Three days later, I'm in the middle of making a Halloween costume with Prussia.
"Glitter," the German mutters distractedly, keeping his eyes on his work.
"White again?" I ask, not looking up.
"Ja."
I slide the tube of glitter across the table top, and he promptly proceeds to dump the entire contents onto a blue hoodie. We work in silence for a few more minutes.
"Leather," I say, plucking a few pins from a nearby jar. I feel it skid to my hand and begin to sew it to the sleeves of a shirt. Another period of quiet.
"Zhis is going to be awesome," the albino Prussian's voice sounds from beside me. I laugh and nod thoughtfully.
"Yeah. It will."
More stillness, broken only by the sound of work.
"Four more days," I mutter.
Prussia smirks.
"I have an idea for West's costume."
"Do tell," I purr evilly.
"Hi, Brohas!" Prussia barges into the den, where Germany is putting small marks on a map of the world. He looks up and rolls his eyes.
"Was, East?" He sighs, "And vhy are you dressed like zhat?"
"Halloween," I explain, "It's just around the corner."
"Ugh," Germany groans, "Vhat do you vant?"
"Stand up." Prussia commands, summoning all the authority of an older brother.
Germany obeys, however grudgingly.
"Now promise me you'll hold still," the Prussian Gilbert says mischievously, his eyes twinkling brightly.
"I promise," Germany looks like he knows he'll regret this, but his curiosity overwhelms him.
"Go," Prussia tells me, and we each burst into action, proceeding to run around Germany with rolls of toilet paper. West's face turns purple as we wrap him up, but he stays true to his word, just like Gilbert said he would.
"Hey Francis, Toni!" Prussia calls, Check zhis out!"
France and Spain dart into the room, quickly followed by Italy and Japan. Spain and France bust into hysterical laughter with us, Japan looking on with a slightly concerned expression on his face. Italy just smiles widely, looking delighted that Germany has decided to let loose a bit.
"Are you dressing up for Halloween too, Doitsu?"
Germany sighs, sending broken ends of toilet paper flying.
"Nein, Italy. Can I relax now?"
"Hang on," Prussia finishes filming on his phone and snaps a picture. "Okay, sure." He snickers. West Germany relaxes his mummified arms and begins pulling off the toilet paper.
"AAAUGH!" I yell, "It's alive!"
The Bad Touch Trio burst into laughter once again, and Germany narrows his eyes.
"Very funny," his voice is muffles by the white strips, "I see you brought some humor from America."
A knock sounds from outside the house, several short raps in quick succession. Germany freezes.
"Vhat are you vaiting for, little bruder?" Prussia goads, "Open it."
He sighs loudly, like a pouting child, and tromps down the hall.
"WAS?!" He yell, exasperated, as he opens the door. I peek my head out into the hallway to see what's going on, and the others follow.
Someone shrieks from the other side of the doorway, and I crane my neck to see a mail man.
"Y-you're mail, Herr," the man holds a bundle of papers in front of him, speaking German. Germany looks embarrassed.
"Danke, Herr," the muscular blonde says gently, taking the papers with an apologetic look in his eye. "Good man. I'm sorry I yelled."
The Mail man, still looking slightly frightened, gives a quick nod and dashes away to his car. Germany closed the door.
"Anyzhing for me?" Prussia immediately trots over to his younger brother and peers over his shoulder.
"Nein," West says automatically, shuffling through the letters.
"Of course there is!" the albino exclaims, snatching the mail from Germany, "I AM AWESOME!"
"Wha—Hey!" Germany tries to grab at the letters, but Prussia runs into the den, cackling maniacally. "Give zhose back!"
"Ooooh, who's 'Anonymous'?" I hear him call. Germany looks confused.
"Is it a giiiiiiiiirl?" He sings.
"Nein, dummkoph," he walks into the room and snatches the letters back, "It means no one knows who sent it. Or at least no one wants us to know."
"Open it," I prod. Germany nods once before tearing the envelope open and reading the letter aloud.
"To zhe Germanic Brozhers und whoever may be vis zhem at zhe time," he begins. We all raise an eyebrow in unison.
"How vell-informed is zhis person?" Prussia looks uncomfortable. His brother shushes him before continuing the letter.
"You have been challenged…" he hesitates a bit before continuing. "… Challenged to a haunted Survival of the Fittest. On zhe twenty-fifth, you will arrive at the following address:" he read out a long, strange-sounding address, "And try to survive the night, three nights in a row. I hope to see you then."
He looks up and doesn't even falter.
"We're doing it."
"I RAISED YOU VELL!" Prussia leaps into the air, laughing hard. I grin at them, my heart pounding in my chest. A "haunted Survival of the Fittest", huh? Well, that sounded like fun!
"Wait," Germany feels around in the envelope. "What's zhis?" He draws out two small slips of paper. "Fake names?" He looks slightly surprised. "Zhese guys can't be serious."
"Vell?" Prussia demands, "Vhat are zhey?"
"East," Germany rolls his eyes, "You're supposed to be called, 'High King Awesome'… Asher, you are 'Schatten Hunter'… And I'm…" he trails off and blushes a deep red.
"And vhat about you, Bruder?" Prussia teases, "or are you coming?"
Germany glares at his older brother and sighs.
"I am Professor Ludvurst Beershmidt."
Prussia and I stare at each other, openmouthed, before bursting out into hysterical laughter.
"Hey," Spain cuts in, "if we were invited, our letters should have been forwarded here. Check the rest of your mail!"
Sure enough, there were invitations for a Prince Pasta, Duke Luv E. Dovey, Prince Kioshi, and Squire Tom Ato, all signed Anonymous.
"Wow," France stared at his name slip, a slight rose colour tinting his face. "This should be… fun."