AN: This is just a one-shot reveal I wrote to post as FanFiction Zorro story no.1000.
Before I leave you to it, however, I want to thank my wonderful Beta, La Cuidadora, for her help and contribution to this story and also because her drabble, 'Diego's Strangest Day', inspired its conclusion.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of the NWZ pantheon. I do 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.
Enjoy and remember to review if you do!
ZZZ
It had been a long year. To Diego it had seemed much longer than any of the previous 32 of his life.
It had had some good parts – like the chance to spend a night alone with Victoria in an abandoned windmill, or that day they spent in the cave when he'd proposed – but those good days could hardly compensate for the worst ones he had to live through.
The absolute worst one had been the day the King's Emissary, Gilberto Risendo, had almost killed him (twice) and his father. The day he found out he had had a twin brother, one he had never gotten the chance to truly know, to grow up with, to share his worries and dreams with. The day Gilberto was killed just seconds before a press of his trigger would have lodged a deadly bullet in Diego's heart.
It was also the day Diego de la Vega became indebted to the man he, as Zorro, had opposed and ridiculed for the past three years.
One more month and the year would be over. What would the new one bring?
ZZZ
The sun rose that day, scorching the Californian land, in defiance of the simple fact that it was early December. Diego was accustomed to the heat, having spent most of his life in Los Angeles. What he was unaccustomed to was feeling so tired. Yet, he was exhausted.
He was tired of the endless fighting, of the seemingly impossible tasks he had set for himself, tired of the need to oppose and defy a man he now felt indebted to. True, he had also saved Ignacio - several times - so the debt was more of a matter of conscience rather than one of ethics, but he still couldn't control how he felt. And, despite having noticed some changes in Ignacio de Soto's behavior, as the saying goes, the wolf changes the skin but not his habits. And the Alcalde's habits were deeply rooted within the man. So Zorro had kept riding in order to stop him from seeing his ill-conceived plans to fruition at the expense of the innocent people inhabiting that corner of the world.
Thus nothing really changed in his life, and he was beginning to lose hope things will ever truly improve.
When Gilberto had died at the hand of his former schoolmate-turned-nemesis, Diego had managed to salvage the situation and convince his father that the fight he had witnessed between himself and his brother was nothing more than a testimony to his determination to protect himself and the two men who were his family. He had not confessed that he was Zorro, even though he had tried to do that twice in the plaza. The words just wouldn't come out, so he decided that it was, most probably, because his fight was not yet over and the time to share his secret had still not arrived. But it would soon. One way or another, the fighting and the secrecy needed to end.
However, since that faithful day, Diego's ability to continue playing the role of the cowardly, detached caballero which he had so masterfully played since his return to California was failing, and he knew it was just a matter of time before he'd no longer be able to hide the man he truly was.
Because, most of all, the De la Vega heir was tired of hiding his true nature and the love in his heart.
How is this going to end? He wondered as he was heading for the pueblo that day, his father and adopted son for company. A miracle or the noose seem to be my only options, at this point.
"Did you hear, Diego?" His father broke him out of his reverie.
"Hear what, Father?" He asked.
"About Zorro's latest antics. Last night he recaptured the bandits which had escaped from prison three days ago. Or, better said, the ones De Soto let out in order to trap our masked friend. Those thugs devastated Señor Peralta's farmhouse, destroying most of the family's possessions. I don't even want to imagine what would have happened if the two Peraltas and their daughters had been home when it happened."
"It was, indeed, lucky they were all at the market that day." Diego confirmed, a stern look in his eyes.
"Yes… So, as I was saying, Zorro captured the bandits last night and brought them to prison. And what did De Soto do? Instead of thanking him for his help, as he should have, he had his men shoot at him, then led them himself in pursuit. He had bought the company some new horses and thought they might stand a chance against Tornado!"
"I wonder what taxes will he invent now to cover that acquisition." The tall caballero replied.
"Whatever taxes he will impose, he'll probably regret. As he probably regrets his recent actions. Do you know what happened next?"
"I suppose his plan didn't go exactly as he had thought…" The tall caballero offered in reply.
"You bet it didn't!" Don Alejandro chuckled. "Zorro duped them. While they were following what they believed was Zorro on Tornado, he let the stallion lead them away and returned to the pueblo. Once he was back, he sneaked into De Soto's quarters and proceeded in giving him a taste of his own medicine.
"Mendoza told everyone this morning that the Alcalde found a sorry sight when he returned. His bed filled with manure, grease on the floor, some of his favorite pieces of clothing displaying Zs cut in them, none of his files and papers in any sort of order… De Soto apparently refused to sleep last night, claiming he'd be unable to do so until his office was tidy again. And four of the lancers had to also stay up and clean the bedroom. This morning he tasked Mendoza with buying a new mattress for his bed, since his was still terribly stinky, despite his men's efforts. I'm just sorry I didn't get to see the Alcalde's face upon his return."
"I'm sure it was quite a sight. But I'm beginning to doubt anything Zorro does will ever truly make a difference. Ignacio seems determined not to learn his lessons, just like Luis Ramone never learned his, either." Diego noted, depressed.
Lately the man behind the mask enjoyed tormenting his former schoolmate less and less, his usual good spirits having been mostly replaced by melancholy. Yes, he continued to seem cheerful every time he had to confront him directly, if for no other reason, at least in order to avoid the Alcalde becoming suspicious that something had changed. But, as he had to admit to himself, his cheerfulness was just an act. Where before he only dissimulated his character as Diego while Zorro allowed him the freedom to be himself, the mere realization that he now also pretended while being the masked hero made him feel more and more depressed. It was the main reason why he was feeling that he could no longer endure his split personality for much longer.
Their conversation was cut short when they arrived in town and one of the other haciendados headed straight for Don Alejandro to enquire about a bull he wanted to sell.
Diego smiled at his father and, followed by Felipe, entered the tavern where he asked for an early lunch to be brought for all three of them. Victoria, noticing his mood, made sure to first bring him some juice on the house, and offered him a big smile, which broke through his pessimism and lifted his mood like sunshine lifts dense fog.
A few minutes later, after the old caballero had also joined his son and adopted grandson, the taverness brought them their lunches. By that time, Don Alejandro, having also noticed something was troubling his son, was trying his best to get him to talk about his latest experiment, hoping his curiosity might cheer him up. Victoria joined them, bringing her own meal to the table, and her warm smile and professed interest in his work encouraged Diego to inform them about his progress in replicating Thomas de Colmar's Arithmometer*, which he believed would one day become an important tool for businesses, including Victoria's tavern and his own father's ranch.
ZZZ
The dust cloud was the first thing the Los Angelinos saw.
It was still an hour before siesta was to start and many believed, at first, that it was the San Diego stagecoach, due to arrive that day, from the same direction. Their initial assumption proved wrong when the heads of about forty horses emerged from the dust cloud. Men in uniform were riding them.
The first to see the small army were the children playing on the outskirts of the town. They stood tall to have a better look, then ran to inform their parents. Their screams alerted the people in their vicinity and, soon enough, the word got around.
Panic ensued in the little pueblo. An army was, indeed, coming. One bigger than Risendo's contingent of soldiers which had taken over Los Angeles four months earlier; most frightening, though, an army wearing uniforms nobody had ever seen before. A flag just as unrecognizable waved all red, green and white from a hoist held by the rider next to the one who seemed to be their leader.
Alerted to the intruders, De Soto had given orders to his lancers to wait for them in the plaza, muskets in hands, ready to defend the pueblo.
Diego, who was in his office, working on his latest editorial for the town's only newspaper, The Los Angeles Guardian, at the time the alarm had been given, rapidly exited and headed to the tavern. At his father's command, he and his adopted son, Felipe, then proceeded to take the mounts they had ridden into town to the back of the establishment, ready in case an escape to the hacienda would be needed, should the soldiers prove hostile. When that was done, he joined his family on the tavern's terrace.
Victoria Escalante insisted on also remaining on the porch, together with the three De la Vegas, as well as a few of her other patrons whose curiosity overrode their sense of self-preservation.
The people in the plaza made themselves scarce when they first caught a glimpse of the riders, hiding in their homes or leaving the pueblo, heading for their farms. So, by the time the new arrivals passed under the wooden board bearing the name Los Angeles, only the lancers and less than ten other people standing in front of the tavern were there to greet them.
The forty men in uniform boldly rode into town and, at their leader's command, stopped but thirty feet away from the lancers.
"Ramon!" Victoria muttered when noticing that the flag-bearer was none other than her little brother. Her heart almost jumped out of her chest when Francisco also rode in right behind him, both smiling when noticing her there, but avoiding to address their sister. As her initial surprise passed, it was replaced by concern when the taverness realized that her two brothers were in a standoff with the local troops. Looking only at them, she didn't even realize when she held her breath, one hand clutching Diego's arm as she waited for the events to unfold.
The leader of the troops was a middle-aged man, short, yet well-built, bearing a scar across his forehead. His eyes seemed to pierce into the very soul of people as he glanced across the plaza, resting his gaze for only a few seconds upon those gathered on the tavern's terrace.
"Who are you and what business do you have here, Señor?" The voice of the Alcalde resounded across the quiet pueblo. He was dressed in uniform, a sword raised in his hand, ready to descend if order for his lancers to shoot needed to be given.
"Am I addressing Alcalde Ignacio de Soto?" The man asked.
"You are. And who am I addressing?" The white-haired man asked in turn.
"I am Captain Luis Antonio Olvera, and these men are under my command. We are here to inform you that the Californias no longer belong to Spain since the Mexican Empire has declared its independence a little over two months ago. You, Señor De Soto, as well as any of your lancers who so wishes, are free to return to Spain or to take the oath of allegiance to Mexico, in which case you are permitted to remain in this territory. Whatever your decision, though, you are relieved of your command."
"You're not seriously expecting for me to believe all that nonsense!" De Soto rebuked. "Leave this pueblo or my men will be forced to fire on you!"
"What proof you have of what you've just said, Captain?" Diego asked from the tavern's porch.
Both De Soto and Olivera glanced at him, one with distain and the other with curiosity.
"I have a copy of the Treaty of Cordoba, signed by the former Spanish Viceroy Juan O'Donojú and Colonel Agustín de Iturbide this past August, recognizing the new state, and of the Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire. We are not here to fight, Señor." He addressed De Soto. "We have seen enough good people die for independence, and there is nothing you or your men can do to change the status quo. All you can accomplish," he continued, fixing his eyes on the Spanish official, "is the useless sacrifice of your own life and the lives of your lancers!"
"How could I even know those documents are real? I take my orders from the King of Spain and the King has not ordered for the Spanish troops to leave this territory. Nor have I received any request to do so from the Viceroy. So, I can easily conclude that you, Señor, are a liar and a deceiver, trying to invade this pueblo." The Alcalde answered, defiantly. "Men, take aim!" He ordered, at which command the Captain's men pointed their own muskets at the garrison's soldiers.
"We can easily verify that, Ignacio!" Diego pointed out. He had also recognized the Escalante brothers among the soldiers, and had no intention of allowing things to degenerate into a confrontation that would achieve nothing but lead to bloodshed. "May I?" He asked De Soto.
The official looked at him with a mixture of contempt and puzzlement, but gave no indication that he agreed.
"What's the point in dying for a territory that was already forfeited, Alcalde?" The tall caballero insisted, addressing his former schoolmate. "Perhaps it would be more prudent to check the Captain's claims first. If he is true to his word and no harm would come to either you, the lancers or anyone else in this pueblo…" he added, the last part looking at the new arrivals for confirmation. The two soldiers he knew nodded and so did their commander. "…then a peaceful transition will certainly be better than a massacre of your entire garrison."
A shiver ran through the Alcalde at the mention of a possible massacre and, at that precise moment, he hesitated in his decision to give the order for the lancers to fire.
"Fine! Go take the documents, De la Vega! But I will be the one judging their authenticity." De Soto agreed and Victoria took a deep breath and said a silent prayer for the men she loved.
Diego nodded assuredly towards the young woman when her hand still held on to his arm as he was about to leave the small group in front of the tavern. She looked into his eyes with a gaze which reminded him of a scared deer, but let him go.
"Diego…" Don Alejandro cautioned.
"I'll be fine, Father." He replied, then boldly headed for the new arrivals.
The Captain gave him the documents as he neared him, and the Escalante brothers smiled when he reached to take them. He brought the official documents to De Soto and analyzed them together with him, confirming their authenticity.
"This proves nothing!" De Soto whispered to him in an effort to avoid being overheard by his men. "In my opinion they are bandits, come here to loot the pueblo."
"I don't think so, Ignacio! Two of the men standing next to him are Victoria's brothers – Francisco and Ramon." Diego told him.
"I thought Francisco Escalante was a Lieutenant of the Royal Lancers." De Soto voiced his disdain.
"Yet both he and Ramon had left the pueblo to join the revolutionaries almost fifteen years ago, when they were teenagers. He's definitely on the other side now, and I suspect he never was on the part of the Lancers, to begin with. Although, he convince even me he was when he had last been here.
"Whatever the case, their presence is a clear indication that these men are no bandits, and the documents you are holding seem real enough to prove the Captain's affirmations. Therefore, your death here, the death of all your men, would simply be useless. Realistically speaking, you have no chance to defeat an army double in size of your own contingent."
"But Diego, surely you don't think I should surrender the pueblo, do you?"
"I don't believe you have a choice."
The look De Soto gave the caballero spoke daggers, but the older man had to agree with the truth of his words. Cursing his lack of preparation for the situation at hand, De Soto glanced towards the roof of the cuartel, part of him hoping to find Zorro there, ready to save the day. Disappointed, he took a few more minutes to decide that going back to Madrid in one piece, even if without the achievements he had hoped would propel him in his career, was better than dying in that remote pueblo called Los Angeles.
ZZZ
The tavern was buzzing that early afternoon. The day's siesta had been canceled and replaced with the oath-swearing ceremony. After that was finished, many of the people headed to the only public establishment in the pueblo. To an outsider it would have seemed as if all the inhabitants of the area had come to discuss the recent events in the taproom, which had become much too small to accommodate them. The bar was full and so were all the tables, except for one. Several groups were talking while standing with their glasses in hand for lack of places to sit, and Victoria and her helpers had a hard time reaching their customers. The news, however, made up for the workload and the taverness couldn't be happier.
Mexico was an independent Empire and California was part of it. De Soto was to leave on the first ship for Spain. The lancers and most of the inhabitants had all taken the oath and had simply transferred their allegiance to the new state. Finally, her own brother, Lieutenant Francisco Escalante, had been appointed as the new Alcalde.
With all that news, people were in a celebratory mood. Most of them, at least.
"Why the long face, De Soto?" Don Alejandro asked, approaching the only part-empty table Ignacio was sitting at, all by himself. "You should be happy to return to Madrid!"
"This is not how I would have chosen to do so!" He replied bitterly, emptying his wine glass and reaching for the bottle to refill it. Noticing the De la Vegas were looking around the tavern for an empty table, he added "By all means, do join me! Unless you are ashamed to keep the company of the disgraced Alacalde…"
"Not at all, Ignacio!" Diego informed him and took a seat across the table from him, while his father sat next to the man in uniform.
"Have you taken the oath?" De Soto asked.
"Yes." Diego answered and De Soto looked at him in contempt.
"I expected it from you, Diego… but not from your father…"
"I admit that it was not an easy decision," Don Alejandro felt the need to explain himself "but the Captain informed us that those who refuse will be forced to leave this territory. My life is here, my son and grandson are here, and so are the graves of my wife and other son. At my age, I cannot even imagine leaving Los Angeles. I lost a brother and risked my life for Spain. I have been a law-abiding Spanish citizen, but the King gave up on us. So I now have to be a good Mexican citizen, and that's what I intend to be."
"Spain will get its territories back! This Mexican Empire will not last long." De Soto informed them.
"Spain has neither the men nor the money to retake its colonies and you, as well as I, know that, Ignacio. Especially considering the present situation in Europe." Diego pointed out. "However, instead of discussing politics, why don't you tell us your plans. Are you going to stay at the tavern until your ship leaves, a week from now?" Diego ventured to ask his former schoolmate.
"Like I have a choice!" He replied "The Sergeant helped me pack, and my things are already here. The ones Zorro hadn't destroyed last night, that is!"
At that point Ramon took the empty seat next to Diego, also bringing a pitcher of orange juice and four glasses. Victoria's younger brother was in a cheerful mood and didn't even bother to ask for permission to join them. After all, it was his family's tavern, and the De la Vegas were his friends.
Don Alejandro and Diego smiled gratefully at him when he placed the glasses on the table, while De Soto took notice of the fact he was there, and did his best to hide a disgusted grimace while moving a bit further away from the traitorous Escalante and refusing his offer of orange juice.
"Francisco just mentioned how impressed he was with how tidy and well organized you left the office, Don Ignacio." Ramon complimented.
"If I knew I was leaving, I would have left it the way Zorro left it for me last night." He replied.
"From what I understand, you fully deserved his wrath!" Don Alejandro uttered.
"I know what you think, De la Vega, but it's not like I asked those thugs to destroy Señor Peralta's farmhouse."
"And I guess you didn't let them out on purpose, either…" Diego mentioned.
"Fine. I'm guilty of that. But they're not that dangerous. It's not like I was risking anyone's life by what I did. They're just petty thieves, and I thought they might well serve my purpose. I should have known better. Now somebody told the Captain, and he's forcing me to repay the Peraltas for their losses." De Soto added bitterly, not even noticing the De la Vega and Ramon were all smiling. "This day has gone from bad to worse! By the way, Señor Escalante," De Soto remembered suddenly "what are Mexico's plans for that arch being plaguing this territory for a decade now?"
"Arch being?" Ramon wondered.
"I believe Ignacio is referring to Zorro." Diego clarified, masking his own interest in the subject.
"If only had I managed to capture that fiend, at least I'd go back to Spain with my head held high. That's my one major regret and my major failure."
"Now, now, Señor! Don't be so hard on yourself. Nobody has been able to capture Zorro in a decade, and many have tried." Don Alejandro pointed out with some amusement.
"True, Don Alejandro! But I promised him to see him hang, and I hate not fulfilling that promise. At least I saved your life, Diego. I don't know if I told you but, besides the reward of the deed itself, some of your friends and relatives in Madrid wrote to me to offer their thanks and support in my future endeavors. I think that might prove even more important in my career than the mere achievement of having hanged a common criminal!"
"I beg your pardon, Don Ignacio, but we all know Zorro is no common criminal." Ramon cut in. "People see him as a hero, and I can attest to the truth of that. Better give thanks to God he prevented some of your misguided actions. In some of the Mexican towns the Spanish alcaldes who abused their power were not just allowed to go home peacefully, but put on trial and executed for their crimes. If what my sister told me about you in her letters is true – and I, for one, have no reason to doubt her honesty – you might just owe Zorro your life. Not to mention that, considering his popularity, not only here but in the entire Mexican territory, had you captured and hanged him, that alone would have meant your death sentence."
"Well… assuming the people of Los Angeles would have allowed for that to happen, and I suspect they would have started a riot before letting you commit that crime!" Don Alejandro ventured his opinion.
Diego was simply listening with a smile, and signaled Felipe to join them when the young man entered the tavern. He found an empty bench and pulled it at the end of the table, sitting between Ramon and his grandfather.
"Hm! Of course you'd think so, De la Vega! But you're forgetting I almost executed you when you showed up dressed as him, and it wasn't the people who prevented that from happening." De Soto retorted, wondering why he was even talking to the man known as his nemesis' strongest supporter.
"They didn't have to. The real Zorro made sure that injustice wouldn't take place!" Victoria mentioned as she passed their table at that opportune moment while circulating the taproom.
"Hanged me? What on Earth are you talking about, De Soto? You've never…" Don Alejandro questioned but stopped abruptly when what he had thought to have been a vivid dream came to his mind, and looked pensively towards his son.
Diego saw the look in his eyes but didn't think it was the opportune time to explain everything to his father, for which reason he considered changing the subject.
Ignacio, however, was ahead of him. "So, does all your rhetoric about the 'virtues' of that masked menace mean the man is likely to get a pardon?" He asked Ramon, ignoring the old caballero and only eager to return to his main question.
Victoria again neared the table at hearing him and remained there, a pitcher in her hand, looking forward to her brother's answer.
"He already has one, which is another reason for you to give thanks to God that you didn't manage to capture and execute him. One of the new government's first acts was to pass a law granting a full and absolute pardon for all those who have stood against the Spanish tyranny throughout its territories. Zorro, as well as some of the other freedom fighters, like Joaquin Correna, his wife and their men, Juan Alvarez, Francisco… even yours truly, are mentioned by name in the new law. You see, instead of outlaws and traitors, we are all now heroes of the Mexican Empire." The youngest Escalante replied cheerfully.
"Heroes!" De Soto puffed.
"Is that true, Ramon?" Victoria intervened to ask, leaving the pitcher she was holding on the table, and putting her right hand on Diego's shoulder for support. "Is Zorro truly free?"
"He is, Sister! He has been for months, and I can only hope he will finally decide to make an honest woman out of you…" he ventured to tease, but regretted at seeing how Victoria's face hardened in but a few seconds "… not that your honesty… or honor were ever in question, my dear sister." He finished with a broad smile.
"Of course, they weren't! You, as well as everybody know that Zorro is a true caballero!" She stated, glancing towards Diego as if for confirmation. The don smiled at her words and no longer tried to disguise the love in his eyes when looking at her.
"A caballero! Ha!" De Soto puffed again, dismissing her affirmations. "He's probably an uneducated farmer. If you, Señorita, believe that your life at his side will be in any way better than it is now, you're deluded! You'd better marry… Diego here! At least he's one of the best-educated men in Alta California, only heir to a huge fortune, and has had his eyes on you for a while from what I've noticed!" He said, trying to mock them both and surprising Diego at the same time with his insightfulness.
"Now, De Soto, we all know…" Don Alejandro tried to cut in, but stopped the moment Victoria next opened her mouth, interrupting him.
"That's exactly what I intend to do!" The taverness surprised them all by stating. Diego looked inquisitively at her. "After all, we have been engaged for eight months now. I'd say that's long enough. Wouldn't you, my love?" She asked innocently, sitting in Diego's lap, and reaching to kiss him.
The caballero's initial surprise at her words and, mostly, at her endearment suddenly changed into relief, and he allowed her to deepen the kiss, responding to her passion with his own, his hands on her back pulling her closer.
"What in the world are you two doing?" Don Alejandro asked dumbfounded as almost everyone else at the table looked at them bewildered, an expression soon adopted by the other patrons in the suddenly-quiet taproom.
"How long have you known?" Diego asked Victoria discretely as they parted, ignoring his father and everyone else.
Felipe was smiling at them but, at a closer inspection, one could also see a tint of regret on his face. Diego was pardoned, which was a good thing. No longer was he to live in permanent worry that his father and mentor might one day be caught and hanged. But Zorro was to be no more and, in his heart, he regretted his loss.
"Let's see… ten months and twenty-five days. Since the day we returned from Santa Paula. Your clue that afternoon was quite obvious..." Victoria answered the tall caballero, looking teasingly into his eyes. "And if I hadn't known then, I certainly would have when you broke your leg, and still came to my rescue."
"I do think you ended up rescuing me that day, as well…" Diego replied with a wide smile. "So… what do you want to do now?"
"I believe you have some promises to keep, Señor!" She answered and Ramon, who was close enough to hear their almost-whispered conversation released a chuckle at realizing the meaning of that verbal exchange.
"I do, don't I? Should we go talk to Padre Benitez?"
Victoria just nodded.
"Excuse us, Señores!" Diego said as he stood up, lifting Victoria in his arms. "We have a wedding to discuss with the good padre!"
Don Alejandro also stood up in confusion, wondering whether to follow them, then glanced at Felipe who was simply enjoying the glass of orange juice he had accepted instead of De Soto. The not-at-all-surprised look on his face as the young man watched his adoptive father carry the woman he loved out of the tavern stunned the old don almost as much as the strange events of the past few minutes.
"Felipe? Do you know something I don't?" Don Alejandro asked his grandson who was focusing on his glass at the moment.
The young man gazed up at him and nodded. He didn't give his grandfather the chance to digest the fact that he had heard him, though, but made a series of gestures. When the old don did not understand them, he repeated everything from the start.
"What does Diego's sudden decision to marry Victoria have to do with him not riding Esperanza anymore?" Don Alejandro inquired after correctly interpreting Felipe's signs.
The young man shrugged, took a deep breath, then made four signs which caused the old don to fall back into his seat.
"Wh…What did he say?" Asked a perplexed De Soto at seeing his face.
"He said that… Diego has always preferred riding… Tornado!" The don answered, staring incredulously right through the wall in front of him.
"Wait! What?" De Soto asked as if trying to wake up from a strange dream. "Are you saying that Diego… No! That's just absurd! He's the last person in this pueblo who could be…"
ZZZ
An hour after Zorro received news of his freedom, Diego stood in front of the altar, Victoria by his side, glancing happily into his eyes, his father, Felipe and Mendoza bursting with pride just behind him, the Escalante brothers a few feet behind their sister, and De Soto grimacing in a corner of the busy church, still trying to decide how to feel about the reveal.
At that moment, the caballero knew he had his answer. Not a hanging but a miracle. And suddenly realized he wasn't feeling tired anymore.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
* Invented in 1820 by the French Charles Xavier Thomas de Colmar, the Arithmometer was the first digital mechanical calculator able to be used daily in an office environment. While some devices were produced mainly between 1820 and 1822, its mass production only begun in 1851 and was in use (with various improvements) for about 90 years.
AN: Thank you for reading.
Do review if you enjoyed it. I love hearing the readers' opinion.
PS: I know 4 months were not normally enough to send and receive back news from Spain (it would have, most likely taken between 10 months and a year in those days) but, if Diego was able to go to France and return in three months, I feel it's completely in line with the show to say Ignacio received the letters of support from Spain within 4 months after saving Diego :P