Dot rubbed her arm as she slowly walked down the castle hall, wearing a frown that had come often to her face this past week.

"Dot?"

Ears twitching, Dot turned to see her oldest brother heading toward her. There was a slight smile on his face, but she could see the concern on his face that undoubtably matched hers.

"I figured you'd be heading this way," he said, then his voice grew more solemn. "Looking for Wakko?"

Dot sighed and nodded.

"Yeah." Her gaze lowered to the floor. "I know it hasn't been too long, but… Yakko, I'm really worried about him."

She looked up at her oldest brother, her frown deepening.

"I mean, he's even more quiet than he usually is. And whenever he's not busy with something he just sits in that room, reading all that stuff in there…"

Frustration filling her, she set her jaw and crossed her arms.

"I try asking him if he's okay, but he just forces a smile and says he's fine even though he obviously isn't!"

Yakko sighed, his smile completely gone now.

"Yeah… but it doesn't really surprise me. He's done this before."

Dot bit her lip at that and looked down again. She knew very well how her immediate older brother had handled his problems alone for years.

Because I was taking up all the attention.

A hand on her shoulder interrupted her remorseful thoughts, and she lifted her eyes again to see Yakko looking at her with a concerned, knowing look.

"You gotta stop blaming yourself for that, sis."

Despite herself, a half-smile flickered across Dot's face.

"So do you," she said, raising a brow. Yakko cringed a little, looking sheepish.

"Touché."

Dot gave him a teasing look, then the frown returned to her face.

"But now he's blaming himself for everything, and I'm not gonna let him keep it up."

Yakko raised his own brow.

"You gonna talk him out?"

Dot nodded as she turned and started striding down the hall again.

"Or drag him out, if I have to."

Yakko followed along beside her.

"Want some backup?"

Dot gave him a grateful smile.

"Sure… thanks."

Soon they reached the doors to their parents' rooms, and Dot couldn't help but hesitate outside for just a moment. She knew she must have been in here, but she could barely remember her parents. She always wished she could remember more. Letting out a quiet sigh, she opened one of the doors and went inside. The bookcase was slightly ajar, as she knew it would be, and she could see light filtering through the crack.

Reaching out, Dot pulled the hidden door open all the way. Sure enough, Wakko was sitting on the desk with one of the books open in his lap. He looked tired, and his shoulders were slumped. It was a weary look that was far too old for him. His ears twitched and he looked up, eyes widening when he saw his siblings.

"Guys? What're you doing here?"

Dot crossed her arms, giving him a stern look.

"The question is, what're you doing here?"

Wakko looked confused at that question, glancing down at the book again.

"I just… I gotta try and figure this out. I couldn't do anything before, but if I can do something good with this now it can…"

"Make up for it?" Yakko asked, raising a brow.

"Well… yeah," Wakko said.

Dot shook her head, feeling a mix of concern and frustration. Her voice was gentle but firm as she spoke.

"When're you gonna get it through your rock-hard head that you've got nothing to make up for?"

Her immediate older brother looked up at her, and his expression was conflicted. Dot knew what it meant: she had seen that look before. He wanted to believe that it wasn't his fault but was still reluctant to believe it. Letting out a sigh, Dot walked over and climbed up on the desk, sitting beside him. Yakko also came over and sat on his other side.

"Wak, listen… we know you still think everything was your fault."

Wakko looked down at that, swinging his feet a little.

"But what we said stands," Dot said, placing an arm around him. "You can tell yourself it was all you want, but no matter how many times you do it's still not."

She gently bumped her head against his and when he looked at her, she widened her eyes and gave him her best 'cute look'.

"So don't blame yourself, pleeease?"

Wakko bit his lip; Dot could tell he was trying not to, but he was caving. Him and Yakko always did. Finally he sighed and a small smile tugged at his face, tongue poking out just a little. Yakko grinned, giving him a gentle nudge with his shoulder.

"There ya go… we've been missing that smile."

Wakko's smile widened as he glanced down at the book, then looked between his siblings.

"What'd I do without you?"

Yakko ruffled his cap and hair, still grinning.

"You'll always have us."

Dot smiled and nodded, her smile widening when Wakko leaned against her.

"You know what you need?" she said after a few moments. "A little fun."

"Yeah," Yakko said, giving her an appreciative nod. "So what do ya say you take a break from this stuff and we go find a new 'special friend'?"

Wakko glanced down at the book still in his lap, a look of slight reluctance crossing his face. Dot bit her lip, but Yakko gave the middle sibling another nudge.

"It's not goin' anywhere, bud. We'll figure it out."

Wakko looked up at him, then nodded and closed the book. Setting it on the desk, he looked at his siblings and smiled again.

"Okay… let's go!"

Dot grinned, happy to see him finally acting more like himself again. She hopped down from the desk, followed by her brothers, and all three headed back out the hidden door. When they were out, Yakko turned and pulled it shut. Dot saw Wakko's face grow a little more solemn, but she just smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"He's right, ya know. It's not going anywhere."

Her immediate older brother looked at her, then his smile returned. And Dot was relieved to see that it wasn't the forced one she'd grown so used to seeing this past week. Maybe this was the start of him finally putting the whole thing behind him.

Yakko walked up and gave them both a grin, patting Wakko's shoulder.

"Shall we, sibs?"

Wakko and Dot returned his grin, and all three headed to the door. Once outside, the eldest Warner turned to his siblings.

"So, where to?"

Before the others could answer, the sound of hurried footsteps made them look down the hall to see a servant approaching. Dot knew most of them, but this man must have been new. All three glanced at each other, confused. As far as they knew, official business was done for the day. When the man reached them, he executed a perfected bow.

"Your Majesties, pardon me, but I have news."

Yakko frowned, stepping up.

"What? Something wrong?"

The man shifted.

"Well, no, but someone has arrived at the castle… and she's insisting on seeing you."

The siblings looked at each other again, then Wakko and Dot shrugged.

"Might as well," Dot said. Yakko nodded and turned back to the servant.

"'Kay, lead on."

They followed the man down the hall and to the main stairway. Dot frowned as they headed down, wondering who this person he told them about was. Petitioners had come and gone for the day, no one else was supposed to come till tomorrow.

Her thoughts were interrupted when they reached the throne room, and her gaze immediately fell on the hooded figure near the entrance flanked by two guards. As they approached, the figure turned. Long, elegant-looking hands reached up and lifted the hood to reveal a woman, not exactly young but not aged either. She had auburn hair swept up into a bun, and sharp green eyes that scanned the siblings up and down.

"Helloooo nurse!" Yakko and Wakko exclaimed. Dot rolled her eyes; she supposed the woman could be considered attractive, though she had a feeling she'd be much prettier if she smiled. But her serious expression never wavered, the only change a slight lifting of her brow before she bowed her head.

"Majesties," she said, her voice cool. Then her gaze moved to Wakko and her eyes widened just a little.

"So, your Gift has woken."

Dot looked at her immediate older brother, who looked just as startled as she felt.

"How do you…"

The woman gestured.

"Your hand."

All three looked at the middle sibling's right hand and were startled to see the strange symbol glowing on it. Wakko lifted it, his expression puzzled now. He looked back at the woman.

"How did you know?"

Without saying a word, the woman lifted her own right hand with the back turned toward them. Dot's eyes widened; the same symbol on her brother's hand glowed on it. Yakko immediately stepped forward, slightly in front of her and Wakko.

"Okay, who are you?" he asked, slight suspicion in his voice. The woman lowered her hand.

"My name is Jayna Selene," she said, her tone still cool. "Your parents found me, when they found out your brother was Gifted."

Dot's jaw went slack, but her eldest brother spoke before she could, sounding as stunned as she felt and Wakko looked.

"Why?"

The woman, Jayna, crossed her arms and met his gaze with calm reserve.

"To instruct him."

Dot looked at Wakko, who stared at Jayna in disbelief.

"How… how did you know?"

Her expression never changing, Jayna reached into her collar and pulled out an amulet that matched the one they had found.

"This told me," she replied.

Dot's eyes widened, and a glance at her brothers revealed they were just as startled as her.

This just got a whole lot more complicated.