A sinister style, mystery with a smile

"Fantasies. Everybody has them."

𝔾ℍ𝕆𝕌𝕃𝕀𝔸ℕ Yelps sat quietly in class, his chin resting on his hand as he gazed at the board with half-lidded eyes. The droning voice of the teacher faded into the background, replaced by the vivid imagery of his own thoughts. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he let his mind drift into a world of his own making.

"Congratulations, Ghoulian Yelps! Your groundbreaking scientific work has cured Mummengities!" a booming voice declared, echoing in the grand auditorium of his imagination.

Ghoulian stood on a brightly lit stage, clutching a golden trophy shaped like a double helix. The audience erupted into cheers, their applause thunderous and endless. Monsters of all shapes and sizes filled the crowd, from vampires to werewolves, all celebrating his genius.

On the stage beside him, a mummy that had been lying stiffly on a medical table slowly sat up, flexing its bandaged fingers. The mummy raised one hand in a victorious thumbs-up, its glowing eyes radiating gratitude. Ghoulian waved modestly to the adoring crowd, pushing up his glasses as a blush crept over his pale cheeks.

Back in reality, Ghoulian sighed contentedly, the smile lingering as he closed his eyes. The thought of making such a monumental discovery filled him with warmth. Even as the classroom bustled around him, his daydream was enough to shield him from the mundane. He could almost hear the distant cheer of the crowd still echoing in his ears.

"Fantasies are great. Reality can be a bolt in the neck sometimes. It's nice to take a break."

Lagoona sighed deeply, letting her eyelids flutter shut as the soft hum of her daydream pulled her away from reality. In her mind, she was seated at a beautifully set table beneath the ocean's gentle glow, surrounded by swaying coral and shimmering schools of fish. A single candlelight flickered between her and Gil, casting a warm, golden light across his face.

The centrepiece of their romantic dinner was a plate of seaweed noodles, twirling and tangling like the tides. She laughed as Gil leaned forward with a playful grin, his eyes sparkling through his helmet.

They each took a bite of the same strand, tugging gently on either end. The noodle stretched and wiggled between them, the battle growing more intense with every playful pull. Finally, with a triumphant slurp, Gil claimed victory, grinning as he swallowed the last piece making Lagoona giggle.

The sound of her own laughter brought her back to the classroom, her eyes fluttering open as she sighed, a soft smile lingering on her lips. Even in reality, the warmth of her fantasy stayed with her, leaving her heart a little lighter.

"But sometimes, fantasies can become expectations, it can put a lot of pressure on the monsters in your life."

Draculaura hugged her books tightly against her chest, her smile as radiant as the moonlight. She practically floated down the hallways of Monster High, her thoughts consumed by the excitement of her upcoming Sweet 1600 birthday party. Every detail of the fantasy she had shared earlier danced in her mind, filling her with a bubbly anticipation.

Meanwhile, Clawd wandered through the bustling shops in town, his mind racing as he tried to find the perfect gift for his girlfriend. He scanned the store windows, his eyes landing on a delicate necklace displayed on a plush red cushion. The pendant was a glittering heart-shaped charm with the number "1600" engraved in tiny, dazzling crystals. It sparkled so brilliantly that Clawd felt it was made for Draculaura.

"This is it," he whispered to himself, stepping closer to the display. His "tail" wagged excitedly as he imagined her delighted reaction.

Just as he was about to enter the store, the shopkeeper approached the display and placed a tiny card next to the necklace. The card read: "$." Clawd's jaw dropped in shock. The amount was way out of his league.

Still hopeful, he pulled out his wallet, flipping it open with trembling hands. A small puff of air escaped, and then-whoosh!-a flock of tiny bats flew out, flapping away into the distance.

Clawd groaned, staring into the empty folds of his wallet with despair. He let out a low whimper, glancing back at the necklace longingly before he walked into the store.

"It was Draculaura's Sweet 1600 and Valentine's Day! And to top it off, the whole holiday was created just for her 400 years ago. I'll tell you about that later. As official party planners, Cleon, Clawdeen and Zeraphine realized that they had 1 599 birthdays to live up to."

Zeraphine perched on the edge of the courtyard fountain, her snakes gently swaying as she leaned back in thought. Beside her, Clawdeen passed Cleon a large sheet of paper filled with party ideas scribbled in colourful ink.

"So, what do you think?" Clawdeen asked, her eyes hopeful.

Cleon unfolded the paper and scanned the ideas, his lips curling into a smirk. "I think it sphinx," he said dryly. Without hesitation, he tore the paper in half. "She did that for her 1521st birthday." He let the pieces flutter to the ground.

Zeraphine groaned, her snakes mimicking her frustration as they swayed sharply. "We gotta step up our game," she said, rubbing her temples.

Cleon slung an arm around her shoulder with a teasing grin. "Relax, my cobra. We'll make it legendary."

Before anyone could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed through the courtyard, drawing their attention. Toralei and her two feline friends strutted toward them, their smug expressions practically radiating trouble.

"A little birdie told me you guys were planning a purr-fectly epic party," Toralei purred, her sharp grin widening. She paused, coughed dramatically, and pulled a feather from her mouth. Tossing it aside, she cleared her throat. "We're here for our invites."

Cleon leaned back with a smug smile of his own. "Please, Toralei. You're not coming."

Toralei gasped in mock outrage, "Give me one good reason why not!"

Zeraphine crossed her arms, and Clawdeen stood with her iCoffin in hand. "How about three?" Clawdeen said, swiping through the screen before holding it up for Toralei to see.

The first image showed Toralei tripping Draculaura, sending a towering pile of books crashing to the ground. The second captured Toralei dangling a piece of meat on a fishhook in front of Draculaura, making the vegetarian vampire faint. The third was a photo of Frankie, Zeraphine, and Draculaura sitting by the fountain, moments before a bucket of water splashed over them, resulting in a small but shocking electrical mishap.

Toralei frowned as she swiped through the evidence, her ears flattening. "Fine," she huffed, tossing her head defiantly. "But just remember, every kitty has her day. Better watch your backs."

With that, she turned on her heel, her friends following close behind.

Cleon chuckled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh no, we're so scared."

Clawdeen growled low in her throat, her claws flexing, while Zeraphine's snakes hissed in Toralei's direction. The tension lingered in the air as the trio exchanged determined looks.

"Well," Zeraphine said, brushing herself off, "back to work. We've got a party to plan, and it's gonna blow that kitty's mind."

As the tension from Toralei's visit faded, Cleon and Zeraphine lingered by the fountain, their eyes meeting in a quiet, unspoken moment. The air between them softened, and for a second, it felt like everything else in the world had disappeared.

Cleon noticed a strand of Zeraphine's hair had fallen loose, curling gently near her pointed ear. With a playful smile, he reached up, his fingers brushing against her soft skin as he tucked the piece of hair behind her ear.

Zeraphine's breath caught for a moment, her snakes briefly pausing their movements, sensing the shift in the air. She tilted her head slightly, her heart skipping a beat as Cleon's touch lingered for just a moment longer than necessary.

Her voice was soft and almost shy as she looked up at him. "Thanks... I didn't even notice it."

Cleon grinned, his eyes twinkling. "You always look perfect, little snake. Even with a little hair out of place." He winked, his usual confidence giving way to something warmer, more tender.

Zeraphine felt her cheeks flush, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She looked away, her snakes curling slightly in delight at the sweetness of the moment. "You're too sweet, Cleon."

Cleon's smile softened, and he took a small step closer, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. "Just speaking the truth." His gaze met hers, a quiet understanding passing between them.

For a brief second, the world around them seemed to melt away, and in that moment, it was just the two of them-standing close, a little smile shared, and hearts racing ever so slightly.

After a few moments of brainstorming, Cleon, Zeraphine, and Clawdeen walked down the hallway, the idea for the party still feeling just out of reach but the excitement growing, nonetheless. The sound of their footsteps echoed softly against the lockers as they made their way toward Draculaura's locker. Zeraphine's hand rested comfortably in Cleon's, and every now and then, she would glance up at him, her heart fluttering just a little at the connection between them. Her dark green eyes sparkled in the dim hallway light, her usual calm, collected demeanour softened by the warmth of being close to Cleon.

She wasn't the type to wear her emotions on her sleeve, but there was something undeniably gentle in the way she smiled at Cleon when he gave her hand a small, reassuring squeeze.

𓆙

As they reached Draculaura, who was chatting with Frankie and Abby, Cleon's smile was wide and a little strained. He turned to Zeraphine with an eyebrow raised, silently asking her to back him up.

Draculaura caught sight of them first, her eyes lighting up as she bounced in excitement. "Hey, Ghouls! How's the party planning going?" she asked, her voice filled with her usual bubbly energy, making it clear how much she was looking forward to her big day.

Clawdeen, already a little frazzled by the pressure of pulling off the perfect party, spoke up quickly, her tone almost too enthusiastic. "Great! Right, Cleon?"

Cleon, who had been deep in thought about the party, snapped back into focus. He flashed Draculaura a nervous grin, his fingers giving Zeraphine's hand a quick, almost playful tug. "Oh, totally. We're gonna throw you the party of the millennium, right, Zeraphine?"

Zeraphine, who had been quiet for a moment, smiled warmly at her friends, her voice smooth yet full of affection as she spoke. "Of course. We're going to make this the exciting party ever, Draculaura. You'll have the time of your life, I promise," she said, her words sincere and reassuring.

Her tone was soft but confident, a quiet but undeniable strength behind her words. She was someone who always believed in delivering on promises, no matter how big or small. Her words weren't just about throwing a great party-they were about making sure that this day, Draculaura's special day, would be everything she dreamed of and more.

Zeraphine's smile deepened as she glanced over at Clawdeen, who had a look of relief on her face. The nervous energy in the air was starting to settle as Draculaura beamed in excitement. The pressure was still there, but with Zeraphine's calm and steady presence, it felt just a little more manageable.

By: SilverMist707

<3 <3