"Exceptional." Grima said, toying with the word as Robin slowly approached him, keeping a careful eye on Pheros in the far corner of the room. "Do you know the meaning of the word, Robin?"

"I've no time for your games."

"Oh, you'll have time for this one." Grima said, smiling. He was sitting on a crude stone throne he had fashioned in the cavern. Dark purple torches lit up the room with an eerie light. Robin had arrived, but the rest were no doubt not far behind. Something Grima couldn't wait for. "Exceptional is a very human concept, Robin. You see, it's a designation given to someone who falls outside the normal range of expectations. It's meaningless without a base to compare it to. You see?"

"I suppose I can indulge your philosophy one last time." Robin stopped walking. "Exceptional just means that the person indicated is an outlier. That's all. What's your point?"

"My point, Robin, is that you are exceptional." Grima said. "Something which you don't seem to understand. Your petty belief in 'goodness' and 'hope' only comes from a misunderstanding. I've realized this about you."

"You're still trying to recruit me to your side?" Robin said, in disbelief.

"Please. We both know that you aren't some happy-go-lucky believer like the Exalt." Grima snickered. "Robin, you gave a very impassioned speech on the nature of hope, but here's what you fail to understand – that's only true from your perspective. And you're unique."

"What point are you trying to make here?"

"Just this. If the normal person tried doing something that you've done, they would fail. Fail horribly." Grima said. "Do you know what kind of reactions your so-called friends would have against you if they found out what you've done? And, given that, how well do you think they would have handled being you? Hmm?"

"I think that my friends are significantly stronger than you gave them credit for."

"Oh? And should your lieutenants learn the truth of all the Valmese generals' deaths you're responsible for? If those Ylissean you respect so much are forced to confront their failures, over and over?" Grima said. "Do you still believe that you'd be the one to survive it?"

"Regardless of what he's done, he has me." Pheros stepped up beside Robin. "You cannot break the bond forged between us, Grima."

"Oh?" Grima said, raising an eyebrow. "But I can break you, Empress of Valm. What will you do when you're forced to choose between your country and your love? Where does that loyalty of yours lie?"

"You're insane if you think that I'll be drawn into a discussion about ethics with you."

"Fair enough." Grima said. "My words are useless – so how about I put you in a situation where you'll have to choose. Now, Robin, watch as everyone around you crumbles!"

Grima snapped his fingers and various walls of energy that blocked sections of the room vanished. Robin and Pheros stood by, waiting.

The first to enter the room were Lucina and Morgan, weapons drawn and set in a formation. They looked around, noticing the situation.

"Oh, are we the second group to make it?" Morgan asked. "Pretty sweet. So, is Grima trying to screw with everyone's mind?"

"That seems to be the case." Robin nodded.

"Is he succeeding?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. You are the second, after all." Robin reminded her.

"So, Lucina. Knowing your great failures and the schism in your team, are you still ready to fight for Robin?" Grima said, grinning gleefully. "How did you like my present?"

"I actually enjoyed getting to kill Validar. But don't expect any thanks from me." Lucina pointed her blade at Grima. "I've been forced to confront my failure every day, you monster. You're crazy if you think that petty tricks like that will turn me against Robin."

"Tsk!"

"Same goes for us!" Ravena and Argeni emerged from another tunnel. Ravena conjured a mess of wind around her, ready to cast spells. "I'll stand by my father, no matter what. I will not betray him."

"I'm not about to forgive you for using me like that, Robin." Argeni scowled.

"Argeni, there are a lot of worse things that you won't be able to forgive me for." Robin replied. "Least of all using you when we first met as a pawn, especially considering what you did to me."

"Hmph." Argeni shrugged. "Well, for all your crassness, you do have a point. I suppose that I'll keep helping you … for now."

"It appears we am late." Another pair entered the cavern, a Chon'sin samurai and a fire mage. Say'ri continued, drawing her blade. "Robin, if you will it, I will fight by your side again."

"So what exactly is your excuse for not telling me everything about Yen'fay?" Vermil said. "Not that I can't guess the answer. But we've got bigger fish to fry for now. I'll save the tongue lashing for later. And you're getting it too, Ravena."

"Oh. You found out about Yen'fay's death." Ravena sighed. "I wanted to tell you; I really did. There just never really seemed like a good time for it."

"Oh, and now is so much better!"

"Fair enough." Ravena said. "I guess I'll have to make it up to you somehow. You can hold me to that."

"What?" Grima stared out. "What's going on?"

"I think you've made a grave miscalculation." Robin said. "You've underestimated-"

"Robin!" A howl came down one of the caverns.

"Or not." Robin said. "That was Zulas, wasn't it?"

"You won't get out of this one so easily." Grima snarled.

"ROBIN!" Zulas stepped into the chamber, spear at the ready. "You will answer for your crimes."

"Stand down, soldier." Pheros said.

"Empress." Zulas said. "Even you can't talk me out me this. That being said … I'm not so clueless as to let my rage blind me. I know who the true enemy here is."

"What he means to say, Robin, is that we're on your side, following your orders, for as long as it takes us to kill Grima." Balt stepped up alongside Zulas. "After that … well, let's just say our interests no longer align."

"Let him be, Pheros." Robin held out his hand. "We'll handle what comes after, after."

"Well, guess that makes us last!" Aversa came out of the cave, smiling brightly, holding twin conjured orbs of dark magic. "I guess everyone made it through with minimal psychological scars?"

"You're going to pay as well." Zulas gestured with his spear. "But I'm putting our squabbles aside for the time being."

"Ah." Aversa frowned. "Well, Robin, Chrom's fine. He is slightly mad at me, but he's much more mad at Grima."

"Well said." Chrom said, walking beside her, drawing Falchion. "Your plan failed, Grima."

"Exceptional, huh?" Robin grinned as he said it. "Maybe I'm not the exceptional one, Grima. Have you considered that? Maybe the exceptional one here … is you. All of us can overcome challenges put in front of us. You chose to stop instead, and just decide to destroy everything. You're nothing more than a child throwing a tantrum because he can't get everything he wants."

"You dare!? I am a Fell Dragon!"

"You're an overgrown lizard who's past his prime and needs to be put down like a mad dog." Robin corrected. "And I'm just the one. Correction: we're just the ones to do it."

"So. Even now, you can't rely on yourself, can you?"

"…Heh." Robin shook his head. "You're trying to bait me, aren't you? Do you really think that even if you defeated me, in this pitiful weakened state of yours, you could really defeat everyone else in here? You're a fool, Grima. You may have accused my hubris of knowing no bounds, but yours doesn't either. Do you really think that I'm so foolish as to just fight you alone?"

"Fine. Come at me, all of you!" Grima cried as dark magic flared around him. Robin's various allies responded in similar fashion, drawing forth their weapons with a ring of steel or summoning forth magic in a blaze of runes and light. Robin didn't do anything of the kind, but merely held up his hand, indicating for the group to hold. Grima took on a feral grin as he surveyed the group. "So… who's willing to be the first victim to the Fell Dragon's power? I assure you, even as diminished as I am, I am still very much a deadly force to be reckoned with."

"Your reign ends today, Grima." Chrom produced the Falchion, pointing it at him. "With this blade, I shall seal you for the next 1000 years."

"Oh. But you'll have to strike me with it first, won't you?" Grima held out his hand and curled his fingers inwards. "Come on then, if you so believe yourself powerful enough to defeat me."

"AHEM!" Robin coughed. "Right. So, I hadn't finished monologuing when you rudely interrupted me, Grima. Can I continue?"

"What?"

"I was monologuing." Robin explained as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "You're a dark evil dragon, surely you get it? Before you so rudely interrupted me with that snide challenge of yours to everyone, I was monologuing. There'll be time for your witty comeback afterward, but could you at least extend me the courtesy to finish?"

"You cannot be serious."

"Now, where was I?" Robin mentally ran through the speech. "'You may have accused my hubris of knowing no bounds, but yours doesn't either. Do you really think that I'm so foolish as to just fight you alone?' Does that sound right?"

"Yeah, that's where you were up to." Ravena nodded.

"You're irritating me."

"That's the idea!" Robin agreed cheerfully.

"Oh. You're just doing this to throw me off guard."

"Now, to finish it off." Robin said. "Ahem. Do you really think that I'm so foolish as to just fight you alone? Because I am. I'm willing to do this. One on one. Robin versus Robin and may the best man win. Eh?"

"Your soul will be mine, then! Marionette!"

Robin blinked as the magic washed past him. "You didn't seriously expect that to work a second time, did you?"

"Ah, I see. You're using some kind of charm to ward off my blood curses." Grima flexed his right hand. "Unfortunately for you, they can't ward off my actual curses."

"We've already established that those aren't a threat to me. Or have you forgotten?" Robin's eyes narrowed as he stepped forward. "Ignis Nox!"

Black flames lit up around Robin and he raised his hand. His crimson spear-sword, forged from the beloved weapon of his defeated enemy dropped into it and Robin, ever so precisely, brought the weapon forward in a basic guard position, his one remaining eye alight with the black fire.

Grima, for his part, stepped forward as well as purple fire swirled around the Fell Dragon. Scales started appearing on him as his dragonskin took effect, shielding him from harm, and dark magic coalesced into being, no need for a tome of any kind.

"Robin, we'll fight with you!"

"No." Robin shook his head. "Stay back, Chrom. Trust me when I say this, but this isn't your fight just yet."

"You can't expect us to-"

"Listen to him, my Exalt." Morgan stepped in front of Chrom, barring his path with an outstretched arm. "As your tactician, I'm here to tell you that there's a bit more to this than what's going on. It's best if, just for now, you stay back. Besides, there's another good reason you should stay back, too."

"I agree. This is Robin's fight." Pheros said. "Robin, if you need our help, you just have to ask. I trust you. I trust that you won't take too much of the burden on yourself."

"Thank you, Pheros. That means a lot to me."

"So," Grima sneered, "your friends are more than willing to allow you to fight by yourself. Do you honestly believe yourself capable of defeating me, the Dark Dragon?"

"We both know how this story ends, Grima." Robin swirled the spear around his body. "If I was Chrom, I'd probably take this time to ask you to surrender and spare yourself the pain. But I'm not Chrom. And, honestly, I really look forward to seeing you in a lot of pain."

"Fine. So be it."

Grima thrust his hand forward and cast his spell, sending a wave of dark spikes along the ground, directly at Robin. Robin, for his part, leapt to the side to avoid the attack, before lighting up his spear with lightning and charging at Grima directly. Grima waited for Robin to get in close and repeated the same spell, blasting at him again, washing over the ground with a wave of spikes, but when it cleared, Robin had vanished.

"Above you!" Robin howled as he came down from the ceiling. He'd predicted Grima's attack and consequently, his charge at Grima was nothing more than a feint. He'd always meant to leap up beforehand, and using the power his bloodline gave him, he'd made to the ceiling. Quickly doing a tight roll, he came up to the ceiling feetfirst and kicked off it, spear aimed downwards.

Robin timed his warning so it came too late, but Grima was no fool. He'd already started moving once he saw Robin wasn't hit by his attack, but even still he wasn't in time. Robin came down from the ceiling in a bolt of black fire and while Grima leapt away, a spray of dark blood came through the air.

Grima clutched his left arm where the cut had happened, but his draconic body had already been at work forcing the wound closed. Robin, satisfied that he had enough strength to penetrate Grima's dragonscales, spun his spear around and wasted no time in going after Grima again. This time, it was a thrust, with the speed that was only afforded to him by the power of his black flames.

With no time to even cast a spell back, Grima was forced on the defensive again, evading the attack. He leapt free and used his unwounded right hand to deliver a spell at the spot he was standing, but to no avail. Robin had read his movements again and his first thrust was another feint. This time, Robin came from Grima's right delivering a crippling slashing attack to Grima's right arm, sinking his blade into the shoulder.

"Not so tough now, are you?" Robin taunted his as he began raining blows on the almost-hapless dark dragon. Grima defended himself as best he could, but at such close range, his magic was of little help, not to mention Robin outclassed him in speed, strength, and technique; and was reading everyone of Grima's attacks. "You're not better than me, Fell Dragon. All you have is a little more power. But, strip that power away, and what you're left with is just pathetic."

"Rotten spawn! How dare you strike your master like that!"

"Like what, exactly?" Robin forced him into the center of the room with a quick series of blows, planted his spear on the ground, and then socked Grima in the face with as hard of a right hook as he possibly could. "Like this?"

Grima's face snapped back from the blow.

"That was for the world you destroyed." Robin said grimly, then followed with a left hook. "And this is for the world you were going to destroy!"

Grima staggered backward, but Robin continued marching forward, raining punched as he did so, targeting the vitals, hitting the Fell Dragon even through dragonskin with his black flames.

"From the world, you destroyed, those who you have killed and those whose lives you have ruined, I'll have you remember their names. This is for Chrom! This is for Emmeryn! This is for Morgan!" Robin said, furious. "This is for Lucina!"

"What do I care for a measly race of humans?"

"Well, I do! And I'll exact the cost from you!" Robin lashed out with a powerful uppercut. "And from this world, this is for my sister, Aversa!"

Grima's head snapped up from the blow.

"This is for my mother!" Robin shouted, bringing both hands up and together, driving them down into a hammerfist as Grima's head went back to send the Fell Dragon down into the floor.

The Dark Dragon did not get up, so Robin took his left hand and picked him up, cocking back his right arm as he did so in preparation of one final blow.

"And this…" Robin said, slowly, "this one is from me, with all the love and care you deserve, you dastard."

"Not just yet!" Grima flared his purple flames, forcing Robin backward, before dropping into a crouch and leaping to the ceiling, just as Robin had done earlier, collecting his magic around him. "You dropped your guard, Robin! Now, I'll borrow your own trick against you, and you have nowhere to run."

"O hammer of thunder, answer my call and grant me your power. Become a storm and forge yourself into a single weapon." Robin raised his hand as Grima did likewise and released his own magic. "I am worthy of your might, the Lightning Hammer, Mjolnir!"

A crash of lightning exploded from Robin's outstretched hand and, empowered by the full force of his black flames, cutting through Grima's magic and electrocuting the dark dragon. Grima, dropped the ceiling like a stone, but as he did so, Robin hit the falling body with an uppercut, snapping Grima's head back yet again and flipping it over.

"And that was for me." Robin finished. "Let my guard down, Grima … or baited you into a trap? And I think you'll find that borrowing my tricks won't work out so well for you. But we can save that for later."

"You… you think you've won?" Grima asked, from his prone position on the ground.

"It's over, Grima." Robin said. "Now … and forever."

"You've only delayed the inevitable, you know."

"No." Robin corrected, stretching out his hand as dark power coalesced within it. A sphere of blackness appeared before him. "For once, I'm glad that you and I are the same. The same cursed power that runs through me veins also lets me kill you, once and for all."

"…No." Grima stared in horror at the magic before him. "You … you wouldn't dare!"

"Robin, you promised you wouldn't!"

"I lied. Stop him, Morgan."

Chrom lunged forward to hold Robin back only for a dagger to appear in Morgan's hand as she clashed with him, holding the Ylissean Exalt at bay with her daggers. Lucina scowled. "What's happening!?"

"Very simple." Robin said, focusing on the dark energy before him, preparing to fire it. "Grima can only be destroyed with his own power. And I am his own power. I possess the ability to kill him and wipe out the threat of Grima once and for all."

"Robin, Naga said-!" Chrom started.

"I know what Naga said!" Robin snapped. "But there's no guarantee that I'll get a second chance at this later in life, or that I'll have a Fellblood descendant who would be capable of killing Grima. Ultimately, I cannot pass this up if I'm given the opportunity."

"But you will die as well!" Grima said. "Are you really so foolish as to kill yourself?"

"Do you think I care!?" Robin demanded. "Are you really that stupid!? Why do you think, even for an instant, that someone like me, a tactician who prioritizes the lives on the battlefield and is perfectly willing to order men to their deaths, would hesitate to sacrifice my own life to save the lives of many others? Your evil will cause the deaths of thousands! If I kill you, it will end that. And my life is a small price to pay. Honestly, the lives of everyone here is a small price to pay compare to that. We knew, coming in, that some of us might die trying to seal you. We knew that all of us might die trying to seal you and still fail at that. One life in exchange for you never being able to be a problem again … well, as far as I'm concerned, that's just a bargain."

"Robin, STOP."

"Pheros." Robin hesitated as the Empress of Valm came up behind him. "Is that your order? Because if it is, I will follow it."

"Robin, why would I let you take your own life right in front of me?" Pheros said. "This … this isn't …"

"Pheros, I love you. And part of the reason I love you is because you are like me, and I am like you." Robin said. "You know that this is the optimal solution. I have to die. Not because I want to. But because it's an acceptable price to pay."

"But what about everyone else, Robin?" Pheros asked. "What about me?"

"Pheros … is the price too high for you?" Robin said. "I won't listen to you as the Empress of Valm. I'll only listen to you as Pheros, the woman I love and the light that's guided me through my life. If you tell me to stop, I will trust your judgement. If you tell me the price is too high to pay, either for you, for the world, or even for me, I will believe you. I've made my choice, but I will let you remake it for me."

"Empress, please!" Chrom said, struggling against Dant's blades. He knew he could use the power of Aether to cut past her, even without dealing her grievous injuries. But he wasn't willing to do so. That wouldn't solve the root of the problem. Chrom turned to Pheros. "Don't let Robin sacrifice himself! There are other solutions, other ways to solve the problem without someone's death!"

Pheros looked away.

"Wolves!" Chrom cried, looking to Robin's companions. "Help me! Help me stop him!"

"I think you will find that the events which have recently transpired have done a remarkable job of encouraging them to allow Robin to sacrifice himself." Morgan said, dryly. "And besides the rest of them are loyal to Robin, not you. Only Lucina can stop him now."

"Lucina…"

"No!" Pheros snapped her head around and stared at Chrom. "Don't ask her to stop Robin! Don't you dare, Chrom. She comes from a destroyed world where Robin's death would have saved everyone, and, right now, Robin is prepared to eliminate any possibility of that ever happening. And you want to ask her to stop it?"

"Father… please…" Lucina stood by Chrom, blade shaking in her hand. "Please don't ask me to stop him. I don't want to save Grima's life, and I don't want to raise my blade against Morgan."

"You lot disgust me." Grima snarled. "Heroes, the lot of you. Arguing over whose lives to save, arguing over who's right or wrong. Just decide to seal me already so I don't have to put up with this insanity from you lot."

"Robin, I love you." Pheros stepped up so that she stood by him, side by side. Tears flowed from her eyes as the Empress embraced the Battlemaster. Pheros looked him in the eyes. "You have my permission – no, you have my blessing. This is something only you can do, and a worthy sacrifice to make. And I'm glad that I could carry part of it with you. By my command – by royal command: I, Empress Pheros of Valm order you to carry out your duty as Battlemaster and rid the world of our foes, even if it should cost you your life!

"Well, you heard my lady's orders." Robin said. "Any last words?"

"Oh, I have them all right." Grima smirked. "Kill me, and you leave this world to Naga's tender mercies. You aren't like Chrom, Robin. You don't trust anyone but yourself. I may be evil, but I'm also the only force in the world that can keep the so-called 'Divine' Dragon Naga in check. You know that to be true. If, for instance, Naga decided to rule over mankind, do you think anyone but me could stop her?"

"…" Robin grit his teeth. "Shut up."

"Make me." Grima said. "You know I'm right, Robin. Not to mention that both Naga and I are more than capable of having a change of heart. In a thousand years' time, who is to say that I will be the 'evil' one and Naga will be the 'good' one. As far as you know, Naga is only good by virtue of the fact that she opposes me. Kill me and leave her as the last of the great dragons, and she may become a dark queen to be worshipped by all."

"Shut up. Shut up. Shut up."

"I told you, Robin. I have nothing to fear from you. Not ever." Grima's tone oozed with superiority. "You can't bring yourself to kill me, because you know what I'm saying is right."

"Die." Robin released the magic and the dark energy hit Grima, blasting the dark dragon bark. But when the smoke cleared, neither dragon nor Battlemaster showed the least bit of injury.

"Oh, I'm afraid that the thing about my magic, Robin." Grima chuckled. "Dark magic must be wielded with iron clarity and purpose. If you truly wished me dead, then you have to mean it. And you don't. You never have. Certainly you're able to fire dark magic at me. But you don't really want me dead. You don't really want my power gone. And do you know why? Because. You. Don't. Trust. People."

"Robin, calm down." Pheros said. "He's trying to rile you up."

"I … I knew it." Robin said. "I knew this was too soon. I'm not ready, Pheros. Grima needs to die, deserves it. And for all his protests, he's evil. He's despair. He seeks the destruction of all humanity."

"And yet, you cannot kill me." Grima countered. "Because you don't trust Naga. And, because, for all your protests, we are the same, you and I."

"That is my failing." Robin agreed. "But, unfortunately for you, my lady's orders are absolute. I will kill you, Grima. And, equally unfortunate, I knew that this would happen I came prepared. Or, more correctly, you came prepared."

"What nonsense are you spouting, tactician?"

"It seems that you've made yet another miscalculation, Grima. Because while I don't trust Naga, I know someone who does. Someone who trusts Naga and can destroy you, once and for all. And, furthermore, someone that you've done me the courtesy of bringing here."

"Such a person does not exist. You're grasping at straws. Here is reality, Robin. You have failed." Grima said. "Stop grasping at straws, just seal me and be done with this farce. I'll see your descendants in a thousand years. Assuming your human race can last that long."

"Foolish, foolish, Grima." Robin walked forward and placed one palm on Grima's chest, right above his heart. Robin took his other palm and placed it over his own. Dark magic flooded the room as Robin cast his spell. "There's only one path to victory right now. And this spell allows me to see that path to victory and use it, not matter what. It's not the use I intended for it, but it turns out that this was the right spell to use for this moment. This technique allows me to see and exploit any flaw in my opponent, and thus, with this spell, I can sever your ties to him. Now, Forbidden Call of the Dark, Shatterpoint."

Darkness flared around Robin's palm and enveloped the two before shattering into pieces and disappearing into a subsequent burst of bright white light which pulsed between them, hurling them backwards and blinding the room's occupants. Grima smashed into the far wall of the room, shattering the rock behind him. Slowly, he got to his feet, except now he was missing an eye. Grima stared out in horror. "What have you done, Robin!?"

"I only have this to say." From the opposite side of the room, Robin emerged, but he looked different. His hair was shorter and shock white, and he was wearing a modified version of Plegia's tactician uniform. A silver sword was buckled to one side of his waist and a bright yellow tome holstered on the opposite side. Two eyes stared at Grima as Robin approached the fell dragon.

Lucina gasped in recognition. "It can't be…"

"Robin, you colossal idiot!" Robin howled. "I didn't talk you out of joining with Grima just so that you could join with him now to release me! I never wanted you to sacrifice your life for mine! You should have listened to Chrom and sealed Grima off!"

"Father!" Morgan was standing next to him in a flash. "It's … it's you, isn't it?"

"Permit me to introduce myself to all those who don't know me. Robin from this timeline exchanged souls with me to release me from Grima's clutches, and in turn he is the one Grima is inhabiting." Robin said, drawing his blade. "My name is Robin, Robin of Ylisse, and I am - well, I was - the Ylissean Grandmaster. But that happened in Lucina's doomed timeline. Now? I am merely Robin. Yes, Morgan, it is me, though I fear that reunion is going to be cut a little short."

"Oh, I get what game Robin decided to play." Grima stood up and raised his hand, letting a crimson spear drop into it. The blade, Robin's Gungnir spear, lit up with electricity. "A little juggling act so that you'd get a crack at me, is that it? He believes that while he doesn't have the conviction to end me once and for all, you do."

"You'd better believe it, monster." The Grandmaster said. "I spent these past decades trapped in your body, unable to stop you, and I've spent the decades before that on the run trying to escape you. I've got all those years of vengeance stored up in me and the perfect outlet for them. Prepare to die, now and for all time, Fell Dragon."

"Hahahaha! Ignis Nox!" Grima howled as black flames poured out of him. "Well, you've forgotten something! All of this Robin's skills, memories, and weapons are mine, now! The body of the Crimson Demon Battlemaster is mine, and with his powers, even all twelve of you are no match for me! He's made a tragic miscalculation! With this body, killing you all will be child's play, and I'll be free to return to Valm and use Robin's body to prepare myself a second feast! Now, champions of Naga, feel despair and die!"

A/N: So...

Surprised? It was never my intention for Robin to kill Grima from the beginning because of Robin's characters flaws. He simply cannot trust Naga enough to kill Grima. A bit paranoid? Yes, but Robin is paranoid. That, and the fact that while Robin laying a one-sided smackdown on Grima is very satisfying, it's not very exciting or thrilling, given that he's already been shown to be capable of that and that was before Grima got stabbed through with the parallel Falchion. This, though? Thus is truly the final battle - Robin's final form against everyone. This is a battle with actual stakes involved.