So Different, Yet the Same - Linked Universe

Chapter 3: The Summoning Shrine - North

"Oh, come on!"

Red laughs, clutching his stomach as he collapses. Link rolls his eyes, deciding to ignore him, and pulls out his ocarina. Hmm... It's a long shot, but he decides to play Zelda's Lullaby. When that doesn't work, he tries the Song of Time (not opting to travel in time, just to see if there are any secrets hidden about). Yet, there is nothing here.

The songs of the instrument catches the attention of the others, and the captain says, "Woah, hey! I have something similar to that." Carefully, he pulls out an ocarina of the same shape, but colored differently.

The room is very dark, so he can't tell how the instrument is decorated, but Link's heart almost skips a beat. The Fairy Ocarina? Psh, the thought is ridiculous. As quick as it entered his mind, he pushes out the idea. After all, how could this man have gotten his treasured heirloom from his once best friend?

"Come, follow me." It is clear that he needs to take the leadership role in the group. The captain seems out of his element, and Red is obnoxious. So, Link leads them into the only opening of the room. At first, he isn't sure the others will follow, but one look behind his shoulder proves otherwise. Red holds his golden sword tightly, while the captain carries both his sword and shield in hand.

"This seems... weird," Red says, shocking Link. He is very used to the quietness of walking around a dank dungeon alone. Well, that's not entirely true. There was always Navi or Tatl.

"Yeah, the three of us woke up in a strange, underground catacombs. Very weird," captain responds with the amount of sarcasm that makes Red give him a glare.

But, for once, Link agrees with the man clad in crimson. "No, he's right. Something is off about this place." It reminds him of the Shadow Temple, or the Bottom of the Well. Maybe, the Stone Tower Temple. But, that one is more of a stretch. At least Stone Tower seemed way more lively than this place. He stops, finding a torch and holding it up. "I don't like it."

Right when he turns, he notices Red's ear twitch. He looks down a hall, but can tell he can't see anything. Just listening for a noise. Drip, drip, drip. "Can we keep moving?"

Link nods and continues onward. He can't say that he knows exactly where he's going, or that he's entirely confident. At first, Link tries to make mental notes of the rooms they've entered so he can backtrack, but that idea becomes more foolish by the second. There would be no reason to revisit any of the rooms they've found. There are no locked doors, no switches that need attention, nothing but disfigured walls.

Luckily, all of that is about to change. The next room he enters, there are six alternating pathways. Link stops and looks at the round room, seeing that it's way bigger than the others. "Right..."

"To the right?" the captain asks.

"That's not what I meant. I honestly don't know where to go."

"Leftmost, that's what I always do," Red suggests. He pulls out a parchment from his pocket, making Link raise his eyebrows. "Then, we can backtrack and pinpoint each of the rooms we haven't visited."

"Hang on a second. Are you drawing a map?" Link asks.

He looks very surprised. "Yeah, I do this all the time. Before we find the actual map of the place, it's a good idea to know where you've been." Red looks down at his parchment, scratching his head. "And yet, this thing is still very confusing. Hopefully we find the real thing before I run out of room."

The captain, looking over his shoulder, points at a place he doesn't recognize. "I don't remember this part of the catacombs."

"I told you I explored a bit while you two were getting your beauty sleep."