A.N – Thanks for your nice reviews, especially to the ones doing a "review marathon", reading from the beginning. (And to all the silent binge-readers: please, say something!)

Again, for this new chapter, some of the dialogue is taken and adapted from the first episode of Season 3, "The New Broom".

Chapter 94 – Sail away

While De Soto replaced his pissing tool back in his trousers, Zorro walked off, looking at his right glove in disgust, hoping his unorthodox threat had made it through the alcalde's thick skull, but… what if it hadn't?

Well, if that ball squeeze had failed to impress, then Ignacio de Soto would continue to search for a ghost, because he would board that ship later on that day to set sail tomorrow at dawn. No matter what, as his father had said.

At the rack, Zorro wiped his glove with a cloth and grabbed a black, canvas bag. When he returned, De Soto was still standing, showing his best behaviour so far: quiet and submissive.

When Zorro tried to cover De Soto's head with the black bag, the alcalde panicked, shaking his head.

"No! Don't kill me!"

"Shut up and stand still! As I said before, I'm not going to kill you, although that would be the easiest way. You can breathe in this, but you won't be able to see a thing."

He bagged him and opened the shackle to tie his hands at his back. Felipe prepared the horses then, and when they were saddled and ready, Zorro dragged the alcalde to his horse, pushed him up the saddle facing the rear end, and secured his hands on the pommel. Finally, he climbed up the black stallion, and guided the alcalde's horse outside.

"We'll go for a little ride now. While we get to our destination, we'll do some rehearsal. I hope you get it right, but don't worry, it will be easy, even for you."

ZZZ

"Pilar, I already told you nearly all my tips for cooking, but now I'll teach you how to prepare my best dish: gourmet cuisine," Victoria said at the tavern, giving last minute instructions to the woman who'd be in charge while she travelled to Europe on her honeymoon.

"The… what?"

"It's the French term for some fabulous, very tasty food. Say it: gourmet cuisine."

"Gormee… cousin?"

Victoria smiled. Close, but not quite there.

ZZZ

When they arrived at the pueblo, Zorro removed the bag from De Soto's head. He blinked under the sun, surprised to find himself back in Los Angeles.

"Seriously?"

"We took the scenic route, Alcalde. What a shame you couldn't see it," Zorro said, enjoying it. Of course, he had taken a pretty long route across the countryside to deceived that man, so he would have the impression Zorro's liar was farther away. "Now, remember: as long as you act as we rehearsed, I'll leave the territory and never bother you again. On the contrary… Well, I told you already what will happen. And it's not worthy."

Toronado walked the short distance across the plaza to stop by the alcalde's office. People gathered around them, some laughing at the alcalde's predicament, some worried about his battered face, but he still tried to look dignified while riding backwards.

A few lancers came out of the office to surround them.

"No rash moves, Señores," Zorro said, with his sword aiming at De Soto's chest.

Sergeant Mendoza signed to his men with his head, and they backed off a bit.

"The speech, if you would, Alcalde. Just as we rehearsed it."

"Sergeant, take the men back to the cuartel," De Soto said in a dull, but compliant tone. "The people at the Hacienda de la Vega are innocent and free to go."

"Lancers! You heard your commander: back to the cuartel!"

"You have a great deal to learn about me and the people from this pueblo," Zorro said when the soldiers left, retrieving his sword. "Deal with them fairly and openly and there's nothing they won't do for you. But if you treat them with cruelty, they will pay you with defiance, and I'll ride out to defend them."

People at the plaza cheered and clapped enthusiastically, approving his words.

"I'll grant you one thing," De Soto said. "You're a far more worthy adversary than I thought. But I promise you, Señor, I'll see you hang if it's the last thing I do."

"I doubt that. However, the first thing you should do, is to see a new tailor."

Zorro carved a neat Z on the alcalde's waistcoat, hoping it would be the last "Z" he ever had to carve. He bowed lightly to the public, who cheered again, delighted, and left the pueblo for good, galloping away on Toronado.

"That renegade could keep me in this godforsaken place forever…" De Soto said, a harsh realization that burst his bubble of returning to Madrid as a hero in only three months.

Victoria and Don Alejandro walked out of the tavern then.

"Ah, señor alcalde, what on earth happened?" Don Alejandro said, amused.

"It looks like our alcalde had his first encounter with Zorro," Victoria said.

"Will someone please untie me?"

Don Alejandro helped him to free his hands from the bonds. As soon as he got free, De Soto passed his leg over the horse's neck and turned around to sit straight on the saddle, as if eager to start looking for Zorro right then.

"That man is a menace. He must be eliminated. I should go to the governor in Monterey and have him double the troop strength here in this garrison."

"That won't do any good," Victoria said.

"We shall see, Señorita," De Soto said. "But I promise you when I return, I will hunt him down to kingdom come."

Felipe and Diego also walked out of the tavern, after Zorro had changed his clothes in record time.

"Oh, I would reconsider if I were you, Alcalde. Otherwise, Zorro may do to your career what he did to that lovely vest, and... to something else."

De Soto stared at Diego, narrowing his eyes, before he dismounted and walked into his office. Diego smiled and waved goodbye. Don Alejandro and Victoria looked at Diego and laughed with him, but then, De Soto got out into the plaza again, fuming.

"Why are you all here? You should be under guard at the hacienda!"

"Zorro freed everyone yesterday. It was absurd you kept so many people locked under false pretences," Diego said.

"Did he? How convenient… MENDOZAAAA!" he cried, returning to the office.

"The poor sergeant will have a hard time with that man," Diego said. "I feel sorry for him."

"Yes, but you're not going to see it," Don Alejandro said. "Come on, let's go, you are boarding that ship this evening, and we still have a few things to prepare."

"I'll have a last look at the Guardian's office, and I'll be ready," Diego said, heading there.

"One last look at the tavern," Victoria said, also disappearing.

"Felipe?" Don Alejandro asked, but the youngster made a discrete "Z" sign, wary of the dispersing crowd at the plaza, before he retreated to the back of the tavern to collect Zorro's clothes.

"Yes, of course, I'm the only one with nothing important to do right now," Don Alejandro said, shaking his head, walking up to Dulcinea. "It will be boring without them," he said to the mare, patting her neck. She snorted in agreement, bobbing her head.

ZZZ

When Felipe arrived at the cave, carrying Zorro's gear, Toronado was already there, waiting for him. He untacked him and then sent him out again, so the clever horse could go back to the stables with the other stallions, and live happily ever after as Azabache.

The youngster left Zorro's clothes and weapons in the rack, but then, he had an idea.

ZZZ

In the afternoon, Pablo and Felipe placed the heavy luggage trunks in the carriage. At last, the time had come for Diego and Victoria to travel to San Pedro to board their ship. After a little farewell party with their friends and all the servants, the De la Vegas got to the carriage, driven by Pablo.

"Enjoy your honeymoon," Mendoza said. "You deserve it."

"Thank you, Jaime. For everything," Diego said, shaking his hand. "You take care, and keep an eye on that new alcalde for me, please."

"Of course, Don Diego. Thank you," he said, as proud as a peacock because the caballero had used his first name again.

They all waved a bittersweet goodbye as the carriage got to the road.

"I hope everything goes smoothly from now on with the new alcalde," Pedro said.

"Me too, Pedro. Me too," Mendoza said. He could only hope.

ZZZ

"So, Diego, what exactly did you do to convince that man to leave Zorro alone?" Don Alejandro said during the journey to San Pedro.

"You don't really want to know," Diego said, evasive, not very proud of his methods.

"We heard him scream," Victoria said. "It wasn't nice."

"Let's say… he didn't like it too much. And let's hope the alcalde gives up and treats everybody in the pueblo fairly. Otherwise, let me know, Father."

"Relax. You're not hurrying back to dress in black again if there is trouble over here, my son. Those days are gone. We'll deal with the alcalde, don't worry."

"By the way, you didn't pack Zorro's outfit, did you?" Victoria asked, worried about that possibility.

"No, of course not," Diego said, missing Felipe's smirk. "Felipe hid everything away at the cave, and Azabache is back at the stables. I don't even have a "normal" sword with me, let alone Zorro's. Don't worry, dear. I won't get in trouble."

"Good," she said, giving him a quick, happy-wife kiss.

ZZZ

Captain Rafael de Ulloa wanted to set sail at dawn, so he insisted all passengers and cargo would be on board the "Santa Eulalia" the previous evening, ready for departure at first light. This was one of his naval idiosyncrasies, but after 20 years at sea, he believed if he changed his ways, it would only bring bad luck. Following his odd system of petty routines, he had never lost a ship, and he didn't want to risk it. Too late to change his ways now.

For that reason, once the trunks and luggage got on board, on their private cabin, the De la Vegas disembarked again for a last meal at one of the port's taverns while Pablo waited for them with the carriage.

"That Captain is pretty eccentric," Don Alejandro said while tucking into his lamb stew with gusto. "I think he got a loose screw, making you board the ship now, the night before departure. What a waste of time."

"I heard about Ulloa. He has a few superstitions and rituals he likes to maintain. Other than that, he is praised as a competent lobo de mar," Diego said. "And the "Santa Eulalia" is a pretty fast ship, very reliable."

"I hope so, because the last thing I need is to be seasick for weeks," Victoria said, already queasy due to her pregnancy, hardly eating anything from her dish.

When they finished their meal, they lazily strolled back to the ship.

"Goodbye, my son," Don Alejandro said, hugging him. "Give Emilio and Elena a big hug from me. They will be devastated when they get the letter I sent them about Esteban. Please, tell them I'm so sorry I couldn't do anything to prevent his tragic death."

"I will. And don't worry, because they'll understand. I have so much to apologize myself for…"

"Other than that, please enjoy your stay in Madrid. And… don't get in trouble!"

"I'll try my best."

Diego hugged Felipe then, while Don Alejandro embraced his daughter-in-law.

"Adiós, hija mía. Have a safe, enjoyable vacation, and return soon so I can meet my grandchild," he said, touching her abdomen.

"Thank you, Alejandro."

"Father."

"Yes, gracias, papá," Victoria said, laughing. "Your grandchild will be delighted to meet abuelo Alejandro when we return."

"Take all the time you need to heal, Victoria. There is no rush to come back here until you are ready. Both of you."

"Thank you so much for your understanding."

Victoria kissed the old man's cheek while Diego ruffled Felipe's hair. Then, he whispered in his ear: "Take care of everything. I leave you in charge."

That put a smile on the youngster's face.

When Diego and Victoria got on board, Don Alejandro put his arm around the youngster's shoulder to walk him to the carriage.

"They'll be back soon, don't worry. And in the meantime, Pablo will teach you to ride Azabache without a saddle. He's the best rider around, he even jumped over the ravine without any tack. Bareback! A pelo!"

Pablo was waiting by the carriage, ready to drive back to Los Angeles, and heard that last comment.

"I think we won't try that, Felipe. But Azabache will need regular exercise and you can be his rider, sure."

And with that, Felipe smiled again.

ZZZ

Diego and Victoria were asleep in their cabin when the ship started to move. Soon, they heard distressed cries from the crew.

"What's that?" Victoria said, startled.

"I don't know. Stay here, I'll have a look."

"Help!" someone cried outside, on deck. "A doctor! We need a doctor!"

When Diego got to the upper deck, he found the source of the commotion: one of the youngest, inexperienced seamen's legs had got tangled in a rope, and he was literally hanging from a thread of flesh below the knee. Another sailor worked to cut that rope quickly before that leg would be completely torn off and dragged to the top with the sail.

When he managed that, Diego took over to treat that carnage.

"I'm not a doctor, but I can help!" he said, applying pressure to the wound to contain the haemorrhage, the only thing he could do because that young man, barely older that Felipe, would lose that leg no matter what. "Keep calm, stay with us," he said, but the boy fainted in shock while he applied a tourniquet above the knee.

The ship was just leaving el Puerto de San Pedro, but Captain Ulloa ordered the man at the helm to return to port. He didn't like it, but that unfortunate accident had prevented their scheduled departure at dawn. And that could only mean one thing: bad luck.

ZZZ

Her pregnancy didn't agree with a long maritime voyage. From the moment they set sail, three hours after dawn, Victoria had felt sick, vomiting several times that day. While the California coast was still in the horizon, Diego wondered if it would be better to return to land. Although, the superstitious captain would probably have a meltdown if he suggested returning to San Pedro for a second time. But maybe they could get off at San Diego…

"Don't be silly," Victoria said when he suggested such thing. "I've been feeling nauseous most of the time during the last few days at land; this is not only due to the sea sickness."

"I know, but it will only get worse before it gets better, I'm afraid," Diego said, caressing her sweaty forehead. "Did you pack the herbs I left at the side?"

"Yes, I did. They are in your trunk, in a box at the bottom."

"I'll prepare my infamous anti-sickness remedy for you, querida, but be warned: it's disgusting," he said, dragging his heavy trunk from under the berth. "I should have placed the herbs in the hand luggage instead; it would be much easier to get."

When Diego opened the trunk, he found a bunch of black clothes neatly folded at the top. Further down, close to the bottom, he found Zorro's boots, the hat, and… the sword. Even the whip and the dagger were there. He took the hat and turned to look at Victoria, puzzled. At the sight of that hat, she went ballistic.

"You said you didn't bring Zorro with you!"

"It wasn't me. It must have been Felipe."

"You promised!"

"All right, calm down, will you? There's nothing I can do now, other than to place this back at the bottom, and hope that nobody ever sees this outfit."

Diego left the hat and grabbed the box containing the herbs, hiding his smile from her.

Felipe… what a cheeky rascal you are!

ZZZZZ