AN: Okay, here we are at Chapter 41 of Link through time. Thank you to those who reviewed and will review. I gotta say; I almost gave up on this because an Anon reviewed here and I was a bit offended and insulted (Dear Anon, want to have a civil conversation with me? Don't hesitate to PM. Pretty sure you know who you are) but there was also another Anon who reviewed and defended the story and Celeste so I thank that Anon for getting me out of that hole of self pity. Rest assured I will not be making changes just because one person submitted a review that basically screams 'CHANGE IT' unless the majority calls for it and I am in the mood to make changes. As long as the people love the way I make this, that's how I'll make it. If you don't like it, don't read it. Anyways, here is Chapter 41 and the Houston Race. I hope you guys enjoy this!

CHAPTER XLI:

LAST RACE

Days later, Celeste was sitting in the locker rooms of the Houston tracks, wearing her uniform. This is it. Her last race. This would be the last time she'd wear the uniform. Levi entered the room and grabbed her shoulder.

"Hey, it's time." He told her. Without another word, she stood up and left the locker room with her helmet. She got in her car as if she was in a daze.

"Celeste, good luck. Try not to be so arrogant out there, alright?" Duncan requested.

"I'll try not to. But I'm a pretty good racer and this is my last race, so maybe I'll be arrogant just a little bit." She told him with a smile. Duncan patted her head before leaving. Celeste donned her helmet and started the engine.

"Racers, start your engines!" The commentator announced. She waited three seconds and once the light turned green, she punched it but in the process, got stuck in the bumper of another hovercar.

"OH SHIT!" She yelled out.

"Celeste, get out of their! Someone's about to ram you!" Uncle Damon warned her. Celeste made her hovercar jump and they collided while she kept going.

"Oh! And Cassandra Knight eliminates two racers immediately! Look at how fast she's approaching the racing hills!" A commentator announced. Indeed, Celeste was catching up to the other racers and fast. As she caught up to them in the racing hills, one tried to ram her off track but Celeste was faster. She used the bumper to hit him and he was ejected out of the track.

"FUCK YOU!" She yelled after him as she kept going. Once they exited the racing hills, there was a stretch before the turn and Celeste was still in 5th.

"As per usual, Cassandra Knight is favored to win the championship death race. Her chances rise as they approach the jump jack 2.0." A commentator announced.

"I agree. When she was 13 and her first time racing in Houston, Cassandra Knight passed the Jump Jack 2.0 with flying colors." The other one recalled. The Jump Jack 2.0 isn't like the Jump Jack in Vegas. The 2.0 launches you to the next pad and the next until you get to the next area. What takes the cake is that you have to angle yourself right to get to the next one. Up until now, it scares the crap out of Celeste.

"Punch it, Celeste." Rex told her. She did so immediately and she got launched to the jump jack. The other three racers in front of her managed to royally screw up and got themselves ejected, making Celeste in 2nd. Inside, Celeste was mentally screaming.

'Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! I am so going to die!'

Thankfully, she didn't. She got through it and entered the Houston Vortex before sending the first placer out.

"Yo, you pissed your pants yet?" Rex asked.

"Shut up. Of course I didn't." She answered.

"Okay. Just remember; you have to go through that 9 more times." He reminded her.

'AH SHIT.' Celeste inwardly cursed. She passed through the next 8 laps like a breeze, when it came to the last lap, however, her problems started.

"You're doing good, Celeste." Uncle Damon said as she got back to the racing hills. Just as Celeste was about to reply, someone took a shot at her. Of course. How could she forget? This is a death race. You're allowed to use guns. Before she can pull her own gun and shoot back, the bullet penetrated the front of her helmet and grazed her forehead. Celeste was knocked out but didn't feel herself get ejected.

Petra and Levi watched in shock as Celeste was knocked out. They wanted to run up there and pull her out but the entrance to the tracks was barred to civilians. They saw that she wasn't ejected meaning that there's still a chance she could catch up.

"The eject system isn't working. I'll pull her out from here." Duncan offered.

"Wait, don't. Not yet." Petra said. She knew her daughter was going to wake up and win this race. Celeste wouldn't lose this last race since there was too much at stake. Her reputation. The Knight Family Legacy. Her Pride. She didn't want to go out as a loser…

"She'll wake up and catch up. Don't worry." Levi said. Duncan reluctantly nodded.

…And if Celeste wanted something, she'll do everything to get it.

While Celeste was knocked out of her car, she dreamed. She dreamed of the time she was training to be a racer. She remembered her adoptive father grilling her during their training. Whenever they'd spar, he'd push her so hard she could barely walk, let alone stand the next day. If there was something Celeste hated him for, it was that. Back then, Celeste wanted nothing more than to give up. But there was something her father told her.

"Get up, Cassandra! You're a Knight! And Knights don't give up!"

Knights don't give up. That's what he told her. Petra told her the same thing when she wanted to give up on her military training.

"Come on, Cassandra. You know whenever I wanted to give up on something, my mother always told me not to. So don't give up."

She slowly opened her eyes. She can't give up. She took her helmet off and threw it away.

'That's right. I'm a Knight just as much as I'm a Ral. We don't give up.'

Once again, Celeste started her engines and pushed her hovercar to the breaking point. She exceeded her usual speed limit and immediately caught up to the other racers. She was the one who ejected most of them in the Jump Jack 2.0.

"AND CASSANDRA KNIGHT IS CATCHING UP!" Someone announced. In the booth, Petra let out a sigh of relief. Celeste kept going and going and going until she was in the third place. When she caught up to the one in second place, she gave off a sadistic smirk.

"Hi there." She said through gritted teeth before shoving the front of her car to his bumper and flipping him over. He was forced to eject as Celeste jumped and pushed the other one off track. Unfortunately, Celeste hit a bad landing and her car tumbled over to the finish line. At the end of the race, she was sweating bullets and covered in blood. That's going to result in a nasty scar but her wound wasn't healing yet. Good. At least the people won't be suspicious. Celeste got off her car and people were crowding her. They led her to the stage and pushed her up there to receive her reward.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, this year's Racing Season champion! Cassandra Knight!" The commentator announced as they handed her the huge trophy. The kids came forward to greet her and she hugged them. The adults did too. The last one to greet her was her parents. She hugged them as tightly as they hugged her.

"Proud of you, you brat." Levi told her. Celeste chuckled once again before looking at the trophy.

'Thanks, Dad.' She mentally said to her adoptive father as she lifted the trophy in the air and the people cheered louder for the young champion.

AN: And that's a wrap. I know. I'm sorry if this is crap but writer's block. I hope it wasn't too rushed for you guys. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this. Thanks to those who will review!