Tonight is Halloween for you outsiders, but in Gensokyo it is a time that many enjoy for more than simple candy. Youkai gather and celebrate from all over Gensokyo. Humans tend a small festival In the human village while dressing up. But we are focusing on something more important.
Tell me, what is the emotion that runs through your spine and sends a shiver like none other?
Fright.
For the 31st of October is considered the day when Nahumar can release his power and cool down. In this time, his true form is revealed but protected by Sorina and Hanalli for good reason.
Nahumar?
“Yo Reimu! Your not going to dress up tonight?” Marisa called out. A witch who lives in the forest of magic dressing up as a more colored themed Witch. Reimu emerged from her home with a small Oni beside her, dressed in familiar Miko garb.
“Look out! I am the terror of the shrine! Give me your money!” The Oni playfully mocked. Only receiving a boot onto the grass.
“Either you act properly while wearing that, or I will force you to change.” Reimu seemed angry tonight. For on the way to the Village, Marisa asked her.
“What's the matter? Going on patrol tonight?” To which Reimu responded “No. I just didn't like Suika mocking the attire. Plus, when have I ever turned down a chance to relax?” She winked, making Marisa all the more excited.
They flew in with Marisa giving a cackle and landing near the village entrance. From there, their friends waited.
Alice was dressed in a Sweden Dress complete with wooden shoes.
Sanae dressed as some kind of female vampire, making use of her chest as a bust kind complete with a black wig.
And Mokou was just there.
“Couldn't you just change into something festive? Like a bird on fire? Or a piece of coal?” Marisa asked. Mokou shook her head.
“Dressing up is not my kind of thing. And shouldn't you dress as something other than a bland witch?” she raised a brow, almost provoking Marisa.
“WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?!” Alice had to hold her back with Shanghai helping. Reimu looked down at the ground, sighing.
“Something wrong?” Sanae asked.
“Nothing. Just waiting for the Mist to come in any moment.” She noticed everyone's eyes were on her.
“What? A Mit?” Alice asked. Marisa answered quickly.
“I heard that every year on this exact date, late into the night, a mist covered the entire land. It is only a foot high but it moves in two directions. East and West. No one knows where exactly it begins or ends. And staring into the mist will make Zombies rise!” Marisa tried her best to scare people.
No one was amused.
“I-i doubt that would happen....Oh now I know what you are talking about! The mist that creates the tension and the mood for Halloween! I remembered seeing some before moving to Gensokyo.” Sanae proudly said as if waiting for it too.
“Wait...But if the mist still reaches outside-” Reimu was about to ask but then was interrupted by Suika who was ahead of them.
“Reimu. I heard a rumor about who Nahumar exactly is. Now I can't trust the information as a Human stated this...but they said Nahumar could be some kind of God...'Old God' I think they said.” She coldly put it, taking a swig. Mokou huffed.
“Old gods...The most I ever heard of such a word was just a fancy way of saying the strongest Youkai.” Marisa however, looked grim. She tilted her hat over her eyes to try and hide it.
“Suika, you may be right. Old Gods are real in some way. I can't prove it at all, but Old Gods are kind of like a weaker version of a god like entity. Think of an immortal being who can not be matched. Now strip him of his immortality and he is just an eternal being who can be killed, that is if you can. I somehow had a peak of interest in Nahumar's background. From the information I gathered...He was here before Sorrow and Joy. His power is stronger than the two combined and even rage. Nahumar even told us that his true self would make people shriek and die of fright...Descend into madness even.” The air felt very cold as everyone, but Reimu, huddled.
“S-seriously?” Sanae shakily said.
“NAH! I am just messing with you! So what if Nahumar is an Old God or whatever? It makes no difference anyways.” Marisa grinned, receiving a punch to the face by Mokou.
“That's for getting me worked up!”
“Look! The Mist!” Soemone cried from the center of the Village. Below them, about one foot high and moving in two directions was the mist. The tingling sensation of anything popping out started to encroach them. Suddenly, Mokou hears someone crying in fright.
“Save me, Mokou!” Mystia, dressed in some kind of popular singer, latched onto Mokou for safety as a creature with sharp teeth approached.
“EEK! Don't let it eat me!” She huddled.
“Lady Yuyuko! I said stop!” Youmu cried as she restrained Yuyuko.
“So sorry. I was not going to eat her. I just wanted to be a scary ghost.”
Everyone was already laughing after the fear that nearly took them, feeling much better.


“Brother? Are you okay?” Sorina asked.
“Yes. I just felt as if my fear is bringing others together...oh how times have changed. To think my power use to be evil.” Nahumar echoed from a cave, the sound of hissing and various voices emerged.
“Tell me... How many years was it before you found us?” Sorina sat just outside of the cave with Hanalli who dressed as an evil butcher with a bloody apron.
“I believe it was many many years. Yes...The planet we live on had no real life upon my arrival. It wold take ten thousand years before I saw even a hint of life. Then when Humans came, you two were present as well. Though my human form was worse, you two were able to see me without loosing your mind. A bright, yellow ball and a faceless statue. I think somewhere along the way, from our journey and settling in at our city, I lost the passion to do what I was suppose to do.”
One of Nahumar's claws, now more defined with bumps and texture, moved out to reach for a Cocao pod to eat.
“Destroy this planet. Even if you are not related to me, I felt at home with you all instead of my real comrades who are still scouring the universe.” Hanalli looked down as she saw his claw pulled back in.
“Then what about the others? Will they come after you and this world?” To which he laughed with a thunderous force.
“Oh by the Gods no. They would never touch this place at all...because I think we have a true god here. One who could easily dismember them, warp their minds and even tear their soul in two.” The pod was spat out from the cave at this point. The two watched the mist as they guarded over the cave.
And soon, a Visitor came up through the Mare and over to where Nahumar was guarded. With a book in one hand and a pumpkin in another, she greeted them.
“Hello Sorina, Hanalli. Happy Halloween.” She stated.
“Happy Halloween to you too!” Hanalli replied with a grind.
“Ochiba? Hmm...for a rabbit, you are brave to even come all the way here. What brings you to the cave?” he asked. The thundering like roar and echo made Ochiba quake in her shoes, but her courage was still present to stay.
“I brought a gift for you. A Pumpkin. I thought you should try one?” she offered the pumpkin right in front of the cave and backed off. A Tentacle came through the dark opening, Black on top and purple underneath. It felt the pumpkin and wrapped around to engulf it.
“MMM...It's sweeter than it looks! My oh my, I really like it. Thank you Ochiba.” Nahumar sounded real happy. A claw peered from the hole to pat Ochiba lightly on the head. She giggled at his gesture for the thing it was.
“It's no problem! Anything for my friends.” She fixed her glasses, blushing a bit.
“In that case...If you look under your bed tonight, I left you a gift for introducing this 'Pumpkin' plant to me.” For her, He would leave a small basket of carrots and lettuce heads for her and her friends. Where he got them is best left unknown, but they were fresh as the day they were picked.
“Thank you so much, but I want to spend tonight here. It's not often I can talk to all three of you for longer than five minutes each.”
And so...they would talk throughout the night.

At the stroke of midnight, the bell would reverberate with a low and soft hum. A chime to tell everyone that the hour of pure fear is upon them. The Mist thickened. The Youkai and Humans started to feel the tension. Stories being passed from fairy to fairy of Zombies and ghosts. The Denizens of Hell dancing and drinking the night away underground.
“Happy Halloween, Nahumar.” Reimu quietly spoke, joining in with her friends in the center of town to partake in the activities.


I was told that this world should be destroyed when human life started to forget about magic. I was found by two emotions who wanted me to join them. Soon enough, Fear kept humans in check. Many feared the coming of the end. Others feared the power of the gods. And with this fear, there was no need to destroy the planet. They are like helpless children who need parents to guide them. Then, we just watch them grow and see if we are needed as we manage the emotions.
As I always say, Everyone is afraid of something...Even an old one like me.
Fear is normal in everything.
Fear is the foundation of Courage.
Fear prepares and alerts us.
Without me, the humans would have been killed off years ago. Thank you, Hanalli. Sorina. I love you both.



The End-

“THAT ENDING IS s**t!” Called out an enraged Nahumar.
“Hey! It's halloween-”
“I DO NOT CARE! I am not an old god nor a god! I am just a deity of fear! So stop changing the information!”
“A-alright ok...you are a Deity. Not an old god. But the mist part is true right?”
“Yeah.”



Happy Halloween!