Title: Warrior Goddess Belldandy (revised)
Basis: Ah! My Goddess, Warrior Nun Areala
Protagonist(s): Keiichi, Megumi, Belldandy, Urd, Skuld
Antagonist(s): Marller, Senbei, Welsper
Synopsis: A darker alternate reality to the AMG universe.
Setup: World War III occurred twenty years ago, and the planet is littered with apocalyptic cities and marauding gangs. Rather than being a college student studying technology and skilled with vehicles, Keiichi Morisato is a master craftsman gunsmith skilled in gunplay. Perhaps even more altering: Heaven and Hell are actively at war, long abandoning the 'Doublet System' that prevented open conflict. And like all wars between deities: it's not a conquest of territories, but of souls...


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+++ Author's Rant +++

Why a revision? Much to my surprise, this fanfic generated more attention than I could possibly imagine. I've written quite a few stories in the past, but all of them were generally overlooked or ignored: I expected the same for this. However, as Fate would have it, this was not the case.

I've received piles upon piles of feedback, good and bad, which gave me great incentive to rewrite this story and reshape it into something much greater. The same premise and tone of the tale remains, as does the general flow, but numerous alterations to continuality and context was extensively made.

I hope that supporters of the original Warrior Goddess Belldandy will find this rendition to be more entertaining and worthy of the time spent rereading it. I know I'm having fun writing it.

I would like to extend a huge special thanks to Chrono and Claris Sinclair. You two have shown me how to write on a better level. I also heap thanks to penghibur_syurga, Erik-K, Gostowl, Bell-chan, adam leamey99, and everyone else who's supported me from the beginning. You guys give me more praise than I deserve. :)

Last but certainly not least, for those who still would like to read the original but incomplete version of this story, just download this ZIP of the TXT format chapters:

http://www.elizar.com/iyd/old_amg_fanfic.zip


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+++ Cast of Characters (Updated: 21 October 2002) +++


The Mortals:


Morisato Keiichi
The leading protagonist. Keiichi, like his original reality version, is a low self esteemed young man who fails to see the incredible potential inside him. He is a master craftsman at designing and assembling firearms, and possesses inconceivable aptitude at gun fighting. Keiichi is generally a pacifist, although he has killed in his past - acts which he shows no signs of regretting.

Keiichi's handguns are Keima and Takano; both named after his late parents. The pair is an identical matched set, over-and-under barreled firearm designed by Keiichi himself. The top barrels fire high caliber uranium depleted and/or tungsten shells for superior penetration power. The bottom barrels fire 9mm shells in three or five round bursts. Magazine capacity for each is three and fifteen, respectively.


Morisato Megumi
The younger sister of Keiichi by one year. Megumi is the same cheerful, optimistic woman fans of the original will recognize. Under her brother's supervision, she is weapons craftsman of notable skill and can wield firearms with enviable skill. Though always in the shadow of Keiichi's accomplishments, Megumi truly feared for her proficiency with small bladed weapons and fluid dance-like martial skills.

Megumi carries a single firearm, which is identical to her brother's in every fashion, assembled by her with Keiichi's help. The handgun is unnamed however; or at least that's what she leads people to believe. In combat, Megumi holds the weapon in one hand, and an assorted collection of miniature knives in the other.


Chihiro Fujimi
The retired founder of the Nakomi Gang. Chihiro is currently the proprietor of Whirl Wind: a one part gun shop and one part mercenary hangout. In years past, she founded the Nakomi - arguably the most powerful gang in western Japan. Chihiro is Keiichi's and Megumi's contact to the Nakomi, which provides the siblings with work assignments and survival supplies.


Sakakibara Shiho
A religious mercenary who claims to be a demon hunter. Shiho is one of the most renowned supernatural experts in Japan; a nomadic Catholic nun who offers her services to those who require it, whether they are aware of it or not. Adventure and travel has taught the young maiden that everything is more than it seems, and Shiho is naturally mistrustful of people who startle her curiosity.



The Goddesses:


Belldandy
Goddess of the Present. Belldandy believes the war between Heaven and Hell was a mistake that should have never occurred. Though she is against acts that will escalate the conflict, the goddess follows her orders as any solider would be expected to. Her mysterious past with Keiichi runs deep however, and if there were something that could incontestably sever her loyalties to Kamisama, it would be him.

Belldandy's goddess weapons are Compassion and Mercy. The two angelically decorated swords match one another flawlessly, and reflect the inner and outer beauty of their wielder. Both blades are sentient, but cannot voice, long silenced by the horrors they have committed.


Urd
Goddess of the Past. Half goddess, half demon, Urd is both feared and esteemed in Heaven. Though her allegiance has never been questioned, few peers enjoy company in her presence, and Urd's "the ends justify the means" nature alienates many. She is considered reckless and a hazard to fight alongside, and practically always assigned missions where she's expected to work alone.

Urd's goddess weapon actually is known by two names: Damnation and Salvation. It is identified by which flat of the blade its viewer gazes upon. The side with an exquisite engraving of angels guiding humans into Heaven is called Salvation. The side with a terrifying engraving of devils dragging humans into Hell is called Damnation. The weapon's voice, which speaks in melodic scriptures or chilling epitaphs, matches accordingly.


Skuld
Goddess of the Future. Skuld is a mechanical engineering genius that has shown signs of equal brilliance in battlefield tactics and strategies. For these reasons she is considered too valuable a resource to risk in dangerous field assignments and forever confined to Heaven. It is a situation the young goddess loathes, as it prevents her from knowing the situation of her elder sisters.

Skuld has yet to undergo the trails for a goddess weapon, although her near infinite cache of technological equipment and weaponry more than makeup for this deficiency.


Peorth
Goddess of Forever.



The Demons:


Marller
Demon First Class, Unlimited. Marller is a sadistic, cold-hearted demon with little regard for her brethren or the war against Heaven. All that truly concerns Marller is her standing in the hierarchy of Hell, and how she can advance herself further through it ranks. She is not entirely self-serving however, and possesses a strange sense of honor. Urd and Marller were once the closest of friends in childhood, and have an unspoken pact of respect for each other.

Marller's demon weapon is Agony, a double-edged battleaxe that howls with the voice of every soul it has ever consumed: hundreds upon hundreds. In most cases, Marller and her sentient weapon are in harmony, but there has been more than one situation in which the goals of the pair conflicted, resulting in unpredictable circumstances.


Senbei
Self-proclaimed god of misery and misfortune. The faithful subordinate of Marller, Senbei is wildcard near impossible to assess at face value. His power to alter the laws of probability make him a powerful adversary, and few can withstand the chaos and destruction it leaves in his wake. All that can be expected is that Senbei will be always happy in the end.


Welsper
Demon First Class, Unlimited. One word best describes Welsper: insane. He has no goals or aspirations, no friends or dependable loyalties, and his ties to Hell are out of fear rather than reverence. Welsper enjoys war and murder for the horrors and devastation they usher; nothing else more.

Welsper's demon weapon has long since been lost or destroyed; the details of which only he could know. Interestingly enough, Welsper has never shown signs of disappoint or care of this matter.



Others (cameo appearances):


Hasegawa Sora
A key memeber of the Nakomi Gang.


Chrono
Youngest junior goddesses in the service of Peorth.


Era
Second eldest junior goddesses in the service of Peorth.


Ex
Eldest junior goddesses in the service of Peorth.


Yuki Gomorrah
A religious mercenary who claims to be a demon hunter.


Osawa
Shotgun wielding mercenary.


Kakuta
Revolver wielding mercenary.


Morou
Uzi wielding mercenary.


Hellspawn Yoshino
Male half of the mercenary group, S&M Club.


Red-Haired Nakano
Female half of the mercenary group, S&M Club.


Tamiya and Ootaki
The leadership of the Nakomi Gang.


Aoshima Toshiyuki
The leader and founder of the largest rival to the Nakomi Gang: the Aoshima Family.


Mishima Sayoko
Cousin and trusted advisor to Aoshima Toshiyuki.



[ end of introduction notes ]