Ganondorf knew exactly where to find Dora, so he casually walked there. It was the same place she would have been years ago, before she became a mother. He stood at the far back of the training area secured within the castle walls, where a courtyard should have been. The stalfos were all armed with bows, prepared to sharpen their aim with Dora's instruction. She demonstrated by standing sideways, pulling the arrow back firmly against the string with all her might to create as much tension as possible. She uncurled her fingers and the arrow was flung from the bow. It connected with the target, dead center, from one hundred yards away.
Her skill was undeniably arousing.
The stalfos applauded briefly, and Ganondorf solely continued the applause to draw her attention. "A splendid display of your excellent talent," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Dora glared at him coldly, causing an evil delighted grin in his eyes. Those were the moments when she was most beautiful.
He wiped away the grin and said darkly, "We have business to discuss."
The tone he used made her heart stumble, and pick up with an extra beat. Before departing, she ordered the trainees to begin practice without her, and added, "I'll be back shortly." She settled her bow around her shoulder and approached the King of Evil quickly and confidently. "How may I serve you, your majesty?" she asked, matching his sarcasm from before.
He sneered at her attitude, but he said nothing because he had earned it, and missed it. "Walk with me," he ordered, confidence unwavering. He led her back into the castle.
Dora obediently followed. He was silent for a while, but she knew it was a test, and she avoided letting her emotions explode from her mouth.
Ganondorf was surprised that she held her tongue so well. He began the conversation as if they had been talking for hours. "Once Din has baited Lucien with the Master Sword, how do you intend to kill him?" he asked, challenging her.
Dora did not need to ask how he knew, because the only person she had discussed her scheme with was Din. "I have not decided between stabbing him through the heart or slicing off his head," she replied sadistically.
He walked along and calmly shook his head. "Have you considered the flaws in your plan? What if Lucien has forsaken Din, and does not even fall for your ridiculous trick? What will you do if he touches the Master Sword? If its power is returned, then who will save you?" he asked impatiently.
Dora considered his words. She hung behind him a few steps so she could only judge his mood by his tone, and he seemed serious. "The plan was to replace the Master Sword in the chest, without telling Din, to eliminate the possibility of awakening the Master Sword. Without that, I can insure his death. As for him not showing up, I have no doubts that Lucien would return for Din, since you've already made it clear she is the goddess."
"Replacing the sword with a fake is wise, but you are still leaving too much up to chance," he advised.
Dora could not help but to smile, even if she felt a tad belittled by his tone. It was much like when they talked about the hero's destruction in the past, except she was not queen, therefore no longer Ganondorf's equal. "What is your idea, your majesty?" she asked respectfully.
He smugly explained, "I plan to attack a group of outspoken rebels gaining power in a village beyond the forests. They have grown too comfortable and have forgotten that I am their king, and no one has the power to change that. I will simultaneously begin a strong rumor that Din is scheduled for execution. The hero would hear of this news, and it would force his hand to attack me. The sword will still be replaced with the fake as a contingency."
"Impressive, like always, and exciting. Din will not be pleased," Dora pointed out.
"She has made it clear that she will do what it takes to end this rivalry, and she knows I can do that with the Triforce," Ganondorf argued. He had led her through the castle, to the sacred grove. The air was filled with the smell of sweet summer grass, and the song of exotic birds of the forest.
"And what will my role be?" she asked, dreading the answer.
"You will be at my side to help me execute our enemy," he explain with profound superiority.
"I thought you were going to kill him on your own. Aren't I just a burden?"
"Make no mistake that I am capable of defeating him without your aid. I choose to have you fight with me again only because it is a right you have always earned," he confessed, without losing his dominance. "Those minions have not been this disciplined in years," he remarked.
Dora smiled. "I have to admit, until you... separated us, I had forgotten how important my duty was of raising this army. They were my children before I had a child. And once I had her, I lost sight of that. My life was consumed with her happiness and wellbeing. The past few days have given me the opportunity to go back, remember who I am. Though I may not be your queen now, it will always be a pleasure to lead your armies and kill in your name," she explained with a smile, but desperately fought off tears.
"I spoke with Din earlier. The entire conversation proved beyond a doubt that she is our daughter, regardless of the spirit residing within her."
Dora wondered, "Did she put you up to this?"
"She gave me an ultimatum," he corrected angrily.
She laughed, managing the first true smile in days.
"I shared some images with you that were intended to hurt you, but I want you to see the truth of what happened that night," Ganondorf said quietly, and reached out to touch her forehead.
Dora flinched. What she had seen was already burned into her mind, and she feared knowing more.
"Do not resist me," he ordered.
She looked up to his eyes and found sincerity. As much as she dreaded it, she still trusted him. She leaned forward until his index finger pressed against her mind's eyes.
Dora could hardly make out any sound, as if she were under water and the voices came from above. Until finally, as if emerging above the waves, she heard her name in his animalistic moan.
"What did you say?" snapped a sharp woman's voice.
It was the same scene of Ganondorf and Nabooru sharing his bed, indulging in physical pleasure, but it was not her name he called when spreading his seed.
Nabooru snatched the sheets and pulled them up to her neck to cover her body. Ganondorf was not as modest when he stood and remained naked. "I said Ganondora, it must have slipped," he explained, shamelessly.
"How dare you speak another woman's name while making love to me?" she accused harshly.
He shrugged. "I've been working closely with her the past few days to finalize the details for the siege of Hyrule. It was a mistake," he admitted, and tried to crawl back into bed with Nabooru.
"Get away from me," she shouted, escaping the bed with the sheet. "So, you just assume it's fine to think about another woman while you're with me?"
He laughed cruelly, and sat at the edge of the bed. "You act as though you're jealous. Am I not entitled to please myself with any woman I choose?"
Nabooru looked away from him to the floor, while twisting the sheet in her hand. "I just thought what we had was special. I have no reason to be jealous of someone as useless as her."
"Useless?" he questioned, his tone growing angry.
"What does she really have to offer you? She's ugly, brainless, and insane," she exclaimed.
"You will hold your tongue," Ganondorf snapped, shooting her a glare. He stood and took a few steps toward her.
"The idea that she believes she is a real Gerudo is laughable. She can't even see that nobody likes her," she added, and approached him. She allowed the sheet to fall and revealed her luxurious curves to him. "No, a great king like you deserves a real woman to be your queen, like me," she cooed.
Before she could lean in to seduce him with her flesh, his stiff hand flew through the air from above and collided with her cheek. Nabooru crashed to the floor from the force behind his slap. She immediately began seething, and glared up at him with her hand covering the entire left side of her face.
"If you believe I am truly blinded to your disloyalty by this act of love and desire, then the only brainless one is you, Nabooru," he yelled, outraged. "The only skill you excel at is exploiting your body for personal gain. While you whispered your deepest fantasies to keep me ignorant of your treason, Dora has reported all of your attempts to undermine me, and turn other Gerudo against me."
Nabooru's expression of horrified shock brought a wicked grin to his face. "Ganondora is filthy," she shouted, making one last convincing attempt to persuade him. "I was doing you a favor by keeping you occupied! She has no idea how to please you."
"I tire of your lies and our sex has grown dull. Dora is more beautiful than a goddess and she intrigues me. She is controlled by her emotions, and because of that she is exciting, clever, and, above all, loyal. She has risked her life for my goals. She is the strongest Gerudo in my legion, and is dedicated to training the new generation. My power can make her even better. You have nothing left to offer me, so I banish you to the wasteland, where you will live the rest of your wretched life in the Spirit Temple. That should keep you out of my way long enough to obtain the Triforce and conquer Hyrule."
Nabooru had made it to her feet, and gathered her clothes, while stumbling from the dizziness his slap caused her. With her body clothed again, she stood directly in front of Ganondorf and glared up at him. "I hate you. I have always hated you. I hope you rot in the Sacred Realm for an eternity!"
She spun around to stomp out of his chambers, but he snatched her wrist and prevented her departure. He scowled at her in the light of the fire burning in the hearth and added threateningly, "If you ever show any disrespect toward Ganondora or myself again I will personally end your pathetic life." He released her so that she could leave. Her sober expression showed that she understood the reality of his promise.
Dora had her arms wrapped around Ganondorf's waist, and her head pressed against his chest, when the memory ended.
"That was the night before we marched on Hyrule," he explained, stroking his hand through her hair. "I had nearly forgotten it, and the pride I felt in defending your honor."
"I can't believe you stood up for me against her. I thought you didn't believe me."
"I knew she hid her real intentions from me. I allowed her deceit to continue so that I could learn the truth, and it was enjoyable for a time," he confessed. Dora punched his chest for the comment, and he grinned. "It was only because of you that I was able to end her treason, and that confirmed my decision to make you queen," he responded. "It is not easy to admit, and I only do so with great effort because we are alone, that without you I may not have made it this far. I would never have admitted defeat, but I fought harder to return from the Sacred Realm, to be freed from the Master Sword's prison, because life with you is fascinating. I had forgotten all of your accomplishments, the times your quick, thoughtless actions aided my victories. It's the sadistic satisfaction in your eyes when you take a life in my name that I enjoy."
Dora did her best not to take advantage of his moment of humiliation, but she grinned and said, "And?"
"Don't make me regret this," he scowled.
"Well, at least bow, or something," she demanded.
He rolled his eyes, and she took a step back. He begrudgingly lowered himself to one knee, and held her slender hand in his thick fingers. "Will you return to your rightful place at my side as queen?" he asked, with as little impatience as he could manage.
"I will!"
With those words, Ganondorf returned the Triforce of Wisdom to her left hand, which again signified his trust and faith in her.