A/N: This one was a little harder to write, being the podrace and a little more, but there are a few new characters to meet. Those being my choices for Jabba the Hutt and his lackey Bib Fortuna.

CHAPTER 7: RACE FOR DESTINY

The crowd had assembled for the annual race for summer's eve, and it was quite a turnout. Just about everyone from the city of Crateria and even some from the nearby city of Brinstar had showed up for the F-Zero race, as well as many others. Many were cheering in anticipation for what was about to happen. Before long, the voice of an announcer filled the stands.

Ladies, and gentlemen, welcome to the annual summer's eve F-Zero race." He said. "And a big turnout here from all corners of the outer rim territories. I see the contestants are making their way out onto the starting grid." As Link walked out with his racer, the announcer babbled on introducing other racers. As Pico's name was called, he stood up in the cockpit of his racer, known as the Wild Goose, and absorbed the cheers, gesturing for more.

"And a late entry, Link Timehero, a local boy." Link waved to the crowd, as they cheered in acceptance.

"I see the flags are moving our onto the track." The announcer said. Each racer had a representative to wave the flag of their town or planet. Link's representative was ROB64, who walked by waving the Crateria flag. As Link and his crew made some last minute adjustments to his racer, Mikau lifted his head at the sound of flatulence. A towing ripper looked back at the Zora, as Mikau let out a "Pee-yoo!"

"Be safe." Saria said as she knelt down to Links level.

"I will, Mom. I promise." Link replied. He didn't notice Pico near his racer at the moment, as Link's rival disconnected something from Link's racer, and let out a laugh as he walked over to the boy.

"You won't walk away from this one, you slave scum." Pico said to Link in his own language.

"Don't count on it, slime ball." Link replied, letting his annoyance of being called a slave take over.

"You're Zoomer fodder." Pico laughed as he walked away.

"You all set, Link?" Roy asked as he walked over."

"Yep." Link confirmed.

"All right." Roy said as he helped Link into his cockpit. "Remember, concentrate on the moment. Feel, don't think. Use your instincts."

"I will." Link said.

"May the Force be with you." Roy said as he handed Link his helmet, just before the opening fanfare.

"Ladies and gentlemen. We have a very special guest here today." The announcer said. "Mother Brain." The crowd looked up and saw a brain with one eye make its way to a balcony in a mobile tank. With the brain was a lizard known as Kraid. Mother Brain muttered something in her native tongue, as the crowd continued to cheer.

"Welcome." Mother Brain said in her own language. "Begin the Race!" At her order, the sounds of many engines fired up, signaling that the racers were ready to go.

"It looks like they're clearing the grid." The announcer called. At that instant, Mikau and Roy joined Saria and Sheik in the stands with a small screen, which would allow them to view Link's progress as he raced.

"Is he nervous?" Saria asked.

"He's fine." Roy confirmed.

"You Jedi are far to reckless." Sheik said, showing that she still thought this was a bad idea. "The princess is not-"

"The princess trusts my judgment, young handmaiden." Roy interrupted. "You should too."

"You assume too much." Sheik mumbled, once again as if she were hiding something.

"Start your engines." The announcer called as the sound of their engines began to get louder and louder. Link pulled on his goggles as he opened his vents and prepared to take off at a moment's notice. Around him, he saw other racers doing the same.

"Oh, this is gonna be messy." Mikau groaned. "I'm not watching!" Link continued to watch other racers, and saw great determination take over Pico's face. A gong sounded and a light came on over the opening overpass, signaling that the race was on! Pico jumped out, and took an early lead, but link on the other hand, barely got past the staring point when he started having problems. Being new, he knew that his racer wasn't in the best shape, forcing it to stall.

"Oh, no! No!" Link called out as he engine began to wind down. He desperately flicked some switches of his and made adjustments as others sped ahead of him.

"Wait, little Timehero has stalled." The announcer cried. Scizor began to laugh up in the stands, causing others to join him. Luckily, Link wasn't the only one. Another racer stalled as well as a pit crew ran out to help him. Link didn't have the money to hire a pit crew, and was on his own.

"Come on, Link!" Mikau encouraged from the stands. After a few adjustments, Link got things right, and shot off.

"And there goes Timehero." The announcer said. "He will be hard-pressed to catch up with the leaders."

"Go, Link, go!" Mikau shouted as Link sped past. Ahead of him, Pico and another racer were in a ramming war. Pico pulled a hard left, and sent the other racer flying into the wall, crashing his racer, and causing Pico to laugh as he sped past. Link could see the smoke start to rise, and was able to determine Pico's location; no doubt he was in the lead. Pico soon led the racers into a chasm, where passing would be very difficult, neigh impossible. By this time, Link had already passed several other racers, and could see Pico up ahead. Upon exiting the chasm, they were met with a bunch of stone arches, and into a tight left turn which led to a cave. One racer looked back to keep his eye on a fast approaching Link, but soon crashed into a cluster of stalactites. Upon entering a tight right turn, the racers were fired upon by another species.

"Looks like a few Zebesians are camped out on the canyon dune turn." The announcer called as the Zebesians yelled out at the racers. Pico continued to lead the pack as he saw the other stalling racer's craft explode. The first lap was done. Another racer made a pit stop, but was soon out of the race when a droid was sucked right through one of his engines!

"Where is Master Link?" ROB asked as the other racers flew past.

"Look, here he comes." Sheik said as she spotted him.

"It looks like Timehero is moving up in the field." The announcer said as Link's racer flew past, with a few others behind it. Mr. Game and Watch let out a few beeps, to which ROB responded.

"He has to complete two more circuits? Oh dear." ROB said. At the beginning of Link's second lap, he attempted to pass another racer, but this one was stingy, and did everything he could to hold his position. But once they reached the stone arches again, there was a drop, allowing Link to soar right over the other racer. This made him angry, and he forced Link into a ramming war. Link then did the unthinkable, he did a quick wall ride and somersaulted over the other racer tom his other side, and sped forward, leaving the stingy racer in the dust. Once Pico saw an aggressive racer closely behind him, he grabbed a tool and threw it into his aggressor's engine, causing him to spin out and crash. This now put Link in second place! As he dodged the wreckage, one of his cables disconnected, and sent Link into a spin!

"Timehero's spinning out of control!" The announcer called as Mikau gasped. Link looked out to his left side, and saw the snapped cable, allowing three racers to pass him. He took a big risk by opening his cockpit and holding out a magnet to the loose wire. After a few seconds, Link caught it, reconnected it with one hand, and flew back into the race as he entered the chasm. He did what was neigh impossible, and passed the three other racers in the narrow chasm, putting him back in second. He saw Pico enter the cave ahead of him as Links aggressor from earlier was back on his tail. But that soon changed on the Canyon dune turn, as the Zebesians scored a hit on the racer's engine. The result was not pretty as the machine crashed and sent it's pilot flying.

"OH! I don't care what universe your from. That's gotta hurt!" The announcer said. Before much longer, Link was right where he wanted to be, hot on Pico's tail!

"Here he comes. Wahoo!" Mikau cried.

"At the start of the third and final lap, Pico's in the lead followed closely by Timehero!" The announcer cried with equal enthusiasm.

"Go Link!" Mido called. Link continued to stay on Pico's trail throughout most of the third lap. As they entered the chasm, they were side-by-side, a good place to start a ramming war as Pico thought. He rammed Link right onto a ramp, which sent him soaring!

"Timehero's been forced onto the service ramp!" The announcer called. Link's engine wound down as he started to fall. He flipped a few switches to level out in the air, and made Pico's plan backfire by landing right in front of him!

"It's Timehero!" The announcer called. "Amazing! A quick control thrust and he's back on course!"

"Did he crash?" Mikau asked. Apparently he didn't hear the announcer. A few Kirby dealers were shocked as Link and Pico sped by. Pico got angry and got himself right on Link's tail…and that's when Pico's sabotage took over. The part he disconnected flew off of Link's racer, causing a small fire. Link fought to keep position, even as far as playing dirty and sending the smoke right into Pico's vision. Pico coughed a few times, but soon passed Link.

"Timehero's in trouble! Pico takes the lead!" The announcer called. Link could see the energy draining in one of his engines, and had no choice but to close its vent. This put the fire out, but Link had to win! He unplugged a power booster from the other engine, and placed it into his troubled one. After a few tries, he got his vent to re-open, and the power was back. The time was now; Link had to punch it! He could see Pico several yards ahead of him, and tried to outrun him.

"He's catching Pico!" The announcer cried.

"Careful, Link." Mikau pleaded. Pico couldn't believe his luck when he looked back and saw Link gaining on him. As soon as he was close, Pico started another ramming war, and soon got his racer caught with Links! Link knew now that the only way to win was to play like Pico; dirty!

"That little human being is out of his mind." The announcer said. "They're side-by-side!" Link pushed, Pico pushed back, and soon, Link saw the opportunity he needed; an approaching boulder. Link did as Pico did in their last race, and flashed the alien with his vents, causing Pico to sail into the boulder, and crash his racer!

"Poo-doo!" Pico yelled as he came to a stop. The crowd let out a cheer as Link crossed the finish line; except for Scizor, who was absolutely beside himself.

"I can't believe it." ROB said.

"The crowds are going nuts!" The announcer said. Link's friends ran over to him quickly to congratulate him on his win.

"Yay, Link!" Mikau shouted.

"Mom, I did it!" Link said as Roy held the winner up. "YEAH!!" The only one who hadn't noticed was Mother Brain, who had to be woken up by Kraid.

"Good going, Link!" Mikau said in the hangar, congratulating him again. Sheik walked over to Link and hugged him.

"We owe you everything, Link." Sheik said. She was glad to be able to get off this planet. Saria bent down and kissed her son on the cheek, much to his chagrin.

"It's so wonderful, Link." She said. "You have brought hope to those who have none. I'm so very proud of you." The only one not present was Roy, who found Scizor paying off those who bet against him.

"You." Scizor hissed as he spotted Roy. "You swindled me! You knew the boy was going to win, somehow, you knew it. I lost everything."

"Whenever you gamble, my friend, eventually you'll lose." Roy said, hoping Scizor would learn his lesson. "Bring the parts to the main hangar. I'll come by your shop later on so you can release the boy."

"You can't have him." Scizor whined. "It wasn't a fair bet."

"Would you like to discuss it with the Space Pirates?" Roy asked. "I'm sure they can settle this." Scizor knew the Space Pirates wouldn't side with him. The way they saw things, fair or not, a bet is a bet.

"Take him." Scizor sighed.

"Hello." Mikau said as he arrived back at Zelda's ship. Marth walked out and immediately spoke to his Master.

"Well, we have all the essential parts we need." Roy said. "I'm going back, some unfinished business. I won't be long."

"Why do I sense we've picked up another pathetic life form?" Marth asked, taking a shot at Mikau.

"It's the boy who's responsible for getting us these parts." Roy said. "Get this hyperdrive generator installed."

"Yes, Master." Marth obeyed. "It shouldn't take long."

"Come on. Hup!" Roy said to the ripper he was riding, and it walked back towards town.

"Hey, these are yours." Roy said as he handed something to Link.

"Yes!" Link said as he took them and stepped inside his home. "Mom, we sold the racer! Look at all the money we have!"

"My goodness!" Saria gasped. "That's so wonderful Link!" Little did they realize they were about to hear something even more wonderful.

"And he has been freed." Roy said.

"What?!" Link gasped.

"You're no longer a slave." Roy told him with a smile.

"Did you hear that?" Link said to his mother. Link thought this news was even better than when he won the race.

"Now you can make your dreams come true, Link. You are free," Saria said. "Will you take him with you? Is he to become a Jedi?"

"Yes." Roy replied. "Our meeting was not a coincidence. Nothing happens by accident."

"You mean I get to come with you in your starship?" Link asked.

"Link," Roy began. "training to become a Jedi is not an easy challenge, and even if you succeed, it's a hard life.

"But I wanna go." Link said. "It's what I've always dreamed of doing. Can I go, Mom?"

"Link, this path has been placed before you." Saria said. "The choice is yours alone."

"I wanna do it." Link said.

"Then pack your things." Roy said. "We haven't much time."

"Yippee!" Link cried as he ran off, but he soon turned around. "What about Mom? Is she free too?"

"I tried to free your mother Link, but Scizor wouldn't have it." Roy said with regret.

"You're coming with us, aren't you Mom?" Link asked. He soon saw a lack of expression from Roy, and hung his head.

"Son, my place is here. My future is here." Saria said. "It is time for you to let go."

"I don't want things to change." Link complained.

"But you can't stop the change," Saria said. "any more than you can stop the suns from setting." Link got a sad look on his face. "Oh, I love you." Saria finished as she hugged her son. "Now hurry." Link ran off to his room.

"Thank you." Saria told Roy.

"I'll watch after him." Roy said to her. "You have my word. Will you be all right?"

"Yeah." Saria sighed.

Link finished putting his things into a bag, and then switched on his droid.

"Oh!" ROB sputtered as he 'woke up.' "Hello Master Link."

"Well ROB, I've been freed." Link said. "And I'm going away in a starship."

"Master Link, you are my maker and I wish you well." ROB said. "However, I should prefer it if I were a little more completed."

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to finish you, ROB." Link said. "Give you coverings and all. "I'm gonna miss working on you. You've been a great pal. I'll make sure Mom doesn't sell you or anything."

"Sell me?!" Rob cried.

"Bye." Link said as he walked out the door.

"Oh, my." ROB sighed.

Soon, Roy and Link were headed for Zelda's ship as Saria looked on from her door. Before much longer, Link stopped in his tracks. Roy turned around and saw Link run back to his mother's arms.

"I can't do it, Mom." Link said, voice cracking. "I just can't do it."

"Link." Saria said, trying to lift his spirits again.

"Will I ever see you again?" Link asked.

"What does your heart tell you?" Saria said to him.

"I hope so." Link said. "Yes. I guess"

"Then we will see each other again." Saria said with a smile.

"I will come back and free you Mom." Link said. "I promise." Saria reached up, and pushed Link's long hair out of his face.

"Now, be brave," Saria said. "and don't look back. Don't look back." Saria then urged her son back to Roy, and the two of them walked off. But there was trouble that neither of them knew about, a certain probe droid had spotted Zelda's ship!

Darth Bowser watched as one of his droids came back and said something to him. The Sith Lord turned around to a speeder he had in his hangar, and followed the droid to wherever it led him.

Running, Roy and Link soon reached Zelda's ship. However, Link had slowed down quite a bit.

"Roy sir." He said. "Wait, I'm tired." Roy turned around, and spotted something speeding towards them. A speeder carrying a single being; Darth Bowser, and Link was right in his path!

"Link, drop!" Roy ordered as the boy did so. Just in time as the speeder rushed over Link's head. Bowser jumped off the speeder as Roy ignited his Lightsaber. Bowser did the same with his own, which was a bright red color, and the two of them got in a heated duel!

"Go!" Roy ordered to Link. "Tell them to take off!" Link ran for the ship as Roy and Bowser fought it out. Roy made a thrust, but Bowser blocked, knocking Roy's blade higher. Now it was the Sith's turn to strake as he came with an overhead slice, which the Jedi blocked. Bowser came with a sideways swipe but it was blocked as well. The Sith swung at Roy's head, but he ducked it and blocked the second swing. Roy was simply defending himself as Bowser was going for blood!

"Roy's in trouble." Impa said as she entered the cockpit with Link and Sheik, where Marth and the pilot were waiting.

"Take off." Marth said. He looked out the window, and saw Roy and Bowser having it out. "Over there, fly low."

The ship soon left the ground and flew over to where the duel was taking place. As it passed by, Roy did a force leap and landed right on the entrance ramp. Roy walked into the flying ship as Darth Bowser extinguished his blade and could only watch. Roy extinguished his as well and laid back on the floor.

"Are you all right?" Link asked as he and Marth ran in.

"I think so." Roy replied.

"What was it?" Marth asked.

"I'm not sure." Roy confessed. "But it was well-trained in the Jedi arts. My guess is it was after the princess."

"What are we gonna do about it?" Link asked.

"We shall be patient." Roy sighed. He thought now was a good time to introduce his new friend and his apprentice. "Link Timehero, meet Marth Lowell."

"Hi." Link said as he shook Marth's hand. "You're a Jedi too? Pleased to meet you." The crew was relieved. Link was free, Roy succeeded in getting the parts, and Princess Zelda could finally plead her case to the senate in Mute City.