How To Save a Life

Voorkant howtosaveafriend — The original cover icon.

How To Save a Life is a one-chapter fanfiction where Edd has been turned into a vampire, written by VampireMeerkat. The story plays off in the Highschool setting.

It can be best described as the ending to a story that was never written. It was one of the submissions to the first fanfiction contest at The3Eds ("Fanfic of the Season"), and therefore only visible for registered The3Eds users. It was first published on November 13, 2010, then rewritten in 2012.

The original story hasn't been published anywhere else on the internet and became lost after the closing down of the The3Eds website, but the artwork that accompanied it was eventually included in one of the artist's dump submissions at Deviantart and also posted on the "Ed, Edd n Eddy Highschool" Facebook page. A cleaned-up version of the story can be found at Fanfiction.net.

Warning: this article contains spoilers.

NOTE:
This page is not free to edit.

Story

For a reason, not explained in this story, Edd has turned into a vampire and completely lost his memory and personality after the transformation. All the kids of the cul-de-sac are gathered in Ed's garage, where they tied him up with chains to the garage door and are in a heated argument with Ed and Eddy about killing him.
The story suggests that Edd has done alot of wrong before they were able to capture him, including killing a familiar character. While he is a danger to everyone, both Ed and Eddy are having trouble with shooting their friend, which gives Edd time to speak to them; but mainly jokes and insults.
At the end they realize that killing the vampire that has taken over Edd's body is the only logical thing to do, and thus both Ed and Eddy shoot him with a rifle.

Characters

Ed

Together with Eddy, Ed is the only character who has doubts about killing Edd. Even so, Edd tests his patience by asking for Sarah.

Edd

Eddvampier eddstaar — "Eddy looked at Ed. Ed just nodded and then continued gazing at Edd, who was silently leaning back against the door and watched them with a most creepy, satisfied smile on his face. He really was at peace with himself, despite his position."

- Excerpt from the original story.

NOTE: This character has an extensive biography and been given his own page. Click here to read.

Edd mainly acts like a joker in the story, but it's implied he's two-faced. Because he doesn't make an attempt to escape or talk himself out of the situation, Eddy is bothered by him, since it forces him and Ed to dispose of him. Edd's lack of resistance and the ending itself suggest the real Edd is still conscious to some degree and wishes to be killed.

The vampire that was born from his body is his own person, but has no name and rejects Edd's. He has a docile and an aggressive side, and is beyond reasoning on the hunting grounds. His docile side portrays him as a generally laid-back comedian.
The character always plans ahead and can be very manipulative, though usually trades that feature in for blatant honesty.

He doesn't care about befriending the other characters or contacting his congeners, as they are all strangers to him. Even so, Ed and Eddy's persistence of looking him up intrigued him. While he doesn't like his time to be wasted, he sees the whole capture-and-chase between him and the two as a game.
Besides messing with the characters' heads as entertainment, his life goals are unknown.

Eddy

Eddy is closest to being the main character, as the story describes his thought process.
Eddy is often lost in his thoughts. He wishes for the most simple solution, which doesn't involve him having to kill Edd, but as Edd's explanation and distant words keep disproving Eddy's theory that his memory might return, Eddy is frustrated and lost throughout the story.

Kevin

Kevin plays a small, but aggressive role. He makes it very clear he sees no problem in shooting Edd.

Nazz

Nazz doesn't play a major role and is mainly in the background.

Rolf

Rolf doesn't play a major role and is mainly in the background.

Jonny

Jonny feels the most connected to the situation. He urges Ed and Eddy to do the right thing, out of respect for Edd.

Sarah

Sarah is only mentioned in the story, but doesn't make an appearance. The images included with the story do confirm her presence.

Jimmy

Jimmy is only mentioned in the story, but doesn't make an appearance. The images included with the story do confirm his presence.

2012 remake

Howtosavelife dyingedd — Edd after the vampire attack (2012).

Ed and Kevin received a bigger role, while Jonny's importance in the story decreased and he no longer hints at his ended friendship with Plank.
Kevin is now described to be afraid of Edd, which is the main reason why he wants him dead and forces Eddy to shoot him, instead of doing it himself. In the original story the reason for his behaviour was vague.
Eddy is no longer afraid of the concept of killing someone, but just doesn't want to say goodbye to a friend or for his life to change in any way.
Ed is no longer crying throughout the story and is described to be a very silent and lifeless character, who's angry at Edd, but doesn't know how to express himself properly.

Edd has fewer lines and no longer reveals the details about his transformation; the story doesn't acknowledge him as a vampire, nor do the characters.

A new revelation was added to the story, and both Ed and Eddy discover they'd be willing to kill for Edd/feed people to Edd, just so they wouldn't have to miss him. Though, Eddy is disgusted by this idea and by himself, and sees this as the top reason why Edd can't stay.

Trivia

How To Save A Life was supposed to have multiple stories/chapters. Every chapter takes a step back into the "original story", answering a question raised in the last chapter every time, but the contests at The3Eds stopped being held after 2 runs.
A prequel to How To Save A Life was partially written in 2018, but never finished or published because of the reason above;
- It was temporarily called "How To Make a Friend" and focused on Edd and Sarah's relationship when Edd was first captured;
- This means that in How To Save A Life, Edd was captured again after he apparently escaped.
How To Save A Life was originally titled "How To Save a Friend".
How To Save A Life was mostly inspired by Old Yeller.
The title "How To Save a Life" comes from The Fray's song of the same name.
In the story, Jonny makes a reference to his past relationship with Plank, which stays undiscussed in Ed, Edd n Eddy Highschool.