Lessons for Diego

Disclaimer: This story was written solely for the enjoyment of other Zorro fans and is not intended to infringe on any copyrights held by Goodman/Rosen Productions, New World Television, Zorro Productions, the estate of Johnston McCulley or anyone else.

Chapter 1

It was close to noon, but Diego still felt tired. He had been fighting and chasing bandits the whole night. At dawn he had delivered the men into the custody of Mendoza, before he had finally gone to bed. His father disapproved of his behavior of sleeping late when he had only the excuse of reading a book.

"Diego? Have you just gotten up?" Alejandro shook his head. "You should start sleeping at night, just like normal people do."

"I was reading an excellent book which discusses the latest experiments by...," Diego started.

"Stop talking about your books! It's time for you to DO something, instead of just reading about everything as life passes you by. I have already made arrangements to ensure this."

Alarmed, Diego looked at his father. "What kind of arrangements?" Diego asked suspiciously.

"Diego, I know you weren't able to finish your fencing lessons with Sir Edmund Kendall, because I recalled you from Madrid before you completed your studies and I have always felt guilty about it."

"There's no need to, Father." Diego didn't like the way this was going. "You know I'm hopeless with the sword. I'm not into fencing at all."

"That, my son, is going to change." Alejandro looked satisfied with himself. "I wrote to Pedro Diamante, the famous fencing master from Mexico and he agreed to come to Los Angeles to give you and Felipe fencing lessons."

Diego looked at his father, stunned. This couldn't happen.. Alejandro misinterpreted his son's reaction. "I knew you would like it. You'd never have thought it possible, hm?" Alejandro grinned at his son's surprise.

"Really Father, that's not necessary. I appreciate your intentions, but I don't need any lessons on fencing."

"Sure you do, Diego. In these dangerous times a man needs to know how to defend himself. Diamante will arrive next week with the coach. I got his letter today. Maybe you should prepare yourself and have a look at his fencing books before he arrives. There should be at least one in our library. And.." Alejandro looked at Diego conspiratorially, "I have another surprise for you."

"Another surprise?" Diego was alarmed. What else had his father planned?

"There's no need to be concerned, Diego," Alejandro chided. "You will be pleased and I hope it gives you an incentive to start your fencing lessons in earnest." He went to a nearby table where a large object was wrapped in a cloth. Unfolding the cloth, he revealed a saber that he presented to Diego. "A new saber I purchased for you from Madrid. It's nearly as good as real Toledo steel, but only a few can really afford a Toledo sword nowadays after the king has put a special tax on Toledo steel." Alejandro looked at Diego expectantly.

Diego rose from his seat and took the sword from his father, weighing it in his hand. His father had been right, it was a good sword, but it couldn't match his Toledo steel blade he had gotten from Sir Edmund.

"Thank you, Father, this is really a marvelous gift, but I think it will be wasted on me." Diego didn't know how to react. There was no way he could reject the sword, but on the other hand he knew he'd never use it when he had his Toledo blade at his disposal.

"Nonsense, Diego. You will value it once Pedro Diamante has shown you that fencing is more than a crossing of blades. It's also a strategic game you play with your opponent. I'm sure you'll enjoy it." Alejandro patted Diego happily on the shoulder.

"I'm not sure, Father," Diego grumbled.

As soon as his father left him alone he vanished into the secret cave. Angrily, he took his sword from the rack on the wall and swished it through the air, practicing some moves against an invisible foe. Surprised, Felipe stopped sweeping the cave and watched his display.

"Is something wrong?" Diego interpreted Felipe's signing. "Yes, you could say that. Count on my father for an unwelcome surprise."

'Surprise? What kind of surprise?' Felipe asked.

"Do you know what he did?" Diego displayed his anger with some sword moves. "He arranged for Pedro Diamante to come to Los Angeles next week."

'Pedro Diamante?' Felipe questioned.

"He is a famous fencing master from Mexico. He championed in several tournaments in Europe before he moved to Mexico," Diego explained.

'What is the problem?'

"Pedro Diamante isn't coming for a friendly visit. My father has engaged him to give me fencing lessons!"

'Fencing lessons for you?'

"Yes, for me. Do you know what that means?" Diego made an elegant lounge forward, pointing his saber in a straight line. Felipe shook his head. "It means that I will spend my time with useless fencing lessons, playing the fool while I should rather catch those bandits that are attacking the coaches to Santa Paula." Diego made a few quick moves. "Or what is rather worse, I'll have even less time for Victoria, because this fencing master will occupy my time!"

Felipe grinned at the last sentence. He knew how often Zorro visited Victoria in the pueblo which had become more and more frequent recently.

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