" Uh...... Hey Mimi?*

" Mmmm?"

" Is there supposed to be an anthropomorphic lion cub in the sky just.... Free floating?*

Mia looked up from her woodwork and raised a brow. " Could you repeat that Em?"

" She's right." Blackie said as he squinted his eyes. " There is a lion cub balloon up there. And..... Hold on someone's on it!*

* What?!* Mia grabbed her binoculars and ran outside to the stairs, then pointed the binoculars up

She gasped and almost fell the hundred stairs that would lead her to the city.

" What happened?" Emma asked

Mia turned. " That girl?"

" Yeah?"

" It's.... Ann."

Emma rocked in her chair. " Annie..... How is it Annie?! Of all the people I never thought it would be Annie!"

Zane, who was looking out the window, turned to them with a grave expression. " I'm afraid the situation is escalating. The balloon is flying away."

Mia's heart raced as she tightened her grip on the binoculars, her eyes never leaving the sight of Annie clinging to the side of a giant lion cub balloon, floating higher and higher into the sky.

"This is insane," she muttered, glancing at Emma and Zane. "We've got to get her down!"

Emma rocked back in her chair, her face a mix of shock and a strange hint of amusement. "I still can't believe it's *Annie* up there, hanging onto a balloon like she's trying to fly off to some magical kingdom!"

"Trust me, this is not the way she would've planned to travel," Mia shot back, pacing around as she tried to think of a plan.

Blackie stretched lazily, though his eyes held a glint of concern as he looked up at the balloon. "So, are we going to do something about this, or are we just going to watch her drift into the stratosphere?"

Mia shook her head. "No way am I letting her go any higher. We need to act now."

Just then, Zane straightened, a look of determination crossing his face. "I'll activate my grappling hook," he said. "If I can get close enough, I might be able to latch onto the balloon and pull it down."

Emma perked up at this. "Now that sounds like a plan!"

They all rushed down to the open square, where Mia spotted a maintenance ladder leading up to a nearby rooftop. She scrambled up with Zane, who had his grappling hook ready.

From their new vantage point, Mia could see the lion cub balloon better. Annie's face looked a mixture of terror and thrill as she clung to the balloon, her grip slipping slightly with every passing gust of wind.

"Annie!" Mia shouted, waving her arms.

Annie's eyes widened as she spotted her friends down below. "Mia! Emma! Zane! Oh, thank *goodness!* I don't know how much longer I can hang on!"

"Just hold tight!" Zane called, aiming his grappling hook carefully. With one swift motion, he fired it up, and the hook latched onto the thick string holding the balloon.

Mia held her breath as Zane carefully reeled the hook back in, the balloon shifting slowly but surely down toward them.

But then, a sudden gust of wind swept through the square, jerking the balloon sideways and tugging it-and Annie-dangerously close to the rooftop edge.

Mia scrambled forward, ready to help. "Zane! Pull harder!"

"I'm trying!" Zane grunted, his servo-motors whirring as he held onto the grappling line with all his strength.

Annie swung back toward them, her face pale. "Guys, please hurry! I can feel my fingers slipping!"

Emma, watching from below, called out, "Annie, don't let go! We're almost there!"

With one last pull, Zane managed to bring the balloon close enough to the rooftop. Mia stretched her arm as far as she could, reaching toward Annie.

"Come on, grab my hand!" Mia shouted.

Annie reached out, her fingers just barely brushing Mia's. With a final push, she let go of the balloon and lunged forward, grabbing onto Mia's arm. Mia pulled her up with all her strength, and the two of them collapsed onto the rooftop, breathing heavily but grinning in relief.

Emma cheered from below, clapping her hands. "Yes! You did it!"

Annie looked up at Mia, laughing breathlessly. "I never want to see another balloon again."

Mia chuckled, patting her friend's back. "Next time, let's stick to solid ground. Or at least, balloons without lion cubs."

They all laughed as they made their way down, grateful that their wild adventure in the sky was over.