A/N: Here's to the end! Thanks for sticking around! Please leave any constructive criticism (my fear is it is too fanficcy for a proper ending and I have a tendency to lean towards endings like this. Unfortunately, these types leave me satisfied but also wondering what happens next, so I tend to use this style a lot). Enough of that - enjoy the end and let me know if I have a future in writing possibly another Zorro fanfiction in the future (probably either Disney again or Kaiketsu). Have a great Thanksgiving everyone and thank you all again!

Epilogue: El Zorro's Return

27 Year's Later…

"You are certain you will not stay for another drink, Don Diego?" Don Demitrio Lopez Garcia, former soldier of the cuartel of Los Angeles asked Don Diego de la Vega.

"Quite certain, Sergeant, but I thank you for the tempting offer," Diego winked, still using the aging don's nickname despite his recent retirement. Garcia had remained in the army even after his marriage to Alicia de la Cruz, and was eventually promoted to Capitan for his bravery against a gang of thieves that tried to ransack the town years ago. He had retired since last summer and was finally enjoying the benefits of being a don with a beautiful wife and a handsome home.

Garcia led his friend to the door and wished him a good night before watching de la Vega mount his steed and take off down the path. Crossing his arms over his chest, he shook his head with a wistful smile and sighed. Having been wed to Lolita Pulido for 28 years, Diego had matured immensely and had taken control of his estate even before Don Alejandro passed on. Diego still maintained his boyish smile, thin moustache and twinkling eyes despite the grey that was streaking his hair at the temples. He had become a fair landowner and a loving father to his four children.

"Did Diego leave already?" Alicia asked, approaching her husband with a glass of wine.

"Yes, my little turtle dove," Garcia cooed, kissing his wife onto the cheek. "He said it was getting late and told me to give you his regards. He seemed anxious to go home." Guiding his wife to the fireplace, he gestured for her to sit down before taking out his guitar. "Shall I serenade you, mi amor?"

"Oh Demitrio," Alicia giggled, feeling as girlish as a schoolgirl. "You're such a romantic."

"Only for you," he beamed before strumming the strings on his beloved instrument and commencing to sing to his dear spouse.

~Z~

A persistent knock came on the door of Don Diego de la Vega's room the following morning, rousing the middle-aged don from his slumber. He was exhausted from last night's late visit to Garcia's hacienda, only to arrive home and receive his brother and sister-in-law for a late night surprise…then again, Ricardo and Carlotta were never ones to announce their presence early, they always seemed to prefer surprising people at the last possible moment. The pair and their son did not leave until the late hours of the night, deciding to surprise the Fernandez couple and stay the night there instead. Rubbing his eyes, he rolled out of bed and grabbed his robe, moving sluggishly. He had been hoping he would be able to sleep in this fine morning, but apparently, someone thought otherwise.

"Diego…? What's going on?"

Glancing over to the bed, he smiled sleepily at Lolita as she, too, rubbed her eyes and yawned. "I'm not sure, amor. I bet it's Bernardo…who else knocks so incessantly?" Chuckling, he shook his head and wondered what domestic emergency had come up so early that he would need to be awaken. Reaching for the door, he turned the knob and was nearly thrown to the ground by his faithful servant and friend, Bernardo. He was bald now, covering his head at all times possible with a wide-brimmed hat to avoid getting sunburnt, and many still believed him to be deaf, even though everyone in the de la Vega hacienda knew otherwise. Typically, Bernardo was cheery and spritely, but this morning, he was pale with panic. Immediately, he started waving his hands frantically, prompting Diego to raise his own hands and motion for him to stop. "Bernardo, you know that when you talk like that, I can't understand. Slow down, what is it?" He watched his friend as he took a breath and then explain as best as he could that there were two letters downstairs, both containing bad news, according to Diego's youngest child. "All right, I'll be downstairs in a moment."

Lolita arose from the bed and wrapped her favorite pale pink shawl around her shoulders as she saw her husband's brows furrow in contemplation. "Diego, what's wrong?"

"I don't know…Bernardo only told me that Isabella is downstairs with two letters, both of them containing bad news," he explained, offering his arm to her before guiding his beloved down the stairs to the first floor, where the open, gated courtyard led way to the sala. Upon entering the room, both husband and wife were worried as they saw two of their four children in the room with Bernardo and Consuela, all of them either pacing or gnawing at their lips and knuckles in anxiety. "What's happened?" Diego spoke up, his eyes moving from one person to the next.

A young man of twenty-five summers arose from his seat and stepped forth, handing his father a letter that was only recently opened. Carlos de la Vega was the second child of Diego and Lolita, now the banker of Los Angeles and proud of his position. He also managed the family estate's finances with his father, and was known for being realistic and cautious in all his work, though his pessimistic attitude often led him to butting heads with his siblings. "Papá…it's Diego, and Emilio…" He looked away as his father took the letter and read it with his mother. Running his fingers through his dark, slicked hair, he felt his stomach twist as remembered what the letter contained.

Diego de la Vega II and Emilio, Bernardo and Consuela's son, had been sent to Mexico City over three years ago to complete their studies, and had sent a letter over two months ago that they would return home…everyone had wondered what was taking so long when this morning a lone rider came from the pueblo with that accursed note. It stated that the stagecoach containing several wealthy passengers from Mexico City to Monterey was attacked by bandits…many of which that had perished or been kidnapped…among those missing were the two boys.

"Oh, Diego!" Lolita gasped, clutching at her mother's locket before burying her face into her husband's chest.

Diego hugged his wife, panic poking at his heart as his stomach churned. "No, mi corazon, don't be like that…they might still be all right, it never mentioned that they were killed-"

"Papá, be realistic!" snapped Carlos, pinching the bridge of his nose as he feared the worst. "They've been gone for ages…who knows what happened to them-?!"

"Hold your tongue!" Diego barked fiercely. The last thing he wanted was for Lolita, Consuela, Bernardo, and himself to lose hope for their sons. "I'm not going to assume anything until I see them again-"

"Papá, that's not the only problem," his daughter spoke up. Isabella was the splitting image of her mother – dark midnight hair that curled and wavered around her face like a dark waterfall, and sharp but warm brown eyes that twinkled like her father's. She was a brave girl who was never afraid to speak her mind, and loved her brothers deeply. Her eyes showed concern, however, this morning, as she handed a second letter to her father. "Alejandro sent us this message through Guillermo Reyes."

Guillermo, the son of Guillermo and Beatriz Reyes, was a private at the Los Angeles cuartel, who worked under Capitan Alejandro de la Vega. Up until last week, Alejandro had been the one manning the cuartel since Garcia's retirement. When Rodrigo Riviera came to town as the new Commandante, however, Diego was immediately on edge. He had seen the man – he was very much like his father, in appearance and behavior, though he had remained silent and still since his arrival…until now.

Reading the letter from his eldest son, Diego felt fury burn within him as he read about Padre Felipe's successor, Padre Mendoza, being arrested for fighting off a small troop of soldiers for harassing the local Indians and refusing to offer wine to the men, claiming that they were scoundrels and knaves. Unlike the docile and kindly Padre Felipe, who had passed away years before, Padre Mendoza was a rotund and burly figure who spoke out against anything that was unjust or cruel, believing that those who harmed or persecuted others should receive their just punishment as a reminder to change their ways at once. Riviera would have none of this, apparently, and had the priest arrested last night.

"This can't be," Diego shook his head, his hands shaking in anger.

"Alejandro says that he may be hanged for continuously insulting this new commandante since his arrest!" Lolita exclaimed, her brows furrowing angrily at the news. "He says he may do this tomorrow morning as a lesson to the town!"

"Papá, we must do something!" Isabella pleaded, rushing to her father and grasping his arm.

"Pequeña, men like Riviera do not respond to cries for justice and reason," Consuela spoke up, shaking her head as she remembered Riviera's father from many years ago.

"But we cannot stand by-!"

"What do you plan on doing, Bella? Hmm?" Carlos asked smartly, already in a terrible mood. "Stride into the office and get arrested yourself? Or worse, get Alejandro accused of treason and have him demoted or placed in the situation as the padre-?"

"At least Alejandro and I would be willing to face the consequences, unlike you, pollo!" sneered Isabella.

"Enough!" Diego boomed, making everyone freeze. Inhaling deeply, he closed his eyes and fought to clear his head. "…I will go to Los Angeles and speak with the Commandante. Perhaps I can persuade him to lessen the penalty…"

"And if you can't?" Carlos asked, cocking an eyebrow at his father. Diego de la Vega was known for not being a fighter, though he had a temper that could blaze out of control if severely provoked. He wondered how his father could ever convince a man like Riviera, who seemed heartless and ready for battle, to ever listen to a caballero like himself.

Glancing down at his wife, Diego recalled the days not too long ago when he would leap onto Tornado's back and ride through the moonlit night to punish those who did wrong. He had not attempted such feats in years, and he could already feel that his body was becoming weary…still, if de la Vega could do nothing, Zorro would have to return, even if it meant getting caught, harmed, or killed. Lolita seemed to read his thoughts, for though she nodded her head at him, her eyes filled with tears of fear. "…I must at least try," he whispered, to both his wife and son.

~Z~

The two horses came to a halt at the old San Gabriel mission at dusk, the sky changing from orange to violet as the stars began to blink their eyes open. The riders wearily dismounted and stretched in relief as they stood on the clay-colored ground, exhausted from their waylaid journey. The first figure was thin and hunched, his large dark eyes scanning the perimeter. He had inherited his father's eyes, large and full of wonder, but also very wary of any danger. His skin was lightly tanned since birth, thanks to his mother's Indian heritage, and his dark brown hair was pulled back into a short ponytail. His clothes were torn and filthy, but then again, so were his master's. The second young man had significantly paler skin, but that did not mean he feared facing the sun or doing a man's work. His dark, wavy hair was disheveled, flopping over his dark brown eyes that twinkled in mirth despite the trials they had been through. The twenty-three-year-old man winked at his friend and jutted his chin towards the mission.

"Come, Emilio. I'm sure we'll give Padre Mendoza a good surprise when he sees us like this," he chuckled, guiding his horse to the church. "I'll bet he won't even recognize us!"

"I'm not sure, Diego," Emilio answered, his eyes narrowing as he looked around. "Something doesn't seem right…"

Two Indians, one male, one female, poked their heads from behind the thick church doors, eyeing them suspiciously. "Who are you? What do you want?" the male asked cautiously.

"We're looking for Padre Mendoza," Diego answered honestly, his brows knitting together as the woman began to weep and entered the building once more.

The Indian male shook his head wistfully. "The good padre was arrested last night for defending our kind and denying rowdy soldiers a drink…he will be hung tomorrow in the pueblo square."

"What?!" Diego gasped in horror while Emilio remained silent and paled at the news. "Surely Capitan de la Vega wouldn't stand for this-"

"Capitan de la Vega was issued a warning that he is not to return to the cuartel until after the hanging…and his family is placed under house arrest for the night and morning until the hanging is over. Don Diego tried to plead his case to the Commandante but he was turned away and threatened with having his lands taken away."

"Who is this new commandante?" Diego asked coolly, hiding the anger and disgust he felt against this new leader.

"One Rodrigo Riviera," the Indian grumbled, spitting afterwards as if to get the taste of Riviera's name out of his mouth.

"Riviera…" Diego murmured. He remembered from his father's tales of the outlaw Zorro that there was once a Commandante with the same name who made advances towards his mother, Lolita, only to be killed by his own madness and recklessness, with the help of a few serpents.

"If only Zorro were here…but he's been gone for years," the old native moaned.

"Zorro…" The name made a flame spark within him. He had been thinking for some time now about that masked man, ever since his father had shown him the secret passages of the hacienda and told him of the family secret just before he was sent off to study years ago. He had never once forgotten it, but since their stagecoach was attacked and he and Emilio had been taken captive, the story of his father's past and alter ego inspired him…so much so that he and Emilio were able to fight back and escape their captors, even allowing the rest of the prisoners a chance to flee. Now that they were home, they came to these daunting news…and the tiny ember that glowed softly within him for the past three years was suddenly sparked, and a tiny but growing flame filled his heart, soul, and mind.

"Gracias, amigo, we will not trouble you any more…may God bless you and comfort you," Diego said kindly, motioning for silent Emilio to walk back with him and remount their steeds.

Emilio waited until they were a safe distance from the mission, finally comfortable with the silence. He had always been shy, except with his family and his best friend, so he usually became silent when in public. Because of this, many believed him to be as deaf and mute as his father, Bernardo. So it was that when they were riding out through the wilderness under the cloak of darkness, he called out to his adopted brother. "What are you planning?"

"First, we must find the old cave entrance my father showed us before we left," Diego answered. "Then, we'll need a bath...we stink."

"That's obvious, but I'm talking about-"

"Then, we need to scout the town once we are dressed…we must get Padre Mendoza out and away from Los Angeles…if we can get him onto El Camino Real towards Monterey, he should be out of harm's way," Diego continued, a bright grin appearing on his face.

Emilio raised an eyebrow at this as they arrived at the hidden mouth of the cave, covered by overgrowth from years of neglect with few occasions of allowing its inhabitants out of a nightly stroll. "What are you planning?"

Leaping off of his horse, Diego chose not to answer yet but motioned for Emilio to follow him, pushing the thick ropes of vegetation aside and entering the dimly lit cavern. Inside were two corrals, one for the aging Tornado and Bonita, the other for their impulsive and handsome grown midnight colt, Viento. "Hola, little one…remember me?" Diego whispered, making the horse nicker and nuzzle him immediately. Emilio silently greeted the aged horses before following Diego to the other side of the cave, where a secret staircase remained hidden in shadows. The two of them climbed up the winding staircase, pausing at the library's hidden door to peer through the hole hidden in the wall. "No one…they might be in the sala," Diego noted, leading the way once more towards the other secret entrance. Peering through yet another hole in the wall, he took his moment to survey the situation before letting Emilio take a turn. His parents, as well as Emilio's, and his siblings were all trapped in their own home, the soldiers once under his brother's command now stationed to keep watch over him as though he was some criminal. He could see his father's frustration, and knew at once what was running through his head.

"What now?" Emilio asked in a whisper.

"My father wants to help, but he's trapped…and he's not as young as he used to be, hermano," Diego noted, stroking his stubble-coated chin. "I'm afraid his business shall have to be under new management."

Emilio's brows furrowed at this, but he remained silent as he followed Diego once more to the final set of stairs that led out to Don Diego and Doña Lolita's room. Tugging the cabinet doors open, Diego the Second beamed gleefully as he pulled out a black costume and displayed it to his best friend. "What is my plan, you ask? Quite simple…" Tying one of the black cloths around his face, his dark eyes glinted behind the mask. "I shall revive the people's hero and bring my father's legacy out of retirement, Emilio…with you as my faithful shadow, I shall ride the night and become the cunning fox…el Zorro!"

~Z~

Padre Mendoza glared at the soldiers that walked by his cell, gripping the gold cross around his neck. He had great faith that despite these circumstances, something good would come out of it, if not for him, for the people of Los Angeles.

"Still no remorse, Padre?"

The sultry voice of Commandante Rodrigo Riviera made bile rise in Mendoza's throat. Sneering at the young man's cold green eyes, Mendoza glared at him. "I feel nothing for a viper such as yourself!"

"And you keep the insults coming," Riviera smirked. "You are only hurting yourself and the people of Los Angeles."

"Someone has to stand up for them!" Mendoza snapped.

"Ah, but I fail to see how you will stand up for them once you are hanging for them-" Riviera grinned wickedly, freezing as he suddenly felt the cold point of a sword pressed against his neck.

"I'm afraid there won't be a hanging, Commandante," a smooth tenor quipped coolly. "However, if you utter a single sound, my friend and I will make sure you will have a lovely little reminder of our visit to the cuartel."

Slinking through the darkness, a naked figure coated in Indian war paint wearing feathers in his dark braid plucked the keys from the hostage soldier and silently unlocked the door of the startled Padre Mendoza. The Indian beckoned him to join him by waving his hand. "Quick, Padre," he urged him, his voice deep and soothing. "We need to hurry."

"You know what to do, Sombra," the hidden figure said quietly, keeping his sword pointed at Riviera's jugular. "We shall meet again soon."

Mendoza gawked at the man, stunned to silence for once as he saw the familiar black-clad figure that he had not seen for many years now. "Zorro?! Is that you?"

"Back from obscurity, Padre," the masked man winked, saluting him. "I couldn't let you fight this battle alone." Mendoza beamed at this, looking as gleeful as a child on Christmas. "Please, go with Sombra. He is my new companion and will protect you until you are out of harm's way. Get out quickly – I can't have you dead or imprisoned if we want to protect California."

Mendoza nodded, following the Indian without another word now that he understood what the bandit planned to do. Giving Zorro a wave, he disappeared into the night, leaving the Commandante and revived outlaw alone in the dark. "Please, Commandante, there is no reason to be stiff at attention. Do turn around, so we can meet face to face." Riviera did so, slowly, his eyes widening as he saw the fabled figure of his father's demise.

"Zorro…you murderous fiend," Riviera hissed. "You will pay for what you did to my father-!"

"I did nothing to him that he did not deserve," Zorro snapped firmly. "As for his demise, I had no hand in that-"

"Lies!" bellowed Riviera, scooting away far enough that he might be free of the blade's tip and withdraw his own sword.

The two whirled in a dangerous dance, their blades clashing and ringing in the evening air. Rodrigo, a seasoned soldier with plenty of experience with the blade, had never fought anyone with the swift precision and elegant deadliness as this rogue. Zorro merely smiled as they fought – no one would have suspected his father, the 'worst swordsman in all California', to have been his secret tutor since he was three years old.

"Oye! The Commandante's fighting some bandido!"

Zorro knew it was time to cut the party short upon hearing innocent Private Reyes's voice calling the men. "I'm afraid this dance will have to be continued at a later date, mi Commandante," he stated, easily twirling his wrist so that the two swords were entangled and Riviera's blade was soon whirling in the air and collapsing behind them. Slashing his signature 'Z' into the man's pristine uniform, he warned him with narrowed eyes and a low tone, "Whenever you persecute any innocent person, whenever you steal and con the unfortunate, whenever you kill for the sake of making yourself known, I shall be there to punish you tenfold. I shall not rest until you are either behind bars or gone from this country!" Giving a sharp whistle, he swept his leg under the Commandante's, sending him sprawling on the dirt floor just as wild Viento galloped into the cuartel and allowed him to swing onto his back. Tipping his hat at the defeated officer, he cried out, "Adios, Commandante!" Kicking his heels into the steed's sides, he rode out just as the soldiers filed out in their long johns to defend their leader too late.

Zorro couldn't help but laugh as he heard Riviera's angry cry, the pueblo growing smaller behind him with each passing step. His ride wasn't over yet, though. Passing through the farmlands, he rode past the Garcia estate and saw the older man resting on the verandah, spewing his drink in disbelief as he saw Zorro ride past his home and salute him mockingly. Moving on without a second glance, Zorro hoped that he would be able to distract the soldiers guarding his home long enough for Sombra to guide Padre Mendoza towards Monterey.

Passing through the lands that belonged to Doña Magdalena Montez, a widow of ten years who changed her surname to her maiden name upon her husband's passing. She had always been a good friend to his parents, and as he recalled, her daughter Rosa would be at least twenty by now…

The window of the second floor opened, a single candle lighting the face of a young woman peering out into the night to see who the nighttime rider was. He was star-struck for an instant – she had her mother's creamy skin and thick, rich chocolate locks, but in the light of the moon and her lonely candle, he could see her eyes had been inherited from her deceased father – a stunning violet blue, the color of irises. Her pink lips parted in surprise as the masked man rode by, her hand resting over the collar of her nightdress. He could not fight the temptation and decided to tip his hat to her and wink, receiving a coy smirk from the girl before she promptly shut her window.

"As shrewd as her mother," he noted with a grin, continuing on and shaking his head in disbelief. How was it that shy little Rosita had grown and become so playful? She didn't even blush at the sight of him! "I'll have to pay my respects to her sometime soon," he murmured to himself, urging Viento onward.

His spirits began to soar as he caught sight of the wall of his home, the soldiers' heads turning to see who could be coming at this hour. "Buenas noches, señores!" he called out merrily. "Care for a little chase?"

"Who is this idiota?!" one man called, only to yelp as Zorro flicked his whip and sent the soldier's hat flying.

"I am the defender of the innocent and enemy to the wicked – I am the Fox, el Zorro, and I have returned to continue my work!" Cracking his whip once more as Viento reared and neighed loudly, he laughed carelessly, Sombra arriving suddenly his side with his own pure white mare, Estrella. "Come, Sombra, let's teach these soldiers how to ride like the wind!"

As the soldiers poured out, abandoning the hacienda, the family emerged also, their eyes growing wide at the sight of the two renegades. The siblings were in shock as they saw one covered in war paint and feathers, dressed in the loincloth and boots of a native warrior, the other clad in fine black cloth with a flapping cape and mask, both of them grand on their mighty steeds.

"Who are they?" Isabella gasped, admiration shining through her bright brown eyes.

"I heard the names Zorro and Sombra…Zorro…like the stories of old," Alejandro murmured, stroking his goatee in musing as he watched the two men lead the soldiers away. A wry grin came onto his lips as he watched the distracted officers give chase to the two bandits – if these men had been under his command, he would have cut their rations for falling for such a trick…however, he was no longer in charge, so it gave him great mirth that Riviera would have to deal with this when he found out. "Even if they're leading the men away, I suggest we stay put. We would look suspicious if we decided to run away or ask for help."

"I agree," Consuela nodded, Bernardo following in suit of her gesture.

"There's nowhere to go anyways, and besides, we have done nothing wrong. He said he would lift the arrest once the hanging was over…if there is a hanging, that is," Lolita stated, glancing at her husband.

"This buffoon is only going to cause more problems for the pueblo…what if he robs my bank?!" Carlos panicked.

"I'm fairly certain they won't rob the bank," Don Diego said lightly, a proud smile spreading on his lips as he exchanged looks with his wife and two servants. There were only two people that could have possibly undertaken this effort. Excusing himself, he motioned for Bernardo to follow him now that his other children were distracted and ran for the secret passage in the library. Running down the hidden stairway, he arrived at the cavernous stable to see that Viento was missing. Patting Tornado's nose, he watched as Bernardo motioned for him to go upstairs and check the cabinet. Together, the duo hurried up the steps to the secret room hidden behind his private quarters and found his costume was indeed missing. In place of it was a note written in his son's hand.

"Forgive me for taking the suit, Papá, but I didn't have time to make my own. Emilio and I will return in a week's time for our grand return home and will explain everything to you. Until then, take care and be safe.

With love and respect,

Your Son,

Diego/Z."

"And so it begins, Bernardo," Diego de la Vega murmured, handing the note to his friend as a swell of pride filled his chest. "It's time for the next generation to take over." Bernardo made a 'z' in the air, a swishing sound escaping his lips, just as he used to do many years ago. Diego laughed and nodded. "Sí, Bernardo…Zorro has returned."

~The End~