignacio, she's a woman. You can't possibly…" Diego again tried to change his mind, realizing his black clothes and stallion were nowhere near Los Angeles, so it was risky for him to intervene in her defense.

"Stay out of it, Diego! And don't worry, I am a gentleman. I won't hurt a woman… too bad, that is!" Ignacio replied as everyone headed outside to witness the unexpected spectacle. Mya borrowed a sword from a bystander, and, after assuring Diego that she didn't need a man to protect her, she took position before De Soto.

The official saluted and lunged, not expecting too much of a response. Instead, he was met with a powerful parry and a sudden combined attack, which pushed him into a clumsy defense, and made him lose his sword in but a few seconds after the start of the duel. Mesmerized, just like all their spectators, he watched her with wide-opened eyes, as he found himself at the wrong end of Mya's borrowed sword.

"If she wasn't a woman I'd say I am looking at the unmasked Zorro!" Don Alejandro whispered to his son, who smiled back, but his face became grim seconds later.

Mya looked at De Soto with superiority, and a wicked smile brightened her face at seeing him squirm. "I believe we had a deal, Senor. You'd be wise to honor it! And, Alclade," she added as he relaxed at her decision to withdraw her sword from his chest "remember: from now on, you will stay away from me. I shall only see you again once more, the day I collect the reward for the outlaw Zorro, and be out of this pueblo for good."

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* Pueblo – En. Village (however, as in the Tv Show/ Zorro 1990 works of Fan Fiction, it can be substituted with the English word Town).

* Alcalde – En. Mayor (The 1990 Zorro TV Show uses the term for the leaders – civil servants and, at the same time, military commanders – of the Californian pueblos, appointed by the Spanish King, and which, in the case of Los Angeles, turn to be all-powerful tyrans, thus providing Zorro with a fitting main enemy. History is another matter entirely :P)

* Señorita /Señora/Señor – En. Miss/Mrs./Mr.

*Caballero – En. literally, it means Knight, but, in this context, it's just a way of describing people belonging to what was the local aristocracy of the time in the Spanish colonies.

*Buenos días! – En A good day!/ Hello!

*Del Rioblanco – My OC's name is a pun as it's composed by the words Rio and Blanco, i.e River and White. Del Rioblanco would thus translate as "of the White River" (as in one of the two rivers uniting to form the Amazon).

* Es un placer! - En. in this context, Pleased to meet you!

* Don – En. Mr. (at the time it was the title given to land-owners and to men belonging to the local aristocracy).

PS: I don't use the Spanish special letters in my writings, nor the accents (yes, I knwo I should...), but the above contain the right spelling.