Hey everyone. Sorry for the wait, now we finally begin the Edolas arc. Expect a few minor changes to the main Fairy Tail storyline however. I own neither Fairy Tail, nor Devil May Cry.

Earthland

Gajeel was holding up a stray cat, after looking at it for a few seconds, he quickly put it down. "No!" he stomped further into an alleyway, coming across more and more stray cats. "Nope! Not this one either! Defiantly not!" As he continued to stomp away, he began to feel exhausted until he tripped on a bottle and fell face-first on the ground.

A certain blonde, lighting-wielding, devil hunter crouched down to his level. "And what's eating you up?" Trish asked.

Gajeel grunted. "Salamander and that little girl have their own flying, magical, kitty cats!" Comical tears we're about to come out of the Iron Dragon Slayer's eyes. "I'm a Dragon Slayer too, so I deserve a furry friend like they do."

Trish gave a slight chuckle. "Oh, that's adorable. Big bad Gajeel wants his own little kitty-cat."

He shot a glare towards her. "You tell Salamander or Redgrave about this, I'll pound you so deep into the ground, you'll think you're a fossil!"

"Is that so?" Trish amusingly asked.

There was a faint light further in the alleyway that got their attention, one that surrounded a certain cat. Gajeel gave a hopeful smile, while Trish just looked amused thinking "This is gonna end badly."

Fairy Tail

At the Guildhall many wizards we're celebrating for some unknown reason, as if they need a reason.

"Geeze calm it down! It's barley past noon!" Cana exclaimed with an anger vein popping out of her head.

"Do you always drink alcohol this early in the morning?" Modeus asked, earning a look from Cana. "Have you ever considered switching drinks? Perhaps tea would serve you better."

"Take my alcohol away and see what happens, demon-boy!" Cana stated, her eyes becoming four-pointed stars, glaring at Modeus.

"I'm merely trying to help."

"I can hold my liquor!"

Levy is seen at a table reading a book. A certain female, bazooka-wielding woman walked by and noticed what she was doing.

"Man, I didn't think this would be this hard." Levy spoke out loud.

"What are ya reading?" Lady asked.

"Oh it's a book of poems, written in the ancient language of Horicon." Levy replied simply.

"You say that like it's nothing." Lady observed, somewhat surprised.

"It's difficult, but I can understand most of it." Lady said.

"Are you sure you're not a demon?" Lady asked as she sweat dropped.

At a separate table, Dante sat with Wendy, Lucy, and Carla discussing something very interesting.

"Why are you so interested in July 7, X777?" Lucy asked Wendy.

"Well that's the time that the Dragons who raised me and Natsu disappeared, so I guess it's always been on my mind." The Sky Dragon Slayer replied.

"Natsu told me the same thing happened to Gajeel's dragon." Dante revealed. "And come to think of it, about a year before that, my old man left as well.

That left the three females with quite surprised faces.

"Sparda disappeared around the same time?" Lucy asked.

"He died around the same time." Dante corrected.

"You think that maybe these things are connected?" Wendy asked.

"Well given that we recently learned that the Dragons helped Sparda defeat the Demons, I wouldn't rule out that it isn't possible." Carla said.

Lucy began to think a bit. "Maybe when they heard about Sparda, they went on a quest to avenge him?"

"Maybe…" Dante guessed before he looked down a bit. "Or maybe the Demons went after them to, like they did me and my family."

"Are you saying that Grandeeney might be dead?" Wendy asked quite shocked.

"Who knows." Dante replied. "There's a whole lot we don't know but… Listen Wendy, sometimes finding out the truth can be worse than not knowing at all."

Before anyone else can say anything Happy came up with a fish that was the same size as his own body, with a red ribbon wrapped around it.

"Hey Carla!" Happy began as he got up on the table next to her. "Look! Isn't this the biggest fish you've ever seen? I thought you might be hungry so I caught it for ya."

Dante gave an amused smile at Happy's gesture. "Cute, cat love."

Carla didn't look impressed in the slightest. "Thanks, but no thanks. It smells, and I don't care for fish."

"Oh I see. So tell me what you do like and I'll get it for you." Happy said.

"Get away from me!" Carla replied harshly, shocking even Dante. "I don't have time to waste on someone so annoying." She hopped off the table and began to walk away.

"Hold on a minute Carla." Wendy tried but she ignored her.

"Okay…. What got into her skin and died?" Dante wondered.

"She's never been friendly but that was downright harsh." Lucy observed. "You okay little guy?" She asked Happy, who looked like he was about to cry.

Wendy got up from her spot. "What's your problem?! Why are you so mean to Happy?!" She questioned, as Carla was just about to walk outside.

"I despise that name! The irony of it turns my stomach! They're all such ignorant fools." Carla thought as she walked out of the guild.

"Carla, please talk to me!" Happy said as he ran after her.

"You know, maybe it's just me, but she seems to treat Happy the worst out of everyone here." Dante observed. "Do you know why?" He asked Wendy.

"Trust me, I wish I knew."

Outside

Carla walked through the streets of Magnolia with Happy catching up to her. "Wait up Carla!" Happy called.

Carla stopped and turned to him with her arms crossed. "What is it? I thought I told you to quit pestering me."

Happy looked down. "I know, but I was wondering if I did something to make you mad."

"It's more complex than that." Carla replied, turning away from Happy, causing him to look down even more. "You know, you can't protect Natsu." That earned a surprised look from Happy.

Thunder began to roar as storm clouds slowly set in over Magnolia, blotting out the sun.

"However I will protect Wendy, I must. She's the only thing that matters to me." Carla said as she walked away. Happy still followed her.

"Natsu and I are best friends just like you guys." Happy said. "And I protected him just as many times as he saved me."

Carla stopped walking for a moment. "You may believe that. But you simply can't until you know who you are." She walked away leaving a confused Happy.

"Well that wasn't cryptic or anything."

Happy turned to the source of the voice. "Trish."

"You guys got an identity crisis thing going on?" She asked.

"Not a clue." Happy replied as he looked down, he felt a pat on his head and turned to Trish.

"You're not the only one like that." Trish said as she walked away.

Happy turned to the left and saw Gajeel who had claw marks on his face. "Why's your face all scratched up?"

"Shut it, cat!" Gajeel stated as the rain began to pour. Trish heard this and gave a slight smirk at Gajeel's misfortune.

Rain came down pretty heavy all over the entire town. One would have to be crazy to be out in this weather. However, there was someone out in this weather.

"Carla!" Wendy called as she searched for her. "Carla! Where are you?!" Wendy looked into the distance and saw Carla walking in the streets. Wendy quickly ran to her. "I've been looking all over for you."

"Oh Wendy." Carla began in a motherly fashion. "You're going to catch cold being out in this mess without an umbrella."

"The same can be said for you." Wendy replied. She kneeled down to the white cat. "Carla, why are you so mean to Happy, Dante, and the others after all they've done for us? Couldn't you at least try to be nicer to everyone?"

Carla stubbornly turned around with her arms crossed. "I don't see the need for it. As long as I'm with you, their just complications."

"Geeze, I don't understand you sometimes." Wendy said. However, a figure began to walk towards them, catching both their attention. Neither of them recognized him, for he was the wizard named Mystogen.

"Who is this?" Carla asked as he stopped just before them.

"Hello Wendy." Mystogen greeted.

"Wait… I know that voice." Wendy said while Carla had a look of shock on her face as she recognized it as well.

"I never considered the chance that you would join this guild." Mystogen said as he took off his mask to reveal the one face that Wendy never thought she'd see again.

"Jellal! It's you!" She exclaimed as she backed away in utter shock and surprise.

"Impossible!" Carla began. "I saw you get taken into custody myself!"

"The man that was arrested in the Nirvana-incident wasn't me." Mystogen revealed.

"What?!" Wendy questioned.

"Then how do you explain your uncanny resemblance?!" Carla also questioned.

"My name is Mystogen of Fairy Tail. When we first met seven years ago, I was unfamiliar with the ways of this world, I told you my name was 'Jellal'."

Both Wendy and Carla we're surprised, but for different reasons.

"This world?" Carla questioned in her mind.

"You mean…" Wendy began as all her past memories came flooding back of her time with Jellal before Cait Shelter, and tears formed in her eyes. "… You're my Jellal?" He nodded in response. "I was afraid you'd forgotten all about me!" She cried as tears streamed down her face. "I can't believe you're really here! I missed you! I wish I disobeyed you and kept following you back then!"

Mystogen's face was one of regret. "And I wish I had been able to let you follow me. I'm sorry, but we don't have time for a tearful reunion right now" That caught both Wendy's and Carla's attention. "Do as I say…" he weakly began to fall to the ground, using one of his many staffs to support himself. "You must leave this city as quickly as you can!" He crouched down to his knees as he looked like he was greatly weakened.

"Jellal!" Wendy exclaimed in worry.

"I was unable to complete my mission." Mystogen grunted as the clouds in the sky began to swirl together and thunder raged. "The Anima has grown much too large… and now… it's too much for me to contain on my own."

The clouds all swirled together almost like something was forming in them above the entire city.

"Very soon… Magnolia will cease to exist." Mystogen revealed, much to Wendy's shock.

"No… It can't just vanish. There has to be something that we can do!"

"I'm sorry Wendy… but the city's destruction is unavoidable." Mystogen said with his regret evident in his voice. "You need to evacuate now."

"What about everyone in the guild?!" Wendy questioned as Mystogen looked down. "What's gonna happen to them?! Tell me!"

Fairy Tail

Everyone was stuck inside due to the storm outside. We have Lucy, Dante, Lady, Juvia, Grey, and Cana all looking out the window at the storm outside.

"Looks like we're gonna be here for a while" Dante observed.

"Well that kinda sucks." Lucy commented.

"Yep." Cana and Lady both agreed at the same time.

"I hope you don't think I caused this." Juvia said.

"Trust me, you're not the one who's annoying everyone." Grey said as he referred to a sleeping Natsu who was currently sawing logs in his sleep.

Dante gave an amused smile. "Someone's a heavy sleeper."

Grey took out a marker. "I think I just figured out a way to pass the time."

"This should be good." Lady observed with a sly grin.

Back Outside.

Wendy and Carla still stood with the weakened Mystogen. Carla looked down towards the ground, almost as if she was expecting something like this to happen; while the tearful Wendy looked shocked towards the regretful Mystogen.

"Please! I won't move till you tell me!" Wendy cried.

"Very soon… all of them will perish." Mystogen revealed.

There was a silent moment; the only sound came from the thunder from the storm. Wendy immediately turned around and ran towards the direction of the guild hall.

"No! Wendy!" Carla tried to stop her.

"Someone's gotta warn them!" Wendy stated.

"There's no time for that!" Mystogen told her. "You need to get to safety immediately!"

"I would never abandon my friends!" Wendy exclaimed. "I have a home again! And if it's gonna vanish, them I'm going with it!"

Fairy Tail

Back at the Guild Hall, the sleeping Natsu had cat-whiskers drawn on his face; Grey, Dante, and Lucy all snickered at this while Modeus bore an amused smile.

"I thought someone of your ice-sculpting skills would go for something more creative than cat whiskers." Lady lightly criticized.

"Well if it's art you want…" Grey drew again on Natsu, putting in dark circles underneath his eyes and even a curvy mustache.

"He's gonna be pissed when he wakes up." Dante stated.

"Perhaps it would be best if you Grey would probably get to a safe distance, less you incur his wrath." Modeus advised.

"Whatever, I can take him."

"I'm still wondering how he can sleep through all that." Lucy said.

Natsu then stirred awake. "Hey guys, what's up?" Right as he said that Dante and Lady both began to snicker quite a bit. "What's so funny?" Lucy took out a mirror and handed it to Natsu.

When he saw his face most people present expected him to throw a fit, but they we're not prepared for what would come out of his mouth.

"Grey, seriously, drawing on my face? How old are you?" Natsu said, which caused pretty much everyone around him to look at him with great surprise. Natsu put down the mirror on the table and began to walk away. "Grow up will you. We're not kids anymore."

To say most we're surprised was an understatement. "Okay… who are you and what have you done with Natsu?" Lucy wondered but he ignored her.

Grey could only look in silent shock. It wasn't like Natsu not to pick a fight like this, or just to act mature at all. His face turned into a slight scowl. "Natsu, don't brush me off like that! You looking for a fight?!"

"No, not in the mood." Natsu replied, not even turning around. Shocking almost everyone in the entire guild hall.

Grey soon got quite angry. "Don't try to ignore me!" he rushed forward but a single punch from Natsu sent him flying clear across the guildhall.

"I said I'm not in the mood." Natsu told him. "You wanna pick a fight with someone, go look for Gajeel, Dante, or even Lady." He then continued to walk away.

Dante looked towards Natsu with concern. It was one thing to act mature, but to turn down a fight? What was on his mind?

Juvia quickly helped Grey to his feet. "Are you hurt, my love?"

"I'm fine, but it's not me I'm worried about." He replied looking to the Fire Dragon Slayer as he continued to walk away.

"You ever seen Natsu act like this?" Dante asked Lucy.

"No, never." She replied as she shook her head.

"Maybe the rain is getting to him or something, water and fire I guess?" Lady guessed.

"Rainy days are best spent cuddling with your boyfriend." Cana said as she chugged down a barrel of alcohol.

"Cana, make sure you leave enough of your 'boyfriend' for the other customers, okay?" Mira advised as she walked past with a black raincoat, earning a sweatdrop from the Card-Magic user.

"Are you going outside in this weather? What for?" Modeus asked.

"Paying a visit to the church." Mira replied.

Meanwhile, Elfman was yelling at Jet and Droy, both looking quite guilty as Elfman continued to scold them, with Levy watching. "You think you can protect Levy when the time comes?! You need to man up in the worst possible way!"

"Yes sir." Jet replied.

"We get the message." Droy added.

"Must you be so hard on them?" Modeus asked Elfman.

"These two sissies need to learn a lesson!" Elfman replied. "They screwed up their most recent job! These morrons got knocked out cold in the middle of a fight and Levy had to finish the job all by herself!" He turned back to them. "Modeus here may be a pacifist and a demon, but he's more of a man than both of you combined!"

Mira stepped in. "Well I think Jet and Droy have gotten stronger recently."

"Gee, thanks Mira!" They both said at the same time with hearts around them.

"In their own way." She quickly added.

"SAY WHAT?!" They both questioned with lighting in the background.

Back outside.

The weakened Mystogen and Carla looked off in the direction that Wendy had run to try and warn Fairy Tail about the impending disaster.

"And what about you?" Mystogen asked Carla. "I don't suppose you can convince her."

"Honestly, I'm not sure." Carla replied as she ran after Wendy.

Fairy Tail

"Mira, you ready to go?" Elfman asked as he got an umbrella.

"One minute." She replied as she looked into the far side of the guild where Natsu sat alone at a table eating a piece of bread. She walked towards him. "Hey Natsu, Elfman and I are going to the church, do you wanna come."

Natsu just looked down. "Maybe later."

Mira looked down towards him with sympathy as she placed a hand on his shoulder before walking away.

"Quick question. Why are Mira and Elfman going to the church in the middle of a storm like this?" Dante wondered as he sat at the bar with Cana, Levy, and Modeus

"It's because it's almost the anniversary of Lisanna's death." Cana answered.

"Oh." Dante replied as he now understood. "So that's why Natsu…"

"Yep." Levy confirmed.

"Who's Lisanna?" Modeus asked.

"Mira and Elfman's youngest sister. She died two years ago during a job." Dante replied.

"I see." Modeus replied as he looked with sympathy towards Mira and Elfman as they left. "I can understand all to well the pain of loosing a sibling. Am I correct to assume she and Natsu we're close?"

"Yeah, those two grew up together, they we're best friends." Levy replied.

"Something tells me they we're more than friends." Dante assumed as he looked to Natsu who was presently looking depressed.

Back Outside

Carla ran after Wendy, hopping to try and catch up with her.

Fairy Tail

Grey sat with Juvia at a table. "We need to talk. It's time you finally grip it right." Grey said to Juvia. "Quit fooling around with it and just eat it will ya?" He told her as she was holding something of a sticky roll in her hand.

"That's what I'm trying to do Grey, but I've never done this before." Juvia complained a bit as she tried to get the stickiness out of her hands.

"Do they even hear themselves?" Bisca and Alzack wondered at the same time as they watched the two.

"Look, this is how you eat it." Grey told her. "You open your mouth wide like this and chomp." He bit down into his while Juvia mimicked his actions.

"Am I doing it right?" She asked with her mouth full.

"Yeah you got it." He told her, as he somehow no longer had his shirt on. "Who needs silverware when you have hands, right?"

"Could you please keep your clothes on at the dinner table darling?" Juvia told him.

Meanwhile, Bisca and Alzack we're both watching this and we're blushing quite a bit.

"I wonder if I can learn to be a little more forward." Bisca thought.

"Maybe one day me and Bisca…" Alzack thought as the two looked towards each other before quickly looking away with red-hot cheeks.

"So, it's raining cats and dogs outside, huh?" Bisca quickly said.

"Yeah, no end in sight." Alzack replied.

A certain armored wizard approached them. "It's good to see you two are as close as ever." Erza observed. Both turned suddenly to her with red faces.

"What?! That's crazy!" Alzack quickly exclaimed.

"What he said!" Bisca agreed.

Erza gave a knowing smile. "Treasure these moments as if they'll never return, do that and you won't have any regrets."

Lucy meanwhile sat with Lady at the bar. Lucy was currently slumped down. "It's so boring. I just wish something interesting would happen today."

"Be careful what you wish for Blondie." Lady advised.

Wendy ran as fast as her legs could carry her, desperate to warn her family about what is to come. She soon slipped on a puddle and fell to the ground. When she tried to get up, she noticed a reflection in the puddle that got her attention. She turned to the sky and saw what appeared to be a giant whole forming in the clouds, almost like a vortex. White light began to flash in the vortex.

No time to waste, Wendy picked up the pace and ran to Fairy Tail as fast as she could, the guildhall was in sight she was close.

A strong powerful force was forming in the sky, and no one inside the guild seemed to notice, save for Dante who sensed a strong amount of pressure forming outside. Being the curious one, he began to walk towards the door just as Wendy was running closer to it.

A bright, white light surged in the vortex with arcs of lighting blasting out of it. As the light began to glow brighter, all of Magnolia began to shake as if a tremor had hit. Suddenly, the ground began to break apart and bricks and rocks flew up into the sky just as all the buildings began to glow white and break apart almost on a molecular level, and the white particles all flew towards the sky.

Mystogen looked up to the sky to see what has happening and could only look in dread. "It's the Anima."

Carla was running as fast as she could as she saw what was happening.

Dante had just walked outside and noticed the white lighting, but he also noticed a certain Dragon Slayer running towards the guildhall.

"Wendy?"

"Dante! Get everyone out!" Wendy called. "Something bad is happening!"

"What are you…?" Dante began but soon felt a strong amount of magic about to hit, he looked behind to see the entire Fairy Tail building began to shift and glow. No time to think, Dante quickly ran towards Wendy just as a shockwave hit and almost blew her away. She screamed but Dante quickly caught her and he dove to the ground, covering her with his whole body.

They both looked with wide eyes to see the entire building turn white and break down almost on a molecular level. Wendy screamed to try and warn them but Dante held her down as a shockwave hit and he protected her.

The entire city of Magnolia was caught in a powerful vortex of energy as all the buildings we're glowing white and broken down before all was being thrown straight up to the vortex into the clouds that was the Anima. It pulled everything in the city until all had finally stopped.

It was silent as Dante continued to cover Wendy as she held onto him. He slowly opened his eyes only for them to become wide at what he was now seeing.

"What the hell…" Dante breathed as he slowly let Wendy go who saw this as well with her own wide eyes.

Everything was gone, the whole town, every building, even Fairy Tail. The entire vicinity looked like a white, sandy, flat desert with bubbles slowly coming from the ground. The sky was dark grey with clouds still hanging over them.

"No…" Wendy breathed as she slowly stood up next to the kneeling Dante. "The guild hall… it's gone… And the city… all of it…. Where'd it go?!" She began to walk a bit, looking for signs of life.

"Wendy…" Dante tried to say something.

"Is anybody out there!" Wendy called out. "ANSWER ME!" but the only sound was her echo.

Dante slowly walked next to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Wendy…" he began "Do you know what just happened?"

Wendy slowly turned to him and tears formed in her eyes before she immediately latched onto him and buried her head into his chest just below his rib cage, crying up a storm. As she cried, Dante looked down toward her with sympathy, placing a hand on her head. He slowly sat down with her as she continued to cry.

"I'm alone… again!" She cried. "Why am I the only one who gets left behind?! Is there some kind of law that says I can't have a home or family!?"

Dante looked down at her as she continued to sob into him, right now, he was wondering the exact same thing. "I know exactly how you feel."

Something however, caught both their attention. They looked to their right and saw a mound slowly rise from the ground. Another mound rose close to that as well. Wendy got a little scared and Dante slowly reached into his coat for his Ebony pistol, preparing for the worst.

A hand burst from the ground and soon a half a person, Natsu Dragneel. Dante gave a contentful sigh as he put his pistol away. The other mound broke apart as well as Modeus slowly rose from it as well.

"What… is this a dream?" Natsu asked.

"No you're wide awake." Dante replied.

"What in the world just happened?" Modeus asked as he slowly crawled out of the dirt. "Where are we?"

"What the heck is with all the bubbles?!" Natsu asked as he looked around.

Dante gave a slight smile as Wendy had some tears of joy coming from her eyes. "Thank goodness, I'm not alone."

Dante walked up and offered Natsu a helping hand which he took and was helped to his feet.

"Dante, what the hell just happened?!" Natsu asked.

"You got me." He replied.

"Where are we? What is this place?" Modeus asked as he looked around.

"It's Magnolia, or what's left of it." Dante revealed.

"Huh?!" Natsu exclaimed while Modeus himself looked quite surprised.

"A giant hole opened up in the sky. The town, the guild hall, and everyone got sucked inside! I haven't seen anyone! I think… I think we're the only ones left!"

Modeus looked towards Dante who nodded in confirmation. "Yep, that's what happened."

"If that is the case… then why are the four of us still here?" Modeus wondered.

"Hold on, do you think it's because Natsu and I are Dragon Slayers, and you and Dante are demons?" Wendy wondered.

"That's exactly why."

All four turned to the source of the voice, a certain flying white cat.

"Carla!" Wendy exclaimed as all four made there way to her. "Your safe, I thought I lost you."

"I am glad you are unharmed as well." Modeus added.

"In fact, it's only because you and Natsu are Dragon Slayers, and that Dante and Modeus are demons, otherwise they would have suffered the same fate as the others." Carla said to Wendy. "Not that I care, all that matters to me is that your alive."

"Carla." Wendy said.

"You know what happened?" Modues exclaimed.

"I do." Carla replied.

"Alright, I've had enough of that attitude of yours! You say everyone disappearing isn't important!?" Natsu angrily yelled. However, his rant was stopped when they heard a clicking noise

All looked in surprise to see Dante pointing his Ivory pistol towards Carla. "Start talking, and if you give any crap, I'll show you just how much of a demon I can be." Dante warned.

"Dante!" Wendy exclaimed as she tried to get him to lower the pistol.

"You wish to know, then lower your weapon." Carla told him.

Dante scowled at her while Modeus placed a hand on Dante's shoulder and gave him a look that silently told him to stand down. Dante seemed to get the message as he lowered his pistol.

"Everyone in Fairy Tail and Magnolia was taken by the Anima." Carla revealed.

Wendy looked in surprise as she heard those words before, from Mystogen.

"That whole in the sky, it's actually a gateway to Edolas, the world on the other side."

"Edolas?" Wendy and Modeus both questioned.

Natsu angrily stomped to Carla. "Will you quit talking nonsense already! Tell me where they went?!"

"Natsu, calm down." Wendy tried.

"I have a question, two in fact." The less than pleased Dante began. "One, how do you know all this? And two, why if what you said is true, why haven't you been sucked up to?"

Carla looked down a bit, but before she could answer Happy suddenly flew onto the scene, looking quite freaked out to say the least.

"Natsu! Dante! Modeus! What happened?! Everything went poof! I'M FREAKING OUT!"

"Happy!" Natsu exclaimed with a smile.

"Glad to see you made it, cat." Dante said.

"The reason I am so informed about Edolas, is because I am from there." Carla revealed, earning looks of surprise from Dante, Natsu, Wendy, and Modeus. "As is the one you call Happy." Now Happy was surprised. "The tom-cat and I are to blame for this atrocity."

To say they we're all surprised would be an understatement.

"Okay cat." Dante explained as he was now very ticked off. "Start talking. And you had better have an answer."

Done.

And so begins the Edolas Arc. Just to clarify something, we all know Natsu and Wendy are protected from the Anima because they are Dragon Slayers; Dante and Modeus are protected as well because they are Demons, their demon blood is not of Earthland, and something the Anima wouldn't absorb. This will all make sense as we go on.