Standing in the middle of a white void, no idea of where it was, how they got there, or what was going on. Anyone who wouldn't be scared right now would have to be stupid, and if there was anything Dot was, it was not stupid. So, she wasn't sure why she didn't feel any sense of danger right now. Pip had said it was fine, but that didn't really mean too much considering the world could end right now and he probably wouldn't even notice.

"Now then."

The youngest Warner couldn't help but flinch at said seer's voice, emotionless and calm as ever. He directed his flat gaze toward Yakko as he gestured to the space ahead of them. To Dot's surprise, a misty roadway appeared, stretching toward a pair of high, elaborate gates before a large castle. The Warner sister's eyes widened as the structure lit a dim memory in her mind.

Home.

"This is the path you need to take," Pip said. "Not quite literally, of course… this is more of a metaphorical thing. Metaphors aren't always necessary, of course, but they do make handy visual aids. Learning is often enhanced quite usefully by visuals, you know. But I digress. Now, as I said, this is the path, and beyond is the kingdom you're meant to save. Still metaphorical, of course. I know it looks a little intimidating, but don't worry, you won't be alone in this."

He looked between all three siblings, blinking slowly.

"You have, of course, your family."

Dot instinctively gave her oldest brother a reassuring smile and saw Wakko do the same. Whatever might come, their brother would always have them.

"But you'll have others, too," Pip went on. "Loyal friends and advisors of your parents who started the Warnerstock Resistance. Though I suppose the first steps were your mother's… she was planning for the worst well ahead of Salazar's takeover. Quite a clever lady, you know. And as you know, the Dwellers intend to join. Which brings us to the main reason we're here."

Without missing a beat, he clapped his hands together once. In the space of a second, the white space seemed to dissolve. Dot felt some slight relief when she saw they'd returned to the Resistance base in Burbank rather than the mausoleum, even if she was weirded out by the fact that they seemed to be standing in the exact same place they were when Pip first teleported them. Even Scratchy was still there, though he'd apparently been pacing right before they arrived.

"Ah, you're back!" he said with obvious relief, and a wide but tired smile came to his face. "And I see you got ze seal."

Dot blinked in surprise before looking at Yakko, who was looking down at the seal that had reappeared in his hands with equal bewilderment. He lifted it in one palm and hefted it a few times, then looked at his siblings and shrugged.

"It's real. Y' know, I'd ask how but I don't think it really makes a difference." He looked at Pip. "So, what d' we do with this thing?"

"Excellent question," Pip replied with his usual air of dull indifference. "And if you'll follow me, I'll gladly show you. And I can tell you, you'll be glad we got it. I can honestly say none of this is going to be easy but having that seal and unlocking your abilities is going to be a great help. Of course, I know all three of you are very capable on your own, but everyone needs some help… especially in a difficult situation like this."

Dot couldn't help but feel a little flattered by the seer's compliment about her and her brothers' capability, even if his usual flatness dulled the effect. So, she shrugged off her confusion over the whole situation and followed alongside her siblings as Pip strode toward the deeper area of the base. As they reached an area that they hadn't been in yet, Yakko spoke up.

"So, Pip, any chance of telling us what exactly we're doing?"

Dot didn't miss the sarcasm in his tone and made no effort to stifle her snicker. She heard Wakko snort in amusement and knew he shared the sentiment. Of course, Pip gave no sign of detecting their irritation and simply answered the question.

"Oh, of course. You'll need to learn about your Hero abilities before you go out and get started, and teaching that is a seer's job. Has been going back centuries. I don't know if I mentioned it, but I taught your father myself. Excellent pupil, really. Of course, he always was devoted to his responsibilities, even when he was still a knight. Top cadet in his class. In fact, he met your mother when he was assigned as her personal guard… quite an honor."

Normally, Dot would have tuned out his rambling by now but found herself listening with a strange eagerness. She was so little when their father died, and didn't remember as much about him as she'd always wished she did. She had the stories Yakko told her and Wakko and had already heard all about how their parents met. But that still didn't stop her from listening as intently as if she was hearing them for the first time, even if she was now hearing it from a guy as boring as Pip. But, as usual, he changed the subject without missing a beat.

"Now, before we get started, we will need to get something."

Dot couldn't help feeling a surge of disappointment, and it was clear her brothers felt the same. Wakko let out a quiet sigh as his shoulders drooped, and Yakko's voice was noticeably dull when he spoke.

"And… this wasn't with the seal why?"

Pip waved a hand, still fixed on the way forward.

"Oh, the seal needed to be in its own place. When you have several important things, it's never a good idea to keep them in the same place. Besides, these things were kept in the castle in Acme Falls, and they had to be removed when Salazar's threat grew serious. I kept them for a while, but after the Resistance was on solid ground we decided they should keep them… for when you three came, of course. Ah, here we are."

By now the small group had reached another chamber, just a little smaller than the main one, that looked like a kind of storage space. Pip moved straight for a chest set under one of the shelves, tugging it out. It was a surprisingly fine one, made of polished dark wood with silver fixings. Pulling a matching silver key from a pocket in his robe, Pip fixed it in the lock and turned it with a soft 'click'.

The three siblings watched as he reached in the chest and pulled out a small leather gauntlet, then turned and held it out to the eldest with his usual unflappable calm. As her brother took it, Dot leaned in with Wakko to get a closer look. The thing looked well made, but clearly old and kind of simple. The only thing that marked it as unique was a weird looking stone set in the back, silvery white with swirls of color that seemed to move with the light.

"Now, this gauntlet is a handy little tool that'll help you channel the magic from the seal," Pip said, drawing the siblings' attention again. "Just keeps it more manageable, especially when you're first learning."

He looked between Dot and Wakko, his expression unchanging as always.

"It'll also let him give some of that power to you two. Not quite as much, of course, but enough to be of good use in a tussle."

Dot saw Wakko perk up, an oddly hopeful look on his face, and felt a surge of eagerness herself.

"What about the…" She lifted her hands, wiggling her fingers a little. "Healing thing I have? Is it gonna help me do that better?"

Pip looked at her, blinking.

"Oh, yes, it'll certainly be of some use. But a lot of it will still depend on you… like I said, getting something like that isn't too common, and outside help only goes so far. A shame it doesn't happen more often, I think, but magic has a mind of its own. Metaphorically, I mean… corporeal forces can't have a literal mind. But not to worry, once you get it figured out it'll come easy as that."

Dot couldn't help but droop a little, and each of her brothers took one of her hands, clearly seeing her disappointment. Pip didn't seem to notice at all, of course, and just looked back at Yakko.

"Now, we need to see the Dwellers soon as possible, so right now we'll just learn a few simpler things. Won't be much danger there, so the basics would be enough."

Despite herself, the Warner sister felt some reassurance at that. She felt even more at her brothers' encouraging smiles. Yakko gave her hand a gentle squeeze, then looked at Pip.

"Alright then, Pip. Let's do this."