Chapter Eight: The Reunion
Link was not surprised that the stone rooms within the temple had no ceilings. After all, the wizard that had first informed him of this place many months before had told him that the ceilings had broken away over the years, along with most of the walls. What did surprise him though was that the building was not evacuated. The old man was right; the temple was a gathering place for those without a home. Cowering in the corners of the first room in the structure were various children, their threadbare clothing caked with dirt.
Link smiled at these kids and tried to approach them. He was shocked when they growled and crawled away from him like animals. The Hero of Time's smile disappeared just as rapidly as it had came when one of the kids tried to bite his calf like a rabid dog. Link jumped back and shouted to Astralose, "Why are they attacking me!"
The old man replied, "These children are not civilized like you and I. They have grown up as animals do. To them you are a threat."
"Let's try the next room then," he suggested. He knew that it would be unfair for him to retaliate against the children. They did not know any better. Therefore, he left the room through a crumbling archway on its far side. The next chamber was even more surprising than the first. Inside were two Skull Kids. Neither of them were the one that had worn Majora's Mask in Termina. However, they looked so similar that they could have been relatives of his. "Where are you two from?" questioned Link cautiously.
One of the skull kids replied, ignoring the question, "You look friendly. Would you like to play?" Then he laughed.
Astralose shouted, alarming both the Skull Kids and Link, "He asked you a question! Now answer!"
The younger of the two scarecrow-like children responded, "We're from Hyrule. All we wanted to do was play. You don't have to be so harsh."
"Were you the two Skull Kids that had me play along with my ocarina in the Lost Woods?"
The Skull Kids stared at Link thoughtfully. Suddenly, recognition dawned upon their faces. "Yes!" they declared simultaneously. "We remember you. You were quite talented with that ocarina." They laughed again.
"Do you remember the fairy that was with me?"
They looked at each other pensively and nodded. "Yes. We do."
"Have you seen her since then?"
"Yes. She is in this very temple."
"May I ask what you are doing here?" interrupted Astralose.
"All Skull Kids like to travel. Our brother even went as far as Termina. He's been there for quite some time too. When he left we decided that we should travel the world too. We eventually found this temple. For some reason we just haven't felt the urge to return home yet. How long have we been here brother? Two weeks?"
The other Skull Kid shook his head. "No. I believe it's been a couple of months at least."
"No. I have to disagree. It can't have been more than two weeks."
"Well, thank you," said the old man loudly. "Come Link." Link followed Astralose out of the room, saying goodbye to the Skull Kids along the way.
"Why were you so harsh to the Skull Kids?" inquired Link when they were out of earshot of the room behind them.
"I had an unpleasant encounter with a group of Skull Kids when I was younger. I still bear a grudge against that race to this day."
"What kind of encounter?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't like to talk about it." Seeing the suspicion on the hero's face, he continued, "Anyway, we have to hurry up and find your friend Navi. If we don't we will become trapped in this temple."
"What do you mean?"
"It is a strange fact, but the longer one stays in this temple the harder it becomes to leave. The temple offers a home to all those that have none, but it comes at a price. That is why the Skull Kids could not even tell how long they had been here. They could have been here for years and it would still seem like only a couple of months to them."
"So what about Navi? If what you say is true, how will I get her to come with me?"
"It will be difficult, but I hope that the enchantment of this temple will have less of an effect on a fairy. But one way or another we will get your friend to come with us."
Link nodded and followed Astralose through the seemingly infinite dilapidated chambers that filled the temple. Eventually, they came to a chamber that opened up on the bridge that crossed the river to the other half of the edifice. Thirty seconds later and they were across the seething watercourse and in the room on the other side. This chamber was swathed in shadow, but from the corner there was a floating sphere of light. After staring for a moment the brightness began to come into focus. A pair of delicate wings appeared, fluttering up and down lightly.
"Navi!" cried Link.
The fairy turned towards the hero and then exclaimed in her characteristically piercing voice, "Link! What are you doing here!"
"I've been looking for you for months. That's what I'm doing here. I first traveled all the way to Termina because I had heard from the Kokiri that that was where you were heading. But you weren't there. Then, while traveling through the desert east of Termina, a wizard told me that you were in this temple."
"It sounds like you've had your share of adventures, but why would you be looking for me?"
"I missed you."
"Oh, you're so silly. Well, I definitely never thought I would see you again. And look at you, you're a mess," the radiant fairy nagged.
"Well, there weren't too many inns or taverns along the way," chuckled Link.
"Well, there's a fine river outside that you can bathe in. I suggest you wash up and then we can talk. Go on," she insisted when he did not move. Link shrugged and went outside. He knew it was useless to argue with the stubborn fairy. "And who are you?" asked Navi, directing her question at the old man, who had been standing quietly throughout the meeting.
"Ah, my name is Astralose. Link did not know where to find the Lost Temple so I agreed to help him."
"Hmm… Well, make yourself at home. I find that the corner over there is the warmest to sleep in," she said, flicking one of her wings at the northeastern corner of the room.
"Thank you for your suggestion. Ah, here he is." Link rushed back into the room, dripping with icy-cold water and shivering. He had not actually bathed; he had only jumped in the river very quickly so he could come back wet and keep Navi from nagging him.
"So how long have you been here Navi?" he asked.
"Hmm… That is a good question. I can't really say. Time has rather blended together here. I can definitely recall the first month, but after that point I do not know. Maybe two months total; I'm not sure."
"I hope you're ready to leave this temple."
"And why is that?"
"I want you to come back to Hyrule with me."
"Why?"
"You and Saria are the only two friends I've ever had. And since Saria is a Sage we hardly ever get to speak together let alone see each other. And since you left I've had no one for company. Through all of my adventures in Hyrule you were with me. I miss you. Please, will you come back now."
"I suppose. I wouldn't mind seeing the beautiful plains of Hyrule once again. Can we stay here just one more night though? I'm not quite ready to leave this place yet."
"If that's what you want. We can leave tomorrow morning."
"Yes. We will leave tomorrow morning, for Hyrule."
