The Horrorverse, Part 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!"

"Thanks. My second question is the one I asked previously: do you know anyone called Phantomhive?"

"We don't speak of them. The Phantomhive Family has been dead for almost 200 years. All that exists now are ghosts."

"Impossible. I was just speaking to Ciel Phantomhive on the phone. I also saw him compete in a Field Day tournament."

"So, you ARE working for him."

"TELL ME WHERE HE IS." Sandman tightened the grip.

"Urk! Why bother asking? You're about to die to the Bogmires, anyway."

"AGH!" Nolan was suddenly grabbed by two oozing claws that looked like combs, forced to let go of the clown. A black, blobby ghost with yellow eyes started gnawing at Nolan's back, but the Sandman quickly elbowed it repeatedly and made it dissolve. Other such ghosts emerged from the fog, so Nolan grappled up to a rooftop to escape. "Bogmires?! Who would let THOSE monsters loose in a city?"

"Bassie?! Bassie, is that you?!" Sandman turned to find a strange man with a creepy grin. He had green eyes behind red glasses, long red hair, and wore a butler's uniform. He also wielded a chainsaw. "Wait… you're not Bassie. What a shame. After hearing the name Phantomhive, I thought for sure he'd…"

"So, you know who they are as well. Tell me where the Phantomhives live."

"Oh, want to find Bassie, do you? I don't think I like the sound of that."

"I don't have time for games."

"TOO BAD! You'll never catch Grell Sutcliff!" The man bolted and started hopping rooftops.

"HEY! GET BACK HERE!" Nolan raced after the stranger, swinging from building to building with the grappling hook.

"Eh, Mr. York? What are you doing?" Carol asked.

"What does it look like, I'm chasing a guy with a chainsaw!"

"I don't see a guy with a chainsaw."

"Are you kidding, he's right in front of me!"

"Nolan, have you been seeing OTHER hallucinations behind my back?!" Revan questioned. "I feel so betrayed!"

Nolan grappled a rooftop that was three stories high and used the Grapnel Boost to propel himself up with great momentum. He locked his sights on the stranger and glided after him with greater speed. He acquired enough momentum to perform a Glide Takedown. "AAAAHH!" Grell was grabbed by the neck as Sandman did a midair flip, pinning him against a roof.

"I don't have time to waste! Tell me where the Phantomhives are!"

"Oh, heavens! For a mortal, you're very strong!"

"Mortal?" Sandman used Detective Vision. The stranger was not detected. "Wait a minute… you're a spirit?"

"MORE THAN A SPIRIT!" Grell kicked him off and flipped behind Sandman. "I'm a Reaper! And I smelled lots of death happening tonight!"

"Not if I have anything to say about it."

"Well, someone who's looking for Bassie is just asking to die." Grell said with a toothy grin. His teeth were shark-like. "You want to visit Phantomhive Manor? Then head for the Misty Woods. And while you're there, clear out those nasty ghosts for me." He seemed to reach into Pocket Space and yank out a red vacuum backpack, chucking it into Sandman's arms. "And once Bassie warms up with you, I'll catch him in full heat! Mue he he he he he he!" He whirred up his chainsaw and cut a portal into the roof, diving in and vanishing.

Sandman got the Poltergust 5000! This powerful vacuum can suck in fog and the ghosts that dwell within! It can also suck in elemental spirits and squirt out those elements.

"Uh, Mr. York? Hellooooo? You done talking to yourself?"

"I was talking to a Reaper. He was a spirit, so you couldn't see him from where you are. But I think I know where Ciel lives now. I'm heading to Misty Woods."

"Okay, then. Those should be to the east. Just be careful, Mr. York. You've been acting a bit strange lately…"

Nolan spotted the Misty Woods in the distance, having to glide across the river and over a few more buildings. The ground on the edge of the woods was clear of fog, and a large fence seemed to keep back the fog in the forest. Nolan decided to pass the fence via the entrance, using his newfound Poltergust to slurp in the fog on a massive scale. "Impressive gadget. Navigating the forest should be a lot easier now-"

"Nuuuu-uuuuuh…" It began when a cat's paw sprouted out of the ground. The corpse of a cat, a dog, a toad, a few platypuses, and other such animals moaned eerily as they limped toward Sandman on their hind legs. Sandman kicked the zombies away with Armament Haki, but whenever the animals reached him, they would climb up to his head and attempt to chew on his brain. Sandman was quick to grab and throw them off, stomping the animals into dust afterwards.

"Oh, here's a fun fact: the Misty Woods is where rich people buried their dead pets." Carol read.

"That explains their snazzy outfits."

"I might pay a visit here once all the ghosts are gone. There's, uh, a certain canary I've been meaning to dispose of."

After crushing all the zombies, Sandman cleared through some bushes and arrived at a short ledge over a river. He could easily glide across the river and grapple to the other side, but once he was in the fog, he was instantly attacked by Bogmires. He aggressively shook them off, but had no time to draw his Poltergust before they were on him again. He quickly jumped back off and grappled back to the other side. "Fine. I'll go the long way."

Sandman journeyed toward the left and crossed a stone bridge, which had three gargoyle statues in the center. As he expected, the gargoyles jumped to life and attacked him with stone spears. One of them jabbed its spear, but he jumped and forced it down before punching it in the face with Armament. Nolan knocked the gargoyle down, then quickly sprayed Explosive Gel on it to destroy it, releasing the Possessor Nightmare that was inside. Nolan flipped behind the second gargoyle, sprayed its back, and destroyed it, and for the third one, he grabbed its head in Armament hands and tore it off.

Near the end of the bridge, Nolan found some large rocks by a Riddler Trophy. He noticed a green ring moving around in the water. Putting two and two together, he picked up a rock and threw it into the ring. The cage opened and the trophy was won. Afterwards, he continued through the forest and sucked in more fog. He passed by some ruins and decrepit wooden signs that pointed to Riddles before coming upon the grounds of a mansion.

Nolan activated Detective Vision and detected three people around the vicinity. One of them was on the roof and holding a sniper rifle, another was patrolling by the front, and the other was in the garden. "Only three guards? This is too easy."

"W – t y-u say? M-t-r Y-rk – I – c-n't-" There was static on the other end.

"Carol? Carol?" Nolan tapped his mask. "Must be interference. No matter…"

"'ey, Baldroy! You don't think any more of those monsters will come our way, do ya?" yelled the man in the garden. He sounded like a boy with a high voice.

"Keep your undergarments on, Finnian." yelled the man in front. He was blonde and smoking a cigarette. "Oi, Mey-Rin, you see anything?"

"I got fog all over me glasses!" yelled the roof sniper, a maid with foggy glasses and magenta hair in pigtails. "I'm blinder than a bat with earplugs," Sandman grappled up to the roof, "yes a bat with earplugs I'm blinder than, yes sir indeed I am." Nolan grabbed her from behind and sprayed gas in her face. The maid peacefully fell unconscious.

Baldroy appeared to be easy prey from Sandman's post, gliding down to him from the darkness and gassing the servant before he ever knew what hit him. Nolan then made his way to the back and saw Finnian walking out of the small greenhouse. "BALDROY? MEY-RIN? Yoohoooooo?" Nolan crept up with the utmost certainty that he could knock out the unsuspecting servant. "You aren't trying to scare me, are you?" Nolan was a second away from gassing him. "I don't like being SCARED!" Finnian whipped around and KICKED Nolan across the yard.

When he recovered, Nolan saw Finnian dashing toward him, quickly raising his Armament hands to defend from Finnian's superhuman punches. Nolan was able to grab his hands and tried to squeeze them, but they were surprisingly thick, so he hardened his head and dealt a headbutt to knock the servant down. "AH!" Nolan yelped when a bullet pierced his arm.

"Nice shot, Mey-Rin!" Baldroy praised, marching up with his own gun. "He thought 'e could waltz into our own base and crown us in the knickers. We ain't like your usual thuggies, are we?"

Nolan saw the maid on the roof. She had removed her glasses, revealing her sharp eyes. "Gassin' me in the face when my back was turned, I feel so violated! He made me brain all mushy, like them bad sausages I ate, yes I talk like this because I ate some bad sausages, bad sausages yes indeed I ate." Nolan dodged the woman's bullets, but was grazed in the shoulder, and he then decided to grapple up to the roof. Mey-Rin jumped away, going to a gun compartment and switching to a Shockwave Shotgun. By shooting the roof, she caused a quake that made Nolan slip, allowing her to shoot him off.

The second he hit the ground, Baldroy pushed a remote that detonated a landmine from under Nolan. The smoke cleared to reveal he was still intact. "Bet ya didn't notice my landmines before? I had them all in Sleep Mode, but I reckon now's the time to use 'em. Seein' as you survived, I ain't joking around no more."

Nolan used Detective Vision to track the mines, which were littered all over the yard. "…Except in there!" Nolan used the Line Launcher to zip over to the greenhouse and break inside.

"NOOO! Not my garden!" Finnian rushed over. "I worked all day on those plants! Please, don't!" Ignoring his pleas, Nolan grabbed a flower pot and tossed it over his head. "NOOO!" When Finnian turned to catch it, Nolan shot his grappling hook to yank him over, swing a more forceful punch across his head, ending with a punch-down to knock him out cold.

Baldroy tried to shoot him, but Nolan shot him with the Shock Rod to briefly stun him, then Line Launched toward the manor with Baldroy in the path. He caught the man between the legs and pulled him along as they crashed against the manor. Nolan slammed his head against the wall and knocked Baldroy out. He saw Mey-Rin staying clear from the roof's edge, so he threw a Remote Boomerang and steered it around the manor. He then steered it above the roof and hit the chimney, scaring Mey-Rin toward the edge as she about-faced. Nolan grappled up, grabbed the maid, and pulled her off, letting her hang upside-down by a rope.

"'EY! You don't just leave a woman hangin' like an old pair of boxers! The whole world can see my panties, they can see my panties is what they see, you know!"

"Sigh… still can't contact Carol. Ciel is her teammate, maybe he can call her. Better do the polite thing and take the front door…" Nolan glided down to the front and entered the manor.

? The Heir of Phantomhive sure is proud, his looks standing out from the crowd. ?

The foyer had only a chandelier to give it light, otherwise it was almost completely dark. "So, Mr. York…" Nolan faced up the foyer stairs as a spotlight shone on someone: he was a 13-year-old boy in noble attire, an eyepatch over his right eye, bluish-black hair, and a wonderfully proportioned body. "I see you decided to show yourself in. I must congratulate you. Defeating a Phantomhive servant isn't easy, let alone three."

"Ciel Phantomhive… why were the townspeople saying you were dead?"

"Perhaps they merely mistook me as one of the ghosts."

"Or maybe…" Nolan switched on Detective Vision. "Your body isn't human."

A card flew out of the darkness and hit the side of Nolan's mask, forcing his vision off. "It isn't polite to violate one's privacy." A butler walked out of the darkness. His sleek black hair went beautifully with his uniform, contrasting with his pale skin.

Nolan glanced down at the card and realized it was a business card. He picked it up and read it. "'Sebastian Michaelis – Black Butler'?"

"By making it here, you have passed the first part of my test." Ciel said. "This will be the second part: you must defeat my butler in battle."

"I never agreed to any test! You said you had information on Kelvin Renbourn!"

"I never said those exact words. I only heard you were interested in the man and decided to use that interest to lure you here. That's not to say that I don't have information. But I first must see if you deserve it. Defeat my butler in battle and I shall tell you."

"Have it your way. Because he's going to be sore in the morning."

"I'm afraid you have it backwards, Mr. York." Sebastian said. "You'll find that I am one hell of a butler." (Play "Monochrome Kiss" by Sid!)

Boss fight: Sebastian Michaelis

Hardening his hands, Nolan threw punches at Sebastian, the butler dodging each one with grace before kicking Nolan off his feet. Nolan tried to grab his legs, but Sebastian leaped overhead and threw two cards into his legs. "Agh!" Nolan pulled the cards out, fighting the pain and getting back on his feet. Sebastian flew into the darkness, so Nolan used Detective Vision to trace him. Sebastian flew out from his left, pouncing the Sandman like a panther, and yanking his gas mask right off as he flipped over Nolan again.

"A man must be able to look his opponent in the eye." Sebastian said, tossing the mask away. "And I feel the most fragrant scent radiating from your soul." Sebastian danced over and locked hands with Nolan, who dodged his head left and right when Sebastian kicked up at him. Nolan pulled his left hand free and twirled around the butler, kicking at Sebastian's stomach, the butler falling back, flipping back to his feet, and leaping high as he threw bladed cards at Nolan.

Nolan used Haki to protect from them, trying to catch Sebastian as he fell, but the butler tugged the sides of his garb to use as a glider, flying over Sandman like a bat. Sebastian skied back into the darkness, Nolan searching desperately for him, and then out Sebastian flew, cutting Nolan's hip with his own gloved fingers. "You're embarrassing us BOTH, Nolan!" Revan shouted. "Use psychicbending! It's the only way we can beat him! And if you die here, you'll NEVER stop Affright!"

"Oh, my." Sebastian said, staring at his blood-soaked gloves. "It seems I will have to wash these again." With that, he removed the gloves.

Nolan's mismatched eyes shone blue and yellow. "If that's how you wanna play it," he removed his Chi-block Gauntlets, "you're gonna wish you played nice!"

"Beautiful…" Sebastian gave a gorgeous smile, his eyes brimming scarlet. Both fighters burned with powerful aura, blasting to each other like rockets, their fists and feet striking with the force of cannons. Nolan flew to the ceiling and threw a circle of Psycho Spheres down at him, Sebastian staying in the center, but the butler gasped when Nolan chopped off the candlelit chandelier.

Time seemed to slow down to the butler as he leapt up and grabbed hold of the chandelier while it was falling. He licked his hands and touched each and every candle to put them out, for he couldn't let his master's precious home turn to cinders. Once he was finished, Sebastian jumped out of the chandelier and grabbed the end of its chain, twirling in midair before tossing it up to its hanging spot. Sebastian landed on the floor and quickly leapt up to grab both severed ends of the chain, holding them together and blowing gum to reattach them.

As Nolan and Revan watched this act, they used Aura Sense to examine him. Both Sebastian and Ciel emitted dark auras, and there seemed to be an invisible chain between them. What is this link between them? This… unseverable bond? Revan thought as they returned to combat. I can feel it. His thoughts as he was saving the chandelier. His deep desire to protect this house. His desire to protect… him. He glanced up at Ciel. Of course! That look in his eyes… This beautiful feeling… it's the very same bond… that WE have, Nolan!

The two broke apart. "Then let's test if that's true!" Nolan drew out a hidden candle he had stole from the chandelier. Using psychic, he lifted the candle along with a gas pellet. Sebastian frowned, sensing his intended trajectory. With the speed of a bullet, he threw the items at Ciel, and as Sebastian rushed up to his master, the candle made contact with the gas and exploded.

Sebastian leapt out of the smoke with his master wrapped safely in his arms. He landed on the base floor and faced Sandman again. "Enough. This battle is over. …You have passed." Ciel said.

Nolan reclaimed his Chi Gloves and put them on. "Of course. Nothing defeats a butler like failing to keep the place tidy." (End song.)

Sebastian grabbed a fire extinguisher and put out the fire above the stairway. "Well, Mr. York… it seems I have misjudged you. You are more dangerous than you look. Which is why you will be perfect for this mission." Ciel said.

"You're really testing my patience, Ciel."

"Patience. You wish to find Kelvin Renbourn, correct? Then you and I have a common enemy. Baron Kelvin… is a name I have not heard in a long time. You may have noticed the circus is in town."

"Yeah, I beat up some clowns outside."

"Indeed… announcements have been ringing nonstop. Here is one of them." Ciel pushed a remote and activated a stereo.

"Strange creatures crowding the streets?! Men with more than two arms?! Don't worry! Things like these are perfectly natural here at Noah's Ark Circus! Why does this chicken have a giraffe's face?! Why is this man half-blob?! Will I actually answer these questions? Of course not! But you still have to see them to believe them! Come see the Noah's Ark Circus, now based in London!"

Ciel switched it off, clutching the side of his head. "I swear that voice sounded just like his." he spoke with rage. "Just hearing it makes me lose my mind! And now I know for sure… it's definitely him!"

"What did this man do to you?"

Ciel turned away. "That doesn't matter. But mark my words, he is a terrible man. And since he is tied to your mission, you and Sebastian are going to infiltrate the Noah's Ark Circus and bring him to justice."

"I don't just let anyone work for me."

"Sebastian should be more than qualified. What could he possibly be lacking?"

"How about a grappling hook, a Line Launcher, Explosive Ge-… eh…" Nolan cut himself off when Sebastian opened his suit, revealing a collection of gadgets.

"Now, if I wasn't equipped with all the latest vigilante gadgets, what kind of butler would I be?"

"I rest my case. Sebastian, you are now Mr. York's assistant. You will do as he instructs until the mission is complete. Is that clear?"

"I will do as you wish, My Lord. Is that alright with you, Mr. York?"

"Not yet. I want to test your skills in the field first. And believe me, the bar was raised big time." Nolan answered, thinking of Misaka.

"Sebastian can pass your test with ease. Just make sure you start the mission soon. …Oh, and if you could, there are these green question marks-"

"Yeah yeah, I'll do the Riddler… when I have time. Speaking of which…" Nolan searched around for this room's Riddle solution. He found a framed photo of the Sector $ team: Carol Masterson, Weiss Schnee, Prince Raleigh, Pacifica Northwest, and Ciel himself. Compared to the brightness and vibrance of the other four, Ciel Phantomhive was more dark and glum. Indeed, his looks stood out from the crowd, and he snapped the Riddle.

"We must not keep our Young Lord waiting." Sebastian said.

"I know. …But are you and him… really…"

"You need not be concerned. I assure you we bare no ill will. But do keep it a secret, will you?" Sebastian sported a smile. "He will come out with it when the time comes."

"If you say so. Let's go."

Somewhere dark

The dining room was lit by only three candles. There were two plates of food, but only one man seemed present. His head wrapped in bandages, only his manic eyes and teeth were visible. He was fondling a birdcage close to his husky body. "My prince… My prince… Where is my prince…"

He heard the door open and looked up. Affright had come to visit him. "The Sandman has just arrived. Tell me you still have the girl."

"Is he coming?! Is my prince coming back to me?"

"Don't worry. I will bring the boy to you. But I can't risk the Sandman reclaiming your prisoner… so, if you don't mind." Affright aimed Horror's Hand at the birdcage and released Nightmare Toxin.

"Hehehehehehehe…!" The man's eyes turned bloodshot as he held the cage up to his face, staring closely at Haruka's tiny form. "Ciel… Ciel!… I waited 200 years… 200 long, lonely years… None of these children filled the hole that you left…" He reached a finger in and gently poked Haruka, whereas her body and expression remained as stiff as a doll. "No… they were only the appetizer… They were only practice… But when you come here, Ciel… I will treasure you like an extremely rare diamond… and keep you on my being… always…always…always…"