AN: I like to thanks everyone who has reviewed so far:

xxxPureRosexxx, I am a stegosaurus asdf movie, Okami no Shirayuki, ReflectiveFragments, EarthRiddle, TheNextAlice.

Your Reviews mean a lot. Sorry it took awhile, been having trouble with Looking Glass, (When I update it, you'll see what I mean). Thank you for your patience. Enjoy.

Chapter 6: Dreamtime Visitors

Cuinn was sitting in front of a small wooden coffee table, floating in a black abyss. On the table was a tea set identical to the one in his room. Across from him were four empty plush chairs. The two chairs on the left where black and white. Each had a Jester mask of the opposite color imprinted on the heads of the chair. The chair on the right was a deep blood red color. On this chair was a white square with a red spade in the center. In the center, in between the three, was a smaller white chair that was identical to Cuinn's. Lying on the back was half of a gold heart. Cuinn picked up the teacup in front of him taking a small sip. As he set it back down, he let out a tired sigh.

"I hate being alone," he mumbled.

Cuinn leaned back into his chair as he stared longingly at the empty seats across from him. The deathly silence surrounding him was broken by a faint tapping sound.

"Sounds like somebody's knocking," said Cuinn surprised. As he rose from his seat, a hard wood floor appeared under his feet. "There is only one person in Wonderland that could enter other's dreams."

Cuinn turned around to face a pair of intricately designed, oak doors. As he reached for the doorknob, he checked his face for his mask. Satisfied that he was wearing it, Cuinn opened the door, stepping out of his dream and into Nightmare's realm.

The first thing Cuinn notice about Nightmare's realm was how dull it looked.

'What a barren wasteland,' he thought.

"My realms not a wasteland."

Cuinn turned to see Nightmare floating behind him.

"Ah, so I am dreaming," said Cuinn, feigning surprise. "You must be the role holder Nightmare that I've heard about."

"Oh. And who told you about me?" asked Nightmare.

"Joker. He used to tell us to be careful around you."

Nightmare gave Cuinn a puzzled look before he narrowed his eye. Cuinn sensing what Nightmare was going to do, immediately began to block his thoughts. He began picturing hundreds of doors, slamming shut and locking. Each thought louder than the one before. Cuinn was screaming these thoughts in his mind knowing they would interrupt with Nightmare's mind reading ability.

They held each other's gaze, waiting to see who would give up first. It was Nightmare who gave in first with an audible sigh.

"I am surprise that you can block your thoughts from me," said Nightmare with a little amusement in his voice. "Who taught you how to shield your thoughts?"

"Joker did of course," replied Cuinn smugly. "He taught everyone in the old troop how to do it, but I don't think it matters any more since the old troop is gone."

"Old troop?" asked Nightmare confused.

"Your confusion is understandable. The current circus group that works for Joker is not his or at least not his original group." Cuinn explained.

Nightmare sat back in the air, greatly intrigue by this new information, he never knew about. He was a bit surprise too; he was supposed to know almost everything about the role holders so that he could assist foreigners when they came to Wonderland. This piece of information sounds like something he should have known about.

"What do you mean that they are not his original group, I have never heard of White having any group of special employees," said Nightmare.

"That's because he never planned on losing them, though what happen to them exactly, I don't know yet. I just got back to the circus so I haven't had much time to speak to them, especially after last night's act."

"That act of yours was spectacular," commented Nightmare. "Alice was curious about how you managed it and I must admit; I'm a bit curious myself."

Cuinn tilted his head to the side in confusion. "Alice? I have never heard of that role before."

Nightmare snickered before replying, "Alice is not a role, she's a foreigner."

"A foreigner!" Cuinn exclaimed in surprise. "I have never met one before. Was she the pretty young lady, who was talking to White?"

"Yes, that was Alice. Now back to my pervious question, how did you pull of that stunt of yours?"

"A magician never reveals his secrets," Cuinn said smiling. "Now I have a question for you. Why are you, a role holder, interested in me, a faceless?"

"Normally I wouldn't be, but after last night's events, I've been intrigued, especially after what I saw with Jokers." Nightmare replied. "I don't think I have ever seen Black smile."

"I'm not surprised that you haven't. Even in the old troop, there were few who saw him smile."

"You keep mentioning your old troop. What was so special about them?" asked Nightmare curiously.

"The old troop was White's first group of employees and was supposed to be his only group. One of the things that made us special was that we all chose to work in circus, not because our previous replacement did so. Everyone loved their job, and they loved White. We were like a giant family, not like now, where there is a noticeable distance between him and his workers. They enjoy the job because they have too and they are afraid of White though they hide it well. Did you know that White used to perform in his shows?"

Nightmare looked at Cuinn in surprise. He thought back to all the events at the circus he attended, but could not recall ever seeing White perform in his own show.

"No, I don't think I have ever seen White perform."

"You might have, long ago. White dressed the part for whatever act he chose to do, but then again, you probably only visit the circus when it's hosting its territory event."

Nightmare nodded his head.

"He doesn't perform in events for role holders any more. He used to, way before I was born. I know White well enough, that he told me it's because of some trouble he got into which is why there are two Jokers, not one."

Nightmare heard about that incident. He was told Joker broke a rule involving a previous foreigner and was dealt with by the court of spades. His punishment was that his mind and body would be broken into two, thus forming White and Black.

"What about Black?" asked Nightmare. "How did you get along with him?"

"We didn't fear Black if that's what your asking," replied Cuinn to Nightmare's surprise. "He was still mean, but we understood how to deal with him. Now though, it seems that he has gotten a bit meaner."

"Really? I wonder what the difference was back then," pondered Nightmare aloud.

"There would have been no difference. The Jokers hate the role holders," said Cuinn, interrupting Nightmare's thoughts.

"That's obvious. I think the only person they don't hate is Alice, but they also don't like her. I think they consider Alice more as a toy to play with," replied Nightmare, not hiding the disgust in his voice.

"How often does she visit the Circus?" asked Cuinn.

"Too often if you ask me," Nightmare replied. "She only visits to change the seasons with White." Nightmare notice the hopeful face Cuinn was wearing. "A little eager to meet Wonderland's foreigner, I see."

Nightmare chuckled as he watched Cuinn blush from embarrassment. Before Cuinn could reply, the realm around them began to fall apart.

"Looks like it's time for you to wake-up," Nightmare said as he began to fade from view.

'Dang it,' Cuinn thought, 'I didn't get to finish tea time.

When Cuinn awoke, it was just as White was opening the door to his room, walking in with a tray filled with food. White smiled the moment he saw Cuinn was awake.

"I was wondering when you we going to awake," White said smiling. He put the tray down on the bedside table next to his mask before taking a seat on the bed next to Cuinn.

"Morning dad," said Cuinn.

"More like good afternoon. You've been asleep for a day and a half," replied White with a little worry. "You must have been exhausted. We were worried that you wouldn't wake up."

"Considering the energy I spent traveling here, and then followed by the performance, I'm surprised I didn't collapse sooner," chuckled Cuinn.

"Are you at least feeling better?" asked White.

"I am," replied Cuinn, "Oh, I met Nightmare by the way."

"Considering what he and the other role holders saw, I'm not surprise that he would visit you in your dreams." White sat, shaking head before a realization came over him. He faced Cuinn with a worried look on his face. "Did he read your mind?"

Cuinn chuckled before answering, "He tried to, but thanks to what you taught me and the others, all those years ago, he wasn't able too."

White let out a sigh of relief. "I knew that trick would come in handy. Any problems with him?"

"None," replied Cuinn.

"Good," said White. "I got to go and help my other half reorganize the prisoners, after his cleaning spree yesterday." White rose from the bed before turning and ruffling Cuinn's hair. "Eat and get some more sleep. You still look a bit tried. I'll be back to check on you again, later."

"Sure thing," replied Cuinn. "But before you go, can I ask you one question?"

"About what?" asked White curiously.

"Can you tell me about that foreigner Alice?"

AN: Next Chapter Cuinn teaches you how to play a new game and meets someone else.

Cuinn: Is it Alice? (Stares hopefully)

SDW: It's a secret.

Cuinn: Ahh.

SDW: Please review and thank you for reading.