Ganondorf was left alone in the dungeon as the King of Hyrule felt safe that his daughter's seal of light would keep him weak enough to prevent him from breaking out. Little did they know, he would not be breaking out, but he would be freed.
From the time she successfully infiltrated Hyrule alone to bring home a wagon full of food for the children, against her commander's orders, he knew she was a leader. From the first moment he sparred with her, he knew she would play a significant role in his journey to ultimate power. In that moment that she looked at him as more than her king, he knew he was the only one that could control her. She would come for him as if he beckoned her, even if his orders were to stay at the fortress. Only a fool did not prepare a contingency plan, or two, even when he was so confident to believe he would not need one.
He kept his eyes closed, listening to the idle chatter of the dimwitted guards that stood outside the dungeon door. His mind wandered from the awareness of his surroundings as he attempted to dull the aching pain. What was taking her so long? Or was she waiting for the perfect opportunity to sneak away? There was no doubt her direct commander, Tatiana, would disagree with Dora's suggestion to go to the castle. What he knew though, that her commander never seemed to learn, was that Dora would do what she wanted and a when she wanted. It was that tenacity that originally intrigued him.
He smirked as he recalled how desperately she pushed her way to the front right before he delivered his short but powerful speech to his people. It was curious how devoted she was to him. Was it out of loyalty, or was there something else in her stare? What unsettled him most was the concern in her expression when he turned to leave, as if she knew all would not go as planned. It was so haunting, he had reconsidered his decision to leave her behind, but knew it was best. There was no doubt in his mind he wanted her at his side as his loyal servant, but she would have been no use to him if she was also arrested.
Suddenly, the guard's chatter went silent. Metal jingled, the door clattered, and Ganondora stepped around the corner. Any time he saw her he felt a flutter of something he could not explain. Until he could understand it, he would hide it. "I did not expect you to come alone," he remarked, though it was not true.
Dora was relieved to see him safe. She quickly approached the cell that held him, but hesitated before touching the bars. "I knew regular bars could never restrain you. Is this Zelda's magic?"
He smirked. It always amazed him how intelligent she was. "None other. It is only strong enough to prevent me from breaking free, so you will release me."
Before he grew impatient, she held her breath and shoved the key into the door of the cell. There was a soft sting at first, but as she turned the key the pain and pressure crept up her arm to her shoulder, almost petrifying her muscles. She used that arm to pull the door open, and took the keys in her other hand to unlock the shackles that bound her king. By the time both were undone her other arm was frozen too. They quickly left the cell together to recover from the power of light attacking them.
Ganondorf was surprised to see Dora struggling with the locks. Was the light energy affecting her just as much as it did him? In spite of her suffering, she did her duty to free him from the cell. Once out, he stretched his muscles and purged his body of the light energy, replacing it with dark energy again. "You have done well. Now, I must go to the Temple of Time," he said and moved toward the exit.
Dora was just regaining use of her legs as he walked away. She followed him closely. "What will we find there?"
"We will lead the King of Hyrule there and he will open the Door of Time for me," he explained.
She was not certain how he planned to accomplish that, but she was more than willing to play along. It was clear that he had no intention of sneaking out the way she came in because he walked straight down the path through the courtyard and the garden. Guards approached, signaling more guards of Ganondorf's escape, and others came to stop them. Dora immediately readied her bow and steadily they fell one-by-one, until they were too close. She unsheathed her sword and spilled their blood. "I hope these are not Hyrule's finest."
Ganondorf followed, almost proudly, the sparkled path of moonlit blood that she laid before him like a royal carpet. Once they were outside the inner wall surrounding the castle, they were free of guards, and quickly made for the Temple of Time. The heavy wooden doors creaked open and echoed inside the vast empty room when they closed. With a slower pace they approached the Door of Time. Dora was humbled to be in such a sacred place of the Goddesses and for a moment she stood to reflect on it.
Ganondorf inspected the altar while she admired the temple. There was a lot he gambled on for this opportunity to run smoothly, but she was one part that he could count on. Daphnes and Zelda would arrive with the three Spiritual Stones, open the door to call on the sages to banish him to the Sacred Realm, but he would have the Triforce first and destroy them all. The plan played perfectly in his head repeatedly until the king finally arrived, along with a group of twenty knights. Ganondorf stood with his back to the altar, Dora with her back to the Door of Time, and he said, "It is not polite to keep a guest waiting."
Almost ignoring him, the King of Hyrule immediately began to play on the Ocarina of Time. Dora's stomach tightened into a knot as she reminded herself to allow the events to play out. She was still more comfortable with her bow in hand and chose to keep it out and ready. Ganondorf had a plan and she needed to trust that plan.
The three spiritual stones appeared, hovering above Zelda at first, and then slowly approached the altar. Ganondorf stepped out of the way and walked behind the altar to the massive stone doors that would open in mere moments. Once he came to stand beside Dora he ordered, "You will pull the Master Sword from the pedestal the moment you can enter the next room."