Author's Note: After who knows how long of doing multiple revisions on my current stories and a pretty bad case of writers block, I'm back with a new story, a crossover between Monster High and Diabolik Lovers. The main pairing in question for this story is Laito and Twyla, as Laito's my favorite character in Diabolik Lovers and Twyla's my favorite character in Monster High, I thought such a relationship and dynamic would be interesting to explore and develop. The idea is an odd one, but it struck me with inspiration and I've been rolling with it, so I've ben working on this for a little while now. Regarding Diabolik Lovers, it's a guilty pleasure for me for sure. I definitely think the anime is a hot mess, but I adore the games, CDs, and mangas. I'm interested in the psychology and lore of the characters, all the sides of them good and bad. I've taken a huge nose dive into the series and reading the English translations of the routes, which I feel I've barely scratched the surface. I've read and re-read Laito's routes several times because I love him, analyzing all aspects of his character. I've also been experimenting with different writing styles, hopefully my writing is improving. I hope you enjoy this extremely weird idea for a crossover I have! I'm going to post this on Fanfiction and Archives of Our Own.

As of May 29th, 2022, Phantasmagoria now has a cover! I was having fun with image creators on picrew and found one for couples, I was able to make Laito and Twyla, so I'm pretty happy. You can find it here: /image_maker/399481

Disclaimer: I don't own either series and I'm doing this because I have a passion for writing, so I'm not making any money off of this. Monster High is owned by Mattel and Diabolik Lovers is owned by Rejet/Idea Factory, please support their official releases.

TW: Since we're dealing with Diabolik Lovers, this story consists of dark, sensitive, and mature content, especially in later chapters. Trigger warning for things like bullying, abuse, mental illnesses, dominance, submission, sadism, masochism, and dubcon/noncon elements as well, so it's rated M for a reason. I will list the trigger warnings as I need to.

Chapter 1: Paradoxical Loneliness

Why do people desire to be the center stage in the limelight with everyone's eyes upon them? Why do people have this desire to be popular and admired by strangers, showing themselves off to the world in a competition to see who is the most idolized? Why do people abandon their sense of self and put up a façade to try to fit in, trying to cut their throat to please society? Why do people prefer discard one another for shallow pleasure instead seeking of deep connection? Living in this world of fakery and hollowness, why do we do it?

Such things, I do not understand them. The feeling of people's scrutinizing eyes upon me and my very being exposed to the world, judging every miniscule move I make and mercilessly picking apart my every flaw without even trying to know me. Such a suffocating feeling of people crowding around and closing in on me as if I'm a spectacle at the circus, that raw vulnerability terrifying, but a painful reality that many do in this life.

For as long as I can remember, I had always felt content within the shadows, going unnoticed by the world. Seeking solace in solitude, the darkness's protective blanket was a comfort to me. Like a turtle in their shell, it shielded me from inflicting or receiving pain, I was satisfied this way.

Observing people from the sidelines, helping them from behind the scenes, I notice the things that are typically unseen by most. An invisible and silent companion, like a ghost, that's always what I was. Seeking to understand people's inner selves, their very soul, such a taboo thing, perhaps I'm in the wrong. Longing to sincerely understand another, but also for someone to truly understand me, the true me. But such things that will never be shared, I'll keep quiet about it forever.

And yet, deep down, why is it I feel such a hollow loneliness?

Nighttime, hours that were ever so serene and brought a time for introspection, in contrast to the typical chaos that was the day. The waning crescent moon hung low in the sky, only a sliver of it visible and the stars faintly twinkled, not a single cloud in sight. The horizon stretching endlessly, distance insurmountable, possibilities endless. The unknown that lies beyond this self, never being discovered. Darkness consuming everything, silencing out the harsh noises of the day, shadows brought a sense of comfort, a place to hide away and a place of quiet contentment.

The approaching winter, the time of year when the darkness waxes and the light wanes; the cold kiss of the winter engulfs everything and brings it all to a state of hibernation. Everything slumbers, a quiet time for reflection. A season often take for granted, yet it brings a beauty of its own. Much like the introverts need for solitude to recharge, winter was the world's time to rest and replenish itself.

A strange poetry, she found it hauntingly beautiful. The cycle of death and rebirth repeats, just as there are phases of the moon and just as there are seasons, all of it waxes and wanes. The law of cycles, the concept of duality, and the world of paradoxes mesmerized her. She wanted to understand it.

Time passes by, the young girl drifts along the essence that is life, seeking deeper meaning, she wonders what her purpose is. A melancholic feeling looms over her, but she couldn't pinpoint the reason why.

Could it be she felt ungrateful? She pondered that possibility, there was plenty she should be thankful for. She had parents who cared about her and loved her, even if at times they weren't on the same page. Even though they were few, she had genuine friends who loved and accepted her, even if they sometimes had their differences. In the end, quality was better than quantity. She had family and friends, such blessings that many take for granted, but not everyone has the luxury of obtaining.

Maybe it was a different reason? Was there anyone who truly understood her? Her parents and friends tried their dear hardest, but still, something felt amiss in her life. Logically, she knew that unconditional acceptance and understanding was impossible, yet emotionally, it was her greatest fantasy. She didn't desire popularity in the slightest, in fact, the idea terrified her. The idea of someone knowing her sincerest self, it was a paradox, such a mixture of fear and yearning. Seeking to be known, to be understood; for her to wonder such things, such a desire surprised her. Did anyone know it?

This feeling, such a rarity for her, it almost seemed paradoxical. Ever since she was a child, she was perfectly content with solitude, even craved it. As a boogeyman, a shadow being, Twyla spent most of her life in the shadows, darkness is her sanctuary. She found solace within the umbra, so many skeletons in her closet, those secrets she wanted to conceal. On this particular night, why was she contemplating these things? Why now?

Why is it she felt such a hollow loneliness?

Wasn't such a sentiment more typical for Howleen? In that regard, she had always been the polar opposite of Twyla. She could still vividly remember those times Howleen grew desperate to become popular and the chaos that ensued after.

It was the first day of the new school year and Howleen was plotting a way to make herself become known. Out of all the hair brained schemes in her attempts to become popular, building a billboard showcasing her name in lights was a top contender.

Twyla observed Howleen hammering away, fiercely determined to make a name for herself and finally be out of her sibling's shadows. She tried to reason with her, but to no avail, the young werewolf was hellbent on this. Twyla didn't foresee this ending well, every possible scenario of Howleen's plan backfiring bombarded her mind all at once. She commented, tone slightly sardonic, "I'd like to go on record saying that this is a bad idea."

"Noted." Howleen replied, ignoring her warnings and continued on. She had a dreamy expression on her face, as if she was envisioning when she would finally have a limelight of her own. She truly seemed to believe nothing could go wrong.

Why was Howleen so obsessed with becoming popular? Weren't connections like that typically shallow? Wasn't popularity fleeting? Why must everyone know her name? Twyla couldn't understand it at all, even though she tried. She spoke again, "You don't need to do this to get everyone's attention."

Howleen turned to face her, giving a small chuckle, "Um, hanging in the shadows has messed with your vision Twyla." Her face fell as she dropped the hammer, her tone becoming dejected, "Nobody knows who I am."

Twyla shrugged; the logic confounded her. "Uh...Sure they do." What was Howleen even going on about? Outside of Twyla, Howleen had plenty of friends and acquaintances, so why couldn't she be satisfied with that? Why did Howleen feel so lonely?

"Yeah, they know me as Clawd and Clawdeen's annoying little sister." She gave a sigh before picking up the bulk of cables, "Nobody knows me for me..." As if she was struck by inspiration, a wave of excitement seemed to wash over her. She smiled, ever so optimistic, "But that's all going to change after I pull this off! I'm going to be big time!"

Howleen began walking to the outlet, Twyla following behind her, questioning her, hesitancy evident in her voice, "And that's what you want...?"

Howleen answered her question with a question, as if she believed it to be some universal truth, "Who doesn't?"

"Me..." Twyla murmured, the very thought making her cringe in revulsion. In her mind, the less people to know her, the better. In fact, there were times she wished to stay in the shadows eternally. Such a way was just how she liked it.

Howleen chuckled as she placed the cables on the ground, before playfully quipping back, "Well, you, my testy bestie, are a better monster than me." She turned to face the boogey girl again, an eagerness overtaking her, "Now please, will you help me?"

Twyla finally relented; these attempts were in vain. She simply replied, uneasy, "I'll see you in class..." She began walking away, but stopped for a moment and turned to face her best friend a final time, then added, "And for what it's worth, you don't need to be popular, Howleen." She gave a small, gentle smile, "The monsters that matter already know how awesome you are."

With that, she walked away, firmly believing those words. Howleen was a great person, Twyla wished she could see that, it saddened her that she couldn't.

From what she was told, Howleen's plan went up in sparks and flames, quite literally, resulting in Howleen, Clawdeen, and some of their other friends getting detention as a result. As punishment, they all had to help clean the attic, which had many artifacts. Howleen stumbled across a strange lantern, inside housing a genie, who could grant her 13 wishes. Naturally, Howleen was ecstatic, but Twyla remained wary. Straight away, she felt something different in the shadows, as if something was lurking within it. Within a short time, things took a bad turn, Howleen's wishes went awry and slowly became corrupted by the one known as the Shadow Genie. Howleen nearly lost herself, which saddened Twyla greatly. Luckily, with the help of Clawdeen, her friends, and Twyla herself, they were able to save Howleen and repair the damage done. In the end, everything worked out for the best, Gigi Grant, the genie who granted her wishes was able to stay at Monster High and Wisp, the Shadow Genie, was able to become the genie as she wanted. Looking back on those days, while in reality it only spanned a few days, those days felt like an eternity to Twyla. That was probably the last time she felt lonely.

For Howleen, those events taught her invaluable lessons. She still was very much someone who sought out the limelight, but has mellowed out some regarding it. Perhaps even among a sea of friends, family, or fame, someone could still feel lonely. In the end, being acknowledged and accepted were things most wanted to some extent, especially by those they regard as close or special.

Lonely winter's night, what is it she seeks now? Especially as of late, there was a wistful heartache, a strange uncertainty plagued her.

Why is it she wondered such things? Was such a thing foolish to contemplate? Was she losing sight of herself and what was important? She had to cherish those little things, no matter what.

She heaved a soft sigh, there was no use dwelling on it. Maybe in the realm of the psyche and dreams, a sign would manifest itself to her. Patience was said to be the key, good things happen to those who wait, or so she had been told. Yes, she wanted to believe that.

It was another day at Monster High, an extraordinary place Twyla witnessed many fantastical sights beyond her comprehension. It was a place of diversity where all were accepted, regardless of their origins or appearance. Headmistress Bloodgood had a vision of monsters and humans in harmony, slowly but surely making strides towards unlearning the many millennia long toxic mindsets.

There was a beauty in these carefree days, a comfort in this simplistic contentment. Even if some people may complain that days were mundane, Twyla relished in it. This place, a safe haven for everyone to embrace their freaky flaws, she couldn't imagine it any other way. Even if they were like her.

Like her...

A simple wish, a world of love and acceptance, she longed for it too. Even if it takes an eternity and she will have long since passed on, she hoped one day it would happen. Even if she was a hopeless idealist, she wouldn't ever lose sight of that dream.

It was time for her favorite class, Psychology, one of her greatest passions. Learning about humans' and monsters' inner workings, their very psyche itself, seeking to understand all of it. She felt a twinge of sadness, monsters and humans alike didn't understand her motivations at all, even though she wanted to help them. Forever the shy little ghost, unable to be understood. She wished to convey her truth.

She took a seat, lost in her own little world, unaware of how much time passed by.

"Hey there, is this seat taken?" Came a soft, yet cheerful voice, which snapped her out of her thoughts. In that instant, she felt her heart thump painfully in her chest.

She turned her head to see a boy whom she's never seen before. The first thing she took notice of was how handsome he was, a blush creeping across her face as she looked him up and down. He was slightly on the taller and thinner side with fair skin. His clothing choice was interesting, seeming to have a preference for layering, he sported a white oxford shirt with a red tie around the collar, black and yellow striped sweater, a blue hoodie, and red capri pants. His shoulder length messy hair was the color of rust with a subtle golden ombre at the tips and he topped it with a black fedora hat with a red ribbon. His eyes were an emerald shade of green that held a mischievous glint and a playful smirk, she also noted a small mole on the right side of his chin. To say he was attractive was an understatement.

From what she could tell, he seemed to be a vampire. His vibe certainly was a charismatic one, a confident and carefree air about him. He had a mix of both allure and danger, much like a siren's call. A shadowed temptation.

And yet, she sensed something even beyond that, a sort of darkness. Sadness? Loneliness? Anger? Trauma? Or something else entirely? Or was it a combination of those and more? She wasn't sure how she knew, but there was definitely more to him than what he projected externally. But she didn't dare to say anything.

For a moment, it seemed all her senses escaped her and time was at a standstill. She was spellbound.

"Hm?" He made a noise, snapping her out of her trance. "What are you staring at?" He teased; clearly amused.

"N-Nothing!" She spluttered out, feeling her face heat up even more. "Y-You can sit here if you want to..."

He did just that.

What was happening to her? She's never gotten so flustered over a guy before, this was the first time someone's caught her attention in this way. What was it about him that made her so nervous? This guy was something else.

How she wished she could just disappear right now.

He observed the shy girl in her entirety. An understated girl, he got the impression she was a wallflower type that hides in the shadows, often overlooked by others. Ever so unassuming, the type of girl to shy away from attention, finding plenty of contentment staying in the background, he could tell. He noted the way she retreated into herself, the way she nervously fidgeted with her clothing, and the way she coyly attempted to hide herself from his gaze; yes, he noticed it all. Extremely flustered and blushing fiercely by his proximity, her expression was akin to a deer caught in the headlights.

She was certainly a pretty girl; her features were rounder and softer, with fairly prominent curves in all the right places, even if she tried to hide them. Her skin was predominantly a fair lilac shade, but her arms and legs had darker gray on them, swirling up her body like a shadowy mist. Her clothing choice was a modest one, comprising of the colors mint green, midnight blue, and black. The motifs she sported were interesting, which seemed to be dust, locks, keys, smoke, shadows, bugs, and dream catchers, though to him bugs were a pestilence that needed to be exterminated. Her long hair was also rather unique, as it was a soft shade of mint green with blue and purple streaks throughout it, he always loved the color green. However, what fascinated him the most were those violet, doe-eyed innocent eyes of hers.

There's an old saying that the eyes are the window to the soul, one could tell their inner world by looking in their eyes if they sincerely looked for it. In this moment, she was as transparent as water to him, as if her soul was laid bare to him.

She seemed to be pure of heart, or at least that was the image she wanted to project. He could easily say that about the everyone in this place, especially compared to him, but she was on another level. She held an innocence and naivety so prominent that it was almost saccharine. Did she even understand the concepts like depravity or corruption? He found the chance of that to be very unlikely.

Purity, he thought with contempt, it's such a crock of bullshit.

He wasn't sure why he and his brothers were even sent to a place like this, just what was his tyrant of a father planning? This place, an idealist's dream of one day of bringing all monsters and humans together, he felt it was a fool's dream, such a thing was impossible.

His thoughts were interrupted by the school bell, it was time for him to start his first class on the first day. He couldn't help but wonder what his time here would hold for him, and whether or not he'd find some quality entertainment.

Purity, it had always been a farce to me. Why is it that people suppress their true desires? Why is it people try to live correctly by societies standards when inside they're miserable? Setting yourself free, letting go your inhibitions, drowning out the noise, and succumbing to pleasure, is it truly such a bad thing? Repressing your true self, the mask is laughable, in the end it will only hurt you.

Yet, I wonder what it means to truly be yourself. Disillusioned by this world of facades, putting on a happy face or tough front just seems so easy. The answer always eludes me, just slipping beyond my reach. Perhaps it's better this way, to not wonder such a thing.

Just as love is a duplicity, in the end it's all inconsequential because truth doesn't exist. No one has ever been saved by their belief...

Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed reading this! I'd say I'm fairly satisfied with this chapter, even if it's on the short side. Some of this chapter was a poetic reflection piece and character study, but I do think this is fairly in character for Twyla. The flashback is from the Monster High movie "13 Wishes", my favorite along with "Haunted". For this story, I'd say it's an AU, but I'm not sure how canon compliant or canon divergent it will be. Everything that happened to the characters in canon in their pasts will remain the same, more or less, but I've altered the worldbuilding a bit and expanded upon some of the Monster High characters backstories, which I will explain when it comes up. It is very much a "what if" story. Hopefully my take on the Monster High and Diabolik Lovers characters will be enjoyable. I'm not sure when I'll be able to update this story or the others, but the next chapter is in the works, I'm hoping to finish it soon. Until next time!

-Luminous Luminita