Okay, so I know I've made many stories and many unfinished. Mostly that is because I am lazy and suffer writer's block very easily but let's not talk about that…

I also know I have made a story called 'A Different Beginning' which illustrates a world where Stephanie is much older when she meets Skulduggery and he trains her in magic. So, while this story is quite similar in some respects, it is very different as well. Finally, I hope you give it a chance.

And, yes, this is Valduggery.

There's not much Valkyrie doesn't know when it comes to living her life just way the it needs to be. That is, in order to survive and protect her family, she must sacrifice the things she wants to do for the things she needs to do. The list of needs is fairly small, protect her family and fight the bad guys. However, it's amazing just how much time these things take up. She is reminded, on occasion, of the way she managed to stumble into this life. She remembers how exciting – and confusing – it was to see a flame ignite from her hand. She also cannot forget the loneliness she felt in the secrecy of it all. She had been forced to train herself in the arts of magic, and upon being attacked by many for her Uncle Gordon's possessions, subsequently self-trained herself to fight.

The day ahead had seemed to be yet another ordinary day, as ordinary as magical days get, until she stumbled into someone interesting. She literally stumbled into a skeleton and one she had been familiar of but never met.

"Sorry!" She exclaimed reflexively when she stepped back into the hard body of Skulduggery Pleasant. She had feared the person she ran into was a civilian, she was fighting in a park after all. "Wait," she squinted her eyes at the skeleton, "what are you doing here?"

Skulduggery Pleasant tilted his head at her. "Hello to you too." His entire body was disguised in a navy, pinstripe suit, black fedora, large sunglasses, and a scarf covering his mouth. She knew it was him.

"Are you hard of hearing? Maybe it's because you technically have no ears," she looked apologetic for a moment but it was all a show as her expression returned to hostile. "What. Are. You. Doing. Here?"

"They warned me about you," Skulduggery chuckled. "They said you had a smart mouth but I said mine is smarter. They didn't disagree but I'm starting to question myself anyway. Valkyrie Cain, I am here to help you," he proclaimed in mock reverence.

"Help me?" She spat.

"Yes, help you," he replied. "Though this is not something I want to do either. I do not know you, I do not want to know you, but unfortunately, I have to know you."

"Well, I'm sorry Mr Pleasant but your services are not required here. I can handle myself," Valkyrie said coolly. She couldn't believe it, the sanctuary sent someone to work with her when she was a freelance fighter.

"I am afraid my services, as you call it, are required and should you wish to keep fighting the bad guys, I must fight with you."

"So, you're a babysitter?"

Skulduggery shrugged. "I would say no but your stubbornness and sulking seems to make this idea quite apparent."

Valkyrie rolled her eyes and nudged the crumpled body by her feet. If he was supposed follow her around like a lost puppy, she was not going to make this a pleasant time for him. The body she had just mutilated was of the vampire kind and while it was still alive, she had no qualms in walking away. It won't try and drink from another civilian again. She was sure of it.

When she began walking away, she was distinctly aware of the skeletal feet – covered in expensive leather shoes, as they were – following her. She only handled 15 metres of it before she whirled around.

"What is the real reason you're with me right now?" She asked.

"Real reason? Well, you see, the sanctuary seems to be quite impressed by the work you are doing," Skulduggery gestured towards to body still lying on the ground behind him, "and they are also aware that such activities can lead to very dangerous people."

"Dangerous people?"

"The fact that there is someone else out here fighting crime and doing it on her own accord seems to interest the very dangerous 'baddies', if you will," he replied. "So, that's where I come in."

Valkyrie spoke slowly, like talking to a child and said, "So, it's like you're babysitting me?"

He shrugged in return. "Think of this as a partnership Valkyrie Cain. I mean, I did just happen to lose my previous partner to a Hollow Man and if you can't handle a Hollow Man then, quite frankly, you don't deserve to live," Skulduggery pondered. "Anyway, you need me just as much as I don't need a new partner and trust me, that is quite an intense need. So, here I am, ready to partner up and fight the bad guys. Well, that and the fact that all this fighting you are doing is putting me out of work."

Valkyrie took a moment to think. She had a family to protect. Her mum, her dad, and her sweet baby sister, Alice. The idea that her freelance work was being watched and criticised annoyed her. She was freelance for a reason, dealing with the sanctuary meant doing things their way and not her own. What if that meant her family's protection would falter and she failed?

"Look," she began, her voice stern, "I do this to protect my family. I do not care for rewards nor do I care for recognition. When I stumbled into this life I was afraid of how large my world had suddenly gotten. The fact that there were people out there who could do such amazing things yet use them to hurt innocent people? That is not okay. So, I trained myself and yeah, I am a little bit rusty, but I sure as hell know what I am doing. Now I don't know if what you are doing is like some kind of service to the sanctuary but I want no part of it. I want to do things my way because then I know I will walk through my front door and see my family safe and happy."

Skulduggery remained silent for a moment. "Valkyrie Cain, I would not be here if I truly did not believe it was necessary. I also wouldn't be here if it was something I really didn't want to do. I hate the sanctuary too and if what they were asking seemed so aversive and tedious, I would not agree to do it. I don't follow by their rules, I only pretend to so it can appease them. Being in the sanctuary allows me to obtain resources and inside information necessary for what I need to do."

It was Valkyrie's turn to stay silent so Skulduggery continued.

"If you don't want me with you then that is okay but let me tell you, I will always be around… wow, that sounded creepy. You know what I mean. Anyway, it's your choice how this plays out."

Valkyrie pondered the proposition for a moment while Skulduggery waited. He doesn't like the sanctuary either but was that the truth or a lie to get her on his side? She had heard a lot about the skeleton detective and his adventures. Her Uncle Gordon spoke fondly of him quite often and she couldn't ignore the memory of getting excited as a little girl hearing the newest adventure. Of course, back then she had always assumed them to be fairy tales. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad but Valkyrie knew better than to immediately trust someone. She would keep her eye out and stay alert.

"Okay," she finally said. "We will work together."

Skulduggery didn't say anything but nodded once and followed Valkyrie through the park.

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