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

My name is Talon, I'm fourteen and I live with my mother and my aunt, both are owners of the famous Romani Ranch. A ranch that is world famous for a special brand of milk called 'Chateau Romani'. My mother and aunt inherited the ranch when my grandmother passed away last spring. 

Anyway, it's early spring here at the ranch. The mornings are pleasant enough I suppose, but the late afternoons are hot and humid and the nights are just as cold and bitter as the heart of winter. I follow ranchers schedule. I rise before the sun, milk the cows, feed them and then move them into the pasture.

Once the cows are out at pasture they can pretty much take care of themselves. It's then time for breakfast, normally breakfast is either oatmeal or toasted bread, with milk of course. After breakfast mom normally forces me to sit at the table and do lessons. My Aunt is a school teacher in yonder Clock Town and often she leaves me lessons to complete while she away teaching the sons and daughters of Clocktown cornerstones of the annual diploma exams, that being, reading, writing, and arithmetic. 

Those lessons normally eat up most of my morning. But by afternoon mom had finished her chores, lunch is normally a tray of salted meat, sliced cheese, crusty bread and jug of spring water. After lunch she sends me out to play. I normally spend my afternoons watching the cows and fishing from one of the many small cow ponds that dot our northern pasture land. 

When the first star appears in the night sky, I know it's time to bring the cows back to the warmth and safety of the barn. Once they are secure for the night. I return to the farm house to wash away the grit and grime of another hard day. About the time I'd finished with my bath, my aunt has returned from Clocktown and had finished looking over and grading my lessons. Mom too has finished with her chores and we all settle down for dinner. Normally dinner is something special, either it's a piece of beef mom has had roasting all day or some kind of chicken dish, sometimes if we're lucky it's fried fish.

Dinner was a kind of special time of the day, because all three of us gathered around the old kitchen table. Normally my aunt would tell my mom and I the latest gossip going on in town, who was dating who and what new shops had opened up in clock town. Mom would tell us about her day, and I'll just sit and listen and soak it all up.

After dinner, we'll normally gather around the fireplace, and I'll read from one of the old leather bound books my mom collected. Like most modest houses we had our own modest, personal library. 

Anyway our story opens at the closing of another day. The cows had been safety put away in the barn. And now my mom, my aunt, and I had gathered around the old kitchen table. In the middle was a large black kettle, inside the kettle was a simmering, hearty stew, large cubes of beef floated in a sea of brown broth, surrounded by chunks of orange carrots and thick slices of white potatos.

On the side are a loaf of fresh, baked bread, and beside the bread a patty of white butter that had been sprinkled with a little salt. And rounding out the meal was a large, yellow cake that had been smothered in thick, dark brown, chocolate frosting. It was a feast fit for the bourgeoisie of Clock Town.

“Wow.” My aunt said with a smile, “Never knew my little sister could cook like this? What is  the occasion? Did the goons under the hill finally decide enough is enough and pull down that eye-sore of a shack they call a house?”

The 'Goons' my aunt was talking about was the Gorman Clan. The Gorman Clan was a bunch of in-breed, crooks Ever since I could remember my family and the Gorman Clan have been feuding over the right to supply Clock Town with milk. They claimed our milk was watered down and not worth drinking, we, we'll since my great-grandmother's time, have time and time again proved them to be nothing but a bunch of liars, horse thieves, and crooks. Nobody in Clocktown or in Mountain Village really trusted them, and nobody wanted much of nothing to do with them.

My mom smiled a little and shook her head.

“I wish, but I don't, what got me in a good mood is that the Stock Pot Inn has finally agreed to renew its contract with us. The new owner of the inn, a sweet woman who is around my age, named Medi has finally seen the light and has grown tired of the inferior milk the Gorman Clan has been selling her.” Mom said, smiling.

My aunt smiled and leaned back in her chair.

“Wonderful! More business meaning more rupees and more rupees means we can finally afford to get some things fixed around here. Maybe we can finally afford to take a holiday.” My aunt said with a small smile. She then shifted her blue eyes toward me.

“So, what did you to today nephew? Did you finish all the work I left for you?” It was a direct question. And one I had no way of avoiding. And the way mom was looking at me, I knew I better answer quickly and truthfully.

“Yes ma'am.” I said, sighing. “You really laid it on thick this time.”

“Well, I'm preparing you to take the exams.” My aunt said, giving me a side eye look. “You're fourteen now and this summer you'll be fifteen. This autumn you'll be sitting for your first exams. If you pass, which you will, you'll be awarded a diploma. With that diploma you can sit for either he civil or military exams”

“I know it's hard work.” My mom chimed in. “Balancing both school work and the chores that I need you to do around the ranch. But I want more for you. I believe in you.” 

I blushed a little. And that seemed to that. Mom smiling from one ear started to fill and pass out wooden bowls that were filled with the hearty stew around the table. And once everybody had a bowl all conversation seemed to cease.  Well it ceased till everybody had emptied their first bowl and had gone for seconds.

“So, the Carnival of Time is only three weeks away.” My aunt said. “Given any thought what you want to go as this year?” The question was not directed at anybody really.

“Oh! I forgot about the Carnival of Time!” Mom said. Her eyes seemed to twinkle a little. “I bet I could make a ton of money! You know there are going to be a lot of thirsty people there!” 

“Leave it to my little sister to turn the most celebrated event of the year into a chance to make a few quick rupees.” My Aunt said, rolling her eyes a little.

My mom blushed a little and maybe even gave a little pout.

“So, what about my nephew?” My aunt said, 

“I'll have to think about it.” I said blushing a little as I looked down at my stew. Truthfully, I've forgotten all about the Carnival of Time, even though it was the most celebrated event of the year.  The Carnival of Time was a celebration that marked the completion of one cycle, well it marked the completion of one cycle and the start of another one. It celebrated the renewal of life after the bleakness of winter. 

“How about a princess?” My Aunt said smiling. Her eyes twinkled with mischief. “You used to enjoy those cradle stories of the many adventures of the fable princess of Hyrule, Zelda and the heroic struggle of the mystic Hero of Time as he battled across time to save a doomed kingdom from the bandit thief-king Gandororf.” 

I blushed.

My aunt laughed a little. My mom giggled a girlish giggle.

“I mean you have your father's hair, golden blonde like the princess in the story books, your eyes match her eyes, and you're like her, tall and slender. You could also go as the fabled hero, but I don't think green is your color and you alo lack a fairy.” 

my blushed deepened.

“I'll do it.” I said blushing a little as I shoved a spoon full of stew into my mouth.

Silence. Mom and my aunt exchanged looks. Mom fell into a fit of girlish giggles and my aunt just sat there with her mouth wide open.

“What?” My aunt said, blinking.

“I said I'll do it.” I said looking down at my lap as I shoved another spoon full of stew into my mouth. 

“I was joking..” My aunt said and all of a sudden she seemed a bit confused. “I mean.. if you want to do it that's fine, but I don't want you to think I'm forcing you to go as a girl. Though I'm sure you'll look cute as one!”

“I said I'll do it!” I said, sighing as I shoved another spoonful of stew into my mouth. “Nobody is forcing me to do anything!”
And that seemed to settle the matter. 

End of Chapter One.