The Smile Circus brought joy to everyone.
It was a famous travelling circus that stayed for a week straight, visiting all the nations. The leading figure of the circus was a clown, a joker rather. His name was Zane Ro'Meave, the Diamond Mask.
Zane was an inspirational image of joy and freedom, but his true face was always concealed behind the Diamond Mask. Because of his hidden identity, no one knew that he was the "dead" son of the Ro'Meave Corporation. He was just simply known as the Diamond Clown to everyone, except for one.
Gene, known as Smile the Clown. His face was not hidden behind a mask like Zane's was, but his real identity was not known to many people outside of the circus group. He had warned Zane about the Diamond Mask, that it wasn't worth the risk, and that he made the audience happy just by being himself, but Zane didn't listen.
The Diamond Mask was a strange artifact of the ancient past, a cursed accessory used by kings and queens on their jokers. The Diamond Mask was made of a pure white material, but metal and ice cold. It had black diamonds embedded onto the cheeks of the mask, shaped like those on a deck of cards. It gave the wearer the ability to make anyone happy with their tricks and performances, but in return it drained the wearer of their own happiness.
Luckily, Gene knew a few Witches, Warlocks, and users of Magicks. They had been studying the ancient arts for all of their professions, and were able to make an artifact that was able to counteract the effects of the Diamond Mask. It was called the Smile of Zane, a deck of cards designed off of the Smile Circus, and enchanted with counteracting magic. The cards would be given out individually to members of the audience, then traded in for them to see the performance. However, once the show was over, the happiness would be drained from the audience, and given to Zane.
Gene remembered the night he showed the cards to Zane. It broke his heart to see the younger idol in such a broken state, looking so lifeless and dead inside. He hadn't told Zane about the enchantment on the deck of cards, he had just suggested that he make card tricks one of his main performances.
Gene was heading to Zane's dressing room when he heard voices, and looked around the corner to see four people who were in the audience. They were some of the only ones who had given him the magic cards, as word about them being cursed got around. They had given him so many, but they had played a ton of carnival games too. One of them had traded in some of the cards for snacks, but they still had a good amount.
"Stop right there!" He yelled, approaching the group of four people. "What are you doing backstage!?"
"Ack!" One of them croaked, getting behind the red haired Werewolf. "Blaze, hide me!"
"What the heck, Daniel--!?" The red haired, identified as Blaze, shouted, before noticing Gene approaching. "We must've made a wrong turn...."
"Don't lie to me! You snuck back here on purpose!" He accused, narrowing his eyes. "No one would give me any of their Smile Cards, yet you four gave me sooo many!!"
"So it's true?" Daniel asked, peeping out from behind Blaze. "Those cards are cursed?"
"So what if they are? You don't know a damn thing, you fools..." He groaned, crossing his arms. "My partner was once the heir to a grand fortune, but he chose to make the Smile Circus so he could give joy to others... I just want to use these cards to take back all the happiness he gave to everyone! Is that so wrong!?"
"What's going on here?"
Gene looked up at the approaching figure, his eyes widening when he saw it was Zane. He was wearing the Diamond Mask as usual, with a fake cheerfulness to his voice as a cover-up for all the melancholy inside of him. The four Werewolves looked at him too, and gasped.
"It's him! Guys, it's really him!" The female Werewolf cheered, shaking the other male's arm. "It's the Diamond Mask!"
"Oh, audience members?" Zane questioned, tilting his head. "You four should be in the auditorium, but I didn't even know we had a show tonight..."
"Diamond Mask, sir, why you take everyone's happiness?" Daniel asked, making Gene growl.
"I'm sorry.... take people's happiness?" He questioned, clearly taken back. "I thought I was making everyone happy...."
"Smile here has been using those cards to take away the happiness you give to everyone." Blaze explained, giving Gene an accusing look.
"Smile, a word." Zane sighed, pulling Gene into his dressing room. "You four, go back to the auditorium."
Gene let out a heavy sigh as the Zane closed the door. The younger male turned to him, crossing his arms over his chest. He was tapping his foot against the floor, clearly ticked off. Gene out on his best innocent expression, hoping he could charm his way out of this confrontation.
"Is it true?" Zane asked, sighing. "Are these cards cursed?"
".... Alright, yes, they are...." Gene admitted, his shoulders slumping. "They're enchanted to take away happiness, and give it to the user..."
"Why?" He questioned, walking towards Gene. "Why would you do this!?"
"You've lost all your happiness to that damn mask!" He cried, grabbing onto Zane's shoulders. "Your family, your rich kid friends, your audiences-- they never made you happy, and they took it all from you!!"
"That's no excuse to give people cursed magic cards!" He yelled, and that made Gene snap.
"You know what? You can keep your Diamond Mask and your depression and sorrow!" He snapped, tears forming. "BECAUSE APPARENTLY IT'S JUST SUCH A CRIME TO WANT TO SEE YOU SMILE AGAIN!!!!!"
A heavy silence hung in the air as the tension rose. Gene stared down at Zane with narrowed eyes filling with tears. Zane looked back up at him, his facial expression unreadable because of the Diamond Mask.
"Gene...." Zane started, his voice soft and low.
"What? Do you want me to leave the circus?" Gene asked, tears threatening to fall.
"No, no, I'd never want you to leave the circus." He shook his head, hugging Gene close. "You got it all wrong..."
"Then what is it?" He asked, returning the hug.
"I may be getting better, but it was never magic that helped me.." He answered, caressing Gene's face. "It was your heart."
Gene let that sink in, slowly smiling as a few tears slowly rolled down his cheeks. A small cracking sound was heard, as visible breaks showed in the Diamond Mask. Zane reached up slowly, feeling the mask as it split down the center. At last, Gene saw the image he had always wanted to see.
The Diamond Mask was broken, and Zane was finally free.
Apart from that and the countless performances, one image would always stay fresh in his mind even after Zane was returned to his family...
The smile of Zane Ro'Meave.
