Cassie Lane, the city’s most beloved stand-up comedian, steps onto her apartment balcony, looking out at the skyline. Her eyes linger on the laughter-lamps, which flicker uncertainly. She rubs her temples, feeling an unfamiliar emptiness where inspiration used to swirl.
"Something’s wrong… I don’t even feel like smiling,"
Mayor Puddlewick, a rotund figure with an ever-present bowtie, rushes to the stage at Giggle Square. He tries to rally the crowd, but his voice trembles.
"Cassie is missing from the morning show! Without her, the city’s joy is slipping away,"
Juno Sparks, Cassie’s best friend and stage manager, pushes through the crowd, her face pale with worry.
"Cassie, where are you? You’re the heart of Gigglelight,"
She pauses on a page—Cassie’s last joke, unfinished. The silence is heavy, broken only by distant, uncertain murmurs.
"Why can’t I laugh? Why can’t I even see the punchlines anymore?"
A small child approaches, offering a wilted balloon animal. Cassie smiles weakly, but feels the smile slip away. The child’s hopeful eyes spark something inside her—a longing to reconnect.
"Cassie, we need you. But maybe you need us too. Let’s try to find your laughter together,"
They share stories, memories, and silly jokes from their childhoods. Slowly, Cassie’s lips twitch, and a small giggle escapes her. The laughter-lamps blink, then glow faintly.
"I lost my sense of humor—but found it again, thanks to you all. Let’s keep Gigglelight shining together!"
The crowd erupts in joyous laughter, and the city’s blackout lifts. Cassie’s smile is genuine now, and the city hums with renewed energy, powered once more by the magic of laughter.
