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A dove carcass appears across the empty land where the governor generals building once lay. Among the rubble, dozens of human skeletons littered the floor. All had been victims of the final few battles and a certain commanders rage after their failure was made public. Across the town, in a jail cell all alone sat the ex-lieutenant Gabriel who was to be put on trial for treason. To everyone’s surprise, Gabriel was given a fair trial, unlike every one of his victims. It was both Zorro and Lolita’s main argument to not sink to the lows of the army and make sure that all criminals were met with the same justice. The governor general originally protested but accepted the words of the people who saved his life. He knew that if change were to happen, it needed to start off properly and continue properly or the same mistakes would happen once again. As expected, Gabe was found guilty of treason and sentenced to be shot by the newly appointed Commander Jekyll and the remainder of the army. News of the failures of the army had already made it back to Spain, and after much debate it was decided that Jekyll seemed the best for the job.
After the verdict was released Gabriel was led away in chains and as his defeated body shuffled across the floor, he could not help but notice a familiar ghost, only for a split second. It was looking straight at him with such interest only to disappear as soon as it came.
A day later, he was led away once again into a carriage that would take him back to his jail cell. As he looked through the window, he saw it once again. That faint ghost staring right into his soul.
During the night before his execution Gabriel was passing near the realm of sleep and he saw it once again.
Gabriel- “Oh I can’t take it anymore! His damn face won’t leave my head!”
Gabriel’s mind was filled with memories and regret. Happiness and anger. Nothing could stop him from remembering it all. Nothing was left of him except the past.
He couldn’t stop those memories.
It all came back, that night where they relaxed on wine and fooled around for hours. He had never seen his commander so loose, of course nobody else would be allowed to see it. No party could bring out his innocent laughter and no person could ever give him enough comfort except Gabriel. They spoke for hours and found enjoyment in one another’s company slowly inching closer and closer until they stopped going slow. The last he remembered of that day was holding the commander upright while both tried to make it to bed through the halls of the governors building. That night burned his heart and made him ache for the days long gone.
Suddenly he found himself much further along in his life, as the sound of yelling filled his head.
Raymond- “You fool! He got away again! How hard is it for you to catch one man?
Gabriel- “I- I’m sorry Ray- Sir! I know I can catch him! I just need more time and one day he will be dead I swear!”
Raymond- “More time more time! Always your excuses! Why what I would do to you If you weren’t my – “
Gabriel- “Oh, I know you would’ve used me as a toy like every other soul you’ve sent to hell. I would mean nothing to you.”
That day burned even more, he had been humiliated and disgraced once again. Most of all, he felt alienated from the one person who he thought gave him a home. He hated how a singular bandit managed to carve a wedge between him and his lover.
Once again, the vision disappeared and was replaced by another one, this time taking place mere months before the destruction of the army. It had been a cold night and the two were huddled together by a campfire while waiting out an unimportant event that had long slipped from his mind. He could barely make out the background of this one memory, all that he could remember feeling was bringing Raymond closer to him as he slept. Looking at the man beneath him so calmly lit up by the fire like an angel, he could not believe this was the same man that removed anyone in his way. He soon fell asleep as well, resting his tired body after yet another failed “Kill Zorro” mission. At this point, he didn’t expect success and just wished to indulge himself on whatever happiness he could take advantage of.
Over and over, they played in his head. Like little children running around a field for hours.
It wouldn’t stop, couldn’t stop.
Gabriel- “His face isn’t leaving anytime soon is it huh? Ha, Just my luck.”
A small tear rolled down his cheek and was almost instantly removed by his arm, he couldn’t be like this. The proud and bastardish Gabriel couldn’t weaken himself so. Soon he fell asleep and as he stirred one last dream came into mind.
The Day it all Fell Down ~
Outside a giant mansion there lay a nesting dove with her young children, the mother had grown sick and become close with death yet tried its hardest to provide for her weak children. There had been a heated argument that had just taken place between the commander and his lieutenant. It was all over for them, and Raymond knew his enemy was alive. There was simply no way that Zorro had died in a fall into the sea and now there was nowhere to go. With Kapital well on his way to Spain and the governor free after they tried to kidnap him things were looking grim.
Gabriel prepared to leave as he hoped to capture the governor once again so that they could gain the power over the people. He was exhausted and just wanted to rest, but here was his ever so loving commander forcing him to go out again.
The lieutenant headed for the door, and as he was about to open it a hand grabs his arm and turns him around. He stood face to face with his partner and for the first time he saw fear. The man below him gently leans in for a kiss, he complies and wishes it didn’t end as soon as it did.
On the opposite end, the commander wants to think of something, anything to say that might make their situation just a little bit better but nothing comes out. His luck had run out, if being able to cover up crimes was any sort of luck. With regret he lets Gabriel go off and try to capture the governor.
Nothing else is said, and that was the last time the two saw each other alive.
Gabriel wakes up in a cold sweat, it’s that “special” day. As he scans the room, the ghost is there as expected, staring at him. This time it seemed to look down on him, but not with the usual sense of superiority or anger. It wanted something but nothing more could be seen in those dead eyes.
Soon enough he as taken once again in a carriage and onto the sight of his execution. It would all be over soon.
He couldn’t help but scoff at how pathetic he had become.
Tied to a wooden pole, he looked around pure anger at those around him, at Jekyll for always being a bother, at the governor for being a useless bastard, at Lolita for never understanding and then he looked into the eyes of the man that brought him down.
Zorro.
He wanted to fight, wanted to cut the ropes that tied him and tear down the man that destroyed his life. It was that man that ruined his existence and ripped the one person important to him away. He couldn’t see how he had done the same to so many people. Yet he had no energy nor desire left inside. There was no point in struggling, especially when there was nothing left for him while alive. What good would fighting do? More embarrassment as he was slaughtered that’s what.
He took one last look around, the ghost was there as well, and it had been smiling for the first time since he saw it. Gabriel wondered what the sly bastard was excited for, maybe he was laughing at the lieutenant for dying such a miserable death or maybe the spirit found it ironic that this was the way he’d die. For the first time, the thought struck him. Was that man waiting for him on the other side? Was that why he always saw his ghost?
Ready!
The men set up their rifles, the governor looked on and Jekyll continued. Gabriel tried to piece his thoughts together, maybe he really is waiting? Maybe, just maybe I can see you again!
Aim!
The cheering crowd began to rile up, Zorro looked at his enemy who was seemingly panicking. He took one last look and turned away.
As the final command was called, Gabriel could have sworn he had heard it in Raymond’s voice.
“Fire!”
A peaceful sunset lit up San Tasco, people danced on the shores still ripe from celebrating the defeat of the corrupt regime. As people came and went, 2 ghostly figures never moved an inch as they embraced. After some time, the shorter one moved.
Raymond- “I see my dog has come back to me.”
Raymond slowly toys with Gabriel’s hair and places a firm hand on his partners cheek.
Gabriel- “It seems like I’ll always be stuck following you, even after death…”
He pauses for a moment, after a while in a low chuckle all he says is, “I don’t mind.”
Raymond- “After everything, even now you still follow me. All that I’ve done and said….
You idiot.”
Gabriel roughly grabs the man beneath him and kisses him. At first the other man was shocked but played along after realizing what had happened.
More people pass through and the evening goes on, the two remain still together once again taking in the atmosphere. At last, they could rest and this time no human or dog or whatever random occurrence could bother them.
A fledgling takes its first flight and sets off it find its own journey, never to return to San Tasco again.
Two souls set off on their own little journey and they too were never to return to San Tasco again.