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 been 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, Archives of Our Own, and Wattpad.

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. There will be themes of abuse, dominance/submission, sadism/masochism, dubcon elements, and potentially more, so read at your own discretion. I will list the trigger warnings as I need to.

Chapter 1: Paradox of Loneliness

Why do people desire to be the center stage in the limelight with everyone's eyes upon them, desperate to be idolized by strangers? Abandoning their identity, performing a dog and pony show for society's acceptance, including tricks and impossible tasks to fit in. Living in this world of charlatan conjecture with the hollowness of bamboo during the monsoon seasons, with no roots it blows away in the wind. Why do we do this?

The notion of people crowding around me, as if I'm a spectacle at the circus, a marvel at a freakshow. Every minuscule move under a microscope, the feeling of being trapped under a glass slide, my every flaw under suffocating scrutiny of prying eyes. Leaving me vulnerable and exposed, they can't ever know me, nor will they put in an effort to empathize.

I've always lurked in the shadows; the darkness protected me like a blanket from the glaring eyes of judgement invading my solace of solitude. Foreboding dread and foreshadowed trepidation, board into my emptiness and shattering my psyche like a homing missile through a warzone. Since childhood, this way brought me a satisfied contentment, resting on the warm bosom of a sustained hearth. Like a turtle in their shell, impervious to pain, I am immune from the harsh reality of existence.

Observing in the sidelines, seeing the unseen, holding a secret longing to comprehend someone's inner world. These taboo things, keeping those skeletons in my closest under lock and key, bolted shut, and wrapped in chains forever. Everything that I am, no one can ever know.

Deep down, could that be why I feel such a hollow loneliness?

The sky was clear, the waning crescent moon hung low, and the stars twinkled faintly. Darkness engulfed everything in sight, silencing the harshness of the day, the shadows brought a sense of serenity. The horizon seemingly stretched endlessly; the distance insurmountable. The unknown that lies beyond, infinite possibilities, and yet, such discoveries will never be reached.

The late autumn air was chilly, but still carried a gentle breeze. Animals already harvested their storage for the winter in their burrows, the leaves in varying shades of red, yellow, orange, and brown long since fallen. The winter drew closer, soon shadows will reach their peak and the world transitions into a state of hibernation. Taking the time to slumber away, replenishing themselves, but true appreciation remains a rarity.

Times for introspection, these things that hold such beauty, each vital in purpose to be thankful for, yet taken for granted. In that regard, night and winter were kindred spirits, often overlooked in contrast to day and summer. The law of nature, the cycle of life and death repeats, waxing and waning, just as there are seasons and phases of the moon. A strange poetry, Twyla found it hauntingly beautiful, the concept of duality, two sides of the same coin, each dependent on the other. The snakes forever eating their own tail, cycle of death and rebirth, never-ending, yes, it is Ouroboros.

Always trying to seek deeper meaning, Twyla found herself wondering what her purpose was, a melancholic feeling looming over her. Time passes by, ever flowing, yet she drifts along, merely existing. She wondered why that was so, trying to understand her own rationale.

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. They would always hold a special place in her heart, those bonds were something she treasured. And yet, she still felt as if something was amiss in her life.

Maybe it was a different reason? Was there anyone who truly understood her? Logically, she knew unconditional understanding and acceptance was impossible, yet emotionally she craved it, her greatest fantasy. She didn't desire popularity whatsoever; in fact, the idea frightened her. For someone to know her sincerest self, a mix of fear and yearning, it was a paradox. Seeking to be known, to be understood; for her to wonder such things, such a desire surprised her. Did anyone know it?

Is there anyone who truly knows me?

This feeling, it was such a rarity for her that it almost felt surreal. Ever since she was a child, she was perfectly content with solitude, even craved it. Her kind as a whole were known for being reclusive and as a boogeyman, a shadow being, Twyla spent all her life in the shadows, darkness was her sanctuary. She found relief in it, hiding away from those secrets she wanted to conceal. And yet, on this particular night, why is she contemplating these self-contradictory feelings?

Why is it I feel such a hollow loneliness?

Wasn't such a sentiment more typical for Howleen? Despite being best friends, in that regard, Howleen and Twyla were polar opposites. She could remember vividly the 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.

What does it mean to regard someone as special...? Such a loaded philosophical question, as of late she wondered what it was she was seeking the answer to, a strange uncertainty plagued her.

She felt something nuzzle at her hand, causing her to come to. It was her pet dust bunny, Dustin, a lavender rabbit with green eyes snuggling up against her. She found him one day blowing in the wind all by his lonesome, immediately taking a liking each other and adopted him. He was a highlight of her day, ready to greet her whenever she returned home from school and cuddling next to her at night, she adored him for it. She stroked him gently, seemingly bringing him comfort, secretly hoping that even for a little while, her loneliness could be quelled even slightly.

What am I doing...? She thought, barely comprehending it. Was she losing sight of herself and what was most important things? These little things, she had to cherish them, no matter what. She shouldn't wish for anything beyond that, feeling a sense of guilt and a wistful heartache in her chest as she did so.

And yet, why am I thinking about these things...?

She heaved a soft sigh, there was no use dwelling on it. Maybe in the realm of her 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, a place of diversity where all were accepted, regardless of their origins or appearance. A vision Headmistress Bloodgood held that one day all monsters and humans lived in harmony, she was slowly but surely making strides towards helping others unlearn the several millennia of toxic mindsets. In her time at Monster High, Twyla witnessed many fantastical sights.

Twyla found a comfort in this simplistic contentment, a beauty in these carefree days. Even if some complained such days were mundane, Twyla relished in it. Here, 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.

She made her way to her favorite class, Psychology. A subject she found very fascinating, learning about humans' and monsters' inner workings alike, and the psyche itself. She wanted to understand it all, the complex motivations of others, the morality spectrum, and the reason why behind it all. Sometimes knowing that there was still good in the world helped her sleep at night. She thought of her own motivations, feeling a twinge of sadness as she did so. Unfortunately, whether it was human or monster, despite her desire to help them, she was never understood. No matter how much she wanted to convey her truth, she was forever like a shy little ghost, hiding away.

Was it better that way?

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

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 say a word, fearing speaking out of turn; she didn't have the right to pry into his personal business like that.

"Hm?" He made a noise, jolting 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. Something about her seemed to intrigue him, though he couldn't quite place it. She seemed almost familiar, too, somehow. Just who or what was this girl?

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, more than happy with staying in the background. 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; 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 limbs 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, blurple, and black. The motifs she sported were interesting, which seemed to be dust, locks, keys, smoke, shadows, spiders, and dream catchers, though he despised creepy crawlies. Her hair was also unique, mint green locks with streaks of blue and purple that reached to her hips, he always loved the color green. But most of all, those violet and doe-eyed innocence eyes of hers were what fascinated him the most.

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 pure of heart, or at least that was the image she wanted to project. While he could easily say that about nearly 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. He wondered if she even understood concepts such as depravity or corruption, but he found the chance to be highly 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? Wouldn't setting yourself free, letting go your inhibitions, and succumbing to pleasure be the better thing? If I just indulge in those carnal desires, forever chasing euphoric lust, I'll be able to drown out everything else. Repressing your true self, a mask so laughable, in the end it will only hurt you.

But what does it mean to truly be yourself? Searching for sincerity, the answer always eludes me, just slipping beyond my reach. Disillusioned by this world of facades, putting on a happy face or tough front just seems to be the easier choice. Could it be better this way, to not wonder about the impossible? No, being true to yourself is a mere fallacy.

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