Diego had safely arrived at the hacienda. He had no difficulties along his ride and was able to safely reach the cave without being caught by anyone. He had quickly groomed Toronado before making sure that he was fed in his stall. As soon as his faithful horse had been taken care of he quickly changed into his regular clothes. Unfortunately he had not had time to be able to do much more in his cave in order to relax before he would have to begin traveling. The main thing that had been important to him was being able to speak with his father and Felipe before he left to find a way to solve his dilemma.

"Oh Diego thank goodness there you are!" his father practically shouted with relief as he stepped through the fireplace.

Both his father and Felipe had been waiting for him in the library. They must have been waiting for him to arrive.

"I can't stay for very long," he replied to his father.

Rather than allowing himself to sit down he stood against the wall as a precaution. He was worried that he might have to make a quick retreat back through the fireplace to hide in the cave if someone had already discovered that he was missing.

"What are your plans?" Felipe who couldn't disguise the worry written all over his face signed.

"I am going to have to spend the next several hours riding Fenix to Santa Monica to see if I can find out more information about this lady and what her agenda might be," Diego spoke as his father and Felipe hung on to his every word.

He wanted to spend more time with them but he definitely knew that he needed to finish collecting what he needed to pack and take with him. It would have been nice to be able to ride there on Toronado, but in the event that he had to bring someone back with him to be able to prove his innocence he felt that it would be better to go as his normal self. He would have his regular horse with him instead.

"I need to go and pack my things now," he regretfully informed them.

His father stood up and walked over and embraced him.

"I am so sorry you are going through this my son and I have faith that you will find evidence that will clear your name," his father lovingly reassured him.

Felipe cleared his throat and pointed at the clock on the mantle. Diego walked over to him and threw his arms around the boy, embracing him in a fierce hug.

"I will go out and get Fenix for you and hide her in the cave," his father informed him as he turned to put his plan into action.

Diego quickly left the room to pack a small sack with some food to eat along the way as well as a few other necessary things. He found one of the small ribbons that Victoria had left behind during the time when she had stayed with them and placed it in the sack. He hoped that it would bring him luck and bring him back to her as well. Finally he took a quick glance around his home before having to leave to begin his quest for answers. As he reached the fireplace he heard several raised voices. It definitely seemed as if someone had noticed that he was missing from the jail. The soldiers were trying to force their way into the hacienda. He could hear his father's voice as his father was arguing with them as he attempted to delay the soldiers from gaining entry. His father was trying to buy him some time so that he could escape.

He quickly ducked through the fireplace and into the cave. He sealed the hidden entrance behind him and watched through the peephole as the soldiers began to storm through the house.

"I told you that my son is not here!" his father adamantly raised his voice.

He could see DeSoto mocking his father.

"Then I suggest that you tell us where he is," the seething alcalde forcefully spoke as spit flew from his mouth.

His father sighed.

"Perhaps Zorro is hiding him somewhere," his father partially lied.

It wasn't exactly a lie as he was hidden in Zorro's cave.

Diego turned and walked further into the cave where Fenix was impatiently waiting for him. His father had saddled her and had her ready to leave.

"Next time it will be just you and me," he promised Toronado as he placed the sack into a saddle bag.

He leapt up into the saddle and proceeded to carefully and quietly exited the cave. It almost seemed to be a moonless night as clouds hid the light of the moon. Thankfully he knew the path before him very well and could easily flee without getting lost. He was out in the night air, and embracing the dark cover of night. He could hear his heavy breathing. The hacienda and the threat to him grew further and further behind him as he continued forward towards answers and finding the proof that he desperately needed.

He had the mindset of Zorro and had a strong will to survive. He looked like the scholar who rarely fought back, but it was Zorro who was dressed in Diego's clothing. He was a fox dressed in sheep's clothing. His faith had been shaken, but not broken. Even though it seemed as if the day had tortured him, the nighttime was his solitude and comfort. During the night his mind always seemed to awaken and become filled with ideas. He had experienced so much more during his life in Los Angeles than he could have imagined while studying in Spain. He had learned a lot and had become a very well educated man while abroad, but his life in California had taught him a lot more about the way the world worked and how to survive. He was surrounded by darkness. There wasn't much more that he could do other than reflect on himself and the circumstances that had resulted in him being forced to ride throughout the night far away from his bed and any chance of getting to sleep through the night.

After what seemed like a long amount of time had passed Diego opened his pocket watch to check the time. Nobody seemed to have followed him and he felt comfortable relaxing for a moment. The moon was shining down on him as the clouds covering it had passed some time ago. As the light from the moon hit the glass on his watch a small rainbow seemed to have formed. He felt that the rainbow seemed to be a sign of hope in the darkness that surrounded him. Judging by the time on his watch there would be no sign of morning light for the next two hours at least. He was on his own with just his horse, the moon, and his own inner demons to keep him company. He was feeling regrets about leaving his father, Felipe, and Victoria behind to deal with DeSoto and his men.

The lightning he saw in the distance was a welcoming distraction as it danced across the sky. It was a very rare phenomenon that absolutely fascinated him. Oh how he almost wished that it would rain throughout the San Fernando Valley. He hadn't witnessed rain in a very long time. Rain would feel nice against his hot skin as he continued to flee towards answers and a way to end this nightmare that he was stuck in. Yes, he wished that he would wake up soon and realize that all of the events that had occurred over the last day had been a horrible dream that had been created by his mind.

He felt as if he were trapped between Heaven and Hell. He was a protector and defender of humankind as well as animals. He was a kind and generous man who helped without expecting anything in return. Unfortunately the world was filled with people who's moral compass had failed and they committed transgressions against others. They were a bringer of evil that he had to battle as Zorro to restore peace and goodwill. Thankfully he had gained a lot of experience during the years that he had been protecting the people as Zorro. He had honed his detective skills and had become exceptionally good with sneaking around and not being seen.

Diego realized that he had been mumbling to himself. He was frustrated with having to work through the fatigue that was affecting his body and his eyesight. He had already decided that he would not sleep until he had reached his destination. He intended on stopping for rest breaks along the way for Fenix, but didn't want to risk falling asleep and being caught off guard by an outlaw or a wild animal who felt as if he had invaded its home. He continued to push through the fatigue that he had been ignoring.

A sound that he had been waiting to hear broke through his jumbled thoughts. He could hear the faint sound of water flowing. Apparently Fenix had also heard the sound of the water as her ears began to twitch. Diego began to steer the horse towards the sound. The sound grew louder and louder until he found himself at the edge of a stream. He dismounted from Fenix and led her closer to the refreshing water. She bowed her head and began to graciously siphon the water through her pursed lips.

Diego began to splash water on his face. The coolness of the water against his hot skin seemed to help him feel more alert. He needed more than water to help keep himself awake. With a swift glance around his surroundings he decided that the tree beside the stream would be a useful tool for building up endorphins. As Fenix continued to graze near him he launched himself straight up, catching a branch of the tree with both hands. He allowed himself to dangle from the branch for a moment before taking a deep breath and pulling himself up to where his chin was level with the branch. He continued with the exercise until he heard a slight cracking of the branch, letting go of it as he landed on his feet. He felt more alert and began to explore the area on foot as he continued to allow the horse to have a break. It wouldn't be too much longer before he reached Santa Monica.