(A/N) *Holly*: Hi guys! Featured in this story are the usual SkulPles crew, along with a few extra characters! This is based a few years after Mortal Coil, but I'll try not to add any spoilers for those who have not read it yet. If there are spoilers coming up, don't worry, you shall be warned! Holly, Etheran, Sabrina and Valkyrie are all over twenty, but look twenty/twenty-one, and have met once before. Except Sabrina, she's new in this one, but we love her anyway, right readers?

*Readers*: WOOO, GO SABRINA!

*Holly*: And what do we think of Etheran?

*Readers*: ETHERAN ROCKS!

*Holly*: That's right! (To see the story of when they met the first time, check out Etheran Claw's story, he's an awesome writer. This is NOT a continuation of Etheran's story, they simply met the same way. This is a different thing, Etheran's story will go where he wants it to.) Remember, this is my first ever story, so please be nice?
Thank'n you!

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Skulduggery will NOT be using the facade, I don't really feel like it.

And I'll pretend Tanith was never taken over by the Remnant, I hated that part! D:

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*Magical Disclaimer*: Right, so no, I do NOT not own Skulduggery Pleasant, 'tis owned by the amazing Derek Landy, I do own a Gryffindor scarf however! :D

I, Holly Swift, own Holly Dawn Swift II, Rosette By-Gone, Samantha Incident, and Accilia (pronounced ah-seal-eeh-ah), Holly's Adept power,

Etheran Claw owns Etheran Claw, but he let me use Etheran in my story because he's just that awesome,

Sabrina Sparrow owns... Well, Sabrina Sparrow! xD

A Message to Sabrina: Dude, I can't find what's wrong with the PM-thing, and it's annoying! :( I'm sorry for causing trouble, and I am working hard to discover what the problem is.

A Message to Etheran: Lightbulb, cheers for this. I owe you one! You rock! Also, I changed Evanna's name, I hope you prefer Sam's! xD

And finally, the moment you've ALL been waiting for...

ON TO THE STORY! (A/N)

Chapter 1: It's Been A While.

Holly Swift glanced around, her red and gold Gryffindor scarf blowing in the strong wind. She held a hand up to shield her large, light grey eyes from the sunlight.

"Where did they say there were meeting us?" she asked her friend, Etheran Claw, a young man of around the same age. They had been friends for quite some time, and knew each other well.

"Whoa, wait, they?" his blue eyes widened in surprise, "I thought it was just Valkyrie?"

"Psshh, didn't you hear?" Sabrina Sparrow piped up, a close friend to Holly and Etheran, "Skulduggery was rescued from the portal!" Etheran checked a folder he had, one he received from some new junior detective, Rosette Bye-Gone, at the Sanctuary a half hour ago. They needed these folders as they had disappeared for a few years, and weren't aware of any new changes the Sanctuary had made.

"NO WAY! I can't wait to see that old bag 'o' bones! And Val too!"

"Really? Huh."

"What?" Etheran asked, curious as to what was going through Holly's mad mind.

"Oh, nothing," she replied, a small smile playing on her lips, "you just remember the LAST time we were sent to work with Valkyrie... And remember the time before that, when we were sent to work with another kid our age, what was her name, again? Sam...?"

"Samantha Incident," Etheran replied, grinding his teeth. Sabrina smirked. She knew where this was going.

"Ah yes, how is dear Samantha these days? You STILL obsessed with her?" Holly was grinning like a Cheshire Cat now. She enjoyed messing with her friend's head.

"Shut it, Holly," he growled, not wanting to remember how China Sorrows' long lost sister (who just so happened to have the same powers as her) had stunned Etheran. Holly was laughing like a madwoman now, getting strange looks from the few people who passed by. She sighed happily, and straightened up, checking her watch again. She growled.

"They're late," she began looking around sharply, "she promised that she wouldn't be late. We're on a tight enough schedule as it is!"

"Hush, 'Lee, here she comes."

A young woman dressed in all black with long dark hair was strolling up the path, smiling widely. Walking alongside her was a tall, thin man, wearing a smart black suit with accentuating off-white pinstripes. He was walking with his hat down low, and his scarf up high, so no-one could see the skull beneath. The duo slowed their stride, and stopped in front of Holly, Sabrina and Etheran. Holly looked up, and noticed that Skulduggery had big sunglasses on, and a fuzzy wig was on underneath the fedora.

She bowed, and when she stood she asked, "Skulduggery?" He tilted his head in a way that she knew he was smiling.

"Holly? Wow, how long has it been?" he stuck out a hand, by means of a hand-shake, but Holly brushed it off and squeezed him in a bone-crushing hug.

"Too long!" she replied, stepping back. Etheran shook his hand, but stayed quiet. Holly turned to the dark haired girl, "Valkyrie?" Valkyrie nodded, her grin getting wider (if that was even possible).

"Holly!" she hugged the brunette, and turned to hug Etheran. "God, it's been ages! Where did you guys go?"

Holly shrugged, "We've been around."

Valkyrie held her hand out to Sabrina, who smiled lightly, "Hi Valkyrie, pleasure meeting you! Sabrina Sparrow's the name." Valkyrie smiled again, shook hands with Sabrina and turned to Holly.

"So what's been going on? Where did you disappear to? Who have you worked with? Whe-"

"Calm down, Val!" the short brunette laughed, overwhelmed by Valkyrie's many questions, "save them 'till later! We need to discuss YOU, mister!" she exclaimed, pointing to Skulduggery.

"Me? Me, as in, my wonderful self whom you all love and adore?"

Etheran nodded, his eyes closed, "There it is," he sighed.

"There what is?" Sabrina asked curiously, narrowing her eyes at the blue-haired mage.

"That God-awful ego of his." they all laughed, even Skulduggery.

Holly glanced around the street, surveying everything. "Look," she started, "we all need to talk. Catch up, tell our wondrously adventurous stories, and reminisce about the past, but we need to do so privately. I propose we head back to my flat. A fifteen minute walk at least, and there's space for all of us. Who agrees?" They all nodded, and Holly smiled. "Right, shall we head then?"

"We could just take the Bentley?" Skulduggery proposed, "It's just down the road."

"You still haven't destroyed that poor vehicle, Skul?" Etheran laughed, and Valkyrie started laughing too,

"Oh, no," she giggled, "no, no, this is his third!" They all burst out laughing, except Skulduggery, who was standing there with his arms crossed, "Oh, hilarious, Val, bloody brilliant..."

"Alright, alright," she smiled, holding back laughter, "shall we head?" They nodded and walked in the direction of Bentley III.

And that's the first Chapter! It's not much, but it'll suffice.

Hope you liked it! Review, Subscribe, Favourite, LOVE, the usual!

Fairfarren,
- Holly! :D

(PS: Bonus points and a dedication to anyone who got the Panic! At The Disco reference!)