AN: And a third! Whew! Just so you know, I do have an outline of this story planned out. That being said, I have to give partial credit to goldenone for staying up all night with me, then going to a diner at 7 AM and tossing ideas back and forth. She seriously came up with about half the major plot points I wanna work in and I couldn't have written any of this story without her. And a brief reminder: reviews make me happy. VERY happy. I absolutely love reading them. So write some pretty ones for me and make me smile, please?

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I hear a yelp of pain and look down to see a...sphinx? It's tail is crushed under my foot, which I quickly lift up. "Sorry!" It hisses angrily at me and runs off. I watch it disappear into the distance before looking around in awe.

First my eyes fall on the cobblestone roads. Then the surreal buildings. Then the sky, only this time it's bright and blue and beautiful instead of the beige haziness from before. And finally, in the distance the Castle of Light towers over the city, reflecting the sun in all directions.

This time I know I'm not asleep. I'm all too aware of the cold stones beneath me and the warm air surrounding me. I'm suddenly overwhelmed by what all of that means. This is mine. I made it. I took pencil and paper and created a world full of life.

Then another thought occurs to me: despite the fact that I've been here before and that I brought this place into being, I don't know my way around. I'm completely lost. I start to feel a bit frightened as I look around and see faces I recognize only from drawings. I don't dare speak to them. Who knows what they're really like? I know this is supposed to be the good city, but what if the one I pick out and talk to happens to be the one mean person there is? I suddenly feel very childish in this strange place all by myself.

I clutch the mirrormask to my chest and hunch over slightly as I start walking aimlessly down the street. I need to find something familiar, something that won't make me feel so alien here.

Then it hits me. Valentine. He's familiar. A friend. I know if I can just find him, I'll feel safe and maybe I'll even enjoy myself here. That and I must admit, I've missed him. The silly mask, the strange robe, even that stupid lopsided hat. Plus, it'll be nice to have someone to juggle with again. I've spent the past few days training Christopher (it took me a while to remember he had a proper name, not just "the other Valentine") and he's alright, but nowhere near ready for a show yet. Maybe while I'm here Valentine and I can put on a proper show, with an audience and everything.

I lift up my head and stride down the road with a newfound determination. He has to be here somewhere and I'll find him. Even if it means I have to search every inch of this city. The question though, is where to start. What on earth does he do except mess about and cause trouble? Then again, perhaps just knowing that will make things a lot easier.

To my left I see the bridge where I was first mistaken for the princess and smile. Might as well start there. I turn and walk towards it, glad to have spied something I know.

When I realize no one is sitting on the walls I sigh and look around again, wondering what to do next. Straight ahead is as good a direction as any, I suppose. I square my shoulders and continue my search down the road.