Rainbow tugged at the lapels of his suit for what seemed to Rarity the twentieth time since she'd got into the car. A habit that required Rarity use every ounce of her willpower to stop her from doing so. She wanted the Captain to be comfortable of course, but not if that caused any sort of damage to her craftsmanship. The Captain crossed her legs again and folded her arms, a bored scowl across her face as Rarity slowly maneuvered the car through the Manehatten traffic towards the newly opened Manehatten Museum of Fine Arts they were set to meet Iscariot at.

Rarity looked in the rearview mirror so as she could see into the back of the car and watch Sir Trixie, Applejack, Rainbow and Alucard. All of whom were dressed to impress. Rainbow was in a jet black suit and tie, though she wore her mercenary boots she'd brought from Griffonstan causing the dusty and sand coloured combat boots to clash horribly with the crisp clean and dark of her trouser leg. The suit jacket hung open off of her frame revealing the lime green waistcoat and cobalt blue shirt. Sometime between Rarity setting off and now she'd gotten rid of her tie and her shirt collar was open. Her signature sunglasses were low on her nose and she was holding a beer bottle loosely by the neck. The Penance was kept in a shoulder holster just under Rainbow's left armpit, hidden as discreetly as Rarity could manage considering that Rainbow liked having her jacket open.

Applejack was, thankfully, more professional how she wore her clothes. Her navy blue suit was worn immaculately and buttoned up exactly as Rarity had made it to; the crisp white dress shirt perfectly offsetting the dark of the navy and the cherry red tie she wore. She did look slightly uncomfortable Rarity noted, but that might have had something to do with the fact that she was unused to wearing such garments. Or perhaps she was unsure how she was to reach the Fang in its shoulder holster under her armpit if her jacket was so buttoned up.

Alucard leaned back in his seat, smiling absently and swirling the contents of a champagne flute idly as his red eyes flashed from beneath his orange tinted spectacles. He, of course, looked positively pristine in a suit of dark charcoal and a blood red dress shirt. He had neglected to place his arms through the sleeves of his black overcoat, simply wearing the coat over his shoulders as if it were a cloak or cape of some kind. Rarity had no doubt he absolutely delighted in looking so dapper, though perhaps he secretly hoped a fight would break out so as he could match the colour of his suit to that of his shirt.

Sir Trixie was once again rereading the letter that the Iscariot Organisation had sent to her, as if she sought to gain new insight into the mind of Iscariot through a fiftieth examination. She was the only one from the Hellsing Organisation who hadn't donned a new wardrobe. Rarity couldn't blame her. This meeting was as much a show of strength as anything else and her usual attire definitely left an impression of just that. She sighed and slipped the piece of paper into an inside pocket of her coat as Rarity pulled the car close to the main stairs of the Museum. The flashing lights of the press camera caused Rarity to grind her teeth slightly as she pulled the car up to the curb.

She opened her door and stepped out into the street before opening Sir Trixie's door and allowing her, Applejack, Rainbow and Alucard to disembark. A valet came over to take the car from Rarity and drove it to a private parking space.

"Maintain a casual distance you two," Rarity murmured to Rainbow and Applejack. "I shall remain at Sir Trixie's side throughout the night. Alucard will be... himself. I hope neither of you will need to draw arms but-"

"I got it," Dash drawled lazily. "Keep an eye out but don't look like we're watching you."

"Precisely," Rarity said as she melted into Sir Trixie's shadow. Applejack looked uneasily at Sir Trixie and Rarity even as Rainbow began making immediate headway towards the nearest cocktail waiter. Sir Trixie gave her a reassuring smile as Alucard began to wander amongst the guests, his face a mask of serene indifference. Applejack bit her lip, but nodded and began making her way towards a nearby exhibit.

"Well then Rarity," Sir Trixie said as the two of them started their own circuit around the museum. "It's been a while since we had to engage in a bit of high society hasn't it?"

"If one doesn't consider living on a private estate inherited from their forefathers as high society then yes," Rarity said smirking lightly even as Sir Trixie turned to give her a reproachful look. Rarity cleared her throat lightly and said, "Though I admit I do understand what you mean. You do spend an awful amount of time cooped up sir. I'm only your butler ma'am but you really need a hobby outside of your work. Perhaps you could find an interest in classic cars ma'am?"

Sir Trixie gave a shudder as she considered it. "The one thing I hated about my father," she muttered and Rarity gave a small snort of laughter.

"Horse riding then perhaps?" she suggested. "I believe we still have a stable somewhere around the estate. I'm uncertain as to whether or not we have any horses but I can soon check?"

"And add yet more to your long list of daily chores? You're one to talk anyhow. The amount of times I've told you you need a holiday."

"I have my workshop and my studio ma'am. I'm content with how I spend my free time. A butler's work is never done anyhow, and quite frankly if I couldn't do the work I do then what sort of butler would I be?"

"One who would get an appropriate holiday package?"

"Oh who needs a holiday? Every day is an adventure working for you ma'am."

Sir Trixie stopped suddenly and Rarity looked around to see what she was looking for. Then her eyes found the pair that had so caught her employer's attention.

"Yes Rarity," Sir Trixie said slowly. "Every day an adventure..."

Standing before a modern art display was a woman a few years her senior and a man older still. The woman had curly hair in shades of pike purple and creamy blonde, dressed in two piece burgundy suit. The man, with oily greying black hair, dressed in a black suit with a dark red tie. They were deep in discussion about the nearby sculpture as Rarity and Sir Trixie approached.

"So it's a face that looks like a rock yes?" the man was saying.

"I think... it's a metaphor," she replied, though she sounded uncertain.

"I think we can all agree it's a bit of cheap tat though yes?" Sir Trixie said, standing behind them both. The man flinched, but the woman seemed incapable of being surprised. She turned slowly and smiled serenely at Sir Trixie.

"Well, I wouldn't go that far," she replied. "Do I agree it doesn't reach the high standards of fine art? Yes. Cheap tat is a bit harsh." She gave another smile and inclined her head. "Bishop Mi Amore Cadenza of Princess Celestia's Iscariot Organisation." She offered her hand.

Sir Trixie took it in her own and shook it gently. "Sir Trixie Lulamoon Hellsing of Princess Luna's Hellsing Organisation." The two of them dropped the other's hands and Trixie indicated Rarity beside her. "This is my butler Rarity Caroline Belle." Rarity took this as her opportunity to bow smartly to the Bishop.

"My associate, Father Franklyn Richards," Cadenza replied, indicating the man beside her. Father Richard's gave a curt nod unsure of what to do with himself. Cadenza rolled her eyes and turned back to Sir Trixie. "So then, shall we get down to business?"

"That depends on what business we have," Sir Trixie replied curtly. Bishop Cadenza's smile moved a fraction, and the warmth died a little in her eyes.

"Let's not play games with each other Sir Trixie," she said cooly, holding a hand up to Father Richards. He stepped forwards and withdrew from inside his balzer a small black notebook and handed it to Bishop Cadenza. "We at Iscariot are aware that there are certain... issues arising in Equestria. Issues that the Hellsing organisation is having difficulty suppressing. Not-" she said quickly holding up a hand at Trixie's rather indignant expression as she began to speak, "to discredit the work that is being applied by Hellsing. In the name of transparency Iscariot is having similar issues we are having difficulty in resolving."

"Bishop I must protest," Father Richards said suddenly. "There's no need to share such... sensitive information."

"We were aware that there was something untoward happening with regards to Iscariot," Sir Trixie added. At this, Rarity lifted a long thin box she had been holding up and offered it to Bishop Cadenza. Confused the other woman looked at Sir Trixie with an eyebrow raised. "I can assure you it's quite safe. Rarity, if you wouldn't mind?" Rarity nodded and lifted the lid.

Bishop Cadenza and Father Richards leaned in to examine the blessed bayonet blade that lay in the box, cushioned by silver velvet.

"That's an Iscariot weapon," Cadenza said at last. "Recently forged by the looks of things. Not even two years old. How did you come by this?"

"It was left by a vampire in what was the village of Hollow Shades," Sir Trixie explained as Father Richards took the box from Rarity and looked at it closer. "We recovered the blade there."

"The serial number is intact," Richards muttered. "If I'm not mistaken this blade was assigned from Iscariot' armoury to Flash Sentry if I'm not mistaken."

"That... seems likely," Cadenza agreed biting her lip.

"Then it would appear that both our houses are currently facing the same enemy," Trixie surmised. "A quite sophisticated attack on two fronts."

"Agreed," said the Bishop. "Together we might see the full picture of this threat and decide on how to combat it."

"Bishop!" Richards cried, drawing a few stares from nearby patrons. "When you proposed a meeting to exchange information Iscariot was concerned enough but this. You cannot be suggesting cooperation with this... this... this group of heathens and heretics! Their fascination, their obsession with the occult has led them to madness and this... witch here is no different."

Before Bishop Cadenza could reproach the priest beside her, her eyes widened in shock and Sir Trixie saw the long barrel of the Casull slide into her field of view from behind her.

"Call my master a witch again and it will be the last thing you do with your miserable life," Alucard said with a cool hatred, the Casull aimed between Father Richards' eyes. Bishop Cadenza took a deep breath in through her nose to recompose herself and straightened up to her full height, surveying Alucard.

"The infamous Hellsing vampire," Bishop Cadenza breathed, her eyes almost glowing with... was that anticipation Sir Trixie thought? "Such a pleasure to see you in person. Though... one good threat deserves another."

There was movement beside her and Sir Trixie looked across at Rarity who was stood with her usual statuesque stillness... despite the bayonet held to her throat. Sir Trixie surveyed the young man holding the blade, though his teal eyes were focussed purely on Alucard. He wore a grey cassock and had spiky cobalt blue hair that rested on his shoulders. His skin was pale and fair and his eyes were partially hidden behind the glare of his glasses. Sir Trixie sighed and pushed down on Alucard's gun arm.

"I think this has gotten a little out of hand," she muttered turning to look at Alucard who was eyeing the young man curiously. "Alucard I'd like to think I had tougher skin than a few insults thrown out in passionate anger. Please focus on saving my life from actual danger."

Alucard paused and placed the Casull into the inside of his jacket.

"As you command my master," he said and retreated into the darkness. Bishop Cadenza smiled gratefully at Sir Trixie and nodded to the priest holding Rarity at sword point.

"Father Armour if you wouldn't mind I think we could have handled that without your assistance."

Father Shining Armour looked at her and the bayonet slide up his sleeve and disappeared. "No chances ma'am," he muttered darkly, eyeing the space where Alucard had vanished.

"The vampire might be willing to make a public spectacle of himself that does not mean you have to meet him at his level," Bishop Cadenza snapped. She turned back to Sir Trixie as Shining took a few steps back. "Sorry. That was rude."

"But accurate," Trixie admitted. "He misbehaves in the worst ways possible."

"And as for you, Father Richards," Cadenza said, turning to her companion with a terrible scowl, "Whilst I usually appreciate your input into these matters, there is a time and a place for such comments. We shall speak of this, later."

Father Richards looked as if he were about to say something but a look from Father Armour made him reevaluate this thought.

"Ladies," Rarity said, leaning forward slightly looking at Sir Trixie and Bishop Cadenza, "I suggest we keep moving so as to avoid undue attention."

"Good idea thank you Rarity," Sir Trixie agreed before turning to Cadenza. "Shall we?"

"Lead the way," Bishop Cadenza said gesturing for Sir Trixie to lead off.

They began walking around the museum, Rarity and Father Richards a few steps behind and Father Armour even further back. As they walked, Bishop Cadenza began to speak.

"As I mentioned before the Iscariot organisation has been suffering some rather distressing issues of late," she explained. "The death of Father Sentry is just one of numerous Iscariot casualties of late. To say nothing of the disappearances."

"People have gone missing?" Sir Trixie asked.

"Yes. And not simply the loss of out paladins and exorcists. We've lost high profile minds. Brilliant scientists, experts in their field who work with Iscariot for a greater good, have been lost."

Sir Trixie thought about this for a moment and then spoke.

"You refer to Vincent Franklyns? Last of the Frankenstein house of Germaney?"

Bishop Candenza's eyes flashed to Sir Trixie's face, though she didn't turn to look at her.

"My my where do you get your information from Sir Trixie? One would think that you were spying on the affairs of Iscariot."

"Hardly. I think of him only due to the fact there is a cadaver lying in the mortuary of the Hellsing Estate. A corpse cobbled together from the dead and brought to life by occult magic and a single bolt of lightning."

Bishop Cadenza breathed in steadily through her nose.

"The madness of his great grandfather must run through his blood if he thinks to create such monstrosities in this day and age," she muttered darkly. "Where did you find the creature?"

"It knocked down the front door to the manor house and nearly killed everyone inside," Sir Trixie responded calmly. "But as all good butlers should Rarity showed the unruly house guest a most hospitable welcome."

"Just doing my job ma'am," Rarity said waving off Bishop Cadenza's glance over her shoulder. "Such brutish behaviour was hardly acceptable."

"The Angel of Death rides again," muttered Father Richards to himself, though it was impossible to tell if he was being sarcastic. For her part, Bishop Cadenza merely ignored his comment and continued.

"Dr Franklyns is but the most recent disappearance of Iscariot's scientific officers," she said. "There have been many more. All varying fields. Cartography, archaeology, para-zoology, engineering. There's no set pattern as to who is taken. They're experts int heir fields certainly but hardly the greatest minds that Iscariot has in any of them."

"You believe there is a pattern that you have yet to discover?"

"We are working under a few potential hypotheses but nothing has turned up any potential leads as to culprits if that is what you're asking. There are two locations which we wish to investigate closer however."

"And you find yourselves unable to pursue these investigations as you find your organisation assailed upon by vampire attack upon vampire attack carried out by third and fourth rate vampires?"

"And even if we did there is the possibility that we end up pursuing nothing more than a red herring."

The small party reached the end of one of the gallery hallways and came face to face with a large landscape painting. It looked to be a modern interpretation of an ancient tapestry by some 'visionary' artist. Trixie didn't really care much about the details. It showed two great armies charging towards each other. In the centre however there was a long figure. A last survivor of a third army perhaps? Trixie didn't think much on the symbolism.

"If our first joint venture is to investigate these two locations it would perhaps be prudent to send agents from both organisations?" Trixie suggested. "That way no one from either will be concerned about the quality of the investigation?"

Cadence thought about this for a few moments and nodded to herself. "That.... is agreeable yes," she said. "Preferable actually. Although some of my agents may have... reservations about working in proximity to the Vampire. Though given as he is most likely your most durable agent it would be stupid frankly to send anyone else."

"If it will put your agents at ease I can assure you that were Alucard mortal he would classified anorexic with the amount he eats," Trixie muttered with a wry smile. "His appetite has somewhat diminished over the years under Hellsing's service."

"If that was meant to reassure you may want to reconsider your approach," Cadenza snorted derisively. The small cough of Father Armour from behind caused Sir Trixie to look toward him and Bishop Cadenza to half turn. "Father? Something you wish to say?"

"Just..." He started before he cleared his throat again and adjusted his stance. "If in your opinion it is in the Iscariot Organisation's best interest to co-operate with Hellsing, then for the good of Iscariot I will volunteer to assist the Vampire in investigating whichever location he is sent." He paused here. "Though I must inform you that I cannot stay quite about this decision should Princess Celestia ask."

The Bishop nodded. "Thank you Father for your understanding and candour." She looked to Sir Trixie. "I trust this arrangement should be acceptable to you?"

Before Sir Trixie could respond however the fire alarm pierced the gentle classical music that had been playing thoughout the complex. As Sir Trixie looked up surprised at the sound, Alucard had stepped up beside her, a frown on his face. Running footsteps could be heard getting closer and the small party turned to see Applejack running towards them. Sir Trixie could tell instantly that something was desperately wrong. Sweat was pouring down her forehead and she white as a sheet.

"Applejack, what's happened?" Trixie barked as Applejack skidded to a halt in front of them.

"Rainbow," she managed to gasp as she bent over, sucking in breaths, shouting to be heard over the fire alarm. "She.... she-"
The fire alarm cut out and all that they could hear was the distant sound of screams and sirens.

"What's happened to Captain Dash?" Trixie asked, a nervous knot in her stomach. Applejack swallowed and straightened up, still deathly white.

"She's found a bomb ma'am."

Author's Note

Guess what sluts I'm back?