I don´t have much to say about the story bellow, as the summary already give a way most of the spoilers. This way, i will just thank my friend ChibiDawn23 for the help on fixing it and say that this story takes place at the end of the series, with a twist.
Good reading.
CHAPTER 1
Don Gregorio Verdugo and his daughter Anna Maria had definitely chosen the worst time to travel from Monterey to Los Angeles to visit their friends, the de la Vega family. It had been a while since Don Diego and Don Alejandro had been in Monterey, so Don Gregorio decided they should head to Los Angeles and pay their good friends a surprise visit. However, not only Los Angeles, but all of California was being terrorized by a dangerous gang of bandits, Les Quatro Rs, since the four bandits had the letter R for their initials; Ramon, Ramirez, Raimundo, and Rafael.
For some time, the R gang had already looted establishments, and injured and killed people in pueblos like Los Gatos and even Santa Monica. All over California, wanted posters were put up, but unfortunately, no soldier, citizen, or police officer was able to capture such bandits, who walked around with a veil covering their faces. It was on a fateful day, that they decide to come to Los Angeles.
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It was a real surprise when Don Gregorio and Anna Maria arrived. Both father and son were having breakfast, when the butler, an Indian named Thomas, came to announce the arrival of the friendly Verdugos.
''Gregorio my friend, how nice to see you!'' Alejandro exclaimed, hugging his friend. ''What a surprise, what brings you here?''
''Just a friendly surprise visit to Los Angeles and to our dear friends…but I must say, it was a bit hard to get here," said Gregorio.
''What do you mean?'' Diego asked, interested, but his father gave him a look, making him be quiet.
''Let's go inside, you can tell me everything about it,'' Alejandro suggested, and the Verdugos followed Alejandro and Diego inside the hacienda.
''Alejandro, did you hear about the Gang Of R?'' Gregorio asked.
''I suppose, the bandits who have been terrorizing Santa Monica and Los Gatos?''
''Yes,'' agreed the other man. ''There were rumors in Monterey supposing they had come here, to Los Angeles.''
''Papa, I told you not to worry, I'm sure Zorro will protect us."' Anna Maria tried to cheer the older men up.
''I´m sure he will,'' Diego agreed.'' Ana Maria, I want to apologize for the way I acted on our last encounter. Would you accept an invitation to go to the pueblo with me, so I can make up an apology? Without Ricardo bothering us of course.''
''I would be delighted, Diego.'' She smiled, taking his arm as they left, leaving the two old dons to talk.
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During the small trip to the pueblo, Diego decided to really apologize to Anna Maria, as his heart skipped a bit when he saw her. Sure, not wanting to reveal his identity, he told her that the day Zorro had not accepted amnesty, he left because Alejandro was getting homesick and he got worried about his father´s health, so he decided that both could go back home. Luckily for him, Anna Maria accepted the story but told him that it was a shame that he missed the old weird woman thinking Ricardo was her husband.
''Poor Ricardo, Dios Mio,'' Diego laughed. ''Here we are, Anna Maria. Victoria Escalante´s tavern offers the best guacamole in town!''
''I see…'' the woman eyed him up to down.
''Don´t be jealous, she has an eye for Sergeant Garcia.'' Diego laughed, but before they entered, he made a sign to Bernardo to keep an eye on everything.
For a few hours, Diego and Anna Maria talked and ate, making plans for romantic outings during her stay in Los Angeles, after all, Diego promised himself he would try to win her heart for good. And meanwhile, although she was feigning jealousy, Senorita Verdugo quite enjoyed Victoria and her hospitality.
Suddenly, a brutish and dirty man entered the tavern, looking warily in all directions, only touching the counter to order a bottle of wine.
''Who are him?'' asked a scared Anna Maria.
''You stay put senorita, let me be,'' he growled, looking directly at her.
''Careful amigo,'' Diego offered a friendly smile. ''The lady merely just asked a question!''
''You too muchacho, stay put,'' advised the man, when Anna Maria took hold of Diego´s arm.
''Let's go home Diego,'' she whispered and they left.
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Later that afternoon after they return to the hacienda, while Anna Maria had gone to change for supper, Bernardo called Diego inside the passage to talk. Once showing his master a wanted poster with the faces of four men, Bernardo tried to explain that they may have encountered one member of the infamous Gang Del Quatro Rs.
''Well, luckily you didn't show this poster to Anna Maria, she would bw worried,'' Diego said and in response, Bernardo made a small Z with his finger. ''Yes Bernardo, Zorro will take care of it, before Senorita Verdugo worry herself completely.''
So that night, after making sure everyone was asleep, Diego put on the fox cape and set off to meet the dangerous gang. He rode for awhile until he saw a cabin in the middle of the mountains. Bravely, without thinking twice, Zorro approached the place, finding a man solitarily frying a sausage. It was the same man from Victoria's tavern
Without dismounting from Tornado, he drew his sword and jabbed the man in question in the back.
''Who are you?'' growled the man.
''My name is Zorro, I came to give you a warning, if you don't leave Los Angeles in less than four hours, you will have to face me, are we understood?'' he said. And before the man could defend himself, Zorro etched a Z on his back before galloped off into the darkness.