So Different, Yet the Same - Linked Universe

Chapter 3: The Summoning Shrine - North

What in every single god's name is... ugh, my head, and I can't move to feel my- huh? I... can't move! Link opens his eyes with all of the urgency that just escalated in his chest. He looks down, realizing that he is stripped of his armor. All of his things have been discarded to the side, well, almost all of them. He can tell that he still has his ocarina and many other gadgets in his pockets. But, his sword and mirror shield are in the pile with his armor. There are a few other things there as well, some stuff he doesn't recognize.

Oh, and he is tied up. "Seriously?" Link asks, then hears someone groan from behind him. The person squirms, which indicates that they're also tied.

"So, you've decided to wake up, have you?" Link looks up, teeth pressed together, almost to growl at the speaker. But, he almost breaks his sour demeanor when he sees who is talking. From the shadows emerges a man dressed in a deep red tunic. His hair is some sort of strawberry blonde, and a pink tinge hangs from his side bangs. He twirls a golden sword in his hand as if he's acting all high and mighty. Link knows that he could easily take him on once he gets out of these ropes.

"You really are trying desperately hard to appear threatening," Link responds, smirking. This makes his kidnapper snarl.

"I'll be asking the questions here, smart guy."

"I didn't ask a question."

"Whatever! I'm in control of this conversation."

"Gah, what the heck..." The man who Link is tied to wakes up fully. He can tell because his back straightens against his own, and he can feel him looking around. "Where am I?"

"I said I'll be asking the questions!" red tunic yells. "Now, who are you?!"

Link is smart enough to not tell this man his real name. If he doesn't already know who he is, he isn't about to trigger a villain by announcing himself as the Hero of Time. No, instead, he is going to play it cool. "Mido." The guy isn't backing down, only pointing the sword more at his neck. But, he remains calm. "Well, tough guy, how about you? Aren't you going to tell us the blessing of your name?"

"You don't..." the man in red's voice trails, his eyes falling to the side when he realizes Link doesn't recognize him. Sure, this confuses Link, but he lets it go for now. "I'm... my name is Ravio!"

"Clearly a lie, but whatever," Link responds. His mind is now focused on the ropes. Maybe, if he can get his fingers around an arrow, he can cut the head off and get loose.

"Oh, so you're some sort of magical lie-detector?!" he asks angrily. "And, what about your friend there? What's your name, bucko?"

"First of all, I've never met this man in my life," the guy behind Link says, clearly offended. "Second, I'm not about to share personal information with a stranger. I know better, given what happened last time. Lana's the one who warned me against that..." The last part he mutters, but since Link is right next to him, he hears the sentence loud and clear. But, he is frustrated upon not ever hearing of any Lana character.

"Fine, if you won't give me the satisfaction of your names, care to tell me where it is you brought me?"

"What?" Link pauses in his attempt to escape. He isn't sure if this is a huge ruse, or if this guy is genuine, but the look on his face is something he's seen in himself a ton of times. Fear. That allows him to understand that this guy is at least partially telling the truth. "Look," he starts with a calmer voice, "we didn't take you anywhere. This man is telling the truth, we don't know each other. Matter of fact, I'd like to know where we are." He pauses for a moment, letting the information sink into his captor. "I'm just as confused as you are."

The grip on his sword shakes, but Link sees it tighten. "Tch, yeah right. I-I'm not going to fall for that!"

"Doesn't matter what you believe," the man behind Link says. His eyes widen as he feels the ropes loosen around him, and the man stands up. "I'm leaving."