This is my first DA fiction, in general. I sincerely hope that ya'll enjoy this. I have to thank wunderwolf for encouraging me to put this out after looking through this for me. Please have fun and remember, none of this is mine, except for the characters you don't recognize.

Chapter 1

Skylar looks over the horizon, standing at the bow of the ship that is ferrying them into Kirkwall. She eyes the magically created statues of chained slaves before shaking her head. It has earned its nickname, City of Chains, from its long history of being involved in slave trading or so it would seem.

After several long months they have finally reached the city, Kirkwall. She could not find it in herself to be relieved at the fact that their destination is within reach. The sight of the old city did nothing for her heavy heart.

"I thought I may find you here," the tall rogue hears someone say and she turns partly to look at one of her traveling companions and longtime friend. The flaming red haired warrior stumbles up to her, an unhealthy sheen coloring her pale skin, and she clasp the seasick woman on the shoulder. "Promise we will not travel by ship ever again?" the woman quietly ask of her while she helps the woman lean against the bow.

"I do not know, Talia," Skylar mutters, icy blue eyes intent on the city once again. "We've yet to touch the city and its people. If we do not find our target…"

"At least go by horse or something of the like!" Talia exclaims, her head turning quickly to look at the rogue. Skylar's nose winkles when the warrior's long and loose hair hits her in the face. "Why is it that you have to travel by ship!?"

Skylar looks at her miserable friend and pats her on the shoulder. "I know that you despise the sea," she starts, "but it is the fastest way we can move."

Talia turns and pin her friend with a hard look. "Why is it that you couldn't have let me end this back in Ferelden?" Talia had been against this stupid fool's errand since the very beginning.

Skylar sighs and slicks back her short black hair. "I know that you disagree with this… task. But I saw no way to escape it." Her icy blue eyes lock with Talia's emerald greens. "Did you?"

Talia sighs and shakes her head. "Skylar… I don't know how much longer we can keep a handle on her." The brunette turns towards the hatch where the rest of the ship's 'cargoes' are currently hiding out. "She hates the cramp conditions of this ship and well…" The two women turn their attention to the city they are approaching. "I don't see Kirkwall being any better."

"I know," Skylar mutters, understanding Talia's concerns. "There is nothing else we can do about it." The sailors begin the long process of preparing to dock and she pulls away from the bow. "Come, let us join our friend," she says as she helps Talia to the deck below.

"I'm warning you, Skylar, nothing good will come from this."

"Yet what do you wish for me to do?" the rogue asks the warrior.

She gets nothing in return from the woman. Just as well, there was nothing else they could do except continue along the road they have begun to walk down.

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"HAWKE!" the rogue hears someone shout her name in an unbelievably loud voice. All chatter in the Hanging Man immediately quiets and she glares at the cause of this silence. Isabela, the former pirate captain, grins cheekily at her and waves her over. With a sigh and an eye-roll she leaves the entry with Aveline next to her.

"How very… Isabela," Aveline comments as they walk over to the table where Varric and Isabela sit with the rest of their friends. Fenris, forever brooding, glances up at their approaching before ignoring them. Merrill smiles at them and places two tankards in front of them. When Hawke does a quick head count she finds that Anders is skipping the festivities again.

"Thank you Merrill," she tells the Dalish elf as she claims a seat between her and Isabela. "So I take it that no one was able to convince Anders to leave the sanctuary of his clinic?"

"You know him," Isabela starts, "He's practically married to the clinic and his manifesto." Isabela laughs, "At least big girl actually gets away from her job."

"Shut up whore," Aveline snaps irritably at the pirate. Hawke laughs quietly, a hand covering her mouth in an effort to stifle it. Aveline, without another word, smacks the amused rogue on the shoulder.

Isabela is laughing at this point in the game and was just about to stand when she spots a familiar face entering the tavern. Her golden eyes wide in shock while she stares as the owner of the face walks over to the bar, accompanied by two other women. One woman has a long sword and a shield strapped to her back and the other looks to carry no weapon. Yet the pirate could sense some kind of danger radiating from the woman.

She stares for a minute longer before she practically runs over to the newcomer. "Skylar, is that you!" she shouts, throwing her arms around the tall brunette.

The brunette stumbles back into the tall red haired warrior, braced by her. "You ask if I am Skylar and yet jump on me?" the woman laughs, hugging the pirate anyway.

"I'd know your pretty face anywhere!" Isabela pulls away and cups the brunette's face. She traces the markings, "You've added color," she comments as she turns Skylar's face this way and that way, "and do I detect a hint of a new design?"

"Must be your imagination, Isabela," Skylar smiles before removing Isabela's hands and stepping away from her companion. "Please excuse us," she tells the pirate before walking past her, the warrior and a blonde pale woman following her.

Hawke, having watched the exchange with interest, moves close to Isabela. "Who are they?" Jealous icy blue eyes watch the three newcomers while Isabela sighs, seemingly lost in memories.

"The brunette is a friend from Rivain. I have not the slightest idea who the other two are," the pirate answers. She turns towards her friend and notices the hard glare that Hawke has for the trio. "Hey, what is biting you in the ass?" she questions with a sultry voice, her hands purposely trailing a hot path down Hawke's chest. "Certainly not me, though I would love to correct to that error."

Hawke laughs softly and it took effort to keep from seizing the other woman in a possessive kiss. "Do you wish to go back to our game?" she asks, a subtle muscle jumping along her jawline. Isabela smirks, recognizing the signs of Hawke's desire in her.

"Would it terribly bad if I prefer to…" she leans up and whispers into Hawke's ear. A grin appears on Hawke's face and a hand slips into Isabela's, prompting her to take the rogue up to her room.

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"So that is the infamous Isabela?" Talia asks, standing close to Skylar's right, leaning in slightly to be heard by her without the need to shout.

"Aye…" Skylar knocks on the wood, icy blue eyes narrowing at the blonde man. The bartender turns around and smiles friendly at them until he notices the scowl on the brunette's face.

"Oh, hello, are you new around here?" the man asks. Skylar merely nods, icy blue eyes twinkling with interest. "My name is Corff, what can I do for you!" he says cheerfully and just a tad too nervously. Skylar smirks in amusement at him and leans over the counter.

"I hear you have room?"

"That I do. Twenty bits for each night," he answers.

"I would like a room for two," Skylar informs the man, ignoring the tight grip on her arm by Talia. Corff nods his head and leaves to get one of the waitresses to prepare a room for them.

"Skylar, what were you thinking!" Talia hisses angrily, her grip tight on her friend's elbow.

The rogue turns to face Talia and her hand ease the redhead's grip away. "I rather us be crammed in one room instead of separated into two," Skylar mutters softly before stepping aside the warrior to reach their friend, the brooding pale blonde woman with breath taking hazel eyes that seems to light up in the darkness of the room.

The blonde woman looks up from the wood and their eyes connect in a long gaze. "I'd ask you how you are feeling," Skylar starts softly, her hand tangling with her friend's, "but I already can feel you." The tension that her friend was radiating was getting to the point of exploding and Skylar's skin is beginning to tingle. "Do you think you can last another minute?"

"Anything…" her friend starts softly, "for you." A slender hand hooks onto a clasp of Skylar's leather armor. The brunette looks at the shorter woman for a long moment before yanking her close, her mouth claiming the blonde's in a fierce kiss.

"Skylar, by the love of Andraste's tits, have you no patience!" Talia exclaims, finally frustrated by the entirety of the whole situation. "You couldn't have waited until we get into a private room?!" She gets no response from the women and starts to curse loudly. She grabs Skylar by the back of her armor and yanks her away from their friend. "Are you really going to take Celia in the middle of this tavern?"

Skylar's icy blue eyes pierce into Talia's, and the warrior could see that there is a faint glow illuminating from them. "Talia…" Skylar warns her softly, a hand on both, "I realize your discomfort with this… but you know that Celia needs this… I need this."

Talia shakes her head and reaches around to take Celia's other hand. "I know that…" She shakes her head and kisses Skylar's cheek.

"Ahem," Skylar pulls away from them and looks towards the man who interrupted them. "Your room is ready…" the man almost looks uncomfortable and yet at the same time he was staring at them lecherously.

"Ah, thank you," she tells him, laying the due amount for the next week. With that done she releases Celia and Talia from her grip and walks up the stairs to their room.

"Pleasure doing business with you!" he calls after them cheerfully.

Once safely in the room, Skylar and Celia begin to work on the tight buckles of the leather armor while Talia lazily removes her own. Emerald green eyes watch as Celia kisses Skylar, driving her into distraction.

As she watches she notes that Celia has already removed her own garments and is currently stripping Skylar's tunic off. This reveals an array of tattoos that have already begun to glow. "Skylar, you're taking too much," she mutters, pressing against the brunette's taut back, her armor long since removed.

"Sky," Celia moans softly, falling onto the bed with the two fighters standing at the foot, their eyes looking down on her.

"There's no other way," Skylar mutters softly to Talia, turning slightly to kiss the redhead. When they pull apart the warrior's eyes have taken a subtle glow. Skylar smiles at her before climbing over Celia, pressing down against her in all the right places. "Ready?"

"Yes!"

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Hawke joined Varric in the main room, accepting the offering of the ale. "Sleep well?" she asks the dwarf.

"Well enough with the cries of pleasure," he answers. This causes the brunette to blush, a feat that Varric immediately takes notice of. "As much as I wish it was you," he teases her, "it was someone else in the Hanging Man. I keep hearing 'Sky' being shouted and moaned repeatedly last night."

Hawke raises an eyebrow. "Sky…? Oh, that may be Isabela's friend," she frowns at the reminder of the woman she had seen the night before.

"Isabela's friend whose name is Sky…?" Varric ponders of this for a second before laughing, "I reckon that the lady's name is Skylar." He remembers the various tales the Rivaini has told him about this rogue. "Perhaps I will get a chance to talk to the legendary Skylar."

"You must be Varric," they hear someone say, causing them to look up at the source.

A tall black haired woman stands before them with icy blue eyes that seem to glow in the dim room. The woman has a streak of white darting through her bangs, an odd contrast in colors. The dwarf can see the tattoo that frames both sides of the woman's face, a faint color of what seems to be blood. He could see the amused grin on her face but it did not reach the eyes, causing him to worry slightly over his life.

"Aye, that's me."

"I couldn't help but over hear you," the woman says, leaning slightly to offer a gloved hand. "I am Skylar." Pleasantly surprised by the greeting Varric shakes her hand and Hawke did as well. "These two are my companions, Talia," Skylar gestures to the red haired warrior that reminds him vaguely of Aveline, "and Celia." A single look at the pale blonde woman left him with a dread that has him eying her warily without being too obvious about it.

"As you already know I am Varric Tethras and this is my good friend and business partner, Hawke."

Skylar smiles at the other rogue and Hawke returns it with a tight smile. "I take it that is your last name?"

"And if it is?"

Skylar chuckles softly under her breath before turning slightly when Talia taps her shoulder. She listens to what her friend has to say before sighing. "Serah Varric," she starts.

"Please, my name is Varric. Nothing more, nothing less," he interrupts.

Skylar nods her head in acceptance. "Varric, my companions and I are recent comers to this city and unfortunately we are in need of a job of a sort." Talia, the warrior, looked tense as Skylar spoke of their situation. Celia, as Varric observed her, looked like she cares not one wit about their issues and is content to allow Skylar handle the problems. "A good source has told me that best jobs to be had are usually found by you."

"I see…" Varric glances at Hawke for a moment. The rogue looks back at him before shrugging her shoulders, seemingly uncaring. "I must admit that I do find the best jobs around these parts. However, I usually hand them off to my friend, Hawke."

Skylar turns her attention to the rogue, blue eyes clashing with blue. "In that case, whenever you have a need for a rogue, warrior, and a healer…" Skylar trails off to look at Celia who had tugged on her sleeve. Hawke watch them exchange some words before the black haired woman shrugs. "However, I respectfully request that at least Talia or I be in the group if you ever chose to take Celia with you."

Hawke looks at the woman with a raised brow. "Is there something I should know?"

Talia scowls at Skylar and the rogue shrugs, gesturing for her to say it. "Celia does not take well to certain situations. There have been several…" she trails off, unsure how to continue.

It was Celia, not Skylar, who chose to continue for the warrior. "I have destroyed several important locations merely because someone was unable to settle me down after I was made upset."

Hawke leans forward, her icy blue eyes studying the pale blonde before they shift over to Skylar. "Will I have to worry about Templars?" She narrows her eyes at the bi-colored rogue.

Skylar tilts her head with a lazy smirk on her lips. "So long one of us is with her you don't have to worry about a thing."

Hawke frowns for a moment longer before sighing. "I'll send word to you whenever I am in need of your skills."

Skylar grins at her and mock salutes her. "Much appreciated Serah." With that she walks away, a casual - or perhaps possessive - arm around Celia's shoulders.

"What a strange bunch," Hawke mutters, her eyes narrowed at Skylar's back.

"No stranger than us my good friend," Varric grins, until his eyes land on Celia once again. "Though I do imagine that Celia is a dangerous person to be associated with…"

"More so than Anders I reckon."

"That…" Varric starts slowly, "I am in total agreement with." He leans back, his eyes watching the departing figures of the trio until they are gone from his sight. "I would suggest speaking with the Rivaini. Perhaps she will know more about the sorts her friend associates herself with."

Hawke sighs and nod her head in agreement. "I'll see you later Varric," she informs him before walking away.

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"Congratulations," Hawke says sarcastically after finding Skylar and her companions in the Hanging Man, "I got a job for you." Skylar looks up from the papers spread out on the table and raises a brow in a manner similar to her own. "I need a healer and a warrior."

"It'd be nice if you'd tell us what job you have," Skylar tells her.

She looks at the woman before rolling her eyes, "It is a job from a former client of Red Iron. Apparently his son was kidnapped and is held by the mercenaries in Sundermount. Sources of mine report that they have holed themselves up in a cave."

Skylar frowns and looks at Talia. The warrior looks back at her before they look at Celia. The pale blonde sits there, writing something in a tight small script that has the blue eyed rogue frowning.

"You'll get your warrior," Skylar starts, "but I will not allow Celia to go."

Hawke narrows her eyes at Skylar and the bi-color brunette stands up. "A healer is needed the most in this job. Nothing else will do."

"I am aware of that," Skylar replies. "However, I refuse to allow Celia to go." Skylar and Hawke stare each other until Hawke shakes her head.

"First tell me why you refuse my request."

Celia stands up and moves so that she is before Hawke, pale eyes meeting icy eyes. "I despise tight quarters and I certainly do not wish to be held away from the fresh air." Hawke's eyes soften as the meanings behind the words dawn on her and she looks at the two protective women behind Celia.

"I understand. My apologies," Hawke directed this to all three of them. "That, however, still does not solve my issue with the lack of healers."

Talia grunts and pushes Skylar at the shoulder. "She's capable of some quick healing if necessary," she volunteers for the rogue, getting a dirty look from her friend.

"You are an apostate?"

Icy blue eyes close in irritation before she sighs. "No, that would not be the proper title for me. I am a rogue… with a few abilities…" She turns to Talia and growls a few choice words that have her laughing.

"She can siphon magic off of other people," Celia informs Hawke who looks at Skylar with surprise. "Her methods…"

Skylar quickly covers Celia's mouth. "That's enough out of you silly," she gently scolds the blonde. "There are certain things best left unsaid."

"But I like your methods," Celia pouts when Skylar removed her hand. "They really-," She cuts herself off when Skylar moved her hand close to her, "Never mind."

Hawke couldn't help but be amused by the pale blonde's antics. In some ways it reminds her of Merrill. "So, can I count on you?" she asks the other rogue in all seriousness.

Skylar sighs and rubs her neck, her icy blue eyes meeting Hawke's. "There are limits of how severe of a wound I can heal," she informs the woman. "So try and keep the injuries to the mild side of the spectrum."

Hawke takes that as it was meant and tells them to be ready to leave in the morning.

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Skylar frowns at Talia and Celia, strapping the gauntlet on securely. "I still don't know whether to be annoyed or pissed off." She pushes her hair out of her face before she slips on the second gauntlet. Her eyes were glowing dimly and she felt irritable with everyone and everything. She didn't know why but it felt like it was harder and harder to get the correct amount of magic to fuel her spells from Celia.

Talia, already halfway through with her armor, looks up to smile at her friend. "Let's go with annoyed. Less hazardous for all of us," she jokes until she notices the tense look in her friend's eyes. "What's wrong?"

Skylar looks at her friend before glancing subtly to Celia - who was curled up on the bed reading one of her favorite books. Emerald green eyes follow hers before the redhead's lips goes thin with concern. "Are you ready?" she asks, adjusting one piece of her armor. The rogue nods her head, her hands already placing the daggers in their respective hiding spots. She takes a moment to check and ensure that her poisons and antidotes are stashed on her as well.

"Celia-," Talia starts before the mage interrupts her.

"Don't open the door for anyone, don't go outside for any reason, always ask who it is before granting permission to enter the room, and not to use any magic no matter the reason." Celia looks cheekily at the duo. Skylar is trying to suppress a grin while Talia is mock scowling at the mage.

"Are you quite done?"

"Did I forget anything?"

"Yeah, don't forget what to do if you start to build up on the magic," Skylar tells her, getting a quick punch from the redhead. "Ow, Talia, that hurts!" she mock whines, clutching her offended arm.

"Good, you deserved that," Talia scowls. "Just try and ground it if you can," she adds in all seriousness. "Skylar will be too far to retrieve it effectively from you."

The rogue sighs and shrugs in a manner that suggests 'what can you do'. "Just try and stay out of trouble ok?" Celia nods her head in agreement so Skylar takes Talia by the arm and drags her out of the room.

"Skylar," Talia growls at the rogue, her eyes narrowed, "let go of me!" She wrenches her arm free of the brunette's grip and glares at the woman. "What is your problem?"

"… I need to talk to you about the magic," Skylar mutters, her voice dark and heavy. Her eyes were duller than ever before and her body felt like they were weighted down by something.

Talia, worried about her friend, studies her and notices that not all was right with her. "Should we ditch the job?" she asks, referring to the job that Hawke had approached them for. She didn't want to drag her friend out onto something that may potentially endanger her if she wasn't feeling one hundred percent up to it.

"No," Skylar mutters, "We've waited for this opportunity. I refuse to allow it to slip by." She shakes her head and runs her hand through her hair. "However… I need you to know that… it's getting harder for me to…" She didn't know what the correct wording for her situation was. She has been wracking her memories in an attempt to see if there was ever a time when she experienced something similar to this. "It feels like my magic isn't topping off as usual…"

Talia thinks about the last several times Skylar had siphoned magic off Celia and recalls that she had to pull the rogue away each time. "It did seem like you were taking more than usual."

"It's like it's taking more than usual to top off." She shakes her head and avoids looking at Talia.

The redhead, worried about her friend, reaches a hand out to her and forces her to make eye contact. What she sees is the icy blue eyes dulled to the point of greyness and the spark of magic that usually resides in her eyes seemed gone. "What…"

"I feel like I'm void of magic," she confesses before shrugging off her friend's touch. "I can feel it but it's deep inside." She strides purposely for the exit with her worried friend right behind her.

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Hawke waves Skylar and Talia over the moment she spots them. Aveline, standing next to the noble rogue, looks at the two strangers that her friend has chosen to accompany them. "How is it you know these two?" she questions her friend while the duo approaches them. She vaguely remembers the approaching brunette and red haired woman. It takes a few seconds of racking her memories to recall that she had seen Isabela seize the brunette in an overly affectionate hug.

"Isabela is friends with the brunette," Hawke replies easily, managing to keep the jealousy out of her voice. She doesn't know how she managed that feat but dares not think about it.

"Friend or friend," Aveline asks. Hawke sends her a quick glare that has her shrugging her shoulders. "I'm only looking out for you," she tells her, a wary smile resting on the edges of her lips. No amount of time with the former pirate captain will change her opinion about the Rivaini.

"Hawke," Skylar greets them. The rogue notes the difference in the woman's eyes and the subtle change in the woman's pallor. Maybe she shouldn't have approach this one, the last thing she ever wants to do is have Isabela irritated at her for endangering a friend's life.

"Skylar," she returns the greeting, deciding to wait a moment before passing judgment on the woman's shape. She gestures at Aveline and the duo turns their attention towards her. "This is my friend, Guard Captain Aveline Vallen," she introduces them.

The ginger haired warrior offers her hand first to the white/black haired woman. Skylar, amused by something, takes her hand with a firm grip of her own. "Skylar," she introduces herself. "This is my good friend, Talia Warlong." Aveline offers her hand to the flaming red hair and the two woman grips each other hand for a long moment while the rogues look on with amusement.

"Warlong, that sounds familiar," Aveline says in a way of greeting.

"My grandsire was known as Wolfswift," Talia replies and Aveline grins, knowing just whom the warrior meant. They break the hold and nod their heads in approval at each other.

"Is it me or did we just witness a pissing contest?" Skylar asks with a wary grin.

Hawke laughs, her hand darting up to her mouth in an attempt to stifle it when Aveline shoots her an annoyed look. Talia just shakes her head and smiles at Skylar.

"You'll never change," she tells her friend.

"Of course not, Talia, you'd be sad if I did!" Skylar grins. "All lonely in bed as I -," she gets cut off by the flaming redhead, the warrior's hand clasp over her mouth. She smirks at the blush on her friend's face, the color rivaling her hair almost perfectly.

"I can already tell that Skylar will be just as bad as Hawke," Aveline sighs out loud and the two rogues laugh together. Well, Skylar tried to laugh but Talia's hand was still covering her mouth so it came out weirdly. The bi-colored rogue glares at her friend before wrestling the hand away.

"If you wanted me to be quiet you could've kissed me," she informs her friend in a matter of fact tone. Another blush flares up on Talia's face and she tries to grab Skylar but the rogue has already ducked out of reach, laughing.

Hawke and Aveline watch on in amusement as Talia chase the other rogue before finally seizing her in a tight bear hug. "Have you seen their skills yet in a fight?" Aveline asks Hawke, unsure how to feel about a rogue who can be easily caught by a warrior.

"I have not had a chance yet," Hawke confesses as she narrows her eyes at the duo.

Talia keeps her grip on her friend, bending her neck so that she can whisper into her ear. "How are you feeling right now?" she asks, aware that the mask Skylar had put over her emotions must be slipping right about now. She had perked up slightly after touching Aveline - she didn't miss that - but that little boost will not hold for long.

"I'll feel better once we leave," Skylar confesses, "I need her, Talia. I need to fix this mess and fast." The redhead frowns as she pulls her head back, aware of whom the rogue is talking about. Icy blue eyes look over the area before landing on Hawke. When she sees the studying expression on the other rogue she curses in Antivan. She easily breaks the hold Talia has her in and lands out of reach.

She doesn't pull her daggers but Talia easily recognizes the silent need in her friend. She sighs and pulls her weapon and shield. She twirls the sword at least once before nodding her head subtly at her. She blinks and instinctively ducks, just in time to avoid a swing. She twists around to swing her sword, knowing that the other woman has already 'popped' out of the way.

"You really don't fight fair," Talia tells the rogue as she takes a stance. She hears a soft laugh before she has to raise her shield to block a swipe of Skylar's dagger.

"I'm an assassin, babe, I don't fight fair," she is reminded before the rogue 'pops' again. She dodges to the left to dodge another swipe. Talia's eyebrows furrow for a moment when she notices that her friend's movement is starting to become sluggish. Has she already begun to run out of magic?

"Enough," they hear Hawke call over to them. Skylar stops in mid-movement and lowers her daggers halfway before turning to face the other rogue. "We're wasting daylight," Hawke continues, "I'd prefer to rescue this kid before something happens."

Skylar glances briefly at Talia as she sheathes her weapons, straightening her armor. "Lead the way," she gestures at the gate, her blue eyes borderline grey again. Hawke stares at her for a long moment before turning and walking out of the city with Aveline right behind her. "Pray to the Maker that we don't get into a heavy skirmish," Skylar mumbles to Talia as they follow them.

Talia glances at her friend, noting the strain that lines her friend's face. She knows that at the top of her game she can easily take down ten men alone. But when she's down and out? She doesn't want to find out how many men it would take to put her out of commission.

She pauses for a moment under the gates, her green eyes turned towards Lowtown. She couldn't help but wish that Celia was stronger, that she could face her fears about enclosed spaces. With that guilty thought on her mind she trudges after the other three.

Okay, hope you enjoyed that folks. Please leave a review and lemme know what you think :)