(A/N) *Holly*: THREE CHEERS FOR A THIRD STORY!

Yes, you read that right, another one! This shall be interesting, I can guarantee it!

Please, remember to read and review all stories, it means so much to me when I see I have another fan :)

This will include Holly, a few more unique characters, and the main characters too!

Anyhoo, on with the first chapter of many!

Also, this is based between Dark Days and Mortal Coil, no MC spoilers, possible DD spoilers.

Enjoy!

(PS: My name isn't really Alana Michigan :L) (A/N)

The New Kids (Part 1)

Valkyrie hated this. No, she hated Skulduggery. Honestly and truly hated him for the torture he was putting her through at this very moment in time.

Here's the thing. There were no cases. Literally, none. Ever since the destruction of the Sanctuary, everyone kept quiet. So Skulduggery, being all Skulduggery, had decided it was time for Valkyrie to go back to school.

School.

She couldn't help shudder at the thought. Over 700 sweaty, hormonal teenagers packed into a small space for six hours straight made her shudder again. Who would want that for six years of their lives? Explains why teens hated school with a passion, that's for sure.

She sighed. Still, it was a good idea, she had to admit. And Skulduggery put up a good debate on why she should go.

I bet he planned this, she thought, as she trudged toward her school. Her uniform was awkward and uncomfortable. A gray skirt that went to her knees, navy socks that reached just below that, black flats that were ever-so-slightly too tight, white shirt, blue tie that was practically chocking her, and a dark blue itchy knit jumper with the school crest embroidered onto it. Oh yes, this is so comfortable(!) She sighed again, as she reached her school gate.

The school itself stood tall and proud, and was broken into four phases. Phase 1 held normal class rooms, a teachers lounge, and a reception desk. Phase 2 had four storeys, and at the top were the metalwork and art rooms. The third held normal class rooms, and a few lockers. The second held more lockers, a handful of class rooms and laboratories. The ground floor held an assembly hall, lined with lockers and a cafeteria-type thing to the side. Phase 3 was the prefabs, spare classrooms built to suit the amount of teens attending, and Phase 4 was the PE hall. Rumour had it that there was going to be a Phase 5 built, but so far the teachers were unsure.

Valkyrie walked through the door into the Phase 2 assembly hall, and sped straight to her locker, not wanting to interact with anyone. Unfortunately, one of the reflections- No, VALKYRIE'S, they were HER friends,- walked in her direction.

Please don't talk to me, she chanted in her head while retreaving her books, please don't talk to me, please don't ta-

"Hey Steph!"

"Hi -" Valkyrie turned around from her locker, and took in the girl. She had blonde hair that was cut short in a bob, with a light blue hairband. She wore the same uniform as Valkyrie, but opted to wear trousers instead of the skirt. Her face was cute, with bright blue eyes and light pink lips. She was plastered in make-up. Taking all this in (like Skulduggery had taught her), she searched through the reflections memories for who this girl was. It wasn't Hayley, wasn't Orialla, it was... "- Amanda."

"So, did you get that Irish done last night? I thought it was so hard! I tried to..." Amanda's words blurred together, and Valkyrie found herself focusing on other things. WHY had he put her through this? When she got home, she was turning him human, and killing him!

"STEPH!" Amanda's yell broke her train of thought, "Were you even listening to me?"

"Sorry, blanked out. You were saying something about Irish homework?"

"That was ten minutes ago! I asked you what you thought of the new kid!"

"What new kid?" She pulled up the reflections memories, but there was nothing there about a new kid.

"The girl, Hannah or something. She's so weird! She sits alone and no-one dares talk to her!"

"Well, that's not very nice, is it?"

"But," Amanda leaned in, as if she was telling Valkyrie a deep, dark secret, "she's weird!"

"How so?"

"Well, first of all-" but the bell had cut her off, "Damn... Well, you'll find out soon enough, she's supposed to be in your class, yeah?"

"Uh, yes?" Valkyrie wasn't sure what the right answer was.

"Right, see you at break then!" Amanda called, waving while she ran out the door.

"Bye..." Valkyrie called, and shut her locker. She began trudging toward her base room.

Who was the new kid? And why did Amanda think she was so odd? Only one way to find out, she thought, as she marched onward to her first class. When she reached the right room she hesitantly turned the handle, and walked in to what she had missed out on for the past four years. Not that she minded, of course.

When she took in her surroundings, she was happy she had given up this life for her magic one.

High pitched screams and low shouts surrounded her instantly. Pieces of paper, food, plastic bottles, pieces of erasers, pencils and an odd assortment of items were being thrown around the room. A half-eaten sandwich was thrown in her direction, but the dodging skills she had been perfecting with Tanith helped her steer clear of it's messy path. The group of girls with the skirts too far up their thighs and their faces plastered in make-up began whispering among themselves, occasionaly glancing in her direction.

Valkyrie rolled her eyes, could they be anymore obvious?

She looked around and noticed a seat near the back, and immediately made a bee-line towards it. When she sat down, their teacher, Ms. Lyle, walked in, slamming her folder and book on the desk with a sharp "bang!".

The room went deathly quiet.

"I would like to introduce you lot," she began, as a small girl walked in, her hood up, covering her face, "to your new classmate. This" she waved a hand toward the girl, " is Alanah Michigan, and she's new to the area. Be nice!" she snapped. turned towards the girl, "Pick any seat you want, then get your book out." The teacher sat down and began calling register, "Rory Alan?"

"Here,"

The girl began walking toward the back of the class,

"Amy Brown?"

getting closer to the empty seat beside Valkyrie,

"Here,"

she were five feet away now,

"Caoimhe Brown?"

and Valkyrie could see the Nightmare Before Christmas badge on the small girl's black hoody,

"Aye,"

Alanah sat down in the empty seat beside Valkyrie,

"Just "here" will do, Caoimhe!"

"Hi," Valkyrie whispered, sticking her hand out to Alanah, "I'm Val- eh, Stephanie."

"Here!"

"I know that voice..." Alanah looked up, and her light gray eyes widened in surprise, "Valkyrie Cain?"

"Stephanie Edgley?"

"Holly Swift?"

"Stephanie Edgley!" Valkyrie whipped around to face her teacher, who was glaring hatefully at her, "HERE!" she called loudly, and turned back to Ala- no, she was Holly!

"Val!" Holly shouted in surprise, and launched herself at the dark-haired teen, gripping her in a bear-hug,

"Hol- I mean, Alanah! Get offa me!"

"Sorry, sorry!" she backed away, and Valkyrie slouched in her uncomfortable school chair, struggling to breathe properly,

"Wh-what are you-ou *cough* doing here?"

"My mum moved houses, so now we live in Haggart! I didn't know you lived here!"

"I always have." The conversation was stopped by , and the class commenced.

SURPRISE! Holly goes to school with Valkyrie! Guess Val won't hate Skul as much now, eh?

But wait, who else is here?

Only Chapter 2 shall tell! Read, review, LOVE.

- Holly