Brian Welch wrote:

Just used most of the grammar comments.

MATRIX SPOILER WARNING!

I know this disclaimer is probably unnecessary, but just to be on the
safe side.

I probably should have included it since some haven't seen Reloaded yet and
it does give away some of those secrets.

Keiichi stared at his now unblemished cheek. "You didn't even
chant."

Is this manga or OAV/movie continuity?

actually I thought the movie had more to do with the manga.  Sides, the
Movie kicked ass. ^_^

 In the manga Urd once blew up

the bathroom once with Keiichi in it and Belldandy had to heal
multiple shrapnel wounds. In those days, Bell-chan healed them by
kissing the wounds. ^_^

In any case, it's unlikely that Keiichi has gone this long without
some kind of injury for Belldandy to heal. Of course, he'd still
blush like it was the first time, because he's Keiichi.

True. I had forgotten about it. What I wanted was a 'sappy scene' for them
to gush over and set the tone.

"Thanks," Keiichi said, caught up in the moment of just how radiant
Belldandy could be when doing any task.

Awkward sentence, but a nice sentiment.

It is awkward. Will revise.

Skuld holstered her bomb in a pouch at her waist. "I need to go

She doesn't have a pouch. She reaches her hand down the neck of her
blouse and pulls out a bomb, or a dozen of them if need be. She must
be bringing them out of hyperspace, since she certainly doesn't have
anywhere in there to hide them. ^_^;

Will change.

back home
and check on run some programs on Yggrdrsial," she explained. "I

Either "check on" or "run some", not both.
Also, it's Yggdrasil.

Blech. I knew one slipped by in the initial spell check.

matter of

graduating and acquiring a job he could make a living at before
they could
take that step. Curiously, he felt no rush or panic at proposing. A
touch of
anxiousness, perhaps, but that was it.

Manga Keiichi is a little angsty about it (as angsty as Keiichi ever
gets, anyway), but this works as well.

And to show he's getting more relaxed about the idea with age and time spent
together. Setting his thoughts about Bell here helps set the tone for later.

the point of which he was left wondering if he had imagined the
they always did. They had fended off everything, from Mara's
shenanigans, to
The Lord of Nightmares, to Celestine's Apocalyptic designs. When

"Lord of Terror".

Oops. Forgot the correct name.

Urd's mom, Hild, is the Lord of Nightmares. ^_-

Haven't made it that far yet. Just finished the Childhood's End TPB

I don't think Apocalyptic needs to be capitalized.

Possibly not, but i think it looks more impressive capped. :)

You're also mixing manga with movie canon, but that's OK.

Well, movie did have Chihiro, Peorth, etc in it, manga only characters, and
seemed heavy manga influenced on that end.

Especially

since it's a crossover and you'll probably have to bend canon a bit
anyway.

Oh yes. I most certainly am. :)

was
always something to be proud of; Belldandy had shown him that,
among the
other thousands of lesson she incidentally taught him with her
approach to
life.

Keiichi is a good student, but what engineering major doesn't worry
about exams? Especially at a leading university like Nekomi Tech.

Yep. My thinking as well.

Keiichi pulled up to a red light, noting that he was next to a
large city
bus that he was just ahead of.

Is he next to it or ahead of it?

Both. I have to reword it.

A loud horn blew behind him. Realizing that the reason the bus had

pulled
out because the light had turned green, and that he remained in the
middle
of the street, blocking traffic behind him, Keiichi  quickly pulled
forward.

Maybe it could be another car behind him? The bus has already passed
him.

It is a car behind him. Actually any vehicle will do.

dinner
sometime. He had no fears that Belldandy would be jealous at his
inviting a
good-looking girl over, and would probably be delighted in helping
to
alleviate her solitude. That bond of trust between them made him
realize
just how lucky he was.

Hehe. So he thinks. I suppose in this continuity the Shiho Sakakibara
incident and Belldandy's resulting jealousy storm are still in the
future? Of course, in that instance Belldandy insisted that Shiho
come over and Keiichi never dreamed his girl would have a problem
with it. Belldandy's reaction caught them both by surprise. A similar
thing happened in the movie with Morgan.

Ack. Good point. Will have Keiichi make a mental note of 'as long as Tomo
didn't try to get too cozy with him' in there.

The man bowed slightly. "I'm sorry. Where are my manners? My name
is Neo,
and I've come to help you."

OK, I wasn't expecting that. Was there a Matrix disclaimer at the
beginning, or was it intentionally left out for the shock factor?

Shock factor. If I tipped it early on, people might have guessed what
direction it was going to take from the start.

Neo seemed slightly taken aback by both the gesture and comment. He
was
bordering muttered something under his breath about 'Morpheus
making it look
easy'.

Ah, so this is pre-"Matrix Reloaded" Neo.

Yes, but as I mention at the end, I play fast and loose with some details of
the Matrix, like Neo already believing the Oracle is a program rather than a
person. It's conceivable he suspected it, and the suspicion was confirmed
since Bell feels like the Oracle (they're both now rogue programs, though
the Architect doesn't realize how independent of the Matrix's directives
Bell is since she doesn't act all that independent from it.)

EDIT: Well, later on it's apparent that this is post "Martix
Reloaded." However, in the beginning of Reloaded it's mentioned that
Neo has rescued more people from The Matrix than anyone else. It's a
funny line, but Morpheus doesn't really have anything on Neo, here.

And who says Morpheus still doesn't seem smoother than Neo when he pulls
people out? Neo might be get greater numbers, but Morpheus does it with
better style. :)

this," he
waved his hand through the air. "Is an illusion. It's the most
complex
computer program ever developed."

Keiichi laughed. "Oh, heck. I already know about all that."

Hehe. I *was* expecting that. Nice turn of the tables.

Yep. They do play with similar base concepts, which was where I got the idea
for this.

much Neo really knew. Obviously, he was ignorant in some areas, and
it might
not be a good idea to give him accurate information until he made
certain
his interests were benign.

Hehe, better and better.

Well, Keiichi knows enough of the truth to believe he knows almost all of
it.

one, one
based on reality, not an intricate computer program that's designed
to
pacify you while you fuel the computer system that runs
everything."

Neo: So which will it be, the red pill, or the blue pill?
Keiichi (looking dubious): Um, did Urd make those?

Heh. Cute.

Belldandy emerged a moment later from the mirror, her attention
riveted upon
Keiichi. She immediately placed herself between him and Neo. "Thank
goodness! I almost didn't sense him in time."

Why the rush? He hasn't even been offered the pill, yet. Belldandy
has plenty of time to intervene.

Neo is far more powerful than Morpheus, and can do things in the Matrix
Morpheus can never hope to. I think it's conceivable Neo could forgo the
need of a 'pill' and simply pull someone out with their consent.

"What's going on?" Keiichi asked.

Belldandy appeared on the verge of tears. "He's an evil person,
Keiichi! The
worst of the worst! He wants to take you away from me forever!
Whatever you
do, you mustn't listen to him and you mustn't go anywhere with him!
If you
do, we'll never see each other again!"

Belldandy has faced losing Keiichi several times, but she's never
acted like this. She's always said she would stay by his side as long
as he wanted her, but the implication has always been that the choice
is his.

But he would ultimately still be a part of the Matrix, and in a way she'd
still be connected to him. Leave the Matrix, and he's beyond her grasp
unless he reenters it, so it is panic on her part. Also there's her
programming in dealing with renegade humans, who are considered the most
dangerous beings in the Matrix's existance.

Now, I can see her acting something like this if she thought Neo was
going to force the issue with Keiichi, but how can Neo force Keiichi
to leave the Matrix? He might try very hard to persuade him, but he
doesn't have the power or the morals to summarily eject somebody.

As to the former, we don't know that. Neo can do a lot in there and I can
conceive him possibly being able to do it forcefully. As to the latter,
while we as the watcher/reader know Neo's moral code and ethics would almost
certianly mean he wouldn't try forcing someone out, however the
Matrix/Architect would not be privy to those inner workings, and that is the
POV which Bell would be using. Moreover she has been programmed to recognize
Neo and renegade humans (ala Morpheus, Trinity, etc) as the most dangerous
and hostile beings in existance. Ultimately all the battles from A!MG were
Matrix created issues, which the A!MG program was supposed to execute to
draw K1 and Bell together. Neo is from outside the program, and far more
dangerous since his ultimate goal is the destruction of the Matrix. Bell is
acting out one of her prime directives (and what she truly wants in keeping
Keiichi with her) in preventing Neo from taking Keiichi away, even if it
means using force.

Keiichi has to still take the pill, even if Neo pushes it down his
throat - which I can't see him doing.

I can see Belldandy blocking Neo and telling him that she won't let
him take Keiichi away from her, but I think Belldandy's actions are a
little overblown. The dialogue, with the exception of "The worst of
the worst!" is OK, though.

Will cut 'worst' bit, it is overblown. And as I said, she's been programmed
to recognize Neo as the most dangerous and initially reacts accordingly
(reader has to assume that since the story is from Keiichi's POV and he
isn't privy to the information). Once it becomes obvious he won't take
Keiichi away, she slips into her normal 'Bell Contaminated by Keiichi's
Love' mode, and goes so far as to agree to not interfere with Neo from now
on.

Never had Keiichi seen Belldandy in such an out of control state.
She could
be emotional at times, but never like this, with hatred directed at
any
person, and fear for Keiichi's own well being. He barely recognized
her.

That makes two of us.

Neo is a threat of a different kind from any they faced before. So she
reacted differently.

He released himself by opening a side of the sphere, but that
wasn't enough.
His love was still falling, and the way things were designed, the
ones and
zeros of the 'ground' and 'falling Belldandy' would cause damage,
perhaps
irreparable, to the latter.

There's nothing wrong with this scene, since it's likely Keiichi
doesn't know how durable goddesses are. However, as a point of canon,
Urd has taken a magical punch, including just such a ground impact,
and it hardly fazed her. Belldandy can shrug off an impact like this
with impunity. Canonically, physical attacks like Neo uses can throw
a goddess around, but they won't do any real damage.

True, most likely like his battles with Agents go. Bell's power level is a
bit low since Holy Bell was severed and she used much of her personal energy
in the ineffectual circle attack. So she wouldn't be so quick to bounce
back.

It was similar to Belldandy's slashes with the air, somehow even
then
Keiichi had sensed subconsciously how she was doing it. Only
Keiichi dulled
the steam, and made it wider.

Steam? I don't follow.

should be stream, (of air) and he made it flat rather than sharp (like the
air blades) so they pushed Neo rather than cutting him

There was no small amount of awe in Neo's voice as he said, "Now I
understand why you felt so odd, and why the Matrix has shown such
interest
in you. You're like me. You can control everything too. This should
be
impossible. The Oracle said I was 'The One'."

Oracle: Yes, and Keiichi is "The Other One". I thought you would have
learned by now not to take anything I say at face value. Here, have a
cookie. You'll feel better.

Heh. Could be. Always good to have a back up plan. Or it could be a glitch
and two 'The One's were created.

Neo shook his head. "You can't. In the beginning, I might not have
been able
to sense what you really were, but I know for a fact she's just a
program. I
can't rescue her from the Matrix. This is her only reality. She
can't exist
outside of here the way you can."

Hehe. So he still thinks she's like an Agent.

She is a bit like them in being a powerful program.

The Oracle can exist

outside of the Matrix, just like other powerful AI's such as The Key
Maker, The Merovingian and The Architect. How else do they survive
from one Matrix to another?

Well, I assume it's all one connected Matrix with it simply much of it being
in different 'areas' of a vast network.Although I am no Matrix fanatic and
could be wrong. You can ultimately assign it to not being Matrix 'canon'
which I admit to in the end.

"Fair enough," Keiichi said, again somehow sensing the truth and
determination in Neo's voice. No, he would not be a good man to
anger. Not
at all.

Not that Keiichi would hesitate to do so if it was necessary to help
those he loves. He's faced down Hild, and she's a lot scarier than
Neo.

Oh, of course he would. Just that they would both be determined, powerful
people, and each wisely acknolwedges a fight would not be good for either of
them.

Belldandy smiled in return. It was as beatific as Keiichi had ever
seen.
"I'd like that every much."

OK, now we're back to Belldandy. ^_^

Yep. Keiichi is more important to her than any silly programming. If Keiichi
can get along with the One, then Bell can too. :)

anything the Matrix had done, but it was the idea that something so
unthinkable could occur. The Belldandy Program was no rogue, but a
specifically designed model. Such a flaw was theoretically so
remote as to
be impossible.

The Oracle all over again. This guy never learns, does he?

Could be a design flaw with his program. It would explain why he keeps
making the same mistakes over and over again. :)

the

wants of a human within the Matrix over the Matrix itself, the
program could
be quickly purged and deleted before it contaminated the rest of
the Matrix.

Sure. Every AI allows itself to be terminated even if it doesn't want
to be. A completely stupid assumption, but given the hubris The
Architect displayed, believable coming from him.

Well, he believes the safeguards in place could terminate Bell easily (he
has taken that precaution if things don't go the way he thinks they will).
There's only one flaw with his plan, which he knows about but believes is
inapplicable. As chaos theory demands, it's just cropped up. :)

All of the tests agreed on that conclusively. The only way the Oh
My Goddess
program could escape the multitude of anti-virus safeguards that
would be
placed around it was if The One himself was at the center of the
program.
And that was impossible since The One had already been identified
and
disconnected himself from the Matrix.

So, is Keiichi a product of The Oracle like The One is? How does The
Architect not know about him? Curiouser and curioser.

That is intentionally left vague, and not really important to the story
being told. It could be the Architect is simply seeing what he wants to see.

Canon with the events of the Matrix Reloaded? Nah. It's just an
alternate
look at what could happen with revolution ending and the Prophecy
being
fulfilled.

Ah, so you did leave the Matrix disclaimer to the end!

Putting it at the start would ruin the surprise. :)

Given the fact that The Oracle has been shown to be manipulating both
Neo and Morpheus to her own ends (even if those ends are ones Neo and
Morpheus might agree with) I don't see how there can't be another
"The One" or something similar, even in Martix canon. The Oracle says
what she wants to say, and if the receiver gets the wrong impression,
she seems just fine with it - as long as the receiver does what she
wants done.

Yep. It is very conceivable, methinks.

One last point. Goddesses in AMG manipulate reality as Neo does. They
don't do it instinctively as he does, but when they do something as
simple as levetating a rock they aren't exerting a force themselves.
Instead, they're writing a program to warp reality around the rock,
removing gravity from that area, applying a force, etc. The
difference between them and Neo is that Neo doesn't have to write a
program to manipulate the data. On the other hand, he can't warp
reality on a grand scale the way Belldandy can. So, their powers are
similar but different in terms of speed (Neo's advantage) and scale
(Belldandy's advantage).

This is an interesting AMG/Matrix story, by far the best I've read.
Looking forward to more!

Sorry. This was a one shot. No more A!MG/Matrix xovers anymore. Just an idea
I thought would be appropriate since there were similar concepts to the two
series with reality being run by a computer and all. I simply left it open
ended (though pointed in a certain direction which implies true love will
conquor all) and am content to let the readers but the exact details to the
ending in their minds.

Thanks a lot for the extensive C+C. it was very helpful.

DB Sommer

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