The Carnival of Time
By
Rebecca Anna Coleman
A Legend of Zelda Fanfiction
I am not claiming ownership of the Legend of Zelda

The sun had finally set over the hills that surrounded the ranch. The cows had been brought in from pasture and were now locked safety in their barn. The moon was hidden behind a bank of dark storm clouds and one could feel rain in the wind that was blowing across the fields. Mom had a worried looked as she looked toward the direction of town. It was like she was doubting the wisdom of making a late night milk run.

“Hey Talon!” She cried out as she turned her head over her shoulder. “Finished loading the last of the milk yet?”

I took a deep breath as I hoisted the last of the heavy earthen jars into the back of the wagon. Lifting the heavy earthen jars that held the milk was my least favorite chore on the ranch.

“I thought my name was Marin?” I cried out as I walked around the small cart and climbed in next to mom.

Mom blinked and then she looked me into the eyes.

“Don't you sass me young lady.” She said, folding her arms across her chest. “You're still young enough for me to pull you across my lap and tan that bottom of yours.” She said in a threatening tone of voice. “And if my hand is not enough I can always fetch a hairbrush, and if you don't think the hairbrush is enough I can always stop and cut a switch.”

“What got you in a mood?” I said, sighing.

“Nothing got me in a mood, beside a young lady who forgot her manners.” Mom said as she cocked her head to the side.

I was just about to say something, something I'm sure would have made mom reach over and pull me over her lap and carry through with her threat when the sound of laughter filled the air. At that moment mom shut up and turned toward the source of the laughter. In the growing darkness we saw the outline of my aunt. Who was holding her ribs and laughing like a mad woman.

“Oh goodness! I walked in just in time! Oh goodness Cremia! That was so cute! I mean, you and mom used to carry on like that all the time! Oh my goodness! I see now that the apple didn't fall far from the tree!” My aunt said as she reached up and wiped a tear from her eye.

“Oh goodness! That was adorable, I mean mother like daughter and all that good stuff! Oh goodness this is too good! I can't wait for you two to go shopping for clothes together” A wicked twinkle could then be seen in my aunt's eyes. “Oh! How about when we go to Great Bay for our holiday. I bet my lovely niece is going to buy one of those shell-top swimsuits that are all the rage now!”

Mom blushed and I blushed too.
“Anyway,” Mom said shifting her blue eyes toward my Aunt.

“Are you sure your going to alright staying by yourself tonight Malon?” My mom said. “The whole Gorman Clan might decided to come up and cause trouble.”

My aunt waved her hand away and smiled.

“Sister, what the Gorman Brothers should be worried about is me. Remember I once kicked one of them so hard in the balls that he talked funny for a week. Now, you just go ahead and have a nice long mother-daughter talk and leave the ranch in my hands.”

“I sometimes wonder how you became a teacher.” My mom said with a wry smile.

“I passed the Civil Exam with flying colors.” My Aunt said. “Now go! You two are just sitting here burning time.”

And with that being said my mom gave a gentle flick of the reins and slowly the horse started to trot along. And with that we were off. A few moments later we were passing through the wooden gate that separates our private dirt road from the main dirt road.

“It been a few days since I've been in town.” Mom said, “I think it's been about seven or eight since I'd left the ranch, running the ranch has kept me busy. It's not been easy on us, not since your father vanished.”

I nodded my head. My father had vanished when I was just three or four years old. Mom rarely talked about him. And when she did I tended to listen to her.

“Your father was a strange one.” Mom said. “I'll never forget the first time I meet him. I'd just turned sixteen. And mom and I and I had gone into town to well buy supplies. Back then Mountain Village was nothing more than a hamlet. That before they discovered gold in the Snow Head mountains.”

“I've never been to the mountains..” I said wishfully.

“You've missed nothing. Us humans used to be forbidden from traveling deep into the Mountains. The Gorons, that to say a rock like race of people, had for a long time forbidden   people from traveling too deep into Snow Head. But they have vanished, humans now dwell in their settlement. But after the Gorons vanished, the people too poor to live in Clock Town started to settle at the base of Snow Head. I think they first started to settle back when your grandmother was born.” Mom paused.

“I see..” I could tell mom was wrestling with something again.

“... you don't know any of this do you?” Mom said sweat dropping a little.

“No ma'am..” I answered truthfully.

“I guess History is something they don't really teach any more..” Mom said, sighing.

“Not really.” Again I answered truthfully.

“So..” Mom paused. “Still thinking about being a princess for the Carnival of Time?”

“... Yes..” I said, taking a deep breath. “Though I am having second thoughts,”

Mom remained silent her eyes focused on the road.

“I mean all of a sudden you started calling me 'Marin' and well it was a little much, not that I mind. I always felt kind of out of place being around boys and stuff. Like I did not really belong. Like okay, when I was little, all the boys in Clock Town would pretend to be soldiers or knights. And they would take turns beating the shit out of each other with wooden sticks they found on the ground. Or they would be divided into two teams, only they were not teams they were 'armies' and these two armies would then beat the shit out of each other...” I don't know were all those words came from, they just seemed to usher forth and spill out. It was like I vomited them out.

“Okay first lesson. Proper young ladies do not use words like 'Shit' I'm going to give you a pass this time, but next time I hear you say an ugly word like that, I promise you, you'll quickly learn what soap taste like. I'm not going to raise a foul mouth wrench.” Mom clutched the reins tight.

“Yes ma'am.” I said inching a little bit away from mom.

“Your aunt was a little hell-raiser when we were growing up. But she was a lot stronger than me” Mom added. “She use to give the boys a run for her money, she was also the first to lose her virginity when she turned sixteen. I know, because I walked in on her and her her boyfriend.. we shared a room at the time.. And now don't you be getting any ideas!”

I felt a sense of dread starting stir within me.

“What room was your room?” I asked.

“I think it was your room. Cause mom and dad had my room, and your aunt has what use to be the guest bedroom and office used to my dad's office.” Mom paused to think. “But don't worry, I think your sister burned those sheets, or maybe dad burned them.”

I closed my eyes and shivered a little. After that a silence fell over mom and I, full darkness had fallen now, the wind was starting to pick up. And soon we moved beyond the hills and into the flat rolling landscape of Termina field.

Termina Field is a large, open piece of land and at the center of it is the circled walled city of Clock Town. I've never liked traveling across Termina field, it was too open for me, the field was known to be the haunt of highwaymen who preyed on lonely travelers at night. It was also rumored to be infested with monsters that only came out when sun had set.

“I figured we should get a room for the night at the Stock Pot Inn.” Mom said finally after what must have been a hour or two of complete silence between us. “I really want to get that formal photo of you.”

“The bride one?” I asked

Mom paused and looked straight ahead. And after a painful fifteen minutes she spoke,
“Whatever one you want.” She said at last.

“I often wondered how it would be to a pretty dress. Like a brides dress.” I said finally.

From a yonder hill I could see the dying embers of a fire, surrounding the fire I could se the outline of a dozen or so shadows all seemed tobe laying around the fire. Save one lone figure who seeemed to be walking around the fire.

“Watch Hill.” My mom said. “I heard the Mayor.. Raura has started offering bonus to the young men in town to enlist in the cities guard. He's also started to station groups of twelve to thirteen men on the hills that surround the town. Kind of a early warning system. We just passed one, that means were only half a league away from Clock Town.”

I nodded.

“Also, remember the old saying 'Let your yes be yes, and your no be no'. So I'm going to ask again. Are you sure you want to go through with the whole girl then. I want to make sure this is something you really want to do. I don't want you to feel like I'm forcing anything on you.” Mom said.

“.. what does that old saying mean anways.” I said trying to buy myself a little more time.

“It means to to be truthful and honest in your commitments and statements, avoiding unnecessary oaths or promises that you not be able to keep. It emphasizes the importance of intergrity and living a life were your words align with your actions. In short it the kind of person I want my son or daughter to be.” Mom said in a matter of fact tone of voice.

“Can I get to pick out the dress?” I asked.

“No, sorry their only one style.. all girls wear the same kind of dress for this photo. Now, when you get married you can pick out your own dress then, but that some years away. You gotta twenty years of age before the Mayor will sign the Marriage Certificate.. otherwise well it messy.” Mom said.

“Okay..” I said. “I guess I'll say yes then..” I said sighing.

“What do you mean you 'guess' what did I just tell you?” Mom voice was almost at a scolding level.

“I was hoping I would get to pick out the dress.. like there would be more than one style to choose from. But I guess if I get only one style to choose from then I'll have to say yes.” I said sighing.

“...” Mom went silent and then for the first time that night she started to laugh. Her peals of laugher echoed across the field and caused several of the nightwatchmen to pause in their lone patrols and peer in her general direction.

“Oh goodness! You are my daughter! I said the same thing to your grandmother when I was your age! Oh goodness! Oh goodness! Whatever have I gotten myselfinto!” Mom was now holding onto her ribs. As she rocked from one side to the other.

I folded my arms across my chest. And stuck my nose high into the night air.

“And just what does that suppose to mean, mother!” I said as I cocke my head toward my mother who was now finally gaining control over herself.

“It means that I'm going to have fun! And it's going to be highly amusing watching you come into your own. Because if what I've seen so far tonight is anything to go by, your going to be just like me when I was your age. And that means that your grandmother is rolling in her grave laughing her head off right now, cause she always told me, that if I ever have a daughter she hopes like heavens she'll turn out like me.”

End of Chapter Three