As Integra rubbed her brow and gathered her thoughts, Jade spoke up as she noticed something odd. "Hsi, why are you keeping yourself and the girls on the opposite side of me from the priest?" she asked in confusion.
"Because he has a reputation, and I'd rather not make a mess when he decides to 'monster hunt' the four of us," Hsi stated flatly. "You don't tend to think before you act, do you...'Judas Priest'?"
"Ah, calm down ya hellspawn," the priest snapped out irritably. "I ain't been like that since I left Iscariot and went freelance before I signed on with these Protestant heathens when freelance monster hunting got too restrictive. At least I managed to convince Maxwell not to try stealing Stonehenge again."
"How'd ya manage ta do that?" Apple Bloom asked curiously.
"Ach, that was easy," the priest explained readily. "Ah just pointed out a few pertinent facts ta him. Do ye know what percentage someone can have 'non-human' genetics in them and still look and act completely human?" When that got him only confused looks, he continued, "Anything under 25%. You know how much of a person's genetic code has ta be human to have no chance of resurgence where their kids come out non-human? All of it! Ya know how much of the human population these days is guaranteed ta have no non-human genetics?"
"Uh...I'm guessing not a lot," Jade observed thoughtfully.
"Considering what Captain Black told me about familiar relationships, I'd buy that," Jackie grumbled ruefully.
"Four!" the priest pointed out. "And no, I don't mean four percent, ah mean four people! Ah've checked, and the only people ah can guarantee have no non-human blood are three idiots that work fer the new Demon Sorcerer of Light and the big fella that used to work for him. Everybody else either has magic blood or has divine magic applied to 'em that passes on ta kids. So if Maxwell had stolen Stonehenge and it did turn out to be an anti-non-human superweapon, activatin' it mighta wiped out the entire world!"
"And...that convinced him?" Integra inquired curiously.
"Nah, what convinced him was showing him in his blood that he was one eighth Leprechaun. He was a fanatic, but no martyr." The priest chuckled darkly. "Anywho, after ah ditched Iscariot, ah broke into the secret vault and found some documents that made me reconsider me views on non-humans."
"And what were those?" Alucard asked curiously.
"The original unedited sacred words of God as recorded by the original prophets, before Paul got his hands on 'em," the priest explained easily. "Turns out God had somethin' ta say about His non-human children."
"...oh?" Integra asked curiously as everyone else exchanged confused glances.
"Aye," the priest confirmed. "If by choice or by compulsion they feast on living men, they are a blight upon the world and are to be purged without quarter. For all else that lives, loves, learns, and grows, know that ye look upon yer brothers and sisters, and welcome them with open arms." He spat irritably. "Quite a bit different from what we'd been told in Iscariot. Right pissed me off! Told the rest of me crew, and they ditched with me."
"And swelled our numbers," Integra mused, her voice a little shaken. "I'd wondered why they were so eager to fill our ranks after we lost our mercenaries."
"Uh...didn't Scamp there just eat a chunk of you, though?" Viper asked nervously.
"Engineered bio-weapon, don' really count entirely as human anymore," the priest answered readily. "Long as she don't eat anyone else while they're alive, she ain't me prey."
"And that's why you're her primary babysitter," Integra explained easily. "You keep her under control-"
Scamp once more took a bite out of the priest, this time taking his ear off...which also quickly regenerated.
"-and a safe, ready food source," Integra finished ruefully. "She does eat a lot at this stage of development." She then turned to her visitors. "I suppose introductions are in order for those of you not in the know. Father Alexander Anderson, formerly of Iscariot, I won't bore you with his titles. And Sylvia Erwin Victoria, Scamp for short. Named for a grandparent on each side." Scamp waved happily, smiling in delight as her eyes shone.
"And I am Hsien Ko," a soft voice said as someone else stepped into the office. She was a blue skinned young woman dressed in ancient Chinese garb in purple and pink with long sleeves that hung down past her hands, which she had folded under her rather impressive bustline which was partially revealed by a keyhole window in her garb. An oddly designed hat sat upon her head with a parchment scroll hanging from it. "Thank you for reuniting me with my sister," she said to Jackie and the others gratefully, bowing to them. "If there is any way I can aid you, we would be happy to do so."
"So now we're gonna go out looking for that secret society, right?" Alucard asked eagerly. "Sounds fun." His hands moved towards two guns at his hips. "Been a while since I went for a walk, and the three of us should be able to handle anything we encounter."
"There's just one problem there," Integra pointed out warningly. "All three of you have quite the reputation. If you're seen wandering around, said society is bound to know you're after them."
"So?" Alucard countered playfully. "Just means more of a challenge! Heck, maybe we could call in Seras and the Kitty-"
"You know they're on special assignment, on loan to our...allies," Integra pointed out mysteriously, tapping her ear where she had when she'd mentioned the 'ComCom's. "And if they're prepared for you-"
"Prepared for me?" Alucard demanded in disbelief. "What, do you think they've recruited that guy who can beat me? What was his-"
"No, I'm on your side this time," Hsi Wu interrupted playfully.
"Oh please, you can't stand up to me!" Alucard snapped back.
"Didn't look that way last time we fought," Hsi countered eagerly. "I'd have had you in the dirt if you hadn't been 'summoned'. Fastest I've ever seen you respond to a summons."
"Oh you are full of shit!" Alucard snapped back. "Besides, I was limited to level 2!"
Hsi suddenly shifted to his demon form. "And I've only gotten stronger, wiser, and more skilled since then," he growled out. "Are you sure you want to test me now?"
"Anywhere, anytime big boy," Alucard growled eagerly as his hands gripped his guns.
"Don't think yer leavin' me out of this rumble!" Anderson snapped out as he pulled two bayonets out of his sleeves.
"Boys!" Jade snapped out angrily, her voice carrying odd overtones. "Enough! Sit down and be quiet!"
To everyone's surprise, all three immediately took their seats.
Integra blinked in surprise, then turned to Jade. "You must teach me how to do that."
"I'm not even sure how I did it," Jade admitted ruefully, rubbing her throat in shock.
"It was a Chosen One thing," Hsien Ko explained softly.
Integra sighed ruefully. "Well, the point is we need to find the Society without them knowing we're looking for them," she explained tiredly. "So unless you all can do discreet and subtle-"
A whirlwind briefly surrounded Hsien Ko, and when it passed she looked completely human and dressed in modern garb...though she seemed to unnaturally draw eyes. "I...took a correspondence course in succubus magic from Morrigan Aenseland," she explained awkwardly. "Mei Ling didn't approve...and it's what we fought about."
"I just don't like the idea of us behaving like she does!" Mei Ling insisted from Hsien Ko's brow. "You saw those 'advanced lessons'..."
"I only looked at those out of morbid curiosity!" Hsien Ko insisted defensively. "I was cross-classing, not changing class!"
"Ah did not know ye could do that as a Darkstalker," Anderson mused in surprise.
"Well, as long as you can be discreet," Integra allowed. "Figure out what you're all going to do and tell me when you have a plan. Walter, guide them to the meeting room for their discussion."
"Yes, mum," Walter agreed readily, turning to guide the group.
"Sweetie Belle, was it?" Integra called out as the group left. "Could you wait a bit please?"
"Uh, yes?" Sweetie asked as the door closed behind the group, leaving only her behind.
Integra stepped out from behind her desk to walk over to Sweetie's side. Before Sweetie could react, Integra knelt down and pulled her into a gentle embrace, caressing her mane with one hand. Sweetie blinked in surprise, but quickly relaxed. After a few minutes, Integra released her. "Thanks," she offered warmly. "I...needed that."
"No problem!" Sweetie offered happily. In the embrace, she'd felt the pain Integra held inside her at all times, and was glad she could in some small way make that easier.
"Don't tell anyone I did that," Integra pointed out dryly as she sat back behind her desk. Giggling, Sweetie raced off after everyone else as Integra reached for her cigarette.
that was kind of sweetie, did not expect Integra to do that
Now how fast do we think would Discord, any of them, whip Alucard and Anderson? I doubt level 0 would even slow him down.
Embracing unicorns heals all wounds!
Aww, I never knew Integra had a soft side, so cute
Just keeps getting better and better. Keep it coming, my friend!
8968651
No one must ever know.
8968646 I more think that with Discord being Discord, one of them would just completely remove Alucard's curse and make him mortal again.
Chapter One Hundred Eighty Seven
"Aiyah!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 49
"One More Thing!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 85
So hilarious, this chapter. The last bit was super heartwarming.
8968651
I was about to ask why Sweetie Belle specifically, but did I forget something she did last chapter or is it indeed just the fact that she's a unicorn? I'd buy it.
Still haven't finished watching the series... grrrrr.
Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Seven
"Bad Day"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 44
"I'm not his/your Mistress!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 10
This continues to both please me (a major tfs fan) and exceed expectations. Although, considering Tats usual wok, that's not surprising. Looking forward to more.
Keep up the great work. Deus tecum.
Hmn. So if I am remembering correctly the only people who are unaffected are the ones who were at the center of the original Harmony change, and then the Chan clan eventually all got modified in other ways later on? Makes sense, and maps to what we know in the real world about humans and other homo genus DNA.
darkstalkers................ always the most dangerous & most sexy........why is that??????
I really pity Integra, dealing with those troublemakers on daily basis really build up her stress.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaait a second... Does this mean that Baby Bonnie Hood can theoretically be the darling apprentice of Alexander Anderson?
didn't Scamp there just eat a chunk of you, thought
1. Though.
Figures Anderson would find a way to convince someone to not steal Stonehenge. That story was practically gold at the end of the rainbow.
Figures that Jade was the Chosen One who could easily end the boys spat.
Hugging Unicorns is an Integra part of everyday life.
8968687
To late
Assuming we're talking about Christian Bibles, there really is no reason to think that this "original" text wasn't the proper practice even without said text... heck, in some ways it would be considered too strict, jumping straight to "kill on sight" for those suffering from compulsion. That being said, the last few verses of Revalations are pretty damning of anyone adding or removing from the Bible, so if all else is the same then someone back then is in a lot of hot water... and I'm not talking about a hot tub.
Um Tats I don't think you realized some implications your previous chapters make against Alexander's claim about "pure" humans, and here is only a couple, even if it was never actually stated Tohru would have completed a divine right during the demon scorers arc when he freed his wives-to-be from their sacred duty, and the little fusion he had with AB and Audry would have left him with some divine aliened chi flowing through him, not to mention records Alexander would have been able to dig up would have showed Tohru's mother was magically inclined which would put him in a bloodline with magic, IK chi-magic like Uncle and Tohru use doesn't out right mean magic abilities in the bloodline but it would be hard to separate them as an affinity for magic in the blood would allow someone to be more able to use chi based magic, and thus have chi users more often then not considered magical people like Uncle being a Chi Wizard who has taken on Tohru as an apprentice meaning Tohru would be classified as an apprentice wizard. Now this isn't an arguement against what this chapter states it's just to show how it might confuse some readers
8968965
Anderson was purely talking about how magic would read someone's blood as far as their humanity. Magic would still read Tohru's blood as pure human, since the fusion with Apple Bloom and Audrey in no way is inheritable in effects, and his personal bloodline still derives from the non-magic world.
8968866
THIS. MUST. BE!!!!!
How scared of Jade is Alucard now that he knows she can control him completely
8968996
I figured but with how Alexander's comment had read seemed a little off that might have needed an explanation you or someone could point to instead of being confused, especially if they are used to settings where just the act of using some kind of proper magic made them a magical being
Also "I" is single, "we" is plural. One or the other but not both in the same sentence
8968770
Saw it on PBS. Humans have 2 species of lice (head lice & body lice). Somehow, we got crabs from gorillas & possibly AIDS from monkeys
8969321
Hsien Ko and Mei Ling are a unique case, since the powers are Hsien Ko's but she can only control them with Mei Ling's help.
Or, "Anime makes grammar, among other things, weird."
8968837
Because the character designer behind Morrigan Aenseland also designed all the other female characters, and felt sex sells. Mind you, they were right, but still all the female Darkstalkers are sexy for that reason.
Of course, that's just an observation, not a complaint....
8969328
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=snl+emily+litella+never+mind&&view=detail&mid=9C4FD8329329FF4B17879C4FD8329329FF4B1787&&FORM=VRDGAR
you know i still would love to see queen of the shadow khan jade in this timeline but her being able to order both alucard and anderson is close second. queen jade is best jade.
just once.
Also, that's a pretty long sentence!
I'm glad Integra hugged Sweetie. Now, we have Anderson, Alucard, and Hsien Ko ready to go wild... oh boy. And I will not be surprised if Scamp manages to tag along and help save the day if everyone is captured somehow. I like Hsien Ko learning how to disguise herself from Morrigan... but can Felicia meet the Sirens and all four of them do a cat girl concert?????
In the words of Adam Steiner from BattleTech, "Cross-training is the key to success. Specialization is the key to failure."
Well, and also "Information is ammunition.G"
8968881 I think it's clear which of the CMC Integra feels is best pony.
The grin on my face is threatening to split it in half. This arc is amazing. More please!
As for where Seras and Kitty are… I wonder where Zed has sent them.
One of Anderson's greatest and most lovable powers is his accent. I also love this biblical revision; likely also a result of the normalization wave, but still cool.
reuniting ME with
All this talk of discretion got me thinking. Of all the crossovers this world allows, I suppose Doctor Who would be too much, otherwise perception filters would be a standard part of British agent gear.
8969362
Well there’s also the fact that the big name ones are well known Yokai and demons that use seduction to bring their victims to their demise. Morgan and Lilith are succubi and Felicia is a Nekomata. Which in some circles act the same as most succubi except when their prey take the bait they reveal their true form and gobble them up
So the Enforcers are the last 'true' humans other than Tohru? Should they be put in some kind of breeding program?
Hsi: Time the f*** out. If we’re doing this AND WE ARE DOING THIS, I’m not going to claw DRACULA. I’m fighting ALUCARD!
Drac: You do know that my name spelled-
Hsi: I don’t care; bring him out!
Drac: Very... Alucard: Well... HEY THERE PADRE, HOW’S YOUR MISTRESS?
Jade: I’m not his mistress!
Alucard: DID YOU KNOW THESE CLOTHES ARE DRY CLEAN ONLY? BLOW ME! Did ya miss me?!
Hsi: LIKE A WHITE CHRISTMAS!
Alucard: White like snow or cocaine?
pbs.twimg.com/media/C-tsNHmXYAUBEMy.jpg:large
8968866 OH! MY! GOD! Makes sense to me!
8969137 Probably laugh and take it as a challenge
8969658
The relative effectiveness of cross-training and specialisation varies. Generally, a mixed group of specialists is going to be more effective than the same number of JOATs (jacks of all trades) who've put the same amount of time/energy/AP into training (there are exceptions - once diminishing returns/level caps kick in in a big way, further training in an existing specialisation is going to give less net benefit to the group than cross-training). Of course, if the JOATs get more training, they can get almost as good as pure specialists at any given thing, and the group is then going to be roughly as effective under normal circumstances, and much more flexible. And even at the same level of training, the mixed group of specialists imposes some limitations on how they can be deployed effectively - even an individual JOAT is still a viable unit; an individual specialist is going to be in serious trouble.
Most people accustomed to using knife and fork to eat have specialised their hands - try holding them in the other hands and see how uncomfortable/awkward you find it...
8968687
Or else what? I am morbidly curious what a fuckmothering vampire would do to regular people other than kill them...
8970069
Fair enough.
I'm ambidextrous and can go either wa, for the most part.
8970725
One, the comment concerned people knowing about INTEGRA'S soft nice. Two Alucard claims the SOULS of everyone he kills/those he drinks the blood of. Consider that before wondering "What's the worst he can do? Kill me?".
8970786
(I knew that is was Integra, but we know Alucard has a thing for Integra, and I can’t NOT imagine Alucard as the overprotective type, so there is that.) so if Alucard abosorbs your soul, could he torture with his mind?
8971114
This is Abridged Alucard. He's probably at the very top of Integra's NOBODY MUST EVER KNOW, ESPECIALLY... list.
8971127
Fair enough, but if it were to get out (to a small group of course) he would most likely confirm with Integra and then hunt down anyone who shares it with others.
8971206
You've clearly never seen Abridged...
Edit: This is the version of Alucard that wouldn't simply just laugh if someone else found out. He'd PERSONALLY post it on his stupidly popular Twitter, complete with pictures. Even if he had to fake the pictures. THEN he'd giggle in front of Integra as soon as she checked her own Twitter feed.
Edit 2: Said Twitter
8971216
Eh fair enough. I haven’t watched that series in a while.
8969362
.......................... fare enough.
8971216
I didn't know his twitter was an actual thing! This is incredible!
Also this story keeps getting better and better!