Disclaimer: No copyright infringement meant with story. Characters owned by ZPI, not by me. I only wish to borrow them for a little while.
Summary: What happens after the incidents in "Ultimate Justice"? How does Diego avoid suspicions, especially those of the Alcalde? Plus, the Alcalde has plans of his own.
AN: Thank you so very much for the response to the first chapter of this story. I believe I have worked out a different type of ending than I usually see in all sorts of FF stories re: a possible ending for such a scenario. I hope you will enjoy it. We shall see when we get there. Not sure how many chapters it will take to get there though…haven't quite finished writing this all out. Sigh. Thank you to all reviewers, especially those anonymous reviewers who didn't leave their name on their reviews.
Previously:
Since he had been able to go to bed at a reasonable hour the night before, due to his injuries plus nothing requiring Zorro's attention, Diego was up before 9am that day. He had time to dress and eat breakfast with his father. Of course his father had to comment on the strangeness of seeing him awake before noon, but Diego brushed off his light teasing and enjoyed a nice conversation with his father.
Until Ignacio de Soto showed up at their door shortly after they had finished breakfast.
As father and son were finishing their breakfast, a servant entered the dining room to announce the Alcalde was waiting for them in the salon.
His father looked at Diego in surprise, Diego raised an eyebrow in return. "I have no idea why he's here either, Father." Exhaling loudly, Diego suggested, "Why don't we join him in the salon and find out."
Father and son entered the salon to find the Alcalde de Soto standing near their fireplace waiting for them.
"Buenos dias, Don Alejandro. Don Diego."
"Buenos dias, Alcalde. What can we help you with this morning?" Don Alejandro asked.
Acting as though he was host and not guest, de Soto gestured towards the sofa. "Why don't we all take a seat? I have something to discuss with both of you."
Diego looked at de Soto with a question in his eyes. de Soto was indeed looking like a cat ready to pounce on a mouse whenever he looked at Diego and smiled slowly at him. Thinking quickly, Diego could think of nothing which would prompt such behavior from his alleged enemy.
After taking a seat, Diego asked, "So what is it you need to discuss, Alcalde?"
Giving Diego a huge smile, the Alcalde said, "Funny you should be the one to ask, Diego."
Noting the familiarity, he now adopted, Diego become even more suspicious. Ignacio hardly ever called him Diego unless he was referring to their school days.
Pulling a letter out of his suit pocket, the Alcalde handed it to Diego. "Here is something you will find most interesting to read, Diego."
Taking it, Diego felt the most invasive sense of danger. He first looked at the name of the sender. Juan de Carlo? Our old classmate? What could…Diego's eyes widened and before he could stop himself, Diego looked at Ignacio, who returned his surprised glance with a knowing smile.
"Yes, our old classmate Juan de Carlo, Diego. I had written him months ago asking for information about you, strangely enough."
As Diego slowly took the letter out of the envelope and opened it, his father asked, "Why ever would you do something like that, Alcalde?"
"Forewarned is forearmed, Don Alejandro." At Alejandro's thunderous look, the Alcalde hurried on, in a seemingly placating tone. "What I mean, Don Alejandro, is I simply had a means for getting information about one of my townspeople A good Alcalde uses all the resources available, whatever they may be, to govern well, doesn't he?" Diego looked up to observe Ignacio's supposed innocent look as he watched Diego.
However, Diego had difficulties of his own to deal with. Returning to the letter, he hurriedly read what was written. In it, Juan talked of knowing Diego through mutual classes, and spoke of Diego's intelligence. But he then moved onto more dangerous subjects. Such as knowledge of Diego taking swordfighting lessons with Sir Edmund Kendall. Taking part in 'innocent' brawls with fellow classmates. Occasionally getting reprimanded for pranks against instructors and classmates. Excelling in school sports. And…worst of all…the fact that Sir Edmund had given his sword of Toledo steel to Diego for besting him in combat in the courtyard.
Diego tried to swallow the lump in his throat and tamp his nerves to a manageable level before he raised his eyes to the Alcalde. Not surprisingly, the Alcalde was leaning back comfortably in the armchair, his legs crossed, a smile on his face, looking right at Diego.
"Interesting letter, wouldn't you say, Diego?"
Despite himself, Diego felt he color vanish from his face. Alejandro, watching his son, became alarmed and grabbed the letter out of his son's hands and began to read. de Soto couldn't resist explaining to Don Alejandro what he was reading.
"You see, Don Alejandro, Juan de Carlo was a year younger than me, two years older than Diego. Juan was able to get to know your son quite well, unlike me who only knew him from the play we were in together before I graduated."
Grasping for as much nonchalance as he could, Diego said, "I don't understand what you're trying to say, Alcalde. I was young in Spain, foolish even. Like most young men, I was involved with pranks, but when I returned, I had learned my lesson. I needed to be a mature young man, not a rambunctious hooligan." He added, "I was…embarrassed…by such pranks, so I didn't tell anyone."
"I can perhaps see that, Diego. But," the Alcalde asked with wide-eyed innocence, "what is this about being awarded Sir Edmund's sword? Where did those excellent sword fighting skills disappear to?"
Alejandro had finished reading and looked from the Alcalde to his son. Feeling the need to stand, he stood up to face Diego better. "I don't understand, Diego." He shook the letter, emphasizing it. "This describes a totally different individual than what you are, what you've been like since you've returned from Spain. Why, if I didn't know better, this would describe Zor…." Alejandro suddenly realized what he had done, what he'd revealed in his shock, and numbly sat back down again.
Smiling widely, de Soto stood up. "Yes, Don Alejandro. Exactly." Walking to the doorway, he yelled, "Men! Come in here!"
Alejandro and Diego watched in astonishment as ten soldiers rushed in and surrounded them with rifles drawn, mostly aimed at Diego, who had risen from the couch. Looking at them, Diego realized he couldn't chance an escape with so many armed soldiers and his unarmed father present.
"See, I had ordered your servants to only announce me while my soldiers waited in the vestibule." Turning to Diego, de Soto said, "Diego de la Vega, you are under arrest for committing crimes under the guise of the criminal Zorro." He approached Diego, forced him around, and cuffed his hands behind his back.
Alejandro fell back a few steps, his hand to his mouth, looking at the scene in speechless amazement for a moment. Shaking his head, he looked at the Alcalde. "Alcalde, this is…this is pure…stupidity. Someone is framing Diego. Or how well do you know this de Carlos? My son…Zorro? That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard."
The Alcalde urged his soldiers to escort Diego out of the room, paying no heed to Alejandro's words. For his age, Alejandro showed remarkable speed in being able to rush to the front door before the rest. Flinging himself in front of the door, Alejandro cried, "Stop, I say! You have clearly lost your mind, Alcalde. How dare you enter my hacienda under false pretenses and arrest my son on unbelievable charges."
Ignacio haughtily looked at Alejandro. "Me? Dare to enter under false pretenses? Please, Don Alejandro. Don't get me started on false pretenses. Your son has been masquerading as a hero for three years. How dare he?"
"Father, please," Diego said in a low tone. "Stay out of the way."
"Listen to your son, Alejandro. Or you might end up in a cell next to him." Directing the command to his men, the Alcalde said, "Men, let's get going to the jail."
Felipe rushed to Alejandro's side where they both watched Diego be assisted onto the back of one of the army's horses. Felipe was able to catch Diego's eye before they left, and Diego gave him a small nod before his horse started trotting after the others.
~~Z~~Z~~Z~~
Victoria was in the middle of finishing the breakfast rush when one of the townspeople rushed in. "The Alcalde and practically all the soldiers are bringing someone to the jail. I don't know who it is, but it looks like something big is happening!"
The few patrons left in the tavern rushed out, followed by Victoria, Maria and Alicia. The caravan entering the pueblo looked like some kind of parade, but Victoria couldn't believe her eyes as to who the prisoner was. Diego was sitting one of the Alcalde's horses, his arms chained behind his back.
"Oh Madre de Dios, it's Diego!" Alicia said, grabbing Victoria's hand. "Has the Alcalde gone crazy? What could Don Diego ever do to get arrested by the Alcalde?"
Victoria could only shake her head. She hadn't heard of any uprising happening recently for which Diego could be arrested. She scanned the crowd and saw Don Alejandro riding his horse into the pueblo. Avoiding the townspeople gathering, she rushed towards Alejandro as he tied his horse to the hitching post in front of her tavern.
"Don Alejandro! Whatever is going on?" Victoria asked. "Is this a joke? Why is Don Diego being arrested?"
Alejandro looked at the young woman in front of him. A hundred ideas seemed to pass through his mind, fighting for awareness and vocalization. He tried to speak, couldn't, cleared his throat and tried again. "Victoria, for some reason, the Alcalde…he thinks…he thinks Diego is Zorro."
Victoria looked across the pueblo as Diego was being led into the jail. Her mouth fell open as she attempted to digest what the older man had said. In her mind's eye, she attempted to see Diego in a black mask and outfit, but she just couldn't see it. Turning back to Alejandro, she asked, "Has he gone crazy? How could Diego be Zorro? I mean, haven't we seen them together? Hasn't Diego shown to be terrible with a sword, with tracking, with almost everything Zorro is good at?"
Rubbing his forehead, Alejandro said, "The Alcalde claims to have received a letter from someone who knew Diego in Spain, claiming he had all of these talents, including swordfighting. Even besting the instructor in a sword fight before he left Spain."
Suddenly, everything was just too much for Victoria, and the world faded before her eyes. Don Alejandro caught her before she could hit her head on the ground.
~~Z~~Z~~Z~~
After seeing to Victoria, and agreeing to allow her to see Diego first, Don Alejandro strode back into the Alcalde's office. Bristling with anger, attempting to hold onto his anger with every fiber of his being, Alejandro could only think of one thing. Getting his son out of jail. Because he really did not belong in the jail. Simply because the thought of his unique but bland son being Zorro was simply…unthinkable.
"Alcalde, like I've said, this accusation of Diego being Zorro is too ridiculous for comment."
"Don Alejandro, I shared with you some of the evidence. Why doesn't that convince you?"
"Because it doesn't. And have you given thought of what will happen to you should you execute Diego?"
"To me? What concern would there be?"
"The fact that Diego is second cousin to the King of Spain. I would think it would not look favorably on your record, executing a relative of the King? And don't you wish to return to Madrid? With a promotion? Executing Diego is certainly not the way to get those things."
"Au contraire, Don Alejandro. It is unfortunate that the King has a relative who's committed treason, but…"
"But seriously, Alcalde, do you really think the King of Spain would want that to be known?" Alejandro looked at the Alcalde thoughtfully, waiting for all the pieces to connect in the Alcalde's mind.
Ignacio sat back in his chair. In his excitement at finally capturing his main irritant out here in this forgotten land, he'd failed to realize he very well might be damaging his career, instead of helping it.
Don Alejandro smiled, as if he knew he had made his point. "I will be back later to visit my son, when I'm allowed."
Ignacio grasped a chance at recovery of his ego. "So, if Diego isn't Zorro, explain why you allowed Senorita Escalante to visit her first? Are you denying there isn't a romantic attachment between those two?"
"No, I'm not denying a romantic attachment. But that doesn't mean Diego is Zorro. It simply means my son has had those feelings for her since childhood. He simply hasn't acted on them since his return due to Zorro being around. He doesn't exactly compete well with Zorro, after all." Don Alejandro walked towards the door and turned around. "If there's nothing else, Alcalde, there are a few things I have to do. But I will be back."
The Alcalde watched Don Alejandro's exit with a curling lip "Like the plague," he muttered under his breath. He leaned back in his chair and gave out one of his loud guffaws. Those de la Vegas. What pains in the arse they are. Cannot wait to be rid of them, once and for all. One way or another.
~~Z~~Z~~Z~~
After the little 'processing' the Alcalde claimed to have to do, Diego found himself thrown into one of the cells. He remained standing until the Alcalde had left before he sat down and placed his head in his hands. He then looked up and stared at the wall, shaking his head, wondering how in the world did all of this occurred.
Diego knew there had always been a chance of something like this occurring. Over the years, he had to admit, he did escape several near-misses of discovery. Zafira being one. Sir Edmund as well. But luckily he was always able to avoid his identity being discovered. Only to have this happen.
He was proud of how Felipe managed himself in view of this crisis. Diego hoped Felipe knew what Diego had meant for him to do. Depending on what Felipe can manage, they had discussed several different scenarios should Diego be arrested someday. Hopefully, Felipe would be able to put one of them into action. However, part of the current problem was Ignacio's hesitancy to announce his intentions about a trial. No idea whatsoever if he was considering a speedy spoof of a trial, an actual trial befitting a relative of the King, or hanging by way of emergency degree. What were his plans for Diego?
His thoughts were interrupted with the Alcalde reentering the jail, followed by Victoria. "I have decided to allow you one visitor at this time. Your father, for some reason, decided to allow Senorita Escalante to visit." He cackled as he left them alone.
Victoria rushed to the jail, gripping the bars of the cell as if trying to get as close to Diego as she could. "Diego, is it true?" she whispered.
She looked into his eyes, and suddenly Diego knew when she could see him behind Zorro's mask. Her eyes widened and she shook her head, covering her mouth with her hand.
Nodding, Diego placed his hand over hers gripping one of the bars. "I'm so sorry you've found out this way. I never wanted it to be this way," he whispered.
He watched as a little spark of anger came and went in her eyes. Instead, Victoria apparently controlled her anger and asked, still in a whisper, "What are we to do?"
Diego shrugged his shoulders. "First we have to see what the Alcalde is going to do. He didn't announce right away what my 'punishment' was going to be. So…maybe he's planning on a trial."
Tears appeared in Victoria's eyes. "I know he isn't Ramon, but I doubt he will do things any differently from the way our previous Alcalde would've done." Putting her other hand on top of his own, she said, "Even though I'm angry at you for keeping this a secret, Diego de la Vega, I'm so scared I'll lose you before I even get to have you."
Diego bent down and kissed her fingers in between the bars then captured her eyes. "I feel the same way, Preciosa."
The door of the jail opened and de Soto walked in. "Senorita, time for you to leave. I have a few matters to discuss with de la Vega."
Victoria drew herself up to her full height and squared her shoulders. "Alcalde, as a…friend…of Diego's I have a right to know what are your plans for him."
"Oh, you think so." Looking at Diego, Ignacio laughed. "So…a 'friend' are you? Well, not sure about that. And regarding the benefit of a trial, I haven't decided what to do yet."
Diego was very suspicious about that. His eyes narrowed as he asked, "What exactly do you mean by that, Alcalde?"
"You mean, why have I gone through all this trouble in confronting you, then not hanging you right away? Just that I have a few things to consider." Turning to Victoria, he said, "Please, Senorita, time for you to leave."
Catching Diego's eyes, and with her back to the Alcalde, Victoria mouthed, "I love you," and left, with one last glance at Diego before going through the jail door into the Alcalde's office.
Diego, watching his love leave his sight for possibly the last time, straightened up his back as he watched the Alcalde approach him and waited for the confrontation to begin.
AN: Shame on me for a cliffie! Oh well. Gotta do it, according to that mischievous Muse. The other thing about that Muse? She really, really loooooves reviews. Wouldn't you make her happy and leave one? Always much, much appreciated!
Oh, yeah, I kinda hated when Victoria fainted in the actual episodes. Both episodes were kinda silly. But…it just seemed to fit, I think, in this story.