Ganondorf watched the fight repeatedly in his mind. He never once missed, never faltered, yet why did he fail again? Was this the curse of the demon, Demise?

He blamed himself. They should have battled Link as a unit. And he blamed Dora. This time he had been eager to try her approach to everything, to attack mercilessly first and ask questions later. It failed, but he came to appreciate the excitement.

And, to make the matter worse, he was trapped in the Sacred Realm again, while Dora was dead. It was certainly a change of events as opposed to the norm, but it was more time he was forced to spend apart from her. Had he reached the Triforce first he would have her back at his side, possess unlimited power, and Hyrule. He was alone, with just his power to defile the Sacred Realm and create minions to keep him company.

As much as he pretended the time apart from Dora meant nothing to him, he often lingered on it. That was his wife, a woman he was meant to spend eternity with, and his queen, someone he should have shared in the pleasure of ruling a kingdom. All he would have to hold on to her by were the memories they made. Although they were few, they were phenomenal.

Ganondorf was startled when a trembling hand touched his shoulder. There were no footsteps that alerted him to the approach of an intruder. Who could possibly be there with him? His muscles tensed. How was he supposed to keep fighting in his current condition? When nothing more happened in the following seconds, he realized he was not in any danger.

"Ganondorf?" called the gentle voice of his queen. His eyes shot open wide with surprise. He snapped his head around and found enchanting yellow eyes, with long flowing red hair surrounding her face. Those eyes were full of concern, and hope. Her face was always less fierce with her hair free like a waterfall of fire. She twisted her hand on his shoulder and walked in front of him. When she lowered to her knees before him with her head slightly bowed, she placed her other hand on his forearm.

"Dora," he whispered in a welcome tone, and opened his arms as far as he could manage. She fell into his torso and he embraced her, as if he had not seen her for years. Ganondorf did not care how much it hurt. He tangled his hand into her hair and wrapped one arm around her lower back. An urge to be one with her washed over him, and for minutes neither one of them said a word. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest, curled up against him like a child.

"It feels good to be home," she said, content.

He finally freed her. He glanced down to find fresh blood on her, his blood. Dora noticed his wounds before, but they were obviously much worse upon closer inspection. "Home?" he wondered. "Home is Hyrule," he corrected.

"What I meant was being in your arms, but that's not worth arguing right now. Look at you," she pointed out. "How are you alive?

"I will be fine in time," he said sternly. "I should be asking you the same question."

"Didn't you claim the Triforce?"

Ganondorf shook his head. "We are within the Sacred Realm."

Dora was silent as she looked at the dirt under her feet. The world around them changed in a blur, but nothing was clear yet. The sky was just a mystical orange that was seen for just minutes as the sun set. "I'm sorry, my love. I should have done more."

He hated that she was in the habit of apologizing when she always did exactly what he expected. "You died for me," he pointed out. "I might be selfish, but there is no greater sacrifice."

"And it took death to hear you say that you love me," she reminded with a devious grin.

Ganondorf glared, but then shifted his eyes away. She was right, and he refused to admit that.

"But, you're right," she said. He looked back at her, trying to figure out just how she came to be so perfect. "If we did not get the Triforce this time, how am I alive?"

"The only answer could be that Link wished it, but the question is why."

"Oh," Dora sighed. "I think I know."

Ganondorf moved from his knees and struggled to stand on his feet. "I think I do too," he groaned. She quickly stood and held out her arms for him to use as support, until he was stable.

"My whole reason for attacking Hyrule so viciously, for resenting the royal family, is because they have done nothing but put obstacles between us," she began to explain.

"This realm cannot hold us forever. I will return. However, if given the time together, Zelda believes our domination of Hyrule will not be so terrible when we next rise to power," he finished.

"That sounds like you plucked the thought right out of her mind," she commented.

"How do you feel about that?" he inquired, his tone dark.

Dora searched her emotions and spoke her thoughts aloud. "I have only ever wanted more time with you, preferably as king and queen of Hyrule. We have never had an anniversary, or more than a month to enjoy ourselves as lovers. We've been forced to connect physically as beasts. I have spent lifetimes waiting to be with you again, only for that time to be cut short. While the situation and circumstances may not be as I ever imagined them, I need to take this opportunity to be your wife," Dora admitted.

Ganondorf was silent while he contemplated. He leaned down and lifted her sword to save it from the grass suddenly growing at their feet.

"There is nothing we can do to change our situation," she reasoned, "so we might as well make the most of it." She held her hands out in defeat, but then clenched them into fists. "But when we return to Hyrule, to take back the Triforce, we will blow them away with your cunning and my quick, thoughtless action."

His grin in response was enough of an approval for her. He handled the blade of her sword carefully when he held the white gold hilt out to her.

She smiled, eager to hear his thoughts, and accepted her sword. "Thank you for taking care of it," she quickly remarked, and then sheathed it at her hip where it belonged.

"While we must remain here, I have the perfect chore to prepare for our return," he said with a devilish smirk. "I will share my magic with you again, and provide proper training, and a challenging sparring partner. You will practice until you master these dark powers, and I am satisfied with your progress," he advised.

"Then, together, we will tear away the seal on the Sacred Realm!" she added.

"Hyrule will fall at our feet, beneath a force unlike it has ever seen before, the combined sorcery of the King and Queen of Evil."

Dora was filled with such happiness that she squeezed his waist again. They lost, that was no doubt true, but they were not doomed to be separated for generations, or centuries. While she could not reasonably expect every moment to be perfect, she would finally have most everything she ever dreamed.

The changing world around them slowed to a stop. The Sacred Realm became Hyrule in its current state, but corrupted by evil, and lacked any population. It would not be long before a castle was constructed to call home, and enough minions were created to manage the land. There were lush forests, deep waters, high mountains, and a dry desert. Dora felt it truly was home.

The Queen of Evil looked up at feeling her husband's gaze on her. She found his evil eyes, but they did not frighten her. In fact, she looked forward to being able to see them every day, without worrying that he would be unexpectedly taken away. Her expression transitioned from happy to determined, as her thoughts returned to the future. She said, "Remind me to thank the descendants of Link and Zelda for this opportunity, just before I kill them!"

Ganondorf wrapped his arm around her shoulders and chuckled cruelly. "Yes, my love."