It’s the beginning of the fall semester at Monster High, and the campus is buzzing with the kind of excitement only monsters can create. The towering gothic castle is alive with movement. Gargoyles perch on the rooftops chatting between classes, ghosts drift effortlessly through stained-glass windows, and werewolves race each other across the courtyard before the first bell rings. Vines creep up ancient stone walls, enchanted lanterns float overhead despite the daylight, and ravens occasionally deliver notes.

Near the center of the courtyard, beneath an enormous tree whose silver leaves shimmer whenever magic is nearby, the Monstrous Crew—Hiccup, Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, and Guest have claimed their usual meeting spot. They have been friends since they were young monsters and grew up with each other ever since.

Astrid stands with her stone wings folded neatly against her back, scanning the crowd with practiced confidence. While Snotlout is loudly insisting he’d dominate this year’s Casketball season, whether anyone asked or not.

“Come on, I’m obviously captain material.”

“You said that last year,” Ruffnut replies with a grin, and floated above the group.

“And the year before,” Tuffnut adds, nearly dropping the snack he’d been balancing on his shoulder.

“Details.” Snotlout said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Fishlegs sits cross-legged nearby, completely absorbed in a thick book titled Field Guide to Extraordinary Creatures of the Monster Realm. Every few seconds he excitedly blurts out another fun fact that nobody seems to be listening to.

“…Did you know Mooncalves molt only once every seven years?” Silence.

“…Guys?”

Still silence.

A few feet away, Hiccup is kneeling beside what appears to be a tiny mechanical gargoyle no bigger than a housecat. The little construct chirps, lets out a puff of harmless green smoke, then sneezes a loose screw into Hiccup’s hand.

“There we go,” he says with a small smile as he tightens it back into place.

And Guest (be whatever you want) did their own thing but still stayed nearby with their friends. Students pass by on their way to class. A vampire waves to the group. A mummy carefully carries a stack of books taller than themselves.