Or a friend whose family owned the school.

It had an amazing campus with rolling green grounds, sports fields, several gardens and green houses. However, it was was surrounded on two saides by a dense forbidden forest and the coastline on a third.

Evan Chamberlain was explaining to four of the newest students that the forest was supposed to be off limits. The tall boy with his light brown hair, warm hazel eyes and engaging smile had pulled a lot of strings to get his friends admitted into the Prep. He'd met them over the summer at a mostly secret training school for practitioners of Pai Zhua, a martial art specializing in releasing and controling one's animal spirit.

Divya Majumdar was sixteen and highly intellegent. So intellegent she'd skipped two grades in elementary school. She didn't like to advertise it because she hated to be peceived as a stereotype. However, with her grades and school records, Evan's family had no qualms in admitting her to the school. "What, like the Forbidden Forest? Is this Hogwarts?" she asked with a slightly amused expression. She flicked a strand of long black hair behind her shoulder.

Zoe Myers was Evan's age at eighteen. She wasn't exceptionally academic but she excelled in certain athletic areas. She had mastered several forms of martial arts but she'd also won several championships in gymnastics. However, her artistic skill is where her true passions lie. The fact that the Prep had a great art program was the major selling point in finishing out her senior year here. "Does that make you Hermione?" she asked.

"Duh," Divya answered sassily.

"Who gets to be Harry?" Austin John Scott asked. AJ was seventeen. He was one of the kids Evan's family had been hestitant about accepting but Evan could be very convincing when he wanted.

"Evan," the two girls and Damien Henderson answered immediately.

Damien Henderson was a special case. It'd taken his friends weeks of convincing him not to quit school all together. The seventeen year old was from a small town in west Texas and had it in mind that he was going to quit and dedicate himself to Pai Zhua. He finally caved when Evan got the brilliant idea of all of them coming to the Prep. Damien's grades were in the trash. He'd also missed many days of school, preferring instead to spend his days hunting alone in the woods or hogging with his grandfather. Evan's family almost put their feet down on Damien, except he had apparantly tested fairly well. So well in fact, he was put in the same group as the rest of them.

Evan gave them an exasperated look. "It's a wild life refuge. The family uses the forest to relocate and give sanctuary to wild animals," he said tersely.

"Sounds like the place to be," Damien said, looking over the grounds toward the dense forest. AJ was nodding but Evan was shaking his head.

AJ rolled his eyes. "We're Pai Zhua students. We roam around the forests all the time. Why are you shaking your head?" he asked. AJ had warm brown eyes and dark hair. He was also a twin. This was going to be his longest sepration from his twin sister. He already missed her but she'd assured him that she'd be ok and that she had her own stuff on that year. She'd really looked forward to finishing out her school life at Stone Canyon High.

"Well, there is the issue of th electric fence we'd have to cross," Evan started.

"A simple enough fix," Divya dismissed out of hand, eying the fence. She nodded to herself as if confirming something mentally.

"There's also the strange noises," Evan added.

"You mean animal sounds?" Zoe asked. She arched a delicate brow. "In a wildlife sanctuary? You're kidding," she added with a fake gasp.

Evan made a mocking face at her acerbic attitude. "Yeah, the whole student body is weirded out by animal sounds," he answered in kind.

Damien grinned. His greenish blue eyes were amused. "Why don't you elaborate," he drawled with a Texas twang.

Evan sighed. "Every now and then weird noises will come from the woods. Like really, really big animals but not quite," he said.

AJ cocked his head and stared at the forest. "Weird not-quite-giant-animal noises or not we need a place to practice where people won't notice the big green lion or the red and yellow eagle as big a car or the great white and blue shark appearing so far from the actual ocean," he said.

"Not to mention the pretty red and white tiger and the great black bison," Zoe agreed.

Evan let out a sharp sigh. "I know," he said, scratching a hand through his hair. He looked at his watch. "Orientation starts in twenty minutes. After that the welcome dinner will last for two hours. Curfew is at ten sharp. The dorm supervisors do their rounds at ten thirty, again at twelve and at three," he said. Evan was a big believer in plans and schedules. He rarely 'winged' it.

"So in order to scout for a location we either have to go tonight between twelve and three or wait until tomorrow," AJ said. "What's the sechedule for tomorrow?" he asked.

"Wake-up at six, breakfast at seven, first period by eight-fifteen. According to our schedules, we have the same lunch periods at twelve-fifteen to one thirty-five. Classes end at three sharp. Any extra-carriculars would last anywhere between then and just before dinner at six forty-five. After that is free time until curfew," Evan explained.

"Then we go tonight," Damien said. "You can figure out how to get us over the fence before then?" he asked Divya.

The dark haired girl nodded. "All ready done," she answered.

Evan wasn't surprised by that. He'd known all along that his friends would want to be in the forest despite the weirdness. It was true to fully practice Pai Zhua they'd need the privacy and open space. "Let's get to the ampitheater then. Headmaster Chamberlain would be sorely disappointed if we missed his big speech," he said. They looked at him curiously at the tone he used.

He gave them his usual affable grin and headed toward the ampitheater, joining the throng of students also headed that way.

Five figures dressed in dark clothes met in a part of campus farthest away from any out buildings or the overlooking school. It was after midnight. Getting out of thier dorms was easy. Divya and Zoe were rommates, as were Damien and AJ. Evan had a private room. Fourth story windows weren't that much of an obsticle for any of them. Neither was moving around quietly in the shadows.

Divya had brought a backpack. From it she pulled a headband with a flashlight attached to it. She put it and ativated it. It lit up the electric fence. It was fortunately not a chainlink fence. It rose maybe ten feet high, the electric charges ran along cables that were no more than two feet apart horizontally.

She put on thick rubber gloves. "Are you sure about this, Div?" Zoe asked.

"The fence is not only electrified but monitored. Everytime something large enough disrupts it, someone is alerted. These are going to make us a doorway. They'll redirect the electricity around them so that we can touch these cables and slip over," she said, holding up discreet metal rings the same general color of the cables.

Evan rubbed his brow. "You've been working on this a lot longer than a few hours," he said.

"Of course. I've been researching the school since you suggested we go here," she answered. She began placing the rings, opening them a doorway that was about six feet wide and six feet high. Everytime she placed one there was a sharp crackle and whirring sound as the electricity was rerouted. The smartest thing she did was not start from the ground, instead about four feet up. That was safest to keep the animals out.

She had to stand on AJ and Damien's shoulders to place the last few. "Ok," she said. She reached out and hosted herself over the stop of the fence. She dropped to the ground, landing in a crouch.

A blood chilling sound echoed around them. It was loud, part metallic grind, part inhuman screech. Divya's warm complexion paled considerably.

Damien ran forward, jumped on the now safe cables and hoisted himself over. He landed soundlessly. "Let's go! It's hurt," he said, having no idea why or how he knew that. AJ, Zoe and Evan followed them over the fence. Damien barely waited for them to land safely before he was running.

"Damien!" AJ shouted, trying to keep up with him in the dense forests. The other boy pratically grew up in the woods. He ran nearly soundlessly. If AJ wasn't as well trained as he was, he'd have lost him. He'd wisely turned a flashlight on as he ran so the others wouldn't lose him while he tried not to lose Damien.

As they ran deeper and deeper into the forest, they began to notice something. The foliage was changing from general Pacific northwestern forests to more dense and lush fauna more common in tropical regions. The chill of the early fall night was giving way to a nearly sweltering moist heat.

Damien came to a sudden stop. AJ almost crashed into him. Damien reached out and turned out the flashlight. "Listen," he ordered in a sharp whisper as the others stopped behind him. The sounds of a struggle came to them.

"It's coming from over there," AJ said, indicating a direction. He started forward. The others didn't hesitate in following. He moved swiftly. They could see flames in the distance. They moved toward them. Soon they came upon a clearing by a stream. A huge SUV sized metallic owl with grayish green feathers and peircing orange eyes was struggling to regain it's feet despite the fact that it's wing appeared to have been blown off. Pieces of it littered the area. It also seemed to be the cause of the fire.

After the initial shock of the great owl, they saw a lone figure fighting several creatures. Creatures were an apt word to describe them. They were mostly humanoid and gray with fiery red stripes waving around them. They had nearly featureless faces but small single horns protruded from their heads.

The figure, a girl, weilded a staff and was holding her own, but every now and then a shadow would slip into the battle and attack, knocking her off balance.

The five friends went in to help. AJ didn't know about the others, but he knew enemy foot soldiers when he saw them. He'd lived in Angel Grove for a large portion of his life. He'd seen more Putties, Z-Putties, and Tengas before he was ten than hopefully most people would ever see in their lifetimes.

He went in first, kicking and punching the creatures. The others weren't but a beat behind him. The girl was shocked at the sudden assistance. She wore gray-green leather top and brown bottoms, tall boots. A head piece that resembled the owl, complete with silver beak over her nose pushed her curly brownish blond hair away from a face with sharp cheekbones. She was actually thankful for the releif. The Putrids weren't her main worry, it was the other thing. The thing that had attacked the great owl.

With enough breathing room to do so, she began to spin her staff, emitting a high pitched sound. The other creature gripped it's head and stumbled out of the shadows. It was female, draped in blue and black cloth with a near human face and a long red horn jutting from her head.

She stared a promise of revenge at the young warrior and then dashed away.

The last of the Putrids went down when the young woman with dark skin finished it off. Ignoring the interlopers for a moment, the girl went to the owl and spoke to it in soothing tones. She activated a device on her wrist and it glowed before shrinking to a size that would fit in the palm of her hand. A smokey substance formed around him, creating a small orb with him in the center. "Come, Alizabar," she said and scooped him up.

"That was a Zord," AJ declared, staring at the little owl.

"Yes," she answered. "You are from beyond Animaria. You should not be here," she stated as she cradled the owl gently.

"A little appreciation in this situation wouldn't be amiss," Zoe said droley.

The girl glared at her. "I have no time to deal with you. Go back. I must quickly do something about the fires before they spread," she stated.

Divya dug around in her bag. "Got you covered," she stated and pulled a tarp and some ropes out. "Need your help," she told Evan as she threw the tarp into the stream. He nodded. They both took different stances. "Unleash the Shark!"

"Unleash the Eagle!"

From within Divya came a large blue and white spirit shark. It dove into the stream. It grabbed the ropes of the tarp in its mouth and swam downward a ways until it was fully submerged in water. When it surfaced the large red and yellow eagle Evan produced grabbed the strings in its talons. It flew over the fires and released the water from the tarp, putting them out with a sizzle.

When the tasks were complete, the spirit animals fizzled out.

"That's just showing off," Zoe declared as she helped Divya gather up the tarp again.

AJ and Damien were watching the girl's reaction to their animal spirits. She was surprised but not exactly shocked. Instead she seemed calculating. Finally a grim determination set into her features. "I am Dulcea, Master Warrior of the Animarium. All of you can do this thing?" she asked in measured tones.

"Yes," Damien answered but he suddenly wasn't listening to her. He began walking away from her.

"Where are you going?" Dulcea demanded.

AJ wanted to follow Damien but he didn't. The other three were staring after Damien. Zoe began to follow. Divya seemed to hesitate but followed along as well. Evan and AJ were the only ones with any self control. "We're needed," Evan said finally. AJ nodded and the two began walking. Something was calling to each of them.

Dulcea was more than shocked now. "You can't go that way," she denied flatly. "Outsiders aren't allowed at the Animarium," she said and ran to catch up to them. Yet even as she said that, she knew that they were being drawn there. By the Wild Zords that populated Animaria. How was this even possible?

They walked for hours. They knew they were going to be in big trouble when they got back to school, but nothing was going to stop them from continuing forward. Nothing could. They broke free of the forest and stopped short in awe. The sun was beginning to rise and it illuminated the landscape around them.

They were on the edges of a valley. In the near distance they could see a lone mountain jutting up into the sky. It was relatively small compared the Rockies, but they'd pretty much figured out that they weren't quite in Pacific Northwest any more. A stream fed a lake in the middle of the valley.

At the base of the mountain was a beautifuly crafted temple. It was built on a peninsula jutting out into the lake which was fed by the stream they'd traveled paralell to for the most part.

"I don't remember this from geography class," Evan said. Divya shook her head.

Damien glanced at AJ. His friend had a strange look on his face. "What?" he asked.

"What, you know something about this?" Zoe asked, spreading her arms wide, indicating to everything around them.

"Not...exactly..." AJ said, not sure how much he should reveal.

"You called the giant owl a Zord," Divya said and looked at Dulcea quietly watching them through narrowed eyes.

AJ let out a sharp sigh. "I'm from Angel Grove. I know a Zord when I see one," he said. That was the truth. "In fact it somewhat reminded me of the Ninja Zords the Power Rangers used for awhile," he added and looked at Dulcea.

"It is true. We provided the Zords as Ninjor requested based upon the animal spirits of the Chosen at the time. Their loss was a great tragedy," she said and swept forward. "I assume you all were being Called to the Temple. You won't be allowed to pass unless I'm with you," she said and began leading the way.

They followed her as she moved swiftly. As they moved, they began to see movement in the forests around them. Once a large shadow passed over them. They looked up. In the early morning light they could see a large bird shaped Zord. Evan watched it intently. He felt himself following quickly.

The others and Dulcea followed him. They ran the rest of the way to the Animarium gates. The Zord soared over the gates but they were stopped by hooded figures in blue robes. They crossed menacing looking staffs bewteen them. "Outsiders are not permitted," one of them stated.

"They may pass. They were Called," Dulcea stated. She pushed aside their staffs and led them through the gate where animal shaped Zords roamed peacefully. Big cats, a green lion and a white tiger, played a pouncing game. A shark shaped Zord splashed through the water of the lake.

Divya clapped her hands over her mouth in awe.

"Come along," Dulcea told them. They were reluctant to leave but they did so. They entered the temple itself. It reminded Divya of ancient Indian architecture in a way.

"It looks like the ruins King Louis and his monkeys occupied in the Jungle Book," Zoe remarked.

Divya snorted.

Dulcea twice had to intervene as more figures in hooded robes tried to stop them. They finally entered what must have been the center of the temple. The room had no roof that they could tell. There was a small waterfall slowly trickling down one side that pooled in the middle where a raised dias was accessible via an intrically carved bridge. Sitting at what could only be a throne on the dias was a young woman dressed in white. Her brownish-blond hair was long and hung around her. The dress she wore was light with a long flowing skirt. The sleeves were also long and flowing and her shoulders were bare. A delicate silver head piece adorned her forhead with a jewel hangin between her eyes.

She looked at them with the same peircing gaze as Dulcea and though her loose hair softened her face, she had the same cheekbones. However, unlike Dulcea, her expression was more kind and welcoming. "Welcome to the Animarium," she greeted. Her eyes sparkled at them."I am Princess Shayla, Guardian of the Animarium," she introduced herself.

Dulcea rolled her eyes. She went to the edge of the pool and set the Owl orb in the water. The strangers could see now that there many others floating around. Shayla gasped. "So it's true?" she asked.

Dulcea nodded. "The Orgs have awakened," she answered. She gave a steady glance in the direction of the strangers. "They came and helped me. They hear the Call," she stated.

Shayla studied the group again. "How rare for humans from beyond Animaria to hear the Call of the Wild Zords," she said. They weren't much to look at, but Shayla supposed neither were she and Dulcea. They appeared to be around a smilar age as the sisters. Many in Animaria questioned their rights to be the Princess and Master Warrior of the Animarium at such young ages.

Questioned in whispers. Not only was it their birthright but Animus himself sanctioned them. The fact that the Orgs had reawakened not even a year after they took their positions was going to be the fuel some needed to seek their displacement.

It was fortuitous that these strangers from beyond Animaria came when they did. It was destined.

Damien rubbed his eyes. It was difficult to look at Shayla. Everytime he did so, he saw another animal spirit glowing around her. Dulcea was simple. Her owl was her only companion but the other one was different. "Make up your mind," he finally growled and closed his eyes, rubbing his forhead.

Shayla was surprised. "Excuse me?" she asked flabbergasted.

"That's no way to address the Princess," Dulcea said and stepped toward him.

AJ held up a hand to stop her approach. "What's wrong?" he asked his friend.

"Her spirit keeps changing. I can't block it out because it's different every time I look at her. It's making my head ache," Damien said.

Shayla raised a brow. "My apologies. I didn't know there was a seer among you," she said. She held out her arms gracefully. She glowed softly. Only Damien could see the spirits that left her body, leaving only the graceful white fox that he managed to filter out. "I hold their spirits while they grow or heal," she said, gesturing to the orbs in the pool. "Well, now I have no doubts," she said to her sister.

"No, I suppose there aren't any doubts to be had. That one can not only see spirits but each of them can summon them," Dulcea agreed and crossed to the dais. "What are you called?" she asked.

They were quiet a moment. Evan finally cleared his throat. "Evan Chamberlain," he said.

"Divya Majumdar."

"Zoe Myers."

"Damien Henderson."

"AJ Scott."

Shayla nodded at each of them. She suddenly frowned and jerked to her feet. She held out her hand. They watched as water from the pool rose up and coalesced into a swirling view screen. Images began to flicker. They saw a monster that looked like he was part giant spark plug, part hornet and part ball bearing.

"I recognize that place. That's Turtle Cove," Evan said. The monster was soon joined by another one. This one had turbines on his chest and something of a drill on his arm. Both Orgs had horns growing out of their heads. Or where their heads most probably were. They were attacking people for no apparent reason other than that they could.

AJ grimaced. He looked resigned, which caused Divya and Zoe to give him strange looks.

"What's with the look?" Damien asked.

"I can feel it coming. It's why they were Calling to us," AJ explained which really explained absolutely nothing.

Dulcea and Shayla looked at him then each other. Shayla grabbed the staff that was propped up against her throne. It was carved white ivory an had a clear orb at the top. The orbs began to glow. Five brightly glowing orbs zoomed into the room from the opening above.

"We need your help," Shayla said. "You were> Called for a reason. The eldest amonst the Wild Zords called you to us now that the Orgs have reawakened. We always feared they would once again try to destroy Animaria. We made provisions," she said.

AJ was nodding. He knew it was coming and he was frankly flabbergasted by it.

"We don't have time for a history lesson now," Dulcea said was she watched the monsters.

"No, we don't," Evan agreed. His entire self was itching to do something about the creatures destroying his home.

"Very well. Take the Orbs," Shayla said. "Your power will be derived from these five Wild Zords," she explained gesturing with her hand for them to do as she said.

They each reached out and took the Orbs that floated in front of each of them. Evan grabbed the red orb that encased the Eagle Zord he'd seen earlier. He gasped when he felt it pratically meld with his animal spirit as it disappeared. Yet he knew he could call on it separately anytime he needed it.

Divya grabbed the blue orb that encased the Shark Zord. Zoe grabbed the black orb that encased the serene Bison Zord. Damien took the green orb that encased the Lion Zord. AJ took the crimson orb that encased the white Tiger Zord.

Shayla's staffed glowed again and what appeared to be flip phones appeared before them.

"Access the power of the Wild Zords and save the Animarium and your Turtle Cove," Dulcea told them, though it chaffed to stay behind but she couldn't help until Alizabar, the Owl Zord, was fully healed.

They took the phones. Evan flipped his open. "Wild Access!" he called and pressed a button which activated the power of the Eagle.

"Wild Access!" the others repeated, copying his actions.

Plug Org and Turbine Org were wreaking havoc along the streets of Turtle Cove, a moderately sized city in north California.