Nextgen Kids: The New Era

The Horrorverse, Part 6: His Butler, My Partner

I never mentioned this, but I don't actually plan for this story to be super long. Like, it may be as long as Candied Adventure if anything.

Chapter 6: His Butler, My Partner

London (Play "Merry Olde England" from Sly 4!)

A thick fog had swallowed the surface of London. All the wise men and women were safe in their homes, while the streets were crawling with misshapen monsters. A frog with a face on its belly rode a unicycle as it juggled coconuts, a long-legged, short-necked giraffe trekked above the fog, and a pink crescent moon with airplane wings was blowing balloon snowmen. What better place to oversee all this than the very top of Big Ben itself, the Sandman subconsciously thought. "Won't Crystal be mad that you're visiting London without her?" Carol asked.

"She'll forgive me. Where does Ciel Phantomhive live?"

"IIIII... don't know. Ciel never tells us anything about his personal life. I'm trying to call him now, but he isn't answering."

"I guess he's trying to test my detective skills. Very well. I'll ask the locals." Taking flight from the Big Ben, Sandman studied the misty streets, and only his Detective Vision could help him see in the thick white. The people down below had unusually misshapen bodies, though he couldn't make out their appearances. The megaphones rang as Affright appeared on all the screens.

"Verse Number 5: Why I Love Fear. To me, Fear is like a fine woman. A most beautiful maiden who craves every ounce of succulent-"

"DAMMIT, Sandman," The Riddler's image appeared, "quit goofing around with Affright and PLAY WITH ME!! I mean, solve my riddles!"

"Nigma!" Affright shouted. "We agreed to only broadcast at our listed times!"

"Well, Affright, someone has to remind him that YOU'RE not the only relevant villain tonight. I mean, I was the one who kidnapped his wife. And besides, if his brain cells decay in his attempt to complete my riddles, he'll be helpless before you! And don't believe that insidious rumor that stupid people can't get scared."

"That rumor was about illness, not fear."

"Grr-! I know that!"

"Ah, there's a Riddler Informant." Sandman said, flying down to the green target in a crowd of four. Once he was in the fog, he had a clearer view and realized these people were clowns. "Hey, fellas."

"Huh?!" The clowns whipped around in surprise.

"I'm looking for someone. Does the word 'Phantomhive' sound familiar to you?"

"Phantomhive?"

"This must be what he warned us about! Get him, guys!" The clowns whipped out thin balloons and bent them into hammers. The first clown whacked the side of Nolan's head with the balloon, knocking him over with the force of a real hammer. Nolan got up and retaliated by grabbing another's hammer and squeezing it with Armament to make it pop, afterwards punching the clown and kicking another off his feet. Nolan grabbed a clown's hammer and whacked him with it, then gave two more clowns a kick and punch before squeezing the next clown's nose in Armament and slamming him against the ground. One of the clowns got back his hammer, but Sandman took it, wrapped it around his neck, and hauled the clown overhead before slamming him down. He knocked out the third clown with one punch and was able to grab the Riddler Informant's neck.

"I've got a couple of questions for you. The first one involves a guy with a question mark suit."

"Sure, I'll mark the Riddler Trophies for ya!"