The Legend of Gensokyo

Characters and setting by ZUN, Story by Garrett Thomas

~Prologue~

"Reimu, wake up! Rinnosuke found something and has called a meeting at Kourindou!"

Aya rudely woke me up and flew away, probably snapping a few shots of me sleeping beforehand.

I woke up, made some tea, and swept in front of the shrine while I waited for it to cool. When I was finished, I started to leave.

"Where are you going, m'lady?" Genji, my old (really old) turtle friend, was relaxing by the lake behind the shrine, as usual.

"Over to Rinnosuke's shop. Apparently, something's so important that a youkai would wake me up to tell me about it. Or, I guess she sorta told me about it."

"Not like you ever do your job anyway..."

"What was that, Gramps?"

"Oh, nothing..."

On my way there, Marisa stopped me and was rambling about some legend. I tuned her out most of the time, but she managed to get some words through my mental filter. Something about the "Legend of" whatever, and "Rinnosuke found" something or other. I don't care, Marisa, I'll find out when I get to Kourindou.

"Is this what Aya woke me up about?"

"Probably. I asked her to help spread the word. She's probably at the Scarlet Devil Mansion by now, ze."

"Huh. This must be really important, for her to travel so far just to let them know."

"Well, they are readers of Bunbunmaru News, and this is something that everyone in Gensokyo should know."

"So all of Gensokyo is going to be there? Ugh, there are some faces I really don't want to see."

"Don't be ridiculous. That would be crazy, da ze. Just everyone in the general area, I think."

"Hmm... well, shouldn't you be spreading the word?"

"Ahh, you're right! Catch ya later, ze!"

Damn, she is fast...

I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten my amulets and spell cards at the shrine, so I turned back. I'm going to be late...

Arriving at Kourindou, I found that most of the locals were already there, even Aya and Marisa. Crap, I was too slow and got here late. A certain ice fairy, along with a night sparrow, a firefly, a youkai of darkness, and four other fairies, gasped and hid in a tree when they saw me, but with the eight of them they could have beaten me, tired as I was, if they would have teamed up. Sakuya was there, pouring Remilia some tea. China - I mean - Meiling and Patchouli weren't there; Meiling probably fell asleep on the way, and Patchouli was probably sick or reading. I could have sworn I saw Marisa and Alice holding hands, but as soon as I looked, they put their hands behind their backs and looked away, blushing. The Prismrivers were there, practicing their newest song. How far away did Aya go? Eirin, Reisen, Mokou, and Tewi were there as well. Eirin and Reisen were talking about medicine, I think, while Tewi and Mokou played a game. Sanae, Yukari...almost everyone I knew was there, as well as many I didn't know. Marisa, I thought you said it'd be ridiculous if all of Gensokyo was here! Rinnosuke was standing in front of the large gathering, looking very proud.

"Marisa!" I walked towards where she and Alice were standing. Alice folded her arms and turned her back. Oookay, then? "I thought you said that this would be ridiculous!"

"I asked a few more people than I said I would, but you should really be asking Aya about this; I didin't tell all these youkai, ze!"

"So it's Aya's fault, huh?"

I approached Aya. "How come there are so many youkai here?"

"Um, well, I told a ton of people in return for some information. I got two articles written per person! One from the information, and one about how they can't keep a secret! But I think some of them told others..."

"Are you crazy? Someone could get eaten!"

"Everyone, please, quiet. This is a finding that will change your understanding of Gensokyo." Nobody seemed to hear Rinnosuke's request. He pulled out something that looked like a sideways mountain, except smaller and hollow. He pressed a button and it made a horrible screeching sound. His voice now rang loud and clear: "EVERYBODY, PLEASE LISTEN."

Everyone except the Prismrivers and Mystia shut up, but Reisen altered the sound wavelengths so that they were silent (well, Mystia was made barely audible, so she wouldn't die.)

"Thank you, Reisen."

"Anytime. Tewi, please sit down. You two can finish your game of...um..."

I looked and saw them playing what looked like a cross between tag and Kagome, Kagome. I was curious about what the game really was.

"Oni tag!"

"Oni tag. Got it. You can play at the mansion, okay?"

"Fine." The earth rabbit and immortal girl sat down, looking a little bummed.

"I have gathered all of you here today to announce that I have found something that was previously thought to have been lost to all of Gensokyo."

Cirno fell out of the tree. "Is it about me?"

"No, Cirno. It is the-"

"Oooh, is it the spell that can make people do whatever you want?"

"Marisa, weren't you the one spreading the word?"

"Oh, right."

"It is the Legend of Gensokyo!"

"I already have that."

"No, Keine, this is the real one! Not your spell card. The spell card even says 'Pseudo-History'. This tome I am holding documents the REAL beginning and early age of Gensokyo!"

Everyone gasped, including me.

"Reisen, would you mind unsilencing the Prismrivers?"

"Sure thing."

Our eardrums were assaulted by the volume and cacophony of the phantom ensemble's work-in-progress. Rinnosuke made a hand motion to tell Reisen to turn their volume down, but she was way ahead of him. The volume was now a more ear-friendly one.

"Ow, my ears! Do you three always have to play so loud? My head is killing me now."

"Here, Reisen, try this new-"

"No thanks, I won't be a lab rabbit for your new medicine."

"Girls, would you mind playing something...finished? And suitable for a legend?" Rinnosuke tried

"Ah, sure thing, as long as we're playing something," said Lyrica.

"How about 'Reach for the Moon, Immortal Smoke'?" Lunasa obviously has good taste in music.

"No, no! It's great and all, but not suitable for a legend!" yelled Merlin. Mokou seemed disappointed. "How about that one song, the Eastern Wind one?"

"You mean 'Hakurei ~ Eastern Wind'? I asked, irked that she forgot that my name is in the title of that song.

"Yeah, that's it!"

Mystia flew clumsily out from the tree and moved her mouth. She was waving some piece of paper around. Reisen sighed and unmuted her. "...wrote some words for that one! Wanna see?" She showed the sisters the lyrics, and all three liked them. "Can I sing to it? Pleeeeeeease?"

"Mystia, look out!"

Yuyuko was sneaking up behind her, licking her lips. Mystia screamed, grabbed her lyrics, and hid in the tree again.

"Lady Yuyuko, please curb your appetite."

"But Youmu, she was so tasty the first time."

"We have plenty of food in the Netherworld, and besides, we don't want her friends coming for revenge again. I was picking up frozen frogs all day."

"Thanks for saving me, Wriggle. I was almost ghost-food again!" Mystia had tears in her eyes. Is Yuyuko really that scary? Then again, being eaten probably isn't fun.

"You can sing along, Mystia!", the Prismrivers all shouted in a chord.

And so, after a few minutes minutes of craziness, Rinnosuke was able to begin telling his tale.

I do not own any of the characters, places, etc. Touhou Project is owned by ZUN/Team Shanghai Alice. I do not claim to own any part of the franchise.