Vanessa groaned as she heard a voice and felt her body moving from side to side.
"Mom! Mom! Get up!"
Vanessa reluctantly opened her eyes and they were assaulted by a light. She rolled over, into the back of the couch. Gia grumbled and with her hand continued to shake her mother.
"We need to set up the consoles," Gia told her mother. "You have to get off the couch so the guys can move it."
"You're going to have to try harder than that if you want to get her up," Claire said as she came over. She gently pushed Gia out of the way, "Watch and learn, kid. Vanessa, I've got coffee!"
"Coffee," Vanessa rose up from the couch and took the mug right out of Claire's hand, without bothering to ask if it was hers or not. She sipped it and let out a content moan as she walked to the kitchen table to sit. Troy and Jake could finally lift the couch and move it to the side of the room so Tensou and Noah could set up the consoles. Then, while the Rangers gathered around, Claire walked to the table and joined Vanessa with a fresh coffee.
"So what's going on?" Vanessa asked.
"Gosei's got a mission."
"A mission? What kind of... Gia's not going on a mission, is she? She had a bullet removed from her shoulder yesterday!"
"Shush, will you," Claire chuckled. "I'm sure Gosei knows what he's doing, and we're not going to find out if you keep blabbing."
Gosei could see the Rangers were up and ready to listen and began to flash images of what looked just like a jungle on their consoles for them to see.
"Rangers, I am very proud of you. So far, you have managed to win many battles, but the fights are becoming more and more difficult."
"You woke us up for this?" Jake grumbled and rubbed his eyes. "Seriously, Gosei, tell us something we don't know or let us go back to bed."
"Gosei's right, guys," Troy said and looked to his teammates. "I mean, think about it. Until now, we've just been holding them off. Vekar's still out there, and unless we do something, he's just going to keep attacking."
"That is why you will need a new ally, who will give you more power," Gosei answered. "I am sending you on a mission."
"A mission? Really?" Emma's interest peeked. She liked the idea of a mission. It sounded a lot better than spending her days in a cave waiting for a fight to happen so she could get out for the day. "Where are we going?"
"A place called Animarium."
"Oh no..." Gia rolled her eyes and groaned while Emma bounced in excitement.
"Wait, you mean that's real?"
"What's Animarium?" Jake asked.
"Animarium is only the most amazing place on earth!" Emma smiled brightly. "It's a floating island in the sky that used to belong on Earth. But when the orgs attacked, it was lifted into the sky by the ancient warriors so that the Animals and the Princess would be safe."
"How do you know all this?" Noah asked her. "I mean, I've heard of the Animarium, but I haven't had time to study it yet."
"Joe used to tell the story to me," Emma said and suddenly all eyes shifted to Gia. The yellow Ranger shrugged her good shoulder and sighed.
"We owned the book."
"There's a book?"
"It's a children's book. A fairy tale," Gia said and then turned to Gosei, "This place can't actually exist, right?"
"I assure you, Gia, it is very real. It lies hidden in the clouds. You will need the Sky Ship to reach it."
"The Sky Ship," Jake smirked. "Alright, that's sounding pretty cool."
"Uh, what's the Sky Ship?" Vanessa called from the back.
"Their giant floating pirate ship," Rebecca answered her. "It's pretty kick ass."
"What's on the island, Gosei?" Troy asked.
"A wild lion."
"Yeah, I've..."
"You mean the Lion Zord," Emma interrupted Noah with a smirk. "One of the protectors of Animarium. He's an ally to the ancient warriors."
Noah crossed his arms and grumbled, "To the Wild Force Rangers, actually."
"Power Rangers weren't in my book," Emma replied. "Though my book does mention he's huge."
"He is. Be very careful, Rangers," Gosei announced and the Rangers could hear him lowering the Sky Ship just outside the command center. They turned to leave.
Just before they headed out, Rebecca stepped in Troy's way and looked up at him with big eyes, "Can I come?"
Troy shook his head, "No."
"But..."
"Watch Ryan, please. This is too dangerous."
"It's a giant floating magic island! Please."
"Sorry, Rebecca. I'll bring you home a souvenir or something."
"I... fine. But I hope Ryan walks while you're away and you miss it."
"I'll be safe, Troy chuckled and followed his friends out. Gia was about to go as well but her mother grabbed her by her arm.
"Gia, you..."
"I'll have the others do the heavy lifting. I'll be fine, mom. I promise."
"I trust Gia will not push herself too hard on this mission," Gosei said, "And it is crucial all five Rangers present themselves to the Lion. Vanessa, you will have to let her go."
"I'll be safe," Gia said and kissed her mother's cheek. She was just about to walk out again when Jordan stopped her.
"Let me come."
"No," Gia shook her head. "When you came, you promised Emma you'd stay out of the way."
"I want to propose."
"Yeah. I know. So?"
"What better place than Animarium? After you guys get what you need, maybe I can take Emma somewhere and pop the question there?"
"No, Jordan. It's too dangerous."
"I'll stay on the ship the whole time except to talk to her."
"No."
"Please..."
"No. Look, Jordan, I'm sorry. You're just going to have to come up with something else. Putting your life at risk is not the kind of romance I meant."
With that, Gia turned around and boarded the Sky Ship. Jordan watched her go and grumbled, but then he saw something in the corner of his eye. Emma had forgotten her camera. This was the perfect excuse. As the Sky Ship lifted in the air, he grabbed the camera, put it around his neck, and then ran to the front of the cave. As the anchor lifted he jumped, caught the chain and climbed up.
"Aw, man," Rebecca said. "I should have thought of that."