AN: Dear readers, I began writing "Of Men and Legends" in order to integrate the first stories I have ever written and published, starting with "A Close Call" and finishing with "The Man Behind the Mask", yet this ended up as much more than I had originally planned.

OMAL is a post-tv-show series of stories, not one story, although it is also that. The stories can be read independently, but they are connected through my OCs and the events in some of them impacting or just being mentioned by the next ones in the series.

Before you start reading this, I would suggest you read my story "The Hound" whose action takes place before the end of the TV show and which will be relevant for at least one of the stories included here. But, since I did my best to make sure to also include a summary of that story in one of the chapters of this series, reading it is not compulsory to understand this. You might like it, though.

Also, I should mention that the stories in the original series are not completely integrated. If you haven't read them, you might want to read this series on a certain fan-made non-profit site also dedicated to fanfiction which I am unsure I can name here. There, the stories are completely integrated, so you needn't switch between them when you get to the chapters which don't fully integrate the original ones (although I did make sure to keep here all that I considered essential).

My story "The Man Behind the Mask" is an alternative ending for this series (it was how things were originally meant to end but, in the meantime, I decided I could very well use the opportunity to write a new ending, so...)

Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the NWZ characters, make no money out of this, and only write and publish for the fans of the series. I do, however, own the OCs and am quite attached to them, so please don't use them without my consent. Also, I do own the ideas for the stories, so do not copy them, nor republish this series anywhere else without my express permission.

FYI: The rating for this is somewhere between K+ and T due to some implied adult situations, words and ideas that are not fit for very young audiences, but I tried my best to stay as close to the original spirit of the TV show as possible.

I owe a big THANK YOU! to La Cuidadora for correcting this (the mistakes you will certainly find are all mine, though, since I many times re-write parts of the chapters after she corrects them) and also to Stormyswept for her own corrections and for challenging me to insert a crime-mystery amongst the stories of the series. I had no idea I could write that...

Finally, I'd like to thank all those who have read and reviewed this while I've been writing and publishing it story-by-story. I came close to abandoning this series quite a few times for lack of reviews, at least in the beginning, so you have no idea how important your feedback was to me. All those reading and liking this in the future have also you to thank for it!

I know! Long introduction, right? I'm done, so be glad about that! :P

Enjoy and do leave your reviews! Just to make me happy :)

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It was a horrible day. Almost as bad as the one on which Dona Elena de la Vega had taken her last breath. It was the day Don Alejandro lost a son he had not even known existed until moments before losing him forever.

The elderly caballero had always wanted another child; boy or girl, it didn't matter. Now he found out that he had had one, a son he had never had the chance to raise and whose mother had died unaware he existed, before touching him, or just only looking into his eyes. A son who had tried, in his misguided rage, to kill him and his twin brother.

The woman who had stolen Gilberto, that awful woman calling herself his mother, had raised him to believe his parents never wanted him, and he had believed her. Even when faced with the truth, with the chance to ask his own questions and find out what kind of people his closest blood relatives were, he continued to believe her. And for what?

Ynez Risendo refused to explain herself after Gilberto's death, not uttering another word, nor giving Don Alejandro any explanation about her actions, no matter how much he insisted on being granted one.

"Secrets and lies lead to tragedies," Diego concluded just for himself as he rode back to the pueblo, accompanying - just like his father, De Soto, Mendoza, Felipe, and that horrid woman - his brother's corpse.

The events of the day had a strange impact on him. He was regretful about Gilberto's death, as he would have been for any other man. A life had ended that day. The fact that said life had been his twin brother's was something he still had trouble assimilating.

Twice the man had come close to claiming his life that day, although he never tried to claim his. He could have easily plunged his sword into his evil heart, but he was not the kind of man to do such a thing, not even to protect his secret and, thus, his life. There was always another way; or, at least, that was what Diego had been taught to believe.

Gilberto had still died, just before uttering that one word that would have ended Diego's life. Had De Soto waited a few moments longer to shoot, he might have not taken the shot at all. And even if he would have still decided to take the shot, he could have still decided to also put a noose around Diego's neck. By that evening, Don Alejandro could have gone from being the father of twins to having no son at all.

That was no way for a parent to discover his son's secret, though, moments before losing him forever. Nor was it right for Victoria to discover her best friend was also the man she had promised to marry when he could no longer keep any of the promises he had made her.

As all those thoughts tormented him on their silent way to the pueblo, Diego decided to finally share his secret with his father and the woman he loved.

When the time came to do so, though, he realized, at the last moment, that he was letting emotions cloud his judgment. He had spent a decade keeping his secret for more than one reason. He had done it to protect his father and the woman he loved; yet he had also done it to protect himself and Felipe, for it was impossible to know how either Don Alejandro or Victoria would react or behave should they find out the truth before it was the right time for them to know it.

And that time had not come yet. He still had a price on his head and Zorro's mission had not ended with Gilberto's death. In truth, nothing had changed for him.

Diego, thus, backed away in the nick of time, unable to utter the name of his alter-ego, and announcing instead that he had decided to adopt Felipe. That decision he hadn't even discussed with the younger man before the moment he blurted it out.

In all fairness, the tall caballero had always seen Felipe as a son, since the day he first found him, so the idea of adopting him did by no means come to him all of a sudden. In fact, he had been considering it for a very long while and even discussed it with his family lawyer. He hadn't gone through with it before because his double life put anyone close to him at risk; and then there was also the issue of not knowing anything about Felipe's birth family. That meant that he could still have relatives, people who might claim him one day; and, as long as they weren't certain he was really an orphan, while he was growing up, the adoption procedures couldn't even be started.

One thing had changed lately, though: Felipe was now an adult before the law. That meant that all Diego needed in order to adopt him was his consent, and the caballero was rather certain the younger man would easily agree to legally become his son.

Felipe, on the other hand, was so relieved by the fact Diego hadn't gone through with the confession he had been about to make, that he barely registered the announcement, and didn't yet know if to take it seriously. That was, in part, because, while the De la Vegas were the only family he knew, he never, in his most beautiful dreams, believed that the day would come when he might call himself a De la Vega. Being allowed to live, learn, and help them was all he had allowed himself to hope for, and it was enough for him. Being Zorro's accomplice, helper, and occasional savior was also something rather special to the young man, and he liked the fact that it was only him to share Diego's secret.

Thus, when the tall caballero had stepped away with his father, the younger man held his breath, wondering how the older don might react to what he was certain Diego was about to confess to him.

ZZZ

As father and son stood in the plaza, one expecting the other one to answer his question, Diego knew he was no longer going to lie. However much he dreaded that moment, his father had witnessed his fight with Gilberto. He might have not overheard his brother accusing him of being Zorro, but, now that he had seen him fight, there was little chance that he had not put two and two together, already reaching the correct conclusion.

"He was going to say that, by killing me, he would also kill… Zorro." He answered, after making sure they were not being overheard.

Don Alejandro looked at him rather baffled and replied with brief, hollow laughter, at the same time shaking his head disapprovingly.

Diego held his breath at that reaction, assuming that his father was disappointed by his secret or by him having kept it for so long. He had, thus far, thought that, when he would finally reveal the truth to Don Alejandro, his father would be proud of him. Disapproval was, thus, not what he had expected.

When the old don finally spoke, however, he started oscillating between relief, disbelief, sadness, and concern.

"Was there no limit to the man's hatred?" Don Alejandro wondered. "He actually tried to pass you for Zorro, so that he could claim he had killed you for being an outlaw? Good God, Diego!"

"You don't believe that I am…"

"Of course not, Son! That would be preposterous!" His father replied. "But I have to say I am impressed with the swordsmanship you have demonstrated! I had always thought you to be a poor swordsman. When have you become so good at it, and how?"

Diego wondered how to answer. He didn't want his father to find out the truth about him despite having already resigned himself to the idea that his secret was out. Yet there they were, his father unwilling to accept the truth he had seen with his own eyes. That was both good and bad.

It was good for it meant Don Alejandro could continue to be ignorant of the danger his son was in every time Zorro made an appearance. It was also bad because it meant that the man he most loved and respected could not even bring himself to consider that the son he had raised was the pueblo's masked hero.

The tall caballero pondered for a few moments about the perfection to which he had played the part of the studious Diego, unwilling to ever take a risk or fight for a cause. Surely, if he ever found himself forced to embark on a proper career, acting was a good choice for him.

"I guess I learned more than I had thought from Sir Kendall." He eventually uttered, wondering if his father would believe such an explanation. "Perhaps the idea of fighting for my survival made me a better swordsman than I ever thought I was."

Don Alejandro seemed satisfied at hearing those words which, at least, made sense in his mind. After all, he very well knew people are able of extraordinary deeds when confronted with extraordinary circumstances.

Truth be told, he was also too shaken to think straight right then, so, if Diego would have told him he had learned fencing from Felipe, he might have also accepted that idea, however absurd it was. The only notion he could not entertain, after losing a son he hadn't even known he had, was that the son he did know was not the person he appeared to be.

In his mind, there must have been another explanation to the absurd concept that Diego was hiding a whole different personality and life from him, and that other explanation was the only one that made sense. His studious son was not an outlaw with a death sentence hanging over him; he was just shaken, forced to defend himself and his father, and who proved to be a more capable swordsman than anyone had given him credit for. Or, maybe, Gilberto hadn't been such a worthy adversary, which was also possible.

For, in all fairness, while he had entertained the possibility that Diego might be Zorro on the way to town, Don Alejandro had also remembered that, in the past, there had been quite a few instances when Diego and Zorro were in two different places at the same time, one in prison, for example, and the other one defending a farmer; one in the pueblo under siege, and the other one riding to defend it. Several other similar situations soon came to his mind, thus leading him to the obvious conclusion that it was impossible for the two men to be one.

"That certainly makes more sense than the silly idea that you could be Zorro." Don Alejandro replied, relieved by the fact that Diego had not contradicted his reasonable conclusion. "You did very well, Son!" The don added, patting the younger man on the shoulder. "And I am glad you finally decided to adopt Felipe! You raised him to be a fine young man, and I will be proud to call him my grandson!"

"I know, Father! I was thinking about making the announcement a week from now, on his birthday, but, considering everything that has happened today, I thought we all needed some good news." Diego told him sincerely.

"You can say that again." Don Alejandro uttered. "Diego… I do hope you don't believe that, by adopting that brave young man, you can postpone indefinitely the prospect of giving me grandbabies! You are not going to avoid marriage for much longer if that's what you think!"

"Of course not, Father. I do, however, hope you might have a little more patience with me."

"Alright, Diego! Just don't make me wait for too long!"

"Oh… Father… If you don't mind, I'd rather not mention to anyone that I defeated Gilberto. I would feel ashamed should anyone find out how close I came to killing my own brother." Diego thought to add as they were returning to Victoria and Felipe.

"I… I understand, Son. It will remain between us. Nobody else saw it. But I would like for the two of us to perfect those skills with the blade you have. To be frank, I think you might be even better than I am!"

"You really think so, Father?" Diego replied with a smile. "Well, I am willing to find out if you are!"

"Excellent! We start as soon as your arm mends, or even sooner if you want to practice with the left one! You might actually be left-handed, you know? Maybe that is why we've always thought you are an appalling swordsman. You were practicing with the wrong hand."

Diego slightly nodded, seeming to consider that possibility.

"Now, I believe we need to go make the arrangements with Padre Benitez for Gilberto's funeral." Don Alejandro continued.

"I think he is still with the Alcalde, Father. Perhaps we should go have a drink at the tavern first. Something to eat, as well, maybe…" Diego suggested.

Don Alejandro agreed with a nod and accompanied his son back to Victoria and Felipe, the four of them heading together for the tavern.

ZZZ

De Soto's meeting with Padre Benitez was longer than any of them would have expected. He was feeling somewhat guilty for shooting the Emissary but, most of all, he was afraid about the repercussions his actions would have on his career. He was certain, after his brief discussion with Don Alejandro and Diego, that they would testify to his defense, should an inquiry be made. Since the only other witness to the deed was the madwoman who had stolen Gilberto from the De la Vegas, it was, in his opinion, improbable that anything she had to say would carry any weight. However, his actions did carry, under normal circumstances, a death sentence, for which reason he doubted he would be let off easily. There would be a price to pay, and he feared what that price might be.

Padre Benitez tried to guide him towards asking himself some hard, yet necessary questions, an effort which proved rather useless in the short run. Having come so close to death, his recent decisions - including abandoning his faithful sergeant despite knowing that meant condemning him to torture; and having shot a man in the back - should have been reasons enough for anyone else to turn a new page. However, when it came to Ignacio de Soto, all the events of that past week had achieved was to grant him a new appreciation for life. Especially his.

So, when he returned to his office, it took Mendoza no more than ten minutes to realize that his commanding officer's recent brush with death had little impact on the man's character, and it would still be business as usual. There were changes in De Soto, though, but they were too subtle at that point for anyone to notice.

ZZZ

As for Victoria Escalante, the young woman was grieving for her friends, part of her still unable to comprehend how was it possible that the Emissary was truly Don Alejandro's son when he was nothing like either him or Diego.

Thinking of the tall caballero she considered her best friend, she couldn't help but feel proud of his decision to adopt Felipe. Not many men, especially rich haciendados, would do what he did for the young deaf-mute, and even less would consider giving a handicapped orphan their name.

And there was also something else she discovered while thinking about her tall friend, and that was the fact that he had a very good instinct when it came to people. After all, he did realize Gilberto had some personal vendetta against his family days before the truth had been uncovered. Thinking back, she realized that had not even been the first time. In fact, the only time he had been wrong about someone, that someone had been Ignacio de Soto, whom Diego naively thought to be a good man and who proved the exact opposite.

"Or, maybe, Diego was not that wrong about him." Victoria though. "De Soto did end up saving his life. Although, it was probably his own life he wanted to save." She went on.

The young woman was also worried about the De la Vegas, especially given the injuries they had sustained when Gilberto attacked them. With the doctor out of town, she was afraid that their wounds might get infected if not properly cared for. Consequently, she resolved to watch over them and, if anything turned out to be wrong, she had every intention to help care for her friends.

When nothing happened, though, she was a little disappointed that she didn't get the chance to help them, especially since she found a strange need to comfort the tall caballero and just be in his company, despite all the effort she had put into suppressing the true feelings she had always harbored for her best friend.