Dora made the most out of the half ship they called home. The ocean helped bring a strong breeze through the windows of the old captain's chambers. There was enough living space for the two of them, plus Dora liked to wander the fortress to try to uncover some hidden rooms. She hoped to discover a torture chamber, but was unlucky so far.
Compared to the dungeon, it was like living in a luxurious mansion. It was not long before she desired to return home, and reclaim the castle they lived in when they ruled Hyrule.
Every morning was spent in training and exercise, for about an hour, and then overseeing the training of all the minions. Their ranks had steadily increased, but after they were trained at the fortress they were sent into the world to wreak havoc. The farther the minions were dispersed, the greater Ganondorf's evil magic could reach.
Dora had just finished eating lunch, and while she gave her food time to digest, she sat on the sill of one of the square windows of the ship and played with Helmaroc King. His favorite game was to find a fish or a stick, bring it back, and have Dora throw it again. He acted more like a dog than a bird sometimes.
"I'm bored," she stated, trying to avoid a whine.
Ganondorf closed his eyes. It was the hundredth time he had heard those words in the matter of a week.
"Don't you miss it?" she asked, not really paying attention. She stared out at the wide, never-ending ocean, day dreaming. "All the hassle and fun of ruling a kingdom? All the freedom? The fields to race horses in, forests with trees to climb, mountains to explore."
He stood up and turned to face her with a somber expression. As annoying as her constant bantering was, seeing the way she sat there, bored and alone, he felt her same longing. The Gerudo were never meant for isolation, sitting idly, waiting for something to happen. They had been a busy people, always training, planning, thieving to survive, caring for the horses, completing their own chores at home just to barely scrape by at the end of the day. Even as strong as they were, death always lurked.
"Do you remember the desert? I always think about it when the wind is strongest," she said, her mind miles away. "The wind here is calm, relaxing, welcoming, and not at all like at home. In the morning, when the sun rose, the wind burned and punished our home, but what were we being punished for? Then at night, when the moon climbed into the sky, the wind was frigid and pierced our fortress. The wind always carried death. Yet, somehow, when that same wind reached Hyrule, it always seemed to be filled with hope. That's why we believed in you Ganondorf, why I believed in you. You were the king we needed to bring the Gerudo out of that godforsaken desert that stole our loved ones, to where we could shine like we were always meant to."
Dwelling on it brought a great weight to Ganondorf's shoulders, which he willed away with a deep sigh. As he thought it, Dora reminisced out loud about all the work she always had to do before she was queen. After the Gerudo conquered Hyrule for themselves, she lived her life leisurely, doing what she wanted when she wanted.
"We had it all, and our dreams of leading the Gerudo to a prosperous future came true," she recalled. Her voice turned angry when she added, "And then it was all ripped away from us."
This was the first time since reuniting that she mentioned Ganondorf's fight with Link, and his defeat. She blamed only herself, and he would never admit he might have been a little overconfident. Their way of life had been abruptly ended all in the matter of a few hours that night. Ganondorf thought she fought valiantly, that there was nothing more she could have done, and what happened was out of her control. It was the fact of the failure that really tore her up, she admitted, and that she constantly wondered what she could have done differently to win. He could only imagine that her pride had been obliterated into the smallest pieces by that loss. They were brutally torn away from each other, and lived worlds apart for a long time.
As enjoyable as it was to be back with her, as glad as he was to know she was the same woman who enchanted him all those years ago, she needed time to be free. She was his own adventurer. Her loyalty was without question. When Dora roamed, it was to further their goal, or spill the blood of their enemies.
Ganondorf made sure she was equipped with her sword, and found her bow and quiver rested nearby. With the map in hand, he approached her and ordered, "You have until nightfall to gather as much information as you can on this island." He pointed to Forest Haven on the map and explained, "It is said a large tree resides there in a peaceful grove. No minion has penetrated it yet because the entrance requires a certain agility, which they lack. Confirm the identity of this tree, and if my suspicions are correct, you should be able to check the status of our lazy little hero."
Dora leapt from the windowsill, beaming an eager smile. She tossed her bow and quiver onto her back, and flung her arms around him. She kissed him, but just as their lips met, he teleported her away.