Author's Note
Who Hoo! Only 4 chapters in, and already this story has gotten exactly 600 views (what are the odds?) and 11 reviews. Thank you so much to all the readers who have read and reviewed this story. You all have given me some great tips and insight into this, and hopefully things will smoothen out the further we get into the story. If you haven't noticed already, I like to have a bunch of side events and dialogue along with the main story elements, and I can't really do much of it now since the story is just taking off. Hopefully however, once we get into the Plegian war, some cool and interesting sub plots and ideas made by both myself, and also you readers will be able to take flight.
On another note, this is the first chapter that uses the support conversations from the game. They won't be word for word, and most of them won't even take place in the same premise as most of the in game ones, but rest assured a lot of them will be in this story. And rightfully so, since it's one of the major highlights of the game.
Also, a few of you have had some concerns over who Robin is going to eventually get paired up with. I'm not giving away that information (unless you REALLY bother me about it), but I will say that it will not, I repeat NOT be the quote on quote "mainstream" pairings such as Lucina, Cordelia, Tharja, Tiki, etc. So if you were only reading for Robin to be paired with one of the above characters, sorry but you're out of luck. I want to go do something unexpected and fresh to make this story to stand out from a lot of the other ones. But one thing at a time of course. Let's continue on with Chapter 4.
What...where...where am I?
Where you are willed to be.
What? Who are you? I can't see anything...it's all black.
HAHAHA, that is a color you will soon grow to fall in love with.
Am I dead? Or having some sort of vision? And who the hell are you?!
HAHAHA...young fool. 'who am I?'. You would do better to ask yourself that question.
Look, I don't know who or what you are, but if you don't get out of my head right now I'l-
You'll What? Destroy me? There is so much you have let to learn.
If that's so, then just show me then.
All things in time. And that's all it will be Robin, a matter of time...
What? How do you know my name? Answer me damn you! Ahhh...
Slowly and reluctantly, Robin opened up his eyes to glimmering light in the sky above him. It was daybreak; the sky slowly giving away the darkness of night, and succumbing to the glowing brightness of the sun in a war for light within the clouds.
What the hell WAS that? Robin thought to himself.
Was that some sort of dream, or nightmare, or...something?
Robin immediately noticed that not only was he faced up towards the sky, but he was also moving.
Where am I now?
Robin tried to get up, but then noticed that his hands and legs had been hog tied down to the end of a horse.
Frederick's horse... Robin thought, judging by the armor.
We must be on our way to Ylisse's capitol. Well, better tell the guys I'm awake.
"Hey, guys! I'm awake!" Robin shouted over the trodding of Frederick's horse to the rest of the Shepherds.
"Frederick, stop your horse." Robin heard Chrom call out to Frederick and then felt the abrupt jolt as the horse stopped on Frederick's command.
"Ah, so he is finally up." Frederick said in a relaxed voice while looking back at Robin.
"Here, I'll get you down from there." Chrom said, walking up alongside Frederick's steed and pulling Robin down from off of it.
"Is there any particular reason I was tied up?" Robin asked as Chrom unfastened the straps around Robin's hands and feet.
"Yes believe it or not." Chrom said seriously. "Do you not remember the outburst of magic you had last night which knocked you out cold?"
Doing his best to think back, Robin scratched the back of his head, thinking out loud.
"Hmm..wait yes! Yes I do! Back at the fort!" Robin exclaimed as the memory returned to him.
Well, at least my short term memory still works fine. Robin thought while speaking.
"I felt some sort of weird and foreign energy consume me," Robin continued on.
"As if I wasn't even the one who caused the attack."
"Let me take a look at that spell book of yours." Lissa cut in while walking up daintily to the group.
Robin handed her the book, and at once the girl skimmed through it's pages while studying the various spells inside.
"This is only a beginner's lightning spell book." Lissa said, looking up from the book with a look of serious concern on her face.
"The most powerful attack you can release from this spell book is Elthunder. And the attack you made last night looked to be some really amped up version of Thoron."
"Thoron? What's that." Robin asked thoughtfully while looking at the blonde girl.
"It's an ancient and very powerful lightning attack. Only the best mages know how to properly use it. But what you unleashed made Thoron seem like nothing."
"Wow, I thought you were only a healer. I didn't know you knew so much about the magical arts." Robin replied to Lissa.
"Well healing is what I'm best at." Lissa replied honestly. "But I did learn a lot about magic in my studies to become a professional healer. The two talents usually go hand in hand. But for now, I've only mastered one."
"It's ok sis, I bet you'll get it down some day." Chrom joined in while putting a hand on his sister's shoulder.
"But if what I used was that powerful," Robin said, returning to the subject at hand.
"then in my life before meet you guys, I must have been some sort of powerful mage."
"We thought as much as we dragged you along last night." Chrom replied.
"But clearly, you did not seem to be in control when you unleashed the attack." he continued.
"What exactly triggered the attack anyway?" Chrom asked.
"Hmm, I remember rage being a part of it." Robin replied, thinking back to the previous night.
"But what was the rage towards?" Robin asked himself out loud.
"It was towards...towards...him!" Robin thought in a flash while pointing a finger at the silver blue haired man known as Virion. The man was off in the background while leaning on the horse that belonged to Sully while keenly listening to the conversation. But now all eyes were on him.
"Ah, my dear fellow," Virion replied to the outlash in a very calm and melodic tone.
"Most matters of dire import do seems to always go back to me in one way or another."
"What were you doing back there last night?" Robin asked in a slightly angry tone as Virion walked up to properly address Robin.
"Only proclaiming my presence to the heroes in distress so that I may come to a quick and majestic rescue. A most noble endeavor, wouldn't you agree?"
"It seemed more so like you were just flirting with her." Robin said with a frown while pointing to Sully, who was still sitting atop her horse looking down at the conversation below.
"Ah, but that is only but part of proclaiming my noble presence dear boy." Virion said, still keeping a very calm and collected way about him.
"It is only natural for a person of my ilk to express his feelings of noble love to the fair maidens of the land. Tis' would be a disgrace to do any less."
"Flirting to people is one thing, but doing it in the middle of a BATTLE?" Robin said, growing impatient with the man.
"Ah, yes, but the battle was won was it not? And even without my noble assistance. That goes to prove your skill on the field of battle good sir, and for that you have my genuine respect."
"Alright, whatever. I don't care. Water under the bridge. It's all making my head hurt anyway." Robin said with a sigh.
"Despite his overly 'noble' bearings, Virion is a very skilled and capable soldier." Chrom said with a smile. "I'm sure you two will get along just fine with time."
Growing serious again, Robin asked for his spell book back from Lissa, and looked through it again.
"What if I can't control things like this from happening?" Robin asked the group while still staring down at the book.
"What if an outburst like last night happens again? And worse yet, what if I can't control whether or not it's pointed at an enemy?"
"Maybe you should take a break from magic for a while." Chrom said, looking Robin straight in the eye.
"It's obvious to everyone that you have great skill with the art, but maybe like Lissa you just haven't mastered it yet. Things like that take a long time to get properly under control. And who knows who longs it been since you used magic in whatever life you lived before meeting us."
"Maybe you're right Chrom..." Robin said solemnly.
"You showed us that you carry a sword as well. How about using that for the time being until you think you're ready to try out magic again."
"Ok fair enough." Robin said while putting his spell book back in his coat pocket.
"It's ok Robin," Lissa chimed in, trying to cheer the man up.
"Maybe now we can both practice and learn together."
"Haha, yeah, I guess we can." Robin said with a smile.
"Hey, is that Ylisstol?" Lissa said turning around to face the open road ahead.
Robin squinted to see where the girl was pointing.
"Yep, that's it." Chrom said, barely making out the tallest buildings off in the distance.
"It may seem small now, but it's about to get a whole lot bigger."
"Well, what the hell are we waiting for then?" Sully joined in out of nowhere while pointing her horse back towards the open road.
"You think you'll be able to walk the rest of the way?" Chrom asked Robin.
"Yeah, I think I'll manage." Robin said, while beginning the final march to Ylisstol.
Taking up the rear in the group, Robin decided to take the opportunity to get to know some of the Shepherds better.
Hmm, let's see.. Robin thought while looking around the group.
Virion is busy flirting with Sully again, figures. Chrom is telling Lissa something, but I can't seem to make out what. Either way, they're both occupied. I guess that only leaves Frederick then...also figures.
"Hey Frederick," Robin began while picking up some pace to keep up with Frederick's horse.
"Yes Robin?" Frederick said causally.
"Hey, I know we got off to kind of a rough start, but I want you to know I would like to become your friend as well." Robin said, making sure to choose his words carefully.
"It is quite alright Robin." Frederick said, looking down to make eye contact with him.
"If anything, it is me who should be apologizing. Especially for the, erm...flesh wound."
"It's alright, it only bruised a little." Robin said shrugging.
"And I'm the one who started it anyway."
"A true statement." Frederick said, breaking his first real smile towards Robin; the only thing Robin ever wanted from the man since he first met him.
"Well, having an apologizing war isn't the real reason I wanted to talk to you." Robin said, while internally sighing a breath of relief that he was able to break the ice.
"You and Chrom seem to be pretty close right?"
"Yes," Frederick said in a proud manner.
"He is milord and my protectorate. But more than that he is my friend who I would give my life for."
"Well, that's just the thing a wanted to ask..." Robin said, growing serious.
"From what I've seen of you and Chrom so far, you two seem to be at odds with each other. And since I assumed that you guys were pretty close, it all seemed kinda out of place, so I was wondering why."
Frederick sighed, taking in a deep breath before staring at Robin.
"Well, that would be because of you Robin." Frederick said, trying to be as emotionless as possible.
"Because of me?" Robin asked perplexed.
"Yes, and it was the chief cause of my dislikement for you. You see Robin, as you said, milord and I are very close, and we rarely disagree on anything. So it put me through a loop when we disagreed over you. I failed to see why Chrom was so trusting of you, and still fail to see it now. But more than that, he wouldn't listen to reason. And that is something that milord is definitely not known for."
"I see..." Robin said, taking in what Frederick was saying. "I'm sorry if I caused a breach between you two."
"But as I was saying," Frederick continued on, ignoring Robin's apology.
"It is like milord trusts you more than myself. And I've known milord for years while you for less than even one day. I've never seen milord become so stubborn and hard headed, and I blamed you for being the cause of milord's lack in judgment and character."
"But you don't blame me now?" Robin asked.
"No, I still do." Frederick continued while still staring Robin in the face and riding along on his horse.
"But I talked about this very issue to milord last night while you were unconsciousness. He said he felt some sort of foreign bond with you that he had never felt with any other man before. As if he KNEW that you would be trust worthy and become his friend. And he got very irritated with me when I felt otherwise. I don't feel whatever invisible bond that milord feels with you. But after our discussion last night, I have decided to give you the benefit of the doubt until you give me a reason to do otherwise."
"Thank you Frederick." Robin said while smiling up at the knight in armor.
Frederick broke his stare with Robin, and looked out to the approaching city.
"And Robin..." Frederick said, while still staring out into the distance.
"If you do decide to join us...you will make a fine Shepherd."
Robin smiled at Frederick's statement and sinked back to the rear of the group again.
You know, Frederick's a pretty alright guy. Robin thought while smiling.
"Hey Frederick!" Chrom called back to the knight, noticed that he was finished talking with Robin.
"Do you think we'll see that strange masked man again in Ylisstol?"
"Ah, I saw him earlier milord." Frederick called back. "Did I not tell you?"
"No, you didn't." Chrom said. "I think you were too caught up in our discussion from earlier.
"Ah, my apologies milord," Frederick said. "Yes, I saw the masked man as I was scouting out the road ahead before daybreak. He was off to the side of the road looking at the grass, flowers, and various other fauna. It is as if he had never seen fertile plant life before..."
"Hmm." Chrom said. "Did you talk to him?"
"Indeed so." Frederick said. "And I was able to get his name as well. He told me his name was Marth."
"Marth?" Chrom repeated in wonder. "You mean like the ancient hero-king?"
"Just so milord. He told me his name and nary another word as he went deeper into the forest again."
"So we probably won't be seeing this 'Marth' at Ylisstol then." Chrom said, facing the road again and continuing their march.
Finally, the group made it to the capitol of Ylisse, and Chrom took no time in showing Robin around.
"I'm heading up to the barracks." Sully said with an almost bored look on her face. "Don't follow me Ruffles." she said, glaring back at Virion who was doing everything in his power to get close to the woman."
Sully walked off, and Virion "noblily" walked a safe distance away from Sully while still following her to the barracks.
"Wow, so this is the capitol of Ylisse..." Robin said, mouth agape. "What a beautiful city."
The city was gleaming with tall bright buildings reaching up to the blue sky above it; most of them surrounded by smaller houses and buildings such as houses and markets, and the streets were abuzz with townsfolk. There was a certain peacefulness to the city; a certain charm to it.
"Yes, that it is." Chrom said warmly. Taking a look around the group though, Chrom asked, "Wait, where did Lissa run off to?"
"Ta-daa!" Lissa exclaimed, holding up a big bag of shiny red apples. "I bought these babies at a town market. They're so fresh and ripe. Anyone care to try one?"
"Sure I'll take one." Robin said, holding out a hand for Lissa to give him an apple.
"I'll take one too, thank you sis." Chrom agreed as well.
Holding up the fresh apple, Robin closed his eyes and took a bite of it, taking in the flavorful sensations. It then hit Robin that this was the first food he had ever tasted; or at least the first food he ever remembered tasting.
"Wow, this is so good!" Robin said, beaming with delight while taking another bite.
"Ylisstol's market places are along the finest in the realm." Chrom said while taking a bite of his apple.
"I'm glad you like it Robin!" Lissa said with a wide smile across her face.
Taking in the sights again, Robin suddenly noticed a group of what he assumed to be Ylissian militia walking through the city's streets, while escorting what seemed to be some sort of woman. Robin couldn't make out her appearance from where he was standing.
"What's going on over there?" Robin asked while pointing over to the militia.
"Ah, there goes Ylisse's royal guard." Frederick said, while walking up to the trio from the local blacksmith shop.
"Hey look, it's Emmeryn!" Lissa exclaimed, pointing to the woman the royal guards were escorting.
"Yeah, so it is." Chrom said with a smile while finishing off his apple.
"Emmeryn?" Robin asked. "Who's that?'
"Emmeryn is our nation's leader and exalt," Chrom said jubilantly. "She's the single handed reason Ylisse has held it's peace with Plegia for as long as it has. She's the embodiment of peace."
"Yeah, and she's also the best big sister anyone could ever hope for!" Lissa said in a bubbly fashion like her normal self.
"Haha, yeah I bet she is...wait." Robin said trailing off, Lissa's words sinking in to him.
"The Exalt is your...sister? But then wouldn't that make both you and Chrom..."
"The prince and princess of Ylisse?" Frederick said, finishing Robin train of thought.
"Indeed so Robin. How did you remember milord's name but not that?"
"Chrom..I-I mean LORD Chrom!" Robin said, suddenly feeling very ashamed of himself for his loose conduct he had made with them up to this point.
"Haha, just Chrom suits me fine." Chrom said, brushing off Robin's statement.
"But you guys...you guys said you were SHEPHERDS!" Robin said, still baffled.
"That we are," Chrom said with a grin. "We just have a lot more sheep than you realize."
"Wow..." Robin said, taking all of it in.
"So you and Lissa are the Prince and Princess of Ylisse huh? Heh, no wonder Frederick has to take all of your teasing."
"Quite true." Frederick said, practically unable to fathom the meaning of a joke.
"Oh the sacrifices I make for the good of the realm."
"Oh come on Frederick ol' buddy! Lighten up." Chrom said, giving Frederick and friendly punch in the shoulder and then immediately regretting his decision.
"OWW! Damn, I need to learn to stop doing that." Chrom said while shaking away the pain in his right hand.
"It seems the exalt is going back to her quarters in the capitol building." Frederick said while looking at the direction the exalt and her guard were heading."
"Hey, lets go meet up with her and introduce her to Robin!" Lissa said brightly.
"Alright, sounds good." Chrom said. "Want to go meet my other sister Robin?"
"Yeah, sounds like fun." Robin said gleefully while walking along with the trio to the capitol building.
Maybe being a Shepherd wouldn't be that bad of a thing.
"Frederick, Lissa, go up ahead and wait for us at the capitol building." Chrom said, waving for them to move up ahead. "I want to talk to Robin for a little bit."
"If you think it wise Milord." Frederick nodded while riding off ahead with Lissa. Chrom and Robin trailed a noticeable distance behind them, blending into the busy city streets.
"So..." Chrom began, while looking over to a still amazed Robin as the man kept scanning the city.
"Yeah?" Robin asked, coming to his senses to listen to Chrom.
"It's about Frederick." Chrom said, his cheeriness from earlier immediately fading.
"I'm sorry he's been pretty harsh with you recently. I don't know why we disagreed so heavily over you. We hardly ever disagree on anything..."
Talk about Deja Vu...
Continuing from where he trailed off, Chrom said,
"You've probably put the pieces together by now, but Frederick and I are pretty close, we've known each other for a very long time. Still, I know he's pretty strict with getting close to strangers, but I've never seen him act that rashly before. I'm sorry Robin."
"It's alright, I already talked to him about it on the way here." Robin said, staring at Chrom.
"We've made up, and we have put it all behind us. Me and Frederick are cool now."
"What? Really?" Chrom asked, shocked.
"I assumed the topic of the conversation you two had earlier, but definitely not the outcome! What exactly did he tell you?"
"Well," Robin began. "He pretty much told me the same thing you just told me, only in reverse. He talked about how you two are close friends, and that it baffled him that you were so trusting of me out of nowhere."
Taking a breath, Robin added, "And on that note..."
"Yes Robin?" Chrom asked, taking in what the man had said.
"Why have you been so trusting of me?" Robin asked seriously. "I mean, Naga knows I've done nothing to deserve your trust."
"Of course you've done something." Chrom said, his smile returning. "You helped to save a village being attacked by bandits. And you didn't even know those people. Yet you helped to save their lives. And you single handedly saved us all from a group of those deathly creatures back in the forest."
"To the first, being the good guy is just kinda in my nature I guess. I don't have any evil thoughts."
At least I don't while I'm conscious anyway...
"And to the second, that attack that saved us wasn't even caused by me if we're being honest. I had no control over that. And even then, you were trusting of me before I even did any of that. You just found me out of nowhere and CHOOSE to help me. ...Why did you do that?"
"Why?" Chrom asked, honestly thinking of a legitimate response. "Well, I guess that that's just in my nature as well."
"What do you mean?" Robin asked.
"I have a desire to help people who cannot help themselves." Chrom said honestly."If it's in my power to help someone, I will."
"That's a noble cause for sure," Robin began. "But that's also a very risky and potentially dangerous thing. What if Frederick was right and I was some sort of spy? I could have killed you right then and there. Or at the very least escape and tell my commanders about your whereabouts. Nobility and Longevity don't always go hand-in-hand Chrom."
"Haha, but that's why I have Frederick around." Chrom said, shrugging Robin's concerns off.
"Maybe so, but still..." Robin protested.
"Robin, enough." Chrom said firmly. "I've heard your concerns, and I know that you're heart is in the right place. But it's just who I am. If I found another man face down in a middle of a field this very minute, I would do the same thing again. Besides, what If I hadn't of helped you?"
"I know, and I greatly appreciate what you did." Robin said. "But I just don't want you to get stabbed in the back."
"Haha, you know, you sound just like Frederick." Chrom laughed, giving Robin a friendly slap on the back as they walked along.
I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or an insult...
"And on top of that..." Chrom began, growing seriously yet again. "There's something about you Robin."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I feel like there's sort of foreign bond that I feel with you. I've never felt this way before with anyone. Not even with my own sisters. It's not a family bond, it's more so like a bond of great friendship. It's like I feel that you will become my best friend, and I don't know why. You said you remembered my name right? Hell, you remembered my name before you could even remember yours. Maybe you know what I'm talking about."
"I..I think I kinda do." Robin said, running a hand through his messy white hair. "I feel like I've met you before in my previous life...I know that's crazy since you've never met me before, but I still feel it."
Coming to a complete stop and starting at Robin blankly, Chrom paused for a long moment before bursting out laughing.
"You know what? Maybe we're both crazy." Chrom laughed. "But whatever the case, I'm glad I met you Robin."
"The feeling's mutual." Robin smiled back.
Finally walking in to the capitol building and into the throne room, Chrom and Robin made their way next to Frederick and Lissa to greet the exalt known as Emmeryn.
The exalt was seated upon her throne with a female royal guard at her side. The guard had a welcoming smile on her face as the Shepherds walked in. However the guard's smiled paled in comparison the one on the exalt's face; her face beaming with delight as the quartet entered the throne room.
Robin was able to get a better look at the exalt as he walked in the throne room with Chrom. Emmeryn was wearing a greenish yellow robe which was perfectly matched with the yellow outfit beneath it. Emmeryn had bright blonde hair exactly like Lissa, however her hair was in long locks on both sides of her head, the hair flowing down to her sides. As Robin and Chrom walked in closer, Emmeryn stood up from her throne to greet them. Robin noticed that the woman was noticeably taller than Lissa as well, standing nearly eye to eye with himself. She also had what seemed to be some sort of image on her Forehead as well. The only other place Robin had seen that image was tattooed on Chrom's sword arm.
Wow...Robin thought as a slight blush creeped to his face. She's like Lissa only more...beautiful.
Robin quickly shook his questionable thoughts from his mind as Emmeryn greeted them.
"Ah..." Emmeryn said in a very calm and feminine voice. "The mighty Shepherds have returned!" the exalt said with a chuckle. "How fared you all?"
"We are all doing well Emm,"Chrom spoke up, greeting his sister. "We won't have to worry about any bandit attacks for a while. However we met some sort of violent creatures in the forests on the way to Ylisstol."
"My sincere apologies." the female royal guard spoke up. "My Pegasus knights should have intercepted them. They have been pushed to the outskirts of Ylisse, so we won't have to worry about them attacking the capitol."
"Don't blame yourself Phila," Chrom said. "It was wise of you to stay here with Emmeryn to make sure she was safe. Although, I will admit that we may not have made it out alive if not for this man we found along the way."
"Ah, you speak of your new companion here?" Emmeryn asked, staring directly at Robin, who had did his best to stay in the background.
"You helped Chrom and his Shepherds fend off against the creatures from the forest?" Emmeryn asked kindly.
"Um, yes, yes your highness. But it was no trouble at all." Robin said, trying not to make a fool of himself in front of the ruler of Ylisse.
"Haha, at ease young fellow." Emmeryn said, waving her hand. "You risked your life to gain the trust of my brother. And for that, you have won my trust as well."
"Thank you, lord Emmeryn." Robin said, making a pitiful excuse for a bow.
"And Frederick, Lissa, you trust this man as well?" Emmeryn asked.
"I sure do!" Lissa beamed. "You should have seen how he handled those freaks back in the forest! It was amazing!"
"And what say you Frederick?" Emmeryn asked, turning to the armored knight.
I'm going to mentally cross my fingers while actually crossing my fingers...
Frederick gave nothing more than a simple nod for a "yes".
Good enough...
Turning back at Robin again, Emmeryn asked, "What's your name brave one?"
"It's Robin." Robin said straightly.
"Ah...Robin. What a charming name." Emmeryn said kindly.
Wow, Emmeryn must be like the living breathing version of this city. Robin thought. She truly is the very spirit of peace and harmony.
Cutting in, Chrom said, "Robin seems to have a knack for strategy and tactics. He could be a very valuable asset to the Shepherds. And as such, I've decided to make him the official tactician for the Shepherds. That is...if you accept Robin."
At once, all eyes turned to face Robin. Taking a gulp, Robin looked straight at Chrom and said,
"It would do me no greater honor."
"Then it's settled then!" Chrom said excitedly.
"Welcome aboard sir Robin." Frederick said to Robin with a grin.
"Wonderful," Emmeryn said with a smile. "But now Chrom, we need to hold a war council meeting about what our next step is going to be against this new enemy."
"Of course." Chrom said, turning back to face Emmeryn.
"Heh, I think that's our cue Robin." Lissa said, tugging on the newly dubbed tactician's coat. "Come on, there's some other Shepherds that I want you to meet at the barracks."
"Wait, there's MORE of you guys?" Robin said while being dragged along by Lissa out of the throne room.
Things just keep getting better and better...
Author's Note
Sweet Naga, writing fan fiction is far more time consuming than I ever expected. Only four chapters, and I think I've invested at least 30 hours into writing this. But you know what? It's all worth it. It's worth it to know that you guys appreciate what I'm doing and send me feedback about it. Thank you all again for your continued support. I can't wait until more Shepherds show up. That's when the REAL fun can begin. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
(Note to self: never do an evil laugh ever again).
Anyway, let's keep moving forward everyone. Nagaspeed!
