High above the world, in the ominous castle in the sky and Back in the prison room. Mario and Luigi were still in their blocks. Luigi turned to Mario and asked. "You think Peach'll find us something to break out of here?"

"Stop asking me that!" Mario complained. "You can be so annoying!"

"Well you're the big hero! You should have kicked Bowser's butt long ago!" Luigi growled. "Look, if you don't want to, I'd be more than happy to show everyone what I can do!"

"Luigi! You couldn't kick a can, you're so weak and puny, I turn the fan on and it blows you away!" Mario replied snidely.

"How long did it take you to come up with that one? Most of yesterday? You must have lots of strength 'cause you couldn't lift that ugly gut without it" Luigi griped. "DAMMIT! I've been in here for more than two weeks and I've done nothing but listen to Peach moan and whine about being kidnapped for the umpteenth time and you're REALLY pushing it."

"Well at least you haven't had anything food related to worry about. Twink gladly feeds you tons more than me! It's almost as though he wants me to wither and die!" Mario complained.

"Well, you could stand to wither a little..." Luigi mumbled.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Mario growled. "You're really pushing it!"

"Oh yeah? What are you gonna do about it? You're trapped in that block!"

Peach walked in, she was looking really worried. "Sorry guys, I couldn't find anything to help you with."

"You didn't find anything to help us out?" Mario asked, almost crying. "I can't believe I'm going to wither away and die in some sort of block in some dungeon..."

"Please!!" Peach whined but then smiled and nodded. "I know! Twink can help us out!" Peach made a wishing stance and Twink flew into the room instinctively.

"What can I do for you, Princess?" Twink asked.

"I want you to get the ultra hammer from Mario's house up here so we can smash these blocks."

"Right, I'll be right back." Twink flew out the window and out the castle.

*  *  *

Jimmy was climbing the icy hill feverishly. He had Goombario in one arm and he used the other to grasp any tree he could come across. Jimmy groaned. "This sure is a big hill..."

Bow floated up there with Lakilester. Bow turned to Lakilester and shouted. "What are you waiting for?! Help him!"

"He doesn't happen to need my help." Lakilester replied and looked down on his cloud. "Besides, I won't be able to lift him with just this..."

Jimmy lost his grip and fell all the way to the bottom. Jimmy let out a sigh. "It's no use...it's too high..." He sat down on the ice and sighed again. "Now what..."

"How about the teleportation badge!" Goombario suggested. "Teleport up the hill as far as it'll allow and when your safe on a sturdy place, teleport again."

"Hey! That IS a good idea!" Jimmy nodded. "But then again, you always have good ideas...well, hold on and watch me work." Jimmy touched the teleportation badge and teleported up to a tree branch and teleported again and again. Soon he was up halfway when he started feeling queasy. "Ugh, I'm starting to feel it..."

"You'll have to take a little rest." Goombario said. "Or have something like a honey or maple syrup."

Jimmy took out a piece of shroom cake and ate it. "Lucky I saved this since your birthday..."

"Yeew...two day old cake." Goombario complained.

"Yum! Man I AM a good cook!" Jimmy mumbled after eating the small cake slice. "We'll I'm refreshed! Let's keep teleporting." Jimmy touched his teleport badge and they teleported up and up and finally back to the top of the hill. "Finally we're at the top of the hill...but now I'm so tired, I need to go to a Toad house..."

"Don't worry about it!" Parakarry said. "We can rest in the Toad House in Toad town now!"

"I'll be okay, I've been this tired before. I can take a little nap on the way to Tejina Island." Jimmy yawned. "Let's go..." They walked to the port area of Toad Town and they walked up to the whale. "I'm sorry to bother you at this time of night..."

"It's not nighttime..." The Whale commented. "But I'll be happy to take you back to Tejina island."

"Thank you..." Jimmy yawned. "I'm sleepy...need nap..." He crawled onto the whale's back and he laid down.

Goombario walked up to the whale. "You'll have to forgive him, he spent the time on a huge quest to get this snow orb. He also teleported around the forest and used his magic like a million times. Thank you for helping us out." Goombario said and hopped onto the Whale's back. Parakarry, Lakilester and Bow followed them and soon they were on the high seas.

Jimmy was snoring loudly and Lakilester floated over to Goombario. "Can you believe anyone could get THAT tired over just beaming around a forest?"

"Well you could have carried him over to the top of the hill!" Bow said. "How could you just let him slide down like that?"

"Well let's not think about that." Goombario looked ahead of them and saw Tejina island fast approaching. "Once we take a rest, Jimmy will do his becoming and we'll soon be able to go to Bowser's castle and we'll rescue Mario, Luigi and Peach."

"Right...our quest is almost over!" Bow nodded. "I can't believe what we went through...in this adventure..."

"We've become even closer." Parakarry replied. "I used to hate you, Goombario but now you aren't bad to be around!"

"So you're going to let me be Jimmy's protector?" Goombario asked.

"Oh I won't go that far..." Parakarry grumbled.

"You people are weird..." Lakilester mumbled.

They docked up near the city of Wizards and Jimmy woke up only to go to the Toad House and flop down on the bed. The Toad turned and smiled to the rest of them. "Well I guess you guys are staying here..."

The Badges on Jimmy's arm turned into Kooper, Watt and Bombette and they jumped out and they all went downstairs. Goombario jumped on the couch and everyone jumped on after him. Lakilester turned and thought to himself. "What a pain in the butt this is...but I guess it's okay cause we're saving the world. I wonder how Lakilulu's doing? Is she safe there on Lavalava island? Is she waiting for me...she shouldn't...I-I'm not worthy of her. She's so patient and caring, she's a real peach and what about me...I'm no fuzz..." Lakilester frowned and turned away.

Parakarry turned to him and asked. "What are you thinking?" He then thought. "He's probably thinking...well I don't know...I for one am happy for myself. I've got so many friends now and before I was so lonely...I was a mail carrier so I didn't care much about being friends with anyone but...I've learned so many things on the road. I should thank everyone when the quest is over..."

Bow looked over everyone and didn't say anything. "Everyone looks so somber... I wonder what they're thinking..."

Kooper looked at everyone and thought. "I wonder if they're thinking about what's gonna happen tomorrow? Jimmy will become a Drakonian and we'll go and save the world again...but what's going to happen to us after the Journey is over? I know that I'll go on safari with Professor Kolorado but that means I probably won't see anyone anytime soon..."

Goombario looked up at the ceiling. "I wonder what I'm gonna do when I'm done protecting Jimmy? I wonder...what he's going to do...go home to his world...if he does...then he won't see any of us ever again! That's terrible! I-I've only known him for a month and already we're the best of friends. He really should stay..."

"I'll help Jimmy but I'm going to go right back home to see my Mom!" Watt thought. "Maybe when we save the day, we can all go back to Shy Guys Toybox to celebrate! That'll be so cool!"

"I can only think about what tomorrow'll be like. We'll probably go to Bowser's castle right after Jimmy gets his wings. I wonder what this is gonna be like...Bowser could have some sort of new power..." Bombette thought but then gained a look of determination. "I'll blow him up! Oh Yes! That'll teach him some manners!!" Little did Bombette know that she said that last part out loud. Everyone stared at her with anime sweat drops in the backs of their heads.

"Um...Bombette?" Goombario asked nervously. "What did you just say?"

"You aren't planning to blow me up are you?" Kooper asked nervously. "I thought that you were over that casino thing..."

"I think you need a long rest..." Lakilester commented.

"Listen to your heart..." Bow commented nervously. "...and not the voices in your head!"

"Sorry! I was thinking about what I'll do to Bowser!" Bombette replied. "Sorry for bursting out like that, no pun intended..."

"Let's just get some sleep..." Goombario said.

They all went to bed and they slept the night over to the morning. Jimmy awoke at the crack of dawn and he ran down the stairs. He walked up to them and nudged them awake. "It's time to wake up!"

Lakilester awoke and looked at him. "I'll bet you're really eager on getting that test over with...Because you woke us up WAY too early!!"

"I'm sorry!" Jimmy smiled nervously. "I really do want to get this over with."

They left the Toad house and walked out of the Wizard City. They entered the forest and once again they met up with the Crazee Dazees and they smiled to their approaching visitors. The Amazee Dazee, Petunia approached him and said. "Welcome back to the forest. You're going to prove yourself as a Drakonian right?"

"Right." Jimmy nodded.

"I wish you luck." Petunia said sincerely.

Jimmy and everyone approached the temple and they walked in. To their surprise, they walked into the main area. There was no mirrored room or anything. Jimmy saw Esmeralda there and she smiled to him. "Welcome back to the temple. You got the snow orb?"

"Sure did!" Jimmy said as he threw her the stone. She caught it and she smiled to him again.

"Good work, I knew you could do it." Esmeralda flew up to him. "Care to have the battle again?"

Jimmy nodded and they both got ready to fight. Esmeralda rushed at Jimmy and he swung his feather in front of him, forming his giant feather shield. She crashed into it and he got knocked back and so did she. Jimmy suddenly felt warmth and he jumped up in a super jump. He jumped into her and knocked her to the ground. She brought her arm back and focused herself, creating a yellow force ball. She launched it at Jimmy but he nimbly jumped out of the way. Jimmy smiled earnestly as he summoned a blast of ice at Esmeralda and she blocked it with her wings. She dove and slashed through him with her hand. Jimmy stumbled back but jumped up and smiled at her. She smiled back and dove at him again. He touched his teleport badge and appeared on her back. He took her by the arms and she lost balance. She fell to the ground and used her wings to force him off her. She then looked at him and smiled invitingly as she summoned another force ball and launched it at him. With lightning speed, he jumped back and teleported behind her and summoned a lightning bolt and zapped her from behind. She fell to he knees and she turned to him. She summoned many force balls and Jimmy jumped around, dodging them, they hit the wall in a yellow explosion. He rushed at her and they did some hand to hand combat. He jabbed and kicked up and she blocked them. Jimmy blocked all she had to offer and she began to summon another yellow force ball when Jimmy summoned a sparkling greenish yellow magic force around him, increasing his Agility. He ran circles around her while she summoned her powers. She looked at him in disbelief and sighed as she threw the force ball over her shoulder. "This obviously isn't going to work..."

Jimmy stopped and raised his hands to the sky and with a bright flash, there were suddenly 7 Jimmy's around her. They circled her, pounding with their fists in a dizzying flurry. She felt them all and was weak and disoriented. She sighed and collapsed to her knees. Jimmy stopped his attack and jumped back. "It's over! You surrender!"

"...Fine!" She nodded truthfully. "You win the match so now you shall...get your wings!" She snapped her fingers and the Snow Orb flew to Jimmy and it flew into his Drakonian chest groove and now the robes had the snow orb within them. Jimmy shrugged and she said. "This'll probably be painful but you'll love it..."

Jimmy suddenly gasped as his back started to feel strange. Suddenly his robes bulged there and without warning, they burst from his back, causing a dozen or so Drakonian feathers to free themselves from his wings. He cried out in total surprise and he moaned loudly, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. He fell to his knees, and he groaned. "Ohhh, that was quite painful..." His wings unfolded themselves fully and everyone gazed at him. He turned to everyone and got up. "Well...how do I look?"

"You look...magnificent..." Esmeralda breathed. "Wow! Take a look!" She took a feather from her wings and threw it. It flew up to Jimmy and with a flash and a blast of magic, it transformed into a huge mirror so Jimmy can look at himself.

Jimmy gazed at himself. His wings broke through his robes but the robes looked perfectly fine. His snow orb shone brightly in his decorative on his chest. He saw that he still had the same color boots and pants but he looked at his large Drakonian wings. They were magnificent and the feathers were all White with a gold tip, just like his feather. It was still there but it was bigger than his normal feathers. "Wow...I really do look like a Drakonian..."

"And now you've earned your wings. You've defeated me in battle and you've got your snow orb. That's a great achievement!" Esmeralda smiled cutely at him. "Now you want to take flight?"

"Yes I do!" Jimmy breathed. "Watch me...I'm gonna fly!"

Suddenly the Temple roof opened up and he took a running start. He flapped his wings and took to the air. Within seconds, he was high above the island, taking all the air currents as they came. "Wow! Island Tejina is so beautiful from up here. He flew up to the clouds and saw them all, there was the cumulous clouds developing over the sea and wispy light cirrus overhead. He smiled and sighed as he flew to Lavalava island and the yoshies in the village saw him dive down. Jimmy flapped his wings and flew to Yoshi and asked. "Hey Yoshi! Recognize me?"

"Oh WOW! You passed the tests! I'm so happy for you! You remind me of a Blue Yoshi who takes to the air with their wings!" Yoshi replied and Jimmy flew off at that. "Take Care!!"

Sushie was chasing after the baby yoshies and Sashimi when she saw the white and gold winged boy take to the air above her. Sashimi turned to her grandma and asked. "Grandma, is that an angel?"

"Sort of!" she replied and they both laughed.

Jimmy dove into the clouds and he flew over the Mushroom kingdom and looked ahead...his smile vanished when he saw the dark castle in the sky. "That's the castle...Bowser..." He mumbled and saw Isle Tejina and dove down to it. He landed back in the temple and said to them. "Flying is SO much fun! Now I know why Parakarry's always in such a good mood! Always being able to fly..."

Lakilester looked at Parakarry oddly and asked. "HE'S always in a good mood?"

"It always makes me so happy to see a Drakonian first spread its wings." Esmeralda sighed. "I remember doing it two years ago when I was fifteen..."

Jimmy frowned when another thought entered his head. "...I saw the flying castle...Everyone! Now that I can get there, we can fly there and save the princess and Mario and Luigi."

"Okay..." Esmeralda said to him. "Here's the things you need to know about Drakonians. First off, their power requires a lot of energy so you need to eat something before you fight. Secondly, you just became so your powers haven't fully developed yet but then again, you've got something I never seen before." She then smiled and winked to him. "On the plus side, you don't need to use those badges anymore. You've outgrown them so to speak. You can also fly and your wings can serve as a shield to protect you. You can use various powers with your feathers by plucking them. They'll regenerate but it takes time so don't use it too often. Now that you know, go ahead and save those guys from Bowser!"

Jimmy took Goombario in his arms and he took another running start. Bow, Parakarry and Lakilester followed him and soon they were above the temple. "Wow! This IS fun!" Goombario shouted cheerily. "Awesome!!"

"Finally we can fly up high instead of just hovering over the ground!" Lakilester smiled to Jimmy. "Finally you're a MAN!"

"The only thing we need to do now is take care of Bowser and Kammy Koopa and save those guys, bringing this quest to a happy end!" Bow said brightly. "We can do it!"

They then saw the castle through the clouds and they started their flight towards it and to their destiny.

That's the end of Chapter 16. I loved writing it! How did you like reading it?